The present invention relates to a cigarette packing machine for producing a rigid, hinged-lid packet.
Rigid, hinged-lid packets of cigarettes are currently the most widely marketed, by being easy to produce, practical and easy to use, and by effectively protecting the cigarettes inside.
A rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes comprises an inner package comprising a group of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of foil; and a rigid outer package housing the inner package. The outer package is formed by folding a rigid blank about the inner package, and comprises a cup-shaped container having an open top end; and a cup-shaped lid hinged to the container along a hinge to rotate, with respect to the container, between an open and a closed position opening and closing the open end respectively.
A new type of rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes has recently been proposed comprising a tubular slide which surrounds and slides axially with respect to the outer package. The tubular slide is formed by folding a further rigid blank about the outer package, and comprises a transmission member having a first end integral with the lid, a second end integral with the slide, and a deformable intermediate portion with a U-shaped fold between the outer package and the slide.
Manufacturing this new type of packet calls for feeding and folding two separate rigid blanks successively about the inner package, and so involves major complications to adapt a standard packing machine. In this connection, it is important to bear in mind the numerous structural and dimensional constraints in an existing packing machine, and the necessity to allow adequate access to all the component parts of the machine for cleaning and maintenance purposes.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cigarette packing machine for producing a rigid hinged-lid packet, which packing machine is suitable for producing the packet of cigarettes described above, while at the same time being easy and relatively cheap to implement.
According to the present invention, there is provided a cigarette packing machine for producing a rigid, hinged-lid packet, as claimed in the accompanying Claims.
A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Number 1 in
Outer container 2 has an open top end 4; and a cup-shaped lid 5 hinged to container 2 along a hinge 6 to rotate, with respect to container 2, between an open position (
When lid 5 is closed, outer container 2 is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped comprising a top wall 7 and a parallel, opposite bottom wall 8; two parallel, opposite major lateral walls 9 and 10; and two parallel, opposite minor lateral walls 11. More specifically, one major lateral wall 9 defines a front wall 9 of outer container 2, and the other major lateral wall 10 defines a rear wall 10 of outer container 2. Four longitudinal edges 12 are defined between lateral walls 11 and front and rear walls 9, 10; and eight transverse edges 13 are defined between top and bottom walls 7, 8 and front, rear and lateral walls 9, 10, 11.
It is important to note that lid 5 has substantially no front wall, i.e. the whole of front wall 9 forms part of outer container 2.
The top portions of minor lateral walls 11 of outer container 2 act as a collar by engaging a corresponding inner surface of the closed lid 5, and so aid in holding lid 5 in the closed position.
Packet 1 of cigarettes also comprises a tubular slide 14, which surrounds outer container 2 snugly (but with some clearance) to slide axially with respect to outer container 2. Slide 14 is the same parallelepiped shape and size as outer container 2, and comprises two parallel, opposite major lateral walls 15 and 16, and two parallel, opposite minor lateral walls 17. More specifically, one major lateral wall 15 defines a front wall 15 of slide 14, and the other major lateral wall 16 defines a rear wall 16 of slide 14. And four longitudinal edges 18 are defined between lateral walls 17 and front and rear walls 15, 16.
In the embodiment shown in the drawings, slide 14 is substantially the same size longitudinally (in height) as outer container 2. In an alternative embodiment not shown, slide 14 is smaller longitudinally than outer container 2, and is roughly half the longitudinal size of outer container 2.
Packet 1 of cigarettes also comprises a transmission member 19 having an end 20 integral with slide 14, and an end 21 integral with lid 5 and opposite end 20. Transmission member 19 also comprises a deformable intermediate portion 22 having a U-shaped fold between outer container 2 and slide 14. More specifically, end 21 of transmission member 19 is glued to an outer surface of rear wall 10 of lid 5, and end 20 of transmission member 19 is preferably glued to an inner surface of rear wall 16 of slide 14.
Slide 14 slides axially, with respect to outer container 2 and away from open top end 4, from a top position (
When slide 14 is slid axially down with respect to outer container 2 from the top position (
Conversely, when slide 14 is slid axially up with respect to outer container 2 from the bottom position (
Lid 5 is therefore opened and closed by simply sliding slide 14 down or up with respect to outer container 2, and without ever touching lid 5 (which, among other things, is completely concealed by slide 14 in the closed position).
