Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6789370
-
Patent Number
6,789,370
-
Date Filed
Monday, December 16, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 14, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A cigarette packing machine wherein an output wheel advances a number of gripping heads, each for receiving, at an input station, a respective packet with its longitudinal axis crosswise to the travelling direction of the gripping heads, and with outer longitudinal tabs open, detached from respective inner longitudinal tabs, and supported on respective folding wings carried by the relative gripping head; the output wheel feeds the packet through a gumming station, where gum is applied between each outer longitudinal tab and the relative inner longitudinal tab, and moves the relative folding wings to fold each outer longitudinal tab into a closed position contacting the relative inner longitudinal tab before the closed packet is fed to an output station (FIG. 2).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
More specifically, the present invention relates to a cigarette packing machine (e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,349) comprising an output wheel, in turn comprising an input station and an output station. The output wheel rotates about a respective axis to feed a number of gripping heads in a given traveling direction and along a given path through the input and the output stations. Each gripping head is engaged by a respective packet of cigarettes having a longitudinal axis and longitudinal minor lateral walls, each of which is defined by a respective outer longitudinal tab and a respective inner longitudinal tab. The output wheel receives each packet at the input station with the relative outer longitudinal tabs in an open position. Each gripping head comprises folding means for folding, at the input station each outer longitudinal tab into a closed position contacting the relative inner longitudinal tab. The folding means are also designed to grip the packets so as to avoid each packet to fall out of the respective gripping head along the given path.
The packing machines of the type described above, require that the longitudinal tabs are properly folded before the packet is fed along the given path and that all working actions (e.g., gumming), that have to be performed on the inner side of the outer longitudinal tab and/or the outer side of the inner longitudinal tab, have to be completed at the input station.
Such a solution has proved inadequate since it determines a decrease in the production speed and the need of placing further working devices in the area of the already relatively bulky input station.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a packing machine designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A number of nonlimiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
shows a schematic side view of an output portion of a first preferred embodiment of the packing machine according to the present invention;
FIG. 2
shows a larger-scale view in perspective of a detail in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
shows a schematic longitudinal section, with parts removed for clarity, of a detail in
FIGS. 1 and 2
;
FIG. 4
shows a schematic side view of an output portion of a second preferred embodiment of the packing machine according to the present invention;
FIG. 5
shows a schematic longitudinal section, with parts removed for clarity, of a detail in FIG.
4
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Number
1
in
FIG. 1
indicates as a whole a cigarette packing machine, an output portion
2
of which comprises an output wheel
3
in turn comprising a powered central disk
4
rotating continuously (clockwise in
FIG. 1
) about a respective central axis
5
. Output wheel
3
also comprises a number of gripping heads
6
equally spaced along the periphery of central disk
4
and for receiving respective packets
7
of cigarettes, still partly open, at an input station
8
, feeding respective packets
7
along a circular path P to an output station
9
, for closing respective packets
7
as they travel along path P.
With reference to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, each packet
7
is a rigid, hinged-lid packet substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped and having a longitudinal axis
10
; a front major lateral wall
11
and rear major lateral wall
12
parallel to each other and to longitudinal axis
10
; two minor lateral walls
13
parallel to each other and to longitudinal axis
10
, and perpendicular to major lateral walls
11
and
12
; and two end walls
14
and
15
. Each minor lateral wall
13
is defined by an inner longitudinal tab
16
connected to a relative lateral edge of rear major lateral wall
12
, and by an outer longitudinal tab
17
connected to a relative lateral edge of front major lateral wall
11
. Tabs
16
and
17
are superimposed and gummed to each other by the interposition of a layer of gum
18
, which may be defined by hot gum, cold gum, or, as in the example shown, both hot and cold gum.
