US2225888A - Wrapping of cigarettes and other articles - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2 4, 1940.

A. G. ROSE WRAPPING OF CIGARETTES AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed Feb. 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor A G R se DEC. 24, 1940. ROSE 2,225,888

WRAPPING OF CIGARETTES AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed Feb. 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Inventor FIG .4. 5 AG. Rose.

Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES I 2,225,888 r WRAPPING or crcnmrrrns AND omen ARTICL Alfred German Rose, Gainsborough, England, assignor to Rose Brothers (Gainsborough) Limited, Gainsborough, England Application February 2, 1940, Serial N 0. 316,957

In Great Britain January 30, 1939 17 Claims;

The invention relates to the wrapping of .articles such as a batch of cigarettes and is concerned with the method of wrapping in which a tube of greater length than the article and of cross-section corresponding to that of the article is first formed by folding a wrapper blank of paper, foil, or like material, around the article itself or around a former, the edges of the blank are then secured to form a seam extending longitudinally of the tube, and the ends of the tube are then closed, after insertion of the article into the tube if it is not already there, by folding over the ends of the tube walls. For convenience in describing the invention, a former about which the tube may be formed is included in the term article.

The invention is concerned with the operation of producing the longitudinal seam and has for its object the formation of a seam of a particularly high degree of air-tightness and by a method and apparatus which avoids damage to the article. The invention is also concerned with the new or improved package resulting from the method of producing the longitudinal seam.

In accordance with the present invention, a method of wrapping a batch of cigarettes or other articles comprises folding a wrapper of paper, foil, or similar material, of a width greater than the length of the article and of a length greater than the periphery of the article, about the bottom and two opposed sides of the article, so as to leave a length of wrapper upstanding from each of said opposed sides, inserting a longitudinal web between the upstanding lengths of wrapper at the position where the seam is to be, pressing the said lengths into the angles between the web and the article in such a manner as to cause the said lengths to fold over so that intermediate portions of the wrapper lie along the upper surface of the article and. the end portions lie against opposite sides of the longitudinal web in the form of longitudinal flanges, withdrawing the web from between the flanges, with the wrapper still held in the position into which it has been pressed, to allow the opposing faces of the flanges to be pressed together, and securing the flanges together by adhesive material to form a longitudinal seam upstanding from the article. The seam formed in this way may then be folded down on to the wrapper.

Conveniently, the wrapper material is pretreated with an adhesive material of the kind which is normally inert but which may be rendered active to cause adhesion by means of heat,

2 together.

and the securing of the flanges is brought about by nipping the flanges together between a pair of heated surfaces. Wrapper material treated in the above manner is referred to hereinafter as heat-sealing material. An apparatus for 5 carrying the above method into effect may comprise means for folding a wrapper about the bottom and two opposed sides of the article leaving a length of wrapper upstanding from each of said opposed sides of the article, a longitudi- 1 nal web adapted to be moved into position on the article between the upstanding lengths of wrapper, means for pressing the said lengths into the angles between the web and the article in such a manner as to fold the said lengths over the article with their end portions lying against opposite sides of the web in the form of longitudinal flanges, means for withdrawing the web from between the flanges while the wrapper is held in position by the pressing means, and means for securing the flanges together by adhesive material to form a longitudinal seam upstanding from the article. Means may be provided for folding the longitudinal seam down on to the wrapper. The pressing means may be in 5 the form of a pair of presser members movable up to the opposite sides of the web over the adjacent surfaces of the article and each having a cross-sectional shape (e. g., having two faces at right angles if the web is perpendicular to the face of the article) which fits closely into the angle between the web and the article. Conveniently, one of the presser members performs the additional function of folding the longitudinal seam down on to the article by a further relative movement between the article and the presser member.

