Method of producing soft packets of cigarettes

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6708466
  • Patent Number
    6,708,466
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, May 14, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 23, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A method of producing soft packets of cigarettes, whereby an inner packet, as it is fed along a packing path, is mated with a sheet of packing material withdrawn in a direction tangential with respect to the packing path. The sheet of packing material being folded into a U about the inner packet, so that a first end portion of the sheet of packing material contacts a minor lateral surface of the inner packet, and being further folded to form a tubular package which is subsequently closed at the end. The tubular package being closed laterally by detaching the first end portion from the relative minor lateral face, and inserting, beneath the first end portion, a second portion, an outer surface of which has been gummed beforehand.
Description




The present invention relates to a method of producing soft packets of cigarettes.




More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of producing soft packets of cigarettes comprising a substantially rectangular-prism-shaped inner packet, and a cup-shaped outer package formed by folding a sheet of packing material about the relative inner packet.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




According to known methods of producing soft packets of cigarettes (for example as disclosed in EP 1052171), a group of cigarette is fed in a pocket of an endless conveyor along a packing path, and through a supply station for supplying a relative sheet of packing material. The sheet of packing material is removed from the supply station by a gripper, which moves with the pocket, tangentially with respect to said packing path and is then fed along the packing path together with the group of cigarettes.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of the present invention to improve packing methods of producing soft packets, by increasing the speed and precision with which the packing procedures are performed, and by minimizing and, at the same time, simplifying the devices required to perform the packing procedures.




According to the present invention, there is provided a method of producing soft packets of cigarettes comprising a substantially rectangular-prism-shaped inner packet, and a cup-shaped outer package formed by folding a sheet of packing material about the relative inner packet; said inner packet being fed continuously along a packing path extending through a supply station for supplying a relative said sheet of packing material; said sheet of packing material being removed from said supply station tangentially with respect to said packing path, and then being fed along said packing path in a given feed direction together with said inner packet; said inner packet being fed through said supply station inside a relative first conveying pocket; said sheet of packing material being removed from said supply station by feeding gripping means continuously through the supply station, along at least a portion of said packing path, together with said first conveying pocket, in said feed direction; the method being characterized by imparting a reverse movement to said gripping means to substantially arrest the gripping means at said supply station in such a position as to interfere with said sheet of packing material being fed to said supply station; closing said gripping means on to said sheet of packing material; and arresting said reverse movement.




In the method defined above, said sheet of packing material is preferably fed to said supply station in a transverse direction crosswise to said packing path and to said feed direction.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




A non-limiting embodiment 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, with parts in block form and parts removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of a packing machine for producing soft packets and implementing the method according to the present invention;





FIG. 2

shows a larger-scale view of a first

FIG. 1

detail at two distinct operating steps;





FIG. 3

shows a larger-scale, partly sectioned view of a second

FIG. 1

detail at three distinct operating steps;





FIG. 4

shows a larger-scale view, with parts removed for clarity, of a third

FIG. 1

detail;





FIG. 5

shows a larger-scale, partly sectioned view of a

FIG. 4

detail at three distinct operating steps;





FIG. 6

shows, in perspective, a folding sequence of an outer sheet of packing material;





FIG. 7

shows a schematic front view of the

FIG. 1

packing machine with a protective casing;





FIGS. 8 and 9

show two larger-scale views of a detail in

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 10

shows a side section, with parts removed for clarity, of the

FIG. 7

packing machine with a panel of the protective casing in the closed position;





FIG. 11

shows a side section, with parts removed for clarity, of the

FIG. 7

packing machine with a panel of the protective casing in the open position;





FIG. 12

shows a larger-scale front section, with parts removed for clarity, of a control station of the

FIG. 1

packing machine;





FIG. 13

shows a side view, with parts removed for clarity, of the

FIG. 12

control station.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Number


1


in

FIG. 1

indicates as a whole a packing machine for producing soft packets, and comprising a known input unit


2


substantially identical with corresponding units used on packing machines for producing rigid hinged-lid packets.




Input unit


2


comprises a module


3


for forming groups


4


of cigarettes; a packing module


5


for receiving a succession of groups


4


and relative sheets


6


of packing material, normally foil, from module


3


, and for supplying at the output a succession of inner packets


7


, each defined by a relative group


4


enclosed in a relative foil package formed by folding relative sheet


6


of packing material; and a further packing module


8


for receiving successive inner packets


7


from packing module


5


and relative sheets


9


of packing material, normally paper, from a supply unit


10


, for folding sheets


9


of packing material about relative inner packets


7


to form, with each sheet


9


of packing material, a cup-shaped outer package


11


of a respective finished soft packet


12


, and for feeding packets


12


successively to an output conveyor


13


.




