TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a packing machine and a packing method for producing
an inner container of a slide-open package of tobacco articles and with a hinged lid.
PRIOR ART
[0002] The rigid packages of cigarettes with a hinged lid are currently the most widespread
cigarette packages in the market as they are of simple construction, easy and practical
to use and offer good mechanical protection to the cigarettes contained within.
[0003] Besides the aforementioned rigid packages of cigarettes with a hinged lid, packages
of cigarettes have been proposed with rigid slide-open (or sliding) covers comprising
two containers inserted one inside the other in a separable way. In other words, a
package of cigarettes with rigid slide-opening comprises an inner container, which
is adapted to accommodate a wrapped group of cigarettes in a wrapping sheet of metalized
paper and is housed within an outer container so as to be able to slide with respect
to the outer container itself between a closed configuration, wherein the inner container
is inserted inside the outer container, and an open configuration, wherein the inner
container is extracted from the outer container.
[0004] Also proposed was a rigid slide-open package of cigarettes and with a hinged lid,
wherein the inner container (or, alternatively, the outer container) is provided with
a hinged lid to rotate between a closed position and an open position of an open top
end of the inner container. The lid has a connecting tab that at one end is integral
with the lid and at the opposite end is integral with the outer container (or, alternatively,
to the inner container) to control "automatically" (i.e. without the user having to
touch the lid) the rotation of the lid by sliding the inner container with respect
to the outer container.
[0005] In particular, in a rigid package of cigarettes of the slide-opening type and with
a hinged lid the connecting tab which "automatically" controls the rotation of the
lid has a top end that is integral with a top or rear wall of the lid and a bottom
end that, during the opening of the package of cigarettes, couples with a coupling
tongue integral with a rear wall of the outer container.
[0006] It was observed that the known current mode used for producing the packages of cigarettes
of the slide-opening type and with a hinged lid does not allow to achieve high productivity
(i.e. a high number of packages of cigarettes produced per unit of time), especially
if it is necessary to maintain a high quality standard. Consequently, the known packing
machines used for producing packages of cigarette of the slide-open type and with
a hinged lid are excessively slow and suitable to produce only limited batches for
special series.
[0007] Additionally, but not less important, the known packing machines used for producing
packages of cigarettes of the slide-opening type and with a hinged lid are not "flexible",
i.e. it is very complicated to modify a packing machine which produces a certain type
of slide-opening cigarette package (with or without a hinged lid) to produce another
type of slide-opening cigarette package (with or without a hinged lid).
[0008] The patent application
US2011041463A1 describes a packing machine for cigarettes for producing a rigid package with hinged
lid. The packing machine is provided with a first packing unit, which is adapted to
fold a first blank about a group of cigarettes to form an outer container provided
with a hinged lid, and a second packing unit, which is adapted to fold a second blank
about the outer container to form a tubular slider arranged about the outer container
to slide axially with respect to the outer container itself; the tubular slider is
provided with a transmission element, which has a first end integral with the lid,
a second end opposite the first end and integral with the slider, and an intermediate
portion which is deformable and has an "U" fold arranged between the outer container
and the slider.
[0009] The patent application
WO2013068959A1 describes a slide-open package of tobacco articles and with a hinged lid of the type
produced by the packing machine and by the packing method of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Purpose of the present invention is to provide a packing machine and a packing method
for producing an inner container of a slide-open package of tobacco articles and with
a hinged lid, which machine and packing method are free from the drawbacks described
above and, in particular, are simple and economical to produce.
[0011] According to the present invention, a packing machine and a packing method for producing
an inner container of a slide-open package of tobacco articles and with a hinged lid
are provided, as claimed in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment, wherein:
- Figure 1 is a front perspective view and in a closed configuration of a package of
cigarettes of the rigid type with slide-opening and with a hinged lid;
- Figure 2 is a front perspective view and in an open configuration of the package of
cigarettes of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a rear perspective view and in an open configuration of the package of
cigarettes of Figure 1;
- Figure 4 is a front perspective view of an inner container of the package of cigarettes
of Figure 1;
- Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the inner container of Figure 4;
- Figure 6 is a top perspective view of an outer container of the package of cigarettes
of Figure 1;
- Figure 7 is a plan view of an inner blank used for producing the inner container of
Figure 4;
- Figure 8 is a plan view of an outer blank used for producing the outer container of
Figure 6;
- Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of a packing machine that produces the package
of cigarettes of Figure 1 and is made according to the present invention;
- Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view of a first packing unit of the packing machine
of figure 9;
- Figure 11 is a schematic perspective view of a first packing conveyor of the first
packing unit of Figure 10;
- Figure 12 is a plan view of a sequence of preliminary folding of the inner blank of
figure 7 operated in the first packing conveyor of Figure 11;
- Figures 13 to 16 are four schematic and perspective views of four corresponding folding
devices associated with the first packing conveyor;
- Figure 17 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 11;
- Figure 18 is a schematic and perspective view of a belt conveyor of the first packing
unit of Figure 10;
- Figure 19 is a schematic perspective view of a second packing conveyor of the first
packing unit of Figure 10;
- Figure 20 is a schematic perspective view of a second packing unit of the packing
machine of figure 9;
- Figure 21 is a schematic perspective view of a first packing conveyor of the second
packing unit of Figure 20;
- Figure 22 is a plan view of a sequence of preliminary folding of the outer blank of
figure 8 operated in the first packing conveyor of Figure 21;
- Figure 23 is a schematic and perspective view of a belt conveyor of the first packing
unit of Figure 20;
- Figure 24 is a schematic and perspective view of a second packing conveyor of the
second packing unit of Figure 20; and
- Figure 25 is a plan view of a variant of the outer blank of figure 8.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0013] In Figures 1, 2 and 3, with the number 1 is indicated, as a whole, a rigid slide-open
package of cigarettes by way of translation (linear movement)
[0014] The package 1 of cigarettes shown in Figure 1 comprises a wrapped group 2 of cigarettes
(visible schematically in Figure 2), i.e. a group of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet
of metalized wrapping paper. Also, the package 1 of cigarettes comprises an inner
container 3 of the rigid type, inside of which the wrapped group 2 is directly placed,
and an outer container 4 of the rigid type, which houses in a sliding manner the inner
container 3 to allow the inner container 3 itself to slide with respect to the outer
container 4 so as to move with a translational movement between a closed configuration
(illustrated in Figure 1), wherein the inner container 3 is fully inserted inside
the outer container 4, and an open configuration (shown in Figures 2 and 3), wherein
the inner container 3 is partially extracted from the outer container 4 and allows
access to the wrapped group 2 of cigarettes.
[0015] The inner container 3 has a parallelepiped shape with rectangular cross section,
is cup-shaped and has an open upper end 5. The inner container 3 comprises a lid 6,
which is cup-shaped and is hinged to the inner container 3 along a hinge 7 to rotate,
with respect to the inner container 3, between an open position (shown in Figures
2 and 3) and a closed position (shown in Figure 1) of the open upper end 5.
[0016] As shown more clearly in Figures 4 and 5, the inner container 3 has a bottom wall
8 opposite to the open upper end 5, a front wall 9 and a rear wall 10 parallel and
opposite one to the other, and two lateral walls 11 parallel to each other and interposed
between the walls 9 and 10. Between the walls 9 and 10 and the lateral walls 11 are
defined four longitudinal edges while between the walls 9, 10 and 11 and the bottom
wall 8 are defined four transverse edges.
[0017] The lid 6 is cup-shaped and has a top wall 12 (which, when the lid 6 is in the closed
position, is opposite and parallel to the bottom wall 8 of the inner container 3),
a rear wall 13 which is connected with the rear wall 10 of the inner container 3 by
way of the hinge 7, and two lateral walls 14 parallel one to the other. It is important
to note that the lateral walls 14 of the lid 6 are arranged inside the lateral walls
11 of the inner container 3 as is clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.
[0018] As illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6, the outer container 4 is cup-shaped, is
of parallelepiped shape with rectangular cross section, and has a bottom wall 15 opposite
to an open top end 16, a front wall 17 and a rear wall 18 opposite and parallel with
respect to each other, and two lateral walls 19 parallel one to the other and interposed
between the walls 17 and 18. Between the walls 17 and 18 and the lateral walls 19
four longitudinal edges are defined while between the walls 17, 18 and 19 and the
bottom wall 15 four transverse edges are defined.
[0019] In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, all the edges are straight;
according to alternative embodiments not illustrated, some edges (longitudinal and/or
transverse) may be beveled or rounded.
[0020] As illustrated in Figure 3, the rear wall 13 of the lid 6 (in particular a top edge
of the rear wall 13 of the lid 6 which delimits the rear wall 13 from the top wall
12) is connectable to the rear wall 18 of the outer container 4 by way of a connecting
tab 20 to "automatically" control (i.e. without the user having to touch the lid 6)
the rotation of the lid 6 by way of the sliding of the inner container 3 with respect
to the outer container 4. In other words, thanks to the connecting tab 20 that mechanically
couples the rear wall 13 of the lid 6 to the rear wall 18 of the outer container 4,
when the inner container 3 slides with respect to the outer container 4 from the closed
configuration to the open configuration, the lid 6 is pushed by the inner container
3 from the closed position to the open position in an "automatic" way (i.e. without
the user having to touch the lid 6); similarly, when the inner container 3 slides
with respect to the outer container 4 from the open configuration to the closed configuration,
the lid 6 is pushed by the inner container 3 from the open position to the closed
position in an "automatic" way (i.e. without the user having to touch the lid 6).
In this way, the user only needs to apply the necessary thrust to slide the inner
container 3 with respect to the outer container 4 without having to touch the lid
6 as its rotation is "automatically" controlled.
[0021] In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the outer container 4 has
a through window 21 that is formed astride the front wall 17 and of a lateral wall
19 and through which the front wall 9 of the container 3 is accessible to allow the
application of a thrust to the inner container 3 in order to move the inner container
3 between the closed configuration and the open configuration.
[0022] As shown in Figure 2, the outer container 4 comprises a sealing tab 22 that has the
function of preventing the undesirable loss of tobacco dust through the gap that remains
between the front edge of the top wall 12 of the lid 6 of the inner container 3 and
the corresponding upper edge of the front wall 17 of the outer container 4. The sealing
tab 22 is hinged to the upper edge of the front wall 17 of the outer container 4 and
is movable between a working position (which is illustrated in Figure 1 and is assumed
in the closed configuration, or when the inner container 3 is fully inserted in the
outer container 4) and a rest position (which is illustrated in Figure 2 and is assumed
in the open configuration, i.e. when the inner container 3 is partially extracted
from the outer container 4). In the working position, the sealing tab 22 is perpendicular
to the front wall 17 of the outer container 4 and is arranged below the top wall 12
of the lid 6 of the inner container 3 so as to block the escape of tobacco dust by
"sealing" the gap that remains between the front edge of the top wall 12 of the lid
6 of the inner container 3 and the facing upper edge of the front wall 17 of the outer
container 4. In the rest position (as clearly illustrated in Figure 2), the sealing
tab 22 is parallel to the front wall 17 of the outer container 4 not thereby disrupting
the relative movement between the inner container 3 the and outer container 4.
[0023] As illustrated in Figure 4, the inner container 3 comprises an actuating tab 23 which
is integral with the front wall 9 of the inner container 3 and protrudes towards the
front wall 17 of the outer container 4. As illustrated in Figure 6, the outer container
4 comprises an actuating tab 24 which is mechanically connected to the sealing tab
22 and is arranged between the front wall 17 of the outer container 4 and the front
wall 9 of the inner container 3 to engage (or hook) with the actuating tab 23 when
the inner container 3 moves towards the rest position so as to pull the sealing tab
22 in the rest position by exploiting the movement of the inner container 3. In other
words, when the inner container 3 moves towards the closed configuration the movement
of the inner container 3 brings the actuating tab 23 integral with the front wall
9 of the inner container 3 to hook the actuating tab 24, and then to push the actuating
tab 24 itself downwards, and when the actuating tab 23 pushes downwards the actuating
tab 24, the actuating tab 24 pulls, therefore, the sealing tab 22 towards the working
position.
[0024] As illustrated in Figure 6, the actuating tab 24 has a center through window 25 through
which the actuating tab 23 is arranged; i.e. the actuating tab 23 enters the through
window 25 of the actuating tab 24 to hook the actuating tab 24 and drag (push) the
actuating tab 24 itself. According to a preferred embodiment, the actuating tab 24
is connected to the sealing tab 22 by way of a connecting tab 26 which on one side
is hinged to the actuating tab 24 (i.e. is connected to the actuating tab 24 along
a fold line that allows a relative rotation) and the opposite side is hinged to the
sealing tab 22 (that is connected to the sealing tab 22 along a fold line which allows
relative rotation).
