CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no.
102018000003942 filed on 26/03/2018.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The invention relates to a packer machine and to a wrapping method to produce a cigarette
pack provided with an outer container and a hinged lid folding a blank around a wrap
enclosing a group of smoking articles.
[0003] The invention finds advantageous application in the manufacturing of a rigid cigarette
pack containing a group of cigarettes, to which explicit reference will be made in
the description below without because of this loosing in generality.
PRIOR ART
[0004] Rigid cigarette packs with a hinged lid currently are the most commonly used cigarette
packs in the market since they are easy to be manufactured, simple and practical to
be used and offer a good protection to the cigarettes contained on the inside.
[0005] A rigid cigarette pack with a hinged lid comprises a wrap consisting of a group of
cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of metallized paper and a rigid outer casing housing,
on the inside, the wrap. The outer casing consists of a cup-shaped container, which
houses the group of cigarettes and has an open upper end, and of a lid, which is also
cup-shaped and is hinged to the container so as to rotate, relative to the container,
between an open position and a closed position of the open end.
[0006] Patent application
US2015336696A1 describes a packer machine to produce a cigarette pack provided with an outer container
and a hinged lid folding a blank around a wrap enclosing a group of smoking articles;
the blank comprises a pair of first wings and a pair of second wings, which are placed
on top of one another and glued so as to build respective side walls of the outer
container and of the outer container (but not of the lid).
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a packer machine and a wrapping method
to produce a cigarette pack provided with an outer container and with a hinged lid
folding blank around a wrap enclosing a group of smoking articles, said packer machine
and wrapping method allowing manufacturers to obtain a high-quality wrap (namely,
a wrap having extremely precise and square folds of the wrapping sheet), even operating
at a high producing speed (measured as cigarette packs produced per unit of time).
According to the invention, there are provided a packer machine and to a wrapping
method to produce a cigarette pack provided with an outer container and a hinged lid
folding a blank around a wrap enclosing a group of smoking articles according to the
appended claims.
[0008] The appended claims describe embodiments of the invention and form an integral part
of the description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
showing a non-limiting embodiment thereof, wherein:
- figure 1 is a perspective front view, in a closed configuration, of a rigid cigarette
pack;
- figure 2 is a perspective rear view of the cigarette pack of figure 1 in a closed
configuration;
- figure 3 is a perspective front view of the cigarette pack of figure 1 in an open
configuration;
- figure 4 is a perspective front view of a wrap of the pack of figure 1;
- figure 5 is perspective view of a group of cigarettes contained in the wrap of figure
4;
- figure 6 is a plan view of a wrapping sheet used to manufacture the wrap of figure
4;
- figure 7 is a plan view of a collar of the cigarette package of figure 1;
- figure 8 is a plan view of a blank used to manufacture an outer container provided
with a hinged lid of the cigarette pack of figure 1;
- figure 9 is a schematic front view of a packer machine, which produces the cigarette
pack of figure 1 and is manufactured according to the invention;
- figure 10 is a perspective view of a spindle of a wrapping drum of the packer machine
of figure 9;
- figure 11 is a front view of the spindle of figure 10;
- figures 12-15 show the folding sequence carried out to fold the wrapping sheet of
figure 6 around the spindle of figure 10 so as to give a tubular shape to the wrap;
- figure 16 is a perspective view, with parts removed for greater clarity, of a feeding
station, where the wrapping sheet of figure 6 is coupled to the spindle of figure
10;
- figure 17 is a schematic view of a folding device cooperating with the spindle of
figure 10 in order to fold the wrapping sheet of figure 6 around the spindle;
- figure 18 is a schematic view of a further folding device cooperating with the spindle
of figure 10 in order to fold the wrapping sheet of figure 6 around the spindle;
- figure 19 is a schematic view of two linear wrapping conveyors of the packer machine
of figure 9;
- figures 20-22 show the folding sequence carried out to fold the wrapping sheet of
figure 6 around the group of cigarettes of figure 5 so as to complete the manufacturing
of the wrap of figure 4;
- figure 23 is a perspective view, with parts removed for greater clarity, of the two
linear wrapping conveyors of figure 19;
- figure 24 is a perspective view, with parts removed for greater clarity, of an initial
part of a blank feeding conveyor of the packer machine of figure 9;
- figure 25 is a schematic view of two linear wrapping conveyors of the packer machine
of figure 9;
- figure 26 is a perspective view, with parts removed for greater clarity, of the two
linear wrapping conveyors of figure 25;
- figure 27 is a schematic view from the top of an initial part of the packer machine
of figure 9; and
- figures 28, 29 and 30 are schematic front views of respective variants of the packer
machine of figure 9.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In figures 1, 2 and 3, number 1 indicates, as a whole, a rigid cigarette pack. The
rigid cigarette pack 1 comprises an outer container 2, which is made of cardboard
or stiff card and is cup-shaped, and a wrap 3 (which is better shown in figure 4)
housed inside the container 2.
[0011] The outer container 2 has an open upper end and is provided with a lid 4, which is
cup-shaped and is hinged to the outer container 2 along a hinge 5 (shown in figure
2), so as to rotate, relative to the outer container 2, between an open position (shown
in figure 3) and a closed position (shown in figures 1 and 2) of the open upper end.
The outer container 2 substantially has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped
oriented according to a main vertical development direction, is cup-shaped and has
the open upper end, a lower wall 6 opposite the open upper end, a front wall 7 and
a rear wall 8 (where the hinge 5 is obtained), which are parallel to and opposite
one another, and two side walls 9, which are parallel to and opposite one another.
Between the front 7 and rear 8 walls and the side walls 9 of the outer container 2
there are defined four longitudinal corners, whereas between the walls 7, 8 and 9
and the bottom wall 6 of the outer container 2 there are defined four transverse corners.
[0012] The lid 4 substantially has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, is cup-shaped
and has an open lower end (facing the open upper end of the outer container 2, when
the lid 4 is in the closed position), an upper wall 10 (which is parallel to and opposite
the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2, when the lid 4 is in the closed position),
a front wall 11 (which is parallel to and aligned with the front wall 7 of the outer
container 2, when the lid 4 is in the closed position), a rear wall 12 (which is parallel
to and aligned with the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2, when the lid 4 is in
the closed position, and is hinged to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 along
the hinge 5), and two side walls 13 parallel to and opposite one another (which are
parallel to and aligned with, in particular coplanar and adjacent to, the side walls
9 of the outer container 2, when the lid 4 is in the closed position). Between the
front 11 and rear 12 walls and the side walls 13 of the lid 4 there are defined four
longitudinal corners, whereas between the walls 11, 12 and 13 and the upper wall 10
of the lid 4 there are defined four transverse corners. The longitudinal corners and
the transverse corners of the lid 4 are parallel to and aligned with the corresponding
longitudinal and transverse corners of the outer container 2, when the lid 4 is in
the closed position.
[0013] The wrap 3 encloses a group 14 of cigarettes (partially shown in figure 3 and completely
shown in figure 5) with the shape of a parallelepiped. Furthermore, the wrap 3 has,
at the top and at the front, a removable portion 15, which is separated from the rest
of the wrap 3 by a pre-weakened tearable line 16; when the cigarette 1 pack is opened
for the first time, the user grabs and tears the removable portion 15 in order to
access the underlying cigarettes of the group 14 of cigarettes.
[0014] According to figures 3 and 7, the cigarette pack 1 further comprises a rigid collar
17, which is connected (through gluing) folded in a "U"-shape inside the outer container
2 so as to partially projects outwards from the open upper end of the container 2
and engage a corresponding inner surface of the lid 4, when the lid 4 is in the closed
position. The collar 17 comprises a front wall 18, which is connected to the front
wall 7 of the container 2 and is arranged in contact with the front wall 11 of the
lid 4, when the lid 4 is in the closed position, and two side walls 19, which are
connected to the side walls 9 of the container 2 and are arranged in contact with
the side walls 13 of the lid 4, when the lid is in the closed position 4. According
to the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the front wall 18 of the collar
17 is provided with pair of claws 20, which project on the side so as to engage, through
interference, the side walls 13 of the lid 4, when the lid 4 is in the closed position,
so as to hold the lid 4 in the closed position. According to a different embodiment
which is not shown herein, the front wall 18 of the collar 17 has no claws 20.
[0015] According to figure 6, the wrap 3 is obtained by folding, around the group 14 of
cigarettes, a wrapping sheet 21 provided, on a side, with the tearable line 16 delimiting
the removable portion 15. According to figure 4, at first, the wrapping sheet 21 is
folded in "U"-shape around the group 14 of cigarettes, thus defining, on the two minor
side walls of the group 14 of cigarettes, two open ends, each delimited by a transverse
wing 22 (or corner wing 22) and by two longitudinal wings 23 and 24. At first the
transverse wing 22 is folded by 90° against the group 14 of cigarettes, then the longitudinal
wing 23 is folded by 90° against the group 14 of cigarettes and on top of the previously
folded transverse wing 22 and, finally, the longitudinal wing 24 is folded by 90°
against the group 14 of cigarettes and on top of the previously folded transverse
wing 22 and longitudinal wing 23 (according to the folding mode known as "
soap wrap"); in this way, the wrapping sheet 21 gains a tubular shape having one single open
end in the area of the upper wall (where the cigarette filters are arranged) of the
group 14 of cigarettes; said open end is delimited by two transverse wings 25 (or
corner wings 25) and by two longitudinal wings 26 and 27. At first the transverse
wings 25 are folded by 90° against the group 14 of cigarettes, then the longitudinal
wing 26 is folded by 90° against the group 14 of cigarettes and on top of the previously
folded transverse wings 25 and, finally, the longitudinal wing 27 is folded by 90°
against the group 14 of cigarettes and on top of the previously folded transverse
wings 25 and longitudinal wing 26 (according to the folding mode known as "soap wrap");
in this way, the folding of the wrapping sheet 21 around the group 14 of cigarettes
is completed.
[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the final shape of the wrapping sheet 21 around
the group 14 of cigarettes is not stabilized in any way (namely, no glue is applied
to the wrapping sheet 21 and no seals are made on the wrapping sheet 21); as a consequence,
the final shape of the wrapping sheet 21 around the group 14 of cigarettes is maintained
only due to the containing action of the outer container 2.
[0017] According to figure 8, the outer container 2 and the lid 4 are obtained by folding
a conventional blank 28, wherein each side wall 9 of the outer container 2 is obtained
by overlapping and gluing two wings 9' and 9" and each side wall 13 of the lid 4 is
obtained by overlapping and gluing to wings 13' and 13". Furthermore, the front wall
11 of the lid 4 is obtained by overlapping and gluing a panel 11' and a flap 11".
[0018] In particular, the blank 28 has two pre-weakened longitudinal folding lines (which
define the longitudinal corners of the outer container 2 and of the lid 4) and a plurality
of pre-weakened transverse folding lines (which define the transverse corners of the
outer container 2 and of the lid 4), which delimit, between the two longitudinal folding
lines, a panel 7', which makes up the front wall 7 of the outer container 2, a panel
6', which makes up the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2, a panel 8', which makes
up the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2, a panel 12', which makes up the rear
wall 12 of the lid 4, a panel 10', which makes up the upper wall 10 of the lid 4,
a panel 11', which makes up the front wall 11 of the lid 4, and a panel 11", which
makes up the reinforcement flap and is folded by 180° and glued against an inner surface
of the panel 11' (namely, against an inner surface of the front wall 11 of the lid
4).
