APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING PACKETS OF SMOKING ARTICLES

An apparatus for packaging packets for smoking articles includes a transfer wheel to transfer the packets from a feed device to an outlet device. A gluing device is disposed in a certain angular position between the feed device and the outlet device to selectively glue two lateral flaps of each packet on the corresponding lateral walls thereof. A pressing device is disposed outside the transfer wheel between the gluing device and the outlet device to press the lateral flaps of the packet against corresponding lateral walls thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an apparatus and a method for packaging packets of smoking articles, such as, for example, but not exclusively, cigarettes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various apparatuses are known for packaging packets of smoking articles, for example cigarettes, which comprise a feed device able to feed the packets to be packaged, or already partly packaged, in sequence toward a transfer wheel, on which the packets are subjected to at least another processing step, for example gluing, and an outlet or pick-up device, which picks up the packets from the transfer wheel and sends them to a possible subsequent processing station.

In particular, a machine for packaging cigarettes is known from patent application US 2004/0231297, in which the transfer wheel is continuously rotatable around an axis of rotation and comprises a plurality of seatings disposed on the periphery of the wheel to receive respective packets to be packaged. The packets pass through a gluing station before reaching a folding station. In the gluing station there are two hot gluing devices and two cold gluing devices, each of these devices is disposed in a predetermined fixed position and is configured to deposit spots of glue, respectively hot and cold, to form a layer of adhesive on the internal surface of the external longitudinal flaps, which are still in the open position, and which will be taken to the closed position when they subsequently pass through the folding station.

Furthermore, an apparatus is known from European patent EP3172133, granted to the present Applicant, for packaging packets of smoking articles in which the transfer wheel is rotatable around an axis of rotation and comprises a plurality of seatings disposed on the periphery to sequentially receive the packets from the feed device and to move them with a stepwise advance along a curved path between the latter and the outlet device.

In each of these seatings, an already partly packaged packet, with a certain number of cigarettes inside it, is positioned so that its longitudinal walls are parallel to the axis of rotation of the transfer wheel and corresponding lateral flaps are open.

A gluing device is associated with the transfer wheel which, while the wheel is stationary, selectively lays a glue between the internal longitudinal flaps and the corresponding external lateral flaps of a packet, performing a movement parallel to said axis of rotation.

Although it is very reliable and functional, this known apparatus has the disadvantage however that it does not allow high hourly productions, precisely due to the fact that each gluing step, which lasts several hundred milliseconds (ms), takes place while the transfer wheel is stationary.

There is therefore a need to perfect an apparatus for packaging packets of smoking articles which can overcome at least the above disadvantage of the state of the art, while at the same time solving the technical problem of gluing together the internal longitudinal flaps and the corresponding external lateral flaps of a packet, reducing the time of each cycle as much as possible, in order to achieve a high hourly production, for example in the order of over 30,000 packets.

Therefore, one purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and perfect a method for packaging packets of smoking articles, which is simple and reliable and which at the same time allows to reach a high hourly productivity, as indicated above, solving the technical problem as above.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and perfect a method for packaging packets of smoking articles, which glues the internal longitudinal flaps and the corresponding external lateral flaps of each packet, depositing the adhesive material in a disposition chosen as desired, for example substantially rectilinear, that is, parallel to an edge of the longitudinal walls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, and to resolve the technical problem disclosed above in a new and original way, also achieving considerable advantages compared to the state of the prior art, an apparatus according to the present invention for packaging packets of smoking articles, wherein each of the packets comprises a box-like body having at least two opposite lateral walls, each lateral wall being formed by at least one respective internal flap and at least one external flap, which are overlapping each other and glued together, comprises:a transfer wheel selectively rotatable around a first axis of rotation and configured to move the packets along an arcuate transfer path, wherein the transfer wheel circumferentially comprises a peripheral surface provided with a plurality of seatings, each of which is configured to temporarily hold one of the packets along the transfer path;a feed device disposed in a first fixed angular position with respect to the transfer wheel at the beginning of the transfer path and configured to individually feed packets to be glued toward the seatings;an outlet device disposed in a second fixed angular position with respect to the transfer wheel at the end of the transfer path and configured to receive the packets, after they have been glued, from the transfer wheel;a gluing device disposed outside the transfer wheel in an intermediate angular position between the feed device and the outlet device and configured to selectively deliver a glue on the packets to be glued.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, each of the seatings is oriented so that, in the seating, a respective packet to be glued is disposed along the transfer path with the respective internal flaps of each lateral wall disposed perpendicular to the first axis of rotation, and the apparatus also comprises a movement device configured to move the gluing device along a path substantially radial with respect to the transfer wheel, taking the gluing device closer to, or away from, the peripheral surface, in coordination with the rotation of the transfer wheel, in order to deliver the glue on at least one of either the internal flap or the corresponding external flap of each lateral wall of the packet to be glued, when the latter passes in front of the gluing device, the movement of the gluing device being adjusted in such a way as to deposit the glue along a programmed disposition while the packet to be glued advances along the transfer path.

