WO2013005120A1

WO2013005120A1 - Device for making packets and for packaging respective products in packets.

Info

Publication number: WO2013005120A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/052869
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sadro SALICINI; Marco Carrara
Original assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A.
Priority date: 2011-07-07
Filing date: 2012-06-07
Publication date: 2013-01-10
Also published as: ITBO20110406A1

Abstract

A device for making packets and for packaging respective products in packets, each packet (2) being made by folding a single flat blank (4) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) and comprising at least one compartment (5, 6) for housing and retaining products (3); the device (1) extending along a feed line (35) from a station (36) for feeding the flat blank (4) to a station (37) for releasing the packet complete with the respective products (3), through at least one station (38, 39, 40, 41) for folding the flat blank (4); the device (1) comprising a conveyor (42) equipped with a plurality of units (44) for supporting and transferring the blanks (4), each supporting and transferring unit (44) being able to rotate about an axis (R) which is substantially perpendicular to the feed line (35) at least between a first operating position at the station (36) for feeding the blank (4) and at least one second operating position, rotated relative to the first and at least at one station (38, 39, 40, 41) for folding the blank (4).

Description

Device for making packets and for packaging respective products in packets

Technical Field

This invention relates to a device for making packets and for packaging respective products in packets. Background Art

In particular, this invention relates to a device for making packets which are obtained from at least one flat blank which can be folded along lines of weakness that are parallel with and/or transversal to its longitudinal axis, without in any way limiting the scope of the invention.

Such packets, substantially having the shape of a parallelepiped, have a bottom wall, a top wall, a rear wall, a front wall and two side walls or sides.

For example, the above-mentioned packets, obtained from a flat blank, are those referred to as being of the "wallet" type, that is to say, packets comprising two compartments which are connected to each other and house the products. The packet also comprises a closing panel hinged to one of the compartments.

In general, inside each compartment there is an orderly group of products, for example pieces of chewing gum, having an elongate shape and positioned side by side.

In "wallet" type packets the two compartments are connected to each other by means of the same connecting wall which, depending on the type of packet, forms either the bottom wall or one of the side walls.

The wall connecting the two compartments has two hinge lines which are parallel with each other and allow rotation of one compartment relative to the other.

That rotation allows packet "wallet"-style opening from a closed position, in which the two compartments are facing and in contact with one another, to an open position, in which the two compartments, rotating relative to each other, can be placed in a position in which they are substantially coplanar, allowing the user to take out the products.

A prior art device for making "wallet" packets of the type described and complete with respective products comprises a feed line extending from a station for feeding the flat blank to a station for finished packet outfeed, passing through a station for feeding the products, located downstream of the station for feeding the flat blank, and successive stations for folding the flat blank along the lines of weakness.

The feed line of the prior art device is formed by a plurality of consecutive stretches which are arranged in such a way that each stretch forms a right angle with the subsequent stretch. In other words, the feed line is formed by a succession of consecutive stretches which are at right angles to each other.

Each stretch of the feed line has a belt conveyor designed to feed the flat blank along the respective stretch to be travelled.

The configuration of the feed line, that is to say, the succession of consecutive stretches, depends strictly on the necessary and predetermined sequence of folds to be made in the flat blank along its lines of weakness in order to obtain the finished packet.

During feeding along the line, the flat blank is folded by folding means along its lines of weakness, which are parallel with or transversal to the direction of feed of each stretch to be travelled.

The device described above has several disadvantages. In fact, since the extension of the feed line is determined by the arrangement of consecutive stretches which are at right angles to each other, as well as being structurally quite complex, the device production speed is limited, since the flat blank is transferred from one conveyor to another.

Moreover, the feed line configuration means that the device described above is strictly dependent on the type of packet to be made and cannot make packets of a different type.

Consequently, the prior art device is not flexible, that is to say, it cannot be used to vary the type of packet to be made.

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of this invention is to provide a device for making packets and for packaging respective products in packets that is simple to produce and not expensive.

Another aim of this invention is to provide a device which is flexible, that is to say, able to make various types of packets obtained from respective flat blanks, each of which can be folded according to its own predetermined sequence.