As shown in
Blank 23 has two longitudinal fold lines 24, and a number of transverse fold lines 25 defining, between the two longitudinal fold lines 24, a panel 7′ forming top wall 7; a panel 10′ forming rear wall 10; a panel 8′ forming bottom wall 8; and a panel 9′ forming front wall 9.
Panel 9′ has two tabs 11′ located on opposite sides of panel 9′, separated from panel 9′ by the two longitudinal fold lines 24, and forming respective outer portions of lateral walls 11 of outer container 2. Panel 10′ has two tabs 11″ located on opposite sides of panel 10′, separated from panel 10′ by the two longitudinal fold lines 24, and forming respective inner portions of lateral walls 11 of outer container 2. Panel 10′ also has two tabs 11′″ located on opposite sides of panel 10′, separated from panel 10′ by the two longitudinal fold lines 24, and forming lateral walls 11 of lid 5.
Tabs 11″ of panel 10′ have respective flaps 26, which are folded squarely and glued to the inside of panel 8′ forming bottom wall 8.
Tabs 11″′ of panel 10′ have respective flaps 27, which are folded squarely and glued to the inside of panel 7′ forming top wall 7.
Panel 7′ forming top wall 7 has a reinforcing flap 28, which is folded 180° onto the inner surface of panel 7′ (i.e. onto the inner surface of top wall 7). In the
As shown in
Rigid blank 31 has two transverse fold lines 32, and a number of longitudinal fold lines 33 defining, between the two transverse fold lines 32, a panel 17′ forming a portion of a first lateral wall 17; a panel 16′ forming rear wall 16; a panel 17″ forming a second lateral wall 17; a panel 15′ forming front wall 15; and a panel 17″′ forming another portion of first lateral wall 17.
Panel 16′ supports transmission member 19 which is separated from panel 16′ by a transverse fold line 32, and is folded 180° onto panel 16′. Panel 16′ also has a tab 34 which is located at the opposite end to transmission member 19, is separated from panel 16′ by a transverse fold line 32, and is folded 180° onto panel 16′. Panel 15′ has two tabs 35 and 36, which are located at opposite ends of panel 15′, are separated from panel 15′ by two transverse fold lines 32, and are folded 180° onto panel 15′.
In a different embodiment not shown, tab 35 may be replaced with two tabs connected to panel 15′ of blank 31 (i.e. to front wall 15 of slide 14) along two respective oblique fold lines that meet in the centre of panel 15′, forming an inverted “V”.
In a preferred embodiment shown in
The end 21 of transmission member 19 integral with lid 5 is separated from intermediate portion 22 of transmission member 19 by a transverse fold line 38.
The
The central fastening portion 40 serves to keep transmission member 19 folded down onto panel 16′ of blank 31. In other words, to form packet 1 of cigarettes, transmission member 19 is preferably folded onto panel 16′ of blank 31 beforehand (i.e. upstream from the packing machine). But, without the aid of central fastening portion 40 glued to panel 16′, transmission member 19 would not stay folded down onto panel 16′ of blank 31 when handling (storing, carrying, feeding, folding) blank 31.
Tests show that, when unsealing lid 5, tearing along endless tear line 41 is barely noticeable by the user and therefore in no way a source of annoyance. On the contrary, a little extra effort to unseal lid 5 is often reassuring to users, by proving packet 1 of cigarettes has not been tampered with, i.e. already opened.
In a preferred embodiment, and with reference to
Stop device 42 comprises two tabs 43 integral with outer container 2; and tabs 35 and 36 integral with slide 14. Each tab 43 is preferably defined in a through hole formed through front wall 9 of outer container 2 (i.e. through panel 9′ of blank 23). Tabs 35 and 36 are integral with slide 14, are folded inwards of slide 14 so they are positioned between slide 14 and outer container 2, and interfere mechanically with tabs 43, integral with outer container 2, when slide 14 is slid with respect to outer container 2. Tabs 35 and 36 are connected to a bottom edge and a top edge respectively of front wall 15 of slide 14 (i.e. of panel 15′ of blank 31) along respective transverse fold lines 32.
When slide 14 is slid axially downwards with respect to outer container 2 from the top position (
Conversely, when slide 14 is slid axially upwards with respect to outer container 2 from the bottom position (
Number 44 in
As shown in
Packing unit 45 of packing machine 44 comprises a known line 49 (shown schematically) for forming groups 46 of cigarettes; and a vertical transfer wheel 50, which rotates in steps about a horizontal axis of rotation 51 to receive groups 46 of cigarettes successively, and transfer groups 46 of cigarettes to a vertical packing wheel 52 at a transfer station 53.
