Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a packer machine and a wrapping method to produce a rigid pack for smoking articles with a sealed inner wrap.

The present invention finds advantageous application for manufacturing a rigid pack of cigarettes with a hinged lid and containing a group of cigarettes, to which the following disclosure will make explicit reference without thereby losing generality.

Document <CIT> discloses a packer machine that produces a rigid pack for smoking articles comprising: a not sealed wrap, which is obtained by folding a wrapping sheet around a group of smoking articles, and an outer container, which is obtained by folding a blank around the sealed wrap; the packer machine comprises also a forming conveyor, a hopper, a first wrapping conveyor, a first transfer station, and a first feeding station. Document <CIT> discloses a packer machine that produces a rigid pack for smoking articles comprising: a first wrapping drum, a transfer station, and at least one sealing device <NUM> or <NUM>.

Rigid packs of cigarettes with a hinged lid are the most popular packs of cigarettes currently on the market as they are simple to manufacture, are easy and practical to use and offer good protection to the cigarettes contained on the inside thereof. A rigid pack of cigarettes with a hinged lid comprises a wrap formed by a group of cigarettes wrapped in a wrapping sheet and a rigid outer casing that houses the wrap on the inside thereof. The outer casing is formed by a cup-shaped container, which houses the group of cigarettes and has an open upper end, and a lid, which is also cup-shaped and is hinged to the container to rotate, relative to the container, between an open position and a closed position of the open end.

In a traditional pack of cigarettes, the group of cigarettes is wrapped in a glue-free rectangular foil wrap. To preserve the integrity of the tobacco of the cigarettes, it has been proposed to form a sealed (waterproof) wrap formed by a wrapping sheet made of waterproof and heat-sealable material with a cigarette pull-out opening, which is closed by a reusable closing label.

It has been observed that the folding of the wrapping sheet made of waterproof material around the group of cigarettes can damage the ends of the cigarettes causing a localized deformation (both on the side of the filters and on the opposite side having the tobacco in sight) and/or a loss of tobacco (i.e., the emptying of the tips, obviously only on the side opposite the filters having the tobacco in sight). Furthermore, even the heat-sealing of the overlapping portions of the wrapping sheet made of waterproof material can damage the underlying cigarettes, as in order to carry out a good quality heat-sealing (i.e., to ensure sealing) and in a short time (modern packer machines work more than <NUM> packs per minute, therefore the heat-sealing must be completed in a fraction of a second) it is necessary to press the overlapping portions with a high pressure which is inevitably transmitted to the underlying cigarettes with obvious risks of permanent deformation of the cigarettes and it is necessary to heat the overlapping portions at a high temperature with obvious risks of excessive overheating of the tobacco contained in the underlying cigarettes (excessive overheating of the tobacco can cause local drying which alters the organoleptic characteristics).

In order to reduce damage to the cigarettes caused by folding a wrapping sheet made of waterproof material and by the subsequent heat-sealing of the overlapping portions of the wrapping sheet made of waterproof material, it has been proposed to use the so-called "fin folds", where two flaps of the wrapping sheet are folded towards one another so as to overlap the two flaps on top of one another to form a fin arranged perpendicularly to an underlying wall of the group of cigarettes. Some examples of cigarette inner wraps having "fin folds" are illustrated in the following documents: <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

However, manufacturing the "fin folds" according to the currently known wrapping methods is relatively inefficient, namely, it does not allow to reach high productivity if maintaining a high final quality of the wrap is required.

The patent application <CIT> describes a packer machine to produce a rigid pack of cigarettes with a sealed inner wrap and comprising: a first wrapping unit that forms the inner wrap around the group of smoking articles by folding a wrapping sheet, a second wrapping unit that forms the outer container around the inner wrap by folding a blank, and a positioning unit that receives the inner wrap from the first wrapping unit in an input station where the article is oriented according to an input plane, transfers the inner wrap to the second wrapping unit in an output station where the article is oriented according to an output plane oriented differently from the input plane, and comprises a positioning drum which is rotatable around a rotation axis and supports a parallelepiped-shaped pocket which moves along a positioning path between the input station and the output station.

The object of the present invention is to provide a packer machine and a wrapping method to produce a rigid pack for smoking articles with a sealed inner wrap, which packer machine and wrapping method allow to obtain a high quality pack (namely, having extremely precise and squared off folds) even when operating at a high production speed (measured as packs of cigarettes produced in a unit of time) and at the same time minimize the overall dimensions while offering high accessibility to all parts.

According to the present invention a packer machine and a wrapping method to produce a rigid pack for smoking articles with a sealed inner wrap are provided, as claimed in the appended claims.

The claims describe embodiments of the present invention forming an integral part of the present description.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting embodiments thereof, wherein:.

In <FIG>, number <NUM> denotes as a whole a rigid pack of cigarettes with a hinged lid. The pack <NUM> of cigarettes comprises a cup-shaped outer container <NUM> made of cardboard or rigid paperboard and a sealed wrap <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>) housed inside the container <NUM>.

The outer container <NUM> has an open upper end and is provided with a lid <NUM>, which is cup-shaped and is hinged to the outer container <NUM> along a hinge <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>) so as to rotate, relative to the outer container <NUM>, between an open position (not illustrated) and a closed position (illustrated in <FIG>) of the open upper end.

The sealed wrap <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>) encloses a group <NUM> of cigarettes (partially illustrated in <FIG>) with a parallelepiped shape; each cigarette is provided with a filter <NUM> and therefore the group <NUM> of cigarettes has an upper wall formed by the circular ends (tips) of the filters <NUM> and a lower wall, opposite the upper wall, formed by the circular ends (tips) of the tobacco rods.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the sealed wrap <NUM> has a cigarette pull-out opening <NUM> at the top and in front, which is delimited by a pre-weakened tear-off line, is closed by a reusable closing label <NUM> and involves a portion of a front wall of the sealed wrap <NUM> and a portion of an upper wall of the sealed wrap <NUM>. According to a preferred embodiment, the closing label <NUM> is fixed to the cigarette sealed wrap <NUM> by means of re-stick glue that does not dry, which is applied to the lower surface of the closing label <NUM> and is arranged all around the pull-out opening <NUM> so as to allow the closing label <NUM> to be partially separated several times from the sealed wrap <NUM> and then re-fixed to the sealed wrap <NUM>.

