Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102022000005684 filed on March 23, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a packer machine and to a wrapping method to produce a rigid pack for smoking articles.

The present invention is advantageously applied to the manufacturing of a rigid twin-type pack for cigarettes with a hinged lid and containing two twin sealed wraps which are next to one another, to which the following disclosure will explicitly refer without thereby losing generality.

Prior Art

Rigid packs for cigarettes with a hinged lid are currently the most widespread packs for cigarettes on the market since they are simple to manufacture, are easy and practical to use, and offer a good protection to the cigarettes contained therein.

A rigid pack for cigarettes with a hinged lid comprises a wrap composed of a group of cigarettes wrapped in a wrapping sheet and a rigid outer case which houses the wrap therein. The outer case is composed of a cup-shaped container, which houses the wrap and has an open upper end, and a lid, which is also cup-shaped and is hinged to the container in order to rotate, with respect to the container, between an open position and a closed position of the open end.

In a traditional pack for cigarettes, the group of cigarettes is wrapped in a glue-free rectangular wrapping sheet made of metallic paper. In order to preserve the integrity of the tobacco of the cigarettes, it has been proposed to manufacture a (an impermeable) sealed wrap composed of a wrapping sheet made of impermeable and heat-sealable material having an extraction opening for extracting the cigarettes, which is closed by a reusable closing label.

For several years now a pack for cigarettes commercially called “twin” has been known comprising a rigid outer container which houses therein two identical groups of cigarettes (i.e. “twins”, hence the commercial name of the pack for cigarettes), which are arranged next to one another and are wrapped in corresponding wrapping sheets.

Patent no. US4258528A, patent no. EP3362365B1 and patent application no. WO2021084477A1 describe a packer machine which manufactures a rigid twin-type pack for cigarettes with a hinged lid containing two twin wraps which are next to one another.

Patent application no. EP3222536A1 describes a packer machine which manufactures a rigid pack for cigarettes with a hinged lid and comprising: a first wrapping unit, which manufactures a wrap around a group of cigarettes, a second wrapping unit which creates an outer container around the wrap, and a feeding unit which receives the wrap from the first wrapping unit in an input station and delivers the wrap to the second wrapping unit in an output station.

Patent no. US10046875B2 describes a packer machine which manufactures a rigid pack for cigarettes with a hinged lid and with a sliding opening.

Description of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a packer machine and a wrapping method to produce a rigid pack for smoking articles, said packer machine and wrapping method are simple to manufacture, allow operating at a high production speed (measured as packs for cigarettes produced in the time unit), and allow quickly performing the size changing operations (i.e. the adaptation operations for modifying the features of the pack for cigarettes to be produced).

In accordance with the present invention, a packer machine and a wrapping method to produce a rigid pack for smoking articles are provided, according to what is claimed in the appended claims.

The claims describe embodiments of the present invention forming integral part of the present description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting example embodiment thereof, wherein:

• Figure 1 is a front perspective view in a closed configuration of a rigid pack for cigarettes;

• Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the pack for cigarettes of Figure 1 in a closed configuration;

• Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the pack for cigarettes of Figure 1 in an open configuration;

• Figure 4 is a front perspective view of a sealed wrap contained in the pack for cigarettes of Figure 1 ;

• Figure 5 is a perspective view of a group of cigarettes coupled to a reinforcement element and contained in the sealed wrap of Figure 4;

• Figure 6 is a plan view devoid of folds of the reinforcement element of Figure 5;

• Figure 7 is a plan view of a wrapping sheet utilized for manufacturing the sealed wrap of Figure 4;

• Figure 8 is a plan view of a blank utilized for manufacturing an outer container provided with a hinged lid of the pack for cigarettes of Figure 1 ;

• Figures 9-16 illustrate some steps of the folding of the wrapping sheet of Figure 7 around a group of cigarettes of Figure 5 in order to obtain the sealed wrap of Figure 4;

• Figure 17 is a front view, with parts removed for clarity, of a packer machine which produces the pack for cigarettes of Figure 1 and is manufactured in accordance with the present invention;

• Figure 18 is a perspective view which shows the paths followed by the components of the pack for cigarettes of Figure 1 in the packer machine of Figure 17;

• Figure 19 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a detail of Figure 18;

• Figure 20 is a schematic plan view of an initial part of the packer machine of Figure 17;

• Figure 21 is a schematic front view of three wrapping drums of the packer machine of Figure 17;

• Figure 22 is a schematic plan view of a wrapping drum and of a linear wrapping conveyor of the packer machine of Figure 17; • Figure 23 is a front view, with parts removed for clarity, of the three wrapping drums of Figure 21 ;

• Figure 24 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of two wrapping drums of Figure 21 and of the linear wrapping conveyor of Figure 22;

• Figures 25 and 26 are two different schematic views of the linear wrapping conveyor of Figure 22;

• Figures 27, 28 and 29 are schematic views of the linear wrapping conveyor of Figure 22 with sealing heads in three different positions assumed in different operating instants;

• Figure 30 is a perspective schematic view of a pocket of a wrapping drum of Figure 21; and

• Figure 31 is a schematic view of two folding devices of the packer machine of Figure 17.

Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, reference numeral 1 indicates, as a whole, a rigid twin pack for cigarettes. The pack 1 for cigarettes comprises an outer container 2 which is composed of rigid cardboard or paperboard and is cup-shaped, and a pair of wraps 3 (one of which is better illustrated in Figure 4) housed side by side inside the container 2.

The outer container 2 has an open upper end and is provided with a lid 4, which is cupshaped and is hinged to the outer container 2 along a hinge 5 (illustrated in Figure 2) so as to rotate, with respect to the outer container 2, between an open position (illustrated in Figure 3) and a closed position (illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) of the open upper end. The outer container 2 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape oriented according to a vertical prevailing development direction, is cup-shaped, and has the upper end open, a lower wall 6 opposite to the open upper end, a front wall 7 and a rear wall 8 (in which the hinge 5 is obtained) which are parallel and opposite to one another, and two lateral walls 9 which are parallel and opposite to one another.

The lid 4 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, is cup-shaped, and has an open lower end (facing the open upper end of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closed position), an upper wall 10 (which is parallel and opposite to the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closed position), a front wall 11 (which is parallel to and aligned with the front wall 7 of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closed position), a rear wall 12 (which is parallel to and aligned with the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closed position and is hinged to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 along the hinge 5), and two lateral walls 13 which are parallel and opposite to one another (which are parallel to and aligned with, in particular coplanar and adjacent to, the lateral walls 9 of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closed position).

Each sealed wrap 3 (illustrated in Figure 4) encloses a group 14 of cigarettes (partially illustrated in Figure 5) having a parallelepiped shape; each cigarette is provided with a filter 15 and thus the group 14 of cigarettes has an upper wall composed of the two circular ends (tips) of the filters 15 and a lower wall, opposite to the upper wall, composed of the two circular ends (tips) of the tobacco rods.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 4, the sealed wrap 3 has, at the top and frontally, an extraction opening 16 for extracting the cigarettes, which is delimited by a tearable pre-weakened line, is closed by a reusable closing label 17 and involves a portion of a front wall of the sealed wrap 3 and a portion of an upper wall of the sealed wrap 3. According to a preferred embodiment, the closing label 17 is fixed to the sealed wrap 3 of cigarettes by means of the repositionable adhesive which does not dry, which is applied to the lower surface of the closing label 17 and is arranged all around the extraction opening 16 for allowing the closing label 17 to be several times partially separated from the sealed wrap 3 and thus again fixed to the sealed wrap 3.

