2

3 This invention relates to packaging apparatus, particularly for

« packaging articles such as cigarettes in hinged-lid packets. The s apparatus is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to so-called e continuous packing machines, where the product is moved continuously

7 through the apparatus while undergoing process operations. This is in β contrast to conventional apparatus where the product is moved intermittently and often undergoes process operations while stationary. io According to one aspect of the invention packaging apparatus ii comprises first conveyor means having spaced means for conveying i2 articles along a first path, second conveyor means having spaced means i3 for conveying partially wrapped articles along a parallel second path,

H means for feeding wrapper sections along a further parallel path lying is between said first and second paths, third conveyor means carrying ie means for transferring articles from said first path to said second path i7 and for simultaneously plunging the articles against a wrapper section on is said further path so that the articles become partially wrapped in said i9 wrapper sections, further comprising fourth conveyor means carrying

2o spaced forming means along an intermediate path lying between said

2i further path and said second path, so that each of said articles and

22 wrapper sections pass through one of said forming means in passing to

23 said second path. The first, second, third and fourth conveyor means

2 may each comprise endless band conveyors. Alternatively, two or more

25 (including all) of the first, second, third and fourth conveyor means may

26 have paths on or be carried by common conveyor means, e.g. a drum.

27 In either case the paths of the respective conveyor means preferably

28 include parallel portions. The spaced means of said first and second

29 conveyor means may each comprise pockets, and the spaced forming

30 means of said fourth conveyor means may comprise a sleeve-like 3i element. The third conveyor means may comprise plunger means and

32 may be so disposed relative to the other conveyors that the plungers are

33 progressively moved from the region of said first path to the region of

34 said second path as they are moved by said conveyor. To achieve this,

35 the third conveyor preferably includes cam means for causing

36 progressive extension of the plungers through the spaced means of said

3 first and fourth conveyor means.

38 The articles may comprise batches of cigarettes for packing, and

1 the wrapper sections may comprise foil in which the batches are to be

2 wrapped prior to packaging in hinged lid packets. The forming means

3 serves to form and align the wrapper section prior to receipt by the

4 spaced means (e.g. pockets) of the second conveyor means, particularly

5 those parts of the wrapper sections which remain to be folded e downstream of the apparatus.

7 Where the articles are rectangular in cross-section, as in the case β of a batch of cigarettes to be packed in a hinged-lid pack, the articles are

9 preferably moved along said first and second paths in a direction parallel io to their wider side : this can all ow relatively close spacing of ii laterally-spaced wrapper section feeding means while still allowing i2 access for the transferring means. i3 According to another aspect of the invention packaging apparatus i4 comprises first conveyor means having spaced carriers for packets, is second conveyor means for receiving packets from said first conveyor i6 means and for delivering them to stack forming means, and transfer i7 means for effecting transfer of packets from said first to said second is conveyor means, wherein said second conveyor means comprises i endless band means for receiving packets from said transfer means at a

2o first spacing and for delivering them to said stack forming means at

2i second spacing. In a preferred arrangement the second conveyor

22 means comprises a suction band on which the packets can slip relative

23 to the band and thereby change their spacing. The stack forming means

24 may comprise a stop against which the suction band delivers packets

25 and from which removal means (e.g. a plunger) directs the packets into

26 a stack reservoir. The transfer means may take the form of an endless

27 conveyor disposed at an angle to said first and second conveyors and

28 carrying pushers which move together with the carriers of the first

29 conveyor means and progressively eject the packets from the carriers 0 and onto the second conveyor means. i The first conveyor means may be arranged at the downstream 2 end of a packaging machine and be part of a form stabilising region for 3 the newiy-completeo pacKets: me stack forming means may deliver 4 packets in abutment into a packet reservoir in which the packets are 5 stacked and further stabilised before delivery to downstream apparatus. 6 According to a further aspect of the invention packaging 7 apparatus for feeding packaging blanks from a blank reservoir to a 8 packaging conveyor moving at a predetermined speed, comprises an

endless blank conveyor having means for receiving blanks from the

2 reservoir, means for driving the blank conveyor at said predetermined

3 speed, and means for periodically imposing an opposite speed on said conveyor in the region of said reservoir without affecting its speed in the

5 region of said packaging conveyor, whereby the receiving means are

6 substantially stationary during transfer of a blank from the reservoir and have a speed substantially matched to that of the packaging conveyor s during transfer of the blank to said packaging conveyor.