[0025] As illustrated in Figures 4 and 7, the actuating tab 23 is formed by a part of the
front wall 9 of the inner container 3 which is separated from the remaining part of
the front wall 9 of the inner container 3 by an "U"-shaped through incision 27 and
a fold line 28, which joins together the two ends of the "U"-shaped through incision
27. According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 7, the inner container 3 also
comprises a lifting tab 29 that is separated from the actuating tab 23 by the fold
line 28 (i.e. the lifting tab 29 and the actuating tab 23 are initially arranged side
by side and are separated by the fold line 28). The lifting tab 29 is folded about
the fold line 28, by 180° to rest on an inner surface of the front wall 9 of the inner
container 3. The function of the lifting tab 29 is to determine, due to the force
of the spring back effect generated inside the wrapping material, a lifting of the
actuating tab 23 with respect to the front wall 9 of the inner container 3: when the
rotating tab 29 is rotated about the fold line 28, by 180°, the actuating tab 23 tends
(due to the force of the spring back effect generated inside the wrapping material)
to accomplish a similar rotation about the fold line 28 and therefore tends to rise
with respect to the front wall 9 of the inner container 3 (as shown in Figure 4).
[0026] As shown in Figure 5, the inner container 3 has a window 30 within which the connecting
tab 20 is obtained and the edge of which has, at least in some areas, a certain distance
from the edge of the connecting tab 20. The connecting tab 20 comprises a top portion
31, a top edge of which is integral with the lid 6 and that tilts with respect to
the rear wall 10 of the inner container 3 to follow the rotation of the lid 6, an
intermediate portion 32 that is connected to the top portion 31 along a pre-fold fold
line, has a center hole and always remains parallel to the rear wall 10 of the inner
container 3, and a bottom portion 33 that is connected to the intermediate portion
32 along a pre-fold fold line and is folded by 180° with respect to the intermediate
portion 32 onto the intermediate portion 32 (giving the connecting tab 20 a "U" shape)
to form a "hook". The lower portion 33 has a protrusion 34 from the side of the center
hole of the intermediate portion 32, and when the lower portion 33 is folded by 180°
with respect to the intermediate portion 32, the protrusion 34 comes out of the window
30 and slips partially below the rear wall 10 of the inner container 3. In use, when
a bottom edge 35 of the connecting tab 20 (defined in correspondence to the pre-fold
fold line between the intermediate portion 32 and the lower portion 33) comes into
contact with a bottom edge 36 of the window 30, the sliding movement of the connecting
tab 20 with respect to the rear wall 10 of the inner container 3 stops and, consequently,
the rotation of the lid 6 stops, in other words, the lower edge 35 of the connecting
tab 20 and the lower edge 36 of the window 30 operate as "end-of-stroke", which establishes
the maximum opening position of the lid 6 (and therefore the position of maximum extraction
of the inner container 3 from the outer container 4).
[0027] As illustrated in Figures 6 and 8, the outer container 4 comprises a further connecting
tab 37 which is integral with the rear wall 18 of the outer container 4, rises from
a top edge of the rear wall 18, and is folded by (about) 180° with respect to the
rear wall 18 onto the rear wall 18 itself to have, together with the rear wall 18,
a "U" shape. The mechanical connection between the rear wall 13 of the lid 6 and the
rear wall 18 of the outer container 4 is made by a coupling between the two connecting
tabs 20 and 37: the connecting tab 20 is arranged inside of the "U" defined by the
connecting tab 37 and vice versa (i.e. the connecting tab 37 is arranged inside the
"U" defined by the connecting tab 20); i.e. a free edge end of the connecting tab
20 rests against the cusp of the "U" formed by the connecting tab 37 and vice versa
(i.e. a free end edge of the connecting tab 37 rests against the cusp of the "U" formed
by the connecting tab 20). As illustrated in Figure 8, preferably the connecting tab
37 has an appendix 37' which has the function of improving the mechanical connection
between the two connecting tabs 20 and 37; in fact, the appendix 37' is inserted into
the hole,in the center of the intermediate portion 32 of the connecting tab 20 facilitating
the mechanical connection between the two connecting tabs 20 and 37.
[0028] When the inner container 3 is in the closed configuration (illustrated in Figure
1) and then the lid 6 is in the closed position the lower edge 35 of the connecting
tab 20 is at a certain distance from the lower edge 36 of the window 30. As the inner
container 3 protrudes from the outer container 4, and then as the lid rotates about
the hinge 7 from the closed position to the open position, the connecting tab 20 remains
integral with the outer container 4 by the effect of the retaining action of the connecting
tab 37 and then the connecting tab 20 slides with respect to the inner container 3
within the window 30. By the sliding effect of the connecting tab 20 within the window
30, the lower edge 35 of the connecting tab 20 gradually approaches towards the lower
edge 36 of the window 30 until reaching a limit position of maximum opening or wherein
the bottom edge 35 of the connecting tab 20 rests on the bottom edge 36 of the window
30. Once reaching said limit or maximum opening position, the connecting tab 20 can
no longer slide downwards with respect to the window 30 as the lower edge 35 of the
connecting tab 20 is in contact with the lower edge 36 of the window 30; consequently,
it is not possible to further extract the inner container 3 from the outer container
4 and therefore it is not possible to further open by rotation the lid 6 about the
hinge 7.
[0029] In other words, the lower edge 35 of the connecting tab 20, together with the lower
edge 36 of the window 30, is an "end-of-stroke" that establishes a maximum opening
position (i.e. of maximum extraction of the inner container 3 from the outer container
4 and therefore of maximum rotation of the lid 6 about the hinge 7) further blocking
the sliding of the inner container 3 (and therefore the further rotation of the lid
6 about the hinge 7) once reaching the maximum opening position thereof.
[0030] The containers 3 and 4 of the package 1 of cigarettes shown in Figures 1 to 6 are
obtained from corresponding blanks 38 and, respectively, 39 illustrated in Figures
7 and 8. Each of the blanks 38 and 39 comprises, among other things, a number of elements,
which will be marked, where possible, with accented reference numbers equal to the
reference numbers as for the corresponding walls of the respective container 3 and
4.
[0031] With reference to Figure 7, the inner blank 38 has two longitudinal fold lines and
a number of transverse fold lines 41, which define, between the two longitudinal fold
lines 40, a panel 9' which forms the front wall 9 of the inner container 3, a panel
8' which forms the bottom wall 8 of the inner container 3, a panel 10' which forms
the rear wall 10 of the inner container 3, a panel 13' which forms the rear wall 13
of the lid 6, a panel 12' which forms the top wall 12 of the lid 6, a reinforcing
panel 12" which is glued to the inside of the panel 12', a reinforcing panel 13" which
rests on the panel 13', and a reinforcing panel 10" which is glued to the inside of
the panel 10'.
[0032] In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the inner blank has two longitudinal fold
lines and a number of transverse fold lines, which define, between the two longitudinal
fold lines, at least one panel which forms the front wall of the inner container,
a panel that forms the bottom wall of the inner container, a panel which forms the
rear wall of the inner container, a panel which forms the rear wall of the lid, a
panel which forms the top wall of the lid. Therefore, in said further embodiment,
the blank is similar to the blank 38 of Figure 7 but does not have the reinforcing
panels. Similarly, one or more of the above mentioned reinforcing panels may be provided
to strengthen the portion on which it will be superimposed.
[0033] The panel 9' has two wings 11', which form an outer portion of the lateral walls
11 of the inner container 3, are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 9', and are
connected to the panel 9' by the longitudinal fold lines 40.
[0034] The panel 10' is provided with a window 30 within which the connecting tab 20 is
formed; this latter comprises a top portion 31, which top edge is integral with the
panel 12' and which is inclined with respect to said panel 10' to follow the rotation
of the lid 6, an intermediate portion 32, which is connected to the top portion 31
along a transverse fold line 41 and has a central opening, and a bottom portion 33
which is connected to the intermediate portion 32 along a transverse fold line 41,
in addiction, the bottom portion 33 has a protrusion 34 in correspondence with the
opening of the intermediate portion 32. The panel 10' also has two wings 11", which
form an inner portion of the lateral walls 11 of the inner container 3, are arranged
on opposite sides of the panel 10', and are connected to the panel 10' by the longitudinal
fold lines 40.
[0035] The panel 13' has two wings 14' which form the lateral walls 14 of the lid 6, are
arranged on opposite sides of panel 13', and are connected to the panel 13' by the
longitudinal fold lines 40. The panel 10" has two reinforcing wings 11"' which are
gummed to the inside in correspondence to the wings 11", are arranged on opposite
sides of panel 10", and are connected to panel 10" by the longitudinal fold lines
40.
[0036] Each wing 11" has a tab 42 which is connected to the wing 11' by a transverse fold
line 41, is folded by 90° with respect to the wing 11", and is glued to an inner surface
of the panel 8'. Each wing 14' has a tab 43 that is connected to the wing 14' by a
transverse fold line 41, is folded by 90° with respect to wing 14', and is glued to
an inner surface of the panel 12'.
[0037] With reference to Figure 8, the outer blank 39 has two longitudinal fold lines 44
and a number of transverse fold lines 45, which define, between the two longitudinal
fold lines 44, a panel 17' forming the front wall 17 of the outer container 4, a panel
15' forming the bottom wall 15 of the outer container 4 and a panel 18' forming the
rear wall 18 of the outer container 4.
[0038] The panel 17' has two wings 19' , which form an outer portion of the lateral walls
19 of the outer container 4, are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 17', and
are connected to the panel 17' by longitudinal fold lines 44. The panel 18' has two
wings 19", which form an inner portion of the lateral walls 19 of the outer container
4, are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 18', and are connected to the panel
18' by longitudinal fold lines 44.
[0039] Each wing 19" has a tab 46 which is connected to the wing 19' by a transverse fold
line 45, is folded by 90° with respect to the wing 19", and is glued to an inner surface
of the panel 15'.
[0040] In figure 9 a cigarette packing machine 47 is illustrated that produces the packages
1 of cigarettes of the type described above and illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.
[0041] The packing machine 47 comprises a packing unit 48 that produces the wrapped groups
2 of cigarettes, a subsequent packing unit 49 that produces the inner containers 3
by folding the blanks 38 about corresponding wrapped groups 2 of cigarettes received
by the packing unit 48, a packing unit 50 that produces the outer containers 4 by
folding the blanks 39 about corresponding inner containers 3 received by the packing
unit 49, and a transfer unit 51 which receives in input the inner containers 3 from
the packing unit 49 in correspondence to an input station 52 and feeds in output the
inner containers 3 to the packing unit 50 in correspondence to an output station 53.
[0042] As illustrated in Figure 10, the packing unit 49 comprises a packing conveyor 54
which is provided with a number of packing pockets 55 (shown in Figure 18), each of
which is adapted to house a inner blank 38 to feed the inner blank 38 by steps (i.e.
with intermittent motion composed by a succession of motion steps intercalated with
a corresponding succession of stopping steps) along a packing path P1 that extends
between an input station S1 and an output station S15 through a succession of work
stations from S2 to S14 (illustrated in figures 11 and 12).
[0043] In correspondence to the input station S1, a hopper (not shown) is provided, which
houses a stack of inner blanks 38 and cyclically feeds the inner blanks 38 from a
bottom outlet towards the packing pockets 55 of the packing conveyor 54; in particular,
each inner blank 38 arranged in correspondence to the bottom outlet of the hopper
is picked up by a suction gripping head that moves vertically and is supported to
an underlying packing pocket 55 of the packing conveyor 54 that stops and waits in
the input station S1 in alignment with the bottom outlet.
[0044] It is important to note that the packing conveyor 54 feeds each inner blank 38 along
the packing path P1 always transversely, i.e. always with the transverse fold lines
41 parallel to the feed direction; in other words, the packing conveyor 54 does not
ever vary the orientation of each inner blank 38 with respect to the feed direction,
and then in all the points of the packing path P1 each inner blank 38 has always its
transverse fold lines 41 parallel to the feed direction (and thus its own longitudinal
fold lines 40 perpendicular to the feed direction). Always maintaining a constant
orientation of each inner blank 38 along the packing path P1 allows to simplify both
the folding operations, and the structure of the packing conveyor 54.
[0045] According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 18, the packing conveyor 54 is
constituted by a conveyor belt that is wrapped about two end pulleys and supports
a number of packing pockets 55; accordingly, the packing path P1 has an "U" shape
and extends between the input station S1 arranged along a straight initial portion
of the packing path P1 and the output station S15 arranged along a straight end portion
of the packing path P1 which is connected to the straight initial portion by way of
an intermediate semicircular portion.
[0046] As illustrated in Figure 11, in the work station S2 a folding device 56 is provided
having movable parts (i.e. parts that move to perform the folding operation while
the inner blank 38 is stopped waiting in the work station S2); the folding device
56 simultaneously folds by 90° the panel 12', with respect to the panel 13' and the
tabs 43 with respect to the wings 14' about the same transverse fold line 41 giving
the inner blank 38 an "L" shape. In the work station S3 a folding device 57 is provided
having fixed folding profiles (i.e. folding helixes that are devoid of movable parts
and perform the folding operation while the inner blank 38 moves in the packing path
P1 and thus exploiting the feeding movement of the inner blank 38); the folding device
57 simultaneously folds by 90° the panel 12', with respect to the panel 13' and the
tabs 43 with respect to the wings 14' about the same transverse fold line 41 and in
the opposite direction to the similar fold made by the folding device 56 in the work
station S2 giving again the inner blank 38 a flat shape. The two folding devices 56
and 57 perform two opposite folding operations (i.e. that cancel each other) having
a flex function (i.e. weakening in order to considerably reduce the residual spring
back force) the inner blank 38 along the corresponding transverse fold line 41. Therefore,
the function of the two folding devices 56 and 57 is not to perform an actual folding
of the inner blank 38, but rather to prepare the inner blank 38 for the subsequent
folding operations (described below).