Each inner packet


7


is in the form of a substantially rectangular prism, comprises a longitudinal axis


14


, two major lateral surfaces


15


parallel to each other and to longitudinal axis


14


, two minor lateral surfaces


16


parallel to each other and to longitudinal axis


14


and perpendicular to major lateral surfaces


15


, and two end surfaces


17


and


18


parallel to each other and perpendicular to longitudinal axis


14


, and leaves input unit


2


in a direction crosswise to its longitudinal axis (perpendicular to the

FIG. 1

plane) and with a major lateral surface


15


facing forwards.




Packing module


8


comprises a transfer conveyor defined by a transfer wheel


19


, which is substantially tangent to the output of input unit


2


at a transfer station


20


and provides for receiving inner packets


7


successively from input unit


2


, and for feeding inner packets


7


continuously in a direction


21


along a first portion of a packing path P and through a supply station


22


where each inner packet


7


is associated with a respective sheet


9


of packing material.




Packing module


8


also comprises a folding conveyor defined by a folding wheel


23


for receiving inner packets


7


and relative sheets


9


of packing material at a transfer station


24


located along packing path P and downstream from supply station


22


in direction


21


, and for feeding them, still in direction


21


, along a further portion of packing path P to form a relative outer package


11


about each inner packet


7


and so form relative packet


12


.




On folding wheel


23


, each packet


12


is formed by first forming, about relative inner packet


7


, a tubular package


25


coaxial with longitudinal axis


14


of relative inner packet


7


and having a minor lateral wall defined by two superimposed, gummed end portions


26


and


27


of relative sheet


9


of packing material, and an axial tubular appendix


28


defined by a respective lateral portion


29


of relative sheet


9


of packing material projecting axially from end surface


18


of relative inner packet


7


. Tubular appendix


28


comprises two major walls


30


substantially coplanar with relative major lateral surfaces


15


of relative inner packet


7


; and two minor lateral walls


31


substantially coplanar with relative minor lateral surfaces


16


of relative inner packet


7


.




Once tubular package


25


is formed, outer package


11


is completed by closing the end of tubular package


25


by folding relative tubular appendix


28


on to relative end surface


18


, and the packets


12


leaving packing module


8


are transferred successively to output conveyor


13


at a transfer station


32


.




As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 3

, transfer wheel


19


is fitted to a front wall of a frame


33


(

FIG. 7

) in a position substantially tangent to the output of packing module


5


, rotates continuously anticlockwise, in

FIG. 1

, about an axis


34


crosswise to feed direction


21


, and comprises a powered disk


35


coaxial with and rotating about axis


34


, and a number of gripping heads


36


equally spaced about axis


34


and each comprising an arm


37


fitted to disk


35


to oscillate, with respect to disk


35


and under the control of a known cam device (not shown), about a respective axis


38


parallel to axis


34


. As shown more clearly in

FIG. 2

, each arm


37


extends along an axis


39


radial with respect to relative axis


38


, and is fitted on the free end with a substantially rectangular plate


40


perpendicular to respective axis


39


and for supporting a relative inner packet


7


positioned with its longitudinal axis


14


perpendicular to the

FIG. 1

plane, and with a major lateral surface


15


contacting plate


40


.




Plate


40


defines the base of a respective conveying pocket


41


which, in addition to plate


40


, also comprises a lateral gripper


42


defined by two flat jaws


43


projecting outwards from plate


40


and connected to respective opposite lateral edges of plate


40


to oscillate, about respective axes


44


parallel to relative axis


38


, between a closed position (

FIG. 2



b


) wherein jaws


43


are substantially perpendicular to relative plate


40


, and an open position (

FIG. 2



a


) wherein jaws


43


diverge outwards. Each pocket


41


also comprises a further lateral gripper


45


defined by two substantially L-shaped jaws


46


projecting outwards from plate


40


and connected to respective opposite lateral edges of plate


40


to oscillate, about respective axes


47


crosswise to relative axis


38


, between a closed position (

FIG. 2



b


) wherein jaws


46


are substantially perpendicular to relative plate


40


, and an open position (

FIG. 2



a


) wherein jaws


46


diverge outwards. When all in the closed position, jaws


43


and


46


define, together with relative plate


40


, a prismatic seat


48


for receiving and radially retaining, by means of jaws


46


, a relative inner packet


7


.




As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 3

, transfer wheel


19


comprises a further number of gripping heads or grippers


49


, each of which is interposed between a pair of adjacent gripping heads


36


and is associated functionally with the gripping head


36


immediately upstream in feed direction


21


. Each gripper


49


oscillates, with respect to disk


35


and under the control of a known cam device (not shown), about a respective axis


50


parallel to axis


34


, and comprises two jaws


51


and


52


hinged to disk


35


to oscillate, with respect to each other about relative axis


50


and under the control of a known cam device (not shown), between an open and a closed position. More specifically, jaw


51


, upstream from jaw


52


in feed direction


21


, has an intermediate transverse plate


53


extending towards relative jaw


52


and defining a stop for the front edge of a respective sheet


9


of packing material fed by supply unit


10


to supply station


22


in a direction


54


substantially radial with respect to disk


35


and crosswise to packing path P at supply station


22


. Jaw


52


, on the other hand, is fitted on the free end with a pad


55


which cooperates with an end portion of relative jaw


51


to grip a front portion of a respective sheet


9


of packing material positioned with its front edge on relative plate


53


.




