Patent Description:
It is known in the art to subject ordered groups of blanks, for example, bundles or stacks of blanks, to a treatment process in which the group of blanks is broken up, the individual blanks are fed to a treatment unit which performs a given operation on them (for example, a printing or labeling operation), and finally the single blanks are grouped again in an ordered group.

The patent <CIT>, or <CIT>, by the same Applicant describes a treatment process of this type to generate, outside the packaging line for smoking articles, a reserve of treated blanks to be used for supplying the same packaging line.

This patent describes a device for grouping blanks in an ordered group, after they have undergone treatment. This known device comprises a rotatable drum provided with a plurality of radial hoppers which are movable, by rotating the drum, between a position for receiving the single blanks and a delivery position for the reconstituted group of blanks.

Upstream of the aforesaid drum, the known device in question also comprises an inclined plane arranged to overturn the individual blanks directed towards one of the hoppers of the drum so that they are arranged parallel to the bottom of the hopper and are deposited one on top of the other to form a pile of blanks.

<CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose each a device for grouping blanks.

<CIT> and <CIT> disclose each a device for zig-zag folding of a web.

<CIT> discloses a device being movable between a position of loading letters and a position of delivery of a group of letters.

The present invention has the object of providing an improved grouping device with respect to the known device indicated, in particular from the point of view of the operating mode and the speed of forming the pile of blanks.

This object is achieved by a device having the characteristics referred to in claim <NUM>. The solution described herein also relates to a method according to claim <NUM> and a machine according to claim <NUM>.

The claims form an integral part of the technical disclosure provided here in relation to the invention.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become evident from the description that follows with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:.

In the following description, various specific details are illustrated aimed at a thorough understanding of the embodiments. In other cases, known structures, materials or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the embodiments.

The references used here are only for convenience and do not therefore define the field of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

As mentioned above, the device described herein performs the function of grouping blanks of smoking-article wrappers which come out in succession from a unit for treating these blanks.

To better illustrate the type of application for which the device described here is intended, <FIG> illustrates an example of a treatment machine for blanks W, which, in particular, carries out a labeling process.

The illustrated machine, indicated as a whole by reference <NUM>, comprises a unit <NUM> for feeding the blanks W, a labeling unit <NUM> and a device <NUM> made according to the disclosures provided here.

The machine <NUM> also includes drums <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> for transporting the blanks from the feeding unit <NUM> to the labeling unit <NUM>, and from this to the grouping device <NUM>.

The feeding unit <NUM> is designed to receive an ordered group of blanks and feed them in succession to the drum <NUM>.

Each blank W is constituted by a sheet, usually made of paper or cardboard, which is in a completely extended condition, so as to present a planar conformation.

The blanks that are received by the unit <NUM> are arranged in an orderly manner so as to form a bundle or pile of blanks. In other words, they are in mutual contact at their respective opposite faces, and have the same orientation with respect to an axis perpendicular to their lying plane.

<FIG> illustrates, by way of example, a blank W of a cigarette packet, which must be subjected to the labeling process carried out by the machine <NUM> of <FIG>.

This blank has a given contour and predefined folding lines, so that it can be formed into the final wrapper simply by folding its various portions and their mutual connection (usually by means of glue). This figure illustrates an adhesive label T, which is applied on the blank by the labeling unit <NUM>, to constitute a sealing label for the packet of cigarettes.

The drum <NUM> is arranged to pick up one blank at a time from the feeding unit <NUM> and transfer it to the drum <NUM>. In turn, the drum <NUM> receives the blank from the drum <NUM> and carries it, first, to the unit <NUM> for applying the label T and, subsequently, to the drum <NUM>. Finally, the drum <NUM> picks up the blank from the drum <NUM> and delivers it to the device <NUM>.

To carry out the dual function indicated, for picking up and transferring the blanks, the two drums <NUM> and <NUM> are each provided with gripping members (not illustrated), which are operated by a cam system and are also connected to an air intake system.

The sequence of steps described above is carried out on all blanks that have been loaded on the unit <NUM>.

The device <NUM> operates to group the blanks provided with a label coming from the labeling unit <NUM>, reconstituting an ordered group of blanks.

As will be seen below, this group of blanks can be directly used for supplying a packaging machine (not illustrated) arranged in line with the machine <NUM>.

