Abstract:
Blocks of plain or filter cigarettes are accumulated in at least two group building assemblies each of which comprises at least two block forming units receiving cigarettes by gravity flow by way of upright ducts. The assemblies are adjacent the path of a series of successive receptacles which serve to transport discrete blocks stepwise to a multiple-track packing machine. The units accumulate blocks of cigarettes during intervals which include the duration of at least one stepwise movement of the receptacles and that of at least one period of standstill of the receptacles. Such intervals suffice to ensure satisfactory gathering of cigarettes into blocks of required size and shape at a frequency which is required for full-speed operation of the multiple-track packing machine.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to improvements in methods of and in apparatus for gathering groups (e.g., blockshaped arrays) of commodities and for introducing the thus obtained groups into intermittently advancing receptacles. Examples of equipments which can be operated by resorting to the method and to the apparatus of the present invention are processing machines (such as packing machines) which are employed to mass produce packs of cigarettes or other rod-shaped commodities or products of the tobacco processing industry.  
           [0002]    In a modern production line which is designed to turn out cigarette packs, groups or blocks or arrays of parallel rod-shaped articles (hereinafter referred to as cigarettes) are assembled in block forming units the contents of which are thereupon transferred into the receptacles of an intermittently advancing conveyor for delivery to the inlet of the packing machine wherein the groups are confined in envelopes (converted blanks) of metalic foil, paper, cardboard and/or plastic foil. As a rule, the thus obtained packs (e.g., those known as soft packs or hinged-lid packs) are thereupon confined in cartons each of which normally accommodates ten packs, and groups of thus filled cartons are confined in boxes each of which can accommodate, for example, twentyfive cartons and which are delivered to storage or shipped to the purchasers.  
           [0003]    Numerous problems arise when the production lines employ plural packing machines or multiple-track packing machines. In either event, a modern packing machine of such character can process large numbers of arrays of properly grouped cigarettes. On the other hand, that part of a production line which gathers cigarettes into groups or arrays of, for example, twenty cigarettes each can turn out the groups at a rate having an upper limit. This is attributable in part to the force of gravity and in part to the presently known best mode of assembling discrete cigarettes into arrays; such mode involves causing cigarettes to descend by gravity sideways in upright or downwardly sloping ducts on their way into the group or block forming units where the cigarettes of an assembled group occupy predetermined positions relative to each other. It is not always advisable to propel the cigarettes sideways with a force exceeding the force of gravity because this could result in damage to (such as defacing of) the cigarettes so that the speed of sidewise downward movement of the cigarettes to the group or block forming units cannot exceed an upper limit. The speed of sidewise downward movement of cigarettes is also affected by friction between the wrappers of the cigarettes and the surfaces of walls which define the ducts. Therefore, a modern high-speed packing machine (especially a multi-track packing machine) cannot operate at full capacity because the group forming station of the production line cannot furnish arrays of cigarettes at the rate at which such arrays can be wrapped into envelopes by the packing machine.  
           [0004]    French patent application Serial No. 2.012.136 (published Mar. 13, 1970) discloses an apparatus wherein two block forming units are installed next to each other and each of which can gather groups or arrays of twenty cigarettes each at a frequency which is dictated by the force of gravity and by friction between the wrappers of the cigarettes and the surfaces bounding the ducts wherein the cigarettes descend sideways into the respective block forming units. In other words, the frequency at which the receptacles of the intermittently advancing conveyors, which transport finished groups to the packing machine, receive groups or arrays of twenty cigarettes each is not determined by the maximum possible speed of the conveyor and/or by the capacity of the packing machine but rather solely by the ability of the block forming units to gather successive arrays. Thus, there exists an urgent need for an apparatus (such as a production line) which can be resorted to in order to ensure that the capacity of the packing machine determines the frequency at which groups or arrays of commodities can be wrapped into packets or multiple-layer envelopes of paper, cardboard, metallic foil, plastic foil and/or other suitable wrapping materials.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of gathering groups or arrays or blocks of discrete commodities at a frequency which is determined by the requirements of the processing machine or machines rather than by the gathering or arraying equipment.  