According to a different embodiment not illustrated, the sealed wrap <NUM> is devoid of the pull-out opening <NUM> and of the relative closing label <NUM> and has a removable upper portion, which is separated from the rest of the sealed wrap <NUM> by a pre-weakened tear-off line to be removed by tearing at the first opening of the sealed wrap <NUM>; in this embodiment, the sealed wrap <NUM> is preferably provided with a tear-off opening tape to facilitate breakage of the sealed wrap <NUM> along the pre-weakened line.

The sealed wrap <NUM> is obtained by folding a wrapping sheet <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>), which has a rectangular shape, comprises at least one layer of air-impermeable and heat-sealable plastic material, and is folded directly around the group <NUM> of cigarettes in order to be in direct contact with the cigarettes. Once the wrapping sheet <NUM> has been folded around the group <NUM> of cigarettes to form the sealed wrap <NUM>, the shape of the sealed wrap <NUM> is stabilized by performing a heat-sealing of the overlapping portions of the wrapping sheet <NUM>.

Before folding the wrapping sheet <NUM> around the group <NUM> of cigarettes, the wrapping sheet <NUM> is pre-cut to define the pull-out opening <NUM>; subsequently, the closing label <NUM> with glue on the lower part is applied to the wrapping sheet <NUM>, that is, provided on its lower surface with the re-stick glue which inside the pull-out opening <NUM> determines the permanent gluing of the inner portion of the wrapping sheet <NUM> to the closing label <NUM> and on the outside of the pull-out opening <NUM> determines a re-stick gluing of the wrapping sheet <NUM> to the closing label <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the sealed pack <NUM> could comprise a "U"-shaped reinforcement element <NUM>, which is made of cardboard or rigid paperboard and is arranged inside the sealed wrap <NUM> in contact with the group <NUM> of cigarettes. The function of the reinforcement element <NUM> is to give greater rigidity and greater stability of shape to the sealed wrap <NUM> so as to prevent the sealed wrap <NUM> from collapsing in on itself after having pulled out a part of the cigarettes contained in the sealed wrap <NUM>, making it difficult to pull out the remaining cigarettes and in particular making the opening and subsequent reclosing of the closing label <NUM> extremely complicated. A further function of the reinforcement element <NUM> is to provide mechanical protection to the cigarettes during the folding of the wrapping sheet <NUM>, a mechanical and thermal protection to the cigarettes during the heat-sealing of the overlapping portions of the wrapping sheet <NUM>, and a mechanical protection to the cigarettes during handling of the sealed wrap <NUM>.

As better illustrated in <FIG>, the reinforcement element <NUM> comprises a front wall <NUM> arranged in contact with the cylindrical side walls of the cigarettes of the group <NUM> of cigarettes, two side walls <NUM> arranged on opposite sides of the front wall <NUM> in contact with the cylindrical side walls of the cigarettes of the group <NUM> of cigarettes, a lower wall <NUM> arranged in contact with the tips of the cigarettes of the group <NUM> of cigarettes (namely, arranged in contact with the lower wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes), and a (small) rear wall <NUM> arranged in contact with the cylindrical side walls of the cigarettes of the group <NUM> of cigarettes on the opposite side of the front wall <NUM>. Preferably, the front wall <NUM> has an upper flare <NUM>, which is arranged in the area of the cigarette pull-out opening <NUM> so that the front wall <NUM> does not overlap the cigarette pull-out opening <NUM>.

With reference to what is illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the forming of a sealed wrap <NUM> provides for initially forming a group <NUM> of cigarettes and then folding a reinforcement element <NUM> around the group <NUM> of cigarettes. Subsequently and as illustrated in <FIG>, the wrapping sheet <NUM> is folded around the group <NUM> of cigarettes coupled to the reinforcement element <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate the folding steps of the wrapping sheet <NUM> around the group <NUM> of cigarettes that presents: two larger side walls that are opposite to one another and are formed by the cylindrical side walls of the cigarettes, two smaller side walls that are opposite to one another and are formed by the cylindrical side walls of the cigarettes, an upper wall formed by the ends of the filters <NUM>, and a lower wall formed by the ends (tips) of the tobacco rods.

Initially, the group <NUM> of cigarettes is coupled to the unfolded wrapping sheet <NUM> by bringing the upper wall (on the side of the filters <NUM>) of the group <NUM> of cigarettes into contact with the wrapping sheet <NUM> (<FIG>); subsequently, the wrapping sheet is folded in a "U" shape around the group <NUM> of cigarettes (<FIG>) so that the wrapping sheet <NUM> folded in a "U" shape is arranged in the area of the upper wall and of the two larger side walls of the group <NUM> of cigarettes and has two ends <NUM> and <NUM> that are parallel to the larger side walls and protrude from the larger side walls (namely, they continue beyond the larger side walls); it is important to note that the wrapping sheet <NUM> is fed asymmetrically in front of the group <NUM> of cigarettes (namely, the wrapping sheet <NUM> is placed asymmetrically against the upper wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes) to define the two ends <NUM> and <NUM>, which both protrude from the group <NUM> of cigarettes and have a different length (namely, the end <NUM> is longer than the end <NUM> and the difference in length between the end <NUM> and the end <NUM> is equal to the width of the lower wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes). As illustrated in <FIG>, the end <NUM> is parallel to a first larger side wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes and protrudes from the first lower wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes continuing beyond the larger side wall; similarly, the end <NUM> is parallel to a second larger side wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes and protrudes from the lower wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes continuing beyond the second larger side wall.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the end <NUM> is folded by <NUM>° relative to the first larger side wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes and against the lower wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes and, at the same time, a final part of the end <NUM> is folded by <NUM>° to give the end <NUM> an "L" shape and then arrange the final part of the end <NUM> parallel and resting on the end <NUM> (which does not undergo, in this step, any type of folding, i.e., it remains parallel to the second larger side wall) giving the wrapping sheet <NUM> a tubular shape; in other words, at the same time (namely, with the same folding action) the end <NUM> is folded by <NUM>° at two distinct points: a first folding by <NUM>° around the edge between the first larger side wall and the lower wall and a second folding at the edge between the second larger side wall and the lower wall (namely, near the end <NUM>) so as to give the end <NUM> an "L" shape and to rest the final part of the end <NUM> against the end <NUM>.