According to a different embodiment not illustrated, the sealed wrap 3 is devoid of the extraction opening 16 and of the relative closing label 17 and has a removable upper portion, which is separated from the rest of the sealed wrap 3 by a tearable pre-weakened line so as to be tearingly eliminated upon the first opening of the sealed wrap 3; in this embodiment, the sealed wrap 3 is preferably provided with a tearable opening tape in order to ease the breaking of the sealed wrap 3 along the pre- weakened line.

The sealed wrap 3 is obtained by folding a wrapping sheet 18 (illustrated in Figure 7), which has a rectangular shape, comprises at least one layer of airproof and heat sealable plastic material, and is directly folded around the group 14 of cigarettes so as to be in direct contact with the cigarettes. Once the wrapping sheet 18 has been folded around the group 14 of cigarettes for forming the sealed wrap 3, the shape of the sealed wrap 3 is stabilized by heat-sealing the superimposed portions of the wrapping sheet 18.

Before folding the wrapping sheet 18 around the group 14 of cigarettes, the wrapping sheet 18 is pre-engraved so as to define the extraction opening 16; subsequently, the closing label 17 is applied to the wrapping sheet 18, said closing label 17 being rubber- coated at the bottom, i.e. provided at the lower surface thereof with the repositionable adhesive which inside the extraction opening 16 determines the permanent gluing of an inner portion of the wrapping sheet 18 to the closing label 17 and on the outside of the extraction opening 16 determines a separable gluing of the wrapping sheet 18 to the closing label 17.

According to what is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the sealed wrap 4 could comprise a reinforcement element 19, which is composed of rigid cardboard or paperboard, is Ilshaped and is arranged inside the sealed wrap 3 in contact with the group 14 of cigarettes. The function of the reinforcement element 19 is to confer greater rigidity and greater shape stability to the sealed wrap 3 so as to prevent the sealed wrap 3 from collapsing after extracting a part of the cigarettes contained in the sealed wrap 3 making the extraction of the remaining cigarettes complicated and in particular making the opening and the subsequent closing of the closing label 17 extremely complicated. A further function of the reinforcement element 19 is to provide a mechanical protection for the cigarettes during the folding of the wrapping sheet 18, a mechanical and thermal protection for the cigarettes during the heat-sealing of the superimposed portions of the wrapping sheet 18, and a mechanical protection for the cigarettes during the handling of the sealed wrap 3.

According to what is better illustrated in Figure 6, the reinforcement element 19 comprises a front wall 20 arranged in contact with the cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes of the group 14 of cigarettes, two lateral walls 21 arranged on opposite sides of the front wall 20 in contact with the cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes of the group 14 of cigarettes, a lower wall 22 arranged in contact with the tips of the cigarettes of the group 14 of cigarettes (i.e. arranged in contact with the lower wall of the group 14 of cigarettes), and a (small) rear wall 23 arranged in contact with the cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes of the group 14 of cigarettes on the opposite side of the front wall 20. Preferably, the front wall 20 has an upper flaring 24, which is arranged at the extraction opening 16 of the cigarettes so that the front wall 20 is not superimposed on the extraction opening 16 of the cigarettes.

The formation of the sealed wrap 3 provides for initially forming the group 14 of cigarettes and then for folding the reinforcement element 19 around the group 14 of cigarettes (obtaining what is illustrated in Figure 5). Subsequently and as is illustrated in Figure 9, the wrapping sheet 18 is folded around the group 14 of cigarettes coupled to the reinforcement element 19. The group 14 of cigarettes has: two major lateral walls which are opposite with respect to one another and are composed of the cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes, two minor lateral walls which are opposite with respect to one another and are composed of the cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes, an upper wall composed of the ends of the filters 15, and a lower wall composed of the ends (tips) of the tobacco rods.

Initially, the group 14 of cigarettes is coupled to the unfolded wrapping sheet 18 bringing the upper wall (on the side of the filters 15) of the group 14 of cigarettes into contact with the wrapping sheet 18 (as is illustrated in Figure 9); subsequently, the wrapping sheet is folded in a “U” shape around the group 14 of cigarettes (as is illustrated in Figure 10) so that the U-folded wrapping sheet 18 is arranged at the upper wall and at the two major lateral walls of the group 14 of cigarettes and has two ends 25 and 26 which are parallel to the major lateral walls and come out of the major lateral walls (i.e. continue beyond the major lateral walls); it is important to observe that the wrapping sheet 18 is asymmetrically fed in front of the group 14 of cigarettes (i.e. the wrapping sheet 18 asymmetrically rests on the upper wall of the group 14 of cigarettes) so as to define the two ends 25 and 26 which both come out of the group 14 of cigarettes and have a different length (i.e. the end 25 is longer than the end 26 and the length difference between the end 25 and the end 26 is equal to the width of the lower wall of the group 14 of cigarettes). As is illustrated in Figure 10, the end 25 is parallel to a first major lateral wall of the group 14 of cigarettes and comes out of the first lower wall of the group 14 of cigarettes continuing beyond the major lateral wall; similarly, the end 26 is parallel to a second major lateral wall of the group 14 of cigarettes and comes out of the lower wall of the group 14 of cigarettes continuing beyond the second major lateral wall. As is illustrated in Figure 11, the end 25 is folded by 90° with respect to the first major lateral wall of the group 14 of cigarettes and against the lower wall of the group 14 of cigarettes and, simultaneously, a final part of the end 25 is folded by 90° so as to confer to the end 25 an “L” shape and thus arrange the final part of the end 25 parallel to and resting on the end 26 (which does not undergo, in this step, any type of folding, i.e. remains parallel to the second major lateral wall) conferring to the wrapping sheet 18 a tubular shape; in other words, simultaneously (i.e. with the same folding action) the end 25 is folded by 90° in two distinct points: a first folding by 90° around the corner between the first major lateral wall and the lower wall and a second folding at the comer between the second major lateral wall and the lower wall (i.e. in the proximity of the end 26) so as to confer to the end 25 an “L” shape and rest the final part of the end 25 against the end 26.

When the end 25 is L-folded and rests (in its final part) on the end 26, the wrapping sheet 18 is conferred a tubular shape having two open lateral edges (illustrated in Figure 16) at the minor lateral walls of the group 14 of cigarettes. At this point, as is illustrated in Figure 12, the superimposed portions of the ends 25 and 26 are heat-sealed to one another so as to stabilise the tubular shape of the wrapping sheet 18 and form a sealing fin 27. Finally, the ends 25 and 26, which are superimposed and heat-sealed with respect to one another (i.e. the sealing fin 27), are folded by 90° against the lower wall of the group 14 of cigarettes (as is illustrated in Figure 13) and with the interposition of part of the wrapping sheet 18. Alternatively, the ends 25 and 26, which are superimposed and heat-sealed with respect to one another (i.e. the sealing fin 27), are folded by 180° against the second major lateral wall of the group 14 of cigarettes (as is illustrated in Figure 14) and with the interposition of part of the wrapping sheet 18. According to a further embodiment illustrated in Figure 15, the two ends 25 and 26 have the same length, are both L-folded against the lower wall of the group 14 of cigarettes so as to form the sealing fin 27, and finally the sealing fin 27 (which initially is in the centre of the lower wall of the group 14 of cigarettes) is folded by 90° against the lower wall of the group 14 of cigarettes.

