EP2986540B1 - Packing method and machine for producing a packet of cigarettes with a spacer inside the group of cigarettes - Google Patents
Packing method and machine for producing a packet of cigarettes with a spacer inside the group of cigarettes Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2986540B1 EP2986540B1 EP14731359.7A EP14731359A EP2986540B1 EP 2986540 B1 EP2986540 B1 EP 2986540B1 EP 14731359 A EP14731359 A EP 14731359A EP 2986540 B1 EP2986540 B1 EP 2986540B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- cigarettes
- group
- spacer
- forming
- packet
- 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.)
- Active
Links
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 title claims description 140
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 title claims description 52
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 title claims description 25
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 6
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 241000208125 Nicotiana Species 0.000 description 7
- 235000002637 Nicotiana tabacum Nutrition 0.000 description 7
- 210000003811 finger Anatomy 0.000 description 5
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000003292 glue Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000004026 adhesive bonding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004831 Hot glue Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920002301 cellulose acetate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006327 polystyrene foam Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008259 solid foam Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000003813 thumb Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- 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
-
- 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
- B65B19/22—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a packing method and machine for producing a packet of cigarettes according to the preamble of claims 1,2 respectively.
- a rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes normally comprises an inner package enclosing a group of cigarettes; and a rigid outer container housing the inner package.
- the inner package is initially fully closed, and has a pull-off top portion which is removed the first time the packet is opened, to enable withdrawal of the cigarettes from the inner package.
- a filter-tipped cigarette comprises a tobacco portion with an inner end and an outer end; and a filter which is fitted end-to-end to the inner end of the tobacco portion, and is secured to it by a band wound around the filter and around part of the tobacco portion.
- filters are made of 10-35 mm long cylindrical portions of cellulose acetate, with a 4-9 mm diameter, identical to that of the corresponding tobacco portion. And the band wound about the filter also covers a 2-3 mm long portion of the tobacco portion.
- the inner package and the outer container often exert a certain amount of lateral compression on the group of cigarettes inside the inner package.
- the lateral compression exerted by the inner package and outer container on the group of cigarettes may be severe enough to make it difficult to withdraw the first cigarette from the group, due to friction between the first and adjacent cigarettes.
- Patent Application US5433318A1 describes a packet of cigarettes comprising: a two-row group of cigarettes; a package enclosing the group of cigarettes; and a spacer fitted to the group of cigarettes and interposed between, to separate, the two rows of cigarettes.
- Patent Application GB516097A describes a cigarette packing machine, in which a group of cigarettes, as soon as it is withdrawn from a hopper, is divided in the middle into two halves, between which a spacer, formed by folding a flat blank, is inserted.
- Packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a cup-shaped, hinged-lid, cardboard outer container 2 which houses an inner package 3 (shown partly in Figure 2 ).
- inner package 3 encloses a parallelepiped-shaped group 4 of cigarettes.
- Group 4 of cigarettes comprises two rows 5 of cigarettes; and a spacer 6 fitted to group 4 of cigarettes and interposed between, to separate, the two rows 5 of cigarettes.
- Spacer 6 is inserted between the two rows 5 of cigarettes to space rows 5 apart, and so make it much easier to grip and withdraw the cigarettes from group 4, by virtue of rows 5 of cigarettes contacting spacer 6, as opposed to being pressed contacting each other.
- spacer 6 is shorter than the cigarettes in group 4, and is positioned a given distance D from a top portion of inner package 3, through which the cigarettes are withdrawn from inner package 3.
- the tops of the cigarettes (typically the filters) that are gripped with the fingers to withdraw the cigarettes from inner package 3 are completely free inwardly, i.e. in the top centre portion of group 4 of cigarettes, a cavity as deep as given distance D is formed, thus making it much easier to grip (with the thumb and fingers) the tops of the cigarettes (typically the filters) to withdraw the cigarettes from inner package 3.
- spacer 6 is in the form of a box (i.e. hollow) body.
- spacer 6 may be in the form of a solid (i.e. non-hollow) body, possibly made of sponge material, solid foam material (e.g. polystyrene foam) or similar.
- Spacer 6 may even be in the form of a piece of corrugated cardboard, a piece of pleated thin cardboard, or an insert of deformed plastic material.