[0019] The blank 28 comprises a pair of wings 9', which are arranged on opposite sides of
the panel 7', are connected to the panel 7' along the two longitudinal folding lines,
and make up part of the side walls 9 of the outer container 2. The blank 28 comprises
a pair of wings 9", which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 8', are connected
to the panel 8' along the two longitudinal folding lines, make up part of the side
walls 9 of the outer container 2, and are glued to and overlap the corresponding wings
9'. Each wing 9" comprises a tab, which is folded by 90° relative to the wing 9" so
as to be subsequently laid on and glued to the panel 6'.
[0020] The blank 28 comprises a pair of wings 13', which are arranged on opposite sides
of the panel 11', are connected to the panel 11' along the two longitudinal folding
lines, and make up part of the side walls 13 of the lid 4. The blank 28 comprises
a pair of wings 13", which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 12', are connected
to the panel 12' along the two longitudinal folding lines, make up part of the side
walls 13 of the lid 4, and are glued to and overlap the corresponding wings 13'. Each
wing 13" comprises a tab, which is folded by 90° relative to the wing 13" so as to
be subsequently laid on and glued to the panel 10'.
[0021] In figure 9, number 29 indicates, as a whole, a packer machine, which is designed
to manufacture the pack 1 of cigarettes described above and operates with an intermittent
motion (namely, with a motion which involves a cyclic alteration of motion phases
and standstill phases).
[0022] The packer machine 29 comprises a wrapping drum 30 (namely, a wrapping conveyor 30),
which is mounted so as to rotate (with an intermittent motion, namely "
in a stepped manner") around a horizontal rotation axis 31 (which is perpendicular to the plane of figure
9). The wrapping drum 30 supports twelve tubular spindles 32, each of them being internally
hollow so as to accommodate, on the inside, a group 14 of cigarettes and being arranged
in an axial manner (namely, parallel to the rotation axis 31); each spindle 32 is
mounted on the wrapping drum 30 in a projecting manner, namely each spindle 32 is
fixed to the wrapping drum 30 only on one side, whereas the opposite side is completely
free (namely, does not touch in any way the wrapping drum 30), as shown, by way of
example, in figure 10.
[0023] The rotation of the wrapping drum 30 around the rotation axis 31 cyclically moves
each spindle 32 along a circular wrapping path P1 and through: a feeding station S1,
where a group 14 of cigarettes is axially inserted into the spindle 32 (namely, with
a movement which is parallel to the rotation axis 31), a control station S2, where
the ends of the group 14 of cigarettes contained in the spindle 32 are optically controlled,
a feeding station S3, where a wrapping sheet 21 is coupled to the spindle 32, a folding
station S4, where the wrapping sheet 21 is folded in a "U"-shape around the spindle
32, a rejection station S5, where a possible faulty group 14 of cigarettes is expelled
from the spindle 32, and, finally, a transfer station S6, where the group 14 of cigarettes,
together with the wrapping sheet 21, is axially pulled out of the spindle 32 (namely,
parallel to the rotation axis 31).
[0024] According to figures 10 and 11, each spindle 32 has a tubular shape (oriented axially,
namely parallel to the rotation axis 31 and is provided, on the inside, with a tubular
cavity 33, which is designed to accommodate the group 14 of cigarettes and has: an
outer base wall 34, an inner base wall 35 opposite the outer base wall 34, and a pair
of side walls 36, which are interposed between the two base walls 34, 35. In each
spindle 32, the outer base wall 34 is larger than the inner base wall 35; furthermore,
in each spindle 32, the side walls 36 have respective inclined portions 37, which
form, with the base walls 34 and 35, a non-right angle and give a trapezoidal shape
to a cross section of the spindle 32. In particular, each side wall 36 of the spindle
32 has the inclined portion 37, which forms a non-right angle with the base walls
34 and 35 of the spindle 32 and originates from the inner base wall 35, and a perpendicular
portion 38, which forms a right angle with the base walls 34 and 35 of the spindle
32, originates from the outer base wall 34 and is joined to the inclined portion 37
by means of a parallel portion 39, which is parallel to the base walls 34 and 35 of
the spindle 32.
[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, each inclined portion 37 of each spindle 32
has a width which is equal to the width of the longitudinal wings 23 of the "U"-folded
wrapping sheet 21; in this way, each longitudinal wing 23 of the "U"-folded wrapping
sheet 21 can be folded against a corresponding inclined portion 37 of a spindle 32
(as shown in figure 15 and as better described below), becoming flush with the corresponding
parallel portion 39.
[0026] According to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, in each spindle
32, the side walls 36 have an (axial) longitudinal extension which is smaller than
an (axial) longitudinal extension of the base walls 34 and 35 and, as a consequence,
the side walls of a group 14 of cigarettes housed in the tubular cavity 33 of the
spindle 32 are left partially uncovered (namely, are partially exposed).
[0027] Each spindle 32 has an input opening of the tubular cavity 33, through which a group
14 of cigarettes enters the tubular cavity 33, and an output opening of the tubular
cavity 33 (opposite the input opening of the tubular cavity 33), through which a group
14 of cigarettes gets out of the tubular cavity 33; in each spindle 32, the input
opening is arranged close to the wrapping drum 30 (namely, on the same side as the
wrapping drum 30), whereas the output opening is the arranged on the opposite side
relative to the wrapping drum 30. In other words, each spindle 32 is mounted on the
wrapping drum 30 in a projecting manner, so that the input opening of the tubular
cavity 33 is arranged in the area of the wrapping drum 30 and the output opening of
the tubular cavity 33 is arranged far from the wrapping drum 30.
[0028] According to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, each spindle
32 has, in the area of the input opening of the tubular cavity 33, a first thickness,
which is greater than a second thickness of the spindle 32 in the area of the output
opening of the tubular cavity 33; in particular, the thickness of each spindle 32
remains constant along a given segment starting from the output opening of the tubular
cavity 33 and progressively and linearly increases close to the input opening of the
tubular cavity 33. In other words, the inner base wall 35 of each spindle 32 is perfectly
flat in every part thereof, whereas the outer base wall 34 of the spindle 32 has a
first part, which is arranged in the area of the output opening of the tubular cavity
33 and is parallel to the inner base wall 35 of the spindle 32, and a second part,
which is arranged in the area of the input opening of the tubular cavity 33 and forms
an acute angle with the first part.
[0029] According to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, each spindle
32 has two front walls 40, which are arranged on opposite sides of the tubular cavity
33 and delimit the side walls 36.
[0030] According to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the outer
base wall 34 of each spindle 32 has, at the centre, a through slit 41, which is arranged
longitudinally (namely, axially and, hence, parallel to the rotation axis 31 of the
wrapping drum 30) and perpendicularly to the wrapping path P1; the function of the
through slit 41 is that of allowing a pusher 42 (shown in figures 19 and 23) to pass
through the spindle 32 so as to axially pull a group 14 of cigarettes out of the tubular
cavity 33 (in the ways described below).
[0031] Each spindle 32 is provided with a plurality of sucking holes 43, which are designed
to hold, through suction, the wrapping sheet 21 in contact with the spindle 32; namely,
the sucking holes 43 are connected to a suction source (for example a chamber having
a smaller pressure than atmospheric pressure) by means of a valve system so as to
hold, through suction, when needed, the wrapping sheet 21 in contact with the spindle
32. The sucking holes 43 are arranged through the outer base wall 34 of each spindle
32; in particular, the sucking holes 43 are distributed along two parallel rows arranged
at the opposite margins of the outer base wall 34 of each spindle 32. Furthermore,
the sucking holes 43 are arranged through the inclined portions 37 of the side walls
36 of each spindle 32; in particular, the sucking holes 43 in each side wall 36 of
a spindle 32 are distributed along a row arranged close to the perpendicular portion
38 (namely, close to the parallel portion 39).
[0032] Figures 12-15 show the folding of a wrapping sheet 21 around a spindle 32 containing
a group 14 of cigarettes (namely, the folding of a wrapping sheet 21 around a group
14 of cigarettes contained in a spindle 32). At first, according to figure 12, the
flat wrapping sheet 21 (which is still free from folds) is laid on the spindle 32
by laying the wrapping sheet 21 on the outer base wall 34 of the spindle 32; during
this step, the wrapping sheet 21 is held on the wrapping sheet 32 by the holding action
generated by the sucking holes 43 of the outer base wall 34 of the spindle 32. Subsequently,
according to figure 13, the wrapping sheet 21 is folded in an "L"-shape around the
spindle 32, thus causing the wrapping sheet 21 to cover the output opening of the
tubular cavity 33. Subsequently, according to figure 14, the wrapping sheet 21 is
folded in a "U"-shape around the spindle 32 by laying the wrapping sheet 21 on both
base walls 34 and 35; simultaneously, on each side of the wrapping sheet 21, the corresponding
transverse wing 22 is folded against the group 14 of cigarettes (as already mentioned
above, the side walls 36 have a longitudinal extension which is smaller than a longitudinal
extension of the base walls 34 and 35, so that the transverse wings 22 of the "U"-folded
wrapping sheet 21 are folded against a portion of the group 14 of cigarettes left
uncovered by the side walls 36 of the spindle 32). Finally, according to figure 15,
on each side of the wrapping sheet 21, the longitudinal wing 23 of the "U"-folded
wrapping sheet 21 is folded against the inclined portion 37 of a corresponding side
wall 36 of the spindle 32; during this step, the longitudinal wings 23 of the "U"-folded
wrapping sheet 21 are held on the spindle 32 by the holding action generated by the
sucking holes 43 of the inclined portions 37 of the side walls 36 of the spindle 32.
[0033] Thanks to the fact that, in each spindle 32, the side walls 36 are relatively thick,
ducts to bring the suction to the sucking holes 43 can be obtained inside the side
walls 36. The presence of the sucking holes 43 is very useful in order to ensure an
ideal adhesion of the wrapping sheet 21 to the spindle 32 during the movement along
the wrapping path P1, thus avoiding undesired displacements of the wrapping sheet
21 relative to the spindle 32, which cause a misalignment of the wrapping sheet 21
relative to the spindle 32 (said misalignment significantly reducing the precision
with which the wrapping sheet 21 is folded and, hence, the quality of the wrap 3);
as a consequence, the presence of the sucking holes 43 in each spindle 32 allows the
quality of the wrap 3 to be high, even when operating at a high operating speed.
[0034] As already mentioned above and shown in figure 9, the rotation of the wrapping drum
30 around the rotation axis 31 cyclically moves each spindle 32 along the circular
wrapping path P1 and through the feeding station S1, where a group 14 of cigarettes
is axially inserted into the spindle 32 (namely, with a movement which is parallel
to the rotation axis 31). In the feeding station S1 there is a feeding device 44,
which is designed to insert a group 14 of cigarettes into the tubular cavity 33 of
each spindle 32; the feeding device 44 comprises three hoppers 45, which are arranged
in succession along the wrapping path P1, operate in parallel and are provided with
respective lower output mouths, from which respective pushers cyclically extract groups
14 of cigarettes, which are axially inserted into the spindles 32.
[0035] In the control station S2 (which is arranged immediately downstream of the feeding
station S1 along the wrapping path P1) there is an optical control device 46, which,
by means of video cameras, controls both ends (namely both on the filter side and
on the tobacco side) of the cigarettes of the group 14 of cigarettes contained in
each spindle 32; if the control device 46 detects the presence of faulty cigarettes,
the wrapping sheet 21 is not fed to the spindle 32 in the successive feeding station
S3 and the group 14 of cigarettes is pulled out of the spindle 32 in the rejection
station S5 by activating an expulsion device 47, which directs the group 14 of cigarettes
towards a waste collecting container.