As shown more clearly in

FIG. 3

, supply unit


10


comprises a powered conveyor


56


looped about pulleys


57


and having a work branch


58


extending in direction


54


and contacting a suction box


59


; and a further powered conveyor


60


defining, with conveyor


56


, an outlet


61


of supply unit


10


, and located downstream from conveyor


56


in feed direction


21


. Conveyor


60


is looped about pulleys


62


and has a work branch


63


extending along packing path P, substantially in feed direction


21


, and contacting a suction box


64


immediately upstream from a fixed suction plate


65


extending about axis


34


between supply station


22


and transfer station


24


.




In actual use, each gripping head


36


and relative gripper


49


are fed continuously, both in the open position, to transfer station


20


where gripping head


36


, oscillating in known manner about relative axis


38


, receives a relative inner packet


7


inside seat


48


of respective pocket


41


and retains it by moving relative grippers


42


and


45


into the closed position.




The closed gripping head


36


and the open gripper


49


are then fed (

FIG. 3



a


) by disk


35


towards supply station


22


, which is reached first by gripper


49


and then by relative gripping head


36


.




Close to supply station


22


, gripper


49


is oscillated about relative axis


50


to rotate first in the same direction as and then in the opposite direction to disk


35


, which opposite rotation is tantamount to reversing and temporarily arresting the free end of gripper


49


in a position facing outlet


61


of supply unit


10


, and relative plate


53


in a position crosswise to direction


54


to intercept the front edge of a sheet


9


of packing material fed through outlet


61


by supply unit


10


and in time with the arrival of gripper


49


at supply station


22


. As the front edge of sheet


9


of packing material contacts plate


53


, jaws


51


and


52


are moved into the closed position so that pad


55


clamps a front portion of sheet


9


of packing material against the portion of jaw


51


projecting beyond plate


53


. At this point, the reverse movement of gripper


49


is arrested to enable gripper


49


to leave supply station


22


, taking with it relative sheet


9


of packing material which is removed from outlet


61


in direction


21


, i.e. in a tangential direction with respect to packing path P.




In connection with the above, it should be stressed that removing sheet


9


of packing material in a tangential direction with respect to packing path P and the possibility of regulating the speed of relative gripper


49


in direction


21


enable gripper


49


to grip sheet


9


of packing material extremely accurately and so position it in an extremely precise given position—described later on—with respect to relative inner packet


7


.




As it is fed towards transfer station


24


, sheet


9


, the front portion of which is retained firmly by relative gripper


49


, trails behind gripper


49


with an outer surface


9




a


contacting an inner suction surface of plate


65


, and is smoothed out (

FIG. 3



b


) by the pneumatic braking action of plate


65


so that an intermediate portion contacts the outer major lateral surface


15


of relative inner packet


7


carried by the adjacent upstream gripping head


36


. More specifically, the sheet is positioned, with respect to relative inner packet


7


, so that end portion


26


projects rearwards of the rear minor lateral surface


16


of inner packet


7


.




Folding wheel


23


is fitted to frame


33


(

FIG. 7

) in a position substantially tangent to transfer wheel


19


, rotates continuously clockwise in

FIG. 1

about an axis


66


parallel to axis


34


, and comprises a powered disk


67


coaxial with and rotating about axis


66


, and a number of gripping heads


68


equally spaced about axis


66


and fitted to disk


67


to oscillate, with respect to disk


67


and under the control of known cam device (not shown), about respective axes


69


parallel to axis


66


.




As shown more clearly in

FIGS. 4 and 5

, each gripping head


68


comprises an arm


70


hinged to disk


67


to oscillate about respective axis


69


and extending along an axis


71


radial with respect to relative axis


69


; and a pusher


72


moved inside relative arm


70


by a known cam device (not shown) and coaxial with relative axis


71


. Each pusher


72


comprises a head


73


defined externally by a suction surface in turn defining a movable base of a respective pocket


74


for housing a respective sheet


9


of packing material and relative inner packet


7


positioned with its longitudinal axis


14


parallel to relative axis


69


, and with a major lateral surface


15


facing relative head


73


.




