EP3353065B1 - Vorrichtung und verfahren zum zuführen und zum bilden von unterschiedlichen gruppen von rauchartikeln - Google Patents

Vorrichtung und verfahren zum zuführen und zum bilden von unterschiedlichen gruppen von rauchartikeln Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3353065B1
EP3353065B1 EP16794034.5A EP16794034A EP3353065B1 EP 3353065 B1 EP3353065 B1 EP 3353065B1 EP 16794034 A EP16794034 A EP 16794034A EP 3353065 B1 EP3353065 B1 EP 3353065B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
smoking articles
type
compartment
organized
feed
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
Application number
EP16794034.5A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3353065A1 (de
Inventor
Fiorenzo Draghetti
Vincenzo PEZZOTTA
Marco Stefanini
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Original Assignee
IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=54884276&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP3353065(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA filed Critical IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Publication of EP3353065A1 publication Critical patent/EP3353065A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3353065B1 publication Critical patent/EP3353065B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65BMACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/04Arranging, feeding, or orientating the cigarettes
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65BMACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B59/00Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
    • B65B59/001Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65BMACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B63/00Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged
    • B65B63/02Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles
    • B65B63/026Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles for compressing by feeding articles through a narrowing space
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65BMACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B2220/00Specific aspects of the packaging operation
    • B65B2220/14Adding more than one type of material or article to the same package

