EP2982607A1 - Packing machine and packing method for producing a packet of smoking articles provided with at least one spacer arranged inside the group of smoking articles - Google Patents
Packing machine and packing method for producing a packet of smoking articles provided with at least one spacer arranged inside the group of smoking articles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2982607A1 EP2982607A1 EP15179478.1A EP15179478A EP2982607A1 EP 2982607 A1 EP2982607 A1 EP 2982607A1 EP 15179478 A EP15179478 A EP 15179478A EP 2982607 A1 EP2982607 A1 EP 2982607A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- group
- spacer
- smoking articles
- forming pocket
- forming
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
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- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 53
- 230000000391 smoking effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 39
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- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 description 133
- 239000000945 filler Substances 0.000 description 18
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 8
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Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
- B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
- B65B19/04—Arranging, feeding, or orientating the cigarettes
- B65B19/10—Arranging cigarettes in layers each comprising a predetermined number
- B65B19/105—Arranging cigarettes in layers each comprising a predetermined number using rotary drums for withdrawal of successive layers from a hopper
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/07—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles
- B65D85/08—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular
- B65D85/10—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular for cigarettes
- B65D85/1081—Inserts or accessories added or joined to the container, e.g. coins, pens, cards, spacers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
- B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
- B65B19/04—Arranging, feeding, or orientating the cigarettes
- B65B19/10—Arranging cigarettes in layers each comprising a predetermined number
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
- B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
- B65B19/22—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
- B65B19/223—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers in a curved path; in a combination of straight and curved paths, e.g. on rotary tables or other endless conveyors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
- B65B61/20—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
- B65B61/20—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents
- B65B61/202—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents for attaching articles to the outside of a container
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/07—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles
- B65D85/08—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular
- B65D85/10—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular for cigarettes
- B65D85/1009—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular for cigarettes provided with proffering means
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a packing machine and to a packing method for producing a packet of smoking articles provided with at least one spacer arranged inside the group of cigarettes.
- a rigid packet of cigarettes with hinged-lid comprises an inner package enclosing a group of cigarettes and a rigid outer casing which internally houses the inner package.
- the inner package is initially fully closed and has a top portion that can be eliminated by tearing (called “pull") that is removed the first time the packet of cigarettes is opened to allow the extraction of the cigarettes enclosed inside the inner package.
- the group of cigarettes has a reduced size, or the group of cigarettes is significantly smaller than the volume of the outer casing; in these situations at least one filler element (i.e. a filler) is used, which is dimensioned to occupy part of the volume of the outer casing left free from the group of cigarettes.
- the function of the filler element is to prevent gaps inside the packet of cigarettes and thus preventing the group of cigarettes from "shaking" inside the packet of cigarettes; in fact, if the group of cigarettes were free to "shake" inside the packet of cigarettes, the movements of the group of cigarettes during handling of the packet of cigarettes (either in the production step and during the distribution and sales step) would subject the cigarettes to mechanical stress that could easily determine an emptying of the tips (i.e. loss of tobacco fibers from the free ends of the cigarettes).
- the filler element is arranged outside the inner package and next to the inner package itself.
- the filler element is arranged inside the inner package in direct contact with the cigarettes forming the group of cigarettes. In the latter case, i.e. when the filler element is arranged inside the inner package, forming the group of cigarettes provided with the filler element is quite complex especially because of the need to keep both the cigarettes, and the filler element in the correct position until a corresponding sheet of wrapping material is wound about the group of cigarettes.
- the patent application EP1052192A1 describes a packing machine for producing a packet of cigarettes comprising a rigid container and a soft inner package housed inside the rigid container and enclosing the group of cigarettes; inside the inner package and next to the group of cigarettes an elastically deformable pressure element is arranged which pushes the group of cigarettes towards a lateral wall of the inner package.
- the packaging machine comprises a belt group-forming conveyor supporting a plurality of group-forming pockets, each of which is suited to contain a group of cigarettes and is coupled to an auxiliary pocket which is arranged next to the group-forming pocket, is suited to house the pressure element, and is made by a L-shaped plate.
- each pressure element is inserted inside the corresponding auxiliary pocket before the group of cigarettes is inserted in the corresponding group-forming pocket; subsequently, the pressure member and the group of cigarettes are extracted together to be fed to a pocket of a packing wheel.
- the object of the present invention is to provide a packing machine and a packing method for producing a packet of smoking articles provided with at least one spacer arranged inside the group of smoking articles, wherein said packing method and packing machine allow the forming of the group of smoking articles in an effective and efficient manner and are, at the same time, easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
- a packing machine and a packing method for producing a packet of smoking articles provided with at least one spacer arranged inside the group of smoking articles, as claimed in the attached claims, are provided.
- the packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a cup-shaped outer container 2 which is made of cardboard or rigid paperboard has a hinged lid and houses inside an inner package 3 (partially visible in Figure 2 ).
- each spacer 5 is made by a full body (i.e. internally full) of low density plastic material (and therefore of modest overall mass), for example expanded polystyrene or spongy material; alternatively, each spacer 5 could also be made by a box-like body (i.e. internally empty) formed by folding and stabilizing a flat blank of cardboard by means of glue.
- the inner package 3 has a parallelepiped shape and has a top wall 6 and a bottom wall 7 opposite and parallel to each other, a front wall 8 and a rear wall 9 opposite and parallel to each other, and two lateral walls 10 opposite and parallel to each other. Furthermore, the inner package 3 has a tearable portion 11, which is separated from the remaining part of the inner package 3 by a pre-weakened line 12 and is suited to be eliminated by tearing the first time the packet 1 of cigarettes is opened so as to form an extraction opening which allows access to the group 4 of cigarettes contained inside the inner package 3.
- the tearable portion 11 of the inner package 3 involves a limited portion of the top wall 6 (i.e. only a part of the top wall 6) and a limited portion of the front wall 8 (i.e. only a part of the front wall 8).
- the group 4 of cigarettes has a top wall 13 which is arranged in contact with an inner surface of the top wall 6 of the inner package 3 and is completely uncovered (i.e. completely exposed) when the tearable portion 11 of the inner package 3 is removed (as shown in Figure 5 ); furthermore, each spacer 5 has a top wall 14 which is arranged in contact with an inner surface of the top wall 6 of the inner package 3 and is not exposed (i.e.
- the tearable portion 11 of the inner package 3 involves a limited part of the top wall 6 of the inner package 3, is arranged corresponding only to the top wall 13 of group 4 of cigarettes, and not corresponding to the top wall 14 of each spacer 5. Then, as shown in Figure 5 , when the tearable portion 11 of the inner package 3 is removed, the corresponding extraction opening extends only at the top wall 13 of the group 4 of cigarettes (exposing all and only the top wall 13 of the group 4 of cigarettes) and does not affect in any manner the top walls 14 of the spacers 5.
- the top wall 14 of each spacer 5 is glued to an inner surface of the top wall 6 of the inner package 3.
- glue is interposed between the top wall 14 of each spacer 5 and the inner surface of the top wall 6 of the inner package 3 thus establishing a permanent and stable gluing.