In addition to head


73


, each pocket


74


also comprises a lateral gripper


75


defined by two flat jaws


76


and


77


projecting outwards from respective arm


70


and on opposite sides of relative head


73


in feed direction


21


. In each gripper


75


, the front jaw


76


is parallel to relative axis


71


and fixed; while jaw


77


(

FIG. 5

) has an inner suction surface


78


and is connected to relative arm


70


to oscillate, with respect to arm


70


and about a respective axis


79


parallel to relative axis


69


, between an open position wherein jaw


77


diverges outwards with respect to relative jaw


76


, and a closed position parallel to relative jaw


76


.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, folding wheel


23


is associated with a known device


80


for supplying revenue stamps (not shown) and located outwards of folding wheel


23


and upstream from transfer station


24


; a fixed guide plate


81


extending, coaxially with axis


66


, between transfer stations


24


and


32


; a gumming device


82


located along plate


81


and outwards of wheel


23


, and operating through an opening


83


(

FIG. 4

) formed in plate


81


to feed glue on to the outer surface


9




a


of end portion


27


of each sheet


9


of packing material; a folding device


84


located along plate


81


and outwards of folding wheel


23


, and operating through an opening


85


(

FIG. 4

) formed through plate


81


at a folding station


86


to complete the folding of each sheet


9


of packing material about relative inner packet


7


and so form relative tubular package


25


; and a known further folding device


87


supported by plate


81


, between folding station


86


and transfer station


32


, to close the ends of tubular packages


25


in known manner, and correctly fold the relative revenue stamps (not shown).




Folding device


84


comprises a powered wheel


88


mounted to rotate continuously anticlockwise, in

FIG. 1

, about an axis


89


parallel to axis


34


; and a number of folding heads


90


fitted to wheel


88


and equally spaced about axis


89


. Each folding head


90


comprises a crank


91


fitted to wheel


88


to oscillate with respect to wheel


88


about a respective axis


92


parallel to axis


89


; and a folding blade


93


connected integrally to one end of relative crank


91


, crosswise to relative crank


91


, and projecting outwards, with respect to crank


91


, in a substantially radial direction with respect to wheel


88


.




In actual use, and as shown in

FIG. 4

, each gripping head


36


, on approaching transfer station


24


, oscillates about relative axis


38


to keep axis


39


aligned, for a given period of time, with axis


71


of a corresponding gripping head


68


, which is oscillated accordingly on disk


67


and fed by folding wheel


23


to transfer station


24


in time with said gripping head


36


. Each head


36


, as it oscillates about respective axis


38


, is accompanied by relative gripper


49


, so as to hold relative sheet


9


on relative inner packet


7


in the position described previously (

FIG. 6



a


), i.e. with relative end portion


26


projecting rearwards of rear minor lateral surface


16


of inner packet


7


.




Gripping head


68


reaches transfer station


24


with jaw


77


open, and with pusher


72


—the head


73


of which has already received and retains the relative revenue stamp (not shown) by suction—in the extracted position; and gripping head


36


reaches transfer station


24


with gripper


42


open and gripper


45


closed, so as to retain relative inner packet


7


and enable inner packet


7


to penetrate pocket


74


of gripping head


68


, which is eased down by gradually withdrawing pusher


72


.




As inner packet


7


is inserted inside pocket


74


, relative sheet


9


of packing material is folded into a U (

FIG. 6



b


) with end portion


26


between jaw


77


and the minor lateral surface


16


of inner packet


7


located rearwards in feed direction


21


; with an intermediate portion between head


73


and the inner major lateral surface


15


of inner packet


7


; with a further intermediate portion between jaw


76


and the minor lateral surface


16


of inner packet


7


located frontwards in feed direction


21


; with an end portion projecting outwards of pocket


74


in a substantially radial direction; and with lateral portion


29


projecting axially (with respect to axis


66


) from pocket


74


.




At this point, gripper


75


is closed and the corresponding gripper


45


opened to permit removal of inner packet


7


and relative sheet


9


of packing material by gripping head


68


, which is fed continuously towards plate


81


, which folds said projecting end portion of sheet


9


of packing material (

FIG. 6



c


) on to the outer major lateral surface


15


of relative inner packet


7


, so that end portion


27


projects rearwards of rear minor lateral surface


16


of inner packet


7


.




As gripping head


68


continues in feed direction


21


, end portion


27


of relative sheet


9


of packing material is first fed (

FIG. 5



a


) past opening


83


, where gumming device


82


applies glue to outer surface


9




a


, and then past opening


85


(

FIG. 5



b


) where jaw


77


is opened to raise end portion


26


retained by suction on jaw


77


. A folding head


90


, operating through opening


85


(

FIG. 5



c


), then folds end portion


27


squarely (

FIG. 6



d


) inside the gap between relative end portion


26


and the rear minor lateral surface


16


of relative inner packet


7


. At this point, jaw


77


is closed to complete tubular package


25


(

FIG. 6



e


), the tubular appendix


28


of which, projecting axially from relative pocket


74


, is folded in known manner (

FIG. 6



f


) on to end surface


18


of relative inner packet


7


as gripping head


68


travels through folding device


87


, which completes packet


12


, which is then transferred from folding wheel


23


to output conveyor


13


at transfer station


32


.




