Method of and apparatus for transferring cigarette packet blanks into the receptacles of a conveyor

A turntable has an annulus of discrete pockets and is indexible about a vertical axis to position successive pockets at a first station at a level directly above a second station where an intermittently advanced web or strip of coherent blanks is acted upon by cooperating fixed and mobile knives to sever blanks which are thereupon transferred by a pneumatic conveyor along a straight path vertically upwardly into successive pockets of the turntable. The blanks are provided with flaps during transfer from the second station into the respective pockets by moving through a stationary mouthpiece, and the thus deformed blanks can be used as so-called shoulder pieces or understrips in hinged-lid packets for arrays of rod-shaped smokers' products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 The invention relates to a method of and to an apparatus for manipulating
 blanks which can form part of packets for cigarettes or other smokers'
 products. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in
 methods of and in apparatus for manipulating blanks which can constitute
 so-called shoulder pieces or understrips of containers known as hinged-lid
 packets for plain or filter cigarettes or the like.
 As disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,543 to Seragnoli, blanks
 which are to be converted into the shoulder pieces of hinged-lid packets
 are separated from the leading end of an intermittently advanced body of
 coherent blanks, and the freshly separated blanks are introduced into
 discrete pockets of an indexible turntable for assembly with other
 constituents of hinged-lid packets. The properly installed shoulder piece
 of a hinged-lid packet extends somewhat beyond the open end of the main
 body of the packet and can be concealed by and then releasably engages and
 holds a lid which is pivotable relative to the rear wall of the main body
 of the packet.
 A drawback of presently known and utilized methods of and apparatus for
 manipulating shoulder pieces and analogous blanks which are to form part
 of hinged-lid packets or the like is that successive freshly formed blanks
 must be advanced along a complex path on their way into the receptacles of
 a turntable or another conveyor. This increases the likelihood of
 misalignment, undesirable deformation and/or other adverse influences upon
 the blanks. Moreover, the transfer of a freshly formed or separated blank
 into a pocket or another receptacle of a conveyor takes up a relatively
 long interval of time.
 OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
 An object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact and relatively
 inexpensive but highly reliable apparatus for the manipulation of shoulder
 pieces or understrips for hinged-lid packets and/or of other types of
 blanks of paper, cardboard, plastic board material or the like.
 Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved
 arrangement for transferring freshly formed blanks from a blank forming
 (such as separating or severing) station into discrete pockets or other
 suitable receptacles.
 A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is less
 likely to cause or to permit undesirable deformation and/or misalignment
 of freshly formed blanks than heretofore known apparatus.
 An additional object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with
 novel and improved simple, compact and efficient means for effecting a
 desirable and predictable deformation of blanks not later than during
 introduction into their receptacles.
 Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can
 be installed in existing (single-track or multiple-track) packing machines
 for plain or filter cigarettes or other smokers' products as a superior
 substitute for presently known and utilized blank manipulating apparatus.
 A further object of the invention is to provide and novel and improved
 method of manipulating blanks which are to constitute component parts of
 packets for smokers' products.
 An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved
 method of manipulating so-called shoulder pieces or understrips prior to
 incorporation into hinged-lid packets for cigarettes or other smokers'
 products.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 One feature of the instant invention resides in the provision of a method
 of introducing blanks (particularly blanks of paper or cardboard which are
 convertible into component parts of packets, such as hinged-lid packets,
 for confinement of plain or filter cigarettes or other smokers' products)
 into discrete pockets or other suitable receptacles of a conveyor. The
 improved method comprises the steps of advancing discrete receptacles of
 the conveyor to a first station, separating successive blanks of a series
 of blanks from a body (e.g., a a web or panel or sheet) of coherent blanks
 at a second station, and transferring successive separated blanks from the
 second station along an at least substantially straight path and into
 discrete receptacles at the first station.
 The first and second stations are preferably located at different levels.
 The positions of the first and second stations are or can be selected in
 such a way that the aforementioned path is an at least substantially
 vertical path. Furthermore, the first station is or can be located at a
 level above the second station.