The technical purpose indicated and the aims specified are achieved by a device for making packets and for packaging respective products in packets having the features described in independent claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent in the non-limiting description which follows of a preferred embodiment of a device as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the device according to this invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the device according to this invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a flat blank of a packet made by the device according to this invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the detail of the device of Figure 1, with some parts cut away to better illustrate others;

Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the detail from Figure 4 in a first configuration;

Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the detail from Figure 4 in a second configuration; Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the detail from Figure 4 in a third configuration.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety a device for making packets 2 and for packaging respective products 3 in packets.

The device 1 makes packets 2 obtained by folding at least one single flat blank 4. The packets 2 comprise a first and a second compartment 5 and 6 for housing and retaining products 3.

Each compartment 5 and 6 houses a respective group of products 3a. The group of products 3a comprises a row of products which have an elongate shape, for example pieces of chewing gum, positioned side by side. In this specific case, a row of five products 3 forms a group of products 3 a.

As shown in Figure 3, the flat blank 4 extends along a longitudinal axis L.

The flat blank 4 comprises a first and a second central panel 7 and 8.

The first and second central panels 7 and 8 substantially have the shape of a rectangle.

A bottom panel 9 is connected to the first and second central panels 7 and 8. The first central panel 7 is intended to form the rear panel of the finished packet 2.

The second central panel 8 is intended to form the front panel of the finished packet 2.

The bottom panel 9 is connected to the first central panel 7 by a first hinge line 10 and to the second central panel 8 by a second hinge line 11.

The first and second hinge lines 10 and 11 are both substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the flat blank 4.

The first and second central panels 7 and 8 are connected by first lines of weakness 14 and 15 to a respective first and second side panel 16 and 17.

The first and second side panels 16 and 17 are connected by second lines of weakness 18 and 19 to a respective first and second side tongue 20 and 21. The first and second central panels 7 and 8 are also connected by third lines of weakness 22 and 23 to a respective third and fourth side panel 24 and 25.

The first and third lines of weakness 14 and 15, 22 and 23 are positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis L.

A first front panel 26 and a second front panel 27 are connected to the respective third and fourth side panels 24 and 25 by fourth lines of weakness 28 and 29.

The first front panel 26 and the second front panel 27 comprise a respective "U"- shaped notch 26a and 27a. The notches 26a and 27a facilitate removal of the products 3 from the compartments 5 and 6 when the packet 2 is finished.

The first lines 14 and 15, the second lines 18 and 19, the third lines 22 and 23 and the fourth lines of weakness 28 and 29 are substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis L of the flat blank 4.

A closing panel 30 is connected to the first central panel 7 by a third hinge line

31.

The closing panel 30 comprises a top panel 32 connected to the first central panel

7 by the third hinge line 31 and a closing tongue 33 connected to the top panel 32 by a fourth hinge line 34.

The fourth hinge line 34 and the third hinge line 31 are both substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the flat blank 4.

The first hinge line 10, the second hinge line 11, the third hinge line 31 and the fourth hinge line 34 are substantially parallel.

The first central panel 7, the first side panel 16 and the first side tongue 20, the third side panel 24 and the first front panel 26 form the first compartment 5 for housing and retaining the products 3 when the packet 2 is finished.

The second central panel 8, the second side panel 17 and the second side tongue

21, the fourth side panel 25 and the second front panel 27 form the second compartment 6 for housing and retaining the products 3 when the packet 2 is finished.

Each first, second, third and fourth side panel 16, 17, 24 and 25 comprises respectively and first and a second outer edge 16a, 17a, 24a, 25a and 16b, 17b, 24b, The bottom panel 9 comprises a first outer edge 12 and a second outer edge 13.

The top panel 32 comprises a first outer edge 32a and a second outer edge 32b.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the device 1 extends along a feed line 35 starting from a station 36 for feeding the flat blank 4 to a station 37 for releasing the finished packets 2 complete with respective products 3, passing through a first, a second, a third and a fourth station 38, 39, 40 and 41 for folding the flat blank 4.