Doing so achieves at least the advantage of obtaining an apparatus for packaging packets of smoking articles that is simple and reliable, and that at the same time allows to achieve a high hourly productivity.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the programmed disposition is substantially rectilinear and parallel to an edge of the lateral walls, and the movement device is capable of compensating for the radial distance that exists at the center of the rectilinear programmed disposition with respect to the arcuate transfer path.

Doing so achieves at least the advantage of obtaining an apparatus for packaging packets of smoking articles that produces a gluing between the internal lateral flaps and the corresponding external lateral flaps of each packet by depositing the adhesive material with a disposition chosen as desired, for example substantially rectilinear, that is, parallel to an edge of the longitudinal walls.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the gluing device is configured to deliver, in a first gluing step, a first quantity of the glue, and then, in a second gluing step, a second quantity of glue.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the gluing device comprises a pair of delivery devices, disposed in the proximity of the peripheral surface, on opposite parts with respect to a transverse plane which is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation and passes approximately halfway through the thickness of the wheel, wherein the delivery devices are convergent toward the transverse plane.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the transfer wheel, the feed device, the outlet device, the gluing device and the movement device are controlled and coordinated by a control unit.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the feed device comprises a feed wheel adjacent to the transfer wheel, substantially tangent thereto and rotatable around a second axis of rotation perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each of the seatings is substantially U-shaped and the outlet device comprises at least one pick-up device configured to pick up the packets selectively and sequentially one at a time from the transfer wheel, removing them from the seatings preferably from the bottom upward along a rectilinear path substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus as above also comprises at least one pressing device disposed outside the peripheral surface in a second intermediate angular position between the gluing device and the outlet device, and configured to selectively press the lateral flaps against the corresponding internal lateral flaps of the packets in order to glue them together.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for packaging packets of smoking articles, wherein each of the packets comprises a box-like body having at least two opposite lateral walls, each lateral wall being formed by at least one respective internal flap and at least one external flap, wherein the smoking articles are inserted in the box-like body parallel to the two lateral walls, comprises the following steps: a movement step, in which a transfer wheel, selectively rotatable around a first axis of rotation, is selectively rotated in order to move the packets along an arcuate transfer path, from a feed device, located in a first fixed angular position, to an outlet device, located in a second fixed angular position, and a gluing step in which a gluing device, disposed outside the transfer wheel in an intermediate angular position between the feed device and the outlet device, selectively delivers at least one glue on the packets to be glued. Each packet to be glued is disposed along the transfer path with the respective internal flaps of each lateral wall disposed perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.

During the gluing step, the gluing device is moved along a path substantially radial with respect to the transfer wheel, taking the gluing device closer to, or away from, a peripheral surface of the transfer wheel, in coordination with the rotation of the transfer wheel, in order to deliver the glue between at least each one of the internal lateral flaps and the corresponding external lateral flaps of the packet when the latter passes in front of the gluing device, the movement of the gluing device being adjusted in such a way as to deposit the glue along a programmed disposition while the packet to be glued advances along the transfer path.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the programmed disposition is substantially rectilinear and parallel to an edge of the lateral walls, and the movement device compensates for the radial distance that exists at the center of the rectilinear programmed disposition with respect to the arcuate transfer path.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the gluing device delivers, in a first gluing sub-step, a first quantity of the glue, and then, in a second gluing sub-step, a second quantity of glue.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, at least one of either the first or second gluing sub-steps occurs during the rotation of the packets mounted on the transfer wheel.

We must clarify that in the present description the phraseology and terminology used, as well as the figures in the attached drawings also as described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention, their function being to provide a non-limiting example of the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With reference toFIG.4, an apparatus10according to the present invention is configured to selectively and sequentially package packets100of smoking articles200, for example cigarettes, or suchlike.