- Spacer 6 has a top end 7, which must be located facing the filters of the cigarettes in rows 5 - and not the tobacco portions underneath, which, being more fragile than the filters, could be damaged - so given distance D is less than the length of the filters.
- distance D between the top portion of inner package 3 and the top end 7 of spacer 6, to enable the cigarettes to be gripped with the fingers ranges between 50% and 80% of the length of the filters, i.e. between 5 mm and 28 mm, and preferably ranges between 8 mm and 15 mm.
- spacer 6 is parallelepiped-shaped, and has an open top end 7 facing a top portion of inner package 3, through which the cigarettes are withdrawn from inner package 3.
- Spacer 6 also has a bottom wall opposite open top end 7; two opposite parallel major lateral walls which rest against the cigarettes in the two rows 5; and two opposite parallel minor lateral walls which rest against the corresponding minor lateral walls of inner package 3.
- spacer 6 may also be used as a container, either for items inserted when producing packet 1 of cigarettes (e.g. a free gift inside packet 1 of cigarettes), or for items inserted later, after packet 1 of cigarettes is opened (e.g. a lighter or, when necessary, cigarette ash or stubs).
- spacer 6 may be closed on all sides, i.e. may have a top wall opposite and parallel to the bottom wall and closing open top end 7 (in this case, too, spacer 6 may be used as a container for a free gift inside packet 1 of cigarettes, and which is accessed by tearing open spacer 6).
- spacer 6 is formed by folding and gluing a flat blank 8.
- Figure 8 shows a spread-out blank 8 from which to form a spacer 6 closed on all sides ( Figure 8 clearly shows all the walls of spacer 6).
- group 4 of cigarettes comprises two rows 5 of cigarettes, between which spacer 6 is inserted.
- group 4 of cigarettes may comprise three rows 5, between which one spacer 6 is inserted (i.e. between one row 5 and two contiguous rows 5 of cigarettes), or between which two separate spacers 6 are inserted, each between two adjacent rows 5 of cigarettes.
- group 4 of cigarettes may comprise a number of rows 5 of cigarettes alternating with one or more spacers 6.
- spacer 6 is fixed to inner package 3 by spots or coatings of cold glue, or, preferably, flat blank 8 may have areas gummed with hotmelt adhesive, to avoid even only partly extracting spacer 6 together with the first cigarette, due to friction in the full group 4 of cigarettes.
- the parallelepiped-shaped spacer 6 is fixed to the bottom end and/or to at least one minor lateral wall of inner package 3.
- Figure 9 shows a schematic of a packing machine 9 for producing packet 1 of cigarettes described above.
- packing machine 9 comprises a folding unit 10 for forming spacer 6 by folding and gluing a corresponding blank 8; a group-forming unit 11 for forming group 4 of cigarettes; and a packing unit 12 for forming inner package 3 by folding a sheet of soft packing material about group 4 of cigarettes, and then forming outer container 2 by folding a rigid blank about inner package 3.
- folding unit 10 corrugates a piece of cardboard or pleats a piece of thin cardboard to form spacer 6.
- group-forming unit 11 comprises a group-forming belt conveyor 13 supporting a number of group-forming pockets 14, each for receiving and conveying a respective group 4 of cigarettes.
- Group-forming conveyor 13 moves anticlockwise in steps to feed each group-forming pocket 14 along a straight group-forming path P.
- Two cigarette hoppers 15 and a spacer hopper 16, located between cigarette hoppers 15, are located along group-forming path P.
- Each cigarette hopper 15 comprises three identical outlets in series along group-forming path P.
- cigarette hoppers 15 share the same feed source, i.e. are both fed with cigarettes from one top container 17.
- each cigarette hopper 15 comprises two outlets in series along group-forming path P, or only one outlet.
- spacer hopper 16 comprises three identical outlets in series along group-forming path P.
- spacer hopper 16 comprises two outlets in series along group-forming path P, or only one outlet. It is important to note that spacer hopper 16 may have a different number of outlets from cigarette hoppers 15.
- straight group-forming path P extends successively past hoppers 15 and 16.