If the wrapper employed is formed from heatsealing material, the presser members preferably incorporate heating means. "0

When wrapping an article which is not selfsupporting, for example, a batch of cigarettes, it is preferable to employ a wrapper guiding member, adapted to be moved into position on the article between the article and the longitudinal web, with an edge lying substantially coincident with each longitudinal edge of the article on the side where the seam is to be formed, the wrapper being pressed over the guiding member to enclose it temporarily with the article. The guiding member may be withdrawn before or after the flanges of the wrapper are secured The use of such a guiding member prevents portions of the article from becoming displaced during the pressing of the wrapper into 5 web '28 and a base portion '29. ffe'ach 'of the'f'sli'ding members I3 is secured to 'a "bl'6ck 3 l 'sli'dably mounted in one'arm '32 of bell Y'crank'lever 3 3 pivotally mounted on the framewarm at 34, 'the'othr arm at ofthe bellcrank lever being provided "with a cam roller '31 {tearin; again st tl'ie fae'of "a i'o ta jt'able' 'cfiin SWI'hOI'liltthe angles between the web and the article due to the tendency of the wrapper to compress the article under the influence of the pressing means, especially where wrappers of substantial thickness are used. The guiding member may be combined with the longitudinal web to form a member of inverted T-section, which is conveniently made in two parts, each of T-sectio'n which are inserted in alignment with each other between the upstanding lengths of wrapper, one from each end of the article.

By way of example, the invention as applied to the wrapping of a rectangular batch of cigarettes will now be described in greater detail.

with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: 7

Figure 1 is a part-sectional elevation of part or a cigarette wrapping machine employing apparatus in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a part sectional end view of theapparatus shown in Figure 1 viewed in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1 with certain parts removed for clarity of illustration;

Figure 3 is a further elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 showing the dispositions 'of various parts at a later stage in the operation of the machine;

Figure 4 is an end view of part of the apparatus shown in Figure 3 viewed in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a-perspective View of the package formed by the apparatus shown in Figures '1 to 4.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, a batch l of cigarettes is prepared and pressed into a wrapper 7 blank 2, which is made of heat-sealing material,

to fold the blank about the bottom and'two opposed sides of the batch I, by the machine described in British Specification No. 352,659.

The batch! of cigarettes in the wrapper blank 2 is carried in one of a series of supports 3 (one only shown in Figure l) mounted ona chain 4 which is carried by a sprocket 6 carried on a shaft "I mounted in bearings in the main framework 8 of the machine. The chain 4 is driven intermittentlyand carriesthe supports 3 to'suc'cessive points in the wrapping machine where different wrapping operations'a're performed on the batches of cigarettes'in the supports. -In- Figures 1 to 4 the'su'pport 3is at rest at one of such-points.

Mounted for movement-in directions transverse'to the direction of movement of the 'sup- "port 3 is a pair of rods 9 slidably mounted in tracks H attached to the framework 8 on opposite sides of the chain 4. Each of the rods 9 has attached to it, at one e'nd,=a housing 12' in which is mounted a sliding member 13, and at-the'other end a boss M on which is pivoted oneend of a link 16 having its other end pivoted on an arm l1 pivoted at IS on the framework a.

The arm ll is provided with a cam roller I9 bearing against the face of a rotatable cam 2| mounted on'a-shaft 22. A spring attached to the housing I2 and to-a post 26 secured to the framework 8 maintains contact between the cam roller l9 and the cam 2L The-upper ends of the sliding members-'13 are secured to members 21 a part of each of'which 'isof inverted T-'s'ection, having a longitudinal The lower end of -rollers 31 of the arms 36.

.during, their movement towards each other. the-members TI-approach the end of their stroke '4 are two pairs of tracks 5| (one of each pair only being shown in Figures 1 and 3) in each of which is mounted a sliding member 52. Each sliding member 52 is caused to reciprocate in its tracks 5! because of itsconnection by a link 53 to one arm 54 of a bell crank lever 56 which is caused to rock about a shaft 58 under the action of a :cam whoa-operating with a cam roller 6| carried by an arm 62 pivoted at 63 and connected to the other arm 64 of the bell crank lever 56 by a lihk65. A spring 66, connected to the arm 62 and the framework '8, maintains contact between thecam roller 9| and the cam 59.

A presser member 6'! is attached to each of the sliding members 52, the presser members each having, two surfaces 68 and 69 disposed substantially at right-angles to each other to correspond with the angles between the web 28 and the base portion 29 of the members 21. Incorporated in each of the presser members 61 is an electric heating element H.

The mechanism associated with the presser members 6! is not completely shown in each case. -As with the members 21, however, it will be understood that the presser members 61 are provided with similar operating mechanisms working in synchronism.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The-box 3 carrying the batch I of cigarettes already partially enclosed by the Wrapper blank 2, as shown in Figure 1, is brought to rest by the chain 4 in theposition shown in Figures 1 and 3. .The members 27 are then moved towards each other between the upstanding lengths of the wrapper blank 2, by means of the rods 9 sliding in the tracks "ll under the action-of the cams 2| co-operating with the cam rollers H3 in the arms l-1,-to the positions shown in Figure In this .position, the distance between the outermost portions of the longitudinal webs 28 is slightly greater than the width of the wrapper blank 2.