- the top wall 6 of the inner package 3 adheres stably to the top wall 14 of each spacer 5 by "coating" the top wall 14 itself (i.e. covering in a complete and permanent manner the top wall 14).
- each spacer 5 has the same height (i.e. the same longitudinal dimension) of the group 4 of cigarettes; consequently, the top wall 14 of each spacer 5 is arranged in contact with the inner surface of the top wall 6 of the inner package 3.
- the top portion (i.e. arranged near the top wall 6 of the inner package 3) of each spacer 5 tapers from the side of the top wall 14 (i.e. upwards) so as to have the minimum transverse dimension at its top wall 14; in particular, the top portion of each spacer 5 has two inclined surfaces 15 opposite to each other that progressively reduce the cross-section of the spacer 5 itself.
- each spacer 5 is separated from the group 4 of cigarettes leaving empty space between the same and the group 4 of cigarettes thus facilitating the gripping of the cigarettes (particularly when the group 4 of cigarettes is complete or nearly complete i.e. when the packet 1 of cigarettes is still full or almost full).
- each spacer 5 has a height (i.e. longitudinal dimension) lower than the group 4 of cigarettes; consequently, the top wall 14 of each spacer 5 is arranged at a certain distance from the inner surface of the top wall 6 of the inner package 3 (obviously in this embodiment the top wall 14 of each spacer 5 cannot be glued to the top wall 6 of the inner package 3).
- the top portion (i.e. arranged near the top wall 6 of the inner package 3) of each spacer 5 does not taper from the side of the top wall 14 (i.e. upwards), as the lower height of the spacers 5 is already widely sufficient for allowing an easy gripping of the cigarettes.
- each spacer 5 has a rectangular shape in cross-section and is provided with two grooves 16 which extend longitudinally (i.e. vertically, parallel to the cigarettes of the group 4 of cigarettes) and are symmetrically arranged opposed one to the other; the grooves 16 may have a rectangular shape in cross section (as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 ), or any other shape.
- the function of the grooves 16 is both to lighten the spacers 5, and to facilitate retaining the spacers 5 during the formation of group 4 of cigarettes (as will be better explained below).
- the spacers 5 may have further grooves 16 (also arranged on the other two lateral surfaces of the spacers 5 themselves) and/or also through holes that are internally arranged and extend longitudinally (i.e. vertically, parallel to the cigarettes of the group 4 of cigarettes).
- the spacers 5 may facilitate the production of rigid type packets 1 of cigarettes with rounded corners and rounded edges (commonly known as "round corner” packets and “bevel edge” packets, respectively) in the case where at least one pair of adjacent longitudinal edges of the spacer 5 has a rounded or chamfered section and the spacer 5 is placed inside the inner package 3 with said pair of edges arranged at the longitudinal edges of the outer container 2.
- the longitudinal edges of said packets 1 of cigarettes have a more regular shape being supported by spacers 5 provided with a significantly greater mechanical rigidity than the abutment that a cigarette can offer.
- the inner package 3 contains a single group 4 of cigarettes arranged centrally and two twin spacers 5 laterally arranged at the opposite sides of the group 4 of cigarettes so as to enclose between them the said group 4 of cigarettes. Consequently, the inner package 3 has a single tearable portion 11 arranged centrally (i.e. in correspondence of the only group 4 of cigarettes).
- the inner package 3 contains a single spacer 5 arranged centrally and two twin groups 4 of cigarettes and laterally arranged at the opposite sides of the spacer 5 so as to enclose between them the spacer 5 itself.
- the spacer 5 has a circular or elliptical shape in cross-section.
- the side surface of the spacer 5 may have longitudinal cavities 17, each of which has an arc-shaped cross section of a circle which reproduces in negative the shape of the side wall of a cigarette and is arranged corresponding to a cigarette of the group 4 of cigarettes; the function of the longitudinal cavity 17 is to increase the space available for the cigarettes of the groups 4 of cigarettes so as to reduce the compression on the groups 4 of cigarettes and thus facilitate both the coupling of the groups 4 of cigarettes with the spacer 5 during the production of the packet 1 of cigarettes, and the extraction of the cigarettes of the groups 4 of cigarettes during the use of the packet 1 of cigarettes.
- the inner package 3 has two tearable portions 11, each of which is arranged laterally at a respective group 4 of cigarettes and forms a respective extraction opening.
- the two tearable portions 11 can be completely separated and independent, and therefore can be individually and independently removable one from the other; alternatively, the two tearable portions 11 can be connected to each other to be removed at the same time.
- the alternative embodiments illustrated in Figures 9-13 are entirely analogous to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 4-8 .
- Figures 20 , 21 and 22 illustrate three possible configurations that provide a single group 4 of cigarettes and a single spacer 5: in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 20 , the group 4 of cigarettes is arranged in a central position and is surrounded on three sides by the U-shaped spacer 5, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 21 , the group 4 of cigarettes is arranged in a central position and is supported on one "long" side only by the spacer 5, and in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 22 , the group 4 of cigarettes is arranged in a lateral position and is supported on one "short" side only by the spacer 5.
- the packet 1 of cigarettes described above has numerous advantages.
- the packet 1 of cigarettes described above always allows an easy extraction of the cigarettes through the extraction opening of the inner package 3.
- the packet 1 of cigarettes described above also has an extremely pleasant aspect in the open configuration, as the filler elements 5 (which look "raw” and therefore not very aesthetic) are for the most part hidden; in particular the top walls 14 of the filler elements 5 is completely hidden from view.
- the packet 1 of cigarettes described above can be easily produced in a substantially standard packing machine (which only requires a few minor modifications, as better described hereinafter), and therefore does not require the use of an expensive special packing machine (i.e. specially designed for this type of packet 1 of cigarettes) for the production thereof.
- FIG 14 a packing machine 18 which produces the packet 1 of cigarettes described above and illustrated in Figures 1-8 (with trivial changes the packing machine 18 could also produce the packet 1 of cigarettes shown in Figures 9-13 ) is illustrated schematically.
- the packing machine 18 comprises a group-forming unit 19 in which the groups 4 of cigarettes together with the corresponding spacers 5 are formed, a packing unit 20 in which a sheet 21 of packing material is folded about each group 4 of cigarettes and the corresponding spacers 5 to form an inner package 3, and a packing unit 22 in which a collar 23 and a blank 24 are folded around each inner package 3 to form an outer container 2, and then complete the production of a packet 1 of cigarettes.
- the group-forming unit 19 comprises a belt group-forming conveyor 25 supporting a plurality of group-forming pockets 26, each of which is suited to receive and feed a corresponding group 4 of cigarettes and two corresponding spacers 5.
- the group-forming conveyor 25 moves step-by-step counterclockwise to feed each group-forming pocket 26 along a straight group-forming path P.
- a feed station S1 is arranged, in which two spacers 5 at a time are inserted in each group-forming pocket 26 along a feed direction D perpendicular to the group-forming path P; also along the group-forming path P downstream from the feed station S1, a feed station S2 is arranged, in which a group 4 of cigarettes is inserted into each group-forming pocket 26 (between the two spacers 5 previously inserted in the feed station S1) along the feed direction D perpendicular to the group-forming path P. It is important to note that in each group-forming pocket 26 the two spacers 5 delimit the inner volume of the group-forming pocket 26 itself so that the group 4 of cigarettes will find exactly the space needed for their own containment (i.e.
