Apparatus for introducing cigarette groups into cigarette packs

In the production of cigarette packs, especially as hinge-lid or flip top packs, the introduction of a group of cigarettes, in the form of a cigarette block, into the partially folded pack is accomplished by feeding the cigarette block in the radial direction to a folding turret for the pack, the cigarette block being received in a block pocket during a transport stage. To prevent relative displacements in this stage, the cigarette block is fixed, during transport in the block pocket, by clamping.

The invention relates to an apparatus for feeding pack contents, especially 
cigarette groups, to a pack (cigarette pack) and for introducing them into 
this, the pack content being received, at least during a transport 
portion, before introduction into the pack in a holder (pocket) movable to 
and fro. 
The invention applies to packing machines for making packs with a pack 
content in pieces, especially with an individual article for each pack. 
The preferred field of application of the invention is the production of 
cigarette packs, and of these specifically the production of so-called 
hinge-lid packs. 
The invention is also used primarily on those packaging machines in which 
the pack or the blank for making this are already partially folded before 
the pack content is supplied and introduced. After the pack content has 
been pushed in, further folds completing the pack are carried out. 
The preferred example for application of the invention is described in 
commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,393. This prior publication deals 
with the production and filling of hinge-lid packs for cigarettes. Here, a 
blank made of paper or thin cardboard for producing the pack is introduced 
into a pocket of a folding turret revolving about a vertical axis and is 
partially folded, before the pack content (the cigarette group wrapped in 
a tin foil blank) is pushed in a radial direction in relation to the 
folding turret into the pocket or into the pack located therein. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is concerned with improving the preparation of the cigarette 
group during transport to the partially folded pack, in such a way that at 
the high working speeds, on the one hand, the cigarettes are handled 
carefully, but, on the other hand, the inner tin foil wrapper is folded 
round the pack content exactly. Since the pack content is exposed to 
considerable accelerations and decelerations during the time when it is 
supplied and introduced, according to the invention care will be taken to 
ensure that the pack is fixed exactly during this transport directed in a 
radial direction relative to the folding turret. Finally, the invention 
deals with supplying a separate collar blank with the pack content to the 
folding turret. 
To achieve the object stated above, the apparatus is characterized in that 
the cigarette group is fixed to or in the holder (pocket) at least during 
transport. 
As in the apparatus according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,393, the apparatus 
according to the invention is equipped with a pocket movable to and fro, 
in which the pack content is received during the last stage of transport 
to the folding turret. The cigarette group or the group wrapped in a (tin 
foil) wrapping blank (cigarette block) is retained in this pocket, 
preferably by pressing the cigarette block and thereby clamping it against 
a wall of the pocket, preferably against its top wall. Pressing is caused, 
in turn, by the relative movement of a (another) wall of the pocket, 
especially as a result of the upward movement of a partial region of the 
bottom wall of the pocket. These relative positions are maintained during 
the transport of the cigarette block in the pocket. 
Furthermore, in the invention, care is taken to ensure perfect feeding of a 
collar blank. This is fed conversely to the transport direction of the 
cigarette block or the pocket of the latter and is transported further, 
above the pocket, synchronously with it. During the time when the 
cigarette block is pushed directly into the pack within the turret pocket 
of the folding turret, the collar blank is lowered onto the cigarette 
block and positioned on the latter. 
Measures are likewise taken, according to the invention, for the exact 
retention of the partially folded pack in the turret pocket open radially 
outwards. These measures ensure that the pack is pressed against a pocket 
bottom. Moreover, blank parts folded into a vertical position are brought 
into a position opening in the form of a funnel, so that it is guaranteed 
that the cigarette block will be pushed in faultlessly. There are also 
measures which fix the pushed-in cigarette block in the pack and, at the 
same time, compensate possible differences in position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The apparatus described is especially suitable as a part unit of a 
cigarette packaging machine according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,393. The 
preferred field of application is the production of hinge-lid or flip top 
packs for which a blank 20 is shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of better 
understanding. This is divided by longitudinally and transversely directed 
folding lines 21 into individual sheet-like regions to form a bottom wall 
22, a front wall 23, side tabs 24, a rear wall 25 and side tabs 26. In the 
finished pack, the side tabs 24 and 26 are folded over one another to form 
side walls and joined to one another by gluing. To form a hinge lid there 
are a lid end wall 27, a lid front wall 28, outer gussets 29 adjoining the 
latter, inner gussets 30 and lid corner tabs 31. The inner gussets and lid 
corner tabs extend as a prolongation of the side tabs 24, but are severed 
from these by means of a wedge-shaped incision which forms a sloping end 
edge 32 on the side tabs 24. The inner gussets 30, together with the 
adjoining lid corner tabs 31 are connected to the rear wall 25. 