Before describing the apparatus10in detail, an example of one of the packets100(FIGS.1,2and3) will now be described, by way of a non-limiting indication.

Each packet100is for example of the type with a lid101hinged on a box-like body102, also known by the English term “hinge lid”, known per se. The box-like body102and the lid101are usually obtained from a single cardboard which is shaped and folded in such a way that each packet100can substantially assume the shape of a parallelepiped, around which an external sheath is then wrapped, for example of transparent material, such as cellophane. Inside the box-like body102, there is normally disposed an organized group of smoking articles200, understood as a set of a defined number, for example20or25, of smoking articles.

The box-like body102comprises, for example, a front wall103, a bottom wall105, a rear wall106, parallel to the front wall103, two internal lateral flaps110and111contiguous to the rear wall106on two opposite larger sides of the latter, two external lateral flaps107and109contiguous to the front wall103on two opposite larger sides of the latter and configured to each be glued on a corresponding internal lateral flap110and111.

The box-like body102also comprises two opposite lateral walls104and108, wherein the lateral wall104is defined by the overlap of the internal lateral flap110and the external lateral flap107, and the lateral wall108is defined by the overlap of the internal lateral flap111and the external lateral flap109.

In addition, two tabs112and113are each contiguous to a smaller side of a corresponding internal lateral flap110and111to each be folded, but not glued, against the internal surface of the bottom wall105.

The lid101comprises a rear wall116, having a larger side contiguous to a smaller side of the rear wall106of the box-like body102, two internal lateral flaps117and119contiguous to the rear wall116on two opposite smaller sides of the latter, an upper wall120, a front upper wall121and two external lateral flaps122and123contiguous to the front upper wall121on two opposite smaller sides of the latter and configured to each be glued on a corresponding internal lateral flap117and119. Furthermore, two tabs125and126are each contiguous to an upper side of a corresponding internal lateral flap117and119to be each folded against the internal surface of the upper wall120.

Specifically, the apparatus10has the function of gluing the external lateral flaps107and109of the box-like body102on the corresponding internal lateral flaps110and111and, at the same time, the external lateral flaps122and123of the lid101on the corresponding internal lateral flaps117and119, as will be explained in more detail below.

With reference toFIG.4, the apparatus10comprises a support structure11, on which there is mounted a transfer wheel12rotatable around a first axis of rotation X, which in the example described here is vertical. Other embodiments may provide that the first axis of rotation X is horizontal, or inclined with respect to a horizontal plane.

The transfer wheel12comprises, substantially halfway through its thickness, a transverse plane PT, perpendicular to the first axis of rotation X.

The function of the transfer wheel12is to move the packets100along an arcuate transfer path Pl (FIGS.5,10and11), from a feed device13(FIG.4) to an outlet device15, which will both be described in more detail below. Both the feed device13as well as the outlet device15are mounted on the support structure11in certain fixed angular positions with respect to the transfer wheel12.

In the example provided here, the transfer path P1 covers an angular sector of 270° of the transfer wheel12and, for purely illustrative purposes, an angle of 0° in correspondence with the feed device13is taken as a reference.

However, it is not excluded that the feed device13and the outlet device15can be angularly distanced as desired with respect to the transfer wheel12, so that the transfer path P1 can, for example, affect a different angular sector, according to operational and functional requirements.

The transfer wheel12is attached to a shaft16, which is connected to a drive member of a known type, for example a first motor20(FIG.6), a stepper motor for example, and comprises a peripheral surface17coaxial to the first axis of rotation X and two opposite plates18and19perpendicular to the latter.

Furthermore, the transfer wheel12(FIG.4), in correspondence with the peripheral surface17, is provided with a plurality of hollow circumferential seatings23(FIG.5), open toward the outside of the peripheral surface17and each substantially U-shaped, in order to each temporarily hold a packet100along the transfer path P1.

The seatings23are angularly disposed equidistant along the peripheral surface17, for example distanced by an angle α of 45°, so that, in the embodiment described here, there are eight of them.