Definitions

  • Embodiments described here concern an apparatus and method to feed and form organized groups of smoking articles, advantageously of different types, such as for example cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or suchlike, to make packets of smoking articles, to obtain organized groups of smoking articles, advantageously of different types, inside a single packet; it also concerns packets of smoking articles thus obtained and machines to obtain said packets.
  • Apparatuses are known, for feeding smoking articles that supply organized groups of smoking articles to packet-making machines.
  • Known feeding apparatuses comprise a feed unit, generally a loading hopper, in which the smoking articles to be disposed in organized groups are conveyed, and a thruster unit to transfer the organized groups in suitable drawers positioned on the periphery of a transfer wheel to transfer them to subsequent packaging machines to make the packets.
  • Known apparatuses can generally comprise two or more conveyor compartments that respectively form two or more organized groups of smoking articles with every functioning cycle of the thruster device.
  • the organized groups of smoking articles are inserted in suitable drawers from which they are subsequently removed to be packed in a packet.
  • the organized groups generally consist of smoking articles of the same type.
  • one purpose of the present invention is to obtain an apparatus to feed and form organized groups of smoking articles of different types, which allows to feed at least two organized groups of different smoking articles in a single drawer and hence to obtain a packet with at least two different types of smoking articles.
  • Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain an apparatus to feed and form organized groups of smoking articles, of different types, to feed at least two organized groups of different smoking articles in a single packet, maintaining high productivity comparable to known apparatuses, which feed a single type of smoking article.
  • Another purpose is to perfect a method to feed and form at least two organized groups of smoking articles of different types, in a single drawer, to obtain a packet with at least two different types of smoking articles.
  • Another purpose is to obtain an apparatus which is simple to manage.
  • Another purpose is to obtain an apparatus that is quick in organizing the groups of smoking articles autonomously and hence in filling the packets.
  • Another purpose is to obtain an apparatus that is easy to control during working and is easy and quick to intervene in restoration and maintenance.
  • Another purpose is to obtain an apparatus that is easy to manage and program, and simple to modify the components and results.
  • Another purpose is to obtain a method and device that are both suitable to be adopted easily in new machines, and also suitable to convert, simply and without losing productivity, machines already in use.
  • the Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.
  • Embodiments described here concern an apparatus to feed and form organized groups of smoking articles of different types.
  • the apparatus comprises a feed unit configured to receive at least two streams of smoking articles of at least a first type and a second type different from each other and suitable to feed the smoking articles toward an introduction unit configured to introduce organized groups of smoking articles into receiver members or drawers, each suitable to contain an overall quantity N of smoking articles, of a transfer mean.
  • the feed unit comprises at least a feed hopper configured to receive the streams of smoking articles at least of a first type and a second type.
  • first type and the second type can be very diverse: by way of example they can affect the external sizes of the article, the longitudinal composition of the article, the type of content, in particular the type or flavor of the tobacco, the presence or absence of a filter, the different type of filter etc. These differences can be combined with each other.
  • the feed hopper has at least two adjacent sectors, each suitable to receive and contain one type of smoking article.
  • the sectors cooperate directly with compartments each suitable to select on exit a desired number, eventually to be selected, of smoking articles organized into groups.
  • a possible embodiment provides that said at least one hopper is divided into at least two sectors that each cooperate with at least two compartments.
  • said sectors and said compartments lie substantially on the same vertical plane, obtaining the feed by gravity.
  • the sectors are adjacent so that at least two compartments with different types of smoking articles are adjacent so as to constitute a single compartment with two different types of smoking articles.
  • this double compartment will be called intermediate compartment.
  • Each sector can have, as well as the two adjacent compartments, or as well as the intermediate compartment, two or more autonomous compartments specialized in one specific type of smoking article
  • the presence of one or more autonomous compartments per sector conditions only the movement of the receiver member, or drawer.
  • the receiver member, or drawer moves two steps between one introduction and the next. Instead, if there are two autonomous compartments, the receiver member, or drawer, moves three steps, and so on.
  • a first compartment configured to feed organized groups of smoking articles only of the first type
  • an intermediate compartment configured to feed organized and separate groups of smoking articles of the first type and the second type
  • a second compartment configured to feed only organized groups of smoking articles of the second type
  • the groups of smoking articles of the first type and of the second type comprise respectively quantities N1 and N2 of smoking articles.
  • group we mean both a set of more than two smoking articles and also a set consisting of a single smoking article. Therefore, N1 and N2 can be whole numbers greater than or equal to one.
  • N1 and N2 are equal numbers the total of which corresponds to the overall quantity N of smoking articles that can be introduced into a packet.
  • N1 and N2 are both even numbers.
  • N1 and N2 are both odd numbers.
  • the number N1 and the number N2 are two different numbers, leaving the overall quantity N unvaried.
  • N1 is an even number and N2 is an odd number, or vice versa.
  • N1 and N2 represent organized groups of smoking articles positioned on parallel rows.
  • N1 and N2 also represent organized groups of smoking articles in groups which are separate but bordering, for example laterally or on different planes.
  • the three compartments, first, intermediate and second, are positioned on the same vertical plane.
  • each first, intermediate and second compartment has conveying chambers suitable to selectively feed at least one unit of smoking articles so that at exit the number of chambers which have arrived on each occasion determines the quantity N1 and/or N2 that will be delivered into the respective drawer.
  • quantities N1 and N2 are fed at the same time with each introduction, and the drawer is therefore always filled.
  • quantities N1 and N2 are respectively fed with each introduction, and the drawer that receives at the first introduction, for example, only the second quantity N2 of smoking articles of the second type, is completely filled only at the second introduction, when it receives the quantity N1 of smoking articles of the first type.
  • the respective drawers which have been identified as receiver members, move two steps with every work cycle.