[0047] The above-described flexing of the inner blank 38 along the transverse fold line
41 which divides the panel 12' with respect to the panel 13' and the tabs 43 from
the wings 14' is very useful to allow the proper formation of the lid 6 described
in the following; i.e., without this flexing of the inner blank 38 the formation of
the lid 6 described in the following can become problematic, and then determine a
significant increase of defective inner containers 3 (due to a malformation of the
lid 6) that must be discarded.
[0048] Moreover, in the work station S3 a folding device 58 is provided having movable parts
(i.e. parts that move to perform the folding operation while the inner blank 38 is
stopped waiting in the work station S3); the folding device 58 folds by 90°, the actuating
tab 23 with respect to panel 9' and about the fold line 28, with the function of flexing
the actuating tab 23 along the fold line 28.
[0049] Finally, in the work station S3 a gumming device 59 (typically-provided with nozzles
that spray gumming glue) which deposits glue points 60 (illustrated in Figure 12)
on the panel 9' is provided.
[0050] Between the work station S3 and the work station S5 a folding device 61 is provided
having fixed folding profiles (i.e. folding helixes that are devoid of moving parts
and perform the folding operation while the inner blank 38 moves in the packing path
P1 and thus exploiting the feeding movement of the inner blank 38); the folding device
61 folds by 180° the lifting tab 29 with respect to the panel 9' and about the fold
line 28. In particular, the folding device 61 folds by 90° the lifting tab 29 with
respect to the panel 9' and about the fold line 28 between the work station S3 and
work station S4 (i.e. in the work station S4 the lifting tab 29 is fold by 90° with
respect to the panel 9'), and thereafter, the folding device 61 folds by further 90°
(for a total of 180°) the lifting tab 29 with respect to the panel 9' and about the
fold line 28 between the work station S4 and the work station S5 (i.e. in the work
station S5 the lifting tab 29 is folded by 180° with respect to the panel 9' and onto
the panel 9' itself to which is glued by the effect of the presence of glue 60).
[0051] In the work station S4 a folding device 62 is provided having movable parts (i.e.
parts that move to perform the folding operation while the inner blank 38 is stopped
waiting in the work station S4). The folding device 62 folds by 90° the reinforcing
wings 11'" with respect to the panel 10" and about corresponding longitudinal fold
lines 40. The same device 62 folds the bottom portion 33 of the connecting tab 20
by 180° with respect to the intermediate portion 32, about a transverse fold line
41, and onto the intermediate portion 32 itself, forming a hook. Also, when the bottom
portion 33 is folded by 180° with respect to the intermediate portion 32, the protrusion
34 is inserted at least partially below the third panel 10'.
[0052] Preferably, the above mentioned folds of the reinforcing wings 11''' and of the bottom
portion 33 are made simultaneously by the folding device 62.
[0053] It is important to note that downstream from the folding device 62 the reinforcing
wings 11"' are left free to spring back to their original position; in practice the
reinforcing wings 11"' not exactly return to the initial position perfectly coplanar
with the panel 10", but assume a slightly inclined position with respect to the panel
10" (as shown in Figure 11).
[0054] In the work station S5 a presser device 63 is provided having movable parts (i.e.
parts that move to perform the pressing operation while the inner blank 38 is stopped
waiting in the work station S5) that locally flattens the inner blank 38-by pressing
on the lifting tab 29 to press the folding of the tab 29 again onto the lifting panel
9'.
[0055] Between the work station S5 and the work station S6 a rotating presser device 64
is arranged (i.e., consisting of a rotatable drum that by rotating "rolls" an outer
surface on the inner blank 38 while the inner blank 38 moves in the packing path P1)
that locally flattens the inner blank 38 by pressing on the bottom portion 33 of the
connecting tab 20 to press the folding of the bottom portion 33 again onto the intermediate
portion 32.
[0056] In the work station S6 a folding device 65 is provided having movable parts (i.e.
parts that move to perform the folding operation while the inner blank 38 is stopped
waiting in the work station S6), the folding device 65 folds by 90° the actuating
tab 23 with respect to panel 9', about the fold line 28 and onto the panel 9' itself.
[0057] In the work station S6 a presser device 66 is provided having movable parts (i.e.
parts that move to perform the pressing operation while the inner blank 38 is stopped
waiting in the work station S6) that locally flattens the inner blank 38 by pressing
on lifting tab 29 to press both the folding of the lifting tab 29 again onto an inner
wall of the panel 9', and the folding of the actuating tab 23 onto an outer wall of
the panel 9'.
[0058] Between the work station S7 and the work station S8 a rotating presser device 67
is arranged (i.e., consisting of a rotatable drum that by rotating "rolls" an outer
surface on the inner blank 38 while the inner blank 38 moves in the packing path P1)
that locally flattens the inner blank 38 by pressing on the lifting tab 29 and on
the actuating tab 23 to press the folding of the lifting tab 29 and of the actuating
tab 23 again onto the panel 9'.
[0059] In the work station S9 a gumming device 68 is provided (typically provided with nozzles
that spray gumming glue) which deposits glue points 69 (illustrated in Figure 12)
on the panel 12', on the tabs 43 and on the wings 11".
[0060] Between the work station S9 and the work station S10 a folding device 70 is provided
having fixed folding profiles (i.e. folding helixes that are devoid of moving parts
and perform the folding operation while the inner blank 38 moves in the packing path
P1 and thus exploiting the feeding movement of the inner blank 38); the folding device
70 folds by 90° the panel 12" with respect to the panel 12' and about a corresponding
transverse fold line 41.
[0061] In the work station S10 a folding device 71 is provided having movable parts (i.e.
parts that move to perform the pressing operation while the inner blank 38 is stopped
waiting in the work station S10). The folding device 71 is movable in the vertical
work direction D1 that is perpendicular to both the packing path P1, and the horizontal
work direction D2. The folding device 71 initially folds the tabs 43 by 90° with respect
to the wings 14' and about corresponding transverse fold lines 41, and subsequently
at the same time (i.e. together) folds the wings 14'by 90° with respect to the panel
13' and about corresponding longitudinal fold lines 40, folds the panel 12' by 90°
with respect to the panel 13' and about a corresponding transverse fold line 41 (in
this way the tabs 43 rest on the panel 12' to which are glued by the effect of the
presence of the glue 69), folds the panel 12" by 90° with respect to the panel 12'
and about a corresponding transverse fold line 41, and folds the panel 13" by 90°
with respect to panel 12" and about a corresponding transverse fold line 41.
[0062] Between the work station S10 and the work station S11 a folding device 72 is arranged
which is provided with fixed folding profiles (i.e. folding helixes that are devoid
of movable parts and perform the folding operation while the inner blank 38 moves
in the packing path P1 and thus exploiting the feeding movement of the inner blank
38), the folding device 72 folds the panel 13" by 90°, with respect to panel 12" about
a corresponding transverse fold line 41 and in the opposite direction to the similar
fold made by the folding device 71 in the work station 10. The two folding devices
71 and 72 perform two opposite folding operations (i.e. that cancel each other) between
the two panels 12" and 13" having the function of flexing (or weakening to considerably
reduce the residual spring back force) the inner blank 38 along the corresponding
transverse fold line 41.
[0063] In the work station S11 a folding device 73 is provided having movable parts (i.e.
parts that move to perform the folding operation while the inner blank 38 is stopped
waiting in the work station S11), the folding device 73 simultaneously (i.e. together)
fold the panel 12" by 90°, with respect to panel 12' and about a corresponding transverse
fold line 41 (in this way the panel 12" rests to the panel 12' to which is glued due
to the presence of the glue 69) and folds the panel 13" by 90° with respect to panel
12" and about a corresponding transverse fold line 41 (in this way the panel 13" rests
to the panel 13', the panel 10" rests on the panel 10' to which is glued due to the
presence of the glue 69 and the wings 11"' overlap with the wings 11" without resting;
in a subsequent work station the wings 11'" will be glued to the wings 11" due to
the presence of the glue 69).
[0064] In the work station S12 a presser device 74 is provided having movable parts (i.e.
parts that move to perform the folding operation while the inner blank 38 is stopped
waiting in the work station S12) that locally flattens the inner blank 38 by pressing
on the panel 10" to press the folding of the panel 10" again onto the panel 10'.
[0065] In the work station S13 a presser device 75 is provided, identical to the previous
presser device 74, which is provided with movable parts (i.e. parts that move to perform
the folding operation while the inner blank 38 is stopped waiting in the work station
S13) that locally flattens the inner blank 38 by pressing on the panel 10" to press
the folding of the panel 10" again onto the panel 10'.
[0066] As illustrated in Figure 13, the folding device 62 comprises two lateral folding
bodies 76 of parallelepiped shape and a center folding body 77 "U"-shaped which are
mounted on the same carriage to move cyclically along a direction D1 of vertical work
that is perpendicular to the packing path P1. Furthermore, the folding device 62 comprises
two lateral contrast bodies 78 of parallelepiped shape and a center contrast body
79 that are mounted on the same carriage to move cyclically along a horizontal work
direction D2 that is perpendicular to both the packing path P1, and the vertical work
direction D1. In use, the two lateral folding bodies 76 move from top to bottom along
the vertical work direction D1 to fold the reinforcing wings 11'" by 90° with respect
to panel 10" and about corresponding longitudinal fold lines 40; in this step the
two contrast bodies 78 are arranged below the panel 10" and from opposite sides of
the panel 10" close to the longitudinal fold lines 40 to provide a contrast for the
two lateral folding bodies 76. Simultaneously with the action of the two lateral folding
bodies 76, the folding body 77 moves downwards along the vertical work direction D1
to fold the bottom portion 33 of the connecting tab 20 by 90°, with respect to the
intermediate portion 32 and about a transverse fold line 41; in this step, the center
contrast body 79 is arranged below the panel 10' in correspondence to the connecting
tab 20 to provide a contrast for the folding body 77. After the folding bodies 76
and 77 have moved downwards along the vertical work direction D1, the contrast bodies
78 and 79 move together along the horizontal work direction D2: the two contrast bodies
78 move along the horizontal work direction D2 to move from the trajectory of the
reinforcing wings 11"' and thus allow the subsequent feeding of the inner blank 38
along the packing path P1, while the center contrast body 79 moves in the horizontal
work direction D2 to fold by further 90° (i.e., for a total of 180°) the bottom portion
33 of the connecting tab 20 with respect to the intermediate portion 32 and about
a transverse fold line 41 so as to fold the portion 33 onto the intermediate bottom
portion 32 itself. As illustrated in Figure 14, the folding device 65 comprises a
folding body 80 which performs a folding roto-translation movement perpendicular to
the packing path P1 and is supported by an articulated quadrilateral 81.
[0067] As illustrated in Figure 15, the folding device 71 comprises a folding body 82 that
has in cross section a "L" shape and is movable in the horizontal work direction D2
(which is perpendicular to the packing path P1). Furthermore, the folding device 71
comprises a folding body 83 which is movable in the work direction D1 perpendicular
to the packing path P1 to fold portions of the inner blank 38.
Therefore, the folding body 83 first folds the tabs 43 by 90°, with respect to the
wings 14' and about corresponding transverse fold lines 41, then folds the wings 14'
by 90°, with respect to the panel 13' and about corresponding longitudinal fold lines
40, and then folds the panel 12' by 90°, with respect to the panel 13' and about a
corresponding transverse fold line 41 bringing the panel 12' in contact with the tabs
43 while the same folding body 83 moves in a continuous motion along the first work
direction D1. In this way, the three above mentioned folding operations are performed
by moving a single member, namely the folding body 83, simplifying the operations
in the machine and consequently reducing the costs. In particular, the plurality of
folds is performed by moving the single member along a single direction, allowing
to reduce the time needed for the folding operations.
[0068] In particular, the folding body 83 has a center member 84, two top lateral members
85 arranged on opposite sides of the center member 84, and two bottom lateral members
86 also arranged on opposite sides of the center member 84. Furthermore the center
member 84, the two top lateral members 85, and the two bottom lateral members 86 are
arranged in different positions vertically (i.e. along the work direction D1) to execute
in succession respective folding of the inner blank 38 while the folding body 83 moves
vertically with a continuous movement (i.e. along the work direction D1). Finally,
the folding device 71 comprises a contrast body 87. Preferably, the latter comprises
a "hoe"-shaped center member 88 and two lateral appendixes 89 arranged on opposite
sides of the center member 88 and is mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation 90
parallel to the packing path P1.
[0069] What is described for the formation of the inner container is applied,
mutatis mutandis, also for the embodiment previously described, not illustrated and not provided, or
provided only in part, of the reinforcing panels.
