Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
  • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
  • B65B35/40—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by reciprocating or oscillatory pushers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
  • B65B11/06—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths
  • B65B11/28—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets
  • B65B11/30—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
  • B65B11/32—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents and then to form closing folds of similar form at opposite ends of the tube
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
  • B65B11/06—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths
  • B65B11/38—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a combination of straight and curved paths
  • B65B11/40—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a combination of straight and curved paths to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
  • B65B11/42—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a combination of straight and curved paths to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents and then to form closing folds of similar form at opposite ends of the tube
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
  • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
  • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
  • B65B35/40—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by reciprocating or oscillatory pushers
  • B65B35/405—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by reciprocating or oscillatory pushers linked to endless conveyors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
  • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
  • B65B35/50—Stacking one article, or group of articles, upon another before packaging
  • B65B35/52—Stacking one article, or group of articles, upon another before packaging building-up the stack from the bottom
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
  • B65B35/56—Orientating, i.e. changing the attitude of, articles, e.g. of non-uniform cross-section
  • B65B35/58—Turning articles by positively-acting means, e.g. to present labelled portions in uppermost position
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
  • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
  • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
  • B65B51/14—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof by reciprocating or oscillating members
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B59/00—Arrangements 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
  • B65B59/001—Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B59/00—Arrangements 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
  • B65B59/005—Adjustable conveying means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B59/00—Arrangements 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
  • B65B59/04—Machines constructed with readily-detachable units or assemblies, e.g. to facilitate maintenance
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B65/00—Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
  • B65B65/003—Packaging lines, e.g. general layout
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B2210/00—Specific aspects of the packaging machine
  • B65B2210/02—Plurality of alternative input or output lines or plurality of alternative packaging units on the same packaging line for improving machine flexibility
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B2220/00—Specific aspects of the packaging operation
  • B65B2220/16—Packaging contents into primary and secondary packaging
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
  • B65D85/07—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles
  • B65D85/08—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular
  • B65D85/10—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular for cigarettes
  • B65D85/1072—Bundle of cigarette packs

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a cartoning machine and to a wrapping method to produce a carton of packs for smoking articles.
• a carton of packs of cigarettes contains a group of packs of cigarettes having an overall parallelepiped shape; generally, ten packs of cigarettes are provided divided into two rows of five packs of cigarettes each.
• the group of packs of cigarettes is contained in a rigid container obtained by folding a rigid blank around the group of packs of cigarettes or in a soft wrap obtained by folding a soft wrapping sheet around the group of packs of cigarettes.
• a transparent plastic overwrap is generally wrapped around the rigid container or the soft wrap.
• Patents US4680919A and US4934129A describe a cartoning machine to produce a carton of packs of cigarettes, each having a parallelepiped shape; at an inlet of the cartoning machine, a group of packs of cigarettes is formed by placing several packs of cigarettes side by side and then the group of packs of cigarettes is wrapped in a wrapping sheet.
• the purpose of the present invention is to provide a cartoning machine and a wrapping method to produce a carton of packs for smoking articles, which cartoning machine and wrapping method are simple to implement and allow to operate at a high production speed (measured as cartons produced per unit of time).
• a cartoning machine and a wrapping method are provided to produce a carton of packs for smoking articles, as claimed in the attached claims.
• FIG. 1 a cigarette production and packaging plant 1 is schematically illustrated, which produces packs 2 of cigarettes that are assembled into cartons 3.
• Each pack 2 of cigarettes has a parallelepiped shape with two head walls opposite one another (which are the smaller walls of the pack 2 of cigarettes), two smaller side walls opposite one another (which are the two intermediate-sized walls of the pack 2 of cigarettes), and two larger side walls opposite one another (which are the larger walls of the pack 2 of cigarettes). That is, in each pack 2 of cigarettes, the smaller side walls are larger (have a larger area) than the head walls and the larger side walls are larger (have a larger area) than the smaller side walls (and, therefore, than the head walls) .