The feed line 35 is substantially straight. The flat blank 4 is fed along the latter along an axis D and in a direction indicated by the arrow F.

At the feeding station 36, a unit 67 for feeding the flat blank 4 is substantially at a tangent to the feed line 35.

Along the feed line 35, downstream of the station 36 for feeding the flat blank 4, a device 68 for forming and transporting the groups of products 3a intercepts the feed line 35 at a product unloading station 69.

The forming and transporting device 68 conveys the groups of products 3a to be fed to the feed line 35 along a feed axis Dl which is substantially at a right angle to the feed axis D of the line 35.

The device 68 for forming and transporting groups of products 3a comprises a conveyor roller 70 for the groups of products 3 a and a pair of conveyor belts 71 for continuous successions of products 72 which are positioned downstream of the conveyor roller 70.

The device 1 comprises a conveyor 42 advancing along the feed line 35.

The conveyor 42 comprises a pair of belts 43 which are parallel with each other and looped around a driving roller and a driven roller, not illustrated, which rotate about respective axes.

The conveyor 42 comprises a plurality of units 44 for supporting and transferring the blanks 4.

At the second, third and fourth folding stations 39, 40 and 41, the feed line 35 comprises folding elements 63, 64, 65, 66 positioned along the feed line 35 on opposite sides of the supporting and transferring units 44.

The folding elements 63, 64, 65 and 66 can move along an axis transversal to the axis D of the feed line 35.

The supporting units 44 are positioned along the conveyor 42 equidistant from one another, separated by a predetermined step P.

Each supporting unit 44 is rotatably mounted on a sustaining plate 45.

The sustaining plate 45 is fixed to the pair of belts 43 of the conveyor 42. In particular, the sustaining plates 45 are positioned along the conveyor 42 according to the step P.

Each supporting and transferring unit 44 can rotate about a vertical axis R substantially perpendicular to the feed line 35.

Each supporting and transferring unit 44 can rotate about the axis R at least between a first operating position and at least one second operating position, rotated relative to the first.

The first operating position is at the station 36 for feeding the blank 4.

The second operating position is at least at one station 40, 41 for folding the blank 4.

Cam means 46 move the supporting units 44, causing the rotation about the vertical axis R.

Each supporting unit 44 is equipped with a cam follower roller 47 designed to engage along a grooved guide 48.

In particular, the cam follower rollers 47 of each supporting unit 44 are positioned below the feed line 35 and inside the conveyor 42.

Each supporting unit 44 comprises a bucket 49 which substantially has the shape of a parallelepiped with a longitudinal axis A, as shown in Figure 4.

The bucket 49 has two larger sides 50a and 50b, two smaller sides 51a and 51b and a bottom 52. The bucket 49 is hollow inside.

Each larger side 50a and 50b and each smaller side 51a and 51b of the bucket 49 comprises a respective free upper surface 50c and 50d, 51c and 53.

The upper surfaces 50c, 50d and 51c are coplanar.

The upper surface 53 of the side 51b is positioned below the other upper surfaces 50c, 5 Od and 5 lc by a distance equal to at least the thickness of one product 3. The bucket 49 of each supporting unit 44 comprises two contact elements 55 inside it.

The contact elements 55 extend from the larger sides 50a and 50b towards the longitudinal axis A, being located on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis A.

In particular, the contact elements 55 are in an intermediate position between the sides 51a and 51b.

The contact elements 55 extends along an axis parallel with the vertical axis R. The contact elements 55 comprise an upper surface 55a positioned below the upper surfaces 50c, 50d and 51c by a distance equal to at least the thickness of one product 3.

In particular, the upper surface 55a and the upper surface 53 are substantially coplanar.

On the free upper surfaces 50c and 50d of its larger sides 50a and 50b, the bucket 49 has a plurality of projections 56. The projections 56 extend from the upper surfaces 50c and 50d parallel with the vertical axis R.

In particular, the projections 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d are positioned close to the four vertices of the bucket 49 and the projections 56e and 56f are positioned close to the contact elements 55, therefore being on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis A.