Packing wheel 52 rotates in steps about a horizontal axis of rotation 54 parallel to axis of rotation 51, and has a number of peripheral pockets 55, each of which receives a group 46 of cigarettes together with a respective sheet 47 of foil inner packing material fed vertically to transfer station 53, between transfer wheel 50 and packing wheel 52. Next, packing wheel 52 folds each sheet 47 of packing material about a respective group 46 of cigarettes to form an inner package 3, which is then transferred to a horizontal packing wheel 56 at a transfer station 57.
Horizontal packing wheel 56 rotates in steps about a vertical axis of rotation 58 crosswise to axis of rotation 54, and has a number of peripheral pockets 59, each receiving an inner package 3 from packing wheel 52. In an alternative embodiment shown by the dash line, each pocket 59 on packing wheel 56 may also be supplied by a feed unit 60 with a coupon 61 before receiving inner package 3. At a transfer station 62, packing wheel 56 transfers each inner package 3 (possibly together with a respective coupon 61) to a horizontal packing wheel 63.
Horizontal packing wheel 63 rotates in steps about a vertical axis of rotation 64 parallel to axis of rotation 58, and has a number of peripheral pockets 65, each receiving an inner package 3 (possibly together with a respective coupon 61) from packing wheel 56. On the periphery of both packing wheel 56 and 63, each rectangular parallelepiped-shaped inner package 3 is positioned flat, i.e. with a minor lateral wall facing outwards, and with its longitudinal axis (the axis parallel to the axes of the cigarettes) crosswise to axis of rotation 58, 64 and tangent to the periphery of packing wheel 56, 63. Packing wheels 63 and 56 overlap at transfer station 62, so inner packages 3 are transferred vertically from packing wheel 56 to packing wheel 63 in a direction parallel to axes of rotation 58 and 64. Transfer station 62 preferably comprises a bottom pusher and a top counter-pusher (not shown), which “grip” each inner package 3 to transfer it from a pocket 59 on packing wheel 56 to a pocket 65 on packing wheel 63.
At a transfer station 66, packing wheel 63 transfers each inner package 3 (possibly together with a respective coupon 61) to a vertical packing wheel 67, which overlaps packing wheel 63 at transfer station 66, so each inner package 3 (possibly together with a respective coupon 61) is transferred vertically from packing wheel 63 to packing wheel 67 in a direction parallel to axis of rotation 64. Transfer station 66 preferably comprises a bottom pusher and a top counter-pusher (not shown), which “grip” each inner package 3 (possibly together with a respective coupon 61) to transfer it from a pocket 65 on packing wheel 63 to a pocket 68 on packing wheel 67.
Vertical packing wheel 67 is an output wheel of packing machine 44, rotates in steps about a horizontal axis of rotation 69 parallel to axis of rotation 54, and has peripheral pockets 68, each of which receives an inner package 3 (possibly together with a respective coupon 61) from packing wheel 63, and a blank 23 fed to transfer station 66 by a feed unit 70. Packing wheel 67 has fixed and movable folders for folding each blank 23 about an inner package 3 (and possibly over a respective coupon 61) to form an outer container 2. Feed unit 70 preferably comprises a gumming device (not shown) which gums each blank 23 before it is fed to transfer station 66.
Outer containers 2 are fed successively from packing wheel 67 to a horizontal transfer wheel 71 at a transfer station 72. More specifically, on reaching transfer station 72, each outer container 2 is positioned on-edge on the periphery of packing wheel 67, i.e. with a major lateral wall facing outwards, and with its longitudinal axis (the axis parallel to the cigarettes) parallel to axis of rotation 69 of packing wheel 67. Horizontal transfer wheel 71 rotates in steps about a vertical axis of rotation 73 crosswise to axis of rotation 69 of packing wheel 67, receives outer containers 2 successively from packing wheel 67 at transfer station 72, and transfers outer containers 2 to a drying conveyor 75 (shown schematically in
As shown in
Transfer wheel 77 rotates in steps about a horizontal axis of rotation 79 parallel to axis of rotation 69, and has a number of peripheral pockets 80, each of which receives an outer container 2 from input conveyor 76, and transfers output container 2 to a horizontal transfer wheel 81 at a transfer station 82.