• the plant 1 comprises a filter cigarette manufacturing machine 4 (formed by a packaging machine and by a filter inserting machine), a packer machine 5 that receives the cigarettes from the manufacturing machine 4 (by means of an intermediate storage unit 6) and forms the packs 2 of cigarettes, a cellophane overwrapping machine 7 that receives the packs 2 of cigarettes from the packer machine 5 and overwraps the packs 2 of cigarettes in respective wrapping sheets made of transparent plastic material, and a cartoning machine 8 that forms groups 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes (typically formed by ten packs 2 of cigarettes each) and applies a paper/cardboard wrap and a subsequent transparent plastic overwrap around each group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes so as to form a respective carton 3.
• a filter cigarette manufacturing machine 4 formed by a packaging machine and by a filter inserting machine
• a packer machine 5 that receives the cigarettes from the manufacturing machine 4 (by means of an intermediate storage unit 6) and forms the packs 2 of cigarettes
• a cellophane overwrapping machine 7 that receives the packs 2 of cigarettes
• the cartoning machine 8 works with an intermittent motion (namely, a motion that involves a cyclical alternation of motion steps and stop steps) and comprises a forming unit in which the groups 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes are formed in succession and a wrapping unit (schematically and partially illustrated in Figures 2-6 ) in which a respective rigid blank (not illustrated) is initially wrapped around each group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes and then a wrapping sheet 10 made of transparent and heat-sealable plastic material (illustrated in Figure 2 ) is subsequently wrapped to produce a carton 3. According to an alternative embodiment, only the wrapping sheet 10 (illustrated in Figure 2 ) is wrapped around each group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes to produce a carton 3.
• the wrapping unit of the cartoning machine 8 comprises a wrapping drum 11 (arranged vertically) which is mounted so as to rotate around a horizontal rotation axis 12 and supports four pockets 13, each suited to contain a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes coupled to a wrapping sheet 10 (according to other embodiments not illustrated, the wrapping drum 11 may comprise a different number of pockets 13, for example only two pockets 13 or six or eight pockets 13).
• the wrapping drum 11, by rotating around the rotation axis 12, conveys each pocket 13 along a circular wrapping path P1 between a transfer station S1, in which the pocket receives a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes coupled to a wrapping sheet 10, and a transfer station S2, in which the pocket 10 releases the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes coupled to the wrapping sheet 10.
• the cartoning machine 8 comprises a feeding device 14 which is arranged in the area of the transfer station S1 and is configured to feed, one after the other, the wrapping sheets 10 in front of the pockets 13 of the wrapping drum 11, which are standing still at the transfer station S1; in this way, each group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes by entering a respective pocket 10, which is standing still at the transfer station S1, drags therewith the wrapping sheet 10 that folds into a "U" shape around the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes.
• a feeding device 14 which is arranged in the area of the transfer station S1 and is configured to feed, one after the other, the wrapping sheets 10 in front of the pockets 13 of the wrapping drum 11, which are standing still at the transfer station S1; in this way, each group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes by entering a respective pocket 10, which is standing still at the transfer station S1, drags therewith the wrapping sheet 10 that folds into a "U" shape around the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes.
• the wrapping sheet 10 When the wrapping sheet 10 folds into a "U" shape around a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes that enters a pocket 13, which is standing still at the transfer station S1, the wrapping sheet 10 has an end 15 that protrudes from the pocket 13 and an opposite end 16 that is inside the pocket 13 without protruding outside of the pocket 13 and rests against a wall 17 of the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes.
• the feeding device 14 is configured to arrange each wrapping sheet 10 in front of a pocket 13, which is standing still at the transfer station S1 so that the end 15 of the wrapping sheet 10 protrudes out of the pocket 13 and the end 16 of the wrapping sheet 10, opposite the end 15, is inside the pocket 13 and does not protrude outside the pocket 13.
• the cartoning machine 8 comprises a folding device 18 which is arranged immediately downstream of the transfer station S1 and is configured to fold the end 15 of the wrapping sheet 10 protruding outside of the pocket 13 by 90° against a wall 19 of the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes which is perpendicular to the wall 17.
• the cartoning machine 8 further comprises a folding device 20 which is arranged in the area of the transfer station S2 and is configured to fold by 90° the end 15 of the wrapping sheet 10 over the end 16 and against the wall 17 of the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes when the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes coupled with the wrapping sheet 10 leaves the pocket 13 that is standing still at the transfer station S2.