- each group 4 of cigarettes can be inserted easily in the corresponding group-forming pocket 26 and at the same time each group 4 of cigarettes remains stable and well confined inside the corresponding group-forming pocket 26 (i.e. the group 4 of cigarettes will not break formation once inserted into the corresponding group-forming pocket 26 as properly restrained laterally by the two spacers 5 previously entered in the feed station S1).
- each group-forming pocket 26 of the corresponding group 4 of cigarettes together with the corresponding spacers 5 is extracted axially to be transferred to an outlet of the packing unit 20.
- the feed station S1 comprises two twin hoppers 27, each containing a vertical stack of spacers 5 and having a bottom outlet through which one spacer 5 at a time is extracted from the hopper 27 and inserted in a corresponding group-forming pocket 26 arrested facing the outlet.
- Each hopper 27 has a corresponding pusher 28 which moves linearly back and forth in the feed direction D to move cyclically through the outlet of the hopper 27 and axially pushes a spacer 5 towards a corresponding group-forming pocket 26 arrested facing the outlet.
- spacers 5 of the type tapered towards the top are stacked in the hopper 27 with the taper orientated towards the side of the outlet, which faces the group-forming pocket 26 at the moment of extraction, so that the insertion of the spacer 5 inside the group-forming pocket 26 itself is facilitated.
- the feed station S2 comprises a hopper 29, containing a mass of cigarettes, and having a bottom outlet through which one group 4 of cigarettes at a time is extracted from the hopper 29 and inserted in a corresponding group-forming pocket 26 arrested facing the outlet.
- a corresponding pusher 30 is associated to the hopper 29 which moves linearly back and forth in the feed direction D to move cyclically through the outlet of the hopper 29 and to axially push a group 4 of cigarettes to a corresponding group-forming pocket 26 arrested facing the outlet.
- the transfer station S3 comprises a pusher 31, which moves linearly back and forth to cyclically pass through a corresponding arrested group-forming pocket 26 so as to axially push the corresponding group 4 of cigarettes together with the corresponding spacers 5 out of the group-forming pocket 26 itself.
- each group-forming pocket 26 has guides 32, which project internally (i.e. towards the inside of the pocket 26) from corresponding walls 33 of the group-forming pocket 26, are arranged axially (longitudinally, i.e. parallel to the feed direction D), and engage the spacers 5 so as to prevent a transverse displacement (relative to the feed direction D) of the spacers 5 inside the group-forming pocket 26.
- each spacer 5 is maintained by the corresponding guides 32 in a precise and predetermined position inside the group-forming pocket 26 thus preventing the spacer 5 from moving transversely.
- the guides 32 are substantially projections (ribs, abutments, protrusions) that rise cantilevered from the walls 33 of the group-forming pocket 26 to project inside the group-forming pocket 26 itself.
- each guide 32 engages a corresponding groove 16 of a spacer 5 (thus each guide 32 reproduces in positive the shape of a corresponding groove 16 of a spacer 5); consequently, each guide 32 "enters" inside a spacer 5 by entering the corresponding groove 16.
- the spacers 5 have no grooves 16 and each guide 32 is supported by a portion of the outer perimeter of a corresponding spacer 5 (as is the case in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 18 and 19 ).
- the embodiment of the group-forming unit 19 illustrated in Figures 15 , 16 and 17 produces the packet 1 of cigarettes shown in Figures 1-8 ; the embodiment of the group-forming unit 19 illustrated in Figures 18 and 19 produces the packet 1 of cigarettes shown in Figures 9-13 . It is important to note that for producing the packet 1 of cigarettes shown in Figures 1-8 , or for producing the packet 1 of cigarettes shown in Figures 9-13 the rest of the packing machine 1 (i.e. the two packing units 20 or 22) does not undergo any type of modification (if only just for making format adaptations).
- the shape and arrangement of the hoppers 27 and 29 is changed since two hoppers 29 in the feed station S2 are of course necessary to insert two groups 4 of cigarettes at a time in each arrested group-forming pocket 26 and since just a single hopper 27 in the feed station S1 is sufficient for inserting a single spacer 5 in each arrested group-forming pocket 26.
- the position and the conformation of the guides 32 of each group-forming pocket 26 are changed, in fact the number (one instead of two), the cross section (circular instead of rectangular), and the position (central instead of lateral) of the spacers 5 of each group-forming pocket 26 are different.
- the function of the guides 32 is always the same, namely to keep the spacer 5 in a precise and predetermined position inside the group-forming pocket 26 before inserting the two groups 4 of cigarettes into the group-forming pocket 26 itself.
- the hopper 29 forms each group 4 of cigarettes in one solution (i.e. all layers of each group 4 of cigarettes are extracted simultaneously from the hopper 29); according to alternative and equivalent embodiments, the hopper 29 forms each group 4 of cigarettes by layers (i.e. each layer of the group 4 of cigarettes is extracted individually from a corresponding outlet of the hopper 29).
- each hopper 27 receives in succession the spacers 5 from its own feed line that is independent and separate from the feed line of the other hopper 27 and comprises a horizontal vibrating plate (cup) on which an irregular array of spacers 5 arranged in bulk is cyclically deposited; the vibrating plate directs (orients) the spacers 5 towards vertical paths ending in a top portion of the hopper 27.
- each hopper 27 comprises more than one outlet (typically two or three outlets) that are used cyclically alternated; in other words, if two outlet of the same hopper 27 are provided, the spacers 5 are alternately extracted from the two outlets themselves. In this way, more time is given to the spacers 5 to descend by gravity towards the corresponding outlet (in this regard it should be remembered that the spacers 5 have a low density and therefore a small mass and consequently do not reach high speeds when descending by gravity).
- the packing unit 20 comprises a gumming device 34, which applies glue on the inner surface of each sheet 21 of packing material at the top wall 6 of the inner package 3 so as to determine the subsequent gluing of the top wall 6 of the inner package 3 to the top wall 14 of each spacer 5.
- the group-forming unit 19 described above has numerous advantages.
- the group-forming unit 19 described above allows to produce in a simple and highly precise manner the contents of each inner package 3 or enables to couple together the group/groups 4 of cigarettes with the spacer/spacers 5.
- This result is achieved particularly thanks to the guides 32 inside each group-forming pocket 26; in fact, the guides 32 maintain the spacers 5 in a precise and predetermined position inside the group-forming pocket 26 before inserting the group 4 of cigarettes into the group-forming pocket 26 itself.
- group-forming unit 19 described above is simply and inexpensively produced since compared to a similar known group-forming unit it requires easily implementable modifications.
- group-forming unit 19 described above is very flexible, as with a quick and inexpensive replacement of the group-forming pockets 26 it is quickly adaptable to treat spacers 5, and therefore groups 4 of cigarettes having different shapes/positions/numbers.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
- Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a packing machine and to a packing method for producing a packet of smoking articles provided with at least one spacer arranged inside the group of cigarettes.
- In the following description reference will be made, for the sake of brevity, to a rigid packet of cigarettes with hinged-lid without thereby losing generality.