Subsequently, and as is illustrated in Figure 16, the two open lateral edges of the wrapping sheet 18 (which has a tubular shape around the group 14 of cigarettes) are closed by means of the so-called “soap fold' which for each lateral edge provides for: folding two minor flaps 28 and 29 against the minor lateral wall of the group 14 of cigarettes (actually the minor flap 28 arranged at the upper wall of the group 14 of cigarettes is folded previously, when the wrapping sheet 18 for the first time enters into contact with the group 14 of cigarettes and folds in a “U” shape around the group 14 of cigarettes), folding a major flap 30 against the minor lateral wall of the group 14 of cigarettes and on top of the two previously folded minor flaps 28 and 29, and finally folding the other major flap 31 against the minor lateral wall of the group 14 of cigarettes and on top of the two previously folded minor flaps 28 and 29 and the previously folded major flap 30. After completing the folding of the wrapping sheet 18 around the group 14 of cigarettes by closing the two lateral edges by means of respective lateral folds, said lateral folds are stabilized by means of heat-sealing, i.e. heat-sealing the superimposed parts of the wrapping sheet 18 at the minor lateral walls of the group 14 of cigarettes.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 8, the outer container 2 and the lid 4 are made by folding a blank 32 of conventional type.

In Figure 17, reference numeral 33 indicates, as a whole, a packer machine which is designed to manufacture the above-described pack 1 for cigarettes and operates with an intermittent motion (i.e. a motion which provides for a cyclic alternation of motion steps and dwell steps).

The packer machine 33 comprises a forming unit A where the groups 14 of cigarettes are formed in succession, a wrapping unit B where around each group 14 of cigarettes a respective wrapping sheet 18 is wrapped for creating a sealed wrap 3, and a wrapping unit C where around each pair of sealed wraps 3 coupled to one another (i.e. arranged side by side) a blank 32 is wrapped for creating an outer container 2 provided with a lid 4.

The forming unit A of the groups 14 of cigarettes comprises a hopper 34 provided with three output mouths 35 for simultaneously feeding three pairs of groups 14 of cigarettes to three respective pairs of pockets 36 of a forming conveyor 37 which supports a plurality of pairs of pockets 36: each pocket 36 is designed to contain a group 14 of cigarettes and the pockets 36 are grouped in pairs so that there is a plurality of pairs of pockets 36 next to one another. In other words, from each output mouth 35 two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another are extracted together which are inserted together in two corresponding pockets 36 arranged side by side. The forming conveyor 37 comprises an annular- shaped conveyor belt, which is wrapped around two end pulleys (one of which is motorized), supports the pockets 36 and moves in step motion so as to cyclically shift the pockets 36 along a forming path Pl (illustrated in Figure 20). According to what is better illustrated in Figure 20, the forming path Pl develops between an input station SI where each pair of groups 14 of cigarettes is extracted from an output mouth 35 of the hopper 34 and enters a corresponding pair of pockets 36 and a transfer station S2 where each pair of groups 14 of cigarettes is extracted from the corresponding pair of pockets 36.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 20, the wrapping unit B comprises a wrapping conveyor 38 which is arranged downstream of the forming conveyor 37 (i.e. receives the pairs of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another from the forming conveyor 37 in the transfer station S2) and is designed to move the pairs of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another together with the corresponding wrapping sheets 18 along a wrapping path P2 so as (to start folding) to fold each wrapping sheet 18 around the corresponding group 14 of cigarettes. In particular, the wrapping path P2 extends from the transfer station S2 where the wrapping conveyor 38 receives two groups 14 of cigarettes at a time from a corresponding pair of pockets 36 of the forming conveyor 37, passes through a feeding station S3 where a corresponding pair of wrapping sheets 18 next to one another couples to each pair of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another, and ends in a transfer station S4 where the pairs of sealed wraps 3 being formed (i.e. each composed of a wrapping sheet 18 only partially folded around a corresponding group 14 of cigarettes) leave the wrapping conveyor 38.

In particular, along the wrapping path P2 (i.e. while being moved by the wrapping conveyor 38) each wrapping sheet 18 is initially folded in a “U” shape and subsequently folded in a tubular manner around a corresponding group 14 of cigarettes and the tubular wrap (having two open lateral ends) formed in said manner is stabilized by means of a transverse sealing (as is illustrated in Figures 9-15).

According to what is illustrated in Figure 20, the wrapping unit B comprises a wrapping conveyor 39 which is arranged downstream of the wrapping conveyor 38 (i.e. receives the pairs of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the wrapping sheets 18 from the wrapping conveyor 38) and is designed to move the pairs of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the wrapping sheets 18 along a straight wrapping path P3 so as (to end folding) to fold each wrapping sheet 18 around the corresponding group 14 of cigarettes. In particular, the wrapping path P3 extends from a transfer station S5 where the wrapping conveyor 39 receives two groups 14 of cigarettes at a time coupled to the wrapping sheets 18 and ends in a transfer station S6 (illustrated in Figure 22) where the pairs of complete sealed wraps 3 (i.e. each composed of a wrapping sheet 18 completely folded around a corresponding group 14 of cigarettes) leave the wrapping conveyor 39.

In particular, along the wrapping path P3 (i.e. while being moved by the wrapping conveyor 39) each tubular wrap 3 is laterally closed by means of lateral folds which are subsequently stabilized by means of two longitudinal seals completing (ending) the creation of the tubular wrap 3 (as is illustrated in Figure 16).

According to what is illustrated in Figure 20, the wrapping unit B comprises a wrapping drum 40 (arranged horizontally) which is interposed between the wrapping conveyor 38 and the wrapping conveyor 39, is mounted so as to rotate around a vertical rotation axis 41 (perpendicular to the wrapping path P3), and supports four pairs of pockets 42 (illustrated in Figures 21 and 22), each of which is designed to contain a group 14 of cigarettes coupled to a wrapping sheet 18 (thus a pair of pockets 42 next to one another supports a pair of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the respective wrapping sheets 18). The wrapping drum 40, rotating around the rotation axis 41, moves each pair of pockets 42 next to one another along a circular wrapping path P4 between the transfer station S4 where the pair of pockets 42 next to one another receives a pair of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the wrapping sheets 18 from the wrapping conveyor 38 and the transfer station S5 where the pair of pockets 42 next to one another delivers the pair of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the wrapping sheets 18 to the wrapping conveyor 39.

According to what is better illustrated in Figure 21, the wrapping conveyor 38 comprises a wrapping drum 43 (arranged vertically) which is arranged immediately downstream of the forming conveyor 37, is mounted so as to rotate around a horizontal rotation axis 44 (parallel to the wrapping path P3 and perpendicular to the rotation axis 41), and supports a plurality of pairs of pockets 45, each of which is designed to contain a group 14 of cigarettes coupled to a wrapping sheet 18 (thus a pair of pockets 45 axially next to one another supports a pair of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the respective wrapping sheets 18). The wrapping drum 43, rotating around the rotation axis 44, moves each pair of pockets 45 next to one another along the circular wrapping path P2 between the transfer station S2 where the pair of pockets 45 next to one another receives a pair of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another from the forming conveyor 37, through the feeding station S3 where the pair of pockets 45 next to one another receives a pair of wrapping sheets 18 next to one another which are arranged on the outside of the pair of pockets 45 next to one another, and a transfer station S7 where the pair of pockets 45 next to one another delivers the pair of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the wrapping sheets 18.