The bucket 49 has a through hole 57 in its bottom 52. The through hole 57 is coaxial with the vertical axis R. The through hole 57 is positioned between the two contact elements 55.

The supporting unit 44 comprises a plate 58 equipped with a resting surface 58a for the flat blank 4.

The plate 58 can move along an axis parallel with the vertical axis R. In particular, the plate 58 can slide inside the bucket 49.

The plate 58 has a substantially rectangular shape with a longitudinal axis A. The plate 58 comprises a pair of notches 59 substantially at the contact elements

55.

The notches 59 and the contact elements 55 form a sliding coupling, allowing the plate 58 to translate inside the bucket 49. The supporting unit 44 comprises a rod 60 connected to the plate 58. The rod 60 is free to slide in the through hole 57 during the translations of the plate 58.

A linear actuator 83 moves the plate 58 along an axis parallel with the vertical axis R, thus driving the translations of the resting surface 58a. The linear actuator 83 is connected to the plate 58 by the rod 60.

At the first and third folding stations 38 and 40 the feed line 35 respectively comprises a first and a second contact part 61 and 62.

The first and second contact parts 61 and 62 operate in conjunction with the respective supporting unit 44 during the translation of the resting surface 58a.

The first and second contact parts 61 and 62 are equipped with a respective small plate 61a and 62a able to move along an axis parallel with the vertical axis R.

In practice, at the feeding station 36, the feeding unit 67, rotating clockwise, feeds the flat blank 4 to the respective supporting unit 44 which is in its first operating position.

In the supporting unit 44 first operating position the flat blank 4 has its longitudinal axis L parallel with the axis D of the feed line 35.

The bucket 49 which receives said blank 4 is positioned in such a way that its longitudinal axis A is also parallel with the axis D of the feed line 35.

The flat blank 4 is placed on the resting surface 58a of the bucket 49. In particular, the resting surface 58a supports the first central panel 7, the second central panel 8 and the bottom panel 9, that is to say, the substantially rectangular portion of the flat blank 4 delimited by the first and third lines of weakness 14, 15, 22, 23 and by the third hinge line 31.

The projections 56 of the bucket 49 guarantee correct positioning of the flat blank 4 on the supporting unit 44, as shown in Figure 5.

In particular, the projection 56a is at least partly in contact with the first outer edge 16a of the first side panel 16 and the first outer edge 32a of the top panel 32.

The projection 56b is at least partly in contact with the first outer edge 24a of the third side panel 24 and the second outer edge 32b of the top panel 32.

The projection 56e is at least partly in contact with the second outer edge 16b of the first side panel 16, with the first outer edge 12 of the bottom panel 9 and the first outer edge 17a of the second panel 17.

The projection 56f is at least partly in contact with the second outer edge 24b of the third side panel 24, with the second outer edge 13 of the bottom panel 9 and the first outer edge 25 a of the fourth panel 25.

The projection 56d is at least partly in contact with the second outer edge 17b of the second side panel 17.

The projection 56c is at least partly in contact with the second outer edge 25b of the fourth side panel 25.

The flat blank 4 feed line 35 has intermittent motion. The conveyor 42 advances the supporting units 44 by the above-mentioned step P and with each advancing step P the supporting units 44 pass through a predetermined station.

Consequently, once the flat blank 4 is fed to the respective supporting unit 44, the latter advances along the feed line 35 towards the unloading station 69 for the groups of products 3a. Upstream of the unloading station 69, the supporting units 44 pass through a station 84 for the application of an adhesive substance.

At the station 84 for the application of an adhesive substance, a pair of adhesive units 78 apply a respective strip of adhesive substance 76 to the first and second central panels 7 and 8 of the flat blank 4. The strip of adhesive 76 is designed to retain the groups of products 3a which will be released onto the first and second central panels 7 and 8 in the station 69 for unloading products.

The adhesive substance may be positioned on a suitable adhesive label (in an alternative embodiment, not illustrated). The strip of adhesive 76 may also be positioned on a label which is adhesive on both sides. One side of the adhesive label is joined to the first and/or second central panel 7 and 8. The other side of the adhesive label is joined to the products 69. The adhesive substance 76 may also be a hot-melt adhesive.