[0070] In use, when the inner blank 38 stops at the work station S10, the contrast body
87 rotates about the axis of rotation 90 to arrange the two lateral appendixes 89
above the wings 14' and close to the tabs 43, to form a contrast for the top lateral
nembers 85 of the folding body 83, and then the folding body 33 moves from the bottom
upwards in the vertical work direction D1 so that the two top lateral members 85 fold
the tabs 43 by 90°, with respect to the wings 14' and about corresponding transverse
fold lines 41. Subsequently, the contrast body 87 rotates in reverse about the axis
of rotation 90 to remove the two appendixes 89 from the wings 14' and at the same
time to rest the center member 88 on the panel 13', to form a contrast to the center
member 84 of the folding body 33, and then the folding body 83 moves further upwards
along the vertical work direction D1 so that two bottom lateral members 86 fold the
wings 14' by 90° with respect to the panel 13' and about corresponding longitudinal
fold lines 40 and at the same time the center member 84 fold the panel 12' by 90°,
with respect to the panel 13' and about a corresponding transverse fold line 41 (in
this way the tabs 43 rest on the panel 12' to which are glued by the effect of the
presence of glue 69). Finally, the folding body 82 moves in the horizontal work direction
D2 and towards the contrast body 87 to fold the panel 12" by 90°, and onto the contrast
body 87 with respect to the panel 12' and to fold the panel 13" by 90°, with respect
to the panel 12" and about a corresponding transverse fold line 41.
[0071] As illustrated in Figure 16, the folding device 73 comprises a folding body 91 which
is movable in the vertical work direction D1 (which is perpendicular to the packing
path P1), and an aligner body 92 which is movable in a tilted work direction D3 (which
is not parallel to the vertical work direction D1, nor to the horizontal work direction
D2, nor to the packing path P1). In use, when the inner blank 38 stops at the work
station S11, the folding body 91 moves downwards along the vertical work direction
D1 to fold the panel 12" by 90°, with respect to the panel 12' and about a corresponding
transverse fold line 41 (in this way the panel 12" rests on the panel 12' to which
is glued due to the presence of glue 69) and to simultaneously fold the panel 13"
by 90°, with respect to the panel 12" and about a corresponding transverse fold line
41 (in this way the panel 13" rests on the panel 13', the panel 10" rests on the panel
10' to which is glued due to the presence of glue 69, and the wings 11'" overlap the
wings 11" without resting; in a subsequent work station the wings 11"' will be glued
to the wings 11" due to the presence of glue 69). Subsequently, the aligner body 92
moves downwards in the tilted work direction D3 to hold down the end edge of the panel
10".
[0072] According to a preferred embodiment, better illustrated in Figure 17, when the panel
12" is folded by 90° with respect to panel 12' and simultaneously the panel 13" is
folded by 90°, with respect to panel 12" of the folding body 91, the wings 11'" are
maintained slightly raised with respect to the underlying wings 11" (while the panel
10" completely rests on the underlying panel 10'), in particular, the action of the
aligner body 92 keeps the wings 11'" slightly raised with respect to the underlying
wings 11" by resting and pressing on the end edge of the panel 10". In this way, during
the subsequent feeding of the inner blank 38 in the packing path P1, downstream from
work station S11 and towards the work station S12, while the folding body 91 moves
from the bottom upwards in the vertical work direction D1, the aligner body 92 can
remain lowered and hold down the end edge of the panel 10", maintaining the panels
10" and 13" in the correct position facing the underlying corresponding panels 10'
and 13', and keeping the panel 12" pressed onto the underlying panel 12'.
[0073] The fact that the folding device 62 folds the reinforcing wings 11"' by 90°, and
subsequently downstream from the folding device 62 the reinforcing wings 11"' are
set free facilitates the fact that the reinforcing wings 11"' remain slightly raised
with respect to the underlying wings 11".
[0074] In a work station arranged downstream from the packing path P1, the wings 11"' are
pressed onto the wings 11" to complete the gluing between the wings 11"' and the wings
11" due to the presence of glue 69, simultaneously with the folding of the wings 11"
by 90°, with respect to panel 10' and about corresponding longitudinal fold lines
40. In other words, the wings 11"' are glued to the wings 11" when the wings 11" are
in perpendicular position to the panel 10' and this cannot happen in a work station
of the packing path P1, since along the packing path P1 the wings 11" always remain
coplanar with the panel 10'.
[0075] As illustrated in Figure 10, the packing unit 49 comprises a packing conveyor 93
which is provided with a number of packing pockets 94 (illustrated schematically in
Figure 19), each of which is adapted to house an inner blank 38 and the corresponding
wrapped group 2 of cigarettes for feeding the inner blank 38 and the wrapped group
2 of cigarettes along a packing path P2 that extends between an input station S16
and an output station S18.
[0076] At the input station S16, an inner blank 38 partially pre-folded and coming from
the packing conveyor 54 is fed into a packing pocket 94 causing a further folding
of the inner blank 38 itself. In correspondence to a feed station S17 arranged between
the input station S16 and the output station S18, a wrapped group 2 of cigarettes
is fed inside a packing pocket 94 to be coupled to the previously fed inner blank
38; in particular, a rear wall of the wrapped group 2 of cigarettes rests on the panel
10' of the inner blank 38. At the output station S18, the inner container 3 (formed
by folding the inner blank 38 about the wrapped group 2 of cigarettes) is extracted
from the packing pocket 94 and proceeds towards the packing unit 50. Downstream from
the output station S18 a drying conveyor (shown schematically in Figure 9) is arranged
that transfers the inner containers 3 to the packing unit 50. As illustrated in Figure
19, in the input station S16 a folding device 95 is arranged, which folds the tabs
42 of the inner blank 38 by 90°, with respect to the wings 11", and then, by inserting
the inner blank 38 into the packing pocket 94, determines the folding of the panel
8' by 90°, with respect to the panel 10' and the folding of the two wings 11" by 90°,
with respect to the panel 10'; in other words, after the folding of the tabs 42 by
90°, the input of the inner blank 38 in the packing pocket 94 determines the folding
of the panel 8' by 90°, and of the two wings 11" by 90°, with respect to the panel
10' and in this way the tabs 42 rest on the panel 8'.
[0077] Between the feed station S17 and the output station S18 a folding device 96 is arranged,
which folds the panel 9' by 90°, with respect to panel 8' and about a corresponding
transverse fold line 41. The folding of the inner blank 38 is completed in the output
station S18 simultaneously with the extraction of the inner container 3 from the packing
pocket 94: during the extraction of the inner container 3 from the packing pocket
94 a folding device 97 folds the wings 11' by 90°, with respect to the 9', onto the
wings 11" and about corresponding longitudinal fold lines 40 completing the formation
of the lateral walls 11 of the inner container 3; preferably, a gumming device (not
shown) is arranged immediately upstream from the folding device 97 for depositing
glue between the wings 11' and 11" immediately before folding the wings 11'.
[0078] According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 19, upstream from the feed station
S17 an opening device 98 is arranged that by rotating the lid 6 of each inner blank
38 about the corresponding hinge 7 moves the lid 6 from the closing position to the
opening position so that in the feed station S17 the respective wrapped group 2 of
cigarettes can be inserted more easily into the inner blank 38; in particular, in
the feed station S17 the wrapped group 2 of cigarettes can be inserted with a substantially
axial (or longitudinal) movement into the inner blank 38. Consequently, downstream
from the feed station S17 a closing device 99 is arranged that by rotating the lid
6 of each inner blank 38 about the corresponding hinge 7 moves the lid 6 from the
open position to the closed position before continuing the folding of the inner blank
38.
[0079] According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the packing
conveyor 93 is constituted by a rotating wheel which rotates by steps about a central
axis of rotation 100 arranged horizontally. Consequently, the packing path P2 that
extends from the input station S16 to the output station S18 has a circular shape.
[0080] As illustrated in Figure 10, the packing unit 49 comprises a transfer conveyor 101
which transfers the pre-folded inner blanks 38 from the output station S15 of the
packing conveyor 54 to the input station S16 of the packing conveyor 93. Along the
transfer conveyor 101 and upstream from the input station S16 of the packing conveyor
93 a gumming device 102 that deposits glue between the tabs 42 and the panel 8' of
the inner blank 38 is arranged.
[0081] According to a preferred embodiment, one inner blank 38 at a time is fed to the packing
conveyor 54 in the input station S1 of the packing path P1, and the transfer conveyor
101 transfers two inner blanks 38 at a time from the packing conveyor 54 to the packing
conveyor 93; in this embodiment, the packing conveyor 93 at each step treats two inner
blanks 38 at a time. According to an alternative embodiment not illustrated, two inner
blanks 38 at a time are fed to the packing conveyor 54 in the input station S1 of
the packing path P1.
[0082] As illustrated in Figure 20, the packing unit 50 comprises a packing conveyor 103
that is provided with a number of packing pockets 104 (illustrated in Figure 23),
each of which is adapted to house an outer blank 39 to feed the outer blank 39 by
steps (i.e. with intermittent motion composed by a succession of motion phases intercalated
with a corresponding succession of stop phases) along a packing path P3 that extends
between an input station S19 and an output station S33 through a succession of work
stations from S20 to S32 (illustrated in figures 21 and 22).
[0083] At the input station S19, a hopper (not shown) is provided, which houses a stack
of outer blanks 39 and cyclically feeds the outer blanks 39 from an bottom outlet
towards the packing pockets 104 of the packing conveyor 103; in particular, each outer
blank 39 arranged at the bottom outlet of the hopper is picked up by a suction gripping
head that moves vertically and rests on an underlying packing pocket 104 of the packing
conveyor 103 that is stopped waiting in the input station S19 in alignment with the
bottom output.
[0084] It is important to note that the packing conveyor 103 advances each outer blank 39
along the packing path P3 always transversely, or always with the transverse fold
lines 45 parallel to the feed direction, in other words, the packing conveyor 103
does not ever vary the orientation of each outer blank 39 with respect to the feed
direction and therefore in all the points of the packing path P3 each outer blank
39 always has its transverse fold lines 45 parallel to the feed direction (and thus
their own longitudinal fold lines 44 perpendicular to the feed direction). Always
maintaining a constant orientation of each outer blank 39 along the packing path P3
allows to simplify both the folding operations, and the structure of the packing conveyor
103.
[0085] According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 23, the packing conveyor 103
is constituted by a conveyor belt that is wrapped about two end pulleys and supports
a number of packing pockets 104; accordingly, the packing path P3 has an "U" shape
and extends between the input station S19 arranged along an initial portion of the
rectilinear packing path P3 and the output station S33 arranged along a final portion
of the rectilinear packing path P3 that is connected to the initial straight portion
by way of an intermediate semicircular portion.
[0086] As illustrated in Figure 21, in the work station S21 a folding device 105 is provided
having movable parts (i.e. parts that move to perform the folding operation while
the outer blank 39 is stopped waiting in the work station S21); the folding device
105 simultaneously folds by 90° the appendix 37' with respect to connecting tab 37
and about a corresponding transverse fold line 45, the connecting tab 37 with respect
to the panel 18' and about a corresponding transverse fold line 45, and the sealing
tab 22 with respect to the panel 17' and about a corresponding transverse fold line
45.
[0087] At the work station S22 a folding device 106 is provided having fixed folding profiles
(i.e. folding helixes that are devoid of moving parts and perform the folding operation
while the outer blank 39 moves in the packing path P3 and thus exploiting the feeding
movement of the outer blank 39), the folding device 106 of folds the connecting tab
37 by further 90° (for a total of 180°) and simultaneously with respect to the panel
18' and about a corresponding transverse fold line 45 to rest the connecting tab 37
on the panel 18' (while the appendix 37' is folded on the opposite side of the tab
37 with respect to the panel 18'), and the sealing tab 22 with respect to the panel
17' and about a corresponding transverse fold line 45 to rest the sealing flap 22
on the panel 17'.
[0088] Between the work station S23 and the work station S25 a folding device 107 is provided
having fixed folding profiles (i.e. folding helixes that are devoid of moving parts
and perform the folding operation while the outer blank 39 moves in the packing path
P3 and thus exploiting the feeding movement of the outer blank 39); the folding device
107 folds the sealing tab 22 by 180°, with respect to the panel 17' with opposite
direction with respect to the previous folds performed by the folding devices 105
and 106. The folding device 107 and the two folding devices 105 and 106 (when acting
on the sealing tab 22) perform two opposite folding operations (i.e. that cancel each
other) having a flex function of (i.e. weakening to considerably reduce the residual
spring back force) the outer blank 39 along the corresponding transverse fold line
45. Therefore, the function of the folding devices 105, 106 and 107 (when acting on
the sealing tab 22) is not to perform an actual folding of the outer blank 39, but
to prepare the outer blank 39 for the successive folding operations (described below).
[0089] In the work station S26 a folding device 108 is provided having movable parts (i.e.
parts that move to perform the folding operation while the inner blank 39 is stopped
waiting in the work station S26); the folding device 108 folds the connecting tab
26 by 90°, with respect to the sealing tab 22 and the about a corresponding transverse
fold line 45.
[0090] In the work station S27 a device 109 for folding is provided having fixed folding
profiles (i.e. folding helixes that are devoid of moving parts and perform the folding
operation while the outer blank 39 moves in the packing path P3 and thus exploiting
the feeding movement of the outer blank 39), the folding device 109 folds the connecting
tab 26 by a further 90° (for a total of 180°) with respect to the sealing tab 22 and
about a corresponding transverse fold line 45 to rest the connecting tab 26 on the
sealing tab 22 (and thus to rest the actuating tab 24 on the panel 17').