When the end <NUM> is folded in an "L" shape and rests (in its final part) on the end <NUM>, a tubular shape is given to the wrapping sheet <NUM> with two open side edges (illustrated in <FIG>) in the area of the smaller side walls of group <NUM> of cigarettes. At this point, as illustrated in <FIG>, the overlapping portions of the ends <NUM> and <NUM> are heat-sealed one to the other to stabilize the tubular shape of the wrapping sheet <NUM> and form a sealing fin <NUM>. Finally, the overlapping and heat-sealed ends <NUM> and <NUM> (namely, the sealing fin <NUM>) are folded by <NUM>° against the lower wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes (as illustrated in <FIG>) and with the interposition of part of the wrapping sheet <NUM>. Alternatively, the overlapping and heat-sealed ends <NUM> and <NUM> (namely, the sealing fin <NUM>) are folded by <NUM>° against the second larger side wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes (as illustrated in <FIG>) and with the interposition of part of wrapping sheet <NUM>. According to a further embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the two ends <NUM> and <NUM> have the same length, are both folded in an "L" shape against the lower wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes to form the sealing fin <NUM>, and finally the sealing fin <NUM> (which is initially located at the centre of the lower wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes) is folded by <NUM>° against the lower wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes.

Subsequently, and as illustrated in <FIG>, the two open side edges of the wrapping sheet <NUM> (which has a tubular shape around the group <NUM> of cigarettes) are closed by means of the so-called "soap-bar fold" which for each side edge provides for: folding two smaller flaps against the smaller side wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes (in fact the smaller flap arranged in the area of the upper wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes is folded beforehand when the wrapping sheet <NUM>, for the first time, comes into contact with the group <NUM> of cigarettes and folds in a "U shape around the group <NUM> of cigarettes), folding one larger flap against the smaller side wall of group <NUM> of cigarettes and over the two smaller flaps previously folded, and finally folding the other larger flap against the smaller side wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes and above the two smaller flaps and the larger flap previously folded. After having completed the folding of the wrapping sheet <NUM> around the group <NUM> of cigarettes, by closing the two side edges by means of respective lateral folds, these lateral folds are stabilized by heat-sealing, namely, by heat-sealing the overlapping parts of the wrapping sheet <NUM> in the area of the smaller side walls of the group <NUM> of cigarettes.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the pack <NUM> of cigarettes comprises, furthermore, a rigid collar <NUM>, which is connected (by gluing) folded in a "U" shape inside the outer container <NUM> to partially protrude outside the open upper end of the outer container <NUM> and to engage a corresponding inner surface of the lid <NUM> when the lid <NUM> is arranged in the closed position.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the outer container <NUM> and the lid <NUM> are obtained by folding a blank <NUM> of a conventional type.

In <FIG>, number <NUM> denotes, as a whole, a packer machine which is designed to manufacture the pack <NUM> of cigarettes described above and operates with intermittent motion (namely, a motion which provides for a cyclical alternation of motion steps and stop steps).

The packer machine <NUM> comprises a forming unit A where the groups <NUM> of cigarettes are formed in succession, a wrapping unit B where a respective wrapping sheet <NUM> is wrapped around each group <NUM> of cigarettes to obtain a sealed wrap <NUM>, and a wrapping unit C where a collar <NUM> and a blank <NUM> are wrapped around each sealed wrap <NUM> so as to obtain an outer container <NUM> provided with the lid <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the forming unit A for the groups <NUM> of cigarettes comprises a hopper <NUM> provided with three output mouths <NUM> for simultaneously feeding three groups <NUM> of cigarettes to three respective pockets <NUM> of a forming conveyor <NUM> which supports a plurality of pockets <NUM>. The forming conveyor <NUM> comprises an annular-shaped conveyor belt, which is wound around two end pulleys (one of which is motorized), supports the pockets <NUM> and moves in step so as to cyclically move the pockets <NUM> along a forming path P1. The forming path P1 develops between an input station S1 where each group <NUM> of cigarettes is pulled out from an output mouth <NUM> of the hopper <NUM> and enters a corresponding pocket <NUM> and a transfer station S2 where each group <NUM> of cigarettes is pulled out from the corresponding pocket <NUM>.

According to a preferred embodiment, a control station, where the completeness of each group <NUM> of cigarettes and the correct filling of the cigarette tips of each group <NUM> of cigarettes is optically checked, and a subsequent discard station, where any defective group <NUM> of cigarettes signalled by the control station is discarded (for example by means of a mechanical or pneumatic expulsion from the respective pocket <NUM>), are arranged along the forming conveyor <NUM>.

The wrapping unit B comprises a wrapping conveyor <NUM> designed do move each group <NUM> of cigarettes along a straight and horizontal wrapping path P2. In particular, the wrapping path P2 extends from the transfer station S2 where the wrapping conveyor <NUM> pull outs each group <NUM> of cigarettes from the corresponding pocket <NUM> of the forming conveyor <NUM>, passes through a feeding station S3 where each group <NUM> of cigarettes couples to a corresponding wrapping sheet <NUM> that folds in a "U" shape around the group <NUM> of cigarettes, and ends in a transfer station S4 where each sealed wrap <NUM> being formed (namely, only partially formed) leaves the wrapping conveyor <NUM>.

The wrapping conveyor <NUM> comprises an annular-shaped conveyor belt <NUM>, which is wound around two end pulleys (one of which is motorized) and supports a plurality of pushers, each of which is connected to the conveyor belt <NUM> by means of a support column (narrower than the pusher) and is designed to engage the upper wall (formed by the ends of the filters <NUM>) of a corresponding group <NUM> of cigarettes to push the group <NUM> of cigarettes along the wrapping path P2. In other words, the wrapping conveyor <NUM> comprises a horizontal channel which is delimited at least at the bottom and laterally (preferably also at the top in its initial part), is arranged along the wrapping path P2, and contains each group <NUM> of cigarettes on the inside thereof while the group <NUM> of cigarettes moves along the wrapping path P2 pushed to the back by a corresponding pusher.