With reference now to <FIG> and <FIG>, in various preferred embodiments, as well as in the one illustrated, the device <NUM> comprises a structure <NUM>, which defines an inlet 12A for the blanks, a space S for receiving and accumulating the blanks, and an outlet 12B for extracting from the device the group of blanks formed thereby.

The collecting space S extends along a reference axis J of the structure <NUM>, and the inlet 12A and the outlet 12B are positioned on opposite sides of the space S, along the reference axis J.

This space constitutes the position of the device <NUM>, where the single blanks W coming from the labeling unit <NUM> are received, and where the group of blanks under formation is housed.

According to an important characteristic of the device described here, the structure <NUM> is arranged with at least one support - see supports <NUM>, <NUM>, 15III and 151V of the preferred embodiment represented - which is configured for keeping the blank or blanks received in the collecting space S, near the inlet 12A and according to an orientation whereby the lying plane of the blanks is transversal to the reference axis J.

This at least one support - <NUM>, <NUM>, 15III and 151V - is movable along the reference axis J for moving away the already-received blank or blanks from said inlet 12A, and enabling housing of a new blank w2 in said collecting space S.

The new blank is maintained in the aforesaid orientation transverse to the axis J, by the same blank or same blanks already received in the space S.

Preferably, this at least one support - <NUM>, <NUM>, 15III and 151V - is moved continuously and at a constant speed along the reference axis J.

Thanks to the indicated characteristics, the device described here is able to control the formation of the group of blanks within the space S, ensuring, on the one hand, the correct positioning of the blanks at the inlet, and on the other hand, that the blanks keep in contact with each other and are mutually aligned.

In various preferred embodiments, as well as in the one illustrated, the structure <NUM> comprises two frame planar modules <NUM>, <NUM>, which are oriented vertically and are arranged opposite each other, at a given distance, to define the collecting space S indicated above between them.

The two frame modules <NUM>, <NUM> extend parallel to each other, along the reference direction J.

An assembly of belt-like supports <NUM>, <NUM>, 15III and 151V is mounted on the two modules <NUM> and <NUM>, each of which constitutes a movable support as discussed above. In particular, the two supports <NUM> and <NUM> are mounted on the frame module <NUM>, and the two supports <NUM> and 151V on the frame module <NUM>.

These belt-like supports are mounted on respective pulleys, so that each one extends along a closed-loop path having at least one section oriented along the reference axis J and of a length such as to connect the inlet 12A and the outlet 12B.

The respective portions <NUM>'<NUM>, <NUM>'<NUM>, <NUM>'<NUM> and <NUM>'IV of these supports which extend along this section cooperate together to support the blanks W received in the space S in the aforesaid orientation transverse to the axis J (<FIG>).

The two portions <NUM>'<NUM> and <NUM>'IV are aligned and spaced apart horizontally to engage opposite end regions of the lower edge of each blank W received in the space S.

On the other hand, the portions <NUM>'<NUM>, <NUM>'<NUM> are arranged correspondingly near the upper edge of each blank W received in the space S.

The belt-like supports <NUM>, <NUM>, 15III and 151V have respective abutment portions 15IB, 1511B, 15IIIB, 15IVB, which protrude in a plane transverse to the longitudinal direction of the support, and are arranged to be positioned at the portions <NUM>'<NUM>, <NUM>'<NUM>, <NUM>'<NUM> and <NUM>'IV to each engage the front face - with reference to the feed direction - of the blank which, in a given operating cycle, is first received within the space S.

With reference to <FIG>, when a new cycle is started, the abutment portions 15IB, 1511B, 15IIIB, 15IVB are all arranged at the inlet 12A, and aligned with each other in the same plane Q transverse to the reference axis J.

The first blank W1 that is received in the space S places its lower edge on the two supports <NUM> and 151V, and its front face against the abutment portions 151B, 1511B, 15IIIB and 15IVB (<FIG>).

The blank W1 is, therefore, oriented parallel to the plane Q identified by the abutment portions 151B, 1511B, 15IIIB and 15IVB.

To receive a new blank W2, the supports <NUM>, <NUM>, 15III and 151V are moved in such a way as to move away the respective abutment portions from the inlet 12A, and with them the previously received blank W1.

The extent of this movement is such as to make room for the new blank W2 (<FIG>), and, at the same time, keep the blank W1 close enough to the inlet 12A so that the new blank W2 is carried directly against the blank W1, as soon as it passes the 12A inlet.

The new blank W2, therefore, places its lower edge resting on the two belt-like supports <NUM> and 151V and carries its front face against the previously received blank W1 (<FIG> and <FIG>).