Horizontal transfer wheel 81 rotates in steps about a vertical axis of rotation 83 crosswise to axis of rotation 79, has a number of peripheral pockets 84, each for receiving an outer container 2 from transfer wheel 77, and transfers each outer container 2 to a horizontal packing wheel 86 at a transfer station 85.
Horizontal packing wheel 86 rotates in steps about a vertical axis of rotation 87 parallel to axis of rotation 83, and has a number of peripheral pockets 88, each for receiving an outer container 2 from transfer wheel 81.
On the periphery of both transfer wheel 81 and packing wheel 86, each rectangular parallelepiped-shaped outer container 2 is positioned flat, i.e. with a minor lateral wall facing outwards, and with its longitudinal axis (the axis parallel to the axes of the cigarettes) crosswise to axes of rotation 83 and 87 and tangent to the periphery of transfer wheel 81 and packing wheel 86. Packing wheel 86 and transfer wheel 81 overlap at transfer station 85, so outer containers 2 are transferred vertically from transfer wheel 81 to packing wheel 86 in a direction parallel to axes of rotation 83 and 87. Transfer station 85 preferably comprises a bottom pusher and a top counter-pusher (not shown), which “grip” each outer container 2 to transfer it from a pocket 84 on transfer wheel 81 to a pocket 88 on packing wheel 86.
A feed unit 89 inserts each blank 31 (forming slide 14) into a pocket 88 on packing wheel 86, so as to fold blank 31 into a U inside pocket 88. In a preferred embodiment, before being inserted into a pocket 88 on packing wheel 86, blank 31 is gummed and folded into a substantially parallelepiped shape.
With reference to
In the embodiment shown in the drawings, blanks 31 are gummed and folded beforehand as described upstream from packing machine 44, i.e. feed unit 89 receives blanks 31 already gummed and folded. In a different embodiment not shown, feed unit 89 receives blanks 31 flat, and gums and folds them as described before feeding them to packing wheel 86.
Blanks 31 being gummed and folded as described upstream from packing machine 44, i.e. feed unit 89 receiving blanks 31 already gummed and folded, transmission member 19 folded into a U about respective fold line 32 may spring open and become tangled in the fixed members of feed unit 89 or packing wheel 86, thus jamming (and so stopping) packing unit 48. This can be prevented using a slightly modified blank 31 as shown in
The central fastening portion 40 serves to keep transmission member 19 folded down onto panel 16′ of blank 31. In other words, to form packet 1 of cigarettes, transmission member 19 is preferably folded onto panel 16′ of blank 31 beforehand (i.e. upstream from packing machine 44). But, without the aid of central fastening portion 40 glued to panel 16′, transmission member 19 would not stay folded down onto panel 16′ of blank 31 when handling (storing, carrying, feeding, folding) blank 31.
As shown in
Each pocket 88 preferably has a seat 90 for housing a blank 31, in particular panel 16′ of blank 31; and an elastic retainer 91 located inside seat 90, and which pushes blank 31, in particular panel 16′ of blank 31, against a wall of seat 90 to push blank 31 into and keep it in a desired predetermined position. In other words, since seat 90 must necessarily be larger than panel 16′ to insert panel 16′ of blank 31 inside seat 90, elastic retainer 91 serves to prevent panel 16′ from being “tossed” out of position inside seat 90, by deforming to permit insertion of panel 16′ of blank 31 inside seat 90, and then pushing panel 16′ of blank 31 against a wall of seat 90.
At transfer station 85, each outer container 2 is fed vertically downwards from a pocket 84 on transfer wheel 81 to a pocket 88 containing a U-folded blank 31 on packing wheel 86, so that panels 17′, 17″ and 16′ of blank 31 surround the sides and bottom of outer container 2.
At a transfer station 92, packing wheel 86 transfers each outer container 2, together with blank 31, to a vertical transfer wheel 93. Between transfer station 85 and transfer station 92, packing wheel 86 has a folding device 94 (normally fixed folding screws) which folds panel 15′ of each blank 31 through 180° about a longitudinal fold line 33 onto the front wall 9 of outer container 2. Finally, as outer container 2, together with blank 31, is transferred from packing wheel 86 to transfer wheel 93 at transfer station 92, panel 17″′ of blank 31 is folded 90° about a longitudinal fold line 33 onto the already folded panel 17′, to complete folding blank 31 about outer container 2 and so complete slide 14.