In connection with the above, it should be stressed that the procedure for completing tubular package


25


, and described above with reference to

FIGS. 6



c-e


, provides for gumming end portion


27


not only just before being folded, but also from the outside, with obvious advantages as regards the structure and efficiency of machine


1


as a whole, and the precision and speed with which the folding procedure is performed.




As shown in

FIG. 7

, packing machine


1


is provided with a protective casing


101


fitted to frame


33


and divided into two lateral sections


102


and


103


on opposite sides of a central section


104


. Lateral section


102


of protective casing


101


protects group-forming module


3


, which has a hopper


105


for supplying cigarettes (not shown); central section


104


of protective casing


101


protects packing module


5


and outer packing module


8


; and lateral section


103


of protective casing


101


protects output conveyor


13


.




Lateral section


102


of casing


101


comprises a top panel


106


fixed to frame


33


by screws (not shown) and having two see-through doors


107


for viewing and access to the bottom portion of hopper


105


; an intermediate panel


108


fixed to frame


33


by screws (not shown) and covering group-forming module


3


; and a bottom panel


109


fitted to frame


33


to slide, in a horizontal direction


110


, between a closed position (shown in

FIG. 7

) and an open position (not shown).




Central section


104


of casing


101


comprises a see-through top panel


111


fitted to frame


33


to move between a closed position (shown in

FIGS. 7 and 10

) and an open position (shown in FIG.


11


); an intermediate panel


112


fixed to frame


33


by screws (not shown); and a bottom panel


113


fitted to slide, in a horizontal direction


114


, between a closed position (shown in

FIG. 7

) and an open position (not shown). Intermediate panel


112


has an opening


115


through which is inserted a handwheel


116


for operating packing machine


1


manually. Handwheel


116


has a grip


117


, which is movable between a rest position (not shown) wherein grip


117


is housed inside a seat


118


formed in handwheel


116


, and a work position (shown in

FIG. 7

) wherein grip


117


projects perpendicularly from handwheel


116


.




Lateral section


103


of casing


101


comprises a door


119


which has a central window


120


protected by a see-through panel, and is hinged to rotate, about a vertical axis


121


, between a closed position (shown in

FIG. 7

) and an open position (not shown).




Packing machine


1


has a user interface (so-called HMI) unit


122


comprising a box-


123


connected by a tubular body


124


to frame


33


. Box


123


houses a monitor


125


for displaying information relating to the operation of packing machine


1


and preferably having touch-screen functions enabling the user to interact with user interface unit


122


, and has a number of buttons


126


(shown in

FIG. 8

) for user control of the main functions of packing machine


1


(typically, stop, go, emergency stop, alarm acquisition, and operating speed adjustment).




Tubular body


124


houses the connecting cables of user interface unit


122


, and comprises a vertically tilted portion


127


supporting box


123


at one end and connected at the other end to a horizontal portion


128


hinged to the base of frame


33


to rotate, about a vertical axis


129


, between a work position (

FIGS. 7

,


8


,


9


) wherein box


123


is located in front of packing machine


1


, and a rest position (not shown) wherein body


123


is located to the side of, to permit free access to, packing machine


1


. Horizontal portion


128


is designed to position box


123


and vertical axis


129


a relatively long distance apart, so that, when rotated about axis


129


, box


123


is swung well clear of packing machine


1


. And, for compactness, horizontal portion


128


is designed to substantially contact the base of frame


33


when box


123


is in the work position.




As shown in

FIG. 7

, frame


33


supports a known multicolor lamp


130


, i.e. having various sections of different colors; and a horizontal beam


131


housing a relatively large graphic display


132


preferably comprising a matrix of red LED's for displaying writing visible from a distance of at least 20 meters. Horizontal beam


131


is preferably located so as to be covered by the see-through top panel


111


of central section


104


of protective casing


101


.




In actual use, multicolor lamp


130


shows a green light when packing machine


1


is operating normally; a red light when packing machine is idle; and a yellow light when packing machine


1


is operating but in the presence of an alarm requiring intervention on the part of the operator. When the yellow light of multicolor lamp


130


comes on, details of the type of intervention required are shown simultaneously on display


132


, so that the operator, reading display


132


some distance from packing machine


1


, can monitor operation and organize any intervention required without having to consult monitor


125


of user interface


122


on machine


1


itself. Display


132


may, obviously, also be used for displaying information when packing machine


1


is operating normally or idle, thus enabling the operator to monitor operation of packing machine


1


from a relatively long distance.




As shown in

FIG. 10

, top panel


111


comprises a rigid frame


133


supporting a see-through wall


134


and curved to prevent interference with packing module


5


and outer packing module


8


(shown schematically in FIG.