 The method can further comprise the step of deforming selected portions
 (e.g., two end portions) of each of the successive blanks in the course of
 the transferring step. Such deforming step can include moving successive
 blanks through a mouthpiece which surrounds a portion of the path and
 which is or which can be maintained at a standstill at least during
 movement of the blanks therethrough.
 In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the improved method,
 the first station is disposed at a level above the second station, and the
 path is at least substantially vertical.
 Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an
 apparatus for introducing blanks (e.g., blanks of paper or cardboard which
 can be converted into so-called shoulder pieces or understrips of
 hinged-lid packets for arrays of plain or filter cigarettes or other
 smokers' products) into discrete receptacles of a conveyor which is
 arranged to advance discrete receptacles to a first station. The improved
 apparatus comprises means for severing successive blanks of a series of
 blanks from a web or strip or another suitable body of coherent blanks at
 a second station, and means for transferring successive severed blanks
 from the second station into discrete receptacles at the first station
 along an at least substantially straight path.
 The conveyor is preferably indexible about an at least substantially
 vertical axis, and the aforementioned path can be an at least
 substantially vertical path.
 The means for severing can comprise a substantially horizontal cutting edge
 and means for moving the cutting edge between two different levels to thus
 sever a blank from the aforementioned body of coherent blanks.
 The apparatus can further comprise means for deforming selected portions of
 successive severed blanks during transfer of blanks along the
 aforementioned path, i.e., from the second station to discrete receptacles
 at the first station. The deforming means can comprise at least one
 mouthpiece, and such mouthpiece is or can be a stationary mouthpiece. The
 deforming means is preferably located at a level above the second station.
 The means for transferring can comprise means for pneumatically holding
 succesive blanks during transfer along the aforementioned path, preferably
 along a vertically upwardly extending path (i.e., the second station is
 preferably located at a level below the first station).
 It is presently preferred to employ transferring means which includes at
 least one suction conveyor.
 The means for severing can include a knife having a supporting surface for
 successive blanks of the series and at least one recess in the supporting
 surface. The transferring means of such apparatus can comprise a suction
 head which is movable between a lower position in the at least one recess
 to be overlapped by a blank which has been separated from the body of
 coherent blanks at the second station, and a higher position in which the
 blank overlapping the suction head is located in the discrete receptacle
 at the first station.
 The body of coherent blanks can include a sheet or the like and the
 severing means can include cooperating stationary and mobile knives which
 are located at the second station. The second station is preferably
 disposed at a level below the first station and the conveyor can include
 an indexible turntable having an annulus of pockets located in a
 preferably horizontal plane and each forming part of one of the discrete
 receptacles.
 The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention
 are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus
 itself, however, both as to its construction and the mode of operating the
 same, together with numerous additional features and advantages thereof,
 will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description
 of certain presently preferred specific embodiments with reference to the
 accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a strip- or web-shaped body 3 of
 coherent blanks 1, and such body (hereinafter called strip or web) is
 advanced in a stepwise fashion (arrow 2) to a severing or separating
 station. The illustrated web 3 is provided with two longitudinally
 extending rows 6, 7 of slits 4 which enable a suitable deforming device
 (such as the stationary mouthpiece 24 shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) to deform
 selected portions 9, 11 of successive blanks 1 which have been severed or
 separated from the leading end of the intermittently advanced web 3. Such
 deformation takes place during transfer of successively separated blanks 1
 along a straight vertical path (see the arrow 8 in FIGS. 1 and 2) into a
 discrete receptacle 12 of a conveyor (such as a turntable) which is
 indexible about a vertical axis to advance successive receptacles of an
 annulus of such receptacles to a station directly above the severing or
 separating station. The mouthpiece 24 surrounds a portion of the path
 which is denoted by the arrow 8, i.e., this mouthpiece is located at a
 level above the web severing or subdividing station and at a level below
 the station for discrete receptacles 12.
 A conveyor for a web of coherent blanks, and a turntable provided with an
 annulus of equidistant receptacles in the form of pockets are disclosed in
 the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,543 to Seragnoli. To the extent
 which might be deemed necessary for a full understanding of the present
 invention, the disclosure of the patent to Seragnoli is incorporated
 herein by reference.