           [0006]    Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of meeting the requirements of modern high-speed (such as multiple-track) packing or other processing machines.  
           [0007]    A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of supplying arrays of plain or filter cigarettes or other rod-shaped products of the tobacco processing industry to twin-track packing machines.  
           [0008]    An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of and a novel and improved mechanism or apparatus for filling the receptacles of an endless conveyor with arrays of commodities, such as blocks of plain or filter cigarettes, at a rate exceeding that which can be achieved in accordance with heretofore known proposals.  
           [0009]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a method which renders it possible to increase the output of a high-speed cigarette packing machine.  
           [0010]    A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can supply to one or more consumers arrays of discrete commodities at a rate exceeding that achievable with presently known apparatus.  
           [0011]    Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved production line for the making of packs containing arrays of discrete commodities, such as block-shaped arrays or groups of rod-shaped products of the tobacco processing industry.  
           [0012]    An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved group forming or arraying apparatus for use in conjunction with packing machines for rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry.  
           [0013]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved combination of a machine or apparatus for gathering arrays or groups of discrete commodities with a machine which packs or otherwise processes such arrays.  
           [0014]    A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus which can meet the requirements of multi-track machines for the processing of arrays of discrete commodities, such as rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry in so-called quincunx and analogous formations.  
           [0015]    An additional object of the instant invention is to provide an apparatus which constitutes an improvement over and a further development of those disclosed in the aforementioned published French patent application Serial No. 2.012.136.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0016]    One feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an apparatus for supplying groups or arrays of commodities to a processing machine. The improved apparatus comprises group building means having a plurality of assemblies each including a plurality of group forming units each of which is arranged to gather a succession of groups, and means for transporting groups of commodities from such units to the processing machine.  
           [0017]    The processing machine can constitute a packing machine having at least two tracks which are spaced apart from each other by a first distance. The transporting means of such apparatus can comprise a conveyor having a plurality of neighboring receptacles spaced apart from each other by distances each of which at least approximates the first distance. Each such receptacle is arranged to accommodate a group of rod-shaped articles (e.g., plain or filter cigarettes or other rod-shaped aticles of the tobacco processing industry). The transporting means of such apparatus can further comprise means for intermittently moving the conveyor by increments each having a length of m+1 second distances (m is the number of tracks in the packing machine).  
           [0018]    The group building means of the improved apparatus can include three assemblies, and each such assembly can include two group forming units.  
           [0019]    Alternatively, the group building means can comprise two assemblies, and each such assembly can include three group forming units.  
           [0020]    If the group building means employs two assemblies and each such assembly includes two group forming units, the units of each assembly are preferably spaced apart from each other by a first distance and the assemblies are spaced apart from each other by a second distance which is twice the first distance.  
           [0021]    Each group forming unit can be provided with a fixed outlet (e.g., an outlet in the form of a mouthpiece) for groups of commodities.  
           [0022]    The apparatus can further comprise an intermediate storage facility for each of the group forming units; each such facility is or can be movable between a first position for reception of a group of commodities from the respective unit and a second position for transfer of a group of commodities to the transporting means. At least one of the intermediate storage facilities can be installed in such a way that it is movable at least substantially vertically between its first and second positions. Alternatively, at least one of the intermediate storage facilities can be installed in such a way that it is movable at least substantially horizontally between its first and second positions.  
           [0023]    If each of the group forming units is provided with a fixed outlet for successive groups of commodities, the improved apparatus can further comprise the aforementioned intermediate storage facility for each group forming unit and means for moving such facilities between first positions for reception of groups of commodities from the respective outlets and second positions best suited for transfer of groups or arrays or blocks of commodities to the transporting means. All of the aforementioned moving means are or can be at least substantially identical.  
           [0024]    Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a method of supplying a processing machine with groups of commodities. The improved method comprises the steps of establishing a plurality of group building stations with at least two group forming units per station, repeatedly gathering groups of commodities in the group forming units of such group building stations, converting the groups which are assembled by the group forming units into a series of groups in a path leading to the processing machine, and stepwise transporting the groups of the series along such path to the processing machine.  