Along the wrapping path P2 (and therefore in the area of the wrapping conveyor <NUM>) the feeding station S3 is provided, where each wrapping sheet <NUM> is arranged to be intercepted by a corresponding group <NUM> of cigarettes around which the wrapping sheet <NUM> folds in a "U" shape; in other words, each group <NUM> of cigarettes moving along the wrapping path P2 intercepts a corresponding wrapping sheet <NUM> arranged in the feeding station S3, causing the wrapping sheet <NUM> to be folded in a "U" shape.

The packer machine <NUM> comprises a feeding device <NUM> which cyclically feeds the wrapping sheets <NUM> into the feeding station S3, namely, arranges each wrapping sheet <NUM> in the feeding station S3 so that the wrapping sheet <NUM> is intercepted (as illustrated in <FIG>) by a corresponding group <NUM> of cigarettes that moves along the wrapping path P2. As illustrated in <FIG>, the feeding device <NUM> comprises an unwinding station where a tape of wrapping material is unwound from a reel and is moved towards a cutting member of a known type which is arranged above the feeding station S3 and cyclically performs a transversal cut of the tape of wrapping material to separate the individual wrapping sheets <NUM> from the tape of wrapping material.

For a detailed description of the feeding device <NUM>, we refer to what is described in the patent application <CIT>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the wrapping path P2 starts in the transfer station S2 (where the groups <NUM> of cigarettes enter the wrapping conveyor <NUM>) and ends in the transfer station S4 (where the partially formed sealed wraps <NUM> leave the wrapping conveyor <NUM>); along the wrapping path P2 only the "U"-shaped folding of the wrapping sheet <NUM> is performed around the group <NUM> of cigarettes (as illustrated in <FIG>) and the simultaneous folding of two smaller flaps against the smaller side wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes.

The packer machine <NUM> comprises a wrapping drum <NUM> which is arranged (immediately) downstream of the wrapping conveyor <NUM>, supports a plurality of pockets <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>) each designed to contain the sealed wrap <NUM> being formed, and is mounted so as to rotate (with intermittent motion, namely, "in step") around a vertical rotation axis <NUM> perpendicular to the wrapping path P2 in order to move each pocket <NUM> along a wrapping path P3 with circular shape and coplanar to the wrapping path P2. As better illustrated in <FIG>, each pocket <NUM> of the wrapping drum <NUM> receives (directly from the wrapping conveyor <NUM>) a sealed wrap <NUM> being formed in the transfer station S4, moves the sealed wrap <NUM> being formed through a series of folding and sealing stations where the sealing fin <NUM> is formed and subsequently folded, and lastly releases the sealed wrap <NUM> being formed in a transfer station S5.

It is important to note that the wrapping drum <NUM> moves the sealed wrap <NUM> being formed along the wrapping path P3 with the lower wall (from which the ends <NUM> and <NUM> protrude) arranged radially outwards.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a folding device <NUM> is arranged along the wrapping drum <NUM>, namely, along the wrapping path P3, and immediately downstream of the transfer station S4, which performs the double folding of the end <NUM> of the wrapping sheet <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and previously described, which gives the end <NUM> the "L" shape; in other words, the folding device <NUM> folds the end <NUM> by <NUM>° relative to the larger side wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes and, at the same time, folds the final part of the end <NUM> in an "L" shape so as to arrange the final part of the end <NUM> against the end <NUM> which does not undergo, in this step, any type of folding. According to a preferred embodiment, the folding device <NUM> is of the passive type (namely, it is completely devoid of moving parts) and comprises only fixed folding helixes.

As illustrated in <FIG>, along the wrapping drum <NUM>, namely, along the wrapping path P3, and immediately downstream of the folding device <NUM> a sealing device <NUM> is arranged, which performs the heat-sealing of the overlapping portions of the ends <NUM> and <NUM> (namely, forms the sealing fin <NUM>) to stabilize the tubular shape of the wrapping sheet <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the sealing device <NUM> comprises a sealing clamp <NUM> provided with two mobile and heated jaws <NUM>: during the movement step of the wrapping drum <NUM>, the sealing clamp <NUM> is open (namely, the two jaws <NUM> are relatively far from one another) to allow the ends <NUM> and <NUM> of the wrapping sheet <NUM> (namely, the sealing fin <NUM>) to pass through the sealing clamp <NUM> without sliding, while during the stop step of the wrapping drum <NUM> the sealing clamp <NUM> is closed (namely, the two jaws <NUM> are pushed against one another with a certain force to tighten the ends <NUM> and <NUM> of the wrapping sheet <NUM> together) so as to perform the heat-sealing (due to the simultaneous application of heat and pressure) of the overlapping portions of the ends <NUM> and <NUM> of the wrapping sheet <NUM>. It is important to note that a single sealing device <NUM> is provided, namely, a single sealing clamp <NUM>, which is arranged in a fixed position along the wrapping drum <NUM>, namely, along the wrapping path P3, and is common to all the sealed wraps <NUM>.

According to a possible embodiment, the folding device <NUM> only folds the end <NUM> of the wrapping sheet <NUM>, giving the end <NUM> an "L" shape (as illustrated in <FIG>), leaving the sealing device <NUM> with the task of performing the heat-sealing of the overlapping portions of the ends <NUM> and <NUM>. According to an alternative embodiment, the folding device <NUM> could also comprise (at least) a heated element to carry out, at the same time, both the folding of the end <NUM> of the wrapping sheet <NUM> giving the end <NUM> an "L" shape (as illustrated in <FIG>), and an initial heat-sealing of the overlapping portions of the ends <NUM> and <NUM>; subsequently, the sealing device <NUM> completes the heat-sealing of the overlapping portions of the ends <NUM> and <NUM> started by the folding device <NUM>.

