Patent GB-1231711-A (GB)
IPC: B65B19/24
Filed: 1969-05-28
Abstract: 1,231,711. Cigarette packing machines. AMF Inc. 28 May, 1969 [8 June, 1968], No. 26954/69 Heading B8C. A cigarette packing machine comprises endless chains 1, 2 which each pass around a sprocket on a single rotatable drum 3 to move in synchronism and which carry respectively series of boxes 8 open at the top and both sides, and pack-making devices 12, the boxes 8 being fed from a hopper 10 with a pre-set number of horizontal groups of cigarettes and the devices 12 forming the wrappings to receive the groups of cigarettes from the boxes 8 which are transversely aligned with them as they pass around the drum 3 each group of cigarettes being checked for regularity by sensing units 22. To form a package a length of aluminium foil cut and fed, by a distributer 20 to each packmaking device, is advanced by a roller 214, Fig. 3, which commences to rotate in the appropriate direction and curve the aluminium web between a guide 218 and a former box 212 fixed to the chain 2 and into a U-shape. An upper pad 219, carried by a pair of pivotal arms 221, 221, moves forward until a tooth 233 thereon engages the lower edge of the aluminium web 214, the roller 214 at the same time being raised from the web. The lower arm 200 of a pair of pivotally mounted folding arms 200, 202 is raised until a spring-loaded pad 234 thereon presses the web against the box 212, the roller 214 then being lowered again on to the web and rotated in the opposite direction to tension the web. When the arm 200 is fully raised a flange 205 thereon folds up the lower edge of the web. A flange 205A on the upper arm 202 then folds down the upper edge of the web over the lower edge, while the upper pad 219 moves backward. The roller 214 is again raised and a second pad 220, pivotally mounted on arms 222, is moved forward to press the folded flaps of the web against the box 212. Upper and lower plates 229, 229 are lowered and raised respectively to fold in the ends of the package, a pair of side plates 230 remaining stationary. While the pad 220, is held pressed against the web flaps a paper web is fed forward from a corresponding paper feeder 22, the steps of folding being substantially the same as those for folding the aluminium web. The pad 220 is withdrawn before the folding arm 200 is raised and the side plates 230 then move towards each other to fold the side flaps of the aluminium and paper webs together. The plates 229 remain in position to allow paste drying. When a stack of cigarettes has been transferred from a box 8 into a corresponding box 212 and slid therefrom into a package, the pairs of fold plates 229, 230 can be used to close the top of the pack. The pivotal movements of various parts of the machine are controlled by a group of cams (207, 207A, 210, 224, 225), Fig. 1A, not shown, mounted adjustably on a support (244) and having respective tappet rods and cam follower wheels. Photo-electric sensors such as (236, 237), Fig. 7, not shown, detect the absence of the aluminium and paper webs which absence prevents the continuation of the package forming operations as well as the filling of the associated box 8. A photo-cell (238, 239), Fig. 8, not shown, detects correct foil wrapping, wrong operation of which causes the cigarettes not to be delivered to the corresponding box, the transfer pusher cease to operate, and the whole machine is to be stopped after a certain delay, correct paper web wrapping at the sides being detected by a pair of electrically conductive plates (240, 241), Fig. 9, not shown, on the surface of the pad 219.