According to what is better illustrated in Figure 21, the wrapping conveyor 38 comprises a wrapping drum 46 (arranged vertically) which is arranged immediately downstream of the wrapping drum 43 and immediately upstream of the wrapping drum 40, is mounted so as to rotate around a horizontal rotation axis 47 (parallel to the rotation axis 44 and perpendicular to the rotation axis 41), and supports a plurality of pairs of pockets 48, each of which is designed to contain a group 14 of cigarettes coupled to a wrapping sheet 18 (thus a pair of pockets 48 axially next to one another supports a pair of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the respective wrapping sheets 18). The wrapping drum 46, rotating around the rotation axis 47, moves each pair of pockets 48 next to one another along the circular wrapping path P2 between the transfer station S7 where the pair of pockets 48 next to one another receives a pair of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the wrapping sheets 18 from the wrapping drum 43 and the transfer station S4 where the pair of pockets 48 next to one another delivers the pair of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the wrapping sheets 18 to the wrapping drum 40.

In other words, in the feeding station S3 two wrapping sheets 18 next to one another rest on the periphery of the wrapping drum 43 at a respective pair of pockets 45 next to one another and shift with the respective pair of pockets 45 next to one another up to the transfer station S7; in the transfer station S7 the two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another, coming out of the pair of pockets 45 next to one another of the wrapping drum 43 and entering the respective pair of pockets 48 next to one another of the wrapping drum 46, drag with them the two wrapping sheets 18 next to one another which, entering the pockets 48, fold in a “U” shape around the groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another (as is well illustrated in Figure 19).

Along the wrapping path P2, the wrapping conveyor 38 moves the groups 14 of cigarettes with a longitudinal orientation (i.e. with the cigarettes parallel to the wrapping path P2 and the filters 15 of the cigarettes arranged at the front or at the back). Also along the wrapping path P3, the wrapping conveyor 39 moves the groups 14 of cigarettes with a longitudinal orientation (i.e. with the cigarettes parallel to the wrapping path P2 and the filters 15 of the cigarettes arranged at the front).

According to what is illustrated in Figures 21, 23 and 24, the packer machine 33 comprises two folding devices 49, each of which is coupled to the wrapping drum 46 and is configured to fold a wrapping sheet 18 in a tubular manner around the corresponding group 14 of cigarettes contained in a respective pocket 48. Each wrapping sheet 18 folds in a “U” shape around the corresponding group 14 of cigarettes when the group 14 of cigarettes enters (together with the wrapping sheet 18) the respective pocket 48 in the transfer station S7 and as is illustrated in Figure 10; furthermore, each folding device 49 performs the tubular folding of each wrapping sheet 18 around the corresponding group 14 of cigarettes illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. The wrapping drum 46 moves along the wrapping path P2 a succession of pairs of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the wrapping sheets 18 (by means of corresponding pairs of pockets 48 next to one another) and thus the two folding devices 49 are next to one another so as to perform together and simultaneously the folding of two wrapping sheets 18 around two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another.

Furthermore, the packer machine 33 comprises two sealing devices 50, each of which is coupled to the wrapping drum 46 and is configured to create a transverse seal on a wrapping sheet 18 folded in a tubular manner around the corresponding group 14 of cigarettes contained in a respective pocket 48. According to a preferred embodiment, each sealing device 50 comprises three different sealing heads 51 arranged in succession around the wrapping drum 46 (i.e. along the wrapping path P2) so that the transverse sealing on each wrapping sheet 18 folded in a tubular manner is performed in three distinct and subsequent steps (a sealing head 51 is schematically illustrated also in Figure 12). The wrapping drum 46 moves along the wrapping path P2 a succession of pairs of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the wrapping sheets 18 and thus the two sealing devices 50 are next to one another so as to perform together and simultaneously the sealing of two wrapping sheets 18 around two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 22, the packer machine 33 comprises two folding devices 52, each of which is coupled to the wrapping conveyor 39 and is configured to fold a wrapping sheet 18 around the corresponding group 14 of articles completing the formation of the sealed wrap 3, i.e. closing the two open ends of the wrapping sheet 18 folded in a tubular manner as is illustrated in Figure 16. The wrapping conveyor 39 moves along the wrapping path P2 a succession of pairs of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the wrapping sheets 18 and thus the two folding devices 52 are next to one another so as to perform together and simultaneously the folding of two wrapping sheets 18 around two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another.

In particular, each folding device 52 comprises two fixed folding screws 53 and 54 (i.e. folding profiles entirely devoid of parts in movement) arranged along the wrapping path P3 (i.e. along the wrapping conveyor 39). In particular, altogether four fixed folding screws 53 and 54 are provided, each of which folds a lateral end of a corresponding wrapping sheet 18 folded in a tubular manner: the wrapping conveyor 39 moves along the wrapping path P3 a succession of pairs of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the wrapping sheets 18 folded in a tubular manner, thus for each group 14 of cigarettes two fixed folding screws 53 and 54 are necessary arranged at the two opposite ends of the group 14 of cigarettes. Consequently, two fixed folding screws 53 are arranged in the centre of the wrapping conveyor 39 (one fixed folding screw 53 which operates with the group 14 of cigarettes arranged on the right and the other fixed folding screw 53 which operates with the group 14 of cigarettes arranged on the left) and two fixed folding screws 54 on the sides of the wrapping conveyor 39 (one fixed folding screw 54 which operates with the group 14 of cigarettes arranged on the right and the other fixed folding screw 54 which operates with the group 14 of cigarettes arranged on the left). According to what is illustrated in Figure 22, the packer machine 33 comprises two sealing devices 55, each of which is coupled to the wrapping conveyor 39 and is configured to create the longitudinal seal on a wrapping sheet 18 folded around the group 14 of cigarettes completing the formation of the corresponding sealed wrap 3. Each sealing device 55 is coupled to the wrapping conveyor 39 and is arranged along the wrapping path P3 downstream of the respective folding device 52 so as to create a seal on two sides of a wrapping sheet 18 folded around a corresponding group 14 of cigarettes. According to a preferred embodiment, each sealing device 55 comprises a plurality of outer sealing heads 56 arranged on the outside of the wrapping conveyor 39 and a plurality of inner sealing heads 57 arranged in the middle of the wrapping conveyor 39 (i.e. in the free central zone between two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another). Consequently, two inner sealing heads 57 are arranged in the centre of the wrapping conveyor 39 (one inner sealing head 57 which operates with the group 14 of cigarettes arranged on the right and the other inner sealing head 57 which operates with the group 14 of cigarettes arranged on the left) and two outer sealing heads 56 are arranged on the sides of the wrapping conveyor 39 (one outer sealing head 56 which operates with the group 14 of cigarettes arranged on the right and the other outer sealing head 56 which operates with the group 14 of cigarettes arranged on the left). Each sealing device 55 comprises several sealing heads 56 and 57 arranged in succession along the wrapping conveyor 39 (i.e. along the wrapping path P3) so that the longitudinal seals on each wrapping sheet 18 are performed in several distinct and subsequent steps.