As shown more clearly in
FIG. 3
, each gripping head
6
comprises a tubular shaft
19
, which connects relative gripping head
6
to central disk
4
and has a central hole
20
coaxial with a respective axis
21
extending radially with respect to axis
5
and perpendicular to the travelling direction
22
of gripping head
6
. Each tubular shaft
19
is fitted integrally at the outer end with a substantially rectangular end plate
23
, through which extends central hole
20
, and is fitted to central disk
4
of output wheel
3
to oscillate 90°, with respect to central disk
4
and about respective axis
21
, under the control of a known cam device (not shown) fitted inside central disk
4
.
A further tubular shaft
24
projects outwards from end plate
23
, is coaxial with relative axis
21
, and is closed at the outer end by a substantially rectangular plate
25
parallel to end plate
23
. A piston
26
is fitted in sliding and angularly-fixed manner inside tubular shafts
19
and
24
, is activated by a known cam actuating device (not shown) housed inside central disk
4
, and comprises, on the outward-facing end, a head
27
mounted to slide inside an axial hole
28
of tubular shaft
24
, and which is normally maintained contacting an inner shoulder
29
of tubular shaft
19
by a spring
30
coaxial with axis
21
and compressed between plate
25
and head
27
.
Two diametrically opposite, longitudinal slits are formed through tubular shaft
24
, each of which extends between the arms of a relative fork
32
fitted externally to tubular shaft
24
to support a relative pin
33
crosswise to relative axis
21
and defining the pivot of a respective rocker arm
34
. Each rocker arm
34
controls a respective articulated quadrilateral
35
controlling the angular position of a respective wing
36
, which has an end tooth
37
facing the other wing
36
, and is hinged to a lateral edge of plate
25
to rotate-under the control of relative articulated quadrilateral
35
, with respect to plate
25
, and about a respective axis
38
parallel to relative pin
33
—between a normal closed position (at the top in
FIG. 3
) in which wing
36
is perpendicular to plate
25
, and an open position (at the bottom in
FIG. 3
) in which wing
36
is substantially coplanar with plate
25
.
Each articulated quadrilateral
35
comprises a first crank
39
integral with relative wing
36
; a connecting rod
40
; and a second crank defined by a first arm of relative rocker arm
34
, a second arm of which is fitted on the end with a tappet
41
engaging in transversely sliding manner an annular groove
42
formed in the outer surface of head
27
. In the closed position, wings
36
and respective end teeth
37
define, together with relative plate
25
, a seat
43
for receiving and retaining a relative packet
7
positioned with its longitudinal axis
10
parallel to axes
38
, and with front major lateral wall
11
contacting plate
25
.
Two diametrically opposite jaws
44
are hinged to the outside of tubular shaft
19
, each of which has a transverse end tooth
45
, and is rotated, by a known actuating device (not shown) carried by central disk
4
, between an open position and a closed position closing the ends of relative seat
43
in a plane parallel to axes
38
and perpendicular to the plane of end plate
23
.
In actual use, gripping heads
6
are fed successively to input station
8
in the closed position, with axes
38
crosswise to travelling direction
22
, and with relative pairs of jaws
44
in the open position.
In the following description, reference is made to one gripping head
6
, and as of the instant in which gripping head
6
reaches a position immediately upstream from input station
8
.
At this point, piston
26
, formerly in a withdrawn rest position, is moved into an extracted work position in which it rotates wings
36
outwards about respective axes
38
and in opposition to spring
30
. Immediately afterwards, gripping head
6
receives relative packet
7
, which, as shown more clearly in
FIG. 2
, is fed to input station
8
in a substantially radial feed direction
46
with respect to output wheel
3
, with its front major lateral wall
11
facing seat
43
, with outer longitudinal tabs
17
in the open position, and with longitudinal axis
10
crosswise to travelling direction
22
.
As front major lateral wall
11
of packet
7
contacts plate
25
, and outer longitudinal tabs
17
contact relative wings
36
maintained in the open position, jaws
44
are closed to engage the ends of packet
7
and hold packet
7
on plate
25
by means of teeth
45
.