For ease of description, and with reference toFIG.5, in which the transfer wheel12is schematized as viewed from above, the following static positions are defined, in correspondence with which each seating23can temporarily stop: initial position, or first position A in correspondence with the feed device13, that is, on the left inFIG.5; intermediate angular position B oriented at 45° counterclockwise with respect to the initial position A; intermediate angular position C oriented at 45° counterclockwise with respect to position B, that is, toward the bottom ofFIG.5; and an outlet position, or second position D oriented at 270° counterclockwise with respect to the initial position A, at the end of the path P1, that is, toward the top ofFIG.5, in correspondence with which the outlet device15is positioned.

Furthermore, each seating23has a width substantially equal to the length of a packet100and comprises two lateral walls24and25(FIGS.8and9), parallel to each other and orthogonal to a base wall26, on which the rear walls106and116of a packet100can abut. The base wall26is substantially perpendicular to a radius of the transfer wheel12, and it is provided with a central cavity27to allow the packets100to be contacted by a possible damping member22disposed in a central zone of the transfer wheel12, as will be better described below.

On each lateral wall24and25there is a groove28perpendicular to the first axis of rotation X and in which a temporary gripping element30is housed, which is pivoted on a pin32mounted on the two plates18and19, perpendicularly to them. Each element30has an end shaped in such a way as to have an inclined plane31which defines a hooking tooth37. For each seating23, the two inclined planes31of the two opposite elements30are specular with respect to each other in order to cooperate with the lower105and upper120walls of a packet100. A spring38constantly pushes the element30into a rest position, in which it is parallel to the groove28.

The distance between the two elements30, when they are in the rest position, is such that each packet100, when inserted in the seating23in a direction of insertion I (FIGS.5and9) perpendicular to the base plate26, interferes with the two inclined planes31so that it can cause the two elements30to perform a slight rotation around the pins32, and so that the same elements30can then close automatically due to the action of the springs38, so that the hooking teeth37can hold the packet100temporarily stationary in the seating23, preventing an involuntary or accidental dissociation between the packet100and the corresponding seating23.

Advantageously, in order to reduce the number of components, two elements30(FIGS.8,10and11) associated with two seatings23that are adjacent to each other are pivoted on each pin32. In this way, the number of pins32is equal to the number of seatings23, even if there are two elements30for each seating23.

The feed device13is disposed near the transfer wheel12, almost tangent to it, and comprises a feed wheel42(FIGS.5and6), substantially of a known type, which is mounted on the support structure11so that it is selectively rotatable around a second axis of rotation Y, which in the example provided here is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation X. The feed wheel42is commanded by a suitable drive member, for example a second motor46, which is also of the stepper type, for example.

The two motors20and46are controlled in any known way whatsoever, for example by means of a programmable control unit49(FIGS.5and6), so that the feed wheel42and the transfer wheel12are rotated in a coordinated manner, as will be described in detail below.

The feed wheel42comprises a plurality of seatings43on its periphery, which are angularly equidistant from each other and configured to each receive at inlet, from one or more processing stations located upstream, which are of a type known per se and not the subject of the present invention, a packet100already partly packaged and containing an organized group of smoking articles200, possibly held together by an internal wrapping130(FIG.3), wherein each packet100still has, however, the external lateral flaps107,109,122and123open and therefore not glued on the corresponding internal lateral flaps110,111,117and119, respectively.

In particular, the feed wheel42(FIG.5) is configured to supply in sequence to the transfer wheel12the packets100to be completed, for example by means of one or more subsequent processes, such as for example the gluing of the external lateral flaps107,109,122and123on the corresponding internal lateral flaps110,111,117and119, respectively, by inserting, one at a time, each packet100in the seating23which is temporarily located in the initial position A.

The feed device13also comprises a thruster44, installed inside a central cavity of the feed wheel42and configured to selectively thrust the packets100radially toward the outside, that is, toward the seating23of the packet transfer wheel12(FIG.4) which is temporarily located in the initial position A.

The damping member22is opposed to the thruster44and is configured to selectively cooperate with the front wall103of a packet100arriving from the feed wheel42, before the same packet100is precisely placed in the seating23which is temporarily located in correspondence with the initial position A.

In possible alternative embodiments, not shown in the drawings, the feed device13could be made in another way; for example it could comprise a conveyor belt that performs the functions of the feed wheel42.

The apparatus10also comprises a gluing device45mounted on the support structure11and disposed in the proximity of the peripheral surface17of the transfer wheel12, advantageously in a fixed angular position with respect to the latter, between the feed device13and the outlet device15, along the transfer path P1. The gluing device45is configured to selectively deliver at least one glue on the internal lateral flaps110,111,117and119of the packets100.