The wrapping conveyor 39 moves along the wrapping path P3 a succession of pairs of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to the wrapping sheets 18 and thus the two sealing devices 55 are next to one another so as to perform together and simultaneously the sealing of two wrapping sheets 18 around two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another.

As mentioned in the foregoing, along the wrapping path P2 (and thus at the wrapping conveyor 38) a feeding station S3 is present where pairs of wrapping sheets 18 next to one another are arranged on the periphery of the wrapping drum 43 at a pair of pockets 45 next to one another (containing two respective groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another). According to what is illustrated in Figure 23, the packer machine 33 comprises a feeding device 58 (only partially illustrated) which cyclically feeds the wrapping sheets 18 into the feeding station S3, i.e. arranges pairs of wrapping sheets 18 next to one another in the feeding station S3 so that each pair of wrapping sheets 18 is deposited on the periphery of the wrapping drum 43 at a pair of pockets 45 next to one another. The feeding device 58 comprises an unwinding station where a single wrapping material band 59 (illustrated in Figure 18) having a double width is unwound by a coil (not illustrated) and is moved (passing next to the hopper 33) towards a cutting member 60 of known type which is arranged above the feeding station S3 and cyclically performs a transverse cut of the wrapping material band 59 so as to separate from the wrapping material band 59 pieces of the material band 59 which constitute respective pairs of wrapping sheets 18 next to one another (and still joined to one another). Furthermore, the feeding device 58 comprises a cutting member 61 of known type which is arranged above the feeding station S3 downstream of the cutting member 60 and cyclically performs a longitudinal cut of each piece of the material band 59 (which has been separated from the head of the wrapping material band 59 by the cutting member 60) so as to divide the piece of the material band 59 into two wrapping sheets 18 next to one another (and no longer joined to one another).

The feeding device 58 could also comprise a machining member (for example an embosser) which is arranged between the unwinding station and the cutting member 60 and performs a machining operation (for example an embossing operation) of the wrapping material band 59.

As mentioned in the foregoing, the cutting member 61 is configured to cut in half the single wrapping material band 59 having a double width in order to obtain, from the single wrapping material band 59, a series of pairs of wrapping sheets 18 arranged in mutual contact (separated from one another by a longitudinal cutting line but in mutual contact along the longitudinal cutting line, i.e. at a null distance from one another). The wrapping conveyor 38 (composed of the two wrapping drums 43 and 46) is configured to move each pair of groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another where the two groups 14 of cigarettes are arranged at a mutual distance such that the groups 14 of cigarettes are centred with respect to the corresponding wrapping sheets 18 arranged in mutual contact. Similarly, also the wrapping conveyor 39 is configured to move the groups 14 of cigarettes where the two groups 14 of cigarettes are arranged at the same mutual distance as the wrapping conveyor 38, i.e. are arranged at a mutual distance such that the groups 14 of cigarettes are centred with respect to the corresponding wrapping sheets 18 arranged in mutual contact.

The fact that after the longitudinal cut made by the cutting member 61 the two wrapping sheets 18 are not distanced (separated) from one another but remain in mutual contact along the longitudinal cutting line (i.e. remain at a null distance from one another) allows simplifying the treatment of the two wrapping sheets 18 and also allows making the entire wrapping unit B more compact (smaller).

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 23, the feeding device 58 comprises a suctioning moving cylinder 62 which is mounted so as to rotate around a horizontal rotation axis 63 (parallel to the rotation axis 44) and cooperates with the cutting member 60 and a following suctioning moving cylinder 64 which is mounted so as to rotate around a horizontal rotation axis 65 (parallel to the rotation axis 44) which is arranged immediately downstream of the moving cylinder 62 and cooperates with the cutting member 61. In particular, the moving cylinder 64 represents the final component of the feeding device 58 and cyclically deposits a pair of wrapping sheets 18 next to one another on the periphery of the wrapping drum 43 at a pair of pockets 45 next to one another and in the feeding station S3.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 17, the wrapping unit C of the packer machine 33 comprises a wrapping drum 66 which is arranged downstream of the wrapping conveyor 39, supports a plurality of pockets 67 each designed to contain a pair of sealed wraps 3 arranged next to one another (and in mutual contact), and is mounted so as to rotate (with an intermittent motion, i.e. “step” motion) around a horizontal rotation axis 68 perpendicular to the wrapping path P3 so as to move each pocket 67 along a circular wrapping path parallel to the wrapping path P3. Each pocket 67 of the wrapping wheel 66 receives a pair of sealed wraps 3 arranged next to one another (and in mutual contact) in a transfer station S8, receives a blank 32 in a feeding station S9 arranged downstream of the transfer station S8 along the wrapping path, and delivers together the pair of sealed wraps 3 arranged next to one another (and in mutual contact) and the blank 32 in the transfer station S10 arranged downstream of the feeding station S9 along the wrapping path.

In the feeding station S9, each blank 32 rests on the outer surface of the wrapping drum 66 at a pocket 67 and is held in this position by means of suction; in the transfer station

510, a pair of sealed wraps 3 arranged next to one another, coming out of the corresponding pocket 67, drags with it the previously fed blank 32.

The packer machine 33 comprises a feeding device 69 which cyclically feeds the blanks 32 in the feeding station S9, i.e. arranges each blank 32 in front of a pocket 67.

The packer machine 33 comprises a wrapping drum 70 which is arranged downstream of the wrapping drum 66, supports a plurality of pockets 71 each designed to contain a pair of sealed wraps 3 and a blank 32, and is mounted so as to rotate (with an intermittent motion, i.e. “step” motion) around a horizontal rotation axis 72 parallel to the rotation axis 68 so as to move each pocket 71 along a circular wrapping path. Each pocket 71 of the wrapping drum 72 receives a pair of sealed wraps 3 and a blank 32 in the transfer station S10, folds the blank 32 downstream of the transfer station S10, and delivers an almost complete pack 1 for cigarettes (lacking only the folding of a pair of flaps which form the outer part of the lateral walls 9 and 13) in a transfer station Si l arranged downstream of the transfer station S10 along the wrapping path. In the transfer station

511, the folding of each blank 32 is completed (thus completing the formation of the corresponding pack 1 for cigarettes) immediately downstream of the wrapping drum 70. Once completed the formation of each pack 1 for cigarettes, the pack 1 for cigarettes is delivered to a drying conveyor (not illustrated) which moves the pack 1 for cigarettes in succession towards an output of the packer machine 33.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 24, the packer machine 33 comprises a transfer drum 73 which is interposed between the wrapping conveyor 39 and the wrapping drum 66, supports a plurality of pockets 74 each designed to contain a pair of sealed wraps 3 next to one another (and arranged at a certain distance from one another), and is mounted so as to rotate (with an intermittent motion, i.e. “step” motion) around a vertical rotation axis 75 (thus perpendicular to the rotation axis 68 of the wrapping drum 66 and to the wrapping path P3) so as to move each pocket 74 along a circular transfer path between the transfer station S6 where the pocket 74 receives a pair of sealed wraps 3 next to one another (and arranged at a certain distance from one another) from the wrapping conveyor 39 and a transfer station S 12 where the pocket 74 delivers the pair of sealed wraps 3 next to one another. The transfer station S12 is vertically aligned with the transfer station S8 and is below the transfer station S8; a pusher (lifter) is provided which is vertically movable from the bottom upwards and is designed to transfer a pair of sealed wraps 3 next to one another from the transfer station S12 to the transfer station S8 (i.e. from a pocket 74 of the transfer drum 73 to a pocket 67 of the wrapping drum 66). In the vertical route from the transfer station S12 to the transfer station S8 the two sealed wraps 3 next to one another can be pushed towards one another so as to zero their mutual distance (i.e. initially in the transfer station S12 the two sealed wraps 3 next to one another are at a certain distance from one another while at the end in the transfer station S8 the two sealed wraps 3 next to one another are in mutual contact).