-In order'to ensure that tha -members '21 move into position on the batch l of cigarettes without damaging-the cigarettes, the sliding members I3 carrying themembers-Zl are caused to lift slightlyzduring'the sliding movement-of therods 9 by reasonof the connection of the sliding members I3:to'the'blocks =3| which are constrained to follow the tracks of the arms 32 of thebell crank levers 33, the tracks at thistime being caused to in'cline'upwardly towards each other under the action of the cams'38 cog-operating with the "cam This upward movement of the sliding members l3 causes the members 2'! to'rise clear 'of'the'batch l of cigarettes As the=cams38' cause the arms 32 to move into hori- "zorital -'positions"to bring the membersZI d0Wn Tonto the top of the'batc'h I-of cigarettes-as shown in Figure 4. The members f2! are-then caused to dwell, under the action of the cams-2| and 38,

during which time'the sliding members 52 "are i'cause'd "tof'move'in their "slides "5| towards each other by the rocking of the bell crank levers 54 *under theaction of the cams 59 co-operatingwith the cam rollers Bl onthe arms 6.2,.to carry the presser members 61 into the angles between the webs 28 and the base portions 29. L

During this movement of the'presser members 61 their lower surfaces 69 move just clear of the upper surfaces of the base portions 29 and cause the upstanding lengths of the wrapper blank 2 to fold over so that intermediate portions of the blank lie along the upper surfaces of the base portions 29 and the'end portions lie against opposite sides of the longitudinal webs 28, in the form of longitudinal flanges 16. i

As the presser members 61 approach the end of their stroke, as shown in Figure 3, the mechanism controlling the members 21 again comes into operation to withdraw the members 21 along horizontal paths '(the arms 32 of the bell crank lever 33 remaining horizontal during the withdrawal) until they are clear of the wrapper blank 2 as shown in Figure 2, the presser members 61 continuing their movement towards each other to press the longitudinal flanges 16 together to form a longitudinal seam H, the flanges being secured together by adhesion resulting from the heating of the flanges by the heated surfaces 68 of the presser members 61 The presser members 61 are then withdrawn clear of the batch I under the action of the cams 59 and associated mechanism and the chain 4 is then caused to move to carry the box 3 with the wrapped batch l to a further stage in the machine, during which movement the longitudinal seam 11 is pressed down upon the upper surface of the wrapper by its contact with a presser member 61 (the righthand member shown in Figures 1 and 3) as the box 3 passes beneath that member to the position shown in Figure 3. By the above operations, the wrapper blank 2 is formed into a rectangular tube enclosing the batch I of cigarettes on four sides and having a longitudinal seam formed in the middle of the upper surface of the tube. The batch l of cigarettes, wrapped in this manner, is then moved to a further stage in the machine where the ends of the tube are closed.

I claim:

1. Method of wrapping a batch of cigarettes or other articles, comprising folding a wrapper of paper, foil, or similar material of a width greater than the length of the article and of a length greater than the periphery the bottom and two opposed sides of the article so as to leave a length of wrapper upstanding from each of said opposed sides, inserting a longitudinal web between the upstanding lengths of wrapper at the position where the seam is to be, pressing the said lengths into the angles between the web and the article in such a manner as to cause the said lengths to fold over so that intermediate portions of the wrapper lie along the upper surface of the article and the end portions lie against opposite sides of the longitudinal web in the form 'of longitudinal flanges, withdrawing the web from between the flanges, with the wrapper still held in the position into which it has been pressed, to allow the opposing faces of the flanges to be pressed together, and securing the flanges together by adhesive material to form a longitudinal seam upstanding from the article.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the wrapper is formed from heat-sealing material and the securing of the flanges is brought about by nipping the flanges together between a pair of heated surfaces.