An inner tin foil blank wraps a group of cigarettes to form a cigarette 
block 34 which will be introduced into the partially folded pack formed 
from the blank 20. 
The preliminary or partial folding of the blank 20 for receiving the 
cigarette block 34 is preferably carried out in the way described in U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,084,393. According to this, the blank 20 is introduced into a 
folding turret 35 which is designed as a flat plate and which is provided 
along its periphery with box or pack pockets 36, each for receiving a 
blank 20 or a pack. The pack pockets 36 are limited by a bottom 37 and by 
a radially inner wall 38 which is formed by a downward-pointing leg of an 
angular profile. Radially extending pocket side walls 39 adjoin laterally 
the pocket bottom 37, which is divided centrally. On the top and radially 
outer sides the pack pockets 36 are open. 
In the region of a feed station 40 the blank 20 is prefolded until an 
angular intermediate folding position is assumed, seen in a radial 
direction. The rear wall 25, the lid end wall 27 and the lid front wall 28 
extend in a horizontal plane, the rear wall 25 resting on the 
appropriately dimensioned pocket bottom 37. The side tabs 24 connected to 
the rear wall 25 are folded into a vertically oblique position, resting 
inclined against the inner sides of the pocket side walls 39 on bearing 
faces 41, in such a way that the side tab edges point upwards and are 
spaced from a cigarette block 34 introduced into the pack pocket 36. 
The inner gussets 30 and the lid corner tabs 31, which follow the side tabs 
24 on the radially outer side, are located in a substantially vertical 
position. However, seen in a plan view, the lid corner tabs 31 adjoining 
the inner gussets 30 are folded outwards in the form of a funnel, to make 
it easier to introduce the cigarette block 34. 
A vertical leg of the blank 20 folded at an angle is formed by the bottom 
wall 22 and the adjoining front wall 23. The side tabs 26 belonging to the 
latter are likewise directed vertically and extend in the plane of the 
front wall 23. 
During the radially directed introduction of the cigarette block 34 into 
the partially folded pack blank 20, the latter is held in the pocket 36 by 
lateral retaining jaws 43 assigned to each pocket to prevent undesirable 
displacements of the blank in a radial direction. These retaining jaws are 
located at the ends of a two-armed pivoting lever 44 and can be brought 
into the position shown especially in FIGS. 2 and 5, whereat the jaws 43 
rest against the vertical inner gussets 30 with sloping supporting edges 
45 of the jaws resting against the likewise sloping end edges 32 of the 
side tabs 24. This resting contact is enabled by inclination of the side 
tabs. Displacement of the blank 20 in a radial direction within the pack 
pocket 36 is prevented as a result. 
Undesirable upward movements are forestalled by holding-down devices 46 
which are lowered from above onto the pack pocket 36 or the blank 20, in 
such a way that a downward-pointing pressure leg 47 rests on the side tab 
24, namely the upper side-tab edge 42. 
The funnel-shaped position of the lid corner tabs 31 is ensured by guide 
walls 48 which can be moved into an appropriate position and which, in the 
present case, each form a common member with the holding-down device 46. 
The guide walls 48 are attached respectively to lateral pivoting levers 49 
and are designed so that the lid corner tab 31 comes to rest against 
appropriately located supporting faces 50 extending obliquely to the 
direction of transport of the cigarette block 34. As a result of movement 
of pivoting levers 49, the guide wall 48 is brought into position, and 
because of the wedge-shaped design of the guide wall 48 in the region of 
the supporting face 50 the lid corner tab 31 is folded into the oblique 
position relative to the inner gusset 30 retained by the retaining jaw 43. 