[0036] In the feeding station S3 there is a feeding device 48, which couples a wrapping
sheet 21 to each spindle 32 (as shown in figure 12 and as described above). According
to figure 16, the feeding device 48 comprises a feeding conveyor 49, which picks up
the wraps 21 in succession from a cutting station (not shown), where the wraps 21
are separated, by means of a transverse cut, from a continuous band of wrapping material.
The conveyor 49 moves the wraps 21 in succession from the cutting station (not shown)
to the feeding station S3, where each wrapping sheet 21 is coupled to a corresponding
spindle 32. According to a preferred embodiment shown in figure 16, the feeding conveyor
49 comprises two sucking belts 50, which are arranged parallel to one another and
at a given distance from one another and engage (by holding through suction) two opposite
ends of each wrapping sheet 21. The feeding device 48 comprises a pusher 51, which
picks up each wrapping sheet 21 from the two sucking belts 50 of the feeding conveyor
49 and lays the wrapping sheet 21 on the outer base wall 34 of a spindle 32 (as shown
in figure 12); in particular, the pusher 51 goes through the two sucking belts 50
of the feeding conveyor 49 with a movement which is radial (namely, perpendicular
to the rotation axis 31) relative to the wrapping drum 30.
[0037] Furthermore, there is a folding device 52, which is arranged in the area of the feeding
device 48 (beside the pusher 51), is movable parallel to the pusher 51 (hence, radially)
and is designed to fold the wrapping sheet 21 in an "L"-shape against the spindle
32 (as shown in figure 13 and as described above). As a consequence, in the feeding
station S3, each wrapping sheet 21 - at first - is laid on the outer base wall 34
of the spindle 32 (as shown in figure 12) and - then - is folded in an "L"-shape against
the spindle 32 (as shown in figure 13).
[0038] According to figure 17, in the folding station S4 there is a folding device 53, which
folds the wrapping sheet 21 in a "U"-shape around each spindle 32 by laying the wrapping
sheet 21 on the two base walls 34 and 35 of the spindle 32 (as shown in figure 14).
The folding device 53 comprises a "U"-shaped, rigid folding body 54, which, by axially
moving relative to the wrapping drum 30 (namely, parallel to the rotation axis 31),
"embraces" the spindle 32, thus determining the "U"-folding of the wrapping sheet 21 around
the spindle 32. According to a preferred embodiment, the folding device 53 is also
designed to fold, on each side, a transverse wing 22 of the "U"-folded wrapping sheet
21; to this aim, the "U"-shaped, rigid body 54 also supports a pair of folding elements
55, which, when the rigid body 54 "
embraces" the spindle 32, determine a 90° folding of the transverse wings 22 of the "U"-folded
wrapping sheet 21 against the side walls of the group 14 of cigarettes (as shown in
figure 14). As already mentioned above, in each spindle 32, the side walls 36 have
a longitudinal extension which is smaller than a longitudinal extension of the base
walls 34 and 35, so that the transverse wings 22 of the "U"-folded wrapping sheet
21 are folded, by the action of the folding elements 55, against a portion of the
group 14 of cigarettes left uncovered by the side walls 36 of the spindle 32.
[0039] Furthermore, according to figure 18, in the folding station S4 there is also a further
folding device 555, which folds, on each side, the longitudinal wing 23 of the "U"-folded
wrapping sheet 21 against the inclined portion 37 of a corresponding side wall 36
of the spindle 32 (as shown in figure 15 and as described above); in other words,
after the folding device 53 has "
embraced" a spindle 32 in order to fold the wrapping sheet 21 in a "U"-shape around the spindle
32, the folding device 555 engages the spindle 32 so as to fold the longitudinal wings
23 of the "U"-folded wrapping sheet 21 against the inclined portions 37 of the side
walls 36 of the spindle 32. The folding device 555 comprises a "U"-shaped, rigid folding
body 56, which, by radially moving relative to the wrapping drum 30 (namely, perpendicularly
to the rotation axis 31),
"embraces" the spindle 32, thus determining the folding of the longitudinal wings 23 of the
"U"-folded wrapping sheet 21 against the inclined portions 37 of the side walls 36
of the spindle 32.
[0040] According to a preferred embodiment, the folding device 555 engages the spindle 32
after the folding device 53 has "
embraced" the spindle 32 and while the folding device 53 keeps "
einbracing" the spindle 32; as a consequence, for a given amount of time the spindle 32 is simultaneously
engaged by the folding device 53 and by the folding device 555.
[0041] According to figure 19, in the transfer station S6, a group 14 of cigarettes - together
with a wrapping sheet 21 - is axially pulled out of a corresponding spindle 32 (namely,
parallel to the rotation axis 31) by means of the pusher 42, which goes through the
spindle 32 by passing through the through slit 41. When a group 14 of cigarettes together
with the wrapping sheet 21 are axially pulled out of the corresponding spindle 32,
the wrapping sheet 21 is folded in a "U"-shape in the configuration shown in figure
15, namely with the longitudinal wings 23 of the "U"-folded wrapping sheet 21 partially
folded and with the longitudinal wings 24 of the wrapping sheet 21 still to be folded.
The pusher 42 extracts a group 14 of cigarettes together with a wrapping sheet 21
from a corresponding spindle 32 and moves the group 14 of cigarettes together with
the wrapping sheet 21 along a straight wrapping path P2, which is oriented axially
(namely, parallel to the rotation axis 31) relative to the wrapping drum 30. In other
words, the pusher 42 is part of a linear wrapping conveyor 57, which is designed to
pull the group 14 of cigarettes, together with the "U"-folded wrapping sheet 21, out
of each spindle 32 in the transfer station S6 and is designed to move the group 14
of cigarettes, wrapped in the "U"-folded wrapping sheet 21, along a straight wrapping
path P2, which is parallel to the rotation axis 31 of the wrapping drum 30. The straight
wrapping path P2 develops from the transfer station S6, where each group 14 of cigarettes
wrapped in the wrapping sheet 21 gets out of the wrapping drum 30 and gets into the
linear wrapping conveyor 57, to a transfer station S7, where each group 14 of cigarettes
wrapped in the wrapping sheet 21 gets out of the linear wrapping conveyor 57.
[0042] Along the wrapping path P2 there is a folding device 58, which is designed, on each
side of the "U"-folded wrapping sheet 21, to fold the two longitudinal wings 23 and
24 on top of one another, so as to give to the wrapping sheet 21 a tubular shape having
one single open end (as shown in figure 20). In other words, as the group 14 of cigarettes
together with the "U"-folded wrapping sheet 21 move along the wrapping path P2, the
folding device 58, at first, completes the folding of the longitudinal wings 23 against
the group 14 of cigarettes and on top of the previously folded transverse wings 22
and then, subsequently, the folding device 58 folds the longitudinal wings 24 by 90°
against the group 14 of cigarettes and on top of the previously folded transverse
wings 22 as well as on top of the previously folded longitudinal wings 23. As already
mentioned above, the transverse wings 22 of the "U"-folded wrapping sheet 21 are folded
by the folding device 53 in the folding station S4; according to an alternative embodiment
which is not shown herein, the transverse wings 22 of the "U"-folded wrapping sheet
21 are folded by the folding device 58 instead of by the folding device 53.
[0043] According to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the folding
device 58 comprises two fixed folding elements 59 (namely, folding propellers), which
have no moving parts and are arranged along the wrapping path P2; in particular, the
folding device 58 comprises only fixed folding elements, which have no moving parts
and are arranged along the wrapping path P2.
[0044] In the transfer station S7, each wrapping sheet 21 is wrapped around a group 14 of
cigarettes with a tubular shape having one single open end, as shown n figure 20.
Figures 20, 21 and 22 show the folding of the wrapping sheet 21 around the group 14
of cigarettes in order to complete the formation the wrap 3 by closing said one single
open end of the wrapping sheet 21 having a tubular shape. At first, according to figure
21, a transverse wing 25 is folded by 90° against the group 14 of cigarettes and,
subsequently, the other transverse wing 25 is also folded by 90° against the group
14 of cigarettes. Subsequently, according to figure 22, the longitudinal wing 26 is
folded by 90° against the group 14 of cigarettes and on top of the previously folded
transverse wings 25 and, finally, the longitudinal wing 27 is folded by 90° against
the group 14 of cigarettes and on top of the previously folded transverse wings 25
and longitudinal wing 26 (according to the folding mode known as "
soap wrap").
[0045] According to figure 19, in the transfer station S7, a pusher 60 transfers, by means
of a movement which is perpendicular to the wrapping path P2, each group 14 of cigarettes
wrapped in a wrapping sheet 21 having a tubular shape from the linear wrapping conveyor
57 to a following linear wrapping conveyor 61, which is designed to move the group
14 of cigarettes wrapped in the tubular wrapping sheet 21 along a straight wrapping
path P3, which is perpendicular to the straight wrapping path P2. In other words,
the linear wrapping conveyor 61 receives the group 14 of cigarettes, together with
the tubular wrapping sheet 21, from the wrapping conveyor 57 and is designed to move
the group 14 of cigarettes, wrapped in the tubular wrapping sheet 21, along the straight
wrapping path P3. The pusher 60 transfers the group 14 of cigarettes wrapped in the
tubular wrapping sheet 21 from the wrapping conveyor 57 to the wrapping conveyor 61
along a transfer direction D1 (shown in figure 27), which is horizontal and is perpendicular
both to the wrapping path P2 and to the wrapping path P3.
[0046] As already mentioned above, the straight wrapping path P2 is parallel to the rotation
axis 31 of the wrapping drum 30 and is horizontal; on the other hand, the straight
wrapping path P3 is perpendicular to the rotation axis 31 of the wrapping drum 30
and is vertical. According to a possible embodiment, the wrapping conveyor 61 comprises
a drawer 62, which cyclically moves along the straight wrapping path P3 between the
transfer station S7 (where the drawer 62 receives a group 14 of cigarettes wrapped
in the wrapping sheet 21) and a transfer station S8 (where the drawer 62 releases
a group 14 of cigarettes wrapped in the wrapping sheet 21); the use of a drawer 62
to move the group 14 of cigarettes wrapped in the wrapping sheet 21 from the transfer
station S7 to the transfer station S8 allows the wrapping sheet 21 to be adequately
held in place so as to keep the folded configuration of the wrapping sheet 21 unchanged
(namely, without undesired elastic returns).
[0047] Along he wrapping path P3 there is a folding device 63, which is designed to fold
a transverse wing 25 of the open end of the tubular wrapping sheet 21 by 90° against
the group 14 of cigarettes and, then, is designed to fold the two longitudinal wings
27 and 27 of the open end of the tubular wrapping sheet 21 by 90° against the group
14 of cigarettes and on top of one another. According to a preferred embodiment shown
in the accompanying figures, the folding device 63 comprises fixed folding elements
64 (namely, folding propellers), which have no moving parts and are arranged along
the wrapping path P3; in particular, the folding device 63 comprises only fixed folding
elements, which have no moving parts and are arranged along the wrapping path P3.
Along the wrapping path P3 (in particular, at the beginning of the wrapping path P3)
there is a folding device 65, which is designed to fold a transverse wing 25 of the
tubular wrapping sheet 21 (namely, the transverse wing 25, which was not folded by
the folding device 63). The folding device 65 comprises a movable folding element
66, which cyclically moves parallel to the wrapping path P3. To this regard, it should
be pointed out that the folding of a transverse wing 25 of the tubular wrapping sheet
21 takes place in an opposite direction relative to the moving direction along the
wrapping path P3 and, therefore, said folding can be carried out by means of the fixed
folding elements 64 of the folding device 63; on the other hand, the folding of the
other transverse wing 25 of the tubular wrapping sheet 21 takes place in a direction
which is concordant with the moving direction long the wrapping path P3 and, therefore,
said folding can be carried out only by means of the movable folding element 66, which
cyclically moves parallel to the wrapping path P3.