In particular, the gluing device45is advantageously installed substantially in correspondence with position B, although it can be disposed in another fixed angular position, between the feed device13and the outlet device15, along the transfer path P1, as a function of other operational choices.

The gluing device45comprises a pair of delivery devices47and48, of a known type, located in the proximity of the peripheral surface17and inclined on opposite parts with respect to the plates18and19of the transfer wheel12, converging toward the transverse plane PT. The delivery device47is configured to selectively deliver at least one adhesive material, or more simply a glue, between the internal lateral flaps110and117and the external lateral flaps107and122, while the delivery device48is configured to selectively deliver at least one glue between the internal lateral flaps111and119and the external lateral flaps109and123. For example, the glue can be delivered in spots or continuously, and deposited on the internal lateral flaps110,111,117and119.

The delivery devices47and48can be of the type capable of delivering jets of glue in a punctiform manner, or in points S (FIGS.2and11) which are distanced from each other, or in continuous strips or lines of glue, and they can comprise glue jet delivery means, nozzles, guns, syringes, or similar glue delivery members.

The type of glue is advantageously of the rapid-setting type and can be either of the hot or cold type, or a combination thereof. The delivery devices47and48can all be provided to deliver the same type of glue, or different types of glue. With the delivery devices47and48there are associated pumping means of a known type and not shown in the drawings, which control the selective delivery of the glue.

The delivery of the glue by the delivery devices47and48is also controlled by the control unit49.

In accordance with one characteristic of the present invention, the gluing device45, although positioned in a fixed angular position with respect to the transfer wheel12, is able to move radially with respect to the latter in order to define, as desired, the shape of deposition of the glue on the internal lateral flaps110,111,117and119, and in particular the internal lateral flaps110and111, which are relatively long, indicatively about 10 cm. One possible choice is to obtain a rectilinear disposition R, that is, parallel to a larger side of each of the internal lateral flaps110and111.

Furthermore, the gluing device45comprises a movement device60(FIGS.10and11) controlled by the control unit49to selectively move the delivery devices47,48along a path P2 that is substantially radial with respect to the first axis of rotation X, in order to compensate for the arcuate path P1 that each packet100follows. The movement device60can be of any known type whatsoever, such as for example an electric motor, a glyph, an eccentric member, a pendulum, an oscillating arm, or a linear actuator. Therefore, the movement device60can move the gluing device45in order to move it closer to or away from the first axis of rotation X, in coordination with the rotation of the transfer wheel12, as will be described in detail below.

Furthermore, the apparatus10comprises a pressing device50, mounted on the support structure11in a fixed angular position with respect to the transfer wheel12, in particular downstream of the gluing device45along the arcuate path P1, that is, substantially in position C (FIG.5). The pressing device50is configured to selectively fold the external lateral flaps107,109,112and123respectively toward the internal lateral flaps110,111,117and119of the packet100, which are already provided with the glue deposited by the gluing device45.

The pressing device50comprises a pair of pressing members, upper51and lower52, respectively, which are mounted one on an upper plate40of the support structure11and the other on a lower plate41thereof. The two plates40and41are parallel to the plates18and19of the transfer wheel12.

Each of the two pressing members51and52is commanded by at least one actuator of a known type and not shown in the drawings, which is capable of moving it selectively, under the control of the control unit49, between a rest position, in which it is distanced from the corresponding external lateral flaps109,123/107,122, and an operating position, in which it thrusts the latter against the corresponding internal lateral flaps111,119/110,117.

Thus, the upper pressing member51is configured to selectively fold the external lateral flaps109and123onto the internal lateral flaps111and119, and the lower pressing member52is configured to selectively fold the external lateral flaps107and122onto the internal lateral flaps110and117.

Furthermore, the pressing device50comprises a mobile arm53, mounted on the plate41and commanded together with the pressing members51and52, possibly by the same actuator as above or by another autonomous actuator, of a known type and not shown in the drawings, which is also possibly controlled by the control unit49, in order to take one end54of the mobile arm53selectively in contact with the rear wall106of the packet100which is located in correspondence with position C.

The outlet device15(FIG.4) comprises pick-up means, which in the example given here comprise a pick-up device55and are configured to pick up the packets100selectively and sequentially from the transfer wheel12and possibly transport them toward other processing stations, not shown in the drawings and not the subject of the present invention, which, for example, can comprise a station for applying a stamp, a station for covering, by means of cellophane, the already glued packet100, a packaging station, or other.