• the cartoning machine 8 comprises a fixed profile 21 that surrounds the wrapping drum 11 between the transfer station S1 and the transfer station S2 and forms both the folding device 18 and the folding device 20.
• the fixed profile 21 is a rigid body fixed to a frame of the cartoning machine 8 so as not to perform any type of movement in use, has the shape of a circular arc, and seamlessly surrounds the wrapping drum 11 between the transfer station S1 and the transfer station S2; an initial portion of the fixed profile 21 forms the folding device 18 while a final portion of the fixed profile 21 forms the folding device 20.
• the end 15 of a wrapping sheet 10 by impacting against the initial part of fixed profile 21 (forming the folding device 18), folds by 90° against wall 19 of the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes and is kept in this position up to the transfer station S2.
• the end 5 of the wrapping sheet 10 by impacting against the final part of fixed profile 21 (forming the folding device 20), folds by 90° over the end 16 and against the wall 17 of the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes.
• the cartoning machine 8 comprises a sealing device 22 (schematically illustrated in Figure 2 ) which is arranged downstream of the transfer station S2 and is configured to perform a seal between overlapping portions of the ends 15 and 16 of the wrapping sheet 10. That is, the sealing device 22 acts outside of the wrapping drum 11 and downstream of the wrapping drum 11 (namely, after the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes wrapped in the wrapping sheet 10 has exited the respective pocket 13 of the wrapping drum 11).
• a sealing device 22 (schematically illustrated in Figure 2 ) which is arranged downstream of the transfer station S2 and is configured to perform a seal between overlapping portions of the ends 15 and 16 of the wrapping sheet 10. That is, the sealing device 22 acts outside of the wrapping drum 11 and downstream of the wrapping drum 11 (namely, after the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes wrapped in the wrapping sheet 10 has exited the respective pocket 13 of the wrapping drum 11).
• the cartoning machine 8 comprises a linear wrapping conveyor 23 which is configured to convey each group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes wrapped in the wrapping sheet 10 along a rectilinear and horizontal wrapping path P2.
• the wrapping conveyor 23 supports the sealing device 22, namely, the sealing device 22 is integrated into the wrapping conveyor 23.
• the wrapping conveyor 23 comprises fixed profiles 24 that are oriented parallel to the wrapping path P2 and delimit a channel inside which the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes wrapped in the wrapping sheet 10 slides being pushed from behind.
• the wrapping conveyor 23 comprises a rigid support body 25, pushing members 26 integral with the support body 25 and configured to push the groups 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes wrapped in their respective wrapping sheets 10 along the wrapping path P2, and sealing heads 27 which are integral with the support body 25 and configured to apply pressure and heat to the overlapping portions of the ends 15 and 16 of each wrapping sheet 10.
• the wrapping conveyor 23 comprises three pushing members 26 and two sealing heads 27, but according to other embodiments a different number of pushing members 26 and sealing heads 27 is provided.
• the pushing members 26 are integral with the support body 25 and are arranged from one another at a distance equal to one conveying step of the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes wrapped in the wrapping sheet 10 along the wrapping path P2; similarly, the sealing heads 27 are integral with the support body 25 and are arranged from one another at a distance equal to the conveying step of the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes wrapped in the wrapping sheet 10 along the wrapping path P2.
• the wrapping conveyor 23 comprises an actuator device 28 configured to move the support body 25 both along a horizontal direction D1 parallel to the wrapping path P2, and along a vertical direction D2 perpendicular to the wrapping path P2 and to the direction D1.
• the support body 25 When the support body 25 is in the initial position (illustrated in Figure 3 ), a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes is extracted from a pocket 10 that is standing still at the transfer station S2 and is inserted into the wrapping conveyor 23; in the initial position (illustrated in Figure 3 ) the support body 25 is (relatively) far from the wrapping path P2 so that the pushing members 26 and the sealing heads 27 are external to the channel defined by the fixed profiles 24 (to allow the entry of a new group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes at the beginning of the channel defined by the fixed profiles 24).