In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the wrapping drum <NUM> comprises a single sealing device <NUM> arranged immediately downstream of the folding device <NUM>; according to a different and perfectly equivalent embodiment, the wrapping drum <NUM> comprises two or more (typically no more than three) sealing devices <NUM> arranged in succession immediately downstream of the folding device <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a folding device <NUM> is arranged along the wrapping drum <NUM>, namely, along the wrapping path P3, and immediately downstream of the sealing device <NUM>, which performs the folding of the flaps <NUM> and <NUM> by <NUM>°, which are overlapping and heat-sealed one to the other (namely, the sealing fin <NUM>) illustrated in <FIG>; in other words, the folding device <NUM> folds the flaps <NUM> and <NUM>, which are overlapping and heat-sealed one to the other (namely, the sealing fin <NUM>) by <NUM>° against the lower wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes and with the interposition of part of the wrapping sheet <NUM>. According to a preferred embodiment, the folding device <NUM> is of the passive type (namely, it is completely devoid of moving parts) and comprises only fixed folding helixes.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the packer machine <NUM> comprises a wrapping conveyor <NUM> which receives the sealed wraps <NUM> being formed in the transfer station S5 from the wrapping drum <NUM> and moves the sealed wraps <NUM> along a wrapping path P4 straight and perpendicular to the wrapping path P2 up to a transfer station S6 (where the completed sealed wraps <NUM> leave the wrapping conveyor <NUM>). The wrapping conveyor <NUM> comprises an annular-shaped conveyor belt <NUM> (better illustrated in <FIG>), which is wound around two end pulleys (one of which is motorized) and moves in step to move the sealed wraps <NUM> being formed along the wrapping path P4 from the transfer station S5 to the transfer station S6.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the wrapping unit B comprises a pair of folding devices <NUM> which are arranged opposite one another along the wrapping path P4 (namely, the two folding devices <NUM> are arranged on opposite sides of the wrapping conveyor <NUM>) and are designed to complete a folding of each wrapping sheet <NUM> around the corresponding group <NUM> of cigarettes (and therefore to finish the forming of the sealed wrap <NUM>) in order to close, as illustrated in <FIG>, the two open side edges of the wrapping sheet <NUM> (which has a tubular shape around the group <NUM> of cigarettes) by means of the so-called "soap-bar fold" (previously described and illustrated in <FIG>). According to a preferred embodiment, each folding device <NUM> is of the passive type (namely, it is completely devoid of moving parts) and comprises only fixed folding helixes. The wrapping unit B comprises, furthermore, a series of pairs of sealing devices <NUM> which are arranged opposite one another along the wrapping path P4 (downstream of the folding device <NUM>) and are designed to stabilize the folded shape of the wrapping sheet <NUM> around the corresponding group <NUM> of cigarettes (namely, the final shape of the sealed wrap <NUM>); then the sealing devices <NUM> complete the forming of the sealed wrap <NUM>. In other words, in each pair of sealing devices <NUM> the two sealing devices <NUM> are arranged on opposite sides of the wrapping conveyor <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, four pairs of sealing devices <NUM> are provided, but according to other embodiments, generally two to five pairs of sealing devices <NUM> are provided.

The packer machine <NUM> comprises a transfer drum <NUM> which is arranged (immediately) downstream of the wrapping conveyor <NUM>, supports a plurality of pockets <NUM> (better illustrated in <FIG>) each designed to contain the sealed wrap <NUM>, and is mounted so as to rotate (with intermittent motion, namely, "in step") around a vertical rotation axis <NUM> parallel to the rotation axis <NUM> in order to move each pocket <NUM> along a wrapping path P5, having a circular shape and coplanar with the wrapping paths P3 and P4. Each pocket <NUM> of the transfer drum <NUM> receives (directly from the wrapping conveyor <NUM>) a sealed wrap <NUM> completed in the transfer station S6 and transfers the completed sealed wrap <NUM> in a transfer station S7.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the packer machine <NUM> comprises a wrapping drum <NUM> that is arranged downstream of the transfer drum <NUM> (therefore also downstream of the wrapping conveyor <NUM>), supports a plurality of pockets <NUM> each designed to contain the sealed wrap <NUM> and the collar <NUM>, and is mounted so as to rotate (with intermittent motion, namely, "in step") around a horizontal rotation axis <NUM> parallel to the wrapping path P2 (and therefore perpendicular to the wrapping path P4) in order to move each pocket <NUM> along a wrapping path P6 having a circular shape and perpendicular to the wrapping path P2 (and therefore parallel to the wrapping path P4). Each pocket <NUM> of the wrapping drum <NUM> receives a collar <NUM> in a feeding station S8 arranged upstream of the transfer station S7 along the wrapping path P6, receives a sealed wrap <NUM> (which couples to the previously fed collar <NUM>) in the transfer station S7, receives a blank <NUM> in a feeding station S8, which is arranged downstream of the transfer station S7 along the wrapping path P6, and releases together the sealed wrap <NUM>, the collar <NUM> and the blank <NUM> in a transfer station S10 arranged downstream of the feeding station S8 along the wrapping path P6. In the feeding station S8, each collar <NUM> is placed on the outer surface of the wrapping drum <NUM>, in the area of a pocket <NUM> and is held in this position by suction; in the transfer station S7 a sealed wrap <NUM>, entering the corresponding pocket <NUM> couples to the collar <NUM> previously fed and causes the collar <NUM> to be folded in a "U" shape. In the feeding station S9, each blank <NUM> is placed on the outer surface of the wrapping drum <NUM> in the area of a pocket <NUM> and is held in this position by suction; in the transfer station S10, a sealed wrap <NUM> exiting from the corresponding pocket <NUM>, together with the collar <NUM>, couples to the previously fed blank <NUM>.

A pusher <NUM> is arranged in the transfer station S7, which cyclically moves from the bottom to the top to pull out a sealed wrap <NUM> from a pocket <NUM> of the transfer drum <NUM> and then insert the sealed wrap <NUM> into a pocket <NUM> of the wrapping drum <NUM>.

From what has been described above, it is clear that the wrapping conveyor <NUM> moves each sealed wrap <NUM> being formed along the wrapping path P4 with the opposite side walls arranged parallel to the wrapping path P4, that the wrapping path P3 develops from the transfer station S4 to the transfer station S5 with an angle of <NUM>° around the rotation axis <NUM>, and that the wrapping drum <NUM> causes the completed sealed wrap <NUM> to rotate by <NUM>° between the transfer station S6 and the transfer station S7 (namely, the wrapping path P5 develops from the transfer station S6 to the transfer station S7 with a width of <NUM>° around the rotation axis <NUM>).