The pick-up device55comprises, for example, a conveyor belt56, mounted on two rollers57and which, in the example described here, is parallel to the first axis of rotation X, that is, vertical.

At least one of the rollers57, for example the upper one, is connected to a drive member, for example a third motor61, also of the stepper type for example, and controlled by the control unit49, so that the conveyor belt56is made to advance selectively, as will be described in detail below.

The pick-up device55comprises a plurality of pick-up teeth58, configured to come in contact with the external lateral flap109already glued to the corresponding internal lateral flap111of each packet100, and then push the latter from the bottom upward, extracting it from the elements30which hold it in the seating23, without interfering with the elements30themselves.

The operation of the apparatus10described heretofore, which corresponds to the method according to the present invention, comprises the following steps.

To illustrate the operation of the apparatus10as a whole, for simplicity of explanation, the following describes the processing cycle on a single packet100, it being applicable to all packets100.

In a first processing step, a plurality of packets100to be completed (FIG.3) are inserted sequentially into the seatings43of the feed wheel42, for example automatically. In particular, each packet100to be completed is inserted in the respective seating43so that its walls106and116are in contact with the base of the latter, the smoking articles are parallel to the second axis of rotation Y, and the external lateral flaps107,109,122and123are open and facing toward the feed wheel42(FIGS.4and6).

The feed wheel42is rotated, for example stepwise by the second motor46, in a clockwise direction, until one of the seatings43containing a packet100to be completed is located exactly in correspondence with the seating23of the transfer wheel12which is in the initial position A (FIG.5).

The feed wheel42is stopped temporarily the moment it reaches this angular position, and at the same time the transfer wheel12is also stopped, so that, for a certain first predetermined period of time T1, for example of about50ms, both the transfer wheel12as well as the feed wheel42are stationary, with one of the seatings23of the former exactly opposite a seating43of the latter.

At this point, the thruster44(FIG.6) is activated to radially thrust the packet100which is in front of it outward, in order to transfer it from the seating43of the feed wheel42to the seating23of the transfer wheel12(initial position A inFIG.5). At the same time, the damping member22is also activated, accompanying the packet100during its insertion into the seating23.

In order to enter the seating23, the packet100automatically opens the two corresponding elements30, against the action of their springs38, and is therefore held by the gripping teeth37against the base wall26of the same seating23. In this position, the external lateral flaps107,109,122and123are facing toward the outside of the transfer wheel12and on opposite parts with respect to the transverse plane PT. After this, the thruster44and the damping member22are returned to their starting position.

Then, both the feed wheel42and also the transfer wheel12are rotated for a predetermined second period of time T2, for example of 50 ms.

In particular, during this second period of time T2 the transfer wheel12performs a rotation, for example of an angular step equal to 45° in an anticlockwise direction (FIG.5), and thus takes the seating23containing the packet100, which we are taking into consideration, in correspondence with position B.

At the same time, the feed wheel42also performs a rotation in a clockwise direction, for example of one step, until the subsequent seating43moves in front of the seating23of the transfer wheel12which is in the initial position A. Furthermore, the seating23adjacent to the first will be moved to position A, in this way the latter will be able to radially receive a subsequent packet100from the feed wheel42, so that the cycle previously described can be repeated.

The rotations of the transfer wheel12and of the feed wheel42are advantageously coordinated by the control unit49, so that one step of the transfer wheel12corresponds to one step of the feed wheel42, even if the angular step of one of the two wheels12or42could be different from that of the other wheel42or12.

In position B, the gluing device45is ready to inject the glue, by means of the delivery devices47and48, first on the internal lateral flaps117and119of the lid101and then on the internal lateral flaps110and111of the box-like body102, possibly after a pause, for example of a few milliseconds. In particular, the glue can be delivered on the internal lateral flaps117and119while the transfer wheel12is stationary and on the internal lateral flaps110and111when the latter is in motion.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the gluing device45can be programmed to initially deliver, in a first gluing step, for example in the first of the points S (FIG.10), or in the single point S, a first predetermined quantity Q1 of glue on each of the flaps117and119. Subsequently, while the transfer wheel12, by rotating, displaces the packet100from position B to the subsequent position C, in a second gluing step, a second predetermined quantity Q2 of glue is delivered on the internal lateral flaps110and111.