Thanks to the positioning of the blank W1, the new blank W2 is also positioned substantially parallel to the plane Q.

This sequence is repeated for all blanks that are received in the space S.

Preferably, the movement of the supports <NUM>, <NUM>, 15III and 151V is continuous and at a constant speed, and is regulated so as to keep the already-received blanks, grouped against each other and close to the inlet 12A.

This movement is coordinated, in general, with the device located upstream of the device <NUM> which is suitable for delivering the various blanks.

With reference to the application example illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, this movement is coordinated with the drum <NUM> and is carried out until a given group of blanks has formed within the space S (for example, this group could have the same number of blanks in the group that had been loaded on the feed unit <NUM> or not) (<FIG>).

Incidentally, it will be understood that at the end of the operating cycle, the abutment portions 151B, 1511B, 15IIIB, 15IVB will find themselves at a distance from the inlet 12A corresponding, substantially, to the length of the reconstituted group of blanks.

Preferably, the supports <NUM>, <NUM>, 15III and 151V are equipped with additional abutment portions - see the portions 15IIIC and 15IVC illustrated in <FIG> - arranged to position themselves at the inlet 12A - in the same configuration shown in <FIG> for the abutment portions 15IIIB and 15IVB - when the abutment portions 151B, 1511B, 15111B, 151VB are now out of the active sections <NUM>'<NUM>, <NUM>'<NUM>, <NUM>'<NUM> and <NUM>'IV of the supports, to allow immediate start of a new loading cycle of blanks.

Referring to <FIG>, the structure <NUM> can also be arranged with fixed guides <NUM>, opposite to each other, carried by the two frame modules <NUM> and <NUM>, to retain the blanks laterally.

The movable supports <NUM>, <NUM>, 15III and 151V must, in turn, be synchronized with each other.

In various preferred embodiments, as well as in the one illustrated, these supports are controlled by a single actuator <NUM>, which is connected to the various supports <NUM>, <NUM>, 15III and 151V through a motion transmission system, with belt members or equivalent members (e.g. chains). In alternative embodiments, however, two or more actuators could be provided, for example, an actuator for each belt-like support.

With reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the motion transmission system comprises shafts <NUM>, <NUM>, 22III and 22IV, rotatably mounted on the frame modules <NUM> and <NUM>, which carry, on the inner side of the two modules, pulleys <NUM>, <NUM>, 23III and 23IV, and on the outer side, pulleys <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and 211V. The shaft <NUM> has a connecting portion through which it connects to the actuator <NUM>.

An additional shaft <NUM> extends between the two frame modules <NUM>, <NUM>, and is rotatably mounted on both modules. The shaft <NUM> has opposite ends which are positioned on the two outer sides of the frame modules <NUM> and <NUM>, and on which two additional pulleys <NUM> and <NUM> are carried.

The belt-like supports <NUM>, <NUM>, 15III and 151V are mounted, respectively, on the pulleys <NUM>, <NUM>, 23III and 231V.

A first belt member <NUM> is coupled, connecting them in rotation to each other, to the pulleys <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, which are all on the same outer side - the left side, with reference to the Figure - of the two frame modules <NUM> and <NUM>.

In the same way, a second belt member <NUM> is coupled to the pulleys <NUM>, 211V and <NUM>, which are, however, all on the opposite outer side of the two frame modules <NUM> and <NUM> - the right side, with reference to the Figure.

In various preferred embodiments, as well as in the one illustrated, each of the pulleys <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> is associated with a pressure roller <NUM>, which is configured to press the relative belt member against it, to ensure correct coupling between member and pulley.

It will be noted that the two members <NUM> and <NUM> are - in turn - connected in rotation through the shaft <NUM>.

The actuator <NUM> is designed to control the rotation of the shaft <NUM>.

This rotation, on the one hand, controls the movement of the support <NUM>. On the other hand, it sets the first member <NUM> in motion, which, in turn, moves the support <NUM>.

The movement of the first member <NUM> is transmitted to the second member <NUM>, on the opposite side of the structure <NUM>, through the shaft <NUM>.

The second member <NUM> drives the other two supports <NUM> and 151V.

The above described motion transfer system is only one of the possible embodiments.

Returning to <FIG> and <FIG>, the structure <NUM> is carried by a positioning unit <NUM>, which is configured to move the structure <NUM> between a position P1, preferably raised, for loading the blanks (illustrated in <FIG>), and a position P2 , preferably lowered, of delivery of the blanks (illustrated in <FIG>).

