Patent Description:
In the automated production of smoking articles, such as cigarettes, or suchlike, particularly using machines with high productivity, it is known that one of the important aspects to be taken into consideration and the consequent technical problems to be overcome is the one relating to the last step of the packaging of the smoking articles, that is, the one concerning the closure of the containing material in which the smoking material has already been inserted, for example incoherent material, such as tobacco, other smokable substances, or a combination thereof.

Usually, the containing material consists of very thin and light paper, or other suitable material, possibly in the form of a casing, which does or does not comprise a filter in a front mouthpiece zone thereof, therefore it is difficult to treat in an automated manner, especially when there is also the aim of achieving high productivity and therefore every single operation has to take place in a very short time.

Normally, the packaging step occurs after a filling or dosing step, in which the smoking material is loaded or inserted into the containing material. Downstream of the packaging step, which is performed by a specific apparatus, there is usually positioned a station for distributing and possibly also a station for packing the finished smoking articles.

Examples of machines for the automated packaging of smoking articles are described in patent documents <CIT> and <CIT>.

With regards to the technical problem of the closure of the smoking articles, in the context of this packaging step, that is, the closure of the rear zone of each casing made with the containing material as above, after the smoking material has been inserted in a central zone of the casing, it is known to use a closing device capable of automatically twisting the rear zone, thus creating a "twist" type closure, known to the people of skill in the art.

Alternatively, it is also known to produce a different type of closure, the so-called "dutch crown", also known to the people of skill in the art, with which the rear zone of each casing is closed by means of folding. In most of the known apparatuses, however, this last closing mode is not automated, but carried out manually, or in any case with the assistance of an operator.

Applicant is not aware of apparatuses and/or methods for automatically and rapidly closing smoking articles by folding the rear zone of each casing.

Therefore, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a closing apparatus and to perfect a closing method which are capable of automatically and rapidly closing smoking articles, in particular by folding their rear zones, which are open and without the smoking material.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a closing apparatus and to perfect a closing method for automatically closing smoking articles which are simple and reliable.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a closing apparatus and to perfect a closing method for automatically closing smoking articles which allow to reach high productivity, intended, for example, as an hourly production of about <NUM>,<NUM> smoking articles.

In accordance with the above purposes, a closing apparatus according to the present invention for automatically closing smoking articles, each comprising a casing having at least one rear zone which is configured to be closed, comprises folding means configured to close the rear zone of each casing by means of folding, and movement means configured to move at least one of either the smoking articles or the folding means, so that they move reciprocally toward or away from each other, so that the rear zone of each casing can selectively interact with the folding means.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the folding means comprise both a folding member having a folding seating configured to temporarily house at least one end portion of the rear zone, and also an abutment element disposed slidingly in a channel which is communicating with the folding seating, so as to be able to abut against the rear zone when the at least one portion of the rear zone is inserted in the folding seating. The channel is configured as a through axial hole that opens from above into the folding seating.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the folding seating comprises a cavity having a domed shape, a truncated cone shape, or a combination thereof, so that at least one flap of the rear zone of each casing, entering the folding seating, can at least partly fold. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the folding member is disposed along a vertical axis and the cavity is coaxial to the vertical axis.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the abutment element, which is preferably coaxial to the vertical axis, is configured to move away from and close to the folding seating in order to strike and flatten in a controlled manner, one or several times, the rear zone of each casing.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the movement means comprise both one or more gripping members configured to grip each of the smoking articles in order to displace it toward the folding device, and also a movement device configured to simultaneously lower and raise the one or more gripping members.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each of the one or more gripping members comprises at least two jaws shaped so as to have semi-cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped recesses, opposite each other and specular, so that when the jaws are tightened against each other they define a gripping seating for the smoking article.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each jaw comprises at least one guide element and at least one hole which is configured to accommodate the guide element of the opposite jaw, cooperating with it. In particular, the guide element of one jaw cooperates with the guide element of the other jaw to tighten each smoking article in the gripping seating, in order to prevent, or reduce, oscillations or inclinations of the smoking article. Thanks to the advantageous conformation of the jaws and of the gripping elements, the smoking article is self-centered in the gripping seating and a possible inclination or oscillation of the smoking article with respect to its vertical axis is significantly reduced, or even completely prevented.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the closing apparatus comprises a transport member configured to support each of the smoking articles inside transport seatings and make them advance along a work path.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the transport member is sliding on a fixed guide disposed below the movement means.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus comprises one or several lifting means configured to selectively lift each of the smoking articles from the transport member.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the one or more lifting means comprise a corresponding piston disposed below the transport member and configured to be inserted into a passage created in the transport seatings.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a closing method for automatically closing smoking articles, each comprising a casing having at least one rear zone which is configured to be closed, using an apparatus which comprises folding means configured to close the rear zone of each casing by means of folding, and movement means configured to move at least one of either the smoking articles or the folding means so that they move reciprocally toward or away from each other, comprises both a movement step in which the movement means move at least one of either the smoking articles or the folding means in order to move them reciprocally toward or away from each other, so that the rear zone of each casing can interact with the folding means, and also a closing step in which the rear zone of each casing is closed by means of the folding means.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in the closing step at least one portion of the rear zone is temporarily housed in a folding seating and an abutment element is selectively driven in order to strike and flatten the portion of the rear zone while it is temporarily housed in the folding seating, wherein the folding seating and the abutment element belong to the folding means.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the movement step comprises a gripping step in which one or more gripping members grip each of the smoking articles and displace it toward the folding means.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in the closing step each of the gripping members, after it has gripped one of the smoking articles, is raised in order to take an open end of the portion of the rear zone inside the folding seating of the folding means, so that at least one flap of the rear zone, opposed by the internal surface of the folding seating, at least partly folds, in particular it folds on itself, toward the center of the folding seating.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in the closing step and after the folding of the at least one flap of the rear zone, the abutment element is selectively driven in order to strike and flatten, one or several times, the at least one already at least partly folded flap in order to complete and consolidate its folding.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in the movement step one or more lifting means are possibly driven in order to lift, preferably simultaneously, the smoking articles so that each of the gripping members cooperates with a central zone of each of the smoking articles in order to grip the central zone.