Finally, care is taken to ensure, in the region of the feed station 40, 
that the cigarette block 34 introduced into the blank 20 is positioned 
exactly. For this purpose, a ram plate 51 can be advanced from above, and 
this places itself on the topside of the cigarette block 34 and grasps by 
means of a tab 52 a radially outer end face 53 of the cigarette block. 
In conformity with the apparatus according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,393, the 
cigarette blocks 34 are fed to the folding turret 35 in a radial direction 
relative to the latter. During the final stage of transport, the tin foil 
blank wrapping a group of cigarettes is ready-folded in the region of the 
end face 53 at the rear in the direction of transport. 
The cigarette blocks 34 are supplied to a block pocket 55 and introduced 
into this in succession on a pack track 54 by means of a chain conveyor. 
The block pocket 55 takes over the transport of the cigarette block 34 
into the vicinity of the folding turret 35. The block pocket 55 is 
reciprocable for this purpose. The block pocket 55 is formed on a 
plate-shaped cross member 56 extending transversely to the direction of 
movement. This, in turn, is slidably mounted on lateral guide rods 57. 
The block pocket 55 consists of a bottom 58, vertical side walls 59 and a 
top wall 60. The latter is formed by two horizontal legs 61, 62, between 
which is formed a slit 63 extending somewhat off-center. The rear side for 
introducing the cigarette block 34 and the front side for pushing it out 
are open. 
The bottom 58 of the block pocket 55 consists of two parts, namely a fixed 
part 64 located at the front in the direction of transport and a lifting 
part 65 forming approximately the rearward half of the bottom 58. After a 
cigarette block 34 has been introduced, this lifting part can be lifted 
into the block pocket 55, in such a way that the cigarette block 34 is 
also lifted and thereby fixed to the top wall 60 of the block pocket 55 by 
pressing. As a result, during transport by the block pocket 55, the 
cigarette block 34 is fixed in the pocket against relative movements. 
The movable lifting part 65 is located on a two-armed pressure lever 66. 
This pressure lever 66 pivotable about a bearing 67 can be supported by 
its free end via a feeler roller 68 on a guide track in the form of a 
supporting rail 69. The supporting rail 69 extending in a horizontal plane 
can be lifted and lowered, in the present case by means of a parallelogram 
of rods 70. The lifting part 65 and the pressure lever 66 are prestressed 
by a compression spring 71 in the direction to lift and clamp the 
cigarette block 34. The pressure lever 66 is pivotable in a clockwise 
direction, against the compression spring 71, as a result of the lifting 
of the supporting rail 69, whereby the lifting part 65 is lowered and the 
cigarette block 34 is freed from the clamping position. The supporting 
rail 69 is consequently lifted at each of the end positions of the block 
pocket 55. 
A lower folding device 72 in the form of a pivotable lever is also located 
on the block pocket 55. After the cigarette block 34 has been introduced 
into the block pocket 55, this is pivoted in a folding direction, 
specifically approximately into the position according to FIG. 6. At the 
same time, a lower rearward-pointing end tab 73 of the tin foil blank 33 
is folded into the plane of the rear end face 53. In the present case, the 
lower folding device 72 and the pressure lever 66 are mounted coaxially, 
namely arranged on a transversely directed axle 74 which is mounted in 
supporting legs 75 on the underside of the cross member 56. 
Because of positive coupling, it is guaranteed that, in the initial 
position facing the pack track 54, the block pocket 55 is always retained 
in an exact relative position to ensure perfect introduction of the 
cigarette block 34 into the block pocket 55. For this purpose, bottom 
tongues 76 and side tongues 77 are located on the pack track 54. In the 
corresponding position of the block pocket 55, these projecting guide 
parts penetrate positively into recesses in it. For this purpose, the 
bottom 58 and the side walls 59 are provided with recesses 78 and 79 open 
to the rear for penetration of the bottom tongues 76 on the one hand and 
the side tongues 77 on the other hand. The side tongues 77 are designed as 
the continuation of lateral rails 80 of the pack track 54, whilst the 
bottom tongues 76 adjoin the plate-shaped pack track 54. 