           [0025]    The processing machine can constitute or include a multi-track packing machine for rod-shaped commodities of the tobacco processing industry. The tracks of such packing machine are or can be spaced apart from each other by a first distance, and the transporting step can include advancing the groups of the series through second distances m+1 times a first distance (m is the number of tracks in the packing machine).  
           [0026]    The converting step can include simultaneously transferring into the path assembled groups of commodities from all of the group forming units of all of the group building stations.  
           [0027]    Alternatively, the converting step can include simultaneously transferring, from one station at a time, into the path all of the groups assembled at the respective station.  
           [0028]    Still further, the converting step can include simultaneously transferring all of the groups which are built at the group building stations.  
           [0029]    It is also possible to select the converting step in such a way that it includes delivering to the path groups of commodities subsequent to completion of pairs of successive stepwise transports of groups along the path.  
           [0030]    Still further, it is possible to select the converting step in such a way that it includes transferring groups of commodities from one station at a time in accordance with a predetermined pattern, e.g., first from one station, thereupon from another of two stations, thereupon from the one station, thereupon from the other station, and so forth.  
           [0031]    The number of stations can equal two, and each station can comprise three group forming units.  
           [0032]    Alternatively, the number of stations can equal three and each station can comprise two group forming units.  
           [0033]    The converting step can include expelling groups of commodities through stationary mouthpieces of the group forming units into discrete mobile storage facilities, and thereupon transporting the storage facilities from the respective mouthpieces to the aforementioned path.  
           [0034]    The packing machine can constitute an updated version of the packing machine known as COMPAS 500 packer.  
           [0035]    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 constriction and the modes of assembling and operating the same, together with numerous additional important and advantageous features and attributes thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain presently preferred specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0036]    [0036]FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevational view of an apparatus which is designed to gather arrays of rod-shaped articles in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention and is set up to supply such arrays to a twin-track packing machine;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 2 is a similar schematic front elevational view of an apparatus constituting a first modification of the apparatus which is shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 3 is a similar view of a third apparatus;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 4 is a similar view of a fourth apparatus; and  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view substantially as seen in the direction of arrows from the line V-V in FIG. 2.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0041]    [0041]FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a production line which includes a multiple-track processing or packing machine PM and a novel apparatus which is designed to supply groups or blocks or arrays  13  of discrete commodities  16  to the two tracks (wrapping lines) of the packing machine. The commodities  16  are rod-shaped products (such as plain or filter cigarettes) of the tobacco processing industry, and each group or array or block  13  (hereinafter called group) contains three superimposed layers of nine discrete rod-shaped products (hereinafter called cigarettes) each.  
         [0042]    The improved apparatus comprises a transporting unit  10  including an endless belt or chain conveyor  11  which carries a series of equidistant receptacles or pockets  12 , and each such pocket is dimensioned to temporarily receive and confine a group of twentyseven cigarettes  16 . The conveyor  11  is arranged to advance, stepwise, in the direction indicated by arrow  9  so that successive pockets  12  advance first toward, past and beyond a group forming location  8  (located at a level above the conveyor  11 , as viewed in FIG. 1), thereupon toward, past and beyond an ejecting or expelling station  21  (wherein defective groups  13  are expelled from their pockets  12  in the direction indicated by arrows  22 ), and thereupon toward, past and beyond the inlet of the packing machine PM.  
         [0043]    The conveyor  11  is driven stepwise by a suitable motor  6  so that it advances by increments  7  each having a length twice the distance  40  between the centers of two neighboring pockets  12 . This ensures that each incremental advance of the conveyor  11  results in a movement of two foremost filled pockets  12  to positions of alignment with the inlets of the tracks I, II of the packing machine PM. Such foremost groups are thereupon transferred into the respective tracks I, II in directions indicated by the arrows  23 ,  24  by implements or robots or other suitable devices not forming part of the present invention. For example, such devices can include one or more pushers of the type shown (at  35 ) in the lower part of FIG. 5.  
