Patent ID: 8307613
Filing Date: 2012-11-13
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. A method of sleeving two or more packages of smoking articles with a sleeve, the method comprising: feeding successive packages of smoking articles to a plurality of bundling pocket guides each configured to receive two or more packages; placing a first package into one of the plurality of bundling pocket guides; placing a second package into the one of the plurality of bundling pocket guides containing the first package such that the first and second packages are adjacent to one another within the bundling pocket guide to form a bundle of packages; feeding successive bundles of packages to a sleeve folding station, each bundle of packages including at least two of the packages; moving the bundle of packages vertically along a stepped fixed guide to align the bundle of packages with a folding pocket, the stepped fixed guide comprising at least one step comprising a tread and a riser; moving the bundle of packages against a blank of sleeve material into the folding pocket; and folding the blank of sleeve material around the bundle of packages to form a sleeve around the bundle of packages.