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:.

We must clarify that in the present description and in the claims the phraseology and terminology used, such as for example the terms horizontal, vertical, front, rear, high, low, internal and external, with their declinations, have the sole function of better illustrating the present invention with reference to the drawings and must not be in any way used to limit the scope of the invention itself, or the field of protection defined by the attached claims.

Furthermore, the people of skill in the art will recognize that certain sizes or characteristics in the drawings may have been enlarged, deformed, or shown in an unconventional or non-proportional way in order to provide a version of the present invention that is easier to understand. When sizes and/or values are specified in the following description, the sizes and/or values are provided for illustrative purposes only and must not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention, unless such sizes and/or values are present in the attached claims.

Before describing an embodiment of the present invention, we must also clarify that it must not be considered as limited in its application to the details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the present description using the attached drawings. In fact, the present invention can take on other embodiments and can be obtained or executed in various other equivalent ways.

With reference to <FIG>, an apparatus <NUM> according to the present invention can be used to automatically close smoking articles <NUM>, and in particular to perform the closure by folding an open rear zone Z3 of the smoking articles <NUM>, as will be described in detail below.

Furthermore, as schematically shown in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> is configured to be part of, or be associated with, a packaging station <NUM> of a machine <NUM> for the preparation of smoking articles <NUM>. Purely by way of example and in order to frame the apparatus <NUM> in a wider context, the machine <NUM> can comprise, in sequence, a feed station <NUM>, a filling station <NUM>, both disposed upstream of the packaging station <NUM>, that is, of the apparatus <NUM>, as well as, disposed downstream of the latter, a distribution station <NUM> able to deliver the finished smoking articles <NUM> to a packing station <NUM> which, possibly, can also be outside the machine <NUM>. Furthermore, in the machine <NUM> there is a transport apparatus <NUM> having the function of transporting the smoking articles <NUM> from the feed station <NUM> to the packing station <NUM> along the entire working line, for example in a direction of working X, preferably rectilinear and horizontal.

The feed station <NUM>, the filling station <NUM>, the packaging station <NUM>, the distribution station <NUM>, the packing station <NUM> and the transport apparatus <NUM> can be of any known type, or one that will be developed in the future. Alternatively, the feed station <NUM>, the filling station <NUM>, the packaging station <NUM> and/or the transport apparatus <NUM> can be, for example, as those described in correlated patent applications for industrial invention filed by, or assigned to, the Applicant of the present patent application.

For example, the transport apparatus <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a transport member <NUM> (<FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>) having the shape and function of a shuttle and configured to slide on a fixed guide <NUM> in the direction of working X, substantially horizontal. In the example provided here, the transport member <NUM> comprises four seatings <NUM>, hollow and made through, each of which has a truncated cone shape with sizes mating with those of a smoking article <NUM>, or at least of a lower part thereof. In the example provided here, the sizes of each seating <NUM> are such that each smoking article <NUM>, when inserted into the seating <NUM>, protrudes not only from the upper surface of the transport member <NUM>, but also from the lower surface thereof, by a few millimeters (<FIG>).