Transfer wheel 93 overlaps packing wheel 86 at transfer station 92, so each outer container 2, together with a blank 31, is transferred vertically from packing wheel 86 to transfer wheel 93 in a direction parallel to axis of rotation 87. Transfer station 92 preferably comprises a bottom pusher and a top counter-pusher (not shown), which “grip” each outer container 2, together with blank 31, to transfer outer container 2 from a pocket 88 on packing wheel 86 to a pocket 95 on transfer wheel 93.
Vertical transfer wheel 93 is an output wheel of packing unit 48 of packing machine 44, rotates in steps about a horizontal axis of rotation 96 parallel to axis of rotation 79, and has peripheral pockets 95, each fed by packing wheel 86 with an outer container 2 fitted with slide 14 (i.e. a complete packet 1 of cigarettes). Packets 1 of cigarettes are fed successively from transfer wheel 93 to a further horizontal transfer wheel 97 at a transfer station 98. More specifically, on reaching transfer station 98, each packet 1 of cigarettes is positioned on-edge on the periphery of transfer wheel 93, i.e. with a major lateral wall facing outwards, and with its longitudinal axis (the axis parallel to the cigarettes) parallel to axis of rotation 96 of transfer wheel 93. Horizontal transfer wheel 97 rotates in steps about a vertical axis of rotation 99 crosswise to axis of rotation 96 of transfer wheel 93, receives packets 1 of cigarettes successively from transfer wheel 93 at transfer station 98, and transfers packets 1 of cigarettes to a drying conveyor (not shown) at a transfer station 100. The drying conveyor constitutes an output of packing unit 48 (i.e. of packing machine 44), and feeds packets 1 of cigarettes to a follow-up cellophaning machine (not shown), which applies an overwrapping of transparent plastic material about each packet 1 of cigarettes.
Once blank 31 is folded about outer container 2, panels 17′ and 17″′ must be glued to each other to stabilize the shape of slide 14. As shown in
In one possible embodiment, besides gumming an inner surface of panel 17″′ of each blank 31, gumming device 101 may also gum end 21 of each blank 31, which is necessary to connect end 21 firmly to the outer surface of rear wall 10 of outer container 2. Alternatively, packing unit 48 of packing machine 44 may comprise a gumming device 102, in turn comprising a number of known gum spray devices to gum rear wall 10 of each outer container 2, and which is located at transfer station 82, as shown in
As shown in
A pickup device 108 withdraws blanks 31 successively from the bottom outlet of hopper 103, and feeds them to suction heads 105 on conveyor 104. More specifically, pickup device 108 comprises a suction head 109 fitted to an arm 110 which rotates about a horizontal axis of rotation 111, and located between the two belts 106 of conveyor 104 to move cyclically between a top pickup position, in which suction head 109 engages a blank 31 at the bottom outlet of hopper 103, and a bottom release position, in which suction head 109 places a blank 31 on a suction head 105 of conveyor 104.
Feed unit 89 also comprises a transfer arm 112, which rotates back and forth about a vertical axis of rotation 113 to move a suction head 114 cyclically between a pickup position, in which suction head 114 is located over the output end of conveyor 104, and a release position, in which suction head 114 is located over a pocket 88 on packing wheel 86.
Finally, feed unit 89 comprises an insertion pusher 115 located over packing wheel 86 and aligned with a pocket 88, and which is moved vertically up and down to push the blank 31 carried by suction head 114 of transfer arm 112 into pocket 88 on packing wheel 86. This type of insertion folds blank 31 into a U inside pocket 88 on packing wheel 86 as described above.
As stated, in an alternative embodiment shown by the dash line in
Packing machine 44 as described provides for producing a rigid, hinged-lid packet 1 of cigarettes comprising a tubular slide 14 enclosing and sliding axially with respect to outer container 2, and can be obtained, with only a few low-cost alterations, using two existing packing machines (typically, G.D. packing machines X2 or X3) arranged in series to form packing units 45 and 48. Moreover, packing machine 44 described allows suitable access to all its component parts.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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BO2008A 00092 | Feb 2008 | IT | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP09/51599 | 2/11/2009 | WO | 00 | 11/10/2010 |