According to an alternative embodiment not illustrated, also collars could be fed to the wrapping drum 66 which become part of the packs 1 for cigarettes.

Based on what presented in the foregoing, it is evident that the rotation axes 44 and 47 of the wrapping drums 43 and 46 are horizontal, are parallel to the wrapping path P3, and are perpendicular to the rotation axes 68 72 of the wrapping drums 66 and 70. Furthermore, based on what presented in the foregoing, it is evident that the wrapping path P2 of the wrapping conveyor 38 is perpendicular to the forming path Pl of the forming conveyor 37.

According to what is illustrated in Figures 25 and 26, each sealing device 55 comprises an actuator 76 configured to shift, during the regular operation of the packer machine 33, the sealing heads 56 and 57 between a working position (illustrated in Figure 28) where the sealing heads 56 and 57 have a first mutual distance which determines a compression of the corresponding sealed wraps 3 (each containing a group 14 of cigarettes wrapped in a wrapping sheet 18) and a moving position (illustrated in Figure 27) where the sealing heads 56 and 57 have a second mutual distance which is greater than the first mutual distance and allows the corresponding sealed wraps 3 (each containing a group 14 of cigarettes wrapped in a wrapping sheet 18) to move along the wrapping path P3 without touching the sealing heads 56 and 57.

Obviously, the sealing heads 56 and 57 assume a working position (illustrated in Figure 28) when the wrapping conveyor 39 is in a stopping step (i.e. is in standstill) and so as to allow the sealing heads 56 and 57 to perform the longitudinal heat-sealing of the superimposed ends of the wrapping sheets 18; the compression exerted by the sealing heads 56 and 57 on the sealed wraps 3 (each containing a group 14 of cigarettes wrapped in a wrapping sheet 18) allows performing in an optimal manner the longitudinal heatsealing of the superimposed ends of the wrapping sheets 18. Whereas, the sealing heads 56 and 57 assume the moving position (illustrated in Figure 27) when the wrapping conveyor 39 is in a motion step (i.e. is shifting) so as to allow the corresponding sealed wraps 3 (each containing a group 14 of cigarettes wrapped in a wrapping sheet 18) to move along the wrapping path P3 together with the wrapping conveyor 39 without sliding against the sealing heads 56 and 57.

Furthermore, each actuator 76 is configured to shift, only when the packer machine 33 is stopped, the sealing heads 56 and 57 in a resting position (illustrated in Figure 29) where the sealing heads 56 and 57 have a third mutual distance which is (widely) greater than the second mutual distance and allows preventing the heat emitted by the sealing heads 56 and 57 from excessively heating the sealed wraps 3 which could remain still along the wrapping path P3 also for several minutes.

In other words, the wrapping conveyor 39 follows a step movement pattern which alternates motion steps and dwell steps; each actuator 76 is configured to maintain the sealing heads 56 and 57 in the moving position during the motion steps of the wrapping conveyor 39 and to shift the sealing heads 56 and 57 from the moving position to the working position and vice versa during the dwell steps of the wrapping conveyor 39. Furthermore, each actuator 76 is configured to shift the sealing heads 56 and 57 in the resting position when the wrapping unit B (i.e. the entire packer machine 33) is stopped and thus the wrapping conveyor 39 is in standstill.

By way of example, the stroke accomplished by the sealing heads 56 and 57 in order to shift between the moving position and the working position is approximately 1-2 mm, whereas the stroke which is accomplished by the sealing heads 56 and 57 in order to shift towards the resting position is approximately 5-10 mm.

According to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, each actuator 76 is configured to shift the sealing heads 56 and 57 between the working position and the moving position along a horizontal direction DI which is perpendicular to the wrapping path P3 and is configured to shift only the inner sealing heads 57 from and to the resting position along a vertical direction D2 which is perpendicular to the direction DI and to the wrapping path P3. In other words, according to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, each actuator 76 is configured to shift only the inner sealing heads 57 from and to the resting position along the direction D2 and is configured to shift the outer sealing head 56 from and to the resting position along the direction DI. According to a different embodiment not illustrated, each actuator 76 is configured to shift all the sealing heads 56 and 57 from and to the resting position along the direction D2.

According to a possible embodiment, each actuator 76 comprises a single motor which produces both the shifting along the direction DI, and the shifting along the direction D2; alternatively, each actuator 76 comprises a first motor which produces the shifting along the direction DI and a second motor separated from and independent of the first motor which produces the shifting along the direction D2.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 21, in the transfer station S2 a pusher 77 and an accompanying apparatus 78 are provided which cause the transfer of two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another from a pair of pockets 36 next to one another of the forming conveyor 37 to a pair of pockets 45 next to one another of the wrapping drum 43. The pusher 77 and the accompanying apparatus 78 always remain in the transfer station S2, whereas the forming conveyor 37 and the wrapping drum 43 shift along the corresponding paths Pl and P2 so as to cyclically vary the corresponding pockets 36 and 45 which are dwelling in the transfer station S2. The pusher 77 and the accompanying apparatus 78 shift in a synchronised manner with respect to one another so as to “grip” between them the two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another to be transferred and thus allowing maintaining a complete control on the position and on the stability of the two groups 14 of cigarettes.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 21, a pusher 79 and an accompanying apparatus 80 are arranged in the transfer station S7, which cause the transfer of two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to two wrapping sheets 18 from a pair of pockets 45 next to one another of the wrapping drum 43 to a pair of pockets 48 next to one another of the wrapping drum 46. The pusher 79 and the accompanying apparatus 80 always remain in the transfer station S7, whereas the wrapping drums 43 and 46 shift along the corresponding wrapping paths P2 so as to cyclically vary the corresponding pockets 45 and 48 which are stopped in the transfer station S7. The pusher 79 and the accompanying apparatus 80 shift in a synchronised manner with respect to one another so as to “grip” between them the two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another to be transferred and thus allowing maintaining a complete control on the position and on the stability of the two groups 14 of cigarettes.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 21, in the transfer station S4 a pusher 81 and an accompanying apparatus 82 are arranged which cause the transfer of two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to two wrapping sheets 18 folded in a tubular manner from a pair of pockets 48 next to one another of the wrapping drum 46 to a pair of pockets 42 next to one another of the wrapping drum 40. The pusher 81 and the accompanying apparatus 82 always remain in the transfer station S4, whereas the wrapping drums 46 and 40 shift along the corresponding wrapping paths P2 and P4 so as to cyclically vary the corresponding pockets 48 and 42 which are dwelling in the transfer station S4. The pusher 81 and the accompanying apparatus 82 shift in a synchronised manner with respect to one another so as to “grip” between them the two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another to be transferred and thus allowing maintaining a complete control on the position and on the stability of the two groups 14 of cigarettes.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 22, in the transfer station S5 a pusher 83 is arranged which causes the transfer of two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another and coupled to two wrapping sheets 18 folded in a tubular manner from a pair of pockets 48 next to one another of the wrapping drum 46 to a pair of pockets 84 next to one another (schematically illustrated in Figure 20) of the wrapping conveyor 39. The pusher 83 always remains in the transfer station S5, whereas the wrapping drum 40 and the wrapping conveyor 39 shift along the corresponding wrapping paths P4 and P3 so as to cyclically vary the corresponding pockets 42 and 84 which are stopped in the transfer station S5. In the transfer station S5, the tubular folding of the wrapping sheets 18 has already been completed and stabilized, thus the pusher 83 does not necessarily require the presence of a corresponding counter-pusher since the tubular folding of the wrapping sheets 18 contributes towards maintaining stable the groups 14 of cigarettes (actually also the accompanying apparatus 82 of the transfer station S4 could be omitted).