As in the apparatus according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,393, the cigarette 
block 34 is conveyed by the block pocket 55 into a region located at a 
distance in front of the folding turret 35. During the time when the block 
pocket 55 is guided back again into the initial position as a result of 
oppositely directed movement, there comes into action a pushing-out device 
81 which is located above the path of movement of the block pocket 55 and 
which executes a complex up-and-down movement and a movement in the 
direction of transport of the cigarette block 34. 
The pushing-out device 81 has a multiple function. The angle piece 82 
serves as an upper folding device. During the downward movement of the 
pushing-out device 81 for grasping the cigarette block 34 on the rear end 
face 53, an upper rearward-pointing end tab 83 is folded over into the 
plane of the end face 53. Side tabs of the tin foil blank 33 have 
previously been folded into the plane of the end face 53, specifically by 
lateral folding devices which are not shown in any detail here, but 
correspond to the apparatus according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,393 and which 
are also located on the block pocket 55. 
The cigarette block 34, which, in the end position of the block pocket 55 
facing the folding turret 35--approximately the position in FIG. 5 shown 
by dot-and-dash lines--is conveyed out of the block pocket 55 by the 
pushing-out device 81, is subsequently taken over by a transfer member 
which corresponds to the mouthpiece 116 of the above U.S. patent. The 
guide walls 48 already described are parts of this mouthpiece. The 
cigarette block 34 is conveyed by the pushing-out device 81 into the end 
position within the pack or within the blank 20. At the same time, the 
guide walls 48, or the mouthpiece 84 formed by these, execute a pivoting 
movement, and the holding-down devices 46 located on this mouthpiece 84 or 
on the guide walls 48 are moved into the working position. This pivoting 
movement also results in the lid corner tabs 31 passing into the 
funnel-shaped position shown in detail in FIG. 11. The retaining jaws 43 
have already been brought into position previously. After the cigarette 
block 34 has been pushed in, the ram plate 51 is lowered into the 
adjusting position already described. 
The further folding steps for the blank 20 can proceed in the way described 
in the above U.S. patent. 
The packs of the "hinge-lid" type, mentioned primarily here, are 
predominantly equipped with a collar which is formed by a separate collar 
blank 85. This has to be fed to the cigarette block 34 and combined with 
it in a suitable way before completion of the pack, in such a way that the 
collar extends in the region of the front wall 23 and of the side walls 
formed by the side tabs 24 and 26. 
For this purpose, the collar blanks 85 are fed transversely to the 
conveying direction of the cigarette block 34 and are thereafter 
transported parallel to and synchronously with the latter up to 
introduction into the pack or the blank 20. They are combined only within 
the pack pocket 36 of the folding turret 35. 
The collar blanks 85 are introduced into the radial path of movement of the 
cigarette block 34 in the region of the rearward end position of the block 
pocket 55. The collar blanks 85 are fed in succession to this station by a 
collar conveyor 86. This is an especially light-weight or low-mass toothed 
belt made of plastic. Attached to its outside at a distance from one 
another are engaging noses 87 which each grasp a collar blank at the side, 
namely in the region of one of the collar side walls 88. The collars are 
consequently transported by the collar conveyor 86 in the relative 
position corresponding to further transport. 
The arrangement in the region of the collar conveyor 86 is such that a 
lower side 89 ensures transport, the collar blanks 85 being conveyed, 
outside the region of the collar conveyor 86, by resting in or on a fixed 
transport track 90. This is designed essentially as a fixed plate with 
lateral guide slits 91 for the penetration of lateral regions of the 
collar blank 85 and with an approximately central depression 92 for the 
penetration of the collar conveyor 86. The collar blanks 85 are fed to the 
collar conveyor 86 transversely to its transport direction by means of 
conveyor rollers 93. 