3. Apparatus for wrapping a batch of cigarettes drawing the web from of the article, about or other articles, comprising meansv for folding a wrapper about the bottom and two opposed sides of' the article leaving a length of wrapper upstanding from each of said opposed sides of the article, a longitudinal web adapted to be moved intoposition on the article between the upstanding lengths of wrapper, means for pressing the said lengths into the angles between the weband the articlein such a manner as to fold the said lengths over the article with their end portions lying against opposite sides of the web in the form of longitudinal flanges, means for withbetween the flanges while the wrapper is held .in position-by the pressing means, and means for securing the flanges together by adhesive material to form a longitudinal seam upstanding from the article. i

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising means for folding the longitudinal seam down on to the wrapper. v

5.- Apparatus for wrapping a batch of cigarettes or other articles, comprising means for folding a wrapper about the bottom and two opposed sides of the article leaving a length of wrapper upstanding from each of said opposed sides of the article, a longitudinal web adapted to be moved into position on the article between the upstanding lengths of wrapper, a pair of presser members movable up to opposite sides of the longitudinal web and each having a cross-sectional shape which fits closely into the anglebetween the web and the article so as to fold the said lengths over the article with their end portions lying against opposite sides of the" web in the form of longitudinal flanges, means for withdrawing the web from between the flanges while the wrapper is held in position by the presser members, and means for securing the flanges together by adhesive material to form a longitudinal seam upstanding from the article.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the presser members comprise heating elements.

'7. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the longitudinal web is made in two sections and means are provided for inserting the sections in alignment with each other between the upstanding lengths of wrapper one from each end of the article.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the longitudinal web is made in two sections and means are provided for inserting the sections. in alignment with each other between the upstanding lengths of wrapper one from each end of the article.

9. Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising a wrapper guiding member adapted to be moved into position on the article, between the article and the longitudinal web, with an edge lying substantially coincident with each longitudinal edge of the article on the side where the seam is to be formed, the pressing means being arranged to press the wrapper over the guiding member to enclose it temporarily with the article.

10. Apparatus according to claim 5, comprising .a wrapper guiding member adapted to be moved into position on the article, between the article and the longitudinal web, with an edge lying substantially coincident w'th each longitudinal edge of the article on the side where the seam is to be formed, the pressing means being arranged topress the wrapper over the guiding member to enclose it temporarily with the article.

11. Apparatus for wrapping a batch of cigarettes or other articles, comprising means for folding a wrapper about the bottom and two opposed sides of the article leaving a length of .gitudinal web, the

.andmeans are provided wrapper upstanding from eachlof :said opposed sides of the article, a longitudinal web provided with a wrapper guiding member which forms with the web a member of inverted T-section, said T-section memberbeing adapted to be movedinto position on the article between the upstanding lengths of wrapper with an edge of the guiding member lying substantially coincident with each longitudinal edge of the article on the side where the seam is to be formed, means for pressing the said lengths into the angles between the web and the guiding member in longitudinal flanges, means for withdrawing the T-section member 'from the folded wrapper while the Wrapper is hesive material to form alongitudinal seam up- 7 standing from the article.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the pressing means comprises a pair of presser members movable up to opposite sides of the lonpresser members having a cross-sectional shape which'flts closely :into the angles between the web and the wrapper guiding member. v

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the pressing means comprise heating elements.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the T-section member is made in two sections for inserting the sections in alignment with each other between the upstanding lengths of Wrapper one from each end of the article. i

15. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the longitudinal web is slidablymountedand cam such a manner as to fold said lengths over theguiding member with their end portions lying against opposite sides of .the web in the form of said lengths means are provided for moving the web into and out of position on the article.

16. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein .the presser members are slidably mounted and cam means are provided for moving the presser members into and out of position adjacent the longitudinal web.

17; Apparatus for wrapping a batch of cigarettes or other articles, comprising means for folding a wrapper of heat-sealing material about the bottom and two opposed sides of the article leaving a length of wrapper upstanding from each of said opposed sides of the article, a pair of inverted T-section members adapted to be moved into position on the article in alignment with each other between the upstanding lengths of wrapper one from each end of the article, a pair of heated presser members movable up to opposite sides of the webs of the T-section members to press the said lengths of wrapper into the angles between said webs and the horizontal portions of the T-section members so as to fold the oyer said horizontal portions with the end portions of said lengths lying against opposite'sides of the webs in the form of longitudinal flanges, said T-section members and said presser members being slidably mounted, and cam means for moving the T-section members and presser members into and out of position, said cam means being so arranged that the T- section members are withdrawn from the folded wrapper while the wrapper is held in position by the presser members and the presser members are then caused to makea further movement to nip the flanges together to cause adhesion between the flanges to form a longitudinal seam upstanding from the article.

ALFRED GERMAN ROSE.

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