  • N1 and/or N2 are organized in subsequent parallel layers, and one layer has a different number of articles, for example fewer, compared to the other layers, the corresponding compartment will have dividing means able to prevent, where necessary, a smoking article from descending.
  • the dividing means can be fixed or temporary.
  • the introduction unit cooperates with each drawer, and is configured to introduce therein the organized groups of smoking articles, delivered in an organized way from the respective first, intermediate and second compartments.
  • the drawers are provided with a separator plate, configured to at least partly divide the drawer into a first section and a second section.
  • the separator plate has an undulating development mating with the profile of the smoking articles of the first type on one side and/or the smoking articles of the second type on the other side, in order to adapt to the profile of the different smoking articles, keeping them confined and separate in the respective drawer.
  • Embodiments described here concern an apparatus 10 to feed and form organized groups of smoking articles 12a, 12b of different types.
  • the apparatus 10 comprises a feed unit 14 of smoking articles 12a, 12b configured to receive at least two streams of different smoking articles 12a, 12b and to feed and form organized groups of smoking articles 12a, 12b, a transfer mean 16, and an introduction unit 18 to introduce the organized groups of smoking articles 12a, 12b into suitable reception members or drawers 50, present on the transfer mean 16.
  • the transfer mean 16 can be a transfer wheel for example, or a transporter, in particular a linear transporter, such as for example a belt, band, chain or suchlike.
  • a transfer wheel for example, or a transporter, in particular a linear transporter, such as for example a belt, band, chain or suchlike.
  • transfer mean 16 we will refer to a transfer wheel.
  • the characteristics of length of the smoking articles of the first type 12a and the second type 12b can, advantageously but not necessarily, be the same, so as to have an identical free compartment in the final packet.
  • the inventive idea can provide that there are access compartments of different length, or made of a different length, present in the packet.
  • the feed unit 14 comprises at least a feed hopper 20, configured to receive at least two streams of smoking articles 12a, 12b of different types.
  • the feed hopper 20 is advantageously vertical with respect to a horizontal support plane of the apparatus 10, and can be positioned downstream of the introduction unit 18 and upstream of the transfer mean 16, where there are the drawers 50, in a direction F parallel to the direction in which the longitudinal axes of the smoking articles 12a, 12b are aligned in the feed hopper 20.
  • the introduction unit 18 can translate on each occasion the organized groups of smoking articles of the first type 12a and the second type 12b fed by the feed unit 14 and can introduce them into the respective drawers 50 of the transfer mean 16.
  • the feed hopper 20 comprises at least a first sector 24, able to receive and contain only a stream of smoking articles of the first type 12a, and a second sector 26, able to receive and contain only a stream of smoking articles of the second type 12b.
  • the first sector 24 and the second sector 26 are adjacent and separated from each other by a dividing wall 22.
  • the hopper 20 also comprises three compartments 28a, 28b, 28c lying substantially on the same vertical plane.
  • the three compartments 28a, 28b, 28c are configured to cooperate with the first sector 24 and second sector 26. In this way, the stream of smoking articles 12a, 12b goes from sectors 24, 26 to compartments 28a, 28b, 28c and from here to the drawers 50.
  • the hopper 20 therefore is divided into these three compartments 28a, 28b, 28c, defined thus: a first lateral compartment 28a (on the left in fig. 1 ), able to receive only a stream of smoking articles of the first type 12a, an intermediate or central compartment 28b, able to receive, simultaneously and in a distinct and organized manner, both a stream of smoking articles of the first type 12a and the second type 12b, and a second lateral compartment 28c (on the right in fig. 1 ), able to receive only a stream of smoking articles of the second type 12b.
  • a first lateral compartment 28a on the left in fig. 1
  • an intermediate or central compartment 28b able to receive, simultaneously and in a distinct and organized manner, both a stream of smoking articles of the first type 12a and the second type 12b
  • a second lateral compartment 28c on the right in fig. 1
  • each compartment 28a, 28b, 28c is divided into a desired and selected plurality of conveying chambers 36, configured to convey the smoking articles of the first type 12a and the smoking articles of the second type 12b and oblige them to descend aligned and positioned on top of the other.
  • the conveying chambers 36 are configured to each convey a respective single row of smoking articles of the type desired 12a, 12b.
  • Each conveying chamber 36 is provided in its lower end with a discharge aperture 38 (see figs. 1 and 5 for example) through which the smoking articles 12a, 12b exit from the respective compartments 28a, 28b, 28c.
  • Possible implementations of the conveying chambers 36 can be conveying channels, also referred to as "conveying veins" in this technical field.
  • the first compartment 28a communicates only with the first sector 24
  • the intermediate compartment 28b communicates with the first sector 24 and the second sector 26
  • the second compartment 28c communicates only with the second sector 26.
  • the dividing wall 22 can also be configured to separate the intermediate compartment 28b into a first portion 29a, communicating only with the first sector 24 and able to contain the smoking articles of the first type 12a, and a second portion 29b, communicating only with the second sector 26 and able to contain the smoking articles of the second type 12b so as to keep them strictly separated.
  • the compartments 28a, 28b, 28c are disposed aligned with each other on a vertical plane in a direction G perpendicular to the direction F in which the smoking articles 12a, 12b are ordered in the feed hopper 20 ( fig. 1 ).
  • Both the first sector 24 and the second sector 26 have respective apertures 30, 32 to introduce respective smoking articles of the first type 12a and the second type 12b, which can be associated with feed members that remove them from suitable tanks or stores, not shown in the drawings.
  • the compartments 28a, 28b, 28c are configured to feed respectively quantities N1 or N2 of smoking articles, the sum of which corresponds to the overall quantity N of smoking articles 12a, 12b to be introduced into a drawer 50.
  • N, N1 and N2 are whole numbers, bigger than zero.
  • the compartments 28a, 28b, 28c each have a desired number of conveying chambers 36 which can be divided up as desired by obstruction elements 37 such as to prevent access by the smoking articles 12a, 12b to the conveying chambers 36, so as to allow only the quantities desired on each occasion to reach the discharge apertures 38.
  • the number of conveying chambers 36 in each compartment 28a, 28b, 28c is fixed in advance according to a determinate configuration of the packet to be produced.
  • the smoking articles of the first type 12a and the second type 12b descend toward the lower part of the compartments 28a, 28b, 28c along respective conveying chambers 36 due to the force of gravity, and settle in organized and desired groups of orderly rows on a support plane 40 under the discharge apertures 38.