From the station 84 for the application of an adhesive substance the supporting unit 44 is conveyed towards the station 69 for unloading the products.

At the unloading station 69, the conveyor 70 feeds the groups of products 3a to the flat blank 4. The conveyor 70 has intermittent motion, coordinated with the movement of the feed line 35.

In particular, the conveyor 70 conveys and releases two groups of products 3 a to each blank 4, since each flat blank 4 comprises two compartments 5 and 6 for housing and retaining products.

More particularly, the conveyor 70 picks up two separate groups of products 3a at a station 75 for forming the groups, located downstream of the continuous successions 72, and conveys them to the unloading station 69.

At the unloading station 69, the conveyor 70 releases each group of products 3a onto the first and onto the second central panel 7 and 8 of the flat blank 4.

Once the two groups of products 3a have been released onto the flat blank 4, the supporting unit 44 advances towards the first folding station 38.

At the first folding station 38, the resting surface 58a performs a first translation Tl along an axis parallel with the vertical axis R and in the direction indicated by the arrow F2, as shown in Figure 6.

The first translation Tl of the resting surface 58a of the plate 58 is defined by a stroke substantially equal to the thickness of a single product 3.

During the first translation Tl of the plate 58, the first contact part 61 retains both groups of products 3a in position using the small plate 61a. In this way, the groups of products 3a are fixed to the respective first and second central panels 7 and 8 by means of the strip of adhesive substance 76.

The first translation Tl of the plate 58 allows the flat blank 4 to be folded along the first and third lines of weakness 14, 15, 22 and 23. In this way, the first side panel 16, the second side panel 17 and the first and second side tongues 20 and 21 are positioned in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the first and second central panels 7 and 8 lie.

Similarly, the third and fourth side panels 24 and 25 and the first and second front panels 26 and 27 are also positioned in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the first and second central panels 7 and 8 lie.

When the first translation Tl of the plate 58 is complete, the bucket 49 has its resting surface 58a coplanar with the free upper surface 53 and the upper surface 55a of the contact elements 55. In that configuration, the blank 4 closing panel 30 remains coplanar with the first and second central panels 7 and 8.

From the first folding station 38 the supporting unit 44 is conveyed towards the second folding station 39.

During the transfer from the station 38 to the station 39, the plate 58 maintains its vertical position adopted after the first translation Tl. Moreover, during the transfer, an adhesive unit, not illustrated, applies an adhesive substance, not illustrated, to the first and second side tongues 20 and 21.

At the second folding station 39 a first and second folding element 63 and 64 are facing a respective larger side 50a and 50b of the bucket 49.

The first folding element 63, advancing along the axis substantially transversal to the feed axis D, folds the first and second side tongues 20 and 21 along the respective second lines of weakness 18 and 19.

The first folding element 63 is equipped with a pair of "U"-shaped notches to prevent it from making contact with the zones for application of the adhesive substance of the first and second side tongues 20 and 21.

The first folding element 63 is equipped with a third notch to prevent it from making contact with the projection 56e.

Then, the second folding element 64, advancing along the axis substantially transversal to the feed axis D, folds the first and second front panels 26 and 27 along the respective fourth lines of weakness 28 and 29.

The second folding element 64 is equipped with a notch to prevent it from making contact with the projection 56f.

During the action of the first and second folding elements 63 and 64, a first opposing element 73 retains in position the two groups of products 3 a, acting as a stop for the first and second folding elements 63 and 64, promoting the folding along the second lines 18 and 19 and the fourth lines of weakness 28 and 29.

After the action of the first and second folding elements 63 and 64, a portion of the inner face of the first and second front panels 26 and 27 is respectively joined to the first and second side tongues 20 and 21 by means of the adhesive substance, not illustrated.

The joining of the first and second side tongues 20 and 21 and the respective first and second front panels 26 and 27 produces from the flat blank 4 the two compartments 5 and 6 for housing and retaining the products 3.

