Patent GB-911113-A (GB)
Title: Cigarette packaging machine
IPC: B65B19/24
Filed: 1960-02-29
Abstract: 911,113. Packaging machines; cartons. AMERICAN MACHINE & FOUNDRY CO. Feb. 29, 1960 [March 9, 1959], No. 7082/60. Classes 18 and 94(1). A packaging machine comprises a number of hollow mandrels 14 adapted to be indexed past a plurality of stations I, ... , XII including a filling station IX and apparatus for forming cartons about the mandrels, each carton blank having integrally connected front, rear and side panels and flaps to form the top and bottom walls, a top closure flap 52 being connected to one side panel; the apparatus comprising means for folding the blank about the mandrel, means for folding the top flaps and the flap 52 to form the top wall, means 106 for severing the closure flap from the side panel and means for folding the bottom flaps after the carton has been filled. A foil wrap F is formed about a mandrel 14 while it is being indexed intermittently from the station XII to the station III and the wrap is held in place by a clamp arm 16. As the wrapped mandrel moves towards station III a blank B is fed into the path thereof and as the mandrel moves between stations III and IV a cup or trough shaped unit 18 moves upwardly to bend the blank into U-shape about the mandrel. At station IV the arm 16 moves away from the mandrel, a finger 28 moves to maintain the wrap F on the mandrel and an extension 30 on the finger 28 partially folds the rear panel 22 of the blank. Side clamps 32, 34 maintain the blank against the mandrel and the clamp 32 positions the securing flap 20, coated with adhesive, against. the mandrel. A unit 36 secured to the clamp 34 folds the panel 22 down. Between stations IV and V the arm 16 moves back into position to ensure the adherence of the panel 22 to the flap 20. At station V a top tucker unit 38, Fig. 5, pushes a flap 40 downwardly against the mandrel 14 whilst cam surfaces 41, 43 (not shown) on the unit 38 spread the cover flaps 46, 48. A bottom tucker unit 50 provided with a spring member 51 pushes the flap 52 into a position overlying the flap 40 and ears 54 enter guide slots 56. The flap 46 is folded by a unit 62, Fig. 9, provided with an adjustable set screw 69 to vary the distance travelled by the unit. The flap 48 is folded by a stationary folder unit 66 having a roller 67 as the mandrel moves between stations V and VI. Whilst the mandrel is at station V a block 127 moves into the mandrel at the foil wrapped end to form a back-up plate for the units 38, 50 and to maintain the wrapper F on the mandrel. At station VI bridge portions 58, 60 joining the flap 52 to the blank B are severed by a knife 106 mounted a block 108 secured to a reciprocating plunger 110. At station VII a block 131 applies pressure against the flaps 46, 48 to ensure their complete adhesion and also causes a plate 133 to urge the flap 52 into its closed position if it has been displaced during its, severance. At station IX the filling M e.g. cigarettes, cigars, confectionary, pharmaceuticals, pencils, &c. is moved into the mandrel 14 which then passes to the ejection station XII. As the package is ejected from the mandrel 14 it is pushed between top and bottom guide plates 174, 148 respectively and is directed therebetween by a stationary plate 176 and a reciprocating plate 178, Fig. 11. When the package reaches an abutment 180 L-shaped tuckers 158 swing inwardly, Fig. 13, to fold down flaps 41, 43. As the tuckers 158 move away from the package extensions 157 on a folder plate 156 fold an end flap 45, coated with adhesive b, on to the flaps 41, 43. The tuckers 158 are provided with ears 159 and recesses 161 which allow the free passage of the extensions 157 and portions 53 of the flap 45. During the return of the plate 156, the plate 178 moves towards the mandrel 14 until its side edge 179  is aligned with a guide 146. A plate 145 pushes - the package into a shoot formed by rails 146 and the plate 148, the edge 179 of the plate 178 folding an end flap 47 down to overlie the flap 45. Specification 834,935 is referred to.