         [0044]    The illustrated location  8  provides room for two group building stations which respectively accommodate two assemblies  18 ,  18 ′ of three preferably identical group forming units  14  and  14 ′, respectively. Each of these units is designed to build or form or assemble a group  13  of twentyseven cigarettes  16  in a manner similar or analogous to that disclosed, for example, in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,866 granted Sep. 18, 1984 to Erdmann et al. for “APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING ARRAYS OF CIGARETTES IN PACKING MACHINES”. A packing machine which embodies a structure of the type disclosed in the &#39;866 patent to Erdmann et al. is known as COMPAS 500 and is distributed by the assignee of the present application.  
         [0045]    Each of the group forming units  14 ,  14 ′ comprises nine upright or nearly upright ducts  15  for sidewise gravitational descent of cigarettes  16  from one or more magazines  17  (FIG. 1 shows that each of the assemblies  18 ,  18 ′ comprises two magazines  17  and that each of these magazines supplies cigarettes  16  to one of the outer group forming units  14  or  14 ′ and to a portion of the median group forming unit  14  or  14 ′). It is also possible to employ a single magazine for each of the assemblies  18 ,  18 ′ (such arrangement is resorted to in or with many types of the COMPAS 500 packing machines) The magazines  17  can receive cigarettes  16  from suitable makers. For example, each such magazine can receive plain cigarettes from a maker known as PROTOS (distributed by the assignee of the present application) and similar or analogous to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,670 granted Aug. 4, 1981 to Heitmann et al. for “APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE PERMEABILITY OF WRAPPING MATERIAL FOR ROD-SHAPED SMOKERS&#39; PRODUCTS”. Alternatively, the magazines  17  can receive filter cigarettes from a maker (also called tipping machine) known as MAX which is distributed by the assignee of the present application and is described, for example, in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,008 granted Aug. 4, 1992 to Oesterling et al. for “METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING FILTER CIGARETTES”. The MAX machine can receive plain cigarettes from a PROTOS machine.  
         [0046]    Cigarettes  16  descend by gravity from the magazines  17  in the ducts  15  along vertical or substantially vertical (downwardly sloping) paths  36  into the respective group forming units  14  and  14 ′ to gather into groups  13  which are ready for direct admission into the then registering empty pockets  12  of the conveyor  11  or into intermediate storage facilities  33 . The storage facilities  33  can constitute or include containers which are movable between an upper level for reception of arrays  13  from the respective group forming units  14  or  14 ′ and a lower level at which they are in optimum positions for the transfer of their contents (groups  13 ) into the then registering empty pockets  12 .  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 1 further shows two sensors  20  which monitor the contents of successive filled (or presumably filled) pockets  12  downstream of the second assembly  18 ′ and upstream of the ejecting station  21  to ascertain one or more characteristics of the adjacent groups  13  during the intervals between successive intermittent advancements of the conveyor  11  in the direction of arrow  9 . For example, the sensors  20  can ascertain the number of cigarettes  16  in the adjacent groups  13  as well as the extent to which the cigarettes of the adjacent groups are filled with tobacco particles. Signals from the sensors  20  serve to initiate expulsion of defective groups  13  at the ejecting station  21  (in the direction indicated by the arrows  22 ). The ejected cigarettes  16  can be opened up to recover the tobacco particles which are returned into the hopper of the cigarette maker. An apparatus which can test plain or filter cigarettes for the presence of one or more defects is disclosed, for example, in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,860 granted Feb. 20, 1990 to Wahle et al. for “APPARATUS FOR TESTING AND CLASSIFYING CIGARETTES OR THE LIKE”.  
         [0048]    Apparatus which deliver plain or filter cigarettes to the magazines  17  can be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,026 granted Jul. 13, 1982 to Base et al. for “APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING CIGARETTES OR THE LIKE FROM A MAKER TO A CONSUMING MACHINE”, or in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,078 granted Dec. 5, 1995 to Hoffmann et al. for “METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING A SINGLE LAYER OF ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES INTO A MASS FLOW”.  