[0048] In the transfer station S8, a pusher 67 transfers, by means of a movement which is
perpendicular to the wrapping path P3, each wrap 3 (consisting of a group 14 of cigarettes
wrapped in a wrapping sheet 21) from the linear wrapping conveyor 61 to a wrapping
drum 68. The pusher 67 transfers each wrap 3 from the wrapping conveyor 61 to the
wrapping drum 68 along a transfer direction D2 (shown in figure 27), which is horizontal,
is parallel to the direction D1 and is perpendicular both to the wrapping path P2
and to the wrapping path P3.
[0049] According to figure 9, the packer machine 29 comprises the wrapping drum 68 (namely,
a wrapping conveyor 68), which is mounted so as to rotate (with an intermittent motion,
namely "
in a stepped manner") around a horizontal rotation axis 69 (which is perpendicular to the rotation axis
31). The wrapping drum 68 supports eight pockets 70, each designed to accommodate,
on the inside, a wrap 3 and designed to receive and hold, on the outside (typically
through suction), a flat collar 17 (namely, still without folds). The rotation of
the wrapping drum 68 around the rotation axis 69 cyclically moves each pocket 70 along
a circular wrapping path P4 and through: the transfer station S8, where a wrap 3 coming
from the wrapping conveyor 61 is radially inserted (namely, perpendicularly to the
rotation axis 69) into the pocket 70, a feeding station S9, where a flat collar 17
is fed on the outside of the pocket 70 (namely, on the periphery of the wrapping drum
68), and, finally, a transfer station S10, where the wrap 3 together with the collar
17 are radially pulled out (namely, perpendicularly to the rotation axis 69) of the
pocket 70.
[0050] In the transfer station S8, each wrap 3 is
"clamped" (namely, grabbed) between the pusher 67 and a counter-pusher 71 and, then, is moved
from the wrapping conveyor 61 to a pocket 70 of the wrapping drum 68 by means of a
synchronized and concordant movement of the pusher 67 and of the counter-pusher 71.
In the transfer station S10, a pusher 72 pulls a wrap 3 together with a collar 17
out of a pocket 70 of the wrapping drum 68 along a horizontal transfer direction D3
(shown in figure 27).
[0051] In the area of the feeding station S9 there is a feeding unit 73 (only partially
shown in figure 9), which cyclically feeds the flat collars 17 (namely, still without
folds) to the pockets 70 of the wrapping drum 68. The feeding unit 73 comprises a
feeding drum 74 (namely, a feeding conveyor 74), which is mounted so as to rotate
(with an intermittent motion, namely
"in a stepped manner") around a horizontal rotation axis 75 (which is parallel to the rotation axis 69).
The feeding drum 74 supports four holding heads 76, each designed to receive and hold,
through suction, a flat collar 17 (namely, still without folds).
[0052] The rotation of the feeding drum 74 around the rotation axis 75 cyclically moves
each holding head 76 along a circular feeding path and through: a holding station
S11, where the holding head 76 receives a collar 17, which was cut from a continuous
band of wrapping material (or, alternatively, was picked up from bottom of a stack
housed in a hopper), and, then, a release station S12, where the holding head 76 releases
the collar 17.
[0053] The feeding unit 73 comprises a transfer conveyor 77, which is cyclically movable
between the release station S12, where it receives a collar 17 from a holding head
76 of the feeding drum 74, and the feeding station S9, where the collar 17 is fed
to a pocket 70 of the wrapping drum 68. In the feeding station S9 there is a pusher
78, which, by means of a radial movement (namely perpendicular to the rotation axis
69 of the wrapping drum 68), cyclically feeds the collars 17 from the transfer conveyor
77 to the pockets 70 of the wrapping drum 68.
[0054] According to an alternative embodiment which is not shown herein, the feeding unit
73 could also feed, together with the collars 17, coupons, which are fed to the holding
heads 76 of the feeding drum 74 upstream of the holding station S11, in the holding
station S11 together with the collars 17, or downstream of the holding station S11.
[0055] According to figure 9, the packer machine 29 comprises a wrapping drum 79 (namely,
a wrapping conveyor 79), which is mounted so as to rotate (with an intermittent motion,
namely
"in a stepped manner") around a horizontal rotation axis 80 (which is parallel to the rotation axis 69).
The wrapping drum 79 supports twelve pockets 81, each designed to accommodate, on
the inside, a wrap 3 coupled to a collar 17 and designed to receive and hold, on the
outside (typically through suction), a flat blank 28.
[0056] The rotation of the wrapping drum 79 around the rotation axis 80 cyclically moves
each pocket 81 along a circular wrapping path P5 and through: the transfer station
S10, where a wrap 3 and a collar 17 coming from the wrapping drum 68 are radially
inserted (namely, perpendicularly to the rotation axis 80) into the pocket 81 (by
getting into the pocket 81, the collar 17 folds in a "U"-shape around the wrap 3),
a feeding station S13, where a blank 28 is fed on the outside of the pocket 81 (namely,
on the periphery of the wrapping drum 79), and, finally, a transfer station S14, where
the wrap 3 together with the collar 17 ad the blank 28 are radially pulled out (namely,
perpendicularly to the rotation axis 80) of the pocket 81.
[0057] In the transfer station S10, a wrap 3 together with a corresponding collar 17 are
"clamped" (namely, grabbed) between the pusher 72 and a counter-pusher 82 and, then, are moved
from a pocket 70 of the wrapping drum 68 to a pocket 81 of the wrapping drum 79 by
means of a synchronized and concordant movement of the pusher 72 and of the counter-pusher
82 along the transfer direction D3, which is horizontal and perpendicular to the rotation
axes 69 and 80. In the transfer station S14, a pusher 83 pulls a wrap 3 together with
a collar 17 and a blank 28 out of a pocket 81 of the wrapping drum 79.
[0058] In the area of the feeding station S13 there is a feeding unit 84 (only partially
shown in figure 9), which cyclically feeds the flat blanks 28 to the pockets 81 of
the wrapping drum 79. The feeding unit 84 comprises a hopper 85, which houses a stack
of blanks 28 and has, at the bottom, an output mouth, from which the single blanks
28 are cyclically extracted. There is provided a transfer drum 86 (which is cross-shaped,
namely is provided with four arms), which is mounted so as to rotate (with an intermittent
motion, namely "
in a stepped manner") around a horizontal rotation axis 87 (which is parallel to the rotation axis 80).
The wrapping drum 86 supports four holding heads 88, each designed to receive and
hold, through suction, a flat blank 28 (namely, still without folds). The rotation
of the feeding drum 86 around the rotation axis 87 cyclically moves each holding head
88 along a circular transfer path and through: a holding station S15, where the holding
head 76 receives a blank 28 coming from the output mouth of the hopper 85, and, then,
a release station S16, where the holding head 88 releases the blank 28.
[0059] According to a preferred embodiment, in the area of the holding station S15 there
is a transferring device 89, which cyclically picks up the blanks 28 from the output
mouth of the hopper 85 (holding them through suction) and lays the blanks 28 on the
holding heads 88 of the transfer drum 86. According to figure 24, the transferring
device 89 comprises a plurality of arms 90, which are provided with respective suction
cups 91 and are movable with a rotation-translation movement (so that they can pull
the blanks 28 out of the output mouth of the hopper 85 without pulling the blanks
28 too much, which could cause them to tear). According to figure 24, the transferring
device 89 and the wrapping drum 86 are made with
"comb" structures with a complementary shape, so that they can mutually penetrate one another
without interferences.
[0060] Between the holding station S16 and the release station S17 there is a stretching
station S17, where there is a folding device 92, which pre-folds each blank 28 along
the pre-weakened longitudinal folding lines, so as to stretch the pre-weakened longitudinal
folding lines and, hence, facilitate the subsequent final folding of the blank along
the pre-weakened longitudinal folding lines. In other words, the folding device 92
folds each blank 28,
"to no purpose" and for the first time, along the pre-weakened longitudinal folding lines; this folding
has
"no purpose" as, at the end of the folding, the blank 28 is left free to go back, through elastic
return, to the initial flat configuration (namely, the folding does not produce any
type of final result and only serves the purpose of stretching the pre-weakened longitudinal
folding lines). The folding device 92 comprises two opposite folding elements 93,
which are mounted so as to rotate around respective rotation axes 94, which are horizontal
and parallel to the rotation axis 87, so as to move between a rest position, in which
the folding elements 93 are far from one another, and a work position, in which the
folding elements 93 are close to one another in order to
"squeeze" a blank 28 between them so that they can cause the folding of the blank 28 along
the pre-weakened longitudinal folding lines and against shaped countering elements
carried by the holding heads 88 of the transfer drum 86 (not shown in figure 24).
The two folding elements 93 are supported by a support body 95, which is arranged
beside the transfer drum 86 and houses, on the inside, the motor.
[0061] The feeding unit 84 comprises a feeding conveyor 96, which moves the blanks 28 along
a straight feeding path P6, which extends from the release station S16, where the
feeding conveyor 96 receives the blanks 28 from the transfer drum 86, to the feeding
station S13, where the feeding conveyor 96 releases the blanks 28 to the wrapping
drum 79. In the preferred embodiment shown in figure 24, the feeding conveyor 96 comprises
two sucking belts 97, which are arranged parallel to one another and at a given distance
from one another and engage (by holding through suction) two opposite ends of each
blank 28; in order to do so, each belt 97 is provided with a plurality of suction
cups 98.
[0062] According to figure 9, in the area of the transfer drum 86 there is a spray gluing
device 99, which applies glue (typically hot glue, namely fast-acting glue) on the
flap of the lid 4 (indicated with reference number 11" in figure 8) of each blank
28. Along the feeding path P6 and immediately downstream of the release station S16
(namely, immediately downstream of the transfer drum 86) there is a folding device
100, which folds the flap of the lid 4 (indicated with reference number 11" in figure
8) by 180° against the front wall 11 of the lid 4 (indicated with reference number
11' in figure 8). According to a preferred embodiment, the folding device 100 only
comprises fixed folding elements (namely folding propellers), which have no moving
parts and are arranged along the feeding path P6. Along the feeding path P6 and downstream
of the folding device 100 there is a pressing device 101, which typically comprises
a drum and applies a pressure to the flap of the lid 4 (indicated with reference number
11" in figure 8), which was just folded by the folding device 100, so as to help the
flap of the lid 4 (indicated with reference number 11" in figure 8) be correctly glued
to the front wall 11 of the lid 4 (indicated with reference number 11' in figure 8).
[0063] Along the feeding path P6 and downstream of the folding device 100 (namely, between
the folding device 100 and the feeding station S13) there is a spray gluing device
102, which applies glue (typically cold glue, namely slow-acting glue) on the blanks
28. In particular, the gluing device 102 applies glue at least on the front wall 7
of the container 2 (indicated with reference number 7' in figure 8) so as to glue
the front wall 7 of the container 2 to the front wall 18 of the collar 17; the gluing
device 102 could apply glue also on the side walls 9 of the container 2 (indicated
with reference number 9" in figure 8) so as to glue the side walls 9 of the container
2 to the side walls 19 of the collar 17.