It is clear that the number of seatings <NUM> can also be different from four, it being understood that their number influences the hourly productivity of the machine <NUM>. In fact, if to perform a work cycle in each of the different work stations <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> and in the apparatus <NUM>, or in a slower one, a determinate cycle time TC expressed in seconds is required, the hourly productivity of the machine <NUM> will be equal to <NUM>,<NUM> seconds divided by the cycle time TC, multiplied by the number of seatings <NUM> of each transport member <NUM>. In fact, in the four seatings <NUM> the work occurs in parallel.

Each seating <NUM> is symmetrical with respect to a substantially vertical Y axis and is configured to house a smoking article <NUM> that can be inserted from the top downward, with the rear zone Z3 facing upward.

The distance D (<FIG>) between two adjacent seatings <NUM> is defined in the design phase of the machine <NUM> and it is suitable to manage the plurality of smoking articles <NUM>, as will be described in detail below.

By way of a non-limiting indication, the machine <NUM> is able to prepare each smoking article <NUM> in a very short time, that is, with a cycle time TC of about two seconds, therefore that it can have an hourly productivity of about <NUM>,<NUM> smoking articles <NUM>, precisely because four smoking articles <NUM> are worked simultaneously in each work station <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> and in the apparatus <NUM>.

Before describing the apparatus <NUM> and the corresponding method for automatically closing smoking articles <NUM> in detail, in order to better understand the present invention we will now schematically describe, by way of a non-limiting example, a smoking article <NUM> (<FIG>).

When it arrives in correspondence with the apparatus <NUM>, for example from the filling station <NUM> (<FIG>), each smoking article <NUM> comprises a casing <NUM> (<FIG>), made for example with very thin and light paper, or other suitable material. Each casing <NUM> comprises a front mouthpiece zone Z1, possibly provided with a filter <NUM>, a central zone Z2, which when the smoking article <NUM> arrives in correspondence with the apparatus <NUM> is already filled with incoherent material M, such as tobacco, others smokable substances, or a combination thereof, and the rear zone Z3 which has an open end and is configured to be suitably closed in order to prevent the incoherent material M from exiting the casing <NUM>. Each casing <NUM>, before its rear zone Z3 is closed, has a determinate initial length L1, for example comprised between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, while the smoking article <NUM>, when finished, has a final length that depends on its format, which in turn depends on the quantity of incoherent material M inserted in the casing <NUM>.

Each casing <NUM> has a shape such that it can be easily stacked, for example a truncated cone shape and flared from the front zone Z1 to the rear zone Z3.

The apparatus <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises four folding devices <NUM>, the same as each other and each disposed along a corresponding vertical axis T. The four vertical axes T are distanced from each other by the same distance D by which the seatings <NUM> of a same transport member <NUM> are distanced. Furthermore, between each folding device <NUM> and the fixed guide <NUM> there is a gripping member <NUM>, which is also aligned with the corresponding vertical axis T.

The four folding devices <NUM> are mounted on a vertical plate <NUM> associated with a fixed structure, and they are commanded, for example, by a first actuator <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>) which is also mounted on the vertical plate <NUM>.

Each folding device <NUM> is configured to carry out an inward fold of the flaps of the rear zone Z3 of a casing <NUM>. Preferably, the length of the rear zone Z3 has a predetermined value, or it can be taken to this predetermined value by means of a suitable cutting device disposed upstream of the apparatus <NUM> and which can be of any known type, since it falls outside the scope of the present invention.

Each folding device <NUM> comprises a folding member <NUM> (<FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>) disposed in a fixed position and having a folding seating <NUM> that faces toward the smoking articles <NUM> and is configured to temporarily accommodate the rear zone Z3 of the casing <NUM>.

The folding seating <NUM> comprises a cavity which substantially has a shape which can be a domed shape, a truncated cone shape, or a combination thereof, so that when a casing <NUM>, during use, is taken from the bottom upward in correspondence with the corresponding folding device <NUM>, the flaps of the rear zone Z3 of each casing <NUM>, entering the folding seating <NUM>, partly fold toward the center of the cavity, that is, toward the vertical axis T.