• the actuator device 28 is configured to apply to the support body 25 and starting from the initial position (illustrated in Figure 3 ) an approach stroke (illustrated in Figure 4 ) along the direction D2 which brings the sealing heads 27 into contact with the overlapping portions of the ends 15 and 16 of the respective wrapping sheets 10 (as illustrated in Figure 4 ). Subsequently, the actuator device 28 is configured to apply a removal stroke (illustrated in Figure 5 ) to the support body 25 along the direction D2 which moves the sealing heads 27 away from the overlapping portions of the ends 15 and 16 of the respective wrapping sheets 10 (to allow the conveying of the groups 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes) leaving the pushing members 26 inside the channel defined by the fixed profiles 24 (as illustrated in Figure 5 ).
• the actuator device 28 is configured to apply a conveying stroke (illustrated in Figure 6 ) to the support body 25 along the direction D1 that brings each pushing member 26 into contact with a respective group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes wrapped in the wrapping sheet 10 to convey the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes wrapped in the wrapping sheet 10 along the wrapping path P2.
• the actuator device 28 is configured to apply to the support body 25 a removal stroke along the direction D2 that moves the pushing members 26 away from the wrapping path P2 and brings the pushing members 26 out of the channel defined by the fixed profiles 24.
• the actuator device 28 is configured to apply a return stroke to the support body 25 along the direction D1 that brings the pushing member 26 back to the initial position (illustrated in Figure 3 ).
• lateral folding devices are arranged, which are provided with fixed folding profiles (namely, without moving parts), are coupled to the wrapping conveyor 23, and perform a fold of the two open ends of each wrapping sheet 10, which has been folded into a tube around a respective group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes.
• lateral sealing devices are arranged, which are coupled to the wrapping conveyor 23 and perform lateral sealing on respective overlapping portions of the wrapping sheets 10.
• the cartoning machine 8 is reconfigurable to operate with two different operating modes: a main operating mode described above and an alternative operating mode, in which each wrapping sheet 10 is fed by the feeding device 14 in front of the pocket 13, which is standing still at the transfer station S1, so that the end 16 of the wrapping sheet 10 also protrudes out of the pocket 13; in the alternative operating mode, a folding device 29 is arranged in the area of the transfer station S1 and is configured to fold the end 16 of the wrapping sheet 10 by 90° against the wall 19 of the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes so that the folding device 18 folds the end 15 of the wrapping sheet 10 by 90° against the wall 19 of the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes and over the previously folded end 16 (alternatively under the subsequently folded end 16).
• a folding device 29 is arranged in the area of the transfer station S1 and is configured to fold the end 16 of the wrapping sheet 10 by 90° against the wall 19 of the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes so that the folding device 18 folds the end 15 of the wrapping sheet 10 by 90° against the wall 19
• a sealing device 30 is provided, which is arranged between the transfer station S1 and the transfer station S2 and is configured, in the alternative operating mode, to perform a seal between overlapping portions of the ends 15 and 16 of each wrapping sheet 10.
• the sealing device 30 is arranged in a sealing station S3 (arranged halfway between the transfer station S1 and the transfer station S2) where each pocket 13 is standing still.
• a sealing device is also provided, which is arranged in the transfer station S1 and performs a pre-sealing (done quickly and with little resistance) of the overlapping portions of the ends 15 and 16 of each wrapping sheet 10 before the final sealing performed by the sealing device 30.
• the feeding device 14 can be configured to position, in a first operating mode illustrated in Figure 2 , the wrapping sheet 10 in front of the pocket 13 so that the end 16 of the wrapping sheet 10 opposite the end 15 is inside the pocket 13 and does not protrude outside of the pocket 13 or it can be configured to position, in a second operating mode different and alternative to the first operating mode and illustrated in Figure 7 , the wrapping sheet 10 in front of the pocket 13 so that the end 16 of the wrapping sheet 10 also protrudes outside the pocket 13.
• the cartoning machine 8 is designed to have installed, in the area of the transfer station S2, the folding device 20 usable in the first operating mode and configured to fold the end 15 of the wrapping sheet 10 by 90° over the end 16 and the cartoning machine 8 is designed to have installed the sealing device 22 that can be used in the first operating mode, is arranged downstream of the transfer station S2 and is configured to perform a seal between overlapping portions of the ends 15 and 16 of the wrapping sheet 10.