10


). On opposite sides of panel


111


, frame


133


is fitted with two plates


135


(only one shown in

FIG. 10

) supporting frame


133


and hinged to respective slides


136


(only one shown in

FIG. 10

) to swing freely about a horizontal axis


137


. Each slide


136


is run along a respective horizontal guide


138


(only one shown in

FIG. 10

) by a corresponding horizontal chain


139


(only one shown in

FIG. 10

) connected to slide


136


by a relative connecting body


140


. Each chain


139


is looped about a pair of end sprockets; an idle sprocket


141


; and a sprocket


142


rotated by a reversible two-way motor (not shown). Each plate


135


is fitted with a tappet roller


143


mating with a corresponding fixed cam


144


(shown schematically in

FIG. 10

) substantially in the form of, an inclined surface.




In actual use, to move top panel


111


from the closed position (shown in

FIGS. 7 and 10

) to the open position (shown in FIG.


11


), each sprocket


142


is rotated to move respective slide


136


along relative guide


138


. As a result, plates


135


move towards the rear of packing machine


1


and, at the same time, are rotated about axis


137


by tappet rollers


143


rolling up along respective cams


144


. The rotary and linear movement of plates


135


is also transferred to top panel


111


which, being connected to plates


135


, is moved from the closed position (shown in

FIGS. 7 and 10

) to the open position (shown in FIG.


11


). Obviously, to move top panel


111


from the open position (shown in

FIG. 11

) to the closed position (shown in FIGS.


7


and


10


), the above operations are performed in reverse.




Guides


138


, sprockets


141


,


142


and, therefore, slides


136


and top panel


111


are supported by a beam


145


hinged to frame


33


to rotate, with respect to frame


33


and about a horizontal axis


146


, between a closed position (shown in

FIGS. 10 and 11

) and an open position (not shown) under the control of an actuating device comprising an arm


147


hinged to frame


33


and beam


145


and which is raised by a known hydraulic lifting device (not shown).




Frame


33


is fitted with a horizontal guide


148


, along which a known crane (not shown) runs freely. When beam


145


is in the closed position (shown in FIGS.


10


and


11


), guide


148


is substantially concealed from the front of packing machine


1


by various operating devices


149


(shown schematically in

FIGS. 10 and 11

) supported by beam


145


. Conversely, when beam


145


is in the open position (not shown), operating devices


149


are raised so that guide


148


is freely accessible from the front of packing machine


1


. More specifically, the crane (not shown) can be set to an extracted position substantially crosswise to guide


148


, and a withdrawn position substantially parallel to and contacting guide


148


.




When beam


145


is in the open position (not shown), guide


148


and the crane (not shown) are freely accessible from the front of packing machine


1


, so that the crane (not shown) can be used by the operator to assemble or disassemble parts of packing machine


1


.




As shown in

FIGS. 12 and 13

, packing machine


1


has a transfer conveyor


150


(shown partly in FIG.


7


), which is a horizontal belt conveyor, receives the finished packets


151


of cigarettes from vertical output conveyor


13


, and feeds the finished packets


151


of cigarettes to a known follow-up cellophaning machine (not shown). A optical control station


152


is located along transfer conveyor


150


to ensure each packet


151


of cigarettes conforms with production specifications.




Transfer conveyor


150


comprises a supporting beam


153


, along which runs a conveyor belt


154


with projections


155


defining seats for housing respective packets


151


of cigarettes; and control station


152


comprises a frame


156


fixed to supporting beam


153


and supporting a television camera


157


, two stroboscopic lamps


158


, and two mirrors


159


.




Camera


157


is located over transfer conveyor


150


with its optical axis


160


perpendicular to the front wall


161


of a packet


151


of cigarettes at control station


152


, and perpendicular to the feed direction


162


of transfer conveyor


150


. Mirrors


159


have respective reflecting surfaces


163


, which are rectangular with the major sides aligned with feed direction


162


of transfer conveyor


150


, and are located on opposite sides of transfer conveyor


150


to reflect back to camera


157


a full view of the lateral walls


164


of packet


151


of cigarettes, a full view of the edges


165


between lateral walls


164


and the rear wall


166


, and a view of two end portions of rear wall


166


close to edges


165


and not resting on conveyor belt


154


.




In actual use, as it is fed through control station


152


, each packet


151


of cigarettes is illuminated by a flash of light emitted by stroboscopic lamps


158


to enable camera


157


to pick up a single image comprising a complete view of front wall


161


, a complete view of lateral walls


164


, a complete view of edges


165


, and a view of two end portions of rear wall


166


close to edges


165


.