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, on leaving input station
8
, gripping head
6
and relative packet
7
move on to a first turn-around station
47
where tubular shaft
19
is rotated 90° about axis
21
, thus also rotating plate
25
through 90° about axis
21
, so that axes
38
are eventually positioned longitudinally, i.e., parallel to travelling direction
22
.
Immediately afterwards, gripping head
6
and relative packet
7
are fed through a gumming station
48
where two hot gumming devices
49
, located in fixed positions on opposite sides of path P, and two cold gumming devices
50
, also located in fixed positions on opposite sides of path P, deposit spots of hot gum and cold gum respectively to form layer of gum
18
on the inner surface of each of outer longitudinal tabs
17
, still in the open position on relative wings
36
. Wings
36
are maintained in the open position by piston
26
in the extracted work position, and are moved into the closed position by moving piston
26
into the withdrawn rest position at a folding station
51
immediately downstream from gumming station
48
.
In variations not shown, only hot gumming devices
49
or cold gumming devices
50
are used at gumming station
48
.
As they close, wings
36
on the one hand complete closure of packet
7
, and, on the other, secure packet
7
firmly to gripping head
6
by teeth
37
of wings
36
engaging rear major lateral wall
12
of packet
7
to hold packet
7
on plate
25
.
At this point, packet
7
is fed by gripping head
6
through a further turn-around station
52
where tubular shaft
19
is again rotated 90° about relative axis
21
to restore packet
7
to its original position crosswise to travelling direction
22
.
In a variation not shown, turn-around station
52
is dispensed with, and packet
7
is fed to output station
9
with its longitudinal axis
10
parallel to travelling direction
22
, and is restored to its original position downstream from output station
9
.
When packet
7
reaches output station
9
, both jaws
44
and wings
36
are moved into the open position to release packet
7
onto a known further conveyor not shown.
In a further variation not shown, gumming station
48
is located upstream from input station
8
.
In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5
, the aforementioned further conveyor is a conveyor
53
, preferably a drying conveyor, which extends about central disk
4
of output wheel
3
, by which it is driven, and is tangent to output wheel
3
along path P between input station
8
and output station
9
.
In this case, each gripping head
6
described above is divided into two parts, a first defined by a supporting unit
54
carried by central disk
4
and coaxial with a respective axis
21
, and a second defined by a gripping unit
55
carried by conveyor
53
and only defining, together with a relative supporting unit
54
, a relative gripping head
6
when gripping unit
55
travels along path P together with relative supporting unit
54
. For which purpose, gripping units
55
are equally spaced along conveyor
53
with the same spacing as supporting units
54
about central disk
4
, and are fed to input station
8
in time with respective supporting units
54
.
In this case, piston
26
is also divided into two parts, and comprises a first rod
56
mounted to slide inside tubular shaft
19
, and a second rod
57
supporting head
27
and mounted to slide on gripping unit
55
.
More specifically, as shown in
FIG. 5
, each gripping unit
55
comprises a substantially flat, substantially rectangular base plate
58
having, at each end, a cylindrical through hole
59
, the axis
60
of which is parallel to the plane of base plate
58
and perpendicular to the travelling direction
22
of conveyor
53
. A cylindrical pin
61
is fitted in rotary manner inside each hole
59
, is coaxial with relative axis
60
, and has two opposite end portions
62
projecting from relative hole
59
. To a central portion of each pin
61
is connected in rotary manner one end of a respective rod
63
, which extends crosswise to axis
60
of relative pin
61
, and penetrates relative hole
59
through a slot
64
formed in base plate
58
and crosswise to axis
60
of relative hole
59
. The other end of rod
63
is connected as described above to a pin
61
of an adjacent gripping unit
55
so as to be connected to the two adjacent gripping units
55
by two hinges
65
, each defined by a relative pin
61
, by a relative hole
59
, and by the rotary connection between the relative end of rod
63
and relative pin
61
.