- Group-forming unit 11 comprises a number of transfer members 18, each fitted to a corresponding outlet of a cigarette hopper 15.
- the corresponding transfer member 18 expels a row 5 of cigarettes from the outlet into group-forming pocket 14.
- Group-forming unit 11 comprises a number of transfer members 19, each fitted to a corresponding outlet of spacer hopper 16.
- the corresponding transfer member 19 expels a spacer 6 from the outlet into group-forming pocket 14.
- Spacer 6 has a bottom end facing a bottom portion of inner package 3, opposite the top portion through which the cigarettes are withdrawn from inner package 3. More specifically, the bottom end of spacer 6 is closed and is designed to be engaged by transfer member 19 of group-forming unit 11, i.e. flat blank 8 has a panel at said bottom end.
- each group 4 of cigarettes is formed in layers inside a respective group-forming pocket 14, i.e. by first inserting a row 5 of cigarettes, then a spacer 6, and finally another row 5 of cigarettes into group-forming pocket 14.
- folding unit 10 forms spacers 6 by folding blanks 8 in known manner about tubular folding spindles, and then feeds spacers 6 to spacer hopper 16. Once a group 4 of cigarettes is formed on group-forming unit 11, it is transferred from group-forming unit 11 to packing unit 12 to form a corresponding packet 1 of cigarettes in known manner.
- packet 1 of cigarettes described permits easy withdrawal of the cigarettes from inner package 3, by virtue of the tops (typically the filters) - which are gripped by the fingers - of the cigarettes in each row 5 being completely free inwards, and therefore easily gripped with the fingers to withdraw the cigarettes from inner package 3.
- the tops typically the filters
- packet 1 of cigarettes described can be produced easily on a substantially standard packing machine (requiring only a few minor alterations) as opposed to requiring a high-cost special-purpose packing machine (i.e. specially designed for this type of packet 1 of cigarettes).
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
- Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to a packing method and machine for producing a packet of cigarettes according to the preamble of
claims - In the following description, reference is made, for the sake of simplicity and purely by way of a non-limiting example, to a rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes.
- A rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes normally comprises an inner package enclosing a group of cigarettes; and a rigid outer container housing the inner package.
- The inner package is initially fully closed, and has a pull-off top portion which is removed the first time the packet is opened, to enable withdrawal of the cigarettes from the inner package.
- A filter-tipped cigarette comprises a tobacco portion with an inner end and an outer end; and a filter which is fitted end-to-end to the inner end of the tobacco portion, and is secured to it by a band wound around the filter and around part of the tobacco portion.
- Currently used filters are made of 10-35 mm long cylindrical portions of cellulose acetate, with a 4-9 mm diameter, identical to that of the corresponding tobacco portion. And the band wound about the filter also covers a 2-3 mm long portion of the tobacco portion.
- The inner package and the outer container often exert a certain amount of lateral compression on the group of cigarettes inside the inner package. In the case of a new packet, i.e. containing a full group of cigarettes, the lateral compression exerted by the inner package and outer container on the group of cigarettes may be severe enough to make it difficult to withdraw the first cigarette from the group, due to friction between the first and adjacent cigarettes. To simplify withdrawal of the first cigarette from the group, it has been proposed to fit at least one cigarette in the group with a pull-up tape, which has a grip end projecting from the top wall of the group of cigarettes, and which is pulled to lift the cigarette up.
- Known pull-up tapes, however, require that the inner end of the tape, opposite the grip end, be glued to a wall of the inner package. This constitutes a serious drawback, in that, because glue in contact or close proximity with the cigarettes may release volatile substances that are absorbed by the cigarettes and alter the aroma and/or taste of the cigarette tobacco, the inner packages of packets of cigarettes have traditionally always been left free of glue.
- On standard packing machines, it is also difficult to insert a gumming device capable of applying glue to the inner surface of the inner package.
- Patent Application
US5433318A1 describes a packet of cigarettes comprising: a two-row group of cigarettes; a package enclosing the group of cigarettes; and a spacer fitted to the group of cigarettes and interposed between, to separate, the two rows of cigarettes. - Patent Application
GB516097A - It is an object of the present invention to provide a packing method and machine for producing a packet of cigarettes, designed to eliminate the above drawbacks, and which at the same time are cheap and easy to implement. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a packet of cigarettes designed to eliminate the above drawbacks.