• the cartoning machine 8 is designed to have installed the folding device 29, which can be used in the second operating mode, is arranged in the transfer station S1 and is configured to fold the end 16 by 90° so that the folding device 18 folds the end 15 of the wrapping sheet 10 by 90° over or under the end 16, and the cartoning machine 8 is designed to have installed the sealing device 30, which can be used in the second operating mode, is arranged between the transfer station S1 and the transfer station S2, and is configured to perform a seal between overlapping portions of the ends 15 and 16 of the wrapping sheet 10.
• the cartoning machine 8 has the space necessary to have installed the sealing devices 22 and 30 and the folding devices 20 and 29; these four devices 20, 22, 29 and 30 may all be provided (but only two can be used at a time in the first operating mode or in the second operating mode), only the devices 20 and 22 may be provided (to use the first operating mode), or only the devices 29 and 30 may be provided (to use the second operating mode).
• the cartoning machine 8 is designed to have installed an additional sealing device that can be used in the second operating mode, is arranged in the area of the transfer station S1 and is configured to perform a seal between overlapping portions of the ends 15 and 16 of the wrapping sheet 10.
• the folding device 18 is configured to fold the end 15 of the wrapping sheet 10 against the wall 19 of the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes, the end 16 of the wrapping sheet 10 rests against the wall 17 of the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes perpendicular to the wall 19, and the folding device 20 is configured to fold the end 15 of the wrapping sheet 10 over the end 16 and against the wall 17 of the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes.
• Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate three different embodiments of the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes that can be obtained by different configurations of the cartoning machine 8 and that always comprise ten packs of cigarettes.
• Figure 8 illustrates a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes formed by two overlapping rows of packs 2 of cigarettes, where in each row, the five packs 2 of cigarettes are in mutual contact in the area of the smaller side walls.
• Figure 9 illustrates a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes formed by one single row of packs 2 of cigarettes, where in the row, the ten packs 2 of cigarettes are in mutual contact in the area of the larger side walls.
• Figure 10 illustrates a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes formed by two adjacent rows of packs 2 of cigarettes, where in each row, the five packs 2 of cigarettes are in mutual contact in the area of the larger side walls.
• the cartoning machine 8 is arranged in line with the cellophane overwrapping machine 7, namely, between an output of the cellophane overwrapping machine 7 and an input of the cartoning machine 8 a linear transport conveyor 31 is provided, which conveys the packs 2 of cigarettes along a linear transport path P3 (namely, without curves).
• Figure 11 schematically illustrates the forming unit of the cartoning machine 8 to produce a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes of the type illustrated in Figure 8 .
• the transport conveyor 31 is configured to convey the packs 2 of cigarettes with the smaller and larger side walls parallel to the transport path P3 and, hence, with the head walls perpendicular to the transport path P3; furthermore, the transport conveyor 31 is configured to convey the packs 2 of cigarettes with the larger side walls oriented horizontally and with the smaller side walls oriented vertically.
• a pair of belts with a high-grip surface is arranged, which engage the larger side walls of the packs 2 of cigarettes from two opposite sides and impose a predetermined position on the packs 2 of cigarettes.
• a lifting device 32 is arranged, which cyclically pushes a pack 2 of cigarettes arranged in the transport path P3 vertically upwards so as to form, every two work cycles of the forming unit and in a stacking area A1, a stack formed by two packs 2 of cigarettes on top of one another and in contact in the area of the larger side walls. That is, in the stacking area A1, stacks of packs 2 of cigarettes are formed, each formed, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 11 , by two packs 2 of cigarettes arranged one on top of the other.
• a pushing device 33 horizontally pushes a stack formed by two overlapping packs 2 of cigarettes from the stacking area A1 to a grouping area A2 in which five stacks are arranged in succession and are in lateral contact with one another in the area of the smaller side walls of the packs 2 of cigarettes, thus completing the formation of a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes. That is, in the grouping area A2, a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes formed by ten packs 2 of cigarettes is formed; in particular, the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes is formed by placing five stacks of two packs 2 of cigarettes side by side by means of five corresponding transfers performed by the pushing device 33.