As illustrated in <FIG>, the packer machine <NUM> comprises a feeding device <NUM> which cyclically feeds the collars <NUM> into the feeding station S7, namely, arranges each collar <NUM> in front of a pocket <NUM>. The feeding device <NUM> comprises an unwinding station where a tape of wrapping material is unwound from a reel (not illustrated) and is moved (passing behind the wrapping conveyor <NUM>) towards a known type of cutting member which is arranged alongside the feeding station S8 and cyclically carries out a transversal cut of the tape of wrapping material to separate the individual collars <NUM> from the tape of wrapping material. Alternatively, the feeding device <NUM> could feed the collars <NUM> from the hopper.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the packer machine <NUM> comprises a feeding device <NUM> which cyclically feeds the blanks <NUM> into the feeding station S9, namely, arranges each blank <NUM> in front of a pocket <NUM>. The feeding device <NUM> comprises a moving conveyor <NUM> that moves a plurality of stacks of blanks <NUM> towards a hopper (not illustrated); furthermore, the feeding device <NUM> comprises a feeding drum <NUM> which supports a plurality of suction holding heads (not illustrated) each designed to hold a corresponding blank <NUM>, and is mounted so as to rotate (with intermittent motion, namely, "in step") around a horizontal rotation axis <NUM> parallel to the rotation axis <NUM> in order to move each suction holding head along a circular feeding path parallel to the wrapping path P6. The rotation of the feeding drum <NUM> cyclically moves each suction holding head from a pick-up station S11 where the suction holding head picks up a blank <NUM> from the bottom of the hopper to the feeding station S9, where the suction holding head transfers the blank <NUM> to the wrapping drum <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the packer machine <NUM> comprises a wrapping drum <NUM> which is arranged downstream of the wrapping drum <NUM>, supports a plurality of pockets <NUM> each designed to contain a sealed wrap <NUM>, a collar <NUM> and a blank <NUM>, and is mounted so as to rotate (with intermittent motion, namely "in step") around a horizontal rotation axis <NUM> parallel to the rotation axis <NUM> (and therefore parallel to the wrapping path P2) in order to move each pocket <NUM> along a wrapping path P7 having a circular shape and being parallel to the wrapping path P6 (and therefore perpendicular to the wrapping path P2). Each pocket <NUM> of the wrapping drum <NUM> receives a sealed wrap <NUM>, a collar <NUM> and a blank <NUM> in the transfer station S10, folds the blank <NUM> downstream of the transfer station S10, and releases an almost complete pack <NUM> of cigarettes into a transfer station S12 located downstream of the transfer station S10 along the wrapping path P7. In the transfer station S12, the folding of each blank <NUM> is completed (thus completing the formation of the corresponding pack <NUM> of cigarettes) by folding some flaps immediately downstream of the wrapping drum <NUM>. Once the formation of each pack <NUM> of cigarettes is completed, the pack <NUM> of cigarettes is transferred to a belt drying conveyor <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>) which moves the packs <NUM> of cigarettes in succession along a drying path P8 straight and perpendicular to the rotation axis <NUM> towards an output of the packer machine <NUM>.

According to a possible embodiment, even in the presence of the transfer drum <NUM> the collars <NUM> are fed to the pockets <NUM> of the wrapping drum <NUM> in the feeding station S8 arranged upstream of the transfer station S7 along the wrapping path P6 (namely, the feeding station S8 remains coupled to the wrapping drum <NUM>); according to an alternative embodiment, the feeding station S8 for the collars <NUM> is moved in the area of the transfer drum <NUM> and therefore a pocket <NUM> of the transfer drum <NUM> initially receives a collar <NUM> in the feeding station S8, subsequently receives a sealed wrap <NUM> from the wrapping conveyor <NUM> in transfer station S6, and lastly transfers the sealed wrap <NUM> and the collar <NUM> together to wrapping drum <NUM> in the transfer station S7 (or a pocket <NUM> of transfer drum <NUM> could initially receive the sealed wrap <NUM> from the wrapping conveyor <NUM> in the transfer station S6 and subsequently a collar <NUM> in the feeding station S8).

Due to the effect of the transfer drum <NUM>, each sealed wrap <NUM> is indirectly transferred from the wrapping conveyor <NUM> to a pocket <NUM> of the wrapping drum <NUM>. The presence of the transfer drum <NUM> allows, among other things, to impart a different orientation to the sealed wraps <NUM> between the wrapping conveyor <NUM> and the wrapping drum <NUM>; namely, the transfer drum <NUM> can only be used to impart a different orientation to the sealed wraps <NUM> leaving the feeding of the collars <NUM> to the pockets <NUM> of the wrapping drum <NUM> in the feeding station S8.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the packer machine <NUM> comprises a feeding device <NUM>, which in a feeding station S13 (arranged upstream of the input station S1 relative to the moving direction of the forming conveyor <NUM>), cyclically inserts the reinforcement elements <NUM> (that are arranged folded in a U-shape inside the pockets <NUM>) into the empty pockets <NUM> of the forming conveyor <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a folding device <NUM> is coupled to the forming conveyor <NUM> that is arranged immediately upstream of the transfer station S2 relative to the moving direction of the forming conveyor <NUM> and is configured to complete the folding of the reinforcement element <NUM> against a corresponding group <NUM> of cigarettes carried by a pocket <NUM>; in particular, the folding device <NUM> folds the lower wall <NUM> by <NUM>° relative to the front wall <NUM> and against the group <NUM> of cigarettes and, at the same time, folds the rear wall <NUM> by <NUM>° relative to the lower wall <NUM> and against the group <NUM> of cigarettes. Consequently, in the transfer station S2 a pusher of the wrapping conveyor <NUM> pulls out a group <NUM> of cigarettes coupled to a reinforcement element <NUM> by pushing on the lower wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes and therefore with the interposition of the lower wall <NUM> of the reinforcement element <NUM>. Thanks to the presence of the lower wall <NUM> of the reinforcement element <NUM> it is therefore possible to reduce the load stress on the group <NUM> of cigarettes, since the lower wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes does not come into direct contact with a pusher.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, it is important to note that the groups <NUM> of cigarettes are pulled out from the hopper <NUM> with the filters <NUM> frontwards so that the wrapping conveyor <NUM> moves the groups <NUM> of cigarettes along the wrapping path P2 with the filters <NUM> frontwards and consequently so that the "U"-shaped winding of a wrapping sheet <NUM> takes place astride the filters <NUM> (as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>). This orientation of the filters <NUM> is very advantageous for the manufacturing of the sealed wrap <NUM> (since it allows to arrange the pull-out opening in the area of the filters <NUM> as normally required by consumers of packs of cigarettes), but it can become a problem in the wrapping unit C during the folding of the blank <NUM> as it differs from the orientation in the case of a pack of cigarettes with a traditional (namely, unsealed) wrap; for this reason the presence of the wrapping drum <NUM> and the transfer drum <NUM> is important which allow to change the orientation of the sealed wraps <NUM> between the wrapping unit A and the wrapping unit C.