 The deformed portions 9, 11 are disposed at the longitudinal ends of the
 respective blanks 1, and such blanks are at least substantially flat
 during and immediately subsequent to separation from the remainder of the
 web 3. The latter is (or can be) stationary during separation of a blank 1
 from its leading end, and the receptacle (pocket) 12 at the station above
 the severing station is (or can be) stationary during reception of a
 freshly severed blank, i.e., of a blank which has been lifted along the
 straight vertical path denoted by the arrow 8 and has undergone a desired
 deformation during movement through the stationary mouthpiece 24.
 Referring to FIG. 3, the means for separating (severing) successive blanks
 1 from the leading end of the intermittently advanced web 3 of coherent
 blanks comprises a stationary first knife 16 having a substantially
 horizontal first cutting edge 13, and a vertically reciprocable second
 knife or counterknife 18 having a substantially horizontal second cutting
 edge 14 which cooperates with the cutting edge 13 to sever the foremost
 blank 1 from the leading end of the web 3. The freshly severed or
 separated blank 1 lies flush on the horizontal upper side or surface of
 the vertically reciprocable knife 18. The double-headed arrow 17 indicates
 the directions of vertical reciprocatory movement of the knife 18; such
 movement can be effected, for example, by the piston rod (shown but not
 referenced) of a suitable hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and piston unit
 whose operation is properly synchronized with that of the conveyor for the
 intermittently advanced web 3 and with that of the turntable including the
 receptacles (pockets) 12.
 The means for transferring freshly separated blanks 1 from the station for
 the knives 16, 18 to the station for discrete receptacles 12 comprises a
 pneumatic conveyor 21 which includes a suction head including two suction
 cups 22, 23 and being movable up and down in directions indicated by a
 double-headed arrow 19. The means for moving the suction cups 22, 23
 through the receptacle 12 which registers with the severing or separating
 station and through the stationary mouthpiece 24 to attract a freshly
 separated blank 1 overlying the upper side or surface of the reciprocable
 knife 18 can comprise a suitable fluid-operated motor (shown but not
 referenced). Suction which is applied by the cups 22, 23 against the upper
 side of the blank 1 which shares the upward movements of such cups is
 sufficiently pronounced to ensure that the end portions or flaps 9, 11 are
 bent at angles of at least close to 90.degree. relative to the central
 main portion of the upwardly moving blank during transport through the
 stationary mouthpiece 24. As can be seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the
 mouthpiece 24 can be installed at a level immediately beneath the
 receptacle 12 which is about to receive the ascending freshly deformed
 blank 1.
 The conveyor 21 is or can be designed in such a way that a blank 1 which
 has been lifted off the knife 18 is advanced in the direction of the arrow
 8 without interruptions, through the mouthpiece 24 and all the way into
 the awaiting receptacle 12. A stationary stop 26 is provided to arrest the
 fully lifted (freshly deformed) blank 1 in an optimum position with
 reference to the respective receptacle 12, i.e., to separate such blank
 from the suction cups 22, 23 of the suction head forming part of the
 conveyor 21. The conveyor 21 further comprises a suitable pneumatic valve
 27 having a resilient valving element which is actuated by the stop 26
 upon completion of the upward movement of a blank 1 so as to disconnect
 the suction cups 22, 23 from a suction generating device (not shown) in
 good time to reduce the likelihood of unsatisfactory positioning
 (orientation and/or level) of the freshly lifted blank 1 relative to the
 respective receptacle 12 of the indexible turntable.
 The receptacles 12 can be provided with suction ports 28 which are
 connected to the aforementioned suction generating device, or to another
 suction generating device, not later than upon completed lifting of a
 blank 1 into the awaiting receptacle. The manner in which a blank 1 which
 has entered the registering receptacle 12 is thereupon assembled with the
 remaining part or parts (e.g., one or more coupons, a substantially
 box-shaped blank, and one or more envelopes) of a hinged-lid packet for
 plain or filter cigarettes or other smokers' products forms no part of the
 present invention. The suction ports 28 can attract the adjacent deformed
 (bent) end portions or flaps 9, 11 of the blank 1 in the respective
 receptacle 12.