• a lifting device 34 pushes the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes vertically upwards away from the grouping area A2 and subsequently a pushing device 35 pushes the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes horizontally towards the wrapping unit of the cartoning machine 8.
• stacks formed by a different number (for example three, four or five) of vertically stacked packs 2 of cigarettes could be formed in the stacking area A1 and groups 9 formed by a different number (for example three, four or six) of stacks of packs 2 of cigarettes on top of one another could be formed in the grouping area A2.
• the lifting device 34 has two degrees of freedom of movement, so that it is be able to perform a return stroke after having lifted the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes out of the grouping area A2.
• the grouping area A2 is free and therefore available to form a new group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes thus allowing the pushing device 33 to continue its pushing cycle without interruption.
• the pushing device 35 has more time available to carry out its work cycle and therefore is simpler to implement and subjects the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes to reduced accelerations (stresses).
• the transport conveyor 31 is configured to convey the packs 2 of cigarettes with the smaller and larger side walls parallel to the transport path P3 and, hence, with the head walls perpendicular to the transport path P3; furthermore, the transport conveyor 31 is configured to convey the packs 2 of cigarettes with the larger side walls oriented vertically and with the smaller side walls oriented horizontally.
• a pair of belts with a high-grip surface is arranged in the area of a final portion of the transport path P3 which engage the larger side walls of the packs 2 of cigarettes on two opposite sides and impose a predetermined position on the packs 2 of cigarettes.
• a pushing device 33 (completely analogous, if not identical, to the pushing device 33 described previously) is provided, which horizontally pushes each pack 2 of cigarettes that is in the transport path P3 to a grouping area A2 where ten packs 2 of cigarettes are arranged in succession and in lateral contact with one another in the area of the larger side walls, thus completing the formation of a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes. That is, in the grouping area A2 a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes is formed, which is made of ten packs 2 of cigarettes; in particular, the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes is formed by placing ten packs 2 of cigarettes side by side by means of ten corresponding transfers performed by the pushing device 33.
• a lifting device 34 (completely analogous, if not identical, to the lifting device 34 described above) pushes the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes vertically upwards and away from the grouping area A2 and subsequently a pushing device 35 (completely analogous, if not identical, to the pushing device 35 described above) pushes the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes horizontally towards the wrapping unit of the cartoning machine 8.
• groups 9 formed by a different number (for example six, eight or twelve) of packs 2 of cigarettes placed side by side could be formed in the grouping area A2.
• the lifting device 34 has two degrees of freedom of movement, so as to be able to perform a return stroke after having lifted the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes out of the grouping area A2.
• the grouping area A2 is free and therefore available to form a new group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes, thus allowing the pushing device 33 to continue its pushing cycle without interruption.
• the pushing device 35 has more time available to carry out its work cycle and therefore is simpler to implement and subjects the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes to reduced accelerations (stresses).
• the two forming units illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 can in fact be, from a structural point of view, the same forming unit that is simply and quickly adapted to two different operating modes, that is, to operate as illustrated in Figure 11 so as to form a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes of the type illustrated in Figure 8 or to operate as illustrated in Figure 12 so as to form a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes of the type illustrated in Figure 9 .
• the pushing device 33 must also be reconfigured to push one single pack 2 of cigarettes horizontally from the stacking area A1 to the grouping area A2 where a predetermined number of packs 2 of cigarettes are arranged in succession and are in lateral contact with one another in the area of the larger side walls, thus completing the formation of a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes.
• Figure 13 schematically illustrates the forming unit of the cartoning machine 8 to produce a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes of the type illustrated in Figure 10 .
• the transport conveyor 31 is configured to convey the packs 2 of cigarettes with the head walls and the larger side walls parallel to the transport path P3 and therefore with the smaller side walls perpendicular to the transport path P3; furthermore, the transport conveyor 31 is configured to convey the packs 2 of cigarettes with the larger side walls oriented horizontally and with the smaller side walls oriented vertically.