  • the compartments 28a, 28b, 28c can comprise or be associated with formation chambers, or housing seatings 41 (see figs. 2 , 6 and 9 ), in which the organized groups of smoking articles of the first type 12a and the second type 12b are defined, which subsequently are moved, by the introduction unit 18, into the respective drawers 50.
  • the formation chambers 41 can be provided, for example on the support plane 40, in cooperation with respective discharge apertures 38 of the corresponding first compartment 28a, intermediate compartment 28b and second compartment 28c, then receiving the smoking articles from the respective conveying chambers 36.
  • a compacting chamber 43 downstream of a respective formation chamber 41, in said direction F, can be provided, configured to direct the smoking articles and compact them in organized groups of the first type 12a and the second type 12b in quantities N1 and N2, to a respective drawer 50.
  • the compacting chamber 43 can be defined by walls 45 converging, with respect to the axis defined by direction F, toward the drawer 50.
  • organized groups of smoking articles 12a, 12b can be provided disposed on one, two or three ordered rows to obtain the desired number of N1 and/or N2 smoking articles so as to reach the overall quantity N of smoking articles to be introduced into the final packet.
  • each compartment 28a, 28b, 28c can comprise dividing means, configured to divide the transit of one smoking article 12a, 12b from another, for example so as to differentiate the quantities N1 and N2 of smoking articles that will be present in the final packet.
  • the dividing means can be fixed or temporary.
  • the dividing means can be provided in the respective formation chambers 41.
  • the dividing means can be configured to prevent, depending on requirements, the descent of a smoking article 12a, 12b from a respective conveying chamber 36, as for example if three rows of smoking articles of one type are provided, respectively of three, two and three smoking articles.
  • the formation chambers or housing seatings 41 can be provided ( figs. 2 , 6 and 9 ), in which the smoking articles 12a, 12b can fall due to gravity as they arrive from the respective compartments 28a, 28b, 28c and from which they can subsequently be introduced by the introduction unit 18 into the transfer mean 16 in a desired manner.
  • the introduction unit 18 comprises a plurality of thruster elements 44a, 44b, 44c, as many as there are drawers 50 to be filled on each occasion.
  • the introduction unit 18 can comprise a single thruster element which has thrust elements for each of the compartments 28a, 28b, 28c, that is, it can have thruster elements 44a, 44b, 44c for each compartment 28a, 28b, 28c.
  • the thruster elements 44a, 44b, 44c are configured to translate in direction F ( fig. 1 ) the organized groups of smoking articles 12a, 12b in the drawers 50 of the transfer mean 16.
  • the introduction unit 18 comprises one or more actuation members, not shown in the drawings, configured to drive the translation of the thruster elements 44a, 44b, 44c in the desired manner, between a condition of non-interference with the organized groups of smoking articles 12a, 12b and a transfer condition where the thruster elements 44a, 44b, 44c transfer the organized groups of smoking articles 12a, 12b into the respective drawers 50 of the transfer mean 16 which are found in an entrance station 48 along a transfer path P.
  • the transfer mean 16 can be configured to move intermittently, that is, step-wise.
  • the transfer mean 16 can be configured to rotate with an intermittent motion, that is, step-wise, around an axis of rotation Z, for example in the direction indicated by the arrow associated with the transfer path P in figs. 1 , 2 , 5 and 6 , to move the plurality of drawers 50 provided on the periphery thereof.
  • the transfer mean 16 is a linear transporter, it can be configured to obtain an analogous intermittent movement.
  • the drawers 50 have a containing chamber 58 and, in the variant where the transfer mean 16 is a transfer wheel, they can be disposed with their longitudinal development in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation Z, and can be fed in direction F parallel thereto ( fig. 1 ).
  • the step-wise movement of the transfer mean 16 is conditioned by the number of first compartments 28a and second compartments 28c.
  • the step-wise movement which can be a rotation if the transfer mean 16 is a transfer wheel, will correspond to two compartments or two drawers.
  • the step-wise movement which can be a rotation if the transfer mean 16 is a transfer wheel, will correspond to three compartments, and so on.
  • the step-wise movement is therefore connected to the fact that the drawers partly filled in correspondence with specialized compartments which contain only specific smoking articles, in this specific case the first compartment 28a and the second compartment 28c, are located in correspondence with compartments that contain only the other specific smoking articles.
  • each drawer 50 can comprise containing elements 60 disposed along the lateral walls 56 to modify the containing chamber 58 depending on the type of smoking articles 12a, 12b processed, and depending on the type of packets to be formed.
  • the containing elements 60 define the containing chamber 58 in which the organized groups of smoking articles of the first type 12a and second type 12b can be disposed one next to the other, in respective sections 59a and 59b.
  • the containing elements 60 can be configured to reduce the space of the containing chamber 58 and to keep the smoking articles 12a, 12b introduced into the drawer 50 in order.
  • the drawer 50 can be provided with a separator plate 62, configured to at least partly divide the containing chamber 58 into the first section 59a and the second section 59b.
  • the separator plate 62 is shaped to mate with the profile of a plurality of smoking articles of the first type 12a on one side and smoking articles of the second type 12b on the other.
  • the separator plate 62 has an undulating development, provided with a succession of convexities and concavities to accommodate on one side and/or the other of the separator plate 62 the smoking articles of the first type 12a and the second type 12b, keeping them confined in the respective first section 59a and/or second section 59b.
  • the separator plate 62 can be configured to keep in order an organized group of second smoking articles 12b in the second section 59b of the drawer 50 during the transfer of the latter from a position aligned with the second compartment 28c to a position aligned with the first compartment 28a, preventing the smoking articles, for example, of the second type 12b from moving from the second section 59b and occupying the first section 59a.
  • smoking articles of the second type 12b and smoking articles of the first type 12a into a drawer 50, or vice versa.
  • the introduction of smoking articles of the second type 12b and smoking articles of the first type 12a can take place in a drawer 50 simultaneously, in the case of a drawer 50 aligned during the introduction with the intermediate compartment 28b, or in subsequent work cycles in the case of drawers 50 aligned during the introduction with the first compartment 28a and the second compartment 28c.
  • the transfer mean 16 comprises an end-of-travel member 64 configured to define an abutment element for the organized groups of smoking articles of the first type 12a and smoking articles of the second type 12b during their translation to position them correctly in the containing chamber 58 of the drawer 50.