- Normally, a rigid packet of cigarettes with hinged-lid comprises an inner package enclosing a group of cigarettes and a rigid outer casing which internally houses the inner package. The inner package is initially fully closed and has a top portion that can be eliminated by tearing (called "pull") that is removed the first time the packet of cigarettes is opened to allow the extraction of the cigarettes enclosed inside the inner package.
- In some cases, the group of cigarettes has a reduced size, or the group of cigarettes is significantly smaller than the volume of the outer casing; in these situations at least one filler element (i.e. a filler) is used, which is dimensioned to occupy part of the volume of the outer casing left free from the group of cigarettes. The function of the filler element is to prevent gaps inside the packet of cigarettes and thus preventing the group of cigarettes from "shaking" inside the packet of cigarettes; in fact, if the group of cigarettes were free to "shake" inside the packet of cigarettes, the movements of the group of cigarettes during handling of the packet of cigarettes (either in the production step and during the distribution and sales step) would subject the cigarettes to mechanical stress that could easily determine an emptying of the tips (i.e. loss of tobacco fibers from the free ends of the cigarettes).
- According to a possible embodiment, such as described in patent
US4771882A1 , the filler element is arranged outside the inner package and next to the inner package itself. According to an alternative embodiment, as described for example in patent applicationWO2014170829A1 , the filler element is arranged inside the inner package in direct contact with the cigarettes forming the group of cigarettes. In the latter case, i.e. when the filler element is arranged inside the inner package, forming the group of cigarettes provided with the filler element is quite complex especially because of the need to keep both the cigarettes, and the filler element in the correct position until a corresponding sheet of wrapping material is wound about the group of cigarettes. Furthermore, when the filler element is arranged inside the inner package, extracting the cigarettes can be complicated due to the filler element between the cigarettes which hinders gripping the cigarettes themselves. Finally, when the filler element is arranged inside the inner package, the appearance of the opened packet of cigarettes is generally unpleasant (due to the presence of the filler element between cigarettes) and therefore little appreciated by smokers. - The patent application
EP1052192A1 describes a packing machine for producing a packet of cigarettes comprising a rigid container and a soft inner package housed inside the rigid container and enclosing the group of cigarettes; inside the inner package and next to the group of cigarettes an elastically deformable pressure element is arranged which pushes the group of cigarettes towards a lateral wall of the inner package. The packaging machine comprises a belt group-forming conveyor supporting a plurality of group-forming pockets, each of which is suited to contain a group of cigarettes and is coupled to an auxiliary pocket which is arranged next to the group-forming pocket, is suited to house the pressure element, and is made by a L-shaped plate. In particular, each pressure element is inserted inside the corresponding auxiliary pocket before the group of cigarettes is inserted in the corresponding group-forming pocket; subsequently, the pressure member and the group of cigarettes are extracted together to be fed to a pocket of a packing wheel. - The object of the present invention is to provide a packing machine and a packing method for producing a packet of smoking articles provided with at least one spacer arranged inside the group of smoking articles, wherein said packing method and packing machine allow the forming of the group of smoking articles in an effective and efficient manner and are, at the same time, easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
- According to the present invention a packing machine and a packing method for producing a packet of smoking articles provided with at least one spacer arranged inside the group of smoking articles, as claimed in the attached claims, are provided.
- The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting embodiments, wherein:
-
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a rigid packet of cigarettes in a closed configuration obtained according to the present invention; -
Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the packet of cigarettes ofFigure 1 in an open configuration; -
Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the packet of cigarettes ofFigure 1 in a closed configuration; -
Figure 4 is a front perspective view of an inner package of the packet of cigarettes ofFigure 1 ; -
Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the inner package offigure 4 after the removal of a tearable portion; -
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a group of cigarettes and two filler elements contained inside the inner package ofFigure 4 ; -
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the group of cigarettes ofFigure 6 and of an alternative of the filler elements ofFigure 6 ; -
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the inner package offigure 4 ; -
Figure 9 is a front perspective view of a different embodiment of an inner package of the packet of cigarettes ofFigure 1 ; -
Figure 10 is a front perspective view of the inner package offigure 9 after the removal of a tearable portion; -
Figure 11 is a perspective view of a group of cigarettes and of a filler element contained inside the inner package ofFigure 9 ; -
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the group of cigarettes ofFigure 11 and of an alternative of the filler elements ofFigure 11 ; -
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the inner package offigure 9 ; -
Figure 14 is a perspective and schematic view of the packing machine for producing the packet of cigarettes ofFigure 1 ; -
Figure 15 is a perspective and schematic view of a group-forming unit of the packing machine ofFigure 14 ; -
Figures 16 and 17 are two front views of a group-forming pocket of the group-forming unit ofFigure 15 before and after feeding a group of cigarettes; -
Figures 18 and 19 are two front views of an alternative embodiment of the group-forming pocket ofFigures 16 and 17 before and after feeding a group of cigarettes; and -
Figures 20 ,21 and22 are respective cross-sectional views of three further alternatives of an inner package of the packet of cigarettes ofFigure 1 . - In
Figures 1, 2 and 3 number 1 indicates as a whole a rigid packet of cigarettes. Thepacket 1 of cigarettes comprises a cup-shapedouter container 2 which is made of cardboard or rigid paperboard has a hinged lid and houses inside an inner package 3 (partially visible inFigure 2 ). - As illustrated in
Figures 4, 5 and6 , theinner package 3 encloses agroup 4 of cigarettes having a parallelepiped shape and a pair of spacers 5 (i.e. thespacers 5 are arranged inside theinner package 3 next to thegroup 4 of cigarettes). According to a preferred, but not limiting, embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, eachspacer 5 is made by a full body (i.e. internally full) of low density plastic material (and therefore of modest overall mass), for example expanded polystyrene or spongy material; alternatively, eachspacer 5 could also be made by a box-like body (i.e. internally empty) formed by folding and stabilizing a flat blank of cardboard by means of glue. - As illustrated in
Figures 4 and 5 , theinner package 3 has a parallelepiped shape and has atop wall 6 and abottom wall 7 opposite and parallel to each other, afront wall 8 and arear wall 9 opposite and parallel to each other, and twolateral walls 10 opposite and parallel to each other. Furthermore, theinner package 3 has atearable portion 11, which is separated from the remaining part of theinner package 3 by apre-weakened line 12 and is suited to be eliminated by tearing the first time thepacket 1 of cigarettes is opened so as to form an extraction opening which allows access to thegroup 4 of cigarettes contained inside theinner package 3. - In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the