- According to the present invention, there are provided a packing method and a packing machine, according to
claims - A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
-
Figure 1 shows a front view in perspective of a packet of cigarettes not part of the present invention in a closed configuration; -
Figure 2 shows a front view in perspective of theFigure 1 packet of cigarettes in an open configuration; -
Figure 3 shows a rear view in perspective of theFigure 1 packet of cigarettes in a closed configuration; -
Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section of an inner package of theFigure 1 packet of cigarettes; -
Figure 5 shows a cross section of theFigure 4 inner package; -
Figure 6 shows a view in perspective of a group of cigarettes contained in theFigure 4 inner package; -
Figure 7 shows an exploded view in perspective of theFigure 6 group of cigarettes; -
Figure 8 shows a spread-out blank, which is folded to form a spacer of theFigure 6 group of cigarettes; -
Figure 9 shows a schematic of a packing machine for producing theFigure 1 packet of cigarettes; -
Figure 10 shows a schematic of a group-forming unit of theFigure 9 packing machine, for forming theFigure 6 group of cigarettes. -
Number 1 inFigures 1, 2 and 3 indicates as a whole a rigid packet of cigarettes.Packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a cup-shaped, hinged-lid, cardboardouter container 2 which houses an inner package 3 (shown partly inFigure 2 ). - As shown in
Figures 4 to 7 ,inner package 3 encloses a parallelepiped-shaped group 4 of cigarettes.Group 4 of cigarettes comprises tworows 5 of cigarettes; and aspacer 6 fitted togroup 4 of cigarettes and interposed between, to separate, the tworows 5 of cigarettes. -
Spacer 6 is inserted between the tworows 5 of cigarettes tospace rows 5 apart, and so make it much easier to grip and withdraw the cigarettes fromgroup 4, by virtue ofrows 5 ofcigarettes contacting spacer 6, as opposed to being pressed contacting each other. - In a preferred embodiment,
spacer 6 is shorter than the cigarettes ingroup 4, and is positioned a given distance D from a top portion ofinner package 3, through which the cigarettes are withdrawn frominner package 3. - This way, and as shown clearly in
Figures 4 and6 , the tops of the cigarettes (typically the filters) that are gripped with the fingers to withdraw the cigarettes frominner package 3 are completely free inwardly, i.e. in the top centre portion ofgroup 4 of cigarettes, a cavity as deep as given distance D is formed, thus making it much easier to grip (with the thumb and fingers) the tops of the cigarettes (typically the filters) to withdraw the cigarettes frominner package 3. - In a preferred non-limiting embodiment shown in the attached drawings,
spacer 6 is in the form of a box (i.e. hollow) body. Alternatively,spacer 6 may be in the form of a solid (i.e. non-hollow) body, possibly made of sponge material, solid foam material (e.g. polystyrene foam) or similar.Spacer 6 may even be in the form of a piece of corrugated cardboard, a piece of pleated thin cardboard, or an insert of deformed plastic material. -
Spacer 6 has atop end 7, which must be located facing the filters of the cigarettes in rows 5 - and not the tobacco portions underneath, which, being more fragile than the filters, could be damaged - so given distance D is less than the length of the filters. - More specifically, given distance D between the top portion of
inner package 3 and thetop end 7 ofspacer 6, to enable the cigarettes to be gripped with the fingers, ranges between 50% and 80% of the length of the filters, i.e. between 5 mm and 28 mm, and preferably ranges between 8 mm and 15 mm. - In a preferred non-limiting embodiment shown in the attached drawings,