Once the two compartments 5 and 6 have been produced, the supporting unit 44 advances towards the third folding station 40. During the transfer from the station 39 to the station 40, each supporting unit 44 rotates through 90 sexagesimal degrees thanks to the action of the cam means 46.

Each supporting and transferring unit 44 rotates about the vertical axis R from the first operating position to the second operating position.

In the second operating position the flat blank 4 has its longitudinal axis L transversal to the axis D of the feed line 35.

At the third folding station 40, the resting surface 58a performs a second translation T2 along an axis parallel with the vertical axis R and in the direction indicated by the arrow F2, as shown in Figure 7.

The second translation T2 of the resting surface 58a is defined by a stroke substantially equal to double the thickness of a single product 3.

During the second translation T2 of the resting surface 58a, the second contact part 62 retains the first compartment 5 with the respective group of products 3a in position by means of the small plate 62a.

During the second translation T2 the notches 59 of the plate 58 begin sliding inside the contact elements 55. In this way, the contact elements 55 at least partly engage with the flat blank 4 during the second translation T2 of the resting surface 58a.

In particular, the contact elements 55 partly intercept the bottom panel 9 of the blank 4.

In that way, while the plate 58 performs the second translation T2 and the contact elements 55 intercept the bottom panel 9, the second compartment 6 rotates relative to the first compartment 5 along the first hinge line 10. The second compartment 6 rotates until it is in a position substantially perpendicular to the first compartment 5.

The second translation T2 of the plate 58 also allows folding of the closing panel 30 along the third hinge line 31. The closing panel 30 is also placed in a position substantially perpendicular to the first compartment 5.

At the third folding station 40, the third folding element 65 is facing a smaller side 5 la of the bucket 49.

When the second translation T2 of the plate 58 is complete, the third folding element 65, advancing along the axis substantially transversal to the feed axis D, intercepts the second compartment 6 which, rotating about the second hinge line 11, is superposed on the first compartment 5 in such a way that the first and second front panels 26 and 27 are in contact with each other.

When the second compartment 6 is superposed on the first compartment 5, they are facing and in contact with one another.

At this point, the supporting unit 44 is conveyed towards the fourth folding station 41.

During the transfer from the station 40 to the station 41, the plate 58 maintains its vertical position adopted after the second translation T2.

At the fourth folding station 41, the fourth folding element 66 is facing a smaller side 51b of the bucket 49.

At the fourth folding station 41, the fourth folding element 66, advancing along the axis substantially transversal to the feed axis D, intercepts the closing tongue 33 which is folded along the fourth hinge line 34.

During the action of the fourth folding element 66, a second opposing element 74 retains in position the superposed first and second compartments 5 and 6, acting as a stop for the fourth folding element 66, promoting the folding along the fourth hinge line 34.

The folded closing tongue 33 is positioned on the second compartment 6, in contact with the second central panel 8, thus obtaining the closed packet 2 complete with products 3.

The supporting unit 44 is conveyed towards the station 37 for releasing the finished packet 2.

As it advances towards the releasing station 37, the supporting unit 44 passes through an intermediate station 81 where the resting surface 58a performs a third translation T3. The third translation T3 takes place along an axis parallel with the vertical axis R and in the opposite direction to that indicated by arrow F2. The stroke of the third translation T3 is substantially equal to the thickness of a single product 3.

After the third translation T3, the resting surface 58a is again in the position coplanar with the upper surface 55a of the contact elements 55 and the free upper surface 53.

At the releasing station 37, an expulsion unit 82, able to move along an axis substantially transversal to the feed direction D, partly engages with the bottom panel 9 of the finished packet 2 and feeds the latter towards the opening 53 so that it can be expelled.

It should be noticed that in the device 1 the supporting units 44 have the longitudinal axis A of the bucket 49 parallel with the axis D of the feed line 35 from the feeding station 36 to the second folding station 39. While, from the third folding station 40 to the releasing station 37 the supporting units 44 have the longitudinal axis A of the bucket 49 perpendicular to the axis D of the feed line 35. Consequently, the rotation of the supporting units 44 occurs during the transfer from one station to another.