  • the drawer 50 which was in correspondence with the second compartment 28c finds itself in correspondence with the first compartment 28a, so that the first section 59a can be filled with the quantity N1 of smoking articles of the first type 12a arriving from the first compartment 28a, while the drawer 50 that finds itself in correspondence with the second compartment 28c is partly filled with the quantity N2 of smoking articles of the second type 12b.
  • two drawers 50 are obtained, aligned respectively with the first compartment 28a and the second compartment 28c, identified in figs. 1 , 4 , 5 and 9 by the numbers I and III, partly filled with respective N1 and N2 smoking articles and a drawer 50, aligned with the intermediate compartment 28b, identified by the number II, completely filled with N1 plus N2 smoking articles.
  • the transfer mean 16 is moved, for example made to rotate in the case of a transfer wheel, by a number of steps so as to transfer the drawer 50, number III, previously aligned with the second compartment 28c, and hence partly filled with N2 smoking articles of the second type 12b, into alignment with the first compartment 28a, so as to complete the filling thereof with the subsequent introduction, filling the first section 59a with N1 smoking articles of the first type 12a ( figs. 4 and 9 ).
  • the smoking articles of the first type 12a and the smoking articles of the second type 12b have available the same time as that with which the transfer mean 16 is moved, for example rotated in the case of a transfer wheel, by two steps, to descend from the respective compartments 28a, 28b, 28c, and to dispose themselves in ordered organized groups of smoking articles of the first type 12a and smoking articles of the second type 12b.
  • figs. 1-9 are used to describe embodiments in which the number of conveying chambers 36 of the first portion 29a of the intermediate compartment 28b can be different from the number of conveying chambers 36 of the second portion 29b and the number of conveying chambers 36 of the first compartment 28a is different from the number of conveying chambers 36 of the second compartment 28c.
  • the number of conveying chambers 36 it is advantageously possible to modify the groupings of smoking articles of the first type 12a and smoking articles of the second type 12b, so as to vary the quantities N1 and N2 present in a packet.
  • the number of conveying chambers 36 of the first portion 29a of the intermediate compartment 28b can be the same as the number of conveying chambers 36 of the first compartment 28a, while the number of conveying chambers 36 of the second portion 29b can be the same as the number of conveying chambers 36 of the second compartment 28c.
  • the sum of the conveying chambers 36 of the first portion 29a and the second portion 29b of the intermediate compartment 28b is the same as the sum of the number of conveying chambers 36 of the first compartment 28a and the second compartment 28c.
  • the number of conveying chambers 36 of the first portion 29a of the intermediate compartment 28b and the first compartment 28a can be four, and the number of conveying chambers 36 of the second portion 29b and the second compartment 28c can be three ( figs. 1-4 ), or the number of conveying chambers 36 of the first portion 29a of the intermediate compartment 28b and the first compartment 28a can be five, and the number of conveying chambers 36 of the second portion 29b and the second compartment 28c can be three ( figs. 5-9 ).
  • Figs. 1-4 are used to describe embodiments of the apparatus 10 and connected method, by means of which groups of smoking articles of different types are obtained, of the first type 12a and of the second type 12b, in quantities respectively N1 and N2, where N1 and N2 are two even numbers.
  • Figs. 5-9 are used to describe other embodiments of the apparatus 10 and connected method, by means of which groups of smoking articles of different types are obtained, of the first type 12a and of the second type 12b, in quantities respectively N1 and N2, where N1 and N2 are two odd numbers.
  • the number of conveying chambers 36 of the intermediate compartment 28b is different from the number of conveying chambers 36 of the intermediate compartment 28b in the embodiments described with reference to figs. 1-4 , and hence the respective division into the first portion 29a and second portion 29b is different, so as to generate the desired numerical combinations of smoking articles of the first type 12a and smoking articles of the second type 12b in the drawers 50.
  • dividing means can be provided, analogous to those described above, also defined hereafter as stop means 35, 39, to condition the number of smoking articles that are introduced on each occasion into the drawers 50, for example so as to generate groups divided into different quantities N1 and N2 and/or layers with different numerical combinations of smoking articles.
  • the stop means 35, 39 can be the fixed type.
  • the stop means 35, 39 can be mobile or adjustable, according to production needs.
  • the stop means 35, 39 can be provided in the formation chambers 41, in a position coordinated with the combination of N1 and N2 smoking articles to be obtained.
  • the stop means 35, 39 positioned in a desired and specific manner, block certain smoking articles, allowing others to pass, according to the numerical combination to be obtained.
  • fig. 8 is used to describe embodiments of the stop means 35, 39, for example defined by one or more stepped stop means or undercuts 35 and/or one or more stop means shaped as a protruding block 39, provided in the respective formation chambers 41.
  • the thruster elements 44a, 44b, 44c can be shaped mating with the stop means 35, 39, so as to maintain the thrust function on the smoking articles that have to be thrust from the formation chambers 41 toward the drawers 50, and not interfere with the stop means 35, 39 where they are present.
  • the twenty (N) smoking articles can be divided into two groups of twelve (N1) smoking articles of the first type 12a and eight (N2) smoking articles of the second type 12b organized in three overlapping layers ( fig. 3 ), using for example the embodiments described with reference to figs. 1-4 , or divided into two groups of thirteen (N1) smoking articles of the first type 12a and seven (N2) smoking articles of the second type 12b organized in three overlapping layers ( fig. 7 ), using for example the embodiments described with reference to figs. 5-9 .
  • seven conveying chambers 36 can be provided for example in the intermediate compartment 28b, of which four in the first portion 29a and three in the second portion 29b, and in a coordinated manner four conveying chambers 36 in the first compartment 28a and three conveying chambers 36 in the second compartment 28c.
  • eight conveying chambers 36 can be provided for example in the intermediate compartment 28b, of which five in the first portion 29a and three in the second portion 29b, and in a coordinated manner five conveying chambers 36 in the first compartment 28a and three conveying chambers 36 in the second compartment 28c.
  • nine conveying chambers 36 can be provided in the intermediate compartment 28b of which six in the first portion 29a and three in the second portion 29b, and in a coordinated manner six conveying chambers 36 in the first compartment 28a and three conveying chambers 36 in the second compartment 28c.
  • these twenty-five (N) smoking articles can be divided into two groups of eighteen (N1) smoking articles of the first type 12a and seven (N2) smoking articles of the second type 12b, organized in three overlapping layers.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)