spacer 6 is parallelepiped-shaped, and has anopen top end 7 facing a top portion ofinner package 3, through which the cigarettes are withdrawn frominner package 3.Spacer 6 also has a bottom wall oppositeopen top end 7; two opposite parallel major lateral walls which rest against the cigarettes in the tworows 5; and two opposite parallel minor lateral walls which rest against the corresponding minor lateral walls ofinner package 3. As such,spacer 6 may also be used as a container, either for items inserted when producingpacket 1 of cigarettes (e.g. a free gift insidepacket 1 of cigarettes), or for items inserted later, afterpacket 1 of cigarettes is opened (e.g. a lighter or, when necessary, cigarette ash or stubs). - Alternatively,
spacer 6 may be closed on all sides, i.e. may have a top wall opposite and parallel to the bottom wall and closing open top end 7 (in this case, too,spacer 6 may be used as a container for a free gift insidepacket 1 of cigarettes, and which is accessed by tearing open spacer 6). - In a preferred non-limiting embodiment shown in
Figure 7 ,spacer 6 is formed by folding and gluing a flat blank 8. -
Figure 8 shows a spread-out blank 8 from which to form aspacer 6 closed on all sides (Figure 8 clearly shows all the walls of spacer 6). - In the preferred non-limiting embodiment shown in the attached drawings,
group 4 of cigarettes comprises tworows 5 of cigarettes, between whichspacer 6 is inserted. In other embodiments not shown,group 4 of cigarettes may comprise threerows 5, between which onespacer 6 is inserted (i.e. between onerow 5 and twocontiguous rows 5 of cigarettes), or between which twoseparate spacers 6 are inserted, each between twoadjacent rows 5 of cigarettes. Generally speaking,group 4 of cigarettes may comprise a number ofrows 5 of cigarettes alternating with one ormore spacers 6. - In actual practice, however, only the cigarettes in a first row 5 (typically, the
first row 5 of cigarettes facing the front ofpacket 1 of cigarettes) need be withdrawn frompacket 1 of cigarettes to remove the lateral compression ongroup 4 of cigarettes ininner package 3, and so eliminate the need forspacer 6, which may even be removed fromgroup 4 of cigarettes. In other words, removal of thefirst row 5 of cigarettes eliminates lateral compression ongroup 4 of cigarettes and the frictional resistance between the cigarette being withdrawn and the adjacent cigarettes. So, obviously, to simplify withdrawal of the first cigarette, onespacer 6 ingroup 4 of cigarettes, between thefirst row 5 andother rows 5 of cigarettes ininner package 3, is sufficient. - In a non-limiting embodiment,
spacer 6 is fixed toinner package 3 by spots or coatings of cold glue, or, preferably, flat blank 8 may have areas gummed with hotmelt adhesive, to avoid even only partly extractingspacer 6 together with the first cigarette, due to friction in thefull group 4 of cigarettes. With reference to the attached drawings, the parallelepiped-shaped spacer 6 is fixed to the bottom end and/or to at least one minor lateral wall ofinner package 3. -
Figure 9 shows a schematic of apacking machine 9 for producingpacket 1 of cigarettes described above. - As shown in
Figure 9 ,packing machine 9 comprises afolding unit 10 for formingspacer 6 by folding and gluing acorresponding blank 8; a group-formingunit 11 for forminggroup 4 of cigarettes; and apacking unit 12 for forminginner package 3 by folding a sheet of soft packing material aboutgroup 4 of cigarettes, and then formingouter container 2 by folding a rigid blank aboutinner package 3. - Alternatively, folding
unit 10 corrugates a piece of cardboard or pleats a piece of thin cardboard to formspacer 6. - As shown in
Figure 10 , group-formingunit 11 comprises a group-formingbelt conveyor 13 supporting a number of group-formingpockets 14, each for receiving and conveying arespective group 4 of cigarettes. Group-formingconveyor 13 moves anticlockwise in steps to feed each group-formingpocket 14 along a straight group-forming path P. Twocigarette hoppers 15 and aspacer hopper 16, located betweencigarette hoppers 15, are located along group-forming path P. - Each
cigarette hopper 15 comprises three identical outlets in series along group-forming path P. In theFigure 10 embodiment,cigarette hoppers 15 share the same feed source, i.e. are both fed with cigarettes from onetop container 17. - In a different but perfectly equivalent embodiment not shown, each