9 In a preferred arrangement the packaging conveyor passes io around at least four pulleys, so as to define a first run which lies adjacent ii to the blank reservoir and an opposed second run which lies adjacent to i2 the packaging conveyor, the pulleys in said first run being carried by i3 pivotable links which can be reciprocated to impose the speed variation i in the region of the blank reservoir. Preferably the reservoir comprises a is blank stack, and suction means (e.g. a plunger) is provided for i6 withdrawing a blank from the reservoir onto the endless conveyor. The i7 means for receiving blanks on the conveyor may comprise a series of is spaced pockets. Means for transferring blanks from the endless i conveyor to the packaging conveyor may comprise a cam-operated

20 ejecting plunger. The blanks may be received on the packaging

2i conveyor in pockets which cooperate with the ejecting plunger to

22 partially fold the blank on receipt. There may be a plurality of blank

23 reservoirs from which blanks are simultaneously withdrawn.

2 In all aspects of the invention it should be understood that the

25 respective conveyor means may be continuously driven.

∑e The invention will be further described, by way of example only,

27 with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

28 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette packing machine, with

2 certain parts of the structure removed to show underiying detail,

30 Figure 2 is a view, similar to that of Figure 1 , showing part of the 3i structure removed in Figure 1 ,

32 Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, showing a further part

33 cf .; .o structure removβ . ^' .t . Tigure 1 ,

3 Figure 4 is a side view of part of a blank feed unit in the machine

35 of Figure 1 ,

36 Figure 5 is an end view in the direction of arrow V in Figure 4,

37 Figure 6 is a perspective view of a blank carrier of the unit of

38 Figure 4,

1 Figure 7 is a perspective view of a foil wrapping unit in the

2 machine of Figure 1 ,

3 Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line VIII-VIII in Figure 7, and

4 Figure 9 is a view in the direction of arrow IX in Figure 3.

5 The machine shown in Figures 1 -3 is for packaging batches of e cigarettes in hinged lid packets. Cigarettes are delivered to a hopper 10,

7 from which batches commonly comprising 20 cigarettes are transferred

8 to a continuously-moving pocketed conveyor 12. The hopper 10 and its

9 operation are substantially as disclosed in British patent specification io No. 2290514A or in PCT patent specification No. W095/21771. An ii angled plunger conveyor 14 transfers the batches of cigarettes to a i2 further pocketed conveyor 16 having a vertical run through a foil i3 wrapping unit 18. i4 In the unit 18 foil wrapper sections 20 are delivered by laterally is spaced bands 21 (Figure 7) along a vertical path between the conveyor ie 16 and an intermediate conveyor 22 carrying sleeve-like pockets 22A i7 (Figure 7). Beyond the intermediate conveyor 22 is a further pocketed is conveyor 24. The unit 18 further comprises a plunger conveyor 26, the i arrangement being such that the plungers carried by the plunger

20 conveyor eject batches of cigarettes from the pocketed conveyor 16 so

2i that each batch becomes wrapped in a wrapper section and passes

22 completely through a pocket 22A on the conveyor 22 so as to be

23 received in a pocket of the conveyor 24. It will be understood that the

24 conveyors 1 6,22 and 24, as well as the sections 20, all m ove

25 continuously at the same speed during this process in the unit 18.

26 Wrapping of the batches of cigarettes in the foil wrapper sections

27 is completed during further passage on the conveyor 24, by means of a

28 tucker conveyor 28.