Claims (17)

  1. Vorrichtung zum Zuführen und Ausbilden von zumindest zwei unterschiedlich organisierten Gruppen von Rauchartikeln (12a, 12b), wobei die Vorrichtung eine Zuführeinheit (14) umfasst, die zum Aufnehmen von jeweiligen Rauchartikeln (12a, 12b) und zum Zuführen von organisierten Gruppen der Rauchartikel (12a, 12b) separat zu einer Einführungseinheit (18) hin konfiguriert ist, welche zum Einführen der organisierten Gruppen von Rauchartikeln (12a, 12b) in Schubladen (50), die zum Enthalten einer Gesamtmenge N von Rauchartikeln (12a, 12b) geeignet sind, eines Überführungsmittels (16) konfiguriert ist,
    wobei die Zuführeinheit (14) einen Zuführtrichter (20), der zumindest am Ende in benachbarte Fächer (28a, 28b, 28c) aufgeteilt ist, die jeweils geeignet sind, auf selektive und ausgewählte Art und Weise, jeweils in zumindest einem ersten Fach (28a) Rauchartikel der ersten Art (12a) aufzunehmen, gleichzeitig in einem zwischenliegenden Fach (28b), separat und in Reihenfolge, Rauchartikel der ersten Art (12a) und der zweiten Art (12b) aufzunehmen und in zumindest einem zweiten Fach (28c) Rauchartikel der zweiten Art (12b) aufzunehmen,
    wobei das zumindest eine erste Fach (28a) ausschließlichen zum Zuführen von organisierten Gruppen konfiguriert ist, die aus einer gewünschten Menge N1 von Rauchartikeln der ersten Art (12a) besteht,
    wobei die Einführungseinheit (18) zum selektiven Zusammenwirken mit den Fächern (28a, 28b, 28c) zum Einführen der organisierten Gruppen von Rauchartikeln der ersten Art (12a) und der zweiten Art (12b) jedesmal in jeweilige Sektionen (59a, 59b) von jedem der Schubladen (50) des Überführungsmittels (16) konfiguriert ist, um die Füllung davon zu vervollständigen,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    das zwischenliegende Fach (28b) zum Zuführen der Gesamtmenge N von Rauchartikeln, aufgeteilt in eine organisierte Gruppe, die aus einer gewünschten Menge N1 von Rauchartikeln der ersten Art (12a) besteht, und in eine organisierte Gruppe, die aus einer gewünschten Menge N2 von Rauchartikeln der zweiten Art (12b) besteht, konfiguriert ist, und
    das zumindest eine zweite Fach (28c) ausschließlichen zum Zuführen von organisierten Gruppen konfiguriert ist, die aus einer gewünschten Menge N2 von Rauchartikeln der zweiten Art (12b) besteht.
  2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Zuführtrichter (20) zumindest einen ersten Sektor (24) und einen benachbarten zweiten Sektor (26) umfasst, die jeder zum ausschließlichen Aufnehmen von einer Art von Rauchartikeln (12a, 12b) geeignet sind, und dadurch, dass das zumindest eine erste Fach (28a) ausschließlich mit dem ersten Sektor (24) in Verbindung steht, das zwischenliegende Fach (28b) separat mit dem ersten Sektor (24) und mit dem zweiten Sektor (26) in Verbindung steht und das zumindest eine zweite Fach (28c) ausschließlich mit dem zweiten Sektor (26) in Verbindung steht.
  3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Mengen N1 und N2 gleiche Zahlen sind, deren Summe gleich der Gesamtmenge N von Rauchartikeln (12a, 12b) ist, die in jede Schublade (50) eingeführt werden soll.
  4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Mengen N1 und N2 beide gerade Zahlen oder beide ungerade Zahlen sind.
  5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Mengen N1 und N2 unterschiedliche Zahlen sind, deren Summe gleich der Gesamtmenge N von Rauchartikeln (12a, 12b) ist, die in jede Schublade (50) eingeführt werden soll.
  6. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Mengen N1 und N2 eine eine gerade Zahl und die andere eine ungerade Zahl ist.
  7. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schubladen (50) mit einer Trennplatte (62) versehen sind, die zum zumindest teilweisen Aufteilen der Schublade (50) in eine erste Sektion (59a) und eine zweite Sektion (59b) zum Getrennthalten der Rauchartikel der ersten Art (12a) und/oder der zweiten Art (12b) konfiguriert ist, wodurch sie in der jeweiligen ersten Sektion (59a) und/oder zweiten Sektion (59b) abgegrenzt sind.
  8. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Trennplatte (62) einen gewellten Verlauf aufweist, der für das Profil der Rauchartikel der ersten Art (12a) und/oder der zweiten Art (12b), welche in den jeweiligen Sektionen (59a, 59b) vorhanden sind, geeignet ist oder damit zusammenpasst.
  9. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie ein oder mehr Hinderniselemente (37) umfasst, die derart konfiguriert sind, dass sie zumindest teilweise Zugang durch die Rauchartikel (12a, 12b) zu einer oder mehr Förderkammern (36) von einem oder mehr Fächern (28a, 28b, 28c) verhindern.
  10. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Ausgänge der individuellen Fächer (28a, 28b, 28c) Elemente zum vorübergehenden und selektiven Aufteilen der Anzahl von Rauchartikeln (12a, 12b), die zugeführt werden sollen, umfassen, um die jeweiligen Mengengruppen N1 und/oder N2 von Rauchartikeln zu erhalten.
  11. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Fächer (28a, 28b, 28c) jeweilige Ausbildungskammern (41) umfassen oder dazu konfiguriert sind, mit diesen assoziiert zu sein, in welchen die organisierten Gruppen von Rauchartikeln der ersten Art (12a) und der zweiten Art (12b) definiert werden.
  12. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie Verdichtungskammern (43) umfasst, die stromabwärts von den Ausbildungskammern (41) assoziiert sind und zum Leiten der Rauchartikel, und Verdichten derselben in organisierten Gruppen der ersten Art (12a) und der zweiten Art (12b) in Mengen N1 und N2, zu einer jeweiligen Schublade (50) konfiguriert sind.
  13. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 11 oder 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Ausbildungskammern (41) mit einem oder mehr Aufteilungsmitteln oder Anschlagmitteln (35, 39) versehen sind.
  14. Verfahren zum Zuführen von Rauchartikeln, das zur zyklischen Wiederholung die folgenden Schritte vorsieht:
    - Zuführen von Strömen von zumindest zwei Rauchartikeln (12a, 12b) verschiedener Arten zu jeweiligen ersten Fächern (28a) und zweiten Fächern (28c) eines Zuführtrichters (20);
    - Zuführen eines Stroms von Rauchartikeln einer ersten Art (12a) und einer zweiten Art (12b) zu einem zwischenliegenden Fach (28b);
    - Erhalten, vom zumindest einen ersten Fach (28a), einer organisierten Gruppe, die durch eine Menge N1 von Rauchartikeln der ersten Art (12a) ausgebildet ist, und, vom zumindest zweiten Fach (28c), einer organisierten Gruppe, die durch eine Menge N2 von Rauchartikeln der zweiten Art (12b) ausgebildet ist;
    - Erhalten, vom zwischenliegenden Fach (28b), einer Gesamtmenge N von Rauchartikeln (12a, 12b), die in eine organisierte Gruppe, welche durch eine Menge N1 von Rauchartikeln der ersten Art (12a) ausgebildet ist, und in eine organisierte Gruppe, die durch eine Menge N2 von Rauchartikeln der zweiten Art (12b) ausgebildet ist, aufgeteilt ist;
    - selektives Einführen der organisierten Gruppen von Rauchartikeln der ersten Art (12a) und der zweiten Art (12b), die vom zumindest einen ersten Fach (28a) und vom zumindest einen zweiten Fach (28c) erhalten werden, in jeweilige Sektionen (59a, 59b) von verschiedenen und vorübergehend jeweiligen Schubladen (50), die am zumindest einen ersten Fach (28a) und am zumindest einen zweiten Fach (28c) ausgerichtet sind;
    - selektives Verschieben der Schubladen (50) durch Bewegen des Überführungsmittels (16) zum Überführen der Schublade (50), der vorher am zumindest einen zweiten Fach (28c) ausgerichtet war, in Ausrichtung am zumindest einen ersten Fach (28a), um die Füllung der Schublade (50) zu vervollständigen,
    gekennzeichnet durch
    - Einführen der Gesamtmenge N von Rauchartikeln (12a, 12b), wobei gleichzeitig oder sequentiell die organisierte Gruppe, die durch die Menge N1 von Rauchartikeln der ersten Art (12a) ausgebildet ist, in die erste Sektion (59a) und die organisierte Gruppe, die durch die Menge N2 von Rauchartikeln der zweiten Art (12b) ausgebildet ist, in die zweite Sektion (59b) derselben Schublade (50), die am zwischenliegenden Fach (28b) ausgerichtet ist, eingeführt und gefüllt wird.
  15. Verfahren nach Anspruch 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es das Beibehalten in der gewünschten Position von zumindest der Menge N1 von Rauchartikeln der ersten Art (12a) und/oder der Menge N2 der Rauchartikel der zweiten Art (12b) zumindest während des Einführungsschritts mittels einer Trennplatte (62) vorsieht.
  16. Verfahren nach Anspruch 14 oder 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich die Rauchartikel der ersten Art (12a) und die Rauchartikel der zweiten Art (12b) durch eine oder mehr kennzeichnende Komponenten voneinander unterscheiden.
  17. Maschine zum Erzeugen einer Packung von Rauchartikeln, umfassend eine Vorrichtung (10) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 13 zum Zuführen und Ausbilden von organisierten Gruppen von Rauchartikeln (12a, 12b) verschiedener Arten.
EP16794034.5A 2015-09-21 2016-09-16 Vorrichtung und verfahren zum zuführen und zum bilden von unterschiedlichen gruppen von rauchartikeln Active EP3353065B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITUB2015A003765A ITUB20153765A1 (it) 2015-09-21 2015-09-21 Apparato e metodo per l'alimentazione e la formazione di gruppi organizzati di articoli da fumo
PCT/IB2016/055539 WO2017051296A1 (en) 2015-09-21 2016-09-16 Apparatus and method for feeding and forming different organized groups of smoking articles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3353065A1 EP3353065A1 (de) 2018-08-01
EP3353065B1 true EP3353065B1 (de) 2020-05-06