According to a preferred embodiment, the wrapping conveyor 39 comprises a conveyor belt having an annular shape, which is wrapped around two end pulleys (one of which is motorized), supports the pockets 84 and moves in step motion so as to cyclically shift the pockets 84 along the wrapping path P3.

In the input station SI, the filters 15 of the cigarettes are arranged at the back (i.e. the groups 14 of cigarettes are pushed on the filters 15 so as to be extracted from the output mouths 35 of the hopper 34). In the transfer station S2, the filters 15 of the cigarettes are arranged at the back (i.e. the pusher 77 pushes on the filters 15). In the transfer station S7, the filters 15 of the cigarettes are arranged at the front (i.e. the pusher 79 pushes on the tips opposite the filters 15). In the transfer station S4, the filters 15 of the cigarettes are arranged at the back (i.e. the pusher 81 pushes on the filters 15). In the transfer station S5, the filters 15 of the cigarettes are arranged at the front (i.e. the pusher 83 pushes on the tips opposite the filters 15).

As mentioned in the foregoing, the transfer station S7 comprises the pusher 79 which is radially movable with respect to the rotation axis 47 of the wrapping drum 46, is arranged on the outside of the wrapping drum 46, and is configured to push two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another inside two corresponding pockets 48 next to one another; furthermore, the transfer station S7 comprises the accompanying apparatus 80 which is radially movable with respect to the rotation axis 47 of the wrapping drum 46, is arranged on the inside of the wrapping drum 46, and is configured to accompany from the opposite side with respect to the pusher 79 the input of two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another inside two corresponding pockets 48 next to one another.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 30, each pair of pockets 48 next to one another of the wrapping drum 46 is obtained inside a drawer 85 (having a substantially parallelepiped shape) which has a dividing wall 86 in the middle which is oriented radially and separates the two pockets 48 with respect to one another; each dividing wall 86 has two folding profiles 87 which are arranged on the opposite sides of the dividing wall 86 and extend along the entire length of the drawer 85. The accompanying apparatus 80 comprises two plates 88 which are configured to enter the pockets 48 and rest on a pair of corresponding groups 14 of cigarettes with the interposition of two corresponding wrapping sheets 18 and are mounted on respective rods 89 which are connected to one another (i.e. mounted on the same support) so as to shift together.

Each folding profile 87 is shaped for folding by 90° a minor flap 28 (illustrated in Figures 4 and 16) of each wrapping sheet 18 against the corresponding group 14 of cigarettes, whereas the group 14 of cigarettes enters a respective pocket 48 obtained in the drawer 85. Each drawer 85 also comprises, for each pocket 48, an outer wall 90 which delimits the pocket 48 on the opposite side of the dividing wall 86 (i.e. the outer wall 90 is parallel and opposite to the dividing wall 86) and has a folding profile 87 of its own shaped for folding by 90° a minor flap 28 (illustrated in Figures 4 and 16) of each wrapping sheet 18 against the corresponding group 14 of cigarettes, whereas the group 14 of cigarettes enters a respective pocket 48 obtained in the drawer 85. In other words, when a group 14 of cigarettes enters a respective pocket 48 obtained in the drawer 85, the two minor flaps 28 (illustrated in Figures 4 and 16) of the wrapping sheet 18 fold by 90° against the group 14 of cigarettes by effect of the two folding profiles 87 which extend from the dividing wall 86 and from the outer wall 90.

According to preferred embodiment, each pocket 41 of the wrapping drum 40 has two corresponding inner folding profiles for folding by 90° the minor flaps 29 (illustrated in Figures 4 and 16) of each wrapping sheet 18 against the corresponding group 14 of cigarettes.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 31, the packer machine 33 comprises a cooling system 91 which is coupled to the two folding devices 52 and is configured to cool the fixed folding screws 53 and 54 of each folding device 52.

The cooling system 91 comprises for each folding screw 53 or 54 a heat exchanger 92 which is in contact with a surface of the folding screw 53 or 54 (centrally a same heat exchanger 92 can be shared by both folding screws 53 of the two folding devices 52 arranged side by side). Obviously, each heat exchanger 92 is not in direct contact with an operating surface (i.e. which directly performs the folds) of a corresponding folding screw 53 or 54, but is in contact with another surface of a corresponding folding screw 53 or 54 different from the operating surface (i.e. which directly performs the folds).

Alternatively, each heat exchanger 92 could not rest on a surface of a corresponding folding screw 53 or 54 but could be integrated in the corresponding folding screw 53 or 54 (i.e. could form a single body with the corresponding folding screw 53 or 54).

Each heat exchanger 92 is passed through, in use, by a cooling fluid (typically water) and is thus connected to a hydraulic circuit 93 provided with a circulation pump 94 and with a radiator 95 (for delivering to the outer environment part of the heat of the cooling fluid). Generally, a (relevant) portion of the hydraulic circuit 93 (in particular the portion of the hydraulic circuit 93 comprising the circulation pump 94 and the radiator 95) is on the outside of the packer machine 33 and is part of the services of the production plant where the packer machine 33 is installed. It is important to observe that the hydraulic circuit 93 is normally connected to the packer machine 33 regardless of the cooling system 91 of the folding devices 52, since the cooling fluid of the hydraulic circuit 93 is utilized for cooling the electric motors which move the various movable components of the packer machine 33.

According to a possible embodiment, each heat exchanger 92 has the shape of a parallelepiped plate.

According to a possible embodiment, the cooling system 91 comprises (at least) a temperature sensor 96 which measures a temperature of the fixed folding screws 53 and 54 and a control unit 97 configured to adjust the power of the cooling depending on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 96.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 18, the packer machine 33 comprises a feeding device which, in a feeding station S13 (arranged between the input station SI and the transfer station S2 with respect to the moving direction of the forming conveyor 37), cyclically couples the reinforcement elements 19 (which are arranged around the groups 14 of cigarettes contained in the pockets 36) to the pockets 36 of the forming conveyor 37 (already containing the corresponding groups 14 of cigarettes). In the transfer station S2, when two groups 14 of cigarettes next to one another are extracted from a pair of pockets 36 next to one another, the two corresponding reinforcement elements 19 are dragged with the two groups 14 of cigarettes and are thus arranged around the two groups 14.