tearable portion 11 of theinner package 3 involves a limited portion of the top wall 6 (i.e. only a part of the top wall 6) and a limited portion of the front wall 8 (i.e. only a part of the front wall 8). In particular, as illustrated inFigure 6 , thegroup 4 of cigarettes has atop wall 13 which is arranged in contact with an inner surface of thetop wall 6 of theinner package 3 and is completely uncovered (i.e. completely exposed) when thetearable portion 11 of theinner package 3 is removed (as shown inFigure 5 ); furthermore, eachspacer 5 has atop wall 14 which is arranged in contact with an inner surface of thetop wall 6 of theinner package 3 and is not exposed (i.e. completely hidden) when thetearable portion 11 of theinner package 3 is removed (as shown inFigure 5 ). In other words, thetearable portion 11 of theinner package 3 involves a limited part of thetop wall 6 of theinner package 3, is arranged corresponding only to thetop wall 13 ofgroup 4 of cigarettes, and not corresponding to thetop wall 14 of eachspacer 5. Then, as shown inFigure 5 , when thetearable portion 11 of theinner package 3 is removed, the corresponding extraction opening extends only at thetop wall 13 of thegroup 4 of cigarettes (exposing all and only thetop wall 13 of thegroup 4 of cigarettes) and does not affect in any manner thetop walls 14 of thespacers 5. - According to a preferred embodiment, the
top wall 14 of eachspacer 5 is glued to an inner surface of thetop wall 6 of theinner package 3. In other words, glue is interposed between thetop wall 14 of eachspacer 5 and the inner surface of thetop wall 6 of theinner package 3 thus establishing a permanent and stable gluing. In this way, thetop wall 6 of theinner package 3 adheres stably to thetop wall 14 of eachspacer 5 by "coating" thetop wall 14 itself (i.e. covering in a complete and permanent manner the top wall 14). - According to the embodiment illustrated in
Figure 6 , eachspacer 5 has the same height (i.e. the same longitudinal dimension) of thegroup 4 of cigarettes; consequently, thetop wall 14 of eachspacer 5 is arranged in contact with the inner surface of thetop wall 6 of theinner package 3. In this embodiment, the top portion (i.e. arranged near thetop wall 6 of the inner package 3) of eachspacer 5 tapers from the side of the top wall 14 (i.e. upwards) so as to have the minimum transverse dimension at itstop wall 14; in particular, the top portion of eachspacer 5 has twoinclined surfaces 15 opposite to each other that progressively reduce the cross-section of thespacer 5 itself. In this way, the top portion of eachspacer 5 is separated from thegroup 4 of cigarettes leaving empty space between the same and thegroup 4 of cigarettes thus facilitating the gripping of the cigarettes (particularly when thegroup 4 of cigarettes is complete or nearly complete i.e. when thepacket 1 of cigarettes is still full or almost full). - In the alternative embodiment illustrated in
Figure 7 , eachspacer 5 has a height (i.e. longitudinal dimension) lower than thegroup 4 of cigarettes; consequently, thetop wall 14 of eachspacer 5 is arranged at a certain distance from the inner surface of thetop wall 6 of the inner package 3 (obviously in this embodiment thetop wall 14 of eachspacer 5 cannot be glued to thetop wall 6 of the inner package 3). In this embodiment, the top portion (i.e. arranged near thetop wall 6 of the inner package 3) of eachspacer 5 does not taper from the side of the top wall 14 (i.e. upwards), as the lower height of thespacers 5 is already widely sufficient for allowing an easy gripping of the cigarettes. - In the embodiments illustrated in
Figures 6, 7 and8 , eachspacer 5 has a rectangular shape in cross-section and is provided with twogrooves 16 which extend longitudinally (i.e. vertically, parallel to the cigarettes of thegroup 4 of cigarettes) and are symmetrically arranged opposed one to the other; thegrooves 16 may have a rectangular shape in cross section (as shown inFigures 6, 7 and8 ), or any other shape. The function of thegrooves 16 is both to lighten thespacers 5, and to facilitate retaining thespacers 5 during the formation ofgroup 4 of cigarettes (as will be better explained below). In order to further lighten thespacers 5, thespacers 5 may have further grooves 16 (also arranged on the other two lateral surfaces of thespacers 5 themselves) and/or also through holes that are internally arranged and extend longitudinally (i.e. vertically, parallel to the cigarettes of thegroup 4 of cigarettes). - Note that the
spacers 5 may facilitate the production ofrigid type packets 1 of cigarettes with rounded corners and rounded edges (commonly known as "round corner" packets and "bevel edge" packets, respectively) in the case where at least one pair of adjacent longitudinal edges of thespacer 5 has a rounded or chamfered section and thespacer 5 is placed inside theinner package 3 with said pair of edges arranged at the longitudinal edges of theouter container 2. As a consequence of this, the longitudinal edges of saidpackets 1 of cigarettes have a more regular shape being supported byspacers 5 provided with a significantly greater mechanical rigidity than the abutment that a cigarette can offer. - In the embodiments illustrated in
Figures 4-8 , theinner package 3 contains asingle group 4 of cigarettes arranged centrally and twotwin spacers 5 laterally arranged at the opposite sides of thegroup 4 of cigarettes so as to enclose between them the saidgroup 4 of cigarettes. Consequently, theinner package 3 has a singletearable portion 11 arranged centrally (i.e. in correspondence of theonly group 4 of cigarettes). - In the alternative embodiments illustrated in
Figures 9-13 , theinner package 3 contains asingle spacer 5 arranged centrally and twotwin groups 4 of cigarettes and laterally arranged at the opposite sides of thespacer 5 so as to enclose between them thespacer 5 itself. Preferably, in the embodiments illustrated inFigures 9-13 thespacer 5 has a circular or elliptical shape in cross-section. According to a possible embodiment illustrated in dashed lines inFigure 13 , the side surface of thespacer 5 may havelongitudinal cavities 17, each of which has an arc-shaped cross section of a circle which reproduces in negative the shape of the side wall of a cigarette and is arranged corresponding to a cigarette of thegroup 4 of cigarettes; the function of thelongitudinal cavity 17 is to increase the space available for the cigarettes of thegroups 4 of cigarettes so as to reduce the compression on thegroups 4 of cigarettes and thus facilitate both the coupling of thegroups 4 of cigarettes with thespacer 5 during the production of thepacket 1 of cigarettes, and the extraction of the cigarettes of thegroups 4 of cigarettes during the use of thepacket 1 of cigarettes. In the embodiments illustrated inFigures 9-13 , theinner package 3 has twotearable portions 11, each of which is arranged laterally at arespective group 4 of cigarettes and forms a respective extraction opening. The twotearable portions 11 can be completely separated and independent, and therefore can be individually and independently removable one from the other; alternatively, the twotearable portions 11 can be connected to each other to be removed at the same time. Except for the differences highlighted above, the alternative embodiments illustrated inFigures 9-13 are entirely analogous to the embodiments illustrated inFigures 4-8 . - According to further embodiments not illustrated, the shape, the number and/or arrangement of the
groups 4 of cigarettes and of thespacers 5 may be different. By way of example,Figures 20 ,21 and22 illustrate three possible configurations that provide asingle group 4 of cigarettes and a single spacer 5: in the embodiment illustrated inFigure 20 , thegroup 4 of cigarettes is arranged in a central position and is surrounded on three sides by theU-shaped spacer 5, in the embodiment illustrated inFigure 21 , thegroup 4 of cigarettes is arranged in a central position and is supported on one "long" side only by thespacer 5, and in the embodiment illustrated inFigure 22 , thegroup 4 of cigarettes is arranged in a lateral position and is supported on one "short" side only by thespacer 5. - The