         [0049]    Satisfactory groups  13  are permitted to advance beyond the ejecting station  21  and to reach the packing machine PM. The two tracks I and II of the machine PM can receive satisfactory groups  13  simultaneously or seriatim. The directions of transfer of satisfactory groups  13  into the tracks I and II are respectively indicated by the arrows  23 ,  24 . The thus emptied pockets  12  are thereupon advanced back toward the first assembly  18 . The motor  6  for moving the conveyor  11  stepwise, always through increments equaling two distances  40 , can comprise or constitute a suitable stepping motor. The distance  40  between the centers of any two neighboring pockets  12  matches the distance between the centers of the tracks I and II in the packing machine PM.  
         [0050]    The mode of operation of the production line including the packing machine PM, the transporting unit  10  and the assemblies  18 ,  18 ′ is as follows:  
         [0051]    It is assumed that the conveyor  11  of the transporting unit  10  is idle and that the pockets  12  of the conveyor  11  are empty. The magazines  17  of the two assemblies  18 ,  18 ′ are assumed to contain supplies of parallel cigarettes  16  (extending at right angles to the plane of FIG. 1) and each of the group forming units  14 ,  14 ′ is assumed to contain a group or array or block  13  of twentyseven cigarettes  16  in three superimposed layers or strata of nine cigarettes each.  
         [0052]    The first step involves the (direct or indirect (via intermediate storage facilities  33 )) transfer of three groups  13  from the group forming units  14  of the assembly  18  into the adjacent (then stationary) pockets  12 . The motor  6  is thereupon caused to advance the conveyor  11  by an increment  7  so that the foremost one of the three freshly filled pockets  12  occupies the position occupied in FIG. 1 by the empty pocket  12   a.  The units  14  of the assembly  18  can begin to gather three fresh groups  13  (above the filled pocket  12   b  and the immediately following empty pockets  12   c,    12   d ) as soon as the emptying of the units  14  is completed, and such filling can continue during the following evacuation of the contents of the three units  14 ′ of the assembly  18 ′ into the pockets  12  therebelow. Thus, six consecutive pockets  12  of the conveyor  11  are then filled with groups  13  of cigarettes  16 .  
         [0053]    The next step involves advancement of the conveyor  11  by an increment  7  and the immediately following step involves a transfer of three groups  13  from the units  14  into the adjacent empty pockets  12  so that the thus filled pockets are separated from the preceding filled pockets by three empty pockets. A further step by another increment  7  results in the placing of three empty pockets  14  beneath the three units  14 , and the contents of such three units  14  are transferred into the empty pockets  12  below them, and so forth.  
         [0054]    It will be seen that the intervals which are available for the simultaneous gathering of three groups  13  each in the units  14  of the assembly  18  as well as in the units  14 ′ of the assembly  18 ′ are much longer than in the apparatus of the aforediscussed published French patent application Serial No. 2.012.136 because each such interval includes at least one period of dwell and at least one period of advancement of the conveyor  11 . This greatly increases the likelihood that each of the groups  13  will contain a prescribed number of cigarettes  16  as well as that each such group will contain the requisite number of cigarettes in optimum positions relative to each other. Therefore, the number of rejects which must be evacuated at the ejecting station  21  is much lower than in conventional production lines even though the output of the devices at the group forming location  8  is highly satisfactory. All this is attributable to the provision of plural block building assemblies ( 18 ,  18 ′), to the provision of the distance (2×40) between these assemblies, the provision of several units ( 14 ,  14 ′) per assembly, and the feature that the transfer of three groups  13  from the unit  14  of the assembly  18  need not take place simultaneously with the transfer of three groups  13  from the units  14 ′ of the assembly  18 ′ into the adjacent empty pockets  12 .  
         [0055]    Otherwise stated, the improved method and apparatus render it possible to operate the multiple-track packing machine PM at full capacity because, even though the intervals for the assembling or building of the groups  13  are long, this does not necessitate a slowing down of the delivery of pairs of freshly assembled groups  13  to the tracks I and II of the packing machine PM.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 2 illustrates certain relevant parts, units and assemblies of a modified production line. All such constituents of this production line which are identical with or clearly analogous to the corresponding constituents of the production line of FIG. 1 are denoted by similar reference characters. This also applies for the embodiments which are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.  