[0064] At the end of the feeding path P6 and in the area of the feeding station S13 there
is a transfer device 103, which cyclically picks up the flat blanks 28 from the feeding
conveyor 96 and lays the flat blanks 28 on the outer periphery of the wrapping drum
79 in the area of the respective pockets 81. The transfer device 103 comprises an
arm 104, which is provided, at one end, of sucking cups and is hinged, at the opposite
end, so as to rotate around a rotation axis 105, which is horizontal and parallel
to the rotation axis 80; the arm 104 is preferably arranged between the belts 97 of
the feeding conveyor 96 so that is can get into the feeding conveyor 96 in order to
pick up the blanks 28.
[0065] According to figure 9, the packer machine 29 comprises a wrapping drum 106 (namely,
a wrapping conveyor 106), which is mounted so as to rotate (with an intermittent motion,
namely "
in a stepped manner") around a horizontal rotation axis 107 (which is parallel to the rotation axis 80).
The wrapping drum 106 supports twelve pockets 108, each designed to accommodate, on
the inside, a wrap 3 coupled to a collar 17 and to a blank 28.
[0066] The rotation of the wrapping drum 79 around the rotation axis 107 cyclically moves
each pocket 108 along a circular wrapping path P7 and through: the transfer station
S14, where a wrap 3, a collar 17 and a blank 28 coming from the wrapping drum 79 are
radially inserted (namely, perpendicularly to the rotation axis 107) into the pocket
108 (by getting into the pocket 108, the blank 28 folds in a "U"-shape around the
wrap 3 and the collar 17) and a transfer station S18, where the cigarette pack 1,
which is almost complete, is radially pulled out (namely, perpendicularly to the rotation
axis 107) of the pocket 108. Between the transfer station S14 and the transfer station
S18 there is arranged a folding device 109, which folds the blank 28 around the wrap
3 and the collar 17 until it reaches the configuration shown in figure 25, in which,
in order to complete the cigarette pack 1, the wings 9' and 13' need to be folded
by 90° against the wings 9" and 13" which were previously folded (in particular, when
the blank 28 gets into a pocket 108 together with an inner wrap 3 and a collar 17).
According to a preferred embodiment, the folding device 109 only comprises fixed folding
elements, which have no moving parts and are arranged along the wrapping path P7.
[0067] In the transfer station S14, a wrap 3 together with a corresponding collar 17 and
a corresponding blank 28 are
"clamped" (namely, grabbed) between the pusher 83 and a counter-pusher 110 and, then, are moved
from a pocket 81 of the wrapping drum 79 to a pocket 108 of the wrapping drum 106
by means of a synchronized and concordant movement of the pusher 83 and of the counter-pusher
110 along a transfer direction, which is inclined (namely, neither horizontal nor
vertical) and perpendicular to the rotation axes 80 and 107. In the transfer station
S18, a pusher 111 pulls an almost complete cigarette pack 1 out of a pocket 108 of
the wrapping drum 106 by means of a movement along a transfer direction D4, which
is horizontal and perpendicular to the wrapping path P7 and to the rotation axis 107
(namely, arranged radially relative to the rotation axis 107).
[0068] According to figure 25, in the transfer station S18, the pusher 111 transfers, by
means of a movement which is perpendicular to the wrapping path P7 and to the rotation
axis 107 (namely, by means of a radial movement), each almost complete cigarette pack
1 (namely, with the wings 9' and 13' still to be folded) from the wrapping drum 106
to a following linear gluing conveyor 112, which is designed to move the almost complete
pack 1 along a straight gluing path P8, which is perpendicular to the circular wrapping
path P7. The gluing device 112 comprises, among other things, a pusher 113, which
is movable with a reciprocating motion (namely, with a cyclic alternation of forth
and back travels) along the straight gluing path P8. Along the straight gluing path
P8 there are two gluing devices 114, which apply glue 115 (typically hot glue, namely
fast-acting glue) on the wings 9' and 13' still to be folded of each blank 28. The
straight gluing path P8 develops from the transfer station S18, where each almost
complete cigarette pack 1 gets out of the wrapping drum 106 and gets into the linear
gluing conveyor 112, to a transfer station S19, where each almost complete and glued
cigarette pack 1 (namely, provided with the glue 115) gets out of the linear gluing
conveyor 112.
[0069] In the transfer station S19, a pusher 116 transfers, by means of a movement which
is perpendicular to the gluing path P8, each almost complete cigarette pack 1 from
the linear gluing conveyor 112 to a following linear wrapping conveyor 117, which
is designed to move the almost complete cigarette pack 1 along a straight wrapping
path P9, which is perpendicular to the straight gluing path P8. In other words, the
linear wrapping conveyor 117 receives the almost complete cigarette pack 1 from the
gluing conveyor 112 and is designed to move the almost complete cigarette pack 1 along
the straight wrapping path P9. According to a preferred embodiment, the pusher 116
is part of the wrapping conveyor 117 and moves the almost complete cigarette packs
1 along the straight wrapping path P9. Along the straight wrapping path P9 there is
a folding device 118, which folds the wings 9' and 13' by 90° against the wings 9"
and 13" which were previously folded (in particular, when the blank 28 gets into a
pocket 108 together with an inner wrap 3 and a collar 17), thus completing the formation
of the cigarette pack 1. According to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying
figures, the folding device 118 only comprises fixed folding elements, which have
no moving parts and are arranged along the wrapping path P9; in particular, the folding
device 118 consist of a ring with a rectangular shape, through which the cigarette
packs 1 are forced to pass. The straight wrapping path P9 develops from the transfer
station S19, where each almost complete and glued cigarette pack 1 (namely, provided
with the glue 115) gets out of the gluing conveyor 112 and gets into the linear wrapping
conveyor 117, to a transfer station S20, where each complete cigarette pack 1 gets
out of the linear wrapping conveyor 117. In the transfer station S20, each complete
cigarette pack 1 gets out of the linear wrapping conveyor 117 and gets into a following
linear drying conveyor 119, which is designed to move the complete cigarette pack
1 along a straight drying path P10, which is perpendicular to the straight wrapping
path P9. According to a possible embodiment, the drying conveyor 119 comprises a drawer
120, which cyclically moves along the straight drying path P10 between the transfer
station S20 (where the drawer 120 receives a complete cigarette pack 1) and a transfer
station S21 (where the drawer 120 releases a complete cigarette pack 1); the use of
a drawer 120 to move the complete cigarette pack 1 from the transfer station S20 to
the transfer station S21 allows the blank 28 that was just folded to be adequately
held in place so as to keep the folded configuration of the blank 28 unchanged (namely,
without undesired elastic returns), thus allowing the glue 115 to have a sufficient
action.
[0070] In the transfer station S21, a pusher 121 transfers, by means of a movement which
is perpendicular to the drying path P10, each almost complete cigarette pack 1 from
the linear drying conveyor 119 to a following linear drying conveyor 122, which is
designed to move the almost complete cigarette pack 1 along a straight drying path
P11, which is perpendicular to the straight drying path P10. In other words, the linear
drying conveyor 122 receives the complete cigarette pack 1 from the drying conveyor
119 and is designed to move the complete cigarette pack 1 along the straight drying
path P11. According to a preferred embodiment, the pusher 121 is part of the drying
conveyor 122 and moves the complete cigarette packs 1 along the straight drying path
P11. According to a preferred embodiment, a horizontal stack of complete cigarette
packs 1 is formed along the straight drying path P11.
[0071] In the transfer station S22, the complete cigarette packs 1 get into an output conveyor
123, which moves the complete cigarettes packs 1 along a straight output path P12,
which is vertical and perpendicular to the straight drying path P11. The linear drying
path 123 comprises a conveyor belt, which is wound around two end pulleys and has
a plurality of pockets 124, each designed to hold a cigarette pack 1.
[0072] The straight gluing path P8 is horizontal and parallel to the rotation axis 107 of
the wrapping drum 106. The straight wrapping path P9 is horizontal and perpendicular
to the rotation axis 107 of the wrapping drum 106 (namely, is perpendicular to the
gluing path P8). The straight drying path P10 is vertical and perpendicular both to
the wrapping path P9 and to the rotation axis 107 of the wrapping drum 106 (namely,
it is perpendicular to the gluing path P8); it should be pointed out that, in figure
25, the drying path P10 is show in a horizontal position for greater clarity (namely,
to avoid overlaps which would have made the representation confused), whereas figure
26 correctly shows the vertical arrangement of the drying conveyor 119, which moves
the cigarette packs 1 along the vertical drying path P10. The straight drying path
P11 is horizontal, perpendicular to the drying path P10 and parallel to the wrapping
path P9. The output path P12 is vertical, perpendicular to the drying path P11 and
parallel to the drying path P10; it should be pointed out that, in figure 25, the
output path P12 is show in a horizontal position for greater clarity (namely, to avoid
overlaps which would have made the representation confused), whereas figure 9 correctly
shows the vertical arrangement of the output conveyor 123, which moves the cigarette
packs 1 along the output path P12.
[0073] According to figure 27, the wrapping drum 30 is parallel to and staggered, namely
non-coplanar, relative to the wrapping drum 68; in other words, the wrapping drum
30 lies on a plane which is different and spaced apart from a plane on which the wrapping
drum 68 lies. This geometric arrangement of the wrapping drums 30 and 68 is due to
the presence of the wrapping conveyor 57, which develops along the wrapping path P3,
which is arranged horizontally and parallel to the rotation axes 31 and 69 of the
wrapping drums 30 and 68. On the other hand, the wrapping drums 68, 79 and 106 are
coplanar to one another, namely they all lie on the same plane.
[0074] In the embodiment shown in figure 9, the feeding unit 73 comprises the transfer conveyor
77, which is interposed between the feeding drum 74 and the wrapping drum 68, namely
the transfer conveyor 77 receives, in the release station S12, a collar 17 from a
holding head 76 of the feeding drum 74 and releases, in the feeding station S9, the
collar 17 to a pocket 70 of the wrapping drum 68. In the alternative embodiment shown
in figure 28, the feeding unit 73 has not transfer conveyor 77, namely in the feeding
station S9, each collar 17 is directly fed from a holding head 76 of the feeding drum
74 to a pocket 70 of the wrapping drum 68.
[0075] In the embodiment shown in figure 29, the feeding unit 73 used to feed the collars
17 is absent and is replaced by a feeding unit 125 for the collars 17, which is arranged
in a different position: the feeding unit 73 cyclically feeds the flat collars 17
(namely, still without folds) on top of the pockets 70 of the wrapping drum 68 in
the feeding station S9, whereas the feeding unit 125 cyclically feeds the flat collars
17 (namely, still without folds) into the pockets 81 of the wrapping drum 79 in a
feeding station S23.
[0076] The feeding unit 125 comprises a feeding drum 126 (namely, a feeding conveyor 126),
which is mounted so as to rotate (with an intermittent motion, namely "
in a stepped manner") around a horizontal rotation axis 127 (which is parallel to the rotation axis 80).
The feeding drum 126 supports three holding heads (not shown), each designed to receive
and hold, through suction, a flat collar 17 (namely, still without folds).
[0077] The rotation of the feeding drum 126 around the rotation axis 127 cyclically moves
each holding head along a circular feeding path and through: a holding station S15,
where the holding head receives a collar 17, and, then, the feeding station S23, where
the holding head releases the collar 17.
[0078] The feeding unit 125 comprises a transfer conveyor belt 128, which is arranged vertically,
cyclically picks up the blanks 17 from a holding station S25 and cyclically releases
the blanks 17 to the feeding drum 126 in the holding station S24. In the holding station
S25, the collars 17 are cut from a continuous band of wrapping material or, alternatively,
are picked up from the bottom of a stack housed in a hopper.