packet 1 of cigarettes described above has numerous advantages. - In the first place, the
packet 1 of cigarettes described above always allows an easy extraction of the cigarettes through the extraction opening of theinner package 3. - Furthermore, the
packet 1 of cigarettes described above also has an extremely pleasant aspect in the open configuration, as the filler elements 5 (which look "raw" and therefore not very aesthetic) are for the most part hidden; in particular thetop walls 14 of thefiller elements 5 is completely hidden from view. - Also, the
packet 1 of cigarettes described above can be easily produced in a substantially standard packing machine (which only requires a few minor modifications, as better described hereinafter), and therefore does not require the use of an expensive special packing machine (i.e. specially designed for this type ofpacket 1 of cigarettes) for the production thereof. - In
Figure 14 a packingmachine 18 which produces thepacket 1 of cigarettes described above and illustrated inFigures 1-8 (with trivial changes the packingmachine 18 could also produce thepacket 1 of cigarettes shown inFigures 9-13 ) is illustrated schematically. - As shown in
Figure 14 , the packingmachine 18 comprises a group-formingunit 19 in which thegroups 4 of cigarettes together with the correspondingspacers 5 are formed, apacking unit 20 in which asheet 21 of packing material is folded about eachgroup 4 of cigarettes and thecorresponding spacers 5 to form aninner package 3, and apacking unit 22 in which acollar 23 and a blank 24 are folded around eachinner package 3 to form anouter container 2, and then complete the production of apacket 1 of cigarettes. - As shown in
Figure 15 , the group-formingunit 19 comprises a belt group-formingconveyor 25 supporting a plurality of group-formingpockets 26, each of which is suited to receive and feed acorresponding group 4 of cigarettes and twocorresponding spacers 5. The group-formingconveyor 25 moves step-by-step counterclockwise to feed each group-formingpocket 26 along a straight group-forming path P. - Along the group-forming path P a feed station S1 is arranged, in which two
spacers 5 at a time are inserted in each group-formingpocket 26 along a feed direction D perpendicular to the group-forming path P; also along the group-forming path P downstream from the feed station S1, a feed station S2 is arranged, in which agroup 4 of cigarettes is inserted into each group-forming pocket 26 (between the twospacers 5 previously inserted in the feed station S1) along the feed direction D perpendicular to the group-forming path P. It is important to note that in each group-formingpocket 26 the twospacers 5 delimit the inner volume of the group-formingpocket 26 itself so that thegroup 4 of cigarettes will find exactly the space needed for their own containment (i.e. without excess or shortage of space); in this way, eachgroup 4 of cigarettes can be inserted easily in the corresponding group-formingpocket 26 and at the same time eachgroup 4 of cigarettes remains stable and well confined inside the corresponding group-forming pocket 26 (i.e. thegroup 4 of cigarettes will not break formation once inserted into the corresponding group-formingpocket 26 as properly restrained laterally by the twospacers 5 previously entered in the feed station S1). - Along the group-forming path P a transfer station S3 is arranged, in which each group-forming
pocket 26 of thecorresponding group 4 of cigarettes together with the correspondingspacers 5 is extracted axially to be transferred to an outlet of thepacking unit 20. - The feed station S1 comprises two
twin hoppers 27, each containing a vertical stack ofspacers 5 and having a bottom outlet through which onespacer 5 at a time is extracted from thehopper 27 and inserted in a corresponding group-formingpocket 26 arrested facing the outlet. Eachhopper 27 has acorresponding pusher 28 which moves linearly back and forth in the feed direction D to move cyclically through the outlet of thehopper 27 and axially pushes aspacer 5 towards a corresponding group-formingpocket 26 arrested facing the outlet. - Note that the
spacers 5 of the type tapered towards the top (i.e. according to the embodiment illustrated inFigure 6 and described above) are stacked in thehopper 27 with the taper orientated towards the side of the outlet, which faces the group-formingpocket 26 at the moment of extraction, so that the insertion of thespacer 5 inside the group-formingpocket 26 itself is facilitated. - The feed station S2 comprises a
hopper 29, containing a mass of cigarettes, and having a bottom outlet through which onegroup 4 of cigarettes at a time is extracted from thehopper 29 and inserted in a corresponding group-formingpocket 26 arrested facing the outlet. Acorresponding pusher 30 is associated to thehopper 29 which moves linearly back and forth in the feed direction D to move cyclically through the outlet of thehopper 29 and to axially push agroup 4 of cigarettes to a corresponding group-formingpocket 26 arrested facing the outlet. - The transfer station S3 comprises a
pusher 31, which moves linearly back and forth to cyclically pass through a corresponding arrested group-formingpocket 26 so as to axially push thecorresponding group 4 of cigarettes together with the correspondingspacers 5 out of the group-formingpocket 26 itself. - As illustrated in
Figures 16 and 17 , each group-formingpocket 26 hasguides 32, which project internally (i.e. towards the inside of the pocket 26) from correspondingwalls 33 of the group-formingpocket 26, are arranged axially (longitudinally, i.e. parallel to the feed direction D), and engage thespacers 5 so as to prevent a transverse displacement (relative to the feed direction D) of thespacers 5 inside the group-formingpocket 26. In other words, eachspacer 5 is maintained by the corresponding guides 32 in a precise and predetermined position inside the group-formingpocket 26 thus preventing thespacer 5 from moving transversely. Theguides 32 are substantially projections (ribs, abutments, protrusions) that rise cantilevered from thewalls 33 of the group-formingpocket 26 to project inside the group-formingpocket 26 itself. - In the embodiment illustrated in
Figures 16 and 17 , eachguide 32 engages a correspondinggroove 16 of a spacer 5 (thus eachguide 32 reproduces in positive the shape of a correspondinggroove 16 of a spacer 5); consequently, each guide 32 "enters" inside aspacer 5 by entering the correspondinggroove 16. Alternatively, thespacers 5 have nogrooves 16 and each guide 32 is supported by a portion of the outer perimeter of a corresponding spacer 5 (as is the case in the embodiment illustrated inFigures 18 and 19 ). - The embodiment of the group-forming
unit 19 illustrated inFigures 15 ,16 and 17 produces thepacket 1 of cigarettes shown inFigures 1-8 ; the embodiment of the group-formingunit 19 illustrated inFigures 18 and 19 produces thepacket 1 of cigarettes shown inFigures 9-13 . It is important to note that for producing thepacket 1 of cigarettes shown inFigures 1-8 , or for producing thepacket 1 of cigarettes shown inFigures 9-13 the rest of the packing machine 1 (i.e. the two packingunits 20 or 22) does not undergo any type of modification (if only just for making format adaptations). - In particular, in the embodiment of the group-forming
unit 19 illustrated inFigures 18 and 19 the shape and arrangement of thehoppers hoppers 29 in the feed station S2 are of course necessary to insert twogroups 4 of cigarettes at a time in each arrested group-formingpocket 26 and since just asingle hopper 27 in the feed station S1 is sufficient for inserting asingle spacer 5 in each arrested group-formingpocket 26. Furthermore, in the embodiment of the group-formingunit 19 illustrated inFigures 18 and 19 the position and the conformation of theguides 32 of each group-formingpocket 26 are changed, in fact the number (one instead of two), the cross section (circular instead of rectangular), and the position (central instead of lateral) of thespacers 5 of each group-formingpocket 26 are different. Also in this embodiment, the function of theguides 32 is always the same, namely to keep thespacer 5 in a precise and predetermined position inside the group-formingpocket 26 before inserting the twogroups 4 of cigarettes into the group-formingpocket 26 itself. - In the embodiments described above, the