Base plate
58
has a central through hole
66
having an axis
67
perpendicular to the plane of base plate
58
, to relative axes
60
, and to travelling direction
22
, and engaged in rotary and axially-fixed manner by a tubular axial appendix
68
of tubular shaft
24
, which is carried by base plate
58
coaxially with relative axis
67
, and houses in sliding manner relative rod
57
and relative head
27
for activating relative articulated quadrilateral
35
and relative wings
36
.
In each supporting unit
54
, the outer end of tubular shaft
19
, to which the two diametrically opposite jaws
44
are hinged externally, is fitted, by means of a sleeve
69
fitted in rotary manner to tubular shaft
19
, with a plate
70
perpendicular to relative axis
21
and supporting two parallel, outward-facing lugs
71
, which define a seat for receiving a respective base plate
58
of a respective gripping unit
55
, and have, along their outer periphery, respective pairs of recesses
72
which are engaged by respective end portions
62
of pins
61
of respective gripping unit
55
.
In actual use, as shown in
FIG. 4
, gripping units
55
are fed successively to input station
8
in the closed position, and with axes
38
crosswise to travelling direction
22
, while, as stated, supporting units
54
are fed to input station
8
in time with relative gripping units
55
, and with respective tubular shafts
1
.
9
so oriented angularly as to keep relative pairs of jaws
44
in the open position and in respective planes parallel to axis
5
.
In the following description, reference is made to one gripping unit
55
, as of the instant in which gripping unit
55
engages relative supporting unit
54
at input station
8
, and is positioned with base plate
58
between lugs
71
of relative supporting unit
54
, and with end portions
62
of relative pins
61
engaging relative recesses
72
, to define, together with relative supporting unit
54
, a relative gripping head
6
.
At this point, gripping unit
55
begins interacting with supporting unit
54
by rod
56
of supporting unit
54
, formerly in a withdrawn rest position, moving into an extracted work position in which rod
56
acts on rod
57
to rotate wings
36
outwards about respective axes
38
. Immediately afterwards, gripping unit
55
receives relative packet
7
, which is fed to input station
8
in feed direction
46
, with its front major lateral wall
11
facing seat
43
, with outer longitudinal tabs
17
in the open position, and with longitudinal axis
10
crosswise to travelling direction
22
.
As front major lateral wall
11
of packet
7
contacts plate
25
, and outer longitudinal tabs
17
contact wings
36
maintained in the open position, jaws
44
are closed to engage the ends of packet
7
and hold packet
7
on plate
25
by means of teeth
45
. In other words, at input station
8
and, as explained later on, for a few moments after, supporting unit
54
and relative gripping unit
55
interact so that, as of input station
8
, conveyance of packet
7
by conveyor
53
is assured, not by relative gripping unit
55
, but by relative supporting unit
54
, the jaws
44
of which grip the ends of packet
7
to secure it to relative gripping unit
55
.
On leaving input station
8
, gripping unit
55
and relative packet
7
move on, together with relative supporting unit
54
, to turn-around station
47
where tubular shaft
19
is rotated 90° about axis
21
. The rotation of tubular shaft
19
is transmitted by jaws
44
to tubular shaft
24
of gripping unit
55
via packet
7
, and produces a 90° rotation of tubular shaft
24
about relative axis
67
coincident with relative axis
21
, so that axes
38
are eventually positioned longitudinally, i.e., parallel to travelling direction
22
.
Immediately afterwards, gripping unit
55
and relative packet
7
are fed, together with relative supporting unit
54
, through gumming station
48
where outer longitudinal tabs
17
, still in the open position on relative wings
36
, are gummed and then closed by moving rod
56
into the withdrawn rest position at folding station
51
.
As they close wings
36
on the one hand complete closure of packet
7
, and, on the other, secure packet
7
firmly to gripping unit
55
by teeth
37
of wings
36
engaging rear major lateral wall
12
of packet
7
to hold packet
7
on plate
25
.