Claims
  • 1. A method of producing soft packets of cigarettes comprising a substantially rectangular-prism-shaped inner packet (7), and a cup-shaped outer package (11) formed by folding a sheet (9) of packing material about the relative inner packet (7); said inner packet (7) being fed continuously along a packing path (P) extending through a supply station (22) for supplying a relative said sheet (9) of packing material; said sheet (9) of packing material being removed from said supply station (22) tangentially with respect to said packing path (P), and then being fed along said packing path (P) in a given feed direction (21) together with said inner packet (7); said inner packet (7) being fed through said supply station (22) inside a relative first conveying pocket (41); said sheet (9) of packing material being removed from said supply station (22) by feeding gripping means (49) continuously through the supply station (22), along at least a portion of said packing path (P), together with said first conveying pocket (41), in said feed direction (21); the method being characterized by imparting a reverse movement to said gripping means (49) to substantially arrest the gripping means at said supply station (22) in such a position as to interfere with said sheet (9) of packing material being fed to said supply station (22); closing said gripping means (49) on to said sheet (9) of packing material; and arresting said reverse movement.
  • 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said sheet (9) of packing material is arrested, as it is fed to said supply station (22), by interference with said gripping means (49).
  • 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said sheet (9) of packing material is fed to said supply station (22) in a transverse direction (54) crosswise to said packing path (P) and to said feed direction (21).
  • 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said gripping means (49) are associated with said first conveying pocket (41), move with said first conveying pocket (41) along said packing path (P), and are located downstream from said first conveying pocket (41) in said feed direction (21).
  • 5. The method of claim 4, wherein, downstream from said supply station (22), said sheet (9) of packing material is fed, together with the relative said inner packet (7), in an engaged position engaging the inner packet (7) and in which an intermediate portion of the sheet (9) of packing material contacts a flat lateral surface (15) of said inner packet (7), and a first end portion (26) of the sheet (9) of packing material projects rearwards, in said feed direction (21), with respect to said inner packet (7).
  • 6. The method of claim 5, wherein, downstream from said supply station (22), said sheet (9) of packing material is smoothed on said flat lateral surface (15).
  • 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said inner packet (7) is substantially in the form of a rectangular prism defined axially by a first and a second opposite end surface (17, 18), and defined laterally by two major lateral surfaces (15) and two minor lateral surfaces (16) parallel to a longitudinal axis (14) of the rectangular prism; said inner packet (7) being fed along said packing path (P) with said longitudinal axis (14) crosswise to said feed direction (21); said flat lateral surface (15) being a first said major lateral surface (15); and said first end portion (26) projecting rearwards of a first said minor lateral surface (16) located rearwards in said feed direction (21).
  • 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said sheet (9) of packing material, once in said engaged position, is folded about the relative inner packet (7) by a first folding step wherein said sheet (9) of packing material is folded substantially into a U about said inner packet (7); a second folding step wherein said sheet (9) of packing material is folded further about said inner packet (7) to form, about the inner packet (7), a tubular package (25) comprising a tubular appendix (28) projecting from said second end surface (18); a gumming step wherein said tubular package (25) is stabilized; and a third folding step wherein said tubular appendix (28) is folded on to said second end surface (18) to obtain a relative finished said soft packet (12).
  • 9. The method of claim 8, wherein, during said first folding step, the sheet (9) of packing material is folded about said inner packet (7) so that said first end portion (26) contacts part of said first minor lateral surface (16); said tubular package (25) being formed by detaching said first end portion (26) from said first minor lateral surface (16) and inserting a second end portion (27), opposite said first end portion (26), of said sheet (9) of packing material partly beneath said first end portion (26).
  • 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said second end portion (27) is gummed along an outer surface (9a) before being inserted partly beneath said first end portion (26).
  • 11. The method of claim 9, wherein said first folding step is performed by transferring said inner packet (7) and the relative sheet (9) of packing material from said first conveying pocket (41) to a second conveying pocket (74).
  • 12. A method of producing soft packets of cigarettes comprising a substantially rectangular-prism-shaped inner packet (7), and a cup-shaped outer package (11) formed by folding a sheet (9) of packing material about the relative inner packet (7); the method being characterized in that said sheet (9) of packing material is first folded into a U about said inner packet (7) so that a first end portion (26) of the sheet of packing material contacts a minor lateral surface (16) of the inner packet (7); and is then further folded about said inner packet (7) to form a tubular package (25) by detaching said first end portion (26) from the relative said minor lateral surface (16), and inserting a second end portion (27), opposite the first end portion (26), of said sheet (9) of packing material beneath said first end portion (26).
  • 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said second end portion (27) is gummed along an outer surface (9a) before being inserted partly beneath said first end portion (26).
  • 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said outer package (11) is formed by feeding the relative inner packet (7) and relative sheet (9) of packing material along a packing path (P) in a given feed direction (21) and by means of a succession of conveying pockets (41, 74); said sheet (9) of packing material being folded into a U by transferring said inner packet (7) and the relative sheet (9) of packing material from a first said conveying pocket (41) to a second said conveying pocket (74) maintained facing each other at a transfer station (24).