[0079] In the holding station S24 there is a pusher 129, which, by means of a horizontal
movement (namely perpendicular to the rotation axis 127 of the wrapping drum 126),
cyclically feeds the collars 17 from the transfer conveyor 128 to the holding heads
(not shown) of the feeding drum 126.
[0080] Generally speaking, the feeding unit 73 is used when the collars 17 are simpler and,
for example, do not comprise a rear wall (namely, according to figure 7, when they
only comprise a front wall 18 and two side walls 19), whereas the feeding unit 125
is used when the collars 17 are more complicated and also comprise, for example, a
rear wall (examples of "complex" collars 17 are described, for example, in patent
applications
WO2015114587A1,
WO2016088063A1). When the feeding unit 125 is used, the collars 17 are inserted into the still empty
pockets 81 of the wrapping drum 80 and arrange themselves folded in a "U"-shape inside
the pockets 81; subsequently, in the transfer station S10, the wrappers 3 coming from
the wrapping drum 68 are radially inserted (namely, perpendicularly to the rotation
axis 80) into the pockets 81 and, hence, inside the previously fed collars 17.
[0081] In the alternative embodiment shown in figure 30, there is the feeding unit 73, which,
in the feeding station S9, feeds the collars 17 on the outside of the pockets 70 (namely,
on the periphery of the wrapping drum 68), and there is also a further feeding unit
130, which feeds fillers (or other type of inserts which have to be placed inside
the cigarette pack 1) to the pockets 70 f the wrapping drum 68. By way of example,
fillers to be inserted in cigarette packs are described in patent
US4771882A1 or in patent application
WO2016005949A1.
[0082] The feeding unit 130 comprises a feeding drum 131 (namely, a feeding conveyor 131),
which is mounted so as to rotate (with an intermittent motion, namely
"in a stepped manner") around a horizontal rotation axis 132 (which is parallel to the rotation axis 69).
The feeding drum 131 supports four pockets (not shown), each designed to receive and
hold a filler.
[0083] The rotation of the feeding drum 131 around the rotation axis 132 cyclically moves
each pocket along a circular feeding path and through: a holding station S26, where
the pocket receives a filler, and, then, the feeding station S27, where the pocket
releases the filler to a pocket 70 of the wrapping drum 68.
[0084] The feeding unit 130 comprises a transfer conveyor belt 133, which is arranged vertically,
cyclically picks up the fillers from a holding station S28 and cyclically releases
the fillers to the feeding drum 131 in the holding station S26. In the holding station
S28, the fillers are cut from a continuous band of wrapping material or, alternatively,
are picked up from the bottom of a stack housed in a hopper.
[0085] In the transfer station S26 there is a pusher 134, which, by means of a vertical
movement (namely perpendicular to the rotation axis 132 of the wrapping drum 131),
cyclically feeds the fillers from the transfer conveyor 133 to the pockets (not shown)
of the feeding drum 131. Similarly, in the feeding station S9, there is a pusher 135,
which, by means of a vertical movement (namely perpendicular to the rotation axis
132 of the wrapping drum 131), cyclically feeds the fillers from the pockets (not
shown) of the feeding drum 131 to the pockets 70 of the wrapping drum 68.
[0086] According to other embodiments which are not shown herein, the feeding unit 130 could
be combined with the feeding unit 125 instead of being combined with the feeding unit
73.
[0087] According to a preferred, though non-binding embodiment, the movements of the different
components (wrapping drums, feeding conveyors, pushers, movable folding elements...)
of the packer machine 29 are carried out by means of respective electric motors, which
are independent of one another and are synchronized (namely operated in phase) in
a virtual manner (namely, not by means of a physical connection, but by means of a
control connection). An electric motor (for example, the electric machine controlling
the rotation of the wrapping drum 30) is usually used as a reference
("master") and all the other electric motors ("
slaves") pursue the position of the reference electric motor
("master"). In order to obtain the linear movements (namely, those movements that involve a displacement
along a straight trajectory), a rotary electric motor is generally used, which causes
the rotation of a pinion meshing with a rack; namely, a "
pinion-rack" mechanism is used to turn the rotary movement generated by the electric motor into
a linear movement.
[0088] The embodiments described herein can be combined with one another, without for this
reason going beyond the scope of protection of the invention.
[0089] The packer machine 29 described above has numerous advantages.
[0090] First of all, the packer machine 29 described above allows manufacturers to produce
wrappers 3 for cigarette packs 1 with a high production quality (namely, having extremely
precise and square folds of the wrapping sheet 21), even operating at a high production
speed (namely, with a large number of wrappers 3 produced per unit of time). Furthermore,
the packer machine 29 described above allows manufacturers to change the format of
the cigarette packs 1 in a relatively simple and quick fashion.
[0091] Finally, the packer machine 29 described above is compact and allows ideal access
to all the components thereof; indeed, an operator standing in front of the packer
machine 29 is capable of reaching the active parts of the packer machine 29 with his/her
own hands in a simple, quick and ergonomic fashion.
[0092] The embodiment shown in the accompanying figures relates to the production of a cigarette
pack, but the invention can also be applied, without significant changes, to the production
of any other type of pack for smoking articles (for example, a pack for cigars, a
pack for electronic cigarettes with liquid vaporisation, a pack for new-generation
cigarettes without tobacco combustion...).
1. A packer machine (29) to produce a cigarette pack (1) provided with an outer container
(2) and a hinged lid (4) folding a blank (28) around a wrap (3) enclosing a group
(14) of smoking articles; the blank (28) comprises a pair of first wings (9', 13')
and a pair of second wings (9", 13"), which are placed on top of one another and glued
so as to build respective side walls (9, 13) of the outer container (2) and of the
lid (4); the packer machine (29) comprises:
a wrapping drum (106), which is mounted so as to rotate around a rotation axis (107)
and moves a pocket (108) along a first circular wrapping path (P7) extending between
a first transfer station (S14), where the wrap (3) and the blank (28) are inserted
into the pocket (108) together and simultaneously, and a second transfer station (S18);
a first folding device (109), which is arranged along the first wrapping path (P7)
and folds the blank (28) around the wrap (3) placing the pair of second wings (9",
13") in contact with the wrap (3) and arranging the pair of first wings (9', 13')
coplanar to one another and perpendicular to the pair of second wings (9", 13");
a first pusher (111), which is arranged in the second transfer station (S18) and pulls
the wrap (3) wrapped in the blank (28) out of the pocket (108) of the wrapping drum
(106) by means of a movement along a transfer direction (D4), which is perpendicular
to the first wrapping path (P7) and to the rotation axis (107);
a gluing conveyor (112), which receives the wrap (3) wrapped in the blank (28) from
the pocket (108) of the wrapping drum (106) in the second transfer station (S18) and
moves the wrap (3) wrapped in the blank (28) along a straight gluing path (P8), which
is perpendicular to the first wrapping path (P7), up to a third transfer station (S19);
at least one gluing device (114), which is arranged along the gluing path (P8) and
applies glue (115) on the first wings (9', 13') or on the second wings (9", 13");
a second folding device (118), which is arranged downstream of the gluing device (114)
and folds the first wings (9', 13') by 90° against the second wings (9", 13"), thus
completing the production of the cigarette pack (1); and
a wrapping conveyor (117), which receives the wrap (3) wrapped in the blank (28) from
the gluing conveyor (112) in the third transfer station (S19) and moves the wrap (3)
wrapped in the blank (28) along a second straight wrapping path (P9), which is perpendicular
to the gluing path (P8), up to a fourth transfer station (S20).
the packer machine (29) is characterized in that:
the gluing path (P8) is arranged parallel to the rotation axis (107) of the wrapping
drum (106) and perpendicular to the transfer direction (D4) of the first pusher (111);
and
the second folding device (118) is arranged along the second wrapping path (P9).
2. The packer machine (29) according to claim 1 and comprising a pair of gluing devices
(114), which are arranged on opposite sides of the gluing path (P8).
3. The packer machine (29) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gluing conveyor (112)
comprises a second pusher (113), which is movable with a reciprocating motion along
the gluing path (P8).
4. The packer machine (29) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the second folding device
(118) only comprises fixed folding elements, which have no moving parts and are arranged
along the second wrapping path (P9).
5. The packer machine (29) according to one of the claims from 1 to 4, wherein the second
folding device (118) consists of a ring with a rectangular shape, through which the
cigarette pack (1) is forced to pass.
6. The packer machine (29) according to one of the claims from 1 to 5, wherein the second
wrapping conveyor (117) comprises a third pusher (116), which picks up the wrap (3)
wrapped in the blank (28) from the gluing conveyor (112) in the third transfer station
(S19) and moves the wrap (3) wrapped in the blank (28) along the second wrapping path
(P9) up to the fourth transfer station (S20).
7. The packer machine (29) according one of the claims from 1 to 6 and comprising a first
drying conveyor (119), which receives the cigarette pack (1) from the second wrapping
conveyor (117) in the fourth transfer station (S20) and moves the cigarette pack (1)
along a first straight drying path (P10), which is perpendicular to the second wrapping
path (P9), up to a fifth transfer station (S21).
8. The packer machine (29) according to claim 7, wherein the first drying conveyor (119)
comprises a drawer (120), which cyclically moves along the first straight drying path
(P10) between the fourth transfer station (S20) and the fifth transfer station (S21).
9. The packer machine (29) according claim 7 or 8 and comprising a second drying conveyor
(112), which receives the cigarette pack (1) from the first drying conveyor (119)
in the fifth transfer station (S21) and moves the cigarette pack (1) along a second
straight drying path (P11), which is perpendicular to the first drying path (P10),
up to a sixth transfer station (S22).
10. The packer machine (29) according to claim 9, wherein a horizontal stack of cigarette
packs (1) is formed in the second straight drying path (P11).
11. The packer machine (29) according claim 9 or 10 and comprising an output conveyor
(123), which receives the cigarette pack (1) from the second drying conveyor (112)
in the sixth transfer station (S22) and moves the cigarette pack (1) along a straight
output path (P12), which is vertical and perpendicular to the second drying path (P11).
12. The packer machine (29) according to one of the claims from 1 to 11, wherein the gluing
device (114) applies glue (115) on the first wings (9', 13').