[0091] In the work station S29 a rotating presser device 110 is arranged (i.e. consisting
of a rotatable drum that by rotating "rolls" an outer surface on the inner blank 38
while the inner blank 38 moves in the packing path P3) that locally flattens the outer
blank 39 by pressing on the connecting tab 26 to press the folding of the connecting
tab 26 again onto the sealing tab 22.
[0092] As illustrated in Figure 20, the packing unit 50 comprises a packing conveyor 111
that is provided with a number of packing pockets 112 (illustrated schematically in
Figure 24), each of which is adapted to accommodate an outer blank 39 and the corresponding
inner container 3 for feeding the outer blank 39 and the inner container 3 along a
packing path P4 that extends between an input station S34 and an output station S36.
[0093] At the input station S34, an outer blank 39 partially pre-folded and coming from
the packing conveyor 103 is fed into a packing pocket 112 causing a further folding
of the outer blank 39 itself. At a feed station S35 arranged between the input station
S34 and the output station S36, an inner container 3 is fed into a packing pocket
112 to be coupled to the outer blank 39 previously feed; in particular, the rear wall
10 of the inner container 3 rests to the panel 18' of the outer blank 39. At the output
station S36, the outer container 4 (formed by folding the outer blank 39 about the
inner container 3) almost completely full is extracted from the packing pocket 112
and proceeds along a further packing path P5 and a drying path P6 arranged in succession,
and then through two more work stations S37 and S38 arranged downstream from the packing
conveyor 111. The drying path P6 is defined by a drying conveyor (shown schematically
in Figure 9) that transfers the outer containers 4 towards an outlet of the packing
machine 47.
[0094] As illustrated in Figure 24, in the input station S34 a folding device 113 is arranged,
which folds the tabs 46 of the outer blank 39 by 90°, with respect to the wings 19",
and then, by inserting the outer blank 39 into the packing pocket 112, determines
the folding of the panel 15' by 90° with respect to the panel 18' and the folding
of the two wings 19" by 90° with respect to the panel 18'; in other words, after the
folding of the tabs 46 by 90°, the input of the outer blank 39 in the packing pocket
112 determines the folding of the panel 15' and the two wings 19" by 90° with respect
to the panel 18' and in this way the tabs 46 rest on the panel 15'.
[0095] Between the feed station S35 and the output station S36 a folding device 114 is arranged,
which folds the panel 17' by 90° with respect to panel 15' and about a corresponding
transverse fold line 45. The folding of the outer blank 39 is completed in the work
station S37 after the extraction of the outer container 4 from the packing pocket
112 (i.e. downstream from the output station S36); in the work station S37 a folding
device 115 folds by 90° the wings 19' with respect to the panel 17', onto the wings
19" and about corresponding longitudinal fold lines 44 completing the formation of
the lateral walls 19 of the outer container 4; preferably, a gumming device (not shown)
is arranged immediately upstream from the folding device 115 for depositing glue between
the flanges 19' and 19" immediately before the folding of the wings 19'.
[0096] According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the packing
conveyor 111 is constituted by a rotating wheel which rotates by steps about a horizontally
arranged central axis of rotation 116. Consequently, the packing path P4 that extends
from the input station S34 to the output station S36 has a circular shape. The packing
path P5 and the subsequent drying path P6 are rectilinear and arranged perpendicularly
one to the other.
[0097] As illustrated in Figure 20, the packing unit 50 comprises a transfer conveyor 117
which transfers the pre-folded outer blanks 39 from the output station S33 of the
packing conveyor 103 to the input station S34 of the packing conveyor 111. Along the
transfer conveyor 119 and upstream from the input station S34 of the packing conveyor
111 a gumming device 118 is arranged which deposits glue between the tabs 46 and the
panel 15' of the outer blank 39.
[0098] According to a preferred embodiment, an outer blank 39 at a time is fed to the packing
conveyor 103 in the input station S19 of the packing path P3, and the transfer conveyor
117 transfers two outer blanks 39 at a time from the packing conveyor 103 to the packing
conveyor 111, in this embodiment, the packing conveyor 111 treats at each step two
outer blanks 39 at a time. According to an alternative embodiment not illustrated,
two outer blanks at a time 39 are fed to the packing conveyor 103 in the input station
S19 of the packing path P3.
[0099] As illustrated in Figure 20, in the work station S38 a folding device 119 of the
type described in Italian patent application
B02011A000632 is arranged. During folding of the outer blank 39 about the inner container 3, the
sealing tab 22 is not bent so as to leave the sealing tab 22 in an initial position
wherein the sealing tab 22 is coplanar with the front wall 17 of the outer container
4 ; in other words, when the outer container 4 enters in the work station S38 the
sealing tab 22 is coplanar with the front wall 17 of the outer container 4. The folding
device 119 partially extracts the inner container 3 from the outer container 4 by
way of a sliding movement between the inner container 3 and the outer container 4,
successively the folding device 119 folds the sealing tab 22 by 90°, about a corresponding
and transverse fold line 45 towards the inner container 3 to arrange the sealing tab
22 in the work position under the top wall 12 of the lid 6 of the inner container
3, and finally the folding device 119 fully inserts the inner container 3 in the outer
container 4 by way of a sliding movement between the inner container 3 and the outer
container 4. For a more detailed description of the operation of the folding device
119 refer to what is described in Italian patent application
BO2011A000632.
[0100] According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8, the blanks 38 and 39
show alignment through windows 120 which are arranged at the lateral periphery of
the blanks 38 and 39 (i.e. in correspondence to the wings 11" and 19") and have the
function to ensure proper longitudinal alignment of the blanks 38 and 39 when the
blanks 38 and 39 themselves are inserted into the corresponding packing pockets 55
and 104 of the packing conveyors 54 and 103. In other words, the packing pockets 55
and 104 of the packing conveyors 54 and 103 have reference bodies that reproduce in
negative the shape of the alignment windows 120 and are inserted within the alignment
windows 120 when the blanks 38 and 39 are inserted into the corresponding packing
pockets 55 and 104; in this way a correct longitudinal alignment of the blanks 38
and 39 within the corresponding packing pockets 55 and 104 is ensured.
[0101] In figure 25 a variant of the outer blank 39 is shown that, with respect to the outer
blank 39 shown in Figure 8, has a different shape and position of the alignment windows
120. It is important to note that the alignment windows 120 are formed in the wings
11" and 19" which constitute an inner portion of the lateral walls 11 and 19; then
the alignment windows 120 are not visible (i.e. are covered by the wings 11' and 19')
in the inner container 3 and in the outer container 4.
[0102] The through window 21 of the wing 19' of the outer blank 39 adapted to allow the
user to apply the necessary thrust to slide the inner container 3 with respect to
the outer container 4 (Figure 2) must not be limited by the alignment window 120 of
the corresponding wing 19" of the outer blank 39. In other words, the alignment window
120 which faces the through window 21 should have a greater dimension than the through
window 21 itself, as shown in Figures 8 and 25.
[0103] The packing method and the corresponding packing machine 47 described above have
many advantages, as they allow to produce the slide-open packages 1 with a hinged
lid with high productivity (i.e. with a high number of packages 1 of cigarettes produced
per unit of time) while maintaining a high quality standard. This result is obtained
thanks to the conformation of the packing units 49 that by completing the formation
of the lid 6 in the packing conveyor 54 (i.e. before coupling the inner blank 38 to
the wrapped group 2 of cigarettes) allows to form the lid 6 in a simple and effective
way and simultaneously allows to greatly simplify the folding of the inner blank 38
about the wrapped group 2 of cigarettes. In particular, the formation of the lid 6
is easier (and therefore simple and fast) along a straight packing path (as, indeed,
is the packing path P1 of the packing conveyor 54), while the folding of the inner
blank 38 about the wrapped group 2 of cigarettes is easier (and therefore simple and
fast) along a circular packing path (as, indeed, is the packing path P2 of the packing
conveyor 93). So, thanks to the conformation of the packing units 49 all the folding
operations can be performed in the most favorable situation, and therefore can be
performed quickly (i.e. with a high productivity of the packing process) while ensuring
a high quality standard.
[0104] Additionally, but not less important, the packing method and the corresponding packing
machine 47 described above are extremely "flexible", i.e. allow to vary quickly and
simply the type of slide-open packages 1 of cigarettes that are produced (with the
hinged lid 6 comprised in the inner blank 38 or comprised in the outer blank 39 or
without hinged lid). Among other things, the high flexibility is provided by the fact
that in each packing unit 49 or 50 there is a first packing conveyor 54 or 103 wherein
a preliminary folding of the inner blank 38 or outer blank 39 is performed and a second
packing conveyor 93 or 111 wherein the preliminary folding of the inner blank 38 or
outer blank 39 is completed; in fact, thanks to the presence of the first packing
conveyor 54 or 103 it is relatively simple to perform the preliminary folding of the
inner blank 38 or outer blank 39 to form a lid, and once the lid is formed the final
folding of the inner blank 38 or outer blank 39 is "conventional" (i.e. analogous
to the folding of a standard blank) and therefore devoid of particular complications.
[0105] Finally, it is important to observe that the two packing units 49 and 50 are very
similar to each other: both packing units 49 and 50 have the same structure that comprises
a first packing conveyor (the packing conveyors 54 and 103) consisting in a conveyor
belt and intended to produce a preliminary folding of the blank, a second packing
conveyor (the packing conveyors 93 and 111) consisting in a wheel and intended to
fold the blank (already partially folded) about the content, and a transfer conveyor
(the transfer conveyors 101 and 117) that connects the two packing conveyors. Furthermore,
the two second packing conveyors (the packing conveyors 93 and 111) of the two packing
units 49 and 50 perform almost all the packing operations in the same way and in the
same areas. Finally, the two packing units 49 and 50 can share between one another
a large number of components, i.e. the same identical component is frequently present
in both packing units 49 and 50 (in particular, the two packing units 49 and 50 can
have in common at least 70-80% of the components); in this way, it is possible to
break down in a very significant way the production, assembly and maintenance cost
of the packing machine 47.
1. A packing machine (47) for producing an inner container (3) by folding an inner blank
(38) about a wrapped group (2) of tobacco articles;
wherein the inner container (3) comprises a lid (6);
wherein the inner blank (38) has two longitudinal fold lines (40) and a number of
transverse fold lines (41) which define, between the two longitudinal fold lines (40),
at least one first panel (9') forming a front wall (9) of the inner container (3);
a second panel (8') forming a bottom wall (8) of the inner container (3); a third
panel (10') forming a rear wall (10) of the inner container (3); a fourth panel (13')
forming a rear wall (13) of the lid (6); a fifth panel (12') forming a top wall (12)
of the lid (6);
wherein the fourth panel (13') has two first wings (14') which form respective lateral
walls (14) of the lid (6); are arranged on opposite sides of the fourth panel (13'),
and are connected to the fourth panel (13') by the longitudinal fold lines (40); and
wherein each wing (14') has a tab (43) which is connected to the wing (14') by a transverse
fold line (41);
the packing machine (47) comprises:
a packing conveyor (54) which has a packing pocket (55) and feeds the inner blank
(38) along a packing path (P1) and through a first work station (S10); and a first
folding device (71) which is arranged at the first work station (S10) to fold portions
of the inner blank (38); the packing machine (47) is characterized in that:
the first folding device (71) comprises a first folding body (83) which is movable
in a first direction (D1) perpendicular to the packing path (P1) for folding portions
of the inner blank (38); and
said first folding body (83) first folds the tabs (43) by 90°, with respect to the
first wings (14') and about a corresponding transverse fold line (41), then folds
the wings (14') by 90°, with respect to the fourth panel (13') and about corresponding
longitudinal fold lines (40), and then folds the fifth panel (12') by 90°, with respect
to the fourth panel (13') and about a corresponding transverse fold line (41) bringing
the fifth panel (12) in contact with the tabs (43) while the first folding body (83)
moves with a continuous movement in the first work direction (D1).
2. The packing machine (47) according to claim 1, wherein in the inner blank (38) the
transverse fold lines (41) further define, between the two longitudinal fold lines
(40), a sixth reinforcing panel (12") which is glued to the inside of the fifth panel
(12'), a seventh reinforcing panel (13") which is glued to the inside of the fourth
panel (13'), and an eighth reinforcing panel (10") which is glued to the inside of
the third panel (10').
3. The packing machine (47) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first folding body
(83) comprises a center member (84), two top side members (85), and two bottom side
members (86) which are arranged in different positions in the first work direction
(D1).
4. The packing machine (47) according to claim 3, wherein as the first folding body (83)
moves continuously in the first work direction (D1), the top side members (85) first
fold the tabs (43) by 90°, with respect to the first wings (14') and about corresponding
transverse fold lines (41), the two bottom side members (86) then fold the first wings
(14') by 90°, with respect to the fourth panel (13') and about corresponding longitudinal
fold lines (40), and the center member (84) folds the fifth panel (12') by 90°, with
respect to the fourth panel (13') and about a corresponding transverse fold line (41)
bringing the fifth panel (12') in contact with the tabs (43).