         [0057]    The group forming location  8 A of FIG. 2 comprises a series of three successive equidistant neighboring group building assemblies  18 ,  18 ′,  18 ″ each of which comprises only two group forming units  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″, respectively. The production line of FIG. 2 further employs transfer units  25  which are designed to move groups  13  of cigarettes  16  from the group forming units  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ into the then adjacent or registering or properly positioned empty receptacles or pockets  12  of the conveyor  11 . Each transfer unit  25  includes an intermediate storage facility  33  which can assume a first position for reception of groups  13  from the fixed mouthpieces or outlets  30  (see FIG. 5) of the respective units  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ and a second position (shown in the lower part of FIG. 5) for the transfer of such groups into the adjacent empty pockets  12 .  
         [0058]    The details of one of the transfer units  25  are shown in FIG. 5. The group forming unit  14  of FIG. 5 has the aforementioned fixed outlet or mouthpiece  30  which serves to guide the cigarettes  16  of an assembled or formed group  13  which is being expelled from the respective unit  14  by a first pusher  31 . Such group  13  enters the respective intermediate storage facility  33  which is adjacent an abutment or stop  34  serving as a means for properly aligning the cigarettes  16  of the freshly transferred group  13 . The facility  33  is movable (e.g., vertically in and counter to the direction indicated by the arrow  5 ) between the (upper) level of the outlet  30  of the respective unit  14  and the (lower) level of the adjacent empty pocket  12 . A second pusher  32  is provided to transfer the array  13  from the (lowered) storage facility  33  into the adjacent empty pocket  12  against a second stop  32   a.  The pusher  35  which is shown in the lower right-hand portion of FIG. 5 is provided at the inlet of the packing machine PM to expel groups  13  from their pockets  12  into the track I or II.  
         [0059]    The transfer units  25  are employed when the space which is available at the group forming location  8 A is such that the individual group forming units  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ cannot be installed directly above the path for the pockets  12  being borne by the upper reach or stretch of the conveyor  11 .  
         [0060]    In FIG. 2, the positions of the intermediate storage facilities  33  at the (upper) levels of the respective outlets  30  are indicated by solid lines and the positions of such storage facilities at the (lower) levels of the pockets  12  are denoted by broken lines. When in their lower end positions, the storage facilities  33  can be located in front of or behind the adjacent pockets  12 , depending upon the nature of the space which is available for such storage facilities and for the pushers  31 ,  32  at the group forming units  14 ,  14 ′ and/or  14 ″.  
         [0061]    The mode of operation of the production line including the structures shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 is as follows:  
         [0062]    It is again assumed that the pockets  12  of the conveyor  11  are empty and that each of the group forming units  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ contains a fully grown or a growing (incipient) group  13 . The motor  6  (not shown in FIG. 2) for the conveyor  11  is set to advance the conveyor  11  through increments  7  matching the distances between the centers of the first, third, fifth, etc. pockets  12 , i.e., the same as in FIG. 1. Each such increment  7  equals twice the distance  40  between the centers of the tracks I, II of the packing machine PM.  
         [0063]    The first step involves simultaneous transfer of pairs of groups  13  from each of the three assemblies  18 ,  18 ′,  18 ″ into the adjacent or allocated pockets  12  by way of the respective transfer units  25 . This results in simultaneous filling of six neighboring pockets  12 . The next steps involve three successive stepwise advances of the conveyor  11  in the direction of arrow  9  to thus move successive foremost pairs of groups  13  into positions for transfer into the tracks I and II of the packing machine PM. In the meantime, the group forming units  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ jointly (simultaneously) accumulate six fresh groups  13  which are thereupon transferred into the six empty pockets  12  immediately following the six filled pockets of the conveyor  11 . It will be seen that the production line including the structure of FIGS. 2 and 5 establishes even longer intervals of time for the gathering of fresh groups  13  so that the likelihood of the formation of unsatisfactory groups (due to the influence of gravity and/or friction between the wrappers of the cigarettes  16  and the surfaces bounding the ducts  15 ) is even more remote.  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 5 shows that the improved apparatus including the structure at the group forming location  8 A and the transporting unit  10  has means  31 ,  32 ,  35  for moving groups  13  horizontally between first and second positions, as well as means (note the schematically indicated elevator  4 ) for moving groups  13  vertically or substantially vertically between upper and lower levels, i.e., between the outlets  30  of the group forming units  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ and the level of the properly positioned empty pockets  12 .  