• a pair of belts with a high-grip surface is arranged, which engage the larger side walls of the packs 2 of cigarettes from two opposite sides and impose a predetermined position on the packs 2 of cigarettes.
• a lifting device 36 is arranged, which cyclically pushes a pack 2 of cigarettes arranged in the transport path P3 vertically upwards so as to form, every five work cycles of the forming unit and in a stacking area A1, a stack formed by five packs 2 of cigarettes on top of one another and in contact in the area of the larger side walls. That is, stacks of packs 2 of cigarettes are formed in the stacking area A1, each stack formed, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 13 , by five packs 2 of cigarettes arranged one on top of the other.
• a pushing device 37 horizontally pushes a stack of five stacked packs 2 of cigarettes from the stacking area A1 towards a tipping device 38 provided with a housing body that is configured to hold a stack of five packs 2 of cigarettes stacked on top of one another and is rotatably mounted to rotate cyclically around a horizontal rotation axis.
• the tipping device 38 receives a stack of five packs 2 of cigarettes on top of one another oriented vertically and then tips (namely, turns by 90°) the stack of five packs 2 of cigarettes on top of one another so as to orient the same horizontally.
• a pushing device 39 horizontally pushes a stack of five packs 2 of cigarettes on top of one another from the tipping device 38 to a grouping area A2 where two stacks are arranged in succession, which are in lateral contact with one another in the area of the head walls of the packs 2 of cigarettes, thus completing the formation of a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes. That is, in the grouping area A2 a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes formed by ten packs 2 of cigarettes is formed; in particular, the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes is formed by placing two stacks of five packs 2 of cigarettes side by side by means of two corresponding transfers performed by the pushing device 39.
• a pushing device 40 horizontally pushes the group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes from the grouping area A2 towards the wrapping unit of the cartoning machine 8.
• the tipping device 38 comprises the housing body which is mounted so as to rotate around the horizontal rotation axis, has on one side an input opening facing the pushing device 37 and by means of which a stack of packs 2 of cigarettes enters the housing body pushed by the pushing device 37, and has on another side an output opening (parallel and facing the input opening) facing the grouping station A2 by means of which a stack of packs 2 of cigarettes leaves the housing body pushed by the pushing device 39.
• stacks made up of a different number (for example three, four or six) of vertically stacked packs 2 of cigarettes could be formed in the stacking area A1 and groups 9 made up of a different number (for example three or four) of stacks of stacked packs 2 of cigarettes could be formed in the grouping area A2.
• each group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes is formed by a number other than ten packs 2 of cigarettes (for example five packs 2 of cigarettes, six packs 2 of cigarettes, eight packs 2 of cigarettes, twelve packs 2 of cigarettes, etc.).
• the cartoning machine 8 described above has numerous advantages.
• the above-described cartoning machine 8 allows to obtain a better quality of the final product and in particular a better quality in the folding of the wrapping sheet 10 around a group 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes. This result is obtained because the innovative feeding and folding methods of the wrapping sheets 10 in the pockets 13 of the wrapping drum 11 allow to obtain a better laying of the wrapping sheets 10 which therefore have fewer wrinkles or other imperfections.
• the above-described cartoning machine 8 is more robust and reliable. This result is obtained because the sealing device 22 is used only to perform the sealing (namely, it does not have to perform other operations) and therefore guarantees stability over time and the absence of blockages.
• the above-described cartoning machine 8 is also very versatile, because it can be quickly adapted to perform a different folding of the wrapping sheets 10 (as illustrated in the embodiment of Figure 7 ) simply by modifying the settings of the feeding device 14, adding (or activating if already provided) the folding device 29, adding (or activating if already provided) the sealing device 30, and removing (or deactivating) the sealing device 22.
• the grouping unit of the above-described cartoning machine 8 is very easy and compact to implement, as it is formed by a small number of components, each of which is simple to implement. At the same time, the grouping unit of the above-described cartoning machine 8 is extremely flexible, because by modifying a few parts it is possible to obtain different types of groups 9 of packs 2 of cigarettes.

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• 2025
  • 2025-04-15 EP EP25170625.5A patent/EP4647351A3/fr active Pending

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