13. A wrapping method to produce a cigarette pack (1) provided with an outer container
(2) and a hinged lid (4) folding a blank (28) around a wrap (3) enclosing a group
(14) of smoking articles; the blank (28) comprises a pair of first wings (9', 13')
and a pair of second wings (9", 13"), which are placed on top of one another and glued
so as to build respective side walls (9, 13) of the outer container (2) and of the
lid (4); the wrapping method comprises the steps of:
moving, by means of a wrapping drum (106) mounted so as to rotate around a rotation
axis (107), a pocket (108) along a first circular wrapping path (P7) extending between
a first transfer station (S14), where the wrap (3) and the blank (28) are inserted
into the pocket (108) together and simultaneously, and a second transfer station (S18);
folding, by means of a first folding device (109) arranged along the first wrapping
path (P7), the blank (28) around the wrap (3) placing the pair of second wings (9",
13") in contact with the wrap (3) and arranging the pair of first wings (9', 13')
coplanar to one another and perpendicular to the pair of second wings (9", 13");
pulling, by means of a first pusher (111) arranged in the second transfer station
(S18), the wrap (3) wrapped in the blank (28) out of the pocket (108) of the wrapping
drum (106) by means of a movement along a transfer direction (D4), which is perpendicular
to the first wrapping path (P7) and to the rotation axis (107);
feeding, by means of a gluing conveyor (112), which receives the wrap (3) wrapped
in the blank (28) from the pocket (108) of the wrapping drum (106) in the second transfer
station (S18), the wrap (3) wrapped in the blank (28) along a straight gluing path
(P8), which is perpendicular to the wrapping path (P7), up to a third transfer station
(S19);
applying, by means of at least one gluing device (114) arranged along the gluing path
(P8), glue (115) on the first wings (9', 13') or on the second wings (9", 13");
folding, by means of a second folding device (118) arranged downstream of the gluing
device (114), the first wings (9', 13') by 90° against the second wings (9", 13"),
thus completing the production of the cigarette pack (1); and
moving, by means of a wrapping conveyor (117), which receives the wrap (3) wrapped
in the blank (28) from the gluing conveyor (112) in the third transfer station (S19),
the wrap (3) wrapped in the blank (28) along a second straight wrapping path (P9),
which is perpendicular to the gluing path (P8), up to a fourth transfer station (S20);
the wrapping method is characterized in that:
the gluing path (P8) is arranged parallel to the rotation axis (107) of the wrapping
drum (106) and perpendicular to the transfer direction (D4) of the first pusher (111);
and
the second folding device (118) is arranged along the second wrapping path (P9).
1. Verpackungsmaschine (29), um eine Zigarettenpackung (1) herzustellen, die mit einem
Außenbehälter (2) und einem angelenkten Deckel (4) versehen ist, die einen Zuschnitt
(28) um eine Umhüllung (3) faltet, die eine Gruppe (14) von Raucherzeugnissen umschließt;
wobei der Zuschnitt (28) ein Paar erster Flügel (9', 13') und eine Paar zweiter Flügel
(9", 13") umfasst, die aufeinander angeordnet und geklebt werden, um die jeweiligen
Seitenwände (9, 13) des Außenbehälters (2) und des Deckels (4) zu errichten; wobei
die Verpackungsmaschine (29) umfasst:
eine Umhüllungstrommel (106), die derart angebracht ist, dass sie sich um eine Drehachse
(107) dreht, und eine Tasche (108) entlang eines ersten kreisförmigen Umhüllungspfads
(P7) bewegt, der sich zwischen einer ersten Übertragungsstation (S14), wo die Umhüllung
(3) und der Zuschnitt (28) zusammen und gleichzeitig in die Tasche (108) eingeführt
werden, und einer zweiten Übertragungsstation (S18) erstreckt;
eine erste Faltvorrichtung (109), die entlang des ersten Umhüllungspfads (P7) angeordnet
ist und den Zuschnitt (28) um die Umhüllung (3) faltet, das Paar zweiter Flügel (9",
13") in Kontakt mit der Umhüllung (3) platziert und das Paar erster Flügel (9', 13')
zueinander komplanar und senkrecht zu dem Paar zweiter Flügel (9", 13") anordnet;
einen ersten Schieber (111), der in der zweiten Übertragungsstation (S18) angeordnet
ist und die vom Zuschnitt (28) umhüllte Umhüllung (3) mittels einer Bewegung entlang
einer Übertragungsrichtung (D4), die zum ersten Umhüllungspfad (P7) und zur Drehachse
(107) senkrecht ist, aus der Tasche (108) der Umhüllungstrommel (106) zieht;
einen Klebeförderer (112), der die vom Zuschnitt (28) umhüllte Umhüllung (3) in der
zweiten Übertragungsstation (S18) aus der Tasche (108) der Umhüllungstrommel (106)
empfängt und die vom Zuschnitt (28) umhüllte Umhüllung (3) entlang eines geradlinigen
Klebepfads (P8), der zum ersten Umhüllungspfad (P7) senkrecht ist, bis zu einer dritten
Übertragungsstation (S19) bewegt;
mindestens eine Klebevorrichtung (114), die entlang des Klebepfads (P8) angeordnet
ist und Klebstoff (115) auf die ersten Flügel (9', 13') oder auf die zweiten Flügel
(9", 13") aufbringt;
eine zweite Faltvorrichtung (118), die stromabwärts der Klebevorrichtung (114) angeordnet
ist und die ersten Flügel (9', 13') um 90° gegen die zweiten Flügel (9", 13") faltet,
und somit die Herstellung der Zigarettenpackung (1) abschließt; und
einen Umhüllungsförderer (117), der die vom Zuschnitt (28) umhüllte Umhüllung (3)
in der dritten Übertragungsstation (S19) vem Klebeförderer (112) empfängt und die
vom Zuschnitt (28) umhüllte Umhüllung (3) entlang eines zweiten geradlinigen Umhüllungspfads
(P9), der zum Klebepfad (P8) senkrecht ist, bis zu einer vierten Übertragungsstation
(S20) bewegt;
wobei die Verpackungsmaschine (29) dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass:
der Klebepfad (P8) parallel zur Drehachse (107) der Umhüllungstrommel (106) und senkrecht
zur Übertragungsrichtung (D4) des ersten Schiebers (111) angeordnet ist; und
die zweite Faltvorrichtung (118) entlang des zweiten Umhüllungspfads (P9) angeordnet
ist.
2. Verpackungsmaschine (29) nach Anspruch 1, umfassend ein Paar Klebevorrichtungen (114),
die auf gegenüberliegenden Seiten des Klebepfads (P8) angeordnet sind.
3. Verpackungsmaschine (29) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei der Klebeförderer (112) einen
zweiten Schieber (113) umfasst, der mit einer Hin- und Herbewegung entlang des Klebepfads
(P8) bewegbar ist.
4. Verpackungsmaschine (29) nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, wobei die zweite Faltvorrichtung
(118) lediglich feststehende Faltelemente umfasst, die keine beweglichen Komponenten
aufweisen und entlang des zweiten Umhüllungspfads (P9) angeordnet sind.
5. Verpackungsmaschine (29) nach einem der Ansprüche von 1 bis 4, wobei die zweite Faltvorrichtung
(118) aus einem Ring mit einer rechtwinkligen Form besteht, durch den die Zigarettenpackung
(1) zwangsweise hindurchgeführt wird.
6. Verpackungsmaschine (29) nach einem der Ansprüche von 1 bis 5, wobei der zweite Umhüllungsförderer
(117) einen dritten Schieber (116) umfasst, der die vom Zuschnitt (28) umhüllte Umhüllung
(3) in der dritten Übertragungsstation (S19) vom Klebeförderer (112) aufnimmt und
die vom Zuschnitt (28) umhüllte Umhüllung (3) entlang des zweiten Umhüllungspfads
(P9) bis zur vierten Übertragungsstation (S20) bewegt.
7. Verpackungsmaschine (29) nach einem der Ansprüche von 1 bis 6, die einen ersten Trocknungsförderer
(119) umfasst, der die Zigarettenpackung (1) in der vierten Übertragungsstation (S20)
vom zweiten Umhüllungsförderer (117) empfängt und die Zigarettenpackung (1) entlang
eines ersten geradlinigen Trocknungspfads (P10), der zum zweiten Umhüllungspfad (P9)
senkrecht ist, bis zu einer fünften Übertragungsstation (S21) bewegt.
8. Verpackungsmaschine (29) nach Anspruch 7, wobei der erste Trocknungsförderer (119)
eine Lade (120) umfasst, die sich entlang des ersten geradlinigen Trocknungspfads
(P10) zwischen der vierten Übertragungsstation (S20) und der fünften Übertragungsstation
(S21) zyklisch bewegt.
9. Verpackungsmaschine (29) nach Anspruch 7 oder 8, und umfassend einen zweiten Trocknungsförderer
(112), der die Zigarettenpackung (1) in der fünften Übertragungsstation (S21) vom
ersten Trocknungsförderer (119) empfängt und die Zigarettenpackung (1) entlang eines
zweiten geradlinigen Trocknungspfads (P11), der zum ersten Trocknungspfad (P10) senkrecht
ist, bis zu einer sechsten Übertragungsstation (S22) bewegt.
10. Verpackungsmaschine (29) nach Anspruch 9, wobei im zweiten geradlinigen Trocknungspfad
(P11) ein horizontaler Stapel Zigarettenpackungen (1) gebildet wird.
11. Verpackungsmaschine (29) nach Anspruch 9 oder 10, umfassend einen Ausgangsförderer
(123), der die Zigarettenpackung (1) in der sechsten Übertragungsstation (S22) vom
zweiten Trocknungsförderer (112) empfängt und die Zigarettenpackung (1) entlang eines
geradlinigen Ausgangspfads (P12) bewegt, der vertikal und zum zweiten Trocknungspfad
(P11) senkrecht ist.
12. Verpackungsmaschine (29) nach einem der Ansprüche von 1 bis 11, wobei die Klebevorrichtung
(114) Klebstoff (115) auf die ersten Flügel (9', 13') aufbringt.
13. Umhüllungsverfahren, um eine Zigarettenpackung (1) herzustellen, die mit einem Außenbehälter
(2) und einem angelenkten Deckel (4) versehen ist, wobei ein Zuschnitt (28) um eine
Umhüllung (3) gefaltet wird, die eine Gruppe (14) von Raucherzeugnissen umschließt;
wobei der Zuschnitt (28) ein Paar erster Flügel (9', 13') und eine Paar zweiter Flügel
(9", 13") umfasst, die aufeinander angeordnet und geklebt werden, um die jeweiligen
Seitenwände (9, 13) des Außenbehälters (2) und des Deckels (4) zu errichten; wobei
das Umhüllungsverfahren die Schritte umfasst:
Bewegen mittels einer Umhüllungstrommel (106), die derart angebracht ist, dass sie
sich um eine Drehachse (107) dreht, einer Tasche (108) entlang eines ersten kreisförmigen
Umhüllungspfads (P7), der sich zwischen einer ersten Übertragungsstation (S14), wo
die Umhüllung (3) und der Zuschnitt (28) zusammen und gleichzeitig in die Tasche (108)
eingeführt werden, und einer zweiten Übertragungsstation (S18) erstreckt;
Falten mittels einer ersten Faltvorrichtung (109), die entlang des ersten Umhüllungspfads
(P7) angeordnet ist, des Zuschnitts (28) um die Umhüllung (3), wobei das Paar zweiter
Flügel (9", 13") in Kontakt mit der Umhüllung (3) platziert wird und das Paar erster
Flügel (9', 13') zueinander komplanar und senkrecht zu dem Paar zweiter Flügel (9",
13") angeordnet wird;
Ziehen mittels eines ersten Schiebers (111), der in der zweiten Übertragungsstation
(S18) angeordnet ist, der vom Zuschnitt (28) umhüllten Umhüllung (3) aus der Tasche
(108) der Umhüllungstrommel (106) mittels einer Bewegung entlang einer Übertragungsrichtung
(D4), die zum ersten Umhüllungspfad (P7) und zur Drehachse (107) senkrecht ist;
Zuführen mittels eines Klebeförderers (112), der die vom Zuschnitt (28) umhüllte Umhüllung
(3) in der zweiten Übertragungsstation (S18) aus der Tasche (108) der Umhüllungstrommel
(106) empfängt, der vom Zuschnitt (28) umhüllten Umhüllung (3) entlang eines geradlinigen
Klebepfads (P8), der zum Umhüllungspfad (P7) senkrecht ist, bis zu einer dritten Übertragungsstation
(S19);
Aufbringen mittels mindestens einer Klebevorrichtung (114), die entlang des Klebepfads
(P8) angeordnet ist, von Klebstoff (115) auf die ersten Flügel (9', 13') oder auf
die zweiten Flügel (9", 13");
Falten mittels einer zweiten Faltvorrichtung (118), die stromabwärts der Klebevorrichtung
(114) angeordnet ist, der ersten Flügel (9', 13') um 90° gegen die zweiten Flügel
(9", 13"), und somit die Herstellung der Zigarettenpackung (1) abschließt; und
Bewegen mittels eines Umhüllungsförderers (117), der die vom Zuschnitt (28) umhüllte
Umhüllung (3) in der dritten Übertragungsstation (S19) vom Klebeförderer (112) empfängt,
der vom Zuschnitt (28) umhüllten Umhüllung (3) entlang eines zweiten geradlinigen
Umhüllungspfads (P9), der zum Klebepfad (P8) senkrecht ist, bis zu einer vierten Übertragungsstation
(S20);
wobei das Umhüllungsverfahren dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass:
der Klebepfad (P8) parallel zur Drehachse (107) der Umhüllungstrommel (106) und senkrecht
zur Übertragungsrichtung (D4) des ersten Schiebers (111) angeordnet ist; und
die zweite Faltvorrichtung (118) entlang des zweiten Umhüllungspfads (P9) angeordnet
ist.