         [0065]    The pushers  31 ,  32 ,  35 , the outlets  30 , the storage facilities  33  and/or the pockets  12  can further serve as a means for at least slightly compressing or compacting and thus shaping the groups  13  of cigarettes  16 .  
         [0066]    In FIG. 1, the length of successive advances of pockets  12  between successive deliveries of groups  13  thereto equals m wherein m is a whole number matching the number of tracks I, II of the packing machine PM.  
         [0067]    The total number of units  13  in the apparatus of the present invention can equal m×n wherein each of m and n is a whole number equal to or greater than two. In FIG. 2, m (i.e., the number of assemblies  18 ,  18 ′,  18 ″) equals three, and n (i.e., the number of group forming units  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ in each assembly) equals two. In FIG. 1, m equals two and n equals three.  
         [0068]    An advantage of the apparatus of FIG. 2 is that, since all of the six simultaneously assembled groups  13  can be expelled from the respective units  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ in a single step, and all of the thus simultaneously expelled groups  13  can be introduced into the then aligned empty pockets  12  in a single step, the number of pushers  31 ,  32 ,  35  can be reduced to a minimum (i.e., one pusher  31 , one pusher  32  and one pusher  35 ).  
         [0069]    Furthermore, and as already mentioned above, the apparatus of FIG. 2 provides for very long intervals of time which are available for the simultaneous building or assembling of six groups  13  in the three pairs of group forming units  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″. The three steps of forward movement of the conveyor  11  between successive transfers of freshly gathered groups  13  into empty pockets  12  can be carried out as rapidly as is permissible for the transfer of pairs of groups  13  into the packing machine PM during each interval of dwell of the conveyor  11 .  
         [0070]    The production line including the structure of FIG. 3 comprises a group forming location  8 B for two array or block or group forming assemblies  18 ,  18 ′ each of which includes two group forming units  14 ,  14 ′. In this embodiment, the building or assembling of groups  13  can take place during intervals each of which includes one stepwise advancement of the conveyor  11  along its endless path. The distance between the right-hand group forming unit  14  and the left-hand group forming unit  14 ′ equals three distances  40 , and the length of incremental advances ( 7 ) is the same as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2. The units  14 ,  14 ′ discharge their contents (i.e., freshly formed groups  13 ) simultaneously after each second incremental advance of the pockets  12 . However, it is equally possible to operate the structure of FIG. 3 in such a way that the units  14  discharge the freshly formed groups  13  after a first step, the units  14 ′ discharge after the next-following second step, the units  14  discharge after the next-following third step, the units  14 ′ discharge after the next-following fourth step, and so forth.  
         [0071]    The distance between the tracks I and II of the packing machine PM again equals the distance  40 , i.e., the distance between neighboring group forming units  14  or  14 ′. In all other respects, the production line embodying the structure of FIG. 3 can be constructed and operated in a manner as described with reference to FIG. 1 or  2 , i.e., the units  14 ,  14 ′ shown in FIG. 3 can discharge freshly formed groups  13  directly into the then adjacent empty pockets  12  or into intermediate storage facilities  33  (not shown in FIG. 3).  
         [0072]    The group forming location  8 C in the production line including the structure shown in FIG. 4 accommodates two array or block or group building assemblies  18 ,  18 ′ which are constructed and assembled in such a way that the two group forming units  14 , as well as the two group forming units  14 ′, are spaced apart from each other by distances 2×40 but that the right-hand unit  14  and the left-hand unit  14 ′ are spaced from each other by a distance  40 . The distance  40  equals that between the centers of the tracks I and II of the packing machine PM.  