Despite packet
7
, at this point, being retained inside seat
43
by retaining means (teeth
37
) on relative gripping unit
55
, jaws
44
are kept in the closed position to transmit to seat
43
, at further turn-around station
52
, a further 90° rotation in the opposite direction to that performed at turn-around station
47
. Which further rotation is performed by rotating tubular shaft
19
of relative supporting unit
54
through 90° about relative axis
21
, so that packet
7
is restored to its original position crosswise with respect to travelling direction
22
.
At this point, jaws
44
are opened to cut off interaction between gripping unit
55
and relative supporting unit
54
; and gripping unit
55
, together with relative packet
7
, leaves output wheel
3
at output station
9
and continues together with conveyor
53
.
Claims
- 1. A cigarette packing machine, the machine (1) comprising an output wheel (3), in turn comprising an input station (8) and an output station (9), and said output wheel (3) rotating about a respective axis (5) to feed a number of gripping heads (6; 54, 55) in a given travelling direction (22) and along a given path (P) through said input station (8) and said output station (9); each said gripping head (6; 54, 55) being engaged by a respective packet (7) of cigarettes having a longitudinal axis (10) and longitudinal minor lateral walls (13), each of which is defined by a respective outer longitudinal tab (17) and a respective inner longitudinal tab (16); said output wheel (3) receiving each said packet (7) at said input station (8) with the relative said outer longitudinal tabs (17) in an open position; each said gripping head (6; 54, 55) comprising folding means (36) for folding each said outer longitudinal tab (17) into a closed position contacting the relative inner longitudinal tab (16); the machine being characterized in that, in use, each outer longitudinal tab has gum applied thereto at a gumming station downstream of said input station and is folded at a folding station (51) located along said path (P) downstream of said input station.
- 2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gumming station (48) is located along said path (P) and in turn comprises gumming means (49, 50) for feeding gum (18) between each said outer longitudinal tab (17) and the relative said inner longitudinal tab (16).
- 3. A machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said folding means (36) comprise two folding members (36) for folding said outer longitudinal tabs (17); each said folding member (36) being movable between an open position and a closed position; and each said gripping head (6; 54, 55) comprising actuating means (26, 27, 35) for moving the relative said folding members (36) between said open and said closed position.
- 4. A machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein each said gripping head (6; 54, 55) also comprises first retaining means (44, 45) for securing a relative said packet (7) to the relative said gripping head (6; 54, 55) when said folding members (36) are in the open position.
- 5. A machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein each said packet comprises two end walls (14, 15); said first retaining means (44, 45) engaging the relative said packet (7) by said end walls (14, 15).
- 6. A machine as claimed in claim 2 and comprising second retaining means (37) for laterally engaging the relative said packet (7) to secure the packet (7) to the relative said gripping head (6; 54, 55).
- 7. A machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein said second retaining means (37) are carried by said folding means (36) and are movable with the folding means (36).
- 8. A machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein each said gripping head (6; 54, 55) receives each said packet (7) at said input station (8) with the relative said longitudinal axis (10) crosswise to said travelling direction (22), and comprises rotation means (19) for rotating each packet (7) 90°, about a respective axis of rotation (21; 21, 67) extending radially with respect to said path (P), at a first turn-around station (47) located upstream from said gumming station (48), so that the packet (7) is fed through said gumming station (48) with the relative said outer longitudinal tabs (17) parallel to said travelling direction (22).
- 9. A machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein said rotation means (19) impart to the relative said packet (7) a further 90° rotation about said axis of rotation (21; 21, 67) at a second turn-around station (52) located along said path (P) and downstream from said gumming station (48), so that the packet (7) is again positioned with the relative said longitudinal axis (10) crosswise to said travelling direction (22).
- 10. A machine as claimed in claim 2 and comprising a conveyor (53) for conveying said packets (7); said output wheel (3) successively releasing said packets (7) onto said conveyor (53) at said output station (9).
- 11. A machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein said output wheel (3) defines a drive pulley for driving said conveyor (53), and is connected to said conveyor (53) along said path (P).