The presence of the wrapping drum <NUM> allows, among other things, not to give a different orientation to the sealed wraps <NUM> between the wrapping conveyor <NUM> and the wrapping conveyor <NUM>: the sealed wraps <NUM> being formed are moved longitudinally along the wrapping conveyor <NUM> and this orientation allows an easy "U"-shaped folding of the wrapping sheet <NUM> around the group <NUM> of cigarettes, and the sealed wraps <NUM> being formed are moved longitudinally also along the wrapping conveyor <NUM> and this orientation also allows an easy folding of the two open side edges of the wrapping sheet <NUM> (which has a tubular shape around the group <NUM> of cigarettes) by means of the so-called "soap-bar fold" (previously described and illustrated in <FIG>) and the subsequent stabilization by heat-sealing. The conformation of the wrapping drum <NUM> illustrated in the attached figures gives the sealed wraps <NUM> being formed an overturning, since along the wrapping conveyor <NUM> the sealed wraps <NUM> being formed are moved longitudinally with the filters <NUM> of the groups <NUM> of cigarettes forward, while along the wrapping conveyor <NUM> the sealed wraps <NUM> being formed are moved longitudinally with the filters <NUM> of the groups <NUM> of cigarettes backwards.

The presence of the transfer drum <NUM> allows, among other things, to impart a different orientation to the sealed wraps <NUM> between the wrapping conveyor <NUM> and the wrapping drum <NUM>; in particular, according to the positioning of the transfer drum <NUM>, the presence of the transfer drum <NUM> can cause the sealed wraps <NUM> to rotate by <NUM>° (as illustrated in the attached figures) or by <NUM>° (but potentially also by180°).

The different orientation of the sealed wraps <NUM> imparted by the wrapping drum <NUM> and by the transfer drum <NUM> is particularly useful as it allows the conformation of the entire wrapping unit C not to be substantially modified, passing from the production of a pack <NUM> of cigarettes with a sealed wrap <NUM> to the production of a pack of cigarettes <NUM> with a traditional (unsealed) wrap or vice versa; namely, by adapting the packer machine <NUM> to the production of different packs of cigarettes instead of substantially modifying the conformation of the entire wrapping unit C to pass from a sealed wrap <NUM> to a traditional (unsealed) wrap or vice versa, a rotation is simply imparted to the sealed wraps <NUM> at the inlet of the wrapping unit C.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, along the wrapping conveyor <NUM> only the "U"-shaped folding of the wrapping sheet <NUM> is performed around the group <NUM> of cigarettes (as illustrated in <FIG>) and the simultaneous folding of two smaller flaps against the smaller side wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes; whereas the closing of the two open side edges of the wrapping sheet <NUM> (which has a tubular shape around the group <NUM> of cigarettes) by means of the so-called "soap-bar fold" (previously described and illustrated in <FIG>) takes place along the wrapping conveyor <NUM> before their stabilization by heat-sealing (in fact, both the folding devices <NUM> and the sealing devices <NUM> are arranged along the wrapping conveyor <NUM>). In the different embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the "U"-shaped folding of the wrapping sheet <NUM> around the group <NUM> of cigarettes is performed along the wrapping conveyor <NUM> (as illustrated in <FIG>) and with the simultaneous folding of two smaller flaps against the smaller side wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes and along the wrapping conveyor <NUM>, the closing of the two open side edges of the wrapping sheet <NUM> is also performed (which has a tubular shape around the group <NUM> of cigarettes) by means of the so-called "soap-bar fold" (previously described and illustrated in <FIG>); in fact, the packer machine <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> comprises two folding devices <NUM>, which are arranged opposite one another along the wrapping path P2 and are designed to close the two open side edges of the wrapping sheet <NUM> by means of the so-called "soap-bar fold" (previously described and illustrated in <FIG>). According to a preferred embodiment, each folding device <NUM> is of the passive type (namely, it is completely devoid of moving parts) and comprises only fixed folding helixes. In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the folding devices <NUM> are absent (as they are replaced by the folding devices <NUM>) and only the sealing devices <NUM> are arranged along the wrapping conveyor <NUM>. It is important to note that in the embodiment illustrated in <FIG> (which also refers to what is illustrated in <FIG>), the sealing fin <NUM> is formed before the two open side edges of the wrapping sheet <NUM> are closed by means of the so-called "soap-bar fold"; whereas, in the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the sealing fin <NUM> is obtained after closing the two open side edges of the wrapping sheet <NUM> by means of the so-called "soap-bar fold"; consequently what is illustrated in <FIG> differs in part from what occurs in the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>.