In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the forming unit A and the wrapping unit B operate on a double line, i.e. treat two groups 14 of cigarettes at a time; in other words, the forming conveyor 37, the wrapping conveyor 38, the wrapping conveyor 39, and the wrapping drum 40 operate on a double line, i.e. treat two groups 14 of cigarettes at a time. Whereas, the wrapping unit C operates on a single line, i.e. treats a single blank 32 at a time for manufacturing a pack 1 for cigarettes (containing two sealed wraps 3 next to one another) at a time. According to an alternative embodiment, at least a part of the forming unit A and/or at least part of the wrapping unit B could operate on a single line, i.e. could treat a single group 14 of cigarettes at a time (particularly when the pack 1 for cigarettes manufactured by the packer machine 1 is not of “twin” type and thus houses a single sealed wrap 3). In other words, at least one part of the forming conveyor 37, of the wrapping conveyor 38, of the wrapping conveyor 39, and of the wrapping drum 40 could operate on a single line, i.e. could treat a single group 14 of cigarettes at a time. According to a preferred, but not binding, embodiment, the moving of the various components (wrapping drums, feeding conveyors, pushers, movable folders ...) of the packer machine 33 is produced by means of respective electric motors which are mechanically independent of one another and are synchronised (i.e. driven in phase) in a virtual manner (i.e. not by means of a physical binding, but by means of a control binding). Normally, an electric motor is considered as reference (“master”) and all the other electric motors (“slaves”) track the position of the electric motor of reference (“master”).

The packer machine 33 could be modified (in a very simple manner) for manufacturing standard wraps 3 (i.e. not sealed and thus devoid of heat seals) instead of sealed wraps 3. The packer machine 33 could be modified (in a very simple manner) for manufacturing packs 1 for cigarettes each containing one single sealed (or also not sealed) wrap 3, i.e. packs 1 for cigarettes not of twin type.

The embodiments described herein can be combined with one another without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

The above-described packer machine 33 has numerous advantages.

First of all, the above-described packer machine 33 allows manufacturing the packs 1 for cigarettes with a high production quality (i.e. having extremely precise and squared folds of the wrapping sheet 18) also operating at a high production speed (i.e. with a high number of packs 1 for cigarettes produced in the time unit).

Furthermore, the above-described packer machine 33 has a high accessibility to all its components and thanks to this feature it is possible to quickly perform the size-changing operations (i.e. the adaptation operations for modifying the features of the pack 1 for cigarettes to be produced). In fact, an operator who is in front of the packer machine 33 is capable of reaching with his/her hands the active parts of the packer machine 33 in a simple, quick and ergonomic manner. In particular, an operator who is in front of the packer machine 33 can easily reach with his/her hands the hopper 34, the forming conveyor 37, the wrapping conveyor 38, the wrapping conveyor 39, and the wrapping drums 40, 66 and 70.

The above-described wrapping unit B allows producing together two sealed wraps 3 by simultaneously folding two wrapping sheets 18 around two corresponding groups 14 of cigarettes; in this manner, it is possible to significantly increase the productivity of the packer machine 33 particularly when a twin pack 1 for cigarettes is produced which houses two sealed wraps 3 next to one another.

The above-described wrapping unit B allows maintaining in the long term a high productivity thanks to the fact of creating the tubular folding of the wrapping sheet 18 around a group 14 of cigarettes while the group 14 of cigarettes is moved by the wrapping drums 43 and 46; in fact, the wrapping drums 43 and 46 have a reduced risk of a jam due to a wrapping sheet 18 or to a group 14 of cigarettes which by shifting in an undesired manner get stuck in the machinery and thus the risk of undesired standstills of the packer machine 33 due to jams in the wrapping conveyor 38 is minimized.

The above-described wrapping unit B allows ensuring a high production quality operating at a high production speed thanks to the fact of creating the tubular folding of the wrapping sheet 18 around a group 14 of cigarettes while the group 14 of cigarettes is moved by the wrapping drums 43 and 46; in fact, the wrapping drums 43 and 46 allow controlling with a high precision both the position of the wrapping sheet 18, and the position of the group 14 of cigarettes.

Furthermore, the above-described wrapping unit B allows ensuring a high production quality operating at a high production speed also thanks to the fact that at the longitudinal folds the wrapping sheet 18 is always well stretched and does not have any type of wrinkles; this result is obtained thanks to the presence of the cooling system 91 which cools the fixed folding screws 53 and 54 of the folding devices 52. In fact, by operating at a high production speed, the temperature of the sealing heads 56 and 57 of the sealing devices 55 is relatively high and in the long term the sealing heads 56 and 57 tend to heat the fixed folding screws 53 and 54 and when the fixed folding screws 53 and 54 become too hot they tend to generate small undesired wrinkles or anyway small undesired deformations (if not actual fold wastes) on the parts of the wrapping sheet 18 with which they enter into contact.

The embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures refers to the manufacturing of a pack for cigarettes, but the present invention is applicable without substantial modifications also to the manufacturing of any other type of pack for smoking articles (for example a pack for cigars, a pack for electronic cigarettes of the liquid vaping type, a pack for new generation cigarettes without tobacco combustion. .

LIST OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS OF THE FIGURES

1 pack for cigarettes

2 outer container

3 sealed wrap

4 lid

5 hinge

6 lower wall

7 front wall

8 rear wall

9 lateral walls

10 upper wall

11 front wall

12 rear walls

13 lateral walls

14 group of cigarettes

15 filter

16 extraction opening

17 closing label

18 wrapping sheet

19 reinforcement element front wall lateral walls lower wall rear wall flaring end end sealing fin minor flap minor flap major flap major flap blank packer machine hopper output mouths pockets forming conveyor wrapping conveyor wrapping conveyor wrapping drum rotation axis pocket wrapping drum rotation axis pocket wrapping drum rotation axis pocket folding device sealing device 1 sealing heads folding device folding screws folding screws sealing device outer sealing head inner sealing head feeding device wrapping material band cutting member 1 cutting member moving cylinder rotation axis moving cylinder rotation axis wrapping drum pockets 8 rotation axis feeding device wrapping drum 1 pockets rotation axis 3 transfer drum pockets 5 rotation axis 6 actuator 7 pusher 8 accompanying apparatus9 pusher 0 accompanying apparatus1 pusher 82 accompanying apparatus

83 pusher

84 pockets

85 drawer

86 dividing wall

87 folding profiles

88 plates

89 rod

90 outer wall

91 cooling system

92 heat exchanger

93 hydraulic circuit

94 circulation pump

95 radiator

96 temperature sensor

97 control unit

Pl forming path

P2 wrapping path

P3 wrapping path

P4 wrapping path

51 input station

52 transfer station

53 feeding station

54 transfer station

55 transfer station

56 transfer station

57 transfer station

58 transfer station

59 feeding station

510 transfer station

511 transfer station 512 transfer station

513 feeding station

A forming unit

B wrapping unit C wrapping unit

DI direction

D2 direction