The finished packets 2 complete with respective products 3 at the device 1 outfeed, are then sent into an outer wrapper device of the known type and not illustrated.

In another embodiment, not illustrated, at the feeding station 36 the flat blank 4 has the longitudinal axis L transversal to the axis D of the feed line 35, unlike the blank 4 previously described, and at least at one folding station the flat blank 4 has the longitudinal axis L parallel with the axis D of the feed line 35.

In other words, in the supporting unit 44 first operating position the flat blank 4 has the longitudinal axis L transversal to the feed line 35 and in the second operating position, rotated relative to the first, the flat blank 4 has the longitudinal axis L parallel with the feed line 35. The device 1 described comprises a single conveyor 42 for transporting the flat blank 4 along a straight feed line 35 which, unlike the prior art, is simple to make and has compact dimensions.

Moreover, the rotation of the supporting units 44 about the vertical axis R together with the translation of the resting surface 58a of each supporting unit 44, allows the flat blank 4 to be folded according to a predetermined folding sequence which strictly depends on the type of packet 2 to be made.

Basically, the device 1 is flexible, that is to say, it can be configured depending on the type of packet 2 to be made, each of which must be folded according to a predetermined sequence. In particular, it is possible to make packets 2 which have a single compartment 5 for housing and retaining products 3, and packets 2 of the "wallet" type, having alongside one another two compartments 5 and 6 for housing and retaining products 3.

The supporting units 44 are also easily substituted and allow significant limiting of machine down-times both for adapting the conveyor 42 to various types of packets and for performing routine maintenance on the device 1.

In conclusion, the use of a single conveyor significantly increases the device 1 production speeds, since the flat blank 4 is conveyed along a straight feed line 35.

Claims

1. A device for making packets and for packaging respective products in packets, each packet (2) being made by folding at least a single flat blank (4) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) and comprising at least one compartment (5, 6) for housing and retaining products (3); the device (1) extending along a feed line (35) from a station (36) for feeding the flat blank (4) to a station (37) for releasing the packet complete with the respective products (3), through at least one station (38, 39, 40, 41) for folding the blank (4); the device (1) being characterised in that it comprises at least one conveyor (42) advancing along the feed line (35) substantially straight and comprising a plurality of units (44) for supporting and transferring the blanks (4), each supporting and transferring unit (44) being able to rotate about an axis (R) which is substantially perpendicular to the feed line (35) at least between a first operating position at the station (36) for feeding the blank (4) and at least one second operating position, rotated relative to the first and at least at one station (38, 39, 40, 41) for folding the blank (4).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that from the first operating position to the second operating position each supporting and transferring unit (44) rotates through at least 90 sexagesimal degrees; in the first operating position the flat blank (4) having the longitudinal axis (L) parallel with the feed line (35) and in the second operating position the flat blank (4) having the longitudinal axis (L) transversal to the feed line (35).

3. The device according to either of the foregoing claims, characterised in that from the first operating position to the second operating position each supporting and transferring unit (44) rotates through at least 90 sexagesimal degrees; in the first operating position the flat blank (4) having the longitudinal axis (L) transversal to the feed line (35) and in the second operating position the flat blank (4) having the longitudinal axis (L) parallel with the feed line (35).

4. The device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the supporting unit (44) comprises at least one resting surface (58a) for the flat blank (4) able to move in a direction parallel with the axis of rotation (R), performing a first and a second translation (Tl, T2).

5. The device according to claim 4, characterised in that the first or the second translation (Tl, T2) of the resting surface (58a) is at least equal to the thickness of a single product (3).

6. The device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that at least at one of the folding stations (38, 39, 40, 41) there are folding elements (63, 64, 65, 66) positioned along the feed line (35) on opposite sides of the supporting units (44).

7. The device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that each supporting unit (44) comprises a bucket (49) having at least two contact elements (55); the contact elements (55) at least partly engaging with the flat blank (4) during the second translation (T2) of the resting surface (58a).

8. The device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that each supporting unit (44) is moved by cam means (46).

9. The device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the flat blank (4) feed line (35) has intermittent motion.