Family

ID=54884276

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16794034.5A Active EP3353065B1 (de) 2015-09-21 2016-09-16 Vorrichtung und verfahren zum zuführen und zum bilden von unterschiedlichen gruppen von rauchartikeln

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3353065B1 (de)
KR (1) KR102553460B1 (de)
CN (1) CN108349602B (de)
IT (1) ITUB20153765A1 (de)
PH (1) PH12018500601A1 (de)
WO (1) WO2017051296A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT201700099649A1 (it) * 2017-09-06 2019-03-06 Gd Spa Tramoggia per articoli da fumo.
CN107618709B (zh) * 2017-09-21 2020-04-21 四川中烟工业有限责任公司 多味卷烟包装供料系统及方法
CN109850225A (zh) * 2019-03-22 2019-06-07 苏州英派克自动化设备有限公司 一种全开式烟用异形盒装烟装置
CN111232281A (zh) * 2020-03-03 2020-06-05 上海烟草机械有限责任公司 组合双烟支香烟的包装设备及包装方法
IT202000009643A1 (it) * 2020-05-04 2021-11-04 Gd Spa Apparato e processo per formare e alimentare gruppi di articoli da fumo di due tipologie distinte, in una linea di confezionamento di articoli da fumo.
IT202100022109A1 (it) * 2021-08-20 2023-02-20 Ima Spa Apparecchiatura e procedimento per alimentare e formare gruppi organizzati di articoli da fumo

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2003205909A (ja) 2002-01-15 2003-07-22 Yukiisa Kubo 紙巻き煙草の包装方法と包装体
US20050061828A1 (en) 2003-09-15 2005-03-24 Joseph M. Anderson Smoking product packaging device and method
WO2006002980A1 (de) 2004-07-06 2006-01-12 Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) Vorrichtung zum herstellen von doppelblock-zigarettenpackungen
KR100544302B1 (ko) 2003-12-15 2006-01-23 주식회사 케이티앤지 이종궐련 자동공급장치 및 그 방법과 이를 이용하여 제조된 담배
WO2013175400A1 (en) 2012-05-25 2013-11-28 G.D S.P.A. Apparatus for forming groups of smokers' articles
WO2014015940A1 (en) 2012-07-27 2014-01-30 Philip Morris Products S.A. Apparatus and method for forming of collations of rod shaped articles

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1299322B1 (it) * 1998-01-27 2000-03-16 Gd Spa Metodo ed unita' di trasferimento di articoli.
CN204197356U (zh) * 2014-09-25 2015-03-11 中烟机械技术中心有限责任公司 能够实现烟支柔和下烟的烟支成型烟库装置