hopper 29 forms eachgroup 4 of cigarettes in one solution (i.e. all layers of eachgroup 4 of cigarettes are extracted simultaneously from the hopper 29); according to alternative and equivalent embodiments, thehopper 29 forms eachgroup 4 of cigarettes by layers (i.e. each layer of thegroup 4 of cigarettes is extracted individually from a corresponding outlet of the hopper 29). - According to a possible embodiment, each
hopper 27 receives in succession thespacers 5 from its own feed line that is independent and separate from the feed line of theother hopper 27 and comprises a horizontal vibrating plate (cup) on which an irregular array ofspacers 5 arranged in bulk is cyclically deposited; the vibrating plate directs (orients) thespacers 5 towards vertical paths ending in a top portion of thehopper 27. - According to a possible embodiment, each
hopper 27 comprises more than one outlet (typically two or three outlets) that are used cyclically alternated; in other words, if two outlet of thesame hopper 27 are provided, thespacers 5 are alternately extracted from the two outlets themselves. In this way, more time is given to thespacers 5 to descend by gravity towards the corresponding outlet (in this regard it should be remembered that thespacers 5 have a low density and therefore a small mass and consequently do not reach high speeds when descending by gravity). - As shown in
Figure 14 , thepacking unit 20 comprises a gummingdevice 34, which applies glue on the inner surface of eachsheet 21 of packing material at thetop wall 6 of theinner package 3 so as to determine the subsequent gluing of thetop wall 6 of theinner package 3 to thetop wall 14 of eachspacer 5. - The group-forming
unit 19 described above has numerous advantages. - First, the group-forming
unit 19 described above allows to produce in a simple and highly precise manner the contents of eachinner package 3 or enables to couple together the group/groups 4 of cigarettes with the spacer/spacers 5. This result is achieved particularly thanks to theguides 32 inside each group-formingpocket 26; in fact, theguides 32 maintain thespacers 5 in a precise and predetermined position inside the group-formingpocket 26 before inserting thegroup 4 of cigarettes into the group-formingpocket 26 itself. In this way, it is possible to feed thespacers 5 and thegroups 4 of cigarettes in two distinct and well separated feed stations S1 and S2, to the benefit of the simplicity of forming the two feed stations S1 and S2 themselves (particularly regarding the conveying of thespacers 5 and thegroups 4 of cigarettes to thehoppers 27 and 29). - In addition, the group-forming
unit 19 described above is simply and inexpensively produced since compared to a similar known group-forming unit it requires easily implementable modifications. - Finally, the group-forming
unit 19 described above is very flexible, as with a quick and inexpensive replacement of the group-formingpockets 26 it is quickly adaptable to treatspacers 5, and thereforegroups 4 of cigarettes having different shapes/positions/numbers.
Claims (12)
- A packing machine (18) for producing a packet (1) of smoking articles, which comprises an inner package (3) enclosing at least one group (4) of smoking articles and at least one spacer (5); the packing machine (18) comprising:a group-forming unit (19) comprising a group-forming pocket (26) for housing the group (4) of smoking articles and the spacer (5) in direct contact with the group (4) of smoking articles, a group-forming conveyor (25) which feeds the group-forming pocket (26) along a group-forming path (P), a first feed station (S1) located along the group-forming path (P) to insert the spacer (5) inside the group-forming pocket (26) in a feed direction (D), and a second feed station (S2) located along the group-forming path (P) to insert the group (4) of smoking articles inside the group-forming pocket (26) in direct contact with the spacer (5) and along the feed direction (D); anda packing unit (20) which receives the group (4) of smoking articles together with the spacer (5) from the group-forming unit (19), and wraps a sheet (21) of packing material about the group (4) of smoking articles and the spacer (5) to form the inner package (3);the packing machine (18) being characterized in that the group-forming pocket (26) comprises at least one guide (32), which projects towards the inside from a wall (33) of the group-forming pocket (26) so as to be arranged in the space suited to receive the smoking articles, is oriented parallel to the feed direction (D), and engages the spacer (5) to prevent transverse movement of the spacer (5) inside the group-forming pocket (26).
- The packing machine (18) according to Claim 1, wherein the guide (32) keeps the spacer (5) in a precise given position inside the group-forming pocket (26), to prevent transverse movement of the spacer (5).
- The packing machine (18) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide (32) is designed to engage a cavity (16) in the spacer (5).
- The packing machine (18) according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the guide (32) negatively reproduces the outer shape of part of the spacer (5).
- The packing machine (18) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the first feed station (S1) is located upstream from the second feed station (S2) along the group-forming path (P).
- The packing machine (18) according to Claim 5, wherein:the first feed station (S1) inserts two spacers (5) at a time into the group-forming pocket (26), so the two spacers (5) are located on opposite sides of the group-forming pocket (26); andthe second feed station (S2) inserts a group (4) of smoking articles into the group-forming pocket (26) between the two previously inserted spacers (5).
- The packing machine (18) according to Claim 5, wherein:the first feed station (S1) inserts one spacer (5) into the group-forming pocket (26), so the spacer (5) is located centrally inside the group-forming pocket (26); andthe second feed station (S2) inserts two groups (4) of smoking articles at a time into the group-forming pocket (26), on opposite sides of the spacer (5).
- The packing machine (18) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the first station (S1) comprises:a first hopper (27) containing a vertical stack of spacers (5) and having a bottom outlet through which a spacer (5) is expelled from the first hopper (27) into the group-forming pocket (26) arrested facing the outlet; anda first pusher (28) which moves linearly back and forth in the feed direction (D) to move cyclically through the outlet of the first hopper (27) and push the spacer (5) axially into the group-forming pocket (26) arrested facing the outlet.
- The packing machine (18) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the second feed station (S2) comprises:a second hopper (29), containing a mass of smoking articles and having a bottom outlet through which the group (4) of smoking articles is expelled from the second hopper (29) into the group-forming pocket (26) arrested facing the outlet; anda second pusher (30) which moves linearly back and forth in the feed direction (D) to move cyclically through the outlet of the second hopper (29) and pushes the group (4) of smoking articles axially into the group-forming pocket (26) arrested facing the outlet.
- The packing machine (18) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the group-forming pocket (26) has a parallelepiped shape, comprises four walls (33) which are oriented parallel to the feed direction (D), and delimits a single chamber which is suited to house both the group (4) of smoking articles, and the spacer (5) in direct contact with the group (4) of smoking articles.
- The packing machine (18) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the spacer (5) touches the smoking articles of the group (4) of smoking articles inside the group-forming pocket (26).