1. Machine empaqueteuse (29) pour produire un paquet de cigarettes (1) pourvu d'un contenant
extérieur (2) et d'un couvercle articulé (4) pliant une découpe (28) autour d'une
enveloppe (3) renfermant un groupe (14) d'articles à fumer ; la découpe (28) comprend
une paire de premières ailes (9', 13') et une paire de deuxièmes ailes (9", 13"),
qui sont placées les unes par-dessus les autres et collées de façon à construire des
parois latérales (9, 13) respectives du contenant extérieur (2) et du couvercle (4)
; la machine empaqueteuse (29) comprend :
un tambour d'enveloppage (106), qui est monté de façon à tourner autour d'un axe de
rotation (107) et déplace une poche (108) le long d'un premier trajet d'enveloppage
circulaire (P7) s'étendant entre une première station de transfert (S14), où l'enveloppe
(3) et la découpe (28) sont insérées dans la poche (108) ensemble et simultanément,
et une deuxième station de transfert (S18) ;
un premier dispositif de pliage (109), qui est agencé le long du premier trajet d'enveloppage
(P7) et plie la découpe (28) autour de l'enveloppe (3) plaçant la paire de deuxièmes
ailes (9", 13") en contact avec l'enveloppe (3) et agençant la paire de premières
ailes (9', 13') coplanaires les unes aux autres et perpendiculaires à la paire de
deuxièmes ailes (9", 13") ;
un premier pousseur (111), qui est agencé dans la deuxième station de transfert (S18)
et enlève l'enveloppe (3) enveloppée dans la découpe (28) hors de la poche (108) du
tambour d'enveloppage (106) au moyen d'un déplacement selon une direction de transfert
(D4), qui est perpendiculaire au premier trajet d'enveloppage (P7) et à l'axe de rotation
(107) ;
un convoyeur de collage (112), qui reçoit l'enveloppe (3) enveloppée dans la découpe
(28) depuis la poche (108) du tambour d'enveloppage (106) dans la deuxième station
de transfert (S18) et déplace l'enveloppe (3) enveloppée dans la découpe (28) le long
d'un trajet de collage droit (P8), qui est perpendiculaire au premier trajet d'enveloppage
(P7), jusqu'à une troisième station de transfert (S19) ;
au moins un dispositif de collage (114), qui est agencé le long du trajet de collage
(P8) et applique de la colle (115) sur les premières ailes (9', 13') ou sur les deuxièmes
ailes (9", 13") ;
un deuxième dispositif de pliage (118), qui est agencé en aval du dispositif de collage
(114) et plie les premières ailes (9', 13') de 90° contre les deuxièmes ailes (9",
13"), achevant ainsi la production du paquet de cigarettes (1) ; et
un convoyeur d'enveloppage (117), qui reçoit l'enveloppe (3) enveloppée dans la découpe
(28) depuis le convoyeur de collage (112) dans la troisième station de transfert (S19)
et déplace l'enveloppe (3) enveloppée dans la découpe (28) le long d'un deuxième trajet
d'enveloppage droit (P9), qui est perpendiculaire au trajet de collage (P8), jusqu'à
une quatrième station de transfert (S20),
la machine empaqueteuse (29) est caractérisée en ce que :
le trajet de collage (P8) est agencé parallèle à l'axe de rotation (107) du tambour
d'enveloppage (106) et perpendiculaire à la direction de transfert (D4) du premier
pousseur (111) ; et
le deuxième dispositif de pliage (118) est agencé le long du deuxième trajet d'enveloppage
(P9).
2. Machine empaqueteuse (29) selon la revendication 1 et comprenant une paire de dispositifs
de collage (114), qui sont agencés sur des côtés opposés du trajet de collage (P8).
3. Machine empaqueteuse (29) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle le convoyeur
de collage (112) comprend un deuxième pousseur (113), qui est déplaçable avec un mouvement
de va-et-vient le long du trajet de collage (P8).
4. Machine empaqueteuse (29) selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, dans laquelle le deuxième
dispositif de pliage (118) comprend uniquement des éléments de pliage fixes, qui sont
dépourvus de parties mobiles et sont agencés le long du deuxième trajet d'enveloppage
(P9).
5. Machine empaqueteuse (29) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, dans laquelle le deuxième
dispositif de pliage (118) est constitué d'un anneau de forme rectangulaire, à travers
lequel le paquet de cigarettes (1) est forcé à passer.
6. Machine empaqueteuse (29) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, dans laquelle le deuxième
convoyeur d'enveloppage (117) comprend un troisième pousseur (116), qui prélève l'enveloppe
(3) enveloppée dans la découpe (28) depuis le convoyeur de collage (112) dans la troisième
station de transfert (S19) et déplace l'enveloppe (3) enveloppée dans la découpe (28)
le long du deuxième trajet d'enveloppage (P9) jusqu'à la quatrième station de transfert
(S20).
7. Machine empaqueteuse (29) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 6 et comprenant un premier
convoyeur de séchage (119), qui reçoit le paquet de cigarettes (1) depuis le deuxième
convoyeur d'enveloppage (117) dans la quatrième station de transfert (S20) et déplace
le paquet de cigarettes (1) le long d'un premier trajet de séchage droit (P10), qui
est perpendiculaire au deuxième trajet d'enveloppage (P9), jusqu'à une cinquième station
de transfert (S21).
8. Machine empaqueteuse (29) selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle le premier convoyeur
de séchage (119) comprend une glissière (120), qui se déplace cycliquement le long
du premier trajet de séchage droit (P10) entre la quatrième station de transfert (S20)
et la cinquième station de transfert (S21).
9. Machine empaqueteuse (29) selon la revendication 7 ou 8 et comprenant un deuxième
convoyeur de séchage (112), qui reçoit le paquet de cigarettes (1) depuis le premier
convoyeur de séchage (119) dans la cinquième station de transfert (S21) et déplace
le paquet de cigarettes (1) le long d'un deuxième trajet de séchage droit (P11), qui
est perpendiculaire au premier trajet de séchage (P10), jusqu'à une sixième station
de transfert (S22).
10. Machine empaqueteuse (29) selon la revendication 9, dans laquelle un empilement horizontal
de paquets de cigarettes (1) est formé dans le deuxième trajet de séchage droit (P11).
11. Machine empaqueteuse (29) selon la revendication 9 ou 10 et comprenant un convoyeur
de sortie (123), qui reçoit le paquet de cigarettes (1) depuis le deuxième convoyeur
de séchage (112) dans la sixième station de transfert (S22) et déplace le paquet de
cigarettes (1) le long d'un trajet de sortie droit (P12), qui est vertical et perpendiculaire
au deuxième trajet de séchage (P11).
12. Machine empaqueteuse (29) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 11, dans laquelle le
dispositif de collage (114) applique de la colle (115) sur les premières ailes (9',
13').
13. Procédé d'enveloppage pour produire un paquet de cigarettes (1) pourvu d'un contenant
extérieur (2) et d'un couvercle articulé (4) pliant une découpe (28) autour d'une
enveloppe (3) renfermant un groupe (14) d'articles à fumer; la découpe (28) comprend
une paire de premières ailes (9', 13') et une paire de deuxièmes ailes (9", 13"),
qui sont placées les unes par-dessus les autres et collées de façon à construire des
parois latérales (9, 13) respectives du contenant extérieur (2) et du couvercle (4)
; le procédé d'enveloppage comprend les étapes de :
déplacement, au moyen d'un tambour d'enveloppage (106) monté de façon à tourner autour
d'un axe de rotation (107), d'une poche (108) le long d'un premier trajet d'enveloppage
circulaire (P7) s'étendant entre une première station de transfert (S14), où l'enveloppe
(3) et la découpe (28) sont insérées dans la poche (108) ensemble et simultanément,
et une deuxième station de transfert (S18) ;
pliage, au moyen d'un premier dispositif de pliage (109) agencé le long du premier
trajet d'enveloppage (P7), de la découpe (28) autour de l'enveloppe (3) plaçant la
paire de deuxièmes ailes (9", 13") en contact avec l'enveloppe (3) et agençant la
paire de premières ailes (9', 13') coplanaires les unes aux autres et perpendiculaires
à la paire de deuxièmes ailes (9", 13") ;
enlèvement, au moyen d'un premier pousseur (111) agencé dans la deuxième station de
transfert (S18) de l'enveloppe (3) enveloppée dans la découpe (28) hors de la poche
(108) du tambour d'enveloppage (106) au moyen d'un déplacement le long d'une direction
de transfert (D4), qui est perpendiculaire au premier trajet d'enveloppage (P7) et
à l'axe de rotation (107) ;
apport, au moyen d'un convoyeur de collage (112), qui reçoit l'enveloppe (3) enveloppée
dans la découpe (28) depuis la poche (108) du tambour d'enveloppage (106) dans la
deuxième station de transfert (S18), de l'enveloppe (3) enveloppée dans la découpe
(28) le long d'un trajet de collage droit (P8), qui est perpendiculaire au trajet
d'enveloppage (P7), jusqu'à une troisième station de transfert (S19) ;
application, au moyen d'au moins un dispositif de collage (114) agencé le long du
trajet de collage (P8), de colle (115) sur les premières ailes (9', 13') ou sur les
deuxièmes ailes (9", 13") ;
pliage, au moyen d'un deuxième dispositif de pliage (118) agencé en aval du dispositif
de collage (114), des premières ailes (9', 13') de 90° contre les deuxièmes ailes
(9", 13"), achevant ainsi la production du paquet de cigarettes (1) ; et
déplacement, au moyen d'un convoyeur d'enveloppage (117), qui reçoit l'enveloppe (3)
enveloppée dans la découpe (28) depuis le convoyeur de collage (112) dans la troisième
station de transfert (S19), de l'enveloppe (3) enveloppée dans la découpe (28) le
long d'un deuxième trajet d'enveloppage droit (P9), qui est perpendiculaire au trajet
de collage (P8), jusqu'à une quatrième station de transfert (S20) ;
le procédé d'enveloppage est caractérisé en ce que :
le trajet de collage (P8) est agencé parallèle à l'axe de rotation (107) du tambour
d'enveloppage (106) et perpendiculaire à la direction de transfert (D4) du premier
pousseur (111) ; et
le deuxième dispositif de pliage (118) est agencé le long du deuxième trajet d'enveloppage
(P9).