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2003205909A (ja) 2002-01-15 2003-07-22 Yukiisa Kubo 紙巻き煙草の包装方法と包装体
US20050061828A1 (en) 2003-09-15 2005-03-24 Joseph M. Anderson Smoking product packaging device and method
KR100544302B1 (ko) 2003-12-15 2006-01-23 주식회사 케이티앤지 이종궐련 자동공급장치 및 그 방법과 이를 이용하여 제조된 담배
WO2006002980A1 (de) 2004-07-06 2006-01-12 Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) Vorrichtung zum herstellen von doppelblock-zigarettenpackungen
EP1763472B2 (de) 2004-07-06 2013-11-20 Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG) Vorrichtung zum herstellen von doppelblock-zigarettenpackungen
WO2013175400A1 (en) 2012-05-25 2013-11-28 G.D S.P.A. Apparatus for forming groups of smokers' articles
WO2014015940A1 (en) 2012-07-27 2014-01-30 Philip Morris Products S.A. Apparatus and method for forming of collations of rod shaped articles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3353065A1 (de) 2018-08-01
CN108349602B (zh) 2020-06-19
WO2017051296A1 (en) 2017-03-30
KR20180055863A (ko) 2018-05-25
CN108349602A (zh) 2018-07-31
KR102553460B1 (ko) 2023-07-07
PH12018500601A1 (en) 2018-10-01
ITUB20153765A1 (it) 2017-03-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP3353065B1 (de) Vorrichtung und verfahren zum zuführen und zum bilden von unterschiedlichen gruppen von rauchartikeln
US4306648A (en) Apparatus for the formation of cigarette groups
US9408415B2 (en) Method and unit for uneven transferring of beads
EP2855279B1 (de) Vorrichtung zum bilden von gruppen von raucherartikeln
US2882970A (en) Laminated filter tip
CN104583080B (zh) 用于形成棒状制品的排列的设备和方法
US5617943A (en) Group forming device for cigarette packing machines
US3448846A (en) Apparatus for assembling batches of rod-shaped articles
RU2015121674A (ru) Сигаретоделательная машина для сборки сигарет и соответствующий способ сборки
KR20200096146A (ko) 로드형 제품들의 그룹을 이송 및 형성하기 위한 형성 및 이송 장치, 및 로드형 제품들의 그룹을 공급하기 위한 공급 장치
EP3003930B1 (de) Zuführvorrichtung von produkten mit verringerten länglichen abmessungen in maschinen für die tabakindustrie
US4471866A (en) Apparatus of assembling arrays of cigarettes in packing machines
WO2015155727A1 (en) Unit for forming an ordered group of frustum-shaped cigarettes and tray for containing frustum-shaped cigarettes for feeding frustum-shaped cigarettes into said forming unit
US6311827B1 (en) Device for supplying cigarettes on a conditioning machine with two packing lines
EP0838401A1 (de) Verfahren und Einheit zum Bilden von Gruppen von frustokonischen Zigaretten
ITBO960073A1 (it) Unita' formatrice di gruppi di sigarette
US4061234A (en) Apparatus for assembling multi-layer groups of cigarettes or the like
WO2015155721A1 (en) Unit for forming an ordered group of frustum-shaped cigarettes
CN101249898B (zh) 用于香烟包装机的香烟组形成装置
US10779563B2 (en) Method of emptying a container filled with rod-like articles manufactured in the tobacco industry
EP4357257A1 (de) Formungsverfahren zur formung einer gruppe von rauchartikeln und zugehörige formungsvorrichtung
US6115991A (en) Machine for conditioning packets of cigarettes
EP0723913A1 (de) Verfahren und Strasse zum Bilden und Fördern von geordneten Gruppenlänglicher Gegenstände, insbesondere Zigaretten.
US4217979A (en) Production of blocks of rod-shaped articles
PL236994B1 (pl) Sposób opróżniania pojemnika wypełnionego artykułami prętopodobnymi wytwarzanymi w przemyśle tytoniowym

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: UNKNOWN

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE

PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20180326

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

DAV Request for validation of the european patent (deleted)
DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20190304

TPAC Observations filed by third parties

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNTIPA

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R079

Ref document number: 602016035986

Country of ref document: DE

Free format text: PREVIOUS MAIN CLASS: B65B0019100000

Ipc: B65B0019040000

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: B65B 63/02 20060101ALI20191105BHEP

Ipc: B65B 59/00 20060101ALI20191105BHEP

Ipc: B65B 19/04 20060101AFI20191105BHEP

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20191128

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 1266375

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20200515

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602016035986

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20200506

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200906

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200807

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200806

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200907

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: RS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200806

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1266375

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20200506

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: AL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: SM

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R026

Ref document number: 602016035986

Country of ref document: DE

PLBI Opposition filed

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

26 Opposition filed

Opponent name: FOCKE & CO. (GMBH & CO. KG)

Effective date: 20210203

PLAX Notice of opposition and request to file observation + time limit sent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNOBS2

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20200916

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20200930

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20200916

PLBB Reply of patent proprietor to notice(s) of opposition received

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNOBS3

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20200930

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20200930

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20200930

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20200930

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20200916

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20200916

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200506

PLCK Communication despatched that opposition was rejected

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNREJ1

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R100

Ref document number: 602016035986

Country of ref document: DE

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20230508

PLBN Opposition rejected

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009273

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: OPPOSITION REJECTED

27O Opposition rejected

Effective date: 20230409

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20250918

Year of fee payment: 10

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Payment date: 20250905

Year of fee payment: 10

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20250917

Year of fee payment: 10