cigarette hopper 15 comprises two outlets in series along group-forming path P, or only one outlet. Similarly,spacer hopper 16 comprises three identical outlets in series along group-forming path P. In a different but perfectly equivalent embodiment not shown,spacer hopper 16 comprises two outlets in series along group-forming path P, or only one outlet. It is important to note thatspacer hopper 16 may have a different number of outlets fromcigarette hoppers 15. - In other words, straight group-forming path P extends successively
past hoppers - Group-forming
unit 11 comprises a number oftransfer members 18, each fitted to a corresponding outlet of acigarette hopper 15. When a group-formingpocket 14 stops in front of an outlet of acigarette hopper 15, thecorresponding transfer member 18 expels arow 5 of cigarettes from the outlet into group-formingpocket 14. - Group-forming
unit 11 comprises a number oftransfer members 19, each fitted to a corresponding outlet ofspacer hopper 16. When a group-formingpocket 14 stops in front of an outlet ofspacer hopper 16, thecorresponding transfer member 19 expels aspacer 6 from the outlet into group-formingpocket 14. -
Spacer 6 has a bottom end facing a bottom portion ofinner package 3, opposite the top portion through which the cigarettes are withdrawn frominner package 3. More specifically, the bottom end ofspacer 6 is closed and is designed to be engaged bytransfer member 19 of group-formingunit 11, i.e. flat blank 8 has a panel at said bottom end. - In other words, each
group 4 of cigarettes is formed in layers inside a respective group-formingpocket 14, i.e. by first inserting arow 5 of cigarettes, then aspacer 6, and finally anotherrow 5 of cigarettes into group-formingpocket 14. - As shown in
Figure 9 ,folding unit 10 forms spacers 6 by foldingblanks 8 in known manner about tubular folding spindles, and then feedsspacers 6 tospacer hopper 16. Once agroup 4 of cigarettes is formed on group-formingunit 11, it is transferred from group-formingunit 11 to packingunit 12 to form acorresponding packet 1 of cigarettes in known manner. -
Packet 1 of cigarettes described has numerous advantages. - Firstly,
packet 1 of cigarettes described permits easy withdrawal of the cigarettes frominner package 3, by virtue of the tops (typically the filters) - which are gripped by the fingers - of the cigarettes in eachrow 5 being completely free inwards, and therefore easily gripped with the fingers to withdraw the cigarettes frominner package 3. - Secondly,
packet 1 of cigarettes described can be produced easily on a substantially standard packing machine (requiring only a few minor alterations) as opposed to requiring a high-cost special-purpose packing machine (i.e. specially designed for this type ofpacket 1 of cigarettes).
Claims (2)
- A packing method for producing a packet (1) of cigarettes comprising a group (4) of cigarettes having at least two rows (5) of cigarettes; and an inner package (3) enclosing the group (4) of cigarettes; the packing method comprising the steps of:feeding a group-forming pocket (14), designed to house the group (4) of cigarettes, along a group-forming path (P) extending past a succession of first cigarette hoppers (15);forming the group (4) of cigarettes by expelling each row (5) of cigarettes from a corresponding first hopper (15) into the group-forming pocket (14); andfolding a sheet of packing material about the group (4) of cigarettes to form the inner package (3) enclosing the group (4) of cigarettes;the packing method being characterized in that:a second hopper (16) is located along the group-forming path (P), between two first hoppers (15), and contains a spacer (6), which is inserted between, to separate, two rows (5) of cigarettes; andthe spacer (6) is transferred from the second hopper (16) to the group-forming pocket (14) by feeding first one row (5) of cigarettes, then the spacer (6), and finally the other row (5) of cigarettes into the group-forming pocket (14).