- 12. A machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein each said gripping head (54,55) comprises a supporting unit (54) carried by said output wheel (3), and a gripping unit (55) carried by said conveyor (53); each said supporting unit (54) cooperating and interacting, in use, with a respective said gripping unit (55) along said path (P).
- 13. A machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein each said supporting unit (54) comprises rotation means (19) for rotating each packet (7) in 90° steps, about a respective axis of rotation (21, 67) extending radially with respect to said path (P), at a first and a second turn-around station (47, 52) located along said path (P) and on opposite sides of said gumming station (48); and first retaining means (44, 45) cooperating with the ends of the relative said packet (7) to secure the packet (7) to the relative said gripping unit (55) along said path (P).
- 14. A machine as claimed in claim 13 wherein each said supporting unit (54) comprises an end plate (70) perpendicular to the relative said axis of rotation (21) and carried by said rotation means (19); and each said gripping unit (55) comprises a base plate (58) connected, releasably and along said path (P), to a relative said end plate (70) seas to move along said path (P) together with the relative said supporting unit (54); each said gripping unit (55) comprising a seat (43) for receiving a relative said packet (7), and which is connected in rotary manner to the relative said base plate (58) to rotate, with respect to the base plate (58), about a respective axis (67) perpendicular to the relative base plate (58) and coincident with said axis of rotation (21), as said gripping unit (55) travels, in use, along said path (P).
- 15. A machine as claimed in claim 13 wherein each said supporting unit (54) interacts with the relative said gripping unit (55) at least at said input station (8) and said turn-around stations (47, 52).
- 16. A machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein each said gripping unit (55) comprises relative said folding means (36) and second retaining means (37) cooperating laterally with the relative said packet (7) to secure the packet (7) to the relative said gripping unit (55).
- 17. A machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein said second retaining means (37) are carried by said folding means (36) and are movable with the folding means (36).
- 18. A cigarette packing machine, the machine comprising an output wheel, in turn comprising an input station and an output station, and said output wheel rotating about a respective axis to feed a number of gripping heads in a given travelling direction and along a given path (P) through said input station and said output station; each said gripping head being engaged by a respective packet of cigarettes having a longitudinal axis and longitudinal minor lateral walls, each of which is defined by a respective outer longitudinal tab and a respective inner longitudinal tab; said output wheel receiving each said packet at said input station with the relative said outer longitudinal tabs in an open position; each said gripping head comprising folding means for folding each said outer longitudinal tab into a closed position contacting the relative inner longitudinal tab; the machine being characterized in that, in use, each outer longitudinal tab is folded at a folding station located along said path (P) downstream of said input station and comprising a gumming station located along said path and in turn comprising gumming means for feeding gum between each said outer longitudinal tab and the relative said inner longitudinal tab, wherein each said gripping head receives each said packet at said input station with the relative said longitudinal axis crosswise to said travelling direction, and comprises rotation means for rotating each packet 90°, about a respective axis of rotation extending radially with respect to said path, at a first turn-around station located upstream from said gumming station, so that the packet is fed through said gumming station with the relative said outer longitudinal tabs parallel to said travelling direction.
- 19. A cigarette packing machine, comprising:an output wheel having a number of gripping heads that travel along a given path (P) through an input station to receive a packet of cigarettes with outer longitudinal tabs in an open position; a first turn station located along path (P) downstream of the input station to turn the packet of cigarettes 90 degrees with the longitudinal tabs in the open position; a gumming station located along path (P) downstream of the first turn station to apply gum onto the outer longitudinal tabs while the packet of cigarettes is rotated 90 degrees with respect to a packet of cigarettes at the input station; and a folding station located along path (P) downstream of the gumming station to fold the outer longitudinal tabs of the packet of cigarettes.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
BO2001A0766 |
Dec 2001 |
IT |
|
BO2002A0026 |
Jan 2002 |
IT |
|
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DE |
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EP |
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