5. The packing machine (47) according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein :
the first folding device (71) comprises a second folding body (82) which has an L-shaped
cross section and is movable in a second work direction (D2) perpendicular to the
packing path (P1) and to the first work direction (D1) ; and
as the first folding body (83) completes its movement in the first work direction
(D1), the second folding body (82) moves in the second work direction (D2) to fold
the sixth panel (12") by 90° with respect to the fifth panel (12') and about a corresponding
transverse fold line (41) and to fold the seventh panel (13") by 90° with respect
to the sixth panel (12") and about a corresponding transverse fold line (41).
6. The packing machine (47) according to claim 5, wherein:
the first folding device (71) comprises a contrast body (87) ; and
the second folding body (82) moves in the second work direction (D2) and towards the
contrast body (87) to fold the sixth panel (12") by 90° and onto the contrast body
(87), with respect to the fifth panel (12') and fold the seventh panel (13") by 90°,
with respect to the sixth panel (12") and about a corresponding transverse fold line
(41).
7. The packing machine (47) according to claim 6, wherein the contrast body (87) comprises
a "hoe"-shaped center member (88) and two lateral appendixes (89) on opposite sides
of the center member (88) and is mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation (90)
parallel to the packing path (P1).
8. The packing machine (47) according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein:
the first folding device (71) comprises a contrast body (87) which has a "hoe"-shaped
center member (88) and two lateral appendixes (89) on opposite sides of the center
member (88), and is mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation (90) parallel to the
packing path (P1) ;
when the inner blank (38) stops at the first work station (S10), the contrast body
(87) rotates about the axis of rotation (90) to arrange the two lateral appendixes
(89) on the first wings (14') and close to the tabs (43), to form a contrast for the
top side members (85) of the first folding body (83) ; and
the contrast body (87) then rotates in the opposite direction about the axis of rotation
(90) to remove the two appendixes (89) from the first wings (14') and simultaneously
bring the center member (88) to rest on the fourth panel (13'), to form a contrast
for the center member (84) of the first folding body (83).
9. The packing machine (47) according to one of claims 2 to 8 and comprising a second
work station (S11) downstream from the first work station (S10) and provided with
a second folding device (73) comprising a third folding body (91) which is movable
in the first work direction (D1) ; when the inner blank (38) stops at the second work
station (S11), the third folding body (91) moves in the first work direction (D1)
to fold the sixth panel (12") by 90° with respect to the fifth panel (12') and about
a corresponding transverse fold line (41) and to simultaneously fold the seventh panel
(13") by 90°, with respect to the sixth panel (12") and about a corresponding transverse
fold line (41).
10. The packing machine (47) according to claim 9, wherein:
the second folding device (73) comprises a fourth aligning body (92) movable in a
third work direction (D3) which is not parallel neither to the first work direction
(D1), to the second work direction (D2) nor to the packing path (P1); and, when the
third folding body (91) completes its movement, the fourth aligning body (92) moves
in the third work direction (D3) to rest and press on the end edge of the eighth panel
(10"), and to hold down the end edge of the eighth panel (10") as the inner blank
(38) moves along the packing path (P1) downstream from the second work station (S11).
11. The packing machine (47) according to claim 10, wherein:
the third panel (10') has two second wings (11") which form respective lateral walls
(11) of the inner, container (3), are arranged on opposite sides of the third panel
(10'), and are connected to the third panel (10') by the longitudinal fold lines (40);
the eighth panel (10") has two reinforcing third wings (11"') which are gummed to
the inside in correspondence of the second wings (11"), are arranged on opposite sides
of the eighth panel (10"), and are connected to the eighth panel (10") by the longitudinal
fold lines (40) ; and
the fourth aligning body (92) keeps the third wings (11"') raised slightly with respect
to the underlying second wings (11") while the eighth panel (10") rests completely
on the underlying third panel (10').
12. The packing machine (47) according to one of claims 9 to 11 and comprising a third
folding device (72) which is arranged between the first work station (S10) and the
second work station (S11), and which folds the seventh panel (13") by 90°, with respect
to the sixth panel (12"), about a corresponding transverse fold line (41) and in the
opposite direction to the similar fold made by the first folding device (71) at the
first work station (S10).
13. The packing machine (47) according to one of claims 1 to 12 and comprising at least
one fourth folding device (56, 57) which is arranged upstream from the first work
station (S10) and which simultaneously folds the fifth panel (12') by 90°, with respect
to the fourth panel (13') and the tabs (43) by 90° with respect to the first wings
(14'), about the same transverse fold line (41), and in one direction and then in
the opposite direction, to flex the inner blank (38) along the corresponding transverse
fold line (41) itself.
14. The packing machine (47) according to one of claims 2 to 13, wherein:
the eighth panel (10") has two reinforcing third wings (11"') which are arranged on
opposite sides of the eighth panel (10") and are connected to the eighth panel (10")
by the longitudinal fold lines (40);
a fifth folding device (62) which is arranged upstream from the first work station
(S10) and folds the reinforcing third wings (11"') by 90°, with respect to the eighth
panel (10") and about corresponding longitudinal fold lines (40) is provided; and
downstream from the fifth folding device (62) the reinforcing third wings (11"') are
left free to spring back to their original position.
15. The packing machine (47) according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein:
a fifth folding device (62) is provided;
the blank (38) has a window (30) in correspondence of the third panel (10'), inside
of which the connecting tab (20) is formed;
the connecting tab (20) comprises a top portion (31), in which the top edge is integral
with the fifth panel (12') and that is tilted with respect to said third panel (10')
to follow the rotation of the lid (6), an intermediate portion (32), which is connected
to the top portion (31) along a transverse fold line (41) and has a central opening,
and a bottom portion (33) that is connected to the intermediate portion (32) along
a transverse fold line (41);
the bottom portion (33) has a protrusion (34) at the opening of the intermediate portion
(32); and
the fifth folding device (62) folds the bottom portion (33) by 180° with respect and
onto the intermediate portion (32), about the transverse fold line (41) to form a
hook.
16. The packing machine (47) according to claim 15, wherein, when the bottom portion (33)
is folded with respect to the intermediate portion (32) by 180°, the protrusion (34)
is inserted at least partially below the third panel (10').
17. A packing method for producing an inner container (3) by folding an inner blank (38)
about a wrapped group (2) of tobacco articles; wherein the inner container (3) comprises
a lid (6) ;
wherein the inner blank (38) has two longitudinal fold lines (40) and a number of
transverse fold lines (41) which define, between the two longitudinal fold lines (40),
at least one first panel (9') forming a front wall (9) of the inner container (3)
; a second panel (8') forming a bottom wall (8) of the inner container (3); a third
panel (10') forming a rear wall (10) of the inner container (3) ; a fourth panel (13')
forming a rear wall (13) of the lid (6) ; a fifth panel (12') forming a wall (12)
of the lid (6) ;
wherein the fourth panel (13') has two first wings (14') which
form respective lateral walls (14) of the lid (6), are arranged on opposite sides
of the fourth panel (13'), and are connected to the fourth panel (13') by the longitudinal
fold lines (40) ; and
wherein each wing (14') has a tab (43) which is connected to the wing (14') by a transverse
fold line (41);
the packing method comprises the steps of:
feeding the inner blank (38) along a packing path (P1) and
through a work station (S10) by means of a packing conveyor (54) having a packing
pocket (55) ; folding portions of the inner blank (38) by means of a folding device
(71) which is arranged at the work station (S10) ; the packing method is characterized in that:
the folding device (71) is provided with.a first folding body (83) which is movable
in a first work direction (D1) perpendicular to the packing path (P1) for folding
portions of the inner blank (38) ; and
said first folding body (83) in succession folds the tabs (43) by 90°, with respect
to the first wings (14') and about corresponding transverse fold lines (41) ; folds
the first wings (14') by 90°, with respect to the fourth panel (13') and about corresponding
longitudinal fold lines (40) ; and folds the fifth panel (12') by 90°, with respect
to the fourth panel (13') and about a corresponding transverse fold lines (41) bringing
the fifth panel (12') in contact with the tabs (43) while the first folding body (83)
moves with a continuous movement along the first work direction (D1).
1. Verpackungsmaschine (47) zum Herstellen eines Innenbehälters (3) durch Falten eines
inneren Rohlings bzw. Zuschnitts (38) um eine umwickelte Gruppe (2) von Tabakartikeln;
wobei der Innenbehälter (3) einen Deckel (6) umfasst;
wobei der innere Zuschnitt (38) zwei Längsfalzlinien (40) und eine Anzahl Querfalzlinien
(41) aufweist, die zwischen den beiden Längsfalzlinien (40) zumindest eine erste Platte
(9'), die eine Vorderwand (9) des Innenbehälters (3) bildet; eine zweite Platte (8'),
die eine Bodenwand (8) des Innenbehälters (3) bildet; eine dritte Platte (10'), die
eine Rückwand (10) des Innenbehälters (3) bildet; eine vierte Platte (13'), die eine
Rückwand (13) des Deckels (6) bildet; eine fünfte Platte (12'), die eine obere Wand
(12) des Deckels (6) bildet, definieren;
wobei die vierte Platte (13') zwei erste Flügel (14') aufweist, die jeweilige Seitenwände
(14) des Deckels (6) bilden, auf gegenüberliegenden bzw. entgegengesetzten Seiten
der vierten Platte (13') angeordnet sind und mit der vierten Platte (13') durch die
Längsfalzlinien (40) verbunden sind; und
wobei jeder Flügel (14') eine Lasche (43) aufweist, die mit dem Flügel (14') durch
eine Querfalzlinie (41) verbunden ist;
wobei die Verpackungsmaschine (47) umfasst:
einen Verpackungsförderer (54), der eine Verpackungstasche (55) aufweist und den inneren
Zuschnitt (38) entlang eines Verpackungswegs (P1) und durch eine erste Arbeitsstation
(S10) zuführt; und
eine erste Faltvorrichtung (71), die an der ersten Arbeitsstation (S10) angeordnet
ist, um Abschnitte des inneren Zuschnitts (38) zu falten;
wobei die Verpackungsmaschine (47)
dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass:
die erste Faltvorrichtung (71) einen ersten Faltkörper (83) umfasst, der in einer
ersten Richtung (D1) senkrecht zu dem Verpackungsweg (P1) beweglich bzw. bewegbar
ist, um Abschnitte des inneren Zuschnitts (38) zu falten; und
der erste Faltkörper (83) erst die Laschen (43) um 90° bezüglich der ersten Flügel
(14') und um eine entsprechende Querfalzlinie (41) faltet, dann die Flügel (14') um
90° bezüglich der vierten Platte (13') und um entsprechende Längsfalzlinien (40) faltet
und dann die fünfte Platte (12') um 90° bezüglich der vierten Platte (13') und um
eine entsprechende Querfalzlinie (41) faltet, was die fünfte Platte (12) mit den Laschen
(43) in Kontakt bringt, während sich der erste Faltkörper (83) mit einer kontinuierlichen
Bewegung in der ersten Arbeitsrichtung (D1) bewegt.
2. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach Anspruch 1, wobei in dem inneren Zuschnitt (38) die
Querfalzlinien (41) ferner zwischen den beiden Längsfalzlinien (40) eine sechste Verstärkungsplatte
(12"), die an die Innenseite der fünften Platte (12') geklebt ist, eine siebte Verstärkungsplatte
(13"), die an die Innenseite der vierten Platte (13') geklebt ist, und eine achte
Verstärkungsplatte (10") definieren, die an die Innenseite der dritten Platte (10')
geklebt ist.
3. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei der erste Faltkörper (83) ein
Mittelglied (84), zwei obere Seitenglieder (85) und zwei untere Seitenglieder (86)
umfasst, die in unterschiedlichen Positionen in der ersten Arbeitsrichtung (D1) angeordnet
sind.
4. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach Anspruch 3, wobei, wenn sich der erste Faltkörper (83)
kontinuierlich in der ersten Arbeitsrichtung (D1) bewegt, die oberen Seitenglieder
(85) zunächst die Laschen (43) um 90° bezüglich der ersten Flügel (14') und um entsprechende
Querfalzlinien (41) falten, die beiden unteren Seitenglieder (86) dann die ersten
Flügel (14') um 90° bezüglich der vierten Platte (13') und um entsprechende Längsfalzlinien
(40) falten, und das Mittelglied (84) die fünfte Platte (12') um 90° bezüglich der
vierten Platte (13') und um eine entsprechende Querfalzlinie (41) faltet, was die
fünfte Platte (12') mit den Laschen (43) in Kontakt bringt.
5. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 4, wobei:
die erste Faltvorrichtung (71) einen zweiten Faltkörper (82) umfasst, der einen L-förmigen
Querschnitt aufweist und in einer zweiten Arbeitsrichtung (D2) senkrecht zu dem Verpackungsweg
(P1) und zu der ersten Arbeitsrichtung (D1) beweglich bzw. bewegbar ist; und
wenn der erste Faltkörper (83) seine Bewegung in der ersten Arbeitsrichtung (D1) beendet,
der zweite Faltkörper (82) sich in der zweiten Arbeitsrichtung (D2) bewegt, um die
sechste Platte (12") um 90° bezüglich der fünften Platte (12') und um eine entsprechende
Querfalzlinie (41) zu falten und um die siebte Platte (13") um 90° bezüglich der sechsten
Platte (12") und um eine entsprechende Querfalzlinie (41) zu falten.
6. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach Anspruch 5, wobei:
die erste Faltvorrichtung (71) einen Kontrastkörper (87) umfasst; und
der zweite Faltkörper (82) sich in der zweiten Arbeitsrichtung (D2) und zu dem Kontrastkörper
(87) hin bewegt, um die sechste Platte (12") um 90° und auf den Kontrastkörper (87)
bezüglich der fünften Platte (12') zu falten und um die siebte Platte (13") um 90°
bezüglich der sechsten Platte (12") und um eine entsprechende Querfalzlinie (41) zu
falten.
7. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach Anspruch 6, wobei der Kontrastkörper (87) ein "hacken"förmiges
Mittelglied (88) und zwei seitliche Anhänge bzw. Fortsätze (89) auf gegenüberliegenden
bzw. entgegengesetzten Seiten des Mittelglieds (88) umfasst und dahingehend montiert
ist, sich um eine Drehachse (90) parallel zu dem Verpackungsweg (P1) zu drehen.
8. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 5, wobei:
die erste Faltvorrichtung (71) einen Kontrastkörper (87) umfasst, der ein "hacken"förmiges
Mittelglied (88) und zwei seitliche Anhänge bzw. Fortsätze (89) auf gegenüberliegenden
bzw. entgegengesetzten Seiten des Mittelglieds (88) umfasst und dahingehend montiert
ist, sich um eine Drehachse (90) parallel zu dem Verpackungsweg (P1) zu drehen;
wenn der innere Zuschnitt (38) an der ersten Arbeitsstation (S10) stoppt, sich der
Kontrastkörper (87) um die Drehachse (90) dreht, um die beiden lateralen Fortsätze
(89) an bzw. auf den ersten Flügeln (14') anzuordnen und die Laschen (43) zu schließen,
um einen Kontrast für die oberen Seitenglieder (85) des ersten Faltkörpers (83) zu
bilden; und
sich der Kontrastkörper (87) dann in der entgegengesetzten Richtung um die Drehachse
(90) dreht, um die beiden Fortsätze (89) von den ersten Flügeln (14') zu entfernen
und gleichzeitig das Mittelglied (88) auf der vierten Platte (13') zur Auflage zu
bringen, um einen Kontrast für das Mitteglied (84) des ersten Faltkörpers (83) zu
bilden.
9. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 8 und umfassend eine zweite
Arbeitsstation (S11), die stromabwärts der ersten Arbeitsstation (S10) ist und mit
einer zweiten Faltvorrichtung (73) versehen ist, die einen dritten Faltkörper (91)
umfasst, der in der ersten Arbeitsrichtung (D1) beweglich bzw. bewegbar ist; wenn
der innere Zuschnitt (38) an der zweiten Arbeitsstation (S11) stoppt, bewegt sich
der dritte Faltkörper (91) in der ersten Arbeitsrichtung (D1), um die sechste Platte
(12") um 90° bezüglich der fünften Platte (12') und um eine entsprechende Querfalzlinie
(41) zu falten und gleichzeitig die siebte Platte (13") um 90° bezüglich der sechsten
Platte (12") und um eine entsprechende Querfalzlinie (41) zu falten.
10. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach Anspruch 9, wobei:
die zweite Faltvorrichtung (73) einen vierten Ausrichtungskörper (92) umfasst, der
in einer dritten Arbeitsrichtung (D3) beweglich bzw. bewegbar ist, die weder zu der
ersten Arbeitsrichtung (D1), zu der zweiten Arbeitsrichtung (D2), noch zu dem Verpackungsweg
(P1) parallel ist; und wenn der dritte Faltkörper (91) seine Bewegung beendet, der
vierte Ausrichtungskörper (92) sich in der dritten Arbeitsrichtung (D3) bewegt, um
auf der Endkante der achten Platte (10') aufzuliegen und auf diese zu drücken, und
um die Endkante der achten Platte (10') nach unten zu halten, wenn sich der innere
Zuschnitt (38) entlang des Verpackungswegs (P1) stromabwärts von der zweiten Arbeitsstation
(S11) bewegt.
11. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach Anspruch 10, wobei:
die dritte Platte (10') zwei zweite Flügel (11") aufweist, die jeweilige Seitenwände
(11) des Innenbehälters (3) bilden, auf gegenüberliegenden bzw. entgegengesetzten
Seiten der dritten Platte (10') angeordnet sind und mit der dritten Platte (10') durch
die Längsfalzlinien (40) verbunden sind;
die achte Platte (10") zwei verstärkende dritte Flügel (11'") aufweist, die an die
Innenseite in Entsprechung mit den zweiten Flügeln (11") geklebt sind, auf gegenüberliegenden
bzw. entgegengesetzten Seiten der achten Platte (10") angeordnet sind und mit der
achten Platte (10") durch die Längsfalzlinien (40) verbunden sind; und
der vierte Ausrichtungskörper (92) die dritten Flügel (11'") bezüglich der darunterliegenden
zweiten Flügel (11") leicht erhöht hält, während die achte Platte (10") vollständig
auf der darunterliegenden dritten Platte (10') aufliegt.
12. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach einem der Ansprüche 9 bis 11 und umfassend eine dritte
Faltvorrichtung (72), die zwischen der ersten Arbeitsstation (S10) und der zweiten
Arbeitsstation (S11) angeordnet ist und welche die dritte Platte (13") um 90° bezüglich
der sechsten Platte (12") um eine entsprechende Querfalzlinie (41) und in der entgegengesetzten
Richtung zu dem ähnlichen Falz faltet, der von der ersten Faltvorrichtung (71) an
der ersten Arbeitsstation (S10) gemacht wird.
13. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 12 und umfassend zumindest
eine vierte Faltvorrichtung (56, 57), die stromabwärts der ersten Arbeitsstation (S10)
angeordnet ist und die gleichzeitig die fünfte Platte (12') um 90° bezüglich der der
vierten Platte (13') und die Laschen (43) um 90° bezüglich der der ersten Flügel (14')
um dieselbe Querfalzlinie (41), und in einer Richtung und dann in der entgegengesetzten
Richtung faltet, um den inneren Zuschnitt (38) entlang der entsprechenden Querfalzlinie
(41) selbst zu biegen.
14. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 13, wobei:
die achte Platte (10") zwei verstärkende dritte Flügel (11'") aufweist, die auf gegenüberliegenden
bzw. entgegengesetzten Seiten der achten Platte (10") angeordnet sind und mit der
achten Platte (10") durch die Längsfalzlinien (40) verbunden sind;
eine fünften Faltvorrichtung (62), die stromabwärts der ersten Arbeitsstation (S10)
angeordnet ist und die verstärkenden dritten Flügel (11'") um 90° bezüglich der achten
Platte (10") und um entsprechende Längsfalzlinien (40) faltet, bereitgestellt ist;
und
stromabwärts der fünften Faltvorrichtung (62) die verstärkenden dritten Flügel (11'")
freigelassen sind, um in ihre ursprüngliche Position zurückzuspringen.
15. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 14, wobei:
eine fünfte Faltvorrichtung (62) bereitgestellt ist;
der Zuschnitt (38) ein Fenster (30) in Entsprechung mit der dritten Platte (10') aufweist,
in dem die Verbindungslasche (20) gebildet wird;
die Verbindungslasche (20) einen oberen Abschnitt (31), in dem die obere Kante integral
mit der fünften Platte (12') ist und die bezüglich der dritten Platte (10') geneigt
ist, um der Drehung des Deckels (6) zu folgen, einen Zwischenabschnitt (32), der mit
dem oberen Abschnitt (31) entlang einer Querfalzlinie (41) verbunden ist und eine
zentrale Öffnung aufweist, und einen unteren Abschnitt (33) umfasst, der mit dem Zwischenabschnitt
(32) entlang einer Querfalzlinie (41) verbunden ist;
der untere Abschnitt (33) einen Vorsprung (34) an der Öffnung des Zwischenabschnitts
(32) aufweist; und
die fünfte Faltvorrichtung (62) den unteren Abschnitt (33) um 180° bezüglich des Zwischenabschnitts
(32) und auf diesen drauf um die Querfalzlinie (41) faltet, um einen Haken zu bilden.
16. Verpackungsmaschine (47) nach Anspruch 15, wobei, wenn der untere Abschnitt (33) bezüglich
des Zwischenabschnitts (32) um 180° gefaltet wird, der Vorsprung (34) zumindest teilweise
unterhalb der dritten Platte (10') eingesetzt wird.
17. Verpackungsverfahren zum Herstellen eines Innenbehälters (3) durch Falten eines inneren
Rohlings bzw. Zuschnitts (38) um eine umwickelte Gruppe (2) von Tabakartikeln; wobei
der Innenbehälter (3) einen Deckel (6) umfasst;
wobei der innere Zuschnitt (38) zwei Längsfalzlinien (40) und eine Anzahl Querfalzlinien
(41) aufweist, die zwischen den beiden Längsfalzlinien (40) zumindest eine erste Platte
(9'), die eine Vorderwand (9) des Innenbehälters (3) bildet; eine zweite Platte (8'),
die eine Bodenwand (8) des Innenbehälters (3) bildet; eine dritte Platte (10'), die
eine Rückwand (10) des Innenbehälters (3) bildet; eine vierte Platte (13'), die eine
Rückwand (13) des Deckels (6) bildet; eine fünfte Platte (12'), die eine obere Wand
(12) des Deckels (6) bildet, definieren;
wobei die vierte Platte (13') zwei erste Flügel (14') aufweist, die jeweilige Seitenwände
(14) des Deckels (6) bilden, auf gegenüberliegenden bzw. entgegengesetzten Seiten
der vierten Platte (13') angeordnet sind und mit der vierten Platte (13') durch die
Längsfalzlinien (40) verbunden sind; und
wobei jeder Flügel (14') eine Lasche (43) aufweist, die mit dem Flügel (14') durch
eine Querfalzlinie (41) verbunden ist;
wobei das Verpackungsverfahren die Schritte umfasst:
Zuführen des inneren Zuschnitts (38) entlang eines Verpackungswegs (P1) und durch
eine erste Arbeitsstation (S10) mittels eines einen Verpackungsförderers (54), der
eine Verpackungstasche (55) aufweist;
Falten von Abschnitten des inneren Zuschnitts (38) mittels einer Faltvorrichtung (71),
die an der Arbeitsstation (S10) angeordnet ist;
wobei das Verpackungsverfahren dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass:
die erste Faltvorrichtung (71) mit einem ersten Faltkörper (83) versehen ist bzw.
wird, der in einer ersten Arbeitsrichtung (D1) senkrecht zu dem Verpackungsweg (P1)
beweglich bzw. bewegbar ist, um Abschnitte des inneren Zuschnitts (38) zu falten;
und
der erste Faltkörper (83) hintereinander die Laschen (43) um 90° bezüglich der ersten
Flügel (14') und um entsprechende Querfalzlinien (41) faltet; die ersten Flügel (14')
um 90° bezüglich der vierten Platte (13') und um entsprechende Längsfalzlinien (40)
faltet; und die fünfte Platte (12') um 90° bezüglich der vierten Platte (13') und
um eine entsprechende Querfalzlinie (41) faltet, was die fünfte Platte (12) mit den
Laschen (43) in Kontakt bringt, während sich der erste Faltkörper (83) mit einer kontinuierlichen
Bewegung in der ersten Arbeitsrichtung (D1) bewegt.
1. Empaqueteuse (47) pour produire un contenant interne (3) par pliage d'une ébauche
interne (38) autour d'un groupe enveloppé (2) d'articles de tabac ;
dans laquelle le contenant interne (3) comprend un couvercle (6) ;
dans laquelle l'ébauche interne (38) comporte deux lignes de pli longitudinales (40)
et un nombre de lignes de pli transversales (41) qui définissent, entre les deux lignes
de pli longitudinales (40), au moins un premier panneau (9') formant une paroi avant
(9) du contenant interne (3) ; un deuxième panneau (8') formant une paroi de dessous
(8) du contenant interne (3) ; un troisième panneau (10') formant une paroi arrière
(10) du contenant interne (3) ; un quatrième panneau (13') formant une paroi arrière
(13) du couvercle (6) ; un cinquième panneau (12') formant une paroi de dessus (12)
du couvercle (6) ;
dans laquelle le quatrième panneau (13') comporte deux premières ailes (14') qui forment
des parois latérales (14) respectives du couvercle (6), sont agencées sur des côtés
opposés du quatrième panneau (13'), et sont reliées au quatrième panneau (13') par
les lignes de pli longitudinales (40) ; et
dans laquelle chaque aile (14') comporte une patte (43) qui est reliée à l'aile (14')
par une ligne de pli transversale (41) ;
l'empaqueteuse (47) comprend :
un convoyeur d'empaquetage (54) qui comporte une poche d'empaquetage (55) et alimente
l'ébauche interne (38) le long d'un chemin d'empaquetage (P1) et à travers un premier
poste de travail (S10) ; et
un premier dispositif de pliage (71) qui est agencé au niveau du premier poste de
travail (S10) pour plier des portions de l'ébauche interne (38) ;
l'empaqueteuse (47) est
caractérisée en ce que :
le premier dispositif de pliage (71) comprend un premier corps de pliage (83) qui
est mobile dans une première direction (D1) perpendiculaire au chemin d'empaquetage
(P1) pour plier des portions de l'ébauche interne (38) ; ; et
ledit premier corps de pliage (83) plie tout d'abord les pattes (43) à 90°, par rapport
aux premières ailes (14') et autour d'une ligne de pli transversale (41) correspondante,
puis plie les ailes (14') de 90°, par rapport au quatrième panneau (13') et autour
de lignes de pli longitudinales (40) correspondantes, puis plie le cinquième panneau
(12') de 90°, par rapport au quatrième panneau (13') et autour d'une ligne de pli
transversale (41) correspondante, amenant le cinquième panneau (12) en contact avec
les pattes (43) pendant que le premier corps de pliage (83) se déplace avec un mouvement
continu dans la première direction de travail (D1).