In the further embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the following are carried out along the wrapping conveyor <NUM>: the "U"-shaped folding of the wrapping sheet <NUM> around the group <NUM> of cigarettes (as illustrated in <FIG>) and the simultaneous folding of two smaller flaps against the smaller side wall of the group <NUM> of cigarettes, the closing of the two open side edges of the wrapping sheet <NUM> (which has a tubular shape around the group <NUM> of cigarettes) by means of the so-called "soap-bar fold" (previously described and illustrated in <FIG>), and finally also the closing of the last open end of the wrapping sheet <NUM> (with the complete folding of the wrapping sheet <NUM>, but without any stabilization of the folded shape of the wrapping sheet <NUM>). In fact, the packer machine <NUM> comprises a folding device <NUM> which is arranged along the wrapping path P2 and is designed to close the last open end of the wrapping sheet <NUM>. According to a preferred embodiment, the folding device <NUM> is of the active type (namely, it comprises moving parts) and is of the type described in the patent application <CIT> and carries out the folding described and illustrated in this patent application. In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, along the wrapping drum <NUM> only the sealing devices <NUM> are arranged, which perform the sealing of the overlapping portions of the wrapping sheet <NUM> in the area of the lower wall of the sealed wrap <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the wrapping conveyor <NUM> comprises the annular-shaped conveyor belt <NUM>, which is wound around two end pulleys (one of which is motorized) and supports a plurality of pushers <NUM>, each of which is connected to the conveyor belt <NUM> by means of a support column <NUM> (narrow, namely, narrower than the pusher <NUM>) and is designed to engage a wall of a corresponding sealed wrap <NUM> being formed in order to push the sealed wrap <NUM> being formed along the wrapping path P4. In other words, the wrapping conveyor <NUM> comprises a horizontal channel which is delimited at least at the bottom and laterally (preferably also at the top in its initial part), is arranged along the wrapping path P4, and contains on the inside thereof each sealed wrap <NUM> being formed, while the sealed wrap <NUM> being formed moves along the wrapping path P4 pushed to the back by a corresponding pusher <NUM>. Each pocket <NUM> of the wrapping drum <NUM> has a through slot <NUM> (arranged at the bottom) which, in the transfer station S5, is oriented parallel to the wrapping path P4 and through which the support column <NUM> of a corresponding pusher <NUM> is designed to pass when the pocket <NUM> is in the transfer station S5. In other words, each pusher <NUM> of the wrapping conveyor <NUM> enters a pocket <NUM> of the wrapping drum <NUM> stopped in the transfer station S5 to pull out, from the same pocket <NUM>, a corresponding sealed wrap <NUM> being formed and then move the sealed wrap <NUM> being formed along the wrapping path P4.

The embodiments described herein can be combined with one another.

The packer machine <NUM> described above has numerous advantages.

Firstly, the wrapping unit B of the packer machine <NUM> described above allows the sealed wraps <NUM> of the packs of cigarettes to be produced with a high production quality (namely, having extremely precise and squared folds of the wrapping sheet <NUM>) even when operating at a high production speed (namely, with a high number of sealed wraps <NUM> produced in the unit of time). In particular, in the packer machine <NUM> described above it is possible to achieve an optimal heat-sealing (namely, both strong and precise) of the overlapping parts of the wrapping sheet <NUM> without damaging the group <NUM> of cigarettes contained in the sealed wrap <NUM>; this result is obtained thanks to the fact of manufacturing the sealing fin <NUM> transversely (which being formed by means of the sealing clamp <NUM> allows to use both a very high sealing pressure and a very high sealing temperature) and thanks to the fact of making the longitudinal welds by means of numerous successive sealing devices <NUM> (the wrapping conveyor <NUM> is relatively very long and therefore has all the space necessary to house multiple successive sealing devices <NUM>).

Furthermore, the packer machine <NUM> described above allows to change the format of the packs <NUM> of cigarettes in a relatively simple and fast way.

Finally, the packer machine <NUM> described above is compact and has optimal accessibility to all its components; in fact, an operator who is in front of the packer machine <NUM> is able to reach, with his/her own hands, all the active parts of the packer machine <NUM> in a simple, fast and ergonomic way. In particular, an operator who is in front of the packer machine <NUM> can easily reach, with his own hands, the hopper <NUM>, the forming conveyor <NUM>, the wrapping conveyor <NUM>, the wrapping conveyor <NUM>, and the wrapping drums <NUM> and <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A packer machine (<NUM>) to produce a rigid pack (<NUM>) for smoking articles comprising: a sealed wrap (<NUM>), which is obtained by folding a wrapping sheet (<NUM>) around a group (<NUM>) of smoking articles, and an outer container (<NUM>), which is obtained by folding a blank (<NUM>) around the sealed wrap (<NUM>); the packer machine (<NUM>) comprises:
a forming conveyor (<NUM>), which moves at least a first pocket (<NUM>) along a forming path (P1);
a hopper (<NUM>), which is arranged in front of the forming conveyor (<NUM>) and along the forming path (P1) and is provided with at least one output mouth (<NUM>), from which the group (<NUM>) of smoking articles can be pulled out;
a first wrapping conveyor (<NUM>), which is designed to move the group (<NUM>) of smoking articles and the wrapping sheet (<NUM>) along a first straight and horizontal wrapping path (P2) so as to at least partially fold the wrapping sheet (<NUM>) around the group (<NUM>) of smoking articles;
a first transfer station (S2), where the group (<NUM>) of smoking articles is directly transferred from the first pocket (<NUM>) of the forming conveyor (<NUM>) to the first wrapping conveyor (<NUM>); and
a first feeding station (S3), which is arranged downstream of the first transfer station (S2) and where the wrapping sheet (<NUM>) is coupled to the group (<NUM>) of smoking articles moving along the first wrapping path (P2);
the packer machine (<NUM>) is characterized in that it comprises:
a first wrapping drum (<NUM>), which supports at least one second pocket (<NUM>) designed to contain the sealed wrap (<NUM>) being formed and is mounted so as to rotate around a first vertical rotation axis (<NUM>) in order to move the second pocket (<NUM>) along a second wrapping path (P3) with a circular shape;
a second transfer station (S4), where the sealed wrap (<NUM>) being formed is directly transferred from the first wrapping conveyor (<NUM>) to the second pocket (<NUM>) of the first wrapping drum (<NUM>);
and
at least one first sealing device (<NUM>; <NUM>), which is arranged along the second wrapping path (P3) downstream of the second transfer station (S4) and is configured to seal overlapping portions of the wrapping sheet (<NUM>) in the area of a lower wall of the sealed wrap (<NUM>) being formed.