The collar blanks 85 are each deposited on the top side of the block pocket 
55 by the collar conveyor 86 when the block pocket is in the initial 
position remote from the pack. A collar supporting plate 94 is arranged 
fixedly above the block pocket 55, namely at a slight distance above the 
top wall 60, for receiving the collar blank 85. This collar supporting 
plate extends between lateral engaging projections 95 on the top wall 60 
of the block pocket 55 and in the rearward region of the latter. The 
above-mentioned engaging projections 95 grasp the collar blank 85 on the 
rear face during transport by the block pocket 55. 
To allow the collar blank 85 to be introduced into the path of movement of 
the block pocket 55, the transport track 90 for the collar blank 85 is 
provided with a plate-shaped extension piece 96 which, on the side located 
opposite the collar conveyor 86, forms in relation to the block pocket 55 
a stop for positioning the collar blank 85, specifically within a stop 
slit 97. 
In order to fix the collar blank 85 exactly on the collar supporting plate 
94 during this change in the direction of movement, a holding-down device 
98 is located above the collar supporting plate 94. This consists of a 
spring plate with a pressure nose 99 resting resiliently against the top 
side of the collar blank 85. The holding-down device 98 is mounted 
fixedly. During feeding by the collar conveyor 86, the collar blank 85 is 
pushed under the pressure nose 99 and is drawn out of this retaining 
position during further conveyance, when the collar blank 85 is taken up 
by the engaging projections 95 of the block pocket 55. Located on the 
underside of the collar supporting plate 94 is an elongate cam 100 which, 
in the initial position, projects into the slit 63 formed between the legs 
61 and 62 of the top wall 60 of the block pocket 55 and ends essentially 
flush with the underside of the top wall 60. 
During further transport by the block pocket 55, the collar blank 85 is 
conveyed at a distance above the top wall 60 of the block pocket. For this 
purpose, a guide track 101 for the collar blank 85 adjoins the extension 
piece 96 or the stop slit 97 on both sides. It consists of elongate guide 
rails 102 and 103, between which is formed a guide slit 104 for the 
penetration of the lateral parts (collar side walls 88) of the collar 
blank 85. 
The collar blank 85 is conveyed out of the guide track 101 only directly in 
the region of the pack pocket 36 of the folding turret 35, specifically 
being lowered onto the cigarette block 34 located under it. During this 
transfer stage, several processing operations take place. By means of the 
lateral guide walls 48 or specially shaped (arcuate) folding edges 105 
located on these, the collar side walls 88 are folded over downwards 
because of the relative movement of the collar blank 85 in relation to the 
guide walls 48. This folding over of the collar side walls 88 takes place 
during a stage in which the collar blank 85 is still retained in the guide 
track 101. At the same time, the collar side walls 88 are folded round the 
lower guide rail 103 (FIG. 10). The guide walls 48 are thus moved in a 
pivoting motion and serve as a folding member. The collar blank 85 is 
consequently conveyed out of the guide track 101, with collar side walls 
88 folded downwards, and lowered onto the cigarette block 34 within the 
blank 20. 
At the same time, the collar blank 85 is adjusted in terms of its exact 
relative position in relation to the cigarette block 34, specifically as a 
result of the collar blank 85 resting against an adjusting piece 106 
connected to the pushing-out device 81. During the transfer of the collar 
blank 85 to the cigarette block 34, this adjusting piece is located 
directly and at a slight distance above the latter. Because the cigarette 
block 34 is pushed out of the block pocket 55 by the pushing-out device 
81, the collar blank 85 is also transported further, specifically by an 
adjusting piece 106 located at the front end of the pushing-out device 81. 
This also has the function of determining the exact relative position of 
the collar blank 85 in relation to the cigarette block 34 before the 
collar blank 85 is deposited on this. In so doing, the adjusting piece 106 
comes to rest against an edge of the collar blank 85 within a collar 
recess 107, this edge pointing rearwards during transport. The distance 
between the adjusting piece 106 and the angled piece 82 as the actual 
pushing member for the cigarette block 34 therefore corresponds to the 
relative position between the collar blank 85 and the cigarette block 34. 
The further folding steps for the pack proceed in a known way, especially 
in conformity with U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,393, according to the work cycle of 
the ram plate 51 already described.