- A packing method for producing a packet (1) of smoking articles comprising an inner package (3) enclosing at least one group (4) of smoking articles and at least one spacer (5); the packing method comprising the steps of:feeding a group-forming pocket (26) for housing the group (4) of smoking articles and the spacer (5) in direct contact with the group (4) of smoking articles by means of a group-forming conveyor (25) and along a group-forming path (P);inserting the spacer (5) inside the group-forming pocket (26) in a feed direction (D); at a first feed station (S1) located along the group-forming path (P),inserting the group (4) of smoking articles inside the group-forming pocket (26) in direct contact with the spacer (5) and in the feed direction (D), at a second feed station (S2) located along the group-forming path (P);transferring the group (4) of smoking articles together with the spacer (5) from the group-forming pocket (26) to a packing unit (20); andwrapping a sheet (21) of packing material about the group (4) of smoking articles and the spacer (5) on the packing unit (20), to form the inner package (3);the packing method being characterized in that the group-forming pocket (26) comprises at least one guide (32), which projects towards the inside from a wall (33) of the group-forming pocket (26) so as to be arranged in the space suited to receive the smoking articles, is oriented parallel to the feed direction (D) and engages the spacer (5) to prevent transverse movement of the spacer (5) inside the group-forming pocket (26).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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PL15179478T PL2982607T3 (en) | 2014-08-04 | 2015-08-03 | Packing machine and packing method for producing a packet of smoking articles provided with at least one spacer arranged inside the group of smoking articles |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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ITBO20140443 | 2014-08-04 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP2982607A1 true EP2982607A1 (en) | 2016-02-10 |
EP2982607B1 EP2982607B1 (en) | 2016-12-28 |
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Family Applications (1)
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EP15179478.1A Active EP2982607B1 (en) | 2014-08-04 | 2015-08-03 | Packing machine and packing method for producing a packet of smoking articles provided with at least one spacer arranged inside the group of smoking articles |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP2982607B1 (en) |
PL (1) | PL2982607T3 (en) |
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Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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EP3224148A1 (en) * | 2014-11-28 | 2017-10-04 | Philip Morris Products S.a.s. | Container comprising a closed spacer |
WO2017207458A1 (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2017-12-07 | Philip Morris Products S.A. | Container, method |
ITUA20164362A1 (en) * | 2016-06-14 | 2017-12-14 | Gima Tt S P A | HOUSING DEVICE FOR ORGANIZED GROUPS OF SMOKE ITEMS |
ITUA20164356A1 (en) * | 2016-06-14 | 2017-12-14 | Gima Tt S P A | FILLING INSERT FOR A PACKAGE OF SMOKE AND RELATED ITEMS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE INSERT |
ITUA20164360A1 (en) * | 2016-06-14 | 2017-12-14 | Gima Tt S P A | HOUSING DEVICE FOR ORGANIZED GROUPS OF SMOKE ITEMS |
DE102018126538A1 (en) * | 2018-10-24 | 2020-04-30 | Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) | Method and device for producing packs for products in the cigarette industry |
WO2022023698A1 (en) * | 2020-07-27 | 2022-02-03 | Nicoventures Trading Limited | A package |
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US4771882A (en) | 1987-06-24 | 1988-09-20 | Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation | Cigarette package with spacer |
EP1052192A1 (en) | 1999-05-06 | 2000-11-15 | G.D. S.p.A. | A packet for a group of articles of elongated shape, and method of manufacture |
WO2009004421A2 (en) * | 2007-07-02 | 2009-01-08 | G.D Societa'per Azioni | Package of cigarettes |
WO2014170829A1 (en) | 2013-04-16 | 2014-10-23 | G.D Societa' Per Azioni | Packing method and machine for producing a packet of cigarettes with a spacer inside the group of cigarettes, and corresponding packet of cigarettes |
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2015
- 2015-08-03 RU RU2015132424A patent/RU2680308C2/en active
- 2015-08-03 PL PL15179478T patent/PL2982607T3/en unknown
- 2015-08-03 EP EP15179478.1A patent/EP2982607B1/en active Active
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US4771882A (en) | 1987-06-24 | 1988-09-20 | Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation | Cigarette package with spacer |
EP1052192A1 (en) | 1999-05-06 | 2000-11-15 | G.D. S.p.A. | A packet for a group of articles of elongated shape, and method of manufacture |
WO2009004421A2 (en) * | 2007-07-02 | 2009-01-08 | G.D Societa'per Azioni | Package of cigarettes |
WO2014170829A1 (en) | 2013-04-16 | 2014-10-23 | G.D Societa' Per Azioni | Packing method and machine for producing a packet of cigarettes with a spacer inside the group of cigarettes, and corresponding packet of cigarettes |
Cited By (16)
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EP3224148A1 (en) * | 2014-11-28 | 2017-10-04 | Philip Morris Products S.a.s. | Container comprising a closed spacer |
KR20180132840A (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2018-12-12 | 필립모리스 프로덕츠 에스.에이. | Courage, method |
WO2017207458A1 (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2017-12-07 | Philip Morris Products S.A. | Container, method |
RU2696646C1 (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2019-08-05 | Филип Моррис Продактс С.А. | Container and method |
JP2019517430A (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2019-06-24 | フィリップ・モーリス・プロダクツ・ソシエテ・アノニム | Container, method |
CN109153494A (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2019-01-04 | 菲利普莫里斯生产公司 | Container, method |
DE102017113091A1 (en) | 2016-06-14 | 2017-12-14 | Gima Tt S.P.A. | Device for receiving organized groups of smoking articles |
WO2017216163A1 (en) * | 2016-06-14 | 2017-12-21 | Gima Tt S.P.A. | Housing device for organized groups of smoking articles |
WO2017216160A1 (en) | 2016-06-14 | 2017-12-21 | Gima Tt S.P.A. | Filling insert for a packet of smoking articles, combination with a drawer, apparatus, machine, blank, packet and methods associated |
ITUA20164360A1 (en) * | 2016-06-14 | 2017-12-14 | Gima Tt S P A | HOUSING DEVICE FOR ORGANIZED GROUPS OF SMOKE ITEMS |
ITUA20164356A1 (en) * | 2016-06-14 | 2017-12-14 | Gima Tt S P A | FILLING INSERT FOR A PACKAGE OF SMOKE AND RELATED ITEMS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE INSERT |
ITUA20164362A1 (en) * | 2016-06-14 | 2017-12-14 | Gima Tt S P A | HOUSING DEVICE FOR ORGANIZED GROUPS OF SMOKE ITEMS |
DE102018126538A1 (en) * | 2018-10-24 | 2020-04-30 | Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) | Method and device for producing packs for products in the cigarette industry |
CN111086676A (en) * | 2018-10-24 | 2020-05-01 | 佛克有限及两合公司 | Method and apparatus for manufacturing packages of tobacco industry products |
CN111086676B (en) * | 2018-10-24 | 2023-02-03 | 佛克有限及两合公司 | Method and apparatus for manufacturing packages of tobacco industry products |
WO2022023698A1 (en) * | 2020-07-27 | 2022-02-03 | Nicoventures Trading Limited | A package |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
RU2680308C2 (en) | 2019-02-19 |
PL2982607T3 (en) | 2017-06-30 |
RU2015132424A (en) | 2017-02-08 |
EP2982607B1 (en) | 2016-12-28 |
RU2015132424A3 (en) | 2018-12-14 |
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