Therefore, while the second gluing step can advantageously occur when the transfer wheel12is rotating, the first gluing step can occur both when the transfer wheel12is temporarily stationary and also when the latter is rotating, or is starting to rotate after a temporary stop.

In any case, the movement device60, in coordination with the rotation/stop of the transfer wheel12, is capable of moving the gluing device45radially closer to or away from the first axis of rotation X, in order to deliver the glue with a programmed disposition R, for example linear and parallel to an edge of the internal lateral flap110,111, compensating for the radial distance E that exists at the center of the rectilinear disposition R with respect to the arcuate path P1 (FIGS.10and11).

The excursion or radial distance E could have a value comprised between 1.5 mm and 5 mm, for example.

One embodiment could provide, for example, that the certain radial position of the gluing device45is such that the two delivery devices47and48face toward any one point whatsoever along the length of the packet100when the latter is in position B. In this way, the delivery devices47and48could deliver the first quantity Q1 of glue on the internal lateral flaps110,111,117and119of the packet100during the latter's movement from the initial position A to position B. For example, said point could be located in correspondence with the internal lateral flap119of the lid101of the packet100(FIGS.10and11).

Subsequently, the transfer wheel12is made to rotate further, for example by an angular step equal to 45° in an anticlockwise direction, until the seating23containing the packet100is in correspondence with position C.

In position C, the packet100, on which the glue has already been delivered in correspondence with its internal lateral flaps110,111,117and119, is still with the external lateral flaps107,109,122and123open as described above, and it is located exactly in correspondence with the pressing device50.

While the transfer wheel12is stationary, the pressing members51and52are selectively moved by the corresponding actuators, which are controlled by the control unit49, so that the upper pressing member51folds the external lateral flaps109and123taking them in contact with the internal lateral flaps111and119on which the glue has already been delivered, and the lower pressing member52folds the external lateral flaps107and122taking them in contact with the internal lateral flaps110and117on which the glue has already been delivered.

In this way, the external lateral flaps109and123are glued to the internal lateral flaps111and119and the external lateral flaps107and122are glued to the internal lateral flaps110and117.

At the same time, the mobile arm53is also activated, which takes its end54in contact with the rear wall106of the packet100so that the latter does not deform during this step.

After this, the pressing members51and52and the end54are taken back into position, either automatically by means of return members of a known type and not shown in the drawings, or commanded by the respective actuators. Subsequently, the transfer wheel12is made to rotate by the first motor20in a sequential manner, for example stepwise, with angular steps equal to 45°, which in the example given here are four, until the seating23containing the packet100, with the external lateral flaps109,123,107and122already glued to the internal lateral flaps111,119,110and117, respectively, is located in correspondence with position D.

Each rotation of the transfer wheel12is alternated with periods of stop time T1, in order to allow the gluing cycles to be repeated for other packets100, which are the same as the one described above for a single packet100.

When the transfer wheel12is stationary in position D, the packet100is exactly in correspondence with the outlet device15(FIGS.4and7).

At this point, the control unit49commands the third motor61(FIG.4) to rotate the rollers57and consequently make the conveyor belt56advance by one step in the clockwise direction (FIG.7).

The rotation of the conveyor belt56causes one of its pick-up teeth58to come in contact with the external lateral flap109of the packet100and then thrust the latter vertically, from the bottom upward, taking it toward subsequent stations such as, for example, a station for applying a stamp, a station for covering, by means of cellophane, the already glued packet100, a packaging station, or other.

In this way, the seating23which is in correspondence with position D will be empty and ready to receive a subsequent packet100from the feed wheel42in a subsequent processing cycle, the same as the one described heretofore, when it will once again be in the initial position A, with angular steps equal to 45°, which in the example given here are two.

Therefore, the total time T3 taken by the transfer wheel12to make a complete revolution around its axis of rotation X is equal to the number of seatings23(which in the example given here are eight) multiplied by the time T1+T2, that is, approximately 800 ms. During the total time T3 the apparatus10is therefore able to glue eight packets100, as described above, so that the hourly productivity is 36,000 packets/hour.

The apparatus10therefore achieves the purposes of the present invention, resolving the corresponding technical problem in a new and original way.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the apparatus10and to the method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of apparatuses and methods for packaging packets of smoking articles, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the same claims.