2. Empaqueteuse (47) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle dans l'ébauche interne (38),
les lignes de pli transversales (41) définissent en outre, entre les deux lignes de
pli longitudinales (40), un sixième panneau de renfort (12") qui est collé à l'intérieur
du cinquième panneau (12'), un septième panneau de renfort (13") qui est collé à l'intérieur
du quatrième panneau (13'), et un huitième panneau de renfort (10") qui est collé
à l'intérieur du troisième panneau (10').
3. Empaqueteuse (47) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle le premier corps de
pliage (83) comprend un organe central (84), deux organes côté dessus (85), et deux
organes côté dessous (86) qui sont agencés dans des positions différentes dans la
première direction de travail (D1).
4. Empaqueteuse (47) selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle à mesure que le premier
corps de pliage (83) se déplace continuellement dans la première direction de travail
(D1), les organes côté dessus (85) plient tout d'abord les pattes (43) de 90°, par
rapport aux premières ailes (14') et autour de lignes de pli transversales (41) correspondantes,
les deux organes côté dessous (86) plient ensuite les premières ailes (14') de 90°,
par rapport au quatrième panneau (13') et autour de lignes de pli longitudinales (40)
correspondantes, et l'organe central (84) plie le cinquième panneau (12') de 90°,
par rapport au quatrième panneau (13') et autour d'une ligne de pli transversale (41)
correspondante amenant le cinquième panneau (12') en contact avec les pattes (43).
5. Empaqueteuse (47) selon l'une des revendications 2 à 4, dans laquelle :
le premier dispositif de pliage (71) comprend un deuxième corps de pliage (82) qui
a une section en forme de L et est mobile dans une seconde direction de travail (D2)
perpendiculaire au chemin d'empaquetage (P1) et à la première direction de travail
(D1) ; et
lorsque le premier corps de pliage (83) achève son mouvement dans la première direction
de travail (D1), le deuxième corps de pliage (82) se déplace dans la seconde direction
de travail (D2) pour plier le sixième panneau (12") de 90° par rapport au cinquième
panneau (12') et autour d'une ligne de pli transversale (41) correspondante et pour
plier le septième panneau (13") de 90° par rapport au sixième panneau (12") et autour
d'une ligne de pli transversale (41) correspondante.
6. Empaqueteuse (47) selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle :
le premier dispositif de pliage (71) comprend un corps de contraste (87) ; et
le deuxième corps de pliage (82) se déplace dans la seconde direction de travail (D2)
et vers le corps de contraste (87) pour plier le sixième panneau (12") de 90° et sur
le corps de contraste (87), par rapport au cinquième panneau (12') et plier le septième
panneau (13") de 90°, par rapport au sixième panneau (12") et autour d'une ligne de
pli transversale (41) correspondante.
7. Empaqueteuse (47) selon la revendication 6, dans laquelle le corps de contraste (87)
comprend un organe central en forme de « houe » (88) et deux appendices latéraux (89)
sur des côtés opposés de l'organe central (88) et est monté pour tourner autour d'un
axe de rotation (90) parallèle au chemin d'empaquetage (P1).
8. Empaqueteuse (47) selon l'une des revendications 3 à 5, dans laquelle :
le premier dispositif de pliage (71) comprend un corps de contraste (87) qui comporte
un organe central en forme de « houe » (88) et deux appendices latéraux (89) sur des
côtés opposés de l'organe central (88), et est monté pour tourner autour d'un axe
de rotation (90) parallèle au chemin d'empaquetage (P1) ;
lorsque l'ébauche interne (38) s'arrête au niveau du premier poste de travail (S10),
le corps de contraste (87) tourne autour de l'axe de rotation (90) pour agencer les
deux appendices latéraux (89) sur les premières ailes (14') et près des pattes (43),
pour former un contraste pour les organes côté dessus (85) du premier corps de pliage
(83) ; et
le corps de contraste (87) tourne ensuite dans la direction opposée autour de l'axe
de rotation (90) pour enlever les deux appendices (89) des premières ailes (14') et
amener simultanément l'organe central (88) à reposer sur le quatrième panneau (13'),
pour former un contraste pour l'organe central (84) du premier corps de pliage (83).
9. Empaqueteuse (47) selon l'une des revendications 2 à 8 et comprenant un deuxième poste
de travail (S11) en aval du premier poste de travail (S10) et pourvu d'un second dispositif
de pliage (73) comprenant un troisième corps de pliage (91) qui est mobile dans la
première direction de travail (D1) ; lorsque l'ébauche interne (38) s'arrête au niveau
du deuxième poste de travail (S11), le troisième corps de pliage (91) se déplace dans
la première direction de travail (D1) pour plier le sixième panneau (12") de 90° par
rapport au cinquième panneau (12') et autour d'une ligne de pli transversale (41)
correspondante et pour plier simultanément le septième panneau (13") de 90°, par rapport
au sixième panneau (12") et autour d'une ligne de pli transversale (41) correspondante.
10. Empaqueteuse (47) selon la revendication 9, dans laquelle :
le second dispositif de pliage (73) comprend un quatrième corps d'alignement (92)
mobile dans une troisième direction de travail (D3) qui n'est parallèle ni à la première
direction de travail (D1), à la seconde direction de travail (D2) ni au chemin d'empaquetage
(P1) ; et, lorsque le troisième corps de pliage (91) achève son mouvement, le quatrième
corps d'alignement (92) se déplace dans la troisième direction de travail (D3) pour
reposer et presser sur le bord d'extrémité du huitième panneau (10"), et pour maintenir
le bord d'extrémité du huitième panneau (10") à mesure que l'ébauche interne (38)
se déplace le long du chemin d'empaquetage (P1) en aval du deuxième poste de travail
(S11).
11. Empaqueteuse (47) selon la revendication 10, dans laquelle :
le troisième panneau (10') comporte deux deuxièmes ailes (11") qui forment des parois
latérales (11) respectives du contenant interne (3), sont agencées sur des côtés opposés
du troisième panneau (10'), et sont reliées au troisième panneau (10') par les lignes
de pli longitudinales (40) ;
le huitième panneau (10") comporte deux troisièmes ailes de renfort (11"') qui sont
collées à l'intérieur en correspondance des deuxièmes ailes (11"), sont agencées sur
des côtés opposés du huitième panneau (10"), et sont reliées en huitième panneau (10")
par les lignes de pli longitudinales (40) ; et
le quatrième corps d'alignement (92) garde les troisièmes ailes (11"') légèrement
élevées par rapport aux deuxièmes ailes sous-jacentes (11") pendant que le huitième
panneau (10") repose complètement sur le troisième panneau (10') sous-jacent.
12. Empaqueteuse (47) selon l'une des revendications 9 à 11 et comprenant un troisième
dispositif de pliage (72) qui est agencé entre le premier poste de travail (S10) et
le deuxième poste de travail (S11), et qui plie le septième panneau (13") de 90°,
par rapport au sixième panneau (12"), autour d'une ligne de pli transversale (41)
correspondante et dans la direction opposée au pli similaire réalisé par le premier
dispositif de pliage (71) au niveau du premier poste de travail (S10).
13. Empaqueteuse (47) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 12 et comprenant au moins un
quatrième dispositif de pliage (56, 57) qui est agencé en amont du premier poste de
travail (S10) et qui plie simultanément le cinquième panneau (12') de 90°, par rapport
au quatrième panneau (13') et les pattes (43) de 90° par rapport aux premières ailes
(14'), autour de la même ligne de pli transversale (41), et dans une direction puis
dans la direction opposée, pour fléchir l'ébauche interne (38) le long de sa ligne
de pli transversale (41) correspondante.
14. Empaqueteuse (47) selon l'une des revendications 2 à 13, dans laquelle :
le huitième panneau (10") comporte deux troisièmes ailes de renfort (11"') qui sont
agencées sur des côtés opposés du huitième panneau (10") et sont reliées au huitième
panneau (10") par les lignes de pli longitudinales (40) ;
un cinquième dispositif de pliage (62) qui est agencé en amont du premier poste de
travail (S10) et plie les troisièmes ailes de renfort (11"') de 90°, par rapport au
huitième panneau (10") et autour de lignes de pli longitudinales (40) correspondantes
est ménagé ; et
en aval du cinquième dispositif de pliage (62), les troisièmes ailes de renfort (11"')
sont laissées libres de retourner à leur position d'origine.
15. Empaqueteuse (47) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 14, dans laquelle :
un cinquième dispositif de pliage (62) est ménagé ;
l'ébauche (38) comporte une fenêtre (30) en correspondance du troisième panneau (10'),
à l'intérieur de laquelle la patte de liaison (20) est formée ;
la patte de liaison (20) comprend une portion de dessus (31), dans laquelle le bord
de dessus est solidaire du cinquième panneau (12') et qui est incliné par rapport
audit troisième panneau (10') pour suivre la rotation du couvercle (6), une portion
intermédiaire (32), qui est reliée à la portion de dessus (31) le long d'une ligne
de pli transversale (41) et comporte une ouverture centrale, et une portion de dessous
(33) qui est reliée à la portion intermédiaire (32) le long d'une ligne de pli transversale
(41) ;
la portion de dessous (33) comporte une protubérance (34) au niveau de l'ouverture
de la portion intermédiaire (32) ; et
le cinquième dispositif de pliage (62) plie la portion de dessous (33) de 180° par
rapport et sur la portion intermédiaire (32), autour de la ligne de pli transversale
(41) pour former un crochet.
16. Empaqueteuse (47) selon la revendication 15, dans laquelle, lorsque la portion de
dessous (33) est pliée par rapport à la portion intermédiaire (32) de 180°, la protubérance
(34) est insérée au moins partiellement en dessous du troisième panneau (10').
17. Procédé d'empaquetage pour produire un contenant interne (3) par pliage d'une ébauche
interne (38) autour d'un groupe enveloppé (2) d'articles de tabac ; dans lequel le
contenant interne (3) comprend un couvercle (6) ;
dans lequel l'ébauche interne (38) comporte deux lignes de pli longitudinales (40)
et un nombre de lignes de pli transversales (41) qui définissent, entre les deux lignes
de pli longitudinales (40), au moins un premier panneau (9') formant une paroi avant
(9) du contenant interne (3) ; un deuxième panneau (8') formant une paroi de dessous
(8) du contenant interne (3) ; un troisième panneau (10') formant une paroi arrière
(10) du contenant interne (3) ; un quatrième panneau (13') formant une paroi arrière
(13) du couvercle (6) ; un cinquième panneau (12') formant une paroi (12) du couvercle
(6) ;
dans lequel le quatrième panneau (13') comporte deux premières ailes (14') qui forment
des parois latérales (14) respectives du couvercle (6), sont agencées sur des côtés
opposés du quatrième panneau (13'), et sont reliées au quatrième panneau (13') par
les lignes de pli longitudinales (40) ; et
dans lequel chaque aile (14') comporte une patte (43) qui est reliée à l'aile (14')
par une ligne de pli transversale (41) ;
le procédé d'empaquetage comprend les étapes de :
alimentation de l'ébauche interne (38) le long d'un chemin d'empaquetage (P1) et à
travers un poste de travail (S10) au moyen d'un convoyeur d'empaquetage (54) comportant
une poche d'empaquetage (55) ;
pliage de portions de l'ébauche interne (38) au moyen du dispositif de pliage (71)
qui est agencé au niveau du poste de travail (S10) ;
le procédé d'empaquetage est caractérisé en ce que :
le dispositif de pliage (71) est pourvu d'un premier corps de pliage (83) qui est
mobile dans une première direction de travail (D1) perpendiculaire au chemin d'empaquetage
(P1) pour plier des portions de l'ébauche interne (38) ; et
ledit premier corps de pliage (83) plie en succession les pattes (43) de 90°, par
rapport aux premières ailes (14') et autour de lignes de pli transversales (41) correspondantes
; plie les premières ailes (14') de 90°, par rapport au quatrième panneau (13') et
autour de lignes de pli longitudinales (40) correspondantes ; et plie le cinquième
panneau (12') de 90°, par rapport au quatrième panneau (13') et autour de lignes de
pli transversales (41) correspondantes, amenant le cinquième panneau (12') en contact
avec les pattes (43) pendant que le premier corps de pliage (83) se déplace avec un
mouvement continu le long de la première direction de travail (D1).