  • 15. The method of claim 14, wherein, upstream from said transfer station (24), said sheet (9) of packing material is positioned in an engaged position engaging the relative said inner packet (7) and in which an intermediate portion of the sheet (9) of packing material contacts a flat lateral surface (15) of said inner packet (7), and a first end portion (26) of the sheet (9) of packing material projects rearwards, in said feed direction (21), with respect to said inner packet (7).
  • 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said inner packet (7) is substantially in the form of a rectangular prism defined axially by a first and a second opposite end surface (17, 18), and defined laterally by two major lateral surfaces (15) and two minor lateral surfaces (16) parallel to a longitudinal axis (14) of the inner packet (7); said inner packet (7) being fed along said packing path (P) with said longitudinal axis (14) crosswise to said feed direction (21); said flat lateral surface (15) being a first said major lateral surface (15); and said first end portion (26) projecting rearwards of a first said minor lateral surface (16) located rearwards in said feed direction (21).
  • 17. The method of claim 16, wherein, immediately downstream from said transfer station (24), said sheet (9) of packing material has been folded into a U about the relative inner packet (7) with said first end portion (26) contacting said first minor lateral surface (16), an intermediate portion of the sheet of packing material contacting a first said major lateral surface (15) facing inwards of said second conveying pocket (74), a further intermediate portion of the sheet of packing material contacting a second said minor lateral surface (16), and an end portion projecting outwards from said second conveying pocket (74).
  • 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said end portion is folded on to a second said major lateral surface (15), facing outwards of said second conveying pocket (74), by interference with fixed folding means (81) and so that said second end portion (27) projects rearwards of said first minor lateral surface (16); said second end portion (27) being gummed, in this position, on an outer surface (9a).
  • 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said inner packet (7) is fed continuously along a packing path (P) extending through a supply station (22) for supplying a relative said sheet (9) of packing material; said sheet (9) of packing material being removed from said supply station (22) tangentially with respect to said packing path (P), and then being fed along said packing path (P) in a given feed direction (21) together with said inner packet (7).
  • 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said sheet (9) of packing material is fed to said supply station (22) in a transverse direction (54) crosswise to said packing path (P) and to said feed direction (21).
  • 21. The method of claim 20, wherein said inner packet (7) is fed through said supply station (22) inside a relative first conveying pocket (41) moving along said packing path (P) in said feed direction (21); said sheet (9) of packing material being removed from said supply station (22) by gripping means (49) associated with said first conveying pocket (41), moving with said first conveying pocket (41) along said packing path (P), and located downstream from said first conveying pocket (41) in said feed direction (21).
  • 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said sheet (9) of packing material is removed from said supply station (22) by feeding said gripping means (49) continuously along said packing path (P), together with said first conveying pocket (41), in said feed direction (21); imparting a reverse movement to said gripping means (49) to substantially arrest the gripping means at said supply station (22) in such a position as to interfere with said sheet (9) of packing material being fed in said transverse direction (54); arresting said sheet (9) of packing material, as it is fed in said transverse direction (54), by interference with said gripping means (49); closing said gripping means (49) on to said sheet (9) of packing material; and arresting said reverse movement.
  • 23. The method of claim 22, wherein, downstream from said supply station (22), said sheet (9) of packing material is fed, together with the relative said inner packet (7), in an engaged position engaging the inner packet (7) and in which an intermediate portion of the sheet (9) of packing material contacts a flat lateral surface (15) of said inner packet (7), and a first end portion (26) of the sheet (9) of packing material projects rearwards, in said feed direction (21), with respect to said inner packet (7).
  • 24. The method of claim 23, wherein, downstream from said supply station (22), said sheet (9) of packing material is smoothed on said flat lateral surface (15).
  • 25. The method of claim 24, wherein said inner packet (7) is substantially in the form of a rectangular prism defined axially by a first and a second opposite end surface (17, 18), and defined laterally by two major lateral surfaces (15) and two minor lateral surfaces (16) parallel to a longitudinal axis (14) of the rectangular prism; said inner packet (7) being fed along said packing path (P) with said longitudinal axis (14) crosswise to said feed direction (21); said flat lateral surface (15) being a first said major lateral surface (15); and said first end portion (26) projecting rearwards of a first said minor lateral surface (16) located rearwards in said feed direction (21).
  • 26. A method of producing soft packets of cigarettes comprising a substantially rectangular-prism-shaped inner packet (7), and a cup-shaped outer package (11) formed by folding a sheet (9) of packing material about the relative inner packet (7); the method being characterized by said inner packet (7) being fed continuously along a packing path (P) extending through a supply station (22) for supplying a relative said sheet (9) of packing material; said sheet (9) of packing material being removed from said supply station (22) tangentially with respect to said packing path (P), and then being fed along said packing path (P) in a given feed direction (21) together with said inner packet (7);wherein said sheet (9) of packing material is fed to said supply station (22) in a transverse direction (54) crosswise to said packing path (P) and to said feed direction (21); and wherein said inner packet (7) is fed through said supply station (22) inside a relative first conveying pocket (41) moving along said packing path (P) in said feed direction (21); said sheet (9) of packing material being removed from said supply station (22) by gripping means (49) associated with said first conveying pocket (41), moving with said first conveying pocket (41) along said packing path (P), and located downstream from said first conveying pocket (41) in said feed direction (21).
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
BO2001A0298 May 2001 IT
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