Furthermore, each folding member <NUM> is provided with a channel <NUM> communicating with the folding seating <NUM>, the channel <NUM> being configured as a through axial hole which opens from above into the cavity, and in which there is disposed in a sliding manner an abutment element <NUM> which has the function of a small power hammer to strike, selectively and in a controlled manner, one or several times, the partly folded flaps of the rear zone Z3 of each casing <NUM>, as will be described in detail below.

The abutment element <NUM> is selectively driven by the first actuator <NUM> so that it is displaced axially, in both senses, from a raised idle position PR (<FIG>, <FIG>), in which a lower end <NUM> of the abutment element <NUM> is substantially level with the top of the folding seating <NUM>, to an operating position PO (<FIG>), in which the abutment member <NUM> is lowered so that its lower end <NUM> enters the folding seating <NUM> in order to flatten the partly folded flaps of the rear zone Z3 of each casing <NUM>, and vice versa.

The four gripping members <NUM> (<FIG>), in an idle position PH thereof, are disposed on a same horizontal plane and they are configured first to be lowered all together toward a lowered position PA, in which they can simultaneously pick up the four smoking articles <NUM> housed in the seatings <NUM> of the transport member <NUM> which is temporarily below them, and then to be raised up to a raised position PS, higher than the idle position PH, in which the four smoking articles <NUM> that were picked up are taken in correspondence with the four folding devices <NUM>. In particular, the raised position PS varies according to the format of the smoking article <NUM>.

The simultaneous lowering and raising of the four gripping members <NUM> is commanded by a movement device <NUM>, which comprises a slider <NUM>, sliding vertically with respect to the vertical plate <NUM>, and at least one second actuator <NUM>, of a known type, also mounted on the vertical plate <NUM>, which has the function of selectively activating the slider <NUM>.

Each second gripping member <NUM> comprises at least two jaws <NUM> (<FIG>) the internal part of which is shaped so as to have semi-cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped recesses <NUM> (<FIG>), opposite each other and specular, so that when the two jaws <NUM> are tightened against each other, their recesses <NUM> form a gripping seating suitable to support the smoking articles <NUM> without damaging the structural integrity of the casing <NUM>.

In order to improve the grip and prevent each smoking article <NUM> from sliding downward when it is between the jaws <NUM>, the internal part of the jaws is lined with a high grip material, such as rough rubber.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, each jaw <NUM> comprises a pair of guide elements 28a, 28b, each configured to be inserted into a respective hole 29a, 29b made on the opposite jaw <NUM>, cooperating with it, and having a shape mating with the shape of the guide elements 28a, 28b.

The guide elements 28a, 28b are configured to tighten each smoking article <NUM>, self-centering it in the gripping seating of the jaws <NUM>, so that when the smoking article <NUM> is lifted from the respective seating <NUM> of the transport member <NUM> it does not oscillate or tilt.

In particular, each guide element 28a, 28b comprises a shaped portion, preferably according to a curvilinear profile, able to come into contact with the casing <NUM> in order to prevent damaging the latter when each smoking article <NUM> is taken and lifted.

Furthermore, in correspondence with the ends of the recesses <NUM> there are indentations <NUM>, each shaped as an arc of a circle which, when the jaws <NUM> are tightened against each other, form a small semicircular channel which has substantially the function of allowing each smoking article <NUM> to adapt to the gripping seating as best as possible, preventing the generation of structural damage to the casing <NUM>, in particular due to the tightening action of the jaws <NUM>.

The opening and closing of the jaws <NUM> of the four gripping members <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>) is obtained simultaneously by means of a first slide <NUM> and a second slide <NUM>, which are substantially horizontal and mounted sliding axially on the slider <NUM>. The two slides <NUM> and <NUM> are driven by a command member of a known type, for example an electric motor or a linear actuator of the pneumatic or fluid-dynamic type, not shown in the drawings.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in order for the simultaneous closure of four smoking articles <NUM> to be carried out correctly and in order for the four gripping members <NUM> to be able to cooperate with the corresponding central zones Z2 of the four casings <NUM>, below the fixed guide <NUM> there are disposed one or more lifting devices <NUM>, of a type known per se, configured to simultaneously lift the same four smoking articles <NUM>. In the example given here, there are four lifting devices <NUM>; however, there could also be provided only one lifting device <NUM>, configured to perform the same function.

The lifting devices <NUM> are disposed on a fixed horizontal plate <NUM> and they are provided with small pistons <NUM> simultaneously driven by a third actuator <NUM>, which is also disposed on the fixed horizontal plate <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> also comprises an electronic control unit <NUM>, for example of the programmable type, configured to control the actuators <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> and, consequently, the other mechanical means operatively connected thereto.