29 A blank feed unit 30 supplies precreased packet blanks to a

30 further pocketed conveyor 32 on which initial folding of the blanks i occurs. As best seen in Figure 3, the conveyor 32 lies in front of the 2 conveyor 24, so that an angled transfer conveyor 34 can push the 3 wrap er-Tbatches of u gaieties rrom the conveyor 24 onto the bianks in 4 the pockets of the conveyor 32. Just prior to transfer of the batches a 5 rotary unit 36 places individual packet inner frames on each wrapped 6 batch. 7 As again best seen in Figure 3, folding of the packet blanks 8 around the wrapped batch of cigarettes and inner frame is continued on

1 the conveyor 32 up to a position at which the partially completed packs

2 are transferred by a further angied conveyor 38 onto another pocketed

3 conveyor 40. A cam 42 cooperates with a plunger 43 in each of the

4 pockets of the conveyor 40 to cause the packets to be transferred

5 upwards into a pocket 45 of yet another pocketed conveyor 44 having a

6 run extending parallel to and above the conveyor 40. During the upward

7 transfer the side flaps of the packet are folded down, thus completing the s formation of the packet. It will be understood that during the course of 9 the process adhesive will have been applied and/or activated to io appropriate parts of the blank (e.g. by a glue gun 69 as shown in Figure ii 4). i2 Referring to Figures 3 and 9, the conveyor 44 conveys the i3 packets on an extended path, during which they are maintained firmly in i4 shape by the pockets of the conveyor, and the adhesive dries or sets. is The conveyor 44 includes a vertical run 44A along which an angled band ie 46 carrying transfer plungers 48 causes packets to be ejected from the i7 pockets on the conveyor 44 and to be received on a vertical suction is band 50. Successive packets received on the suction band 50 are i9 delivered downwards into the path of a reciprocating horizontal plunger

20 52 which causes the packets to be transferred into a horizontal reservoir

2i 54 between upper and lower bands 56,58. The suction band 50 slips

22 relative to the packet after it has been deposited against a stop 53 in the

23 path of the plunger 52, which is in the form of a yoke having laterally

2 spaced portions which engage the packet on each side of the band 50.

25 As shown in Figure 9, each pusher 48 is attached to the band 56

26 by means of a connecting block 49 by way of a one-way hinged

27 connection about an axis 51. The arrangement is such that each pusher ∑s 48 is biased by spring means (not shown) into a position in which it

29 extends transversely of the band 46 during an operative run of the band

30 along which the pusher acts to eject packets P from the respective 3i pocket 45 on the run 44A of conveyor 44. It will be appreciated that the

32 speed of the band 46 is such that its component in the direction of

33 conveyor run 44A is the same as the speed of the conveyor 44. Once a

34 pusher has passed through a pocket 45 a depending part of the pusher

35 is engaged by a stationary cam rail 54 which causes the pusher to pivot

36 about its hinge axis 51 so that it assumes an attitude wherein the pusher

3 does not extend laterally of the band 46: this allows it to clear the pocket

38 45 on the return run of the band 46. The rail 54 ends upstream of the

1 position at which the pushers 48 are again required to assume laterally

₂ extended positions so as to engage packets P in the pockets 45. The

3 spring mounting of the pushers 48 ensures that once released by the rail

4 54 the pushers assume their extended (operative) positions.

5 Referring now to Figures 4-6, the blank feed unit 30 is shown in e more detail. Blanks are received from a supply (not shown) and

7 maintained in three stacks 60. An endless band 62 carrying regularly β spaced pockets 64 has an upper run which passes below the stacks 60

9 and a lower run which is parallel to the upper run of the conveyor 32. io The spacing of the pockets 64 is the same as that of the pockets 32A on ii the conveyor 32. The conveyor 62 is driven at the same speed as the i2 conveyor 32, with the pockets 32A and 64 in alignment as shown in i3 Figure 4. i4 The conveyor 62 passes around upper pulleys 66 and lower is pulleys 68, the upper pulleys 66 being carried by links 70 which are ie respectively pivoted about the centres of the lower puiieys 68, and which i7 are connected by a common drive link 72. The link 72 is driven by ie means of a drive cam 73 (Figure 5) so that the links 70 are reciprocated i9 by pivotal movement extending over an angle of about 60° as indicated

20 in Figure 4. During movement to the left as shown in Figure 4 the

2i velocity imposed by the links 70 on the upper run of the belt 62 is equal

22 and opposite to that of the velocity of the belt around the pulleys 66,68,

23 so that for a short period the pockets 64 are stationary beneath the

2 stacks 60. During this period suction cups 74 operate to cause the

25 lowermost blank to be withdrawn from the respective reservoir 60 and

26 placed in the pocket below. As shown in Figure 6, each pocket 64 is

27 supported on laterally spaced sections 62A.62B of the belt 62 and has

28 an open central area allowing the suction cups 74 to access the blanks.