 As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper portion of the blank 1 which has
 entered the respective receptacle 12 and abuts the stop 26 extends
 upwardly beyond the receptacle. The arrow 8 denotes (in FIGS. 1 and 2) the
 presently preferred (shortest) vertical path for the transfer of
 successive blanks 1 from the severing or separating station to the station
 for successive discrete receptacles 12.
 An important advantage of the improved method and apparatus is their
 simplicity. Furthermore, the transfer of successive freshly separated
 blanks 1 can be completed within short intervals of time, in a small area,
 and in such a way that a misalignment of blanks during transfer into their
 receptacles is much less likely to occur than in heretofore known
 apparatus. The output of the improved blank forming, deforming and
 transferring apparatus can greatly exceed the output of conventional
 apparatus without risking a misalignment of the blanks and/or other
 undesirable treatments which could affect the appearance and/or other
 desirable characteristics of the hinged-lid packets.
 The mouthpiece 24 (or another suitable blank shaping or deforming device)
 constitutes an optional but highly desirable and advantageous feature of
 the improved apparatus. Thus, each blank is automatically deformed to a
 desired extent during its preferably straight-line transfer from the lower
 station (for the knives 16, 18) to the upper station (for discrete
 receptacles 12). The deforming action of the mouthpiece 24 is such that
 each freshly deformed blank 1 can readily enter the respective receptacle
 12 and that its deformed portions or flaps 9, 11 are brought to a halt
 adjacent to and are attracted by the suction ports 28 of such receptacle.
 It has been found that the improved method can be practiced, and that the
 improved apparatus can be utilized, in packing machines which are designed
 to turn out single rows or multiple (e.g., twin) rows of hinged-lid
 packets for arrays of plain or filter cigarettes or other smokers'
 products.
 FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate a portion of an apparatus which constitutes one
 presently preferred modification of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.
 All such parts of the modified apparatus which are identical with or
 plainly analogous to the corresponding parts of the apparatus shown in
 FIGS. 3 to 5 are denoted by similar reference characters plus 100.
 A first difference between the two illustrated apparatus is that the upper
 side or surface of the vertically reciprocable knife or counterknife 118
 is provided with a recess for the suction head 129 at the upper end of a
 fluid-operated conveyor 121 serving as a means for transferring successive
 freshly separated blanks 101 from the severing or separating station into
 the aligned receptacle 112 at the station directly above the knives 116,
 118. The vertically reciprocable support of the conveyor 121 for the
 suction head 129 is provided with a suction channel 131 which connects the
 suction head 129 with a suction generating device (not shown) not later
 than when a blank 101 at the leading end of the web 103 reaches and
 overlies the upper side or surface of the reciprocable knife 118. The
 suction head 129 is lifted out of its recess in the knife 118 and raises
 the freshly separated blank 101 through the deforming means (mouthpiece)
 124 and into the registering receptacle 112 wherein the freshly deformed
 blank 101 is attracted by suction ports 128 while abutting the stop 126.
 The suction head 129 is thereupon lowered back into the recess in the
 upper side of the knife 118 which latter is also lowered from the upper or
 raised position to its second or lower position before the web 103 is
 again advanced by a step to position the (still non-separated) blank 101
 at its leading end on the upper side of the knife 118.
 An advantage of the apparatus of FIGS. 6 to 8 is that the leading end of
 the web 103 can be attracted by the suction head 129 from below (i.e.,
 against the flat upper side or surface of the knife 118) even before a
 separating or severing step begins. This even further reduces the
 likelihood of misalignment of a freshly severed or separated blank 101
 relative to the respective receptacle 112. At least the major part of the
 conveyor 121 is installed at a level below the knives 116, 118.
 Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of
 the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,
 readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that,
 from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential
 characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of the above outlined
 contribution to the art of making and processing blanks for hinged-lid
 packets for cigarettes and the like and, therefore, such adaptations
 should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of
 equivalence of the appended claims.