         [0073]    The operation of the production line including the structure shown in FIG. 4 is such that the group forming units  14  discharge their contents (groups  13 ) after the conveyor  11  completes a first step, the units  14 ′ discharge their contents (groups  13 ) after the conveyor  11  completes the next (second) step, that the units  14  discharge their contents after the conveyor  11  completes the third step, and so on. Thus, the assembling of the groups  13  can take up relatively long periods of time because each such period covers an interval of dwell and two periods of advancement of the conveyor  11 . The transfer of groups  13  from the group forming units  14 ,  14 ′ into the (then) adjacent empty pockets  12  can take place directly (as described with reference to FIG. 1) or indirectly (e.g., by way of intermediate storage facilities  33  and transfer units  25  as described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5).  
         [0074]    It is also possible to operate the production line including the structure of FIG. 4 in such a way that the group forming units  14 ,  14 ′ discharge freshly assembled groups  13  simultaneously after each second stepwise advance of the conveyor  11 .  
         [0075]    As a rule, or at least in many instances, the term “array” or “block” or “group” (as utilized in this specification and in the appended claims) is intended to denote an assembly of cigarettes or other types of commodities which are caused to assume predetermined positions relative to each other. For example, in lieu of the aforementioned formations each of which includes three layers of nine cigarettes each, it is equally possible to assemble plain or filter cigarettes or other types of rod-shaped articles in so-called quincunx formations wherein two outer layers of, for example, seven articles each flank a median layer of six articles which are staggered relative to the articles of the outer layers. Still further, the articles need not necessarily be rods because the method and the apparatus of the present invention can be put to use, with equal or similar advantage, in connection with the conveying and/or other processing or treatments which necessitate retention of articles or other commodities in receptacles corresponding to those of the units  14 ,  14 ′ and/or  14 ″ for intervals of time at least slightly longer than the shortest possible interval of gathering a certain number or quantity (e.g., by weight) of commodities in a receptacle or the like.  
         [0076]    An advantage of each embodiment of the improved method and apparatus is that the number of groups  13  which are delivered to the conveyor  11  per unit of time is greater than in heretofore known apparatus, and this is achieved without unduly shortening the intervals which are taken up for the gathering of groups  13 . The reason is that the gathering of groups  13  takes place in at least two assemblies (such as  18 ,  18 ′,  18 ″) each of which comprises at least two group forming units (such as  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″).  
         [0077]    Stated differently, the frequency of transfers of groups  13  to the conveyor  11  is higher than the frequency or time of gathering of successive groups  13  in the units  14 ,  14 ′ or  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″.  
         [0078]    The lengths of successive steps carried out by the conveyor  11  are or can be m+1 (wherein m is a whole number matching the number of tracks (I, II) in the packing machine PM.  
         [0079]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,102 (granted Feb. 17, 1998 to Draghetti for “METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FORMING AND TRANSFERRING GROUPS OF CIGARETTES ON A PACKING MACHINE WITH MULTIPLE WRAPPING LINES”) discloses an apparatus which is designed to gather pairs of groups or arrays of twenty cigarettes each in the pockets of an intermittently advancing endless conveyor serving to deliver successive pairs of fully grown arrays to two tracks (called wrapping lines) of a packing machine. A drawback of such proposal is that the layers of cigarettes of each array must be repeatedly shifted relative to each other with attendant pronounced likelihood of defacing of and/or other damage to the cigarettes. Moreover, the mechanism which serves to transfer discrete layers of cigarettes into the pockets of the intermittently advancing conveyor is complex and bulky; in fact, such mechanism can take up more space than the mechanism which gathers layers of cigarettes next to one side of the path for the pockets of the intermittently advancing conveyor.  
         [0080]    Additional apparatus which are designed to gather cigarettes or the like into arrays ready for admission into a packing machine are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,077 (granted Oct. 11, 1966 to Schmermund for “DEVICE FOR HANDLING ELONGATED ARTICLES”), U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,032 (granted Apr. 5, 1988 to Focke for “APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING CIGARETTE GROUPS”), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,943 (granted Apr. 8, 1997 to Belvederi et al. for “GROUP FORMING DEVICE FOR CIGARETTE PACKING MACHINES”.  
         [0081]    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 packing 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.