29 The suction cups 74 and an associated suction manifold 75 are moved

30 up and down to withdraw blanks and deposit them in the pockets 64 by 3i a drive which is synchronised with the drive cam 73. The pockets 64

32 also have inwardly directed portions 64A.64B which serve to retain the 3 biaims in the pockets 64. Trie suction cups 74 are capable of pulling the

34 blanks past these inwardly directed portions 64A.64B during insertion of 5 the blank into the pocket 64. Ejecting plungers 76 carried by a belt 78 6 and extendible by means of a cam track 80 cause the blanks to be transferred from the pockets 64 during their passage along the lower run 8 of the belt 62. The plungers 76 cause the blanks to be partially folded as

ι they are received in the pockets 32A, as shown in Figure 4.

2 Figures 7 and 8 show more details of the foil wrapper unit 18. The

3 conveyor 16 has pockets 16A which carry batches of cigarettes received

4 from the conveyor 12. The conveyor 22 carries rectangular sleeves 22A.

5 The conveyor 24 carries pockets 24A for receiving the partially wrapped e batches of cigarettes. Each of the conveyors 16,22,24 and 26 have 7 vertical runs which are in alignment with each other, and with a central s vertical line passing through the path of the foil wrapper sections 20. 9 The plunger conveyor 46 carries a series of plunger units 26A, which are io spaced by the same distance as the respective pockets 16A and 24A, π and each of which has an extendible plunger 26B which is movable i2 through a pocket 16A and sleeve 22A so as to plunge a batch of i3 cigarettes out of a pocket 16A and through a foil section 20 causing it to i become folded as it moves through the sleeve and subsequently to be is received in a pocket 24A. The plunger 26B is shown in its extended ie position in full Hnes and in its retracted position in chain dotted lines in i7 Figure 8. The sleeves 22A assist in forming that part of the wrapper is section which remains to be folded after the partially wrapped batch has ig been received in the pocket 24A, because all of the wrapper section 20

20 (including that part which does not enter the pocket 24A) has passed

2i through the sleeve 22A.

22 Each plunger 26B is disposed at an outer end of a cranked

23 support arm 80 which is of narrow section so that it can pass through a

24 slot 16B or 22B in the respective pocket 16A or sleeve 22A. The inner

25 end of the arm 80 is supported by and movable on a slide 90 which

26 extends between laterally spaced belts 82,84 passing around end

2 pulleys 86,88. At its inner end each support arm 80 has a box cam 92

28 engaged with a cam rail 94 formed in a stationary plate disposed

29 adjacent the path of the slide 90. The arrangement is such that the

30 extension of the plunger unit 26A is determined by the engagement of 3i the box cam 92 with the cam rail 94 as the unit is conveyed along the 2 path of conveyor 26. The shape of the cranked arm 80 allows the path 3 of the conveyor 16 to diverge from that of the conveyor 26 with the 4 plunger 26B in an extended position. Note that the paths of the

35 conveyors 26 and 22 are parallel so that retraction of the plunger 26B

36 through the respective pocket 22A is possible. 7 The path of the wrapper sections 20 and the positions of suction 8 manifolds 21 A.21 B for laterally spaced bands 21 for the wrapper

ι sections is indicated in Figure 8, between the conveyors 16 and 22.

2 Movement of the batch in a direction parallel to its widest side

3 allows the spacing between the laterally spaced bands 21 which convey

4 the wrapper section through the unit 18 to be relatively narrow, thereby

5 increasing the control on the sections up to the point at which the e batches of cigarettes are plunged against them.

7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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