Patent ID: 7174698
Filing Date: 2007-02-13
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. A folding method for closing the end of a substantially elliptical-section, tubular wrapping for a group ( 12 ) of cigarettes; the tubular wrapping ( 14 ) being housed inside a radial conveying pocket ( 7 ) of a packing wheel ( 2 ); said section having a major axis ( 16 ) substantially parallel to a travelling direction ( 17 ) of the relative pocket ( 7 ) along an annular path (P); the tubular wrapping ( 14 ) having a longitudinal axis ( 19 ) crosswise to said travelling direction ( 17 ) and to said major axis ( 16 ), and comprising at least one end portion ( 15 ) projecting from one end of said group ( 12 ); and the method comprising the steps of folding said end portion ( 15 ) onto the relative end of said group ( 12 ) to form three first ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) and three second ( 25 , 26 , 27 ) folded flaps located on opposite sides of said major axis ( 16 ); the first ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) and the second ( 25 , 26 , 27 ) flaps comprising a respective central flap ( 23 ) and two respective lateral flaps ( 22 , 24 ); and each of said second flaps ( 25 ; 26 ; 27 ) being specular with a corresponding said first flap ( 22 ; 23 ; 24 ), and being located between said major axis ( 16 ) and said packing wheel ( 2 ); and the method being characterized in that, to form said first ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) and second ( 25 , 26 , 27 ) folded flaps, the first flaps ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) are folded first, commencing with the first central flap ( 23 ), and the second flaps ( 25 , 26 , 27 ) are folded subsequently, commencing with the second lateral flaps ( 25 , 27 ).