Patent GB-1168446-A (GB)
Title: Method and Apparatus for Packaging Cigarettes and Other Rod-Like Articles
IPC: B65B19/24
Filed: 1966-10-04
Abstract: 1,168,446. Cigarette &c. packaging machines. HAUNI-WERKE KORBER & CO. K.G. 4 Oct., 1966 [12 Oct., 1965], No. 44278/66. Heading B8C. A packaging machine forms blocks of cigarettes in pockets in a continuously rotating holder, forms packets on mandrels on a turret coaxial with and rotating at the same speed as the holder and transfers the blocks from the holder into the packets on the turret. It then transfers the filled packets into cells on a further coaxial co-rotating turret where the packets are closed and a sealing label applied. A further turret may be interposed between the holder and mandrel turret in which the blocks are compressed prior to entering the packets. The packets may be formed by a foil liner and a cardboard outer sheet, folded consecutively on each mandrel. Coaxial and co-rotating wrapping wheels may follow the closure turret and apply a transparent overwrap to the packet. Cigarette supply and block formation.- Cigarette filled trays 66 are advanced on a conveyer 64 to discharge into a hopper 60, Figs. 5, 8. The hopper discharges to the block forming holder 6, 6a a pocketed wheel 146, rotating about a stationary shaft 24. The pockets 148 are open on both sides. In one supply arrangement, Fig. 8, rollers 70 assist passage of cigarettes down shoots 68 equal in number to the number of cigarettes per block. At the shoot exits are rotary elements 72, the concave arcuate surfaces of which are apertured and connected alternately with suction to pick up a cigarette from the column above and air pressure to discharge the cigarette into the pocket 148 below. The rollers may be plain along their length or as shown in Fig. 11. The pockets have partitions 150 so that three radially extending rows are formed. The wheel has two peripheral grooves extending to the bases of the pockets into which extend sickleshaped stationary guides 156. The upper surfaces of these obtrude to a diminishing extent into the pockets as they pass across the shoot exits. They thus form a gradually lowered support for the cigarettes as they build up in the pockets. Photo-electric monitoring means 178, 178a regulates the supply above the shoots. The arrangement may employ members similar to those indicated by the reference 458 in the drawings of Divisional Specification 1,168,447. Block compressing.-Axially reciprocable plungers 14, Fig. 5, one for each pocket, are carried on elements 102 rotating with the wheel 146. The plungers are operated by a peripheral cam track 106 in a cylinder 110. Adjacent the wheel 146 on the opposite side to the plungers is a further pocketed wheel 8, two adjacent sides of each pocket being movable both radially and peripherally relative to the other two, Figs. 14-16 (not shown). The axial sides of the pocket are open and the plungers 14 thrust the blocks from the pockets 148 into those of the wheel 8 where relative movement of the walls compresses them. Making packets.-A further coaxial and corotating wheel 10, Figs. 3, 5, 17, carries openended tubular mandrels 206 about which packets are formed. The mandrels are pivotable on the wheel from axial to radial positions. In the latter position, a web of liner tin foil 252 is fed across the leading mandrel face and cut to form a blank 40. This is folded to U-form 40a about three sides of the mandrel by a oscillatable member 220 associated with each mandrel. A pair of folders 262, not on the wheel, swing in beneath the passing mandrel to produce the tube 40b, the overlap seam of which is engaged by a gripper 222 pivoted adjacent each mandrel. The tube projects beyond the mandrel end and its trailing portion 40d is folded down by an oscillating member 266. The leading portion 40c is laid into overlapping relation with the portion 40d by a stationary rail 268. Tabs 40e, 40f remain upstanding. The mandrel leading face now intercepts a blank 42, glued by means 272, the member 220 having moved clear to receive it. This member and folders 180, similar to folders 262, tube the blank about the liner as at 42b. A clamping member 224 engages the overlap. Rotary folders 282 (one only shown) form end tucks 42c, 42d in the protruding blank end and incidentally fold down tabs 40e, 40f. Reciprocating and stationary folders 284, 288, which may be heated, complete the end closure by folding down flaps 42e, 42f respectively. Packet filling and closure.-The mandrels swing successively to their axial position, Fig. 5, with the packet closed end facing away from the compressor wheel 8. The plungers 14 thrust the block from the wheel 8, into the mandrels and out the other side to carry the packets with them. At the other side is a closure wheel 12 carrying tubular open-ended pockets 292, each pivotable from an axial position, Fig. 5, in which the filled packets are received from the mandrels 206 to a radial position. At the axial position, axially slidable back-up members 140 extending through the pockets, engage the packet bases as the plungers move through the mandrels. In the filled radial position of the pockets, the packet ends are closed and a label 44 applied as shown at Z 15 , Z 20 , Z 21 , Z 23 , Fig. 3. The folding members are similar to 282, 288 described above but reciprocating element 284 is replaced by a rotary star wheel, Fig. 20 (not shown). The label applicator is not detailed. Finally, a radially movable ejector 18, Fig. 5, raises each packet 16 into the path of an endless discharge conveyer 20. Overwrapping.-If an overwrap is desired, the ejectors 18 are dispensed with and two further wheels, equivalent to the wheels 10, 12 arranged after the wheel 12, Figs. 1, 4 (not shown). These form and close the overwrap in a manner similar to that already described (not shown). The last wheel includes ejectors and a discharge conveyer is arranged above it, as before. Varying packet contents.-In the arrangement employing the feed rollers 72, one or more of the latter may be stopped to reduce the number of cigarettes in a block. Alternatively, a roller may be constructed to deliver more than one cigarette at a time. The number of shoots and rollers may be varied.