- A packing machine (9) for producing a packet (1) of cigarettes comprising a group (4) of cigarettes having at least two rows (5) of cigarettes; and an inner package (3) enclosing the group (4) of cigarettes; the packing machine (9) comprising:a succession of first cigarette hoppers (15);a group-forming pocket (14) for housing the group (4) of cigarettes;a group-forming conveyor (13) for feeding the group-forming pocket (14) along a group-forming path (P) extending past the succession of first hoppers (15);first transfer members (18) for forming the group (4) of cigarettes by expelling each row (5) of cigarettes from a corresponding first hopper (15) into the group-forming pocket (14); anda packing unit (12) for folding a sheet of packing material about the group (4) of cigarettes to form the inner package (3) enclosing the group (4) of cigarettes;the packing machine (9) being characterized by comprising:a second hopper (16) located along the group-forming path (P), between two first hoppers (15), and containing a spacer (6), which is inserted between, to separate, two rows (5) of cigarettes; andsecond transfer members (19) for transferring the spacer (6) from the second hopper (16) to the group-forming pocket (14) by feeding first one row (5) of cigarettes, then the spacer (6), and finally the other row (5) of cigarettes into the group-forming pocket (14).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PL14731359T PL2986540T3 (en) | 2013-04-16 | 2014-04-15 | Packing method and machine for producing a packet of cigarettes with a spacer inside the group of cigarettes |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT000166A ITBO20130166A1 (en) | 2013-04-16 | 2013-04-16 | PACKAGE OF CIGARETTES WITH SPACER ELEMENTS INSIDE THE GROUP OF CIGARETTES, METHOD OF WRAPPING AND MACHINE PACKAGING MACHINE TO MAKE THE CIGARETTE PACKAGE. |
PCT/IB2014/060743 WO2014170829A1 (en) | 2013-04-16 | 2014-04-15 | Packing method and machine for producing a packet of cigarettes with a spacer inside the group of cigarettes, and corresponding packet of cigarettes |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2986540A1 EP2986540A1 (en) | 2016-02-24 |
EP2986540B1 true EP2986540B1 (en) | 2017-01-25 |
Family
ID=48626521
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP14731359.7A Active EP2986540B1 (en) | 2013-04-16 | 2014-04-15 | Packing method and machine for producing a packet of cigarettes with a spacer inside the group of cigarettes |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2986540B1 (en) |
IT (1) | ITBO20130166A1 (en) |
PL (1) | PL2986540T3 (en) |
RU (1) | RU2656088C2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2014170829A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102014007415A1 (en) * | 2014-05-22 | 2015-11-26 | Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) | Method and device for producing packages for cigarettes |
DE102014116784A1 (en) * | 2014-06-16 | 2015-12-17 | Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) | Method and device for producing packages for cigarettes |
EP2982607B1 (en) | 2014-08-04 | 2016-12-28 | G.D Societa' per Azioni | 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 |
ITUA20162843A1 (en) | 2016-04-22 | 2017-10-22 | Gd Spa | Method of diagnosing the operation of an automatic machine that processes products in the tobacco industry. |
ITUA20162840A1 (en) | 2016-04-22 | 2017-10-22 | Gd Spa | Diagnostic method to analyze the operation of at least part of a packaging line in the tobacco industry. |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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BE417615A (en) * | ||||
GB516097A (en) * | 1938-07-20 | 1939-12-21 | John Walker Chalmers | Improvements in or relating to packing machines |
DE4310800A1 (en) * | 1993-04-05 | 1994-10-06 | Focke & Co | Packaging for rod-shaped objects, especially cigarettes |
DE29918461U1 (en) * | 1999-10-20 | 2000-03-23 | Grunwald Hans U | Hard cigarette box |
ITBO20080092A1 (en) * | 2008-02-13 | 2009-08-14 | Gd Spa | CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A RIGID PACKAGE WITH HINGED LID. |
WO2011060795A1 (en) * | 2009-11-17 | 2011-05-26 | Gundlach Verpackung Gmbh | Packaging for rod-shaped objects, in particular for cigarettes |
-
2013
- 2013-04-16 IT IT000166A patent/ITBO20130166A1/en unknown
-
2014
- 2014-04-15 RU RU2015148045A patent/RU2656088C2/en active
- 2014-04-15 PL PL14731359T patent/PL2986540T3/en unknown
- 2014-04-15 WO PCT/IB2014/060743 patent/WO2014170829A1/en active Application Filing
- 2014-04-15 EP EP14731359.7A patent/EP2986540B1/en active Active
Non-Patent Citations (1)
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RU2656088C2 (en) | 2018-05-30 |
PL2986540T3 (en) | 2017-06-30 |
WO2014170829A1 (en) | 2014-10-23 |
ITBO20130166A1 (en) | 2014-10-17 |
EP2986540A1 (en) | 2016-02-24 |
RU2015148045A (en) | 2017-05-19 |
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