The operation of the apparatus <NUM> described heretofore, which corresponds to the method according to the present invention, comprises the following steps.

In an initial or idle condition, the four gripping members <NUM> (<FIG>) are in their idle position PH, with the jaws <NUM> open, and the abutment element <NUM> is in its idle position PR.

Before starting the operations of closing the rear zones Z3 of the casings <NUM>, the electronic control unit <NUM> is set according to the format of the smoking articles <NUM> to be produced, so that the actuators <NUM> and <NUM> impart coherent movements to the slider <NUM> and to the pistons <NUM>, respectively.

Then, the transport member <NUM> is displaced by the transport apparatus <NUM> until it reaches a stop position PT (<FIG>), exactly below the first closing assembly <NUM>, in which the four vertical axes Y of the seatings <NUM> are coincident with the four vertical axes T of the folding devices <NUM>. In this stop position PT, the transport member <NUM> remains stationary for an interval of time equal to the cycle time TC necessary for the apparatus <NUM> to perform the simultaneous closure of the four rear zones Z3 of the casings <NUM> of as many smoking articles <NUM>.

Under the control of the electronic control unit <NUM> a movement step then occurs, in which the second actuator <NUM> (<FIG>) lowers the slider <NUM> and the four gripping members <NUM> mounted thereon from their idle position PH to their lowered position PA (<FIG> and <FIG>), thus starting a gripping step in which the slides <NUM> and <NUM> are then driven so that they move reciprocally with respect to each other in order to close the jaws <NUM> and take them into contact with the four smoking articles <NUM> present in the seatings <NUM> of the transport member <NUM>.

If necessary, that is, as a function of the format of the smoking articles <NUM>, simultaneously with the lowering of the slider <NUM> and, therefore, of the four gripping members <NUM> into the lowered position PA, the third actuator <NUM> drives the pistons <NUM> of the lifting devices <NUM> (<FIG>) in order to simultaneously lift the four smoking articles <NUM>, so that the grip of the jaws <NUM> occurs in the central zone Z2 of each casing <NUM>.

Subsequently, the second actuator <NUM> raises the slider <NUM> together with the four gripping members <NUM>, gradually taking them from the lowered position PA to the raised position PS. Consequently, the four smoking articles <NUM> are also lifted so that the step of closing the rear zones Z3 of the casings <NUM> is carried out. In fact, the rear zones Z3 are gradually taken in correspondence with the four folding devices <NUM>.

The raised position PS of the gripping members <NUM> (<FIG>) is set so that the flaps of each rear zone Z3 of the four casings <NUM> enter the folding seating <NUM> and fold toward the center of the cavity, that is, toward the vertical axis T (<FIG>).

In particular, as shown in detail in figs. from 8A to 8E, the sequence of folding the rear zone Z3 of each casing <NUM> comprises the following steps:.

Then, with operations that are inverse to those described heretofore, the slider <NUM> is lowered in order to return the four already closed smoking articles <NUM> to their initial position, that is, inside their seatings <NUM> of the transport member <NUM>, after which the four gripping members <NUM> are returned to the idle position PH.

Once the closing step by means of folding has been completed, the transport element <NUM> is displaced from the stop position, in the work direction X, toward the distribution station <NUM> (<FIG>).

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts or steps may be made to the apparatus and to the method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to a specific example, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of apparatuses and methods for automatically closing smoking articles, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claim 1:
Closing apparatus (<NUM>) for automatically closing smoking articles (<NUM>) each comprising a casing (<NUM>) having at least one rear zone (Z3) configured to be closed, said apparatus comprising folding means (<NUM>) configured for close said rear zone (Z3) of each casing (<NUM>) by means of folding, and movement means (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to move at least one of either said smoking articles (<NUM>) or said folding means (<NUM>) so that they move reciprocally toward each other, so that said rear zone (Z3) of each casing (<NUM>) can selectively interact with said folding means (<NUM>), characterized in that said folding means (<NUM>) comprise both a folding member (<NUM>) having a folding seating (<NUM>) configured to temporarily house at least one portion of said rear zone (Z3), and also an abutment element (<NUM>) disposed slidingly in a channel (<NUM>) which is communicating with said folding seating (<NUM>), so as to be able to abut against said rear zone (Z3) when the at least one portion of said rear zone (Z3) is inserted in the folding seating (<NUM>).