With reference to <FIG>, in the loading position P1, the structure <NUM> has the inlet 12A directly facing, and in immediate adjacency, to the drum <NUM>.

At the same time, the structure <NUM> is oriented so as to arrange the reference axis J slightly inclined upwards, so as to facilitate the passage of the blanks from the drum <NUM> to the collecting space S.

In various preferred embodiments, as well as in the one illustrated, the structure <NUM> also comprises two holding elements <NUM>, which are positioned at the entrance 12A and are opposite each other (<FIG>).

These elements are equipped with respective teeth <NUM> between which the inlet passage of the blanks W into the collecting space S is defined.

These teeth are sized so that the passage defined by them is slightly smaller than the corresponding size of the blanks, so as to allow the insertion of the blanks, through a small deformation of the blanks along the respective upper and lower edges, and to be able instead to retain the already-received blanks, preventing the risk of spillage.

Alternatively, the teeth <NUM> could define a passage slightly larger than the size of the blanks; in this case the release of the blank takes place by first inserting the blank behind the upper tooth and then behind the lower tooth.

As a further alternative, these teeth could be tilting and engage the inlet 12A of the structure only after the positioning of a blank in the collecting space S.

With reference to <FIG>, in the delivery position P2, the structure <NUM> is positioned at an underlying conveying line, on which the group of blanks is released.

In the illustrated example, this conveying line comprises a carriage <NUM>, which is inserted between the two frame modules <NUM> and <NUM> and the relative supports <NUM> and 151V when the structure <NUM> lowers into the delivery position P2, engaging the group of blanks contained within the collecting space S with a support plane 111A.

Preferably, the delivery position P2 is selected so that the blanks resting on the support plane 111A are slightly raised with respect to the supports <NUM> and 151V.

After the group of blanks has been placed on the carriage <NUM>, the supports <NUM>, <NUM>, 15III and 151V are moved so that the respective abutment portions 151B, 1511B, 15IIIB and 15IVB are removed from the respective sections <NUM>'<NUM>, <NUM>'<NUM>, <NUM>'<NUM> and <NUM>'IV for engaging the blanks, thus freeing, frontally, the group of blanks.

The carriage <NUM> can, at this point, extract the group of blanks through the outlet 12B.

With reference now to <FIG>, these illustrate the positioning unit <NUM>, indicated above, according to a preferred embodiment of the device <NUM> described here.

According to this embodiment, the unit <NUM> comprises two pivoting supports <NUM>, <NUM>, which are hinged around two fixed horizontal rotation axes, <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively. The two axes <NUM> and <NUM> are mutually parallel, and transverse to the reference axis J of the structure <NUM>.

The distal ends of these supports <NUM>, <NUM> are, in turn, hinged to the two frame modules <NUM> and <NUM>, around two movable rotation axes <NUM>, <NUM>, parallel to the axes I1 and <NUM>, and mutually spaced apart along the reference axis J.

The two pivoting supports <NUM> and <NUM> are both controlled by an actuator <NUM>, which is connected thereto by means of a motion transmission system (not illustrated), for example, belt driven.

With reference to <FIG>, the two supports <NUM> and <NUM> are movable between a lying position, in which they place the structure <NUM> in the aforesaid delivery position P2, and a vertical or slightly inclined position with respect to the vertical position, in which the structure <NUM> is held in the aforesaid loading position P1.

Clearly, the device <NUM> will also comprise a control unit U (schematically illustrated in <FIG>) for governing the operations of the described means.

The above described positioning unit <NUM> (corresponding to the illustrated embodiment) causes a roto-translation of the structure <NUM> in order to move it between the loading position P1 and the delivery position P2. Alternatively, the device <NUM> could comprise a positioning unit <NUM> such as to determine only a translation of the structure <NUM> in order to move it between the loading position P1 and the delivery position P2.

As another alternative, the structure <NUM> may not be movable between the two positions of loading and delivery; in this case, an element for extracting the pile of blanks from the collecting space S could fit into said collecting space S.

Returning to the application example illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a complete cycle of operation of the illustrated machine <NUM> develops as follows.

An ordered group of unlabeled blanks W is loaded onto the feeding unit <NUM>.

The single blanks of this group are, in succession, taken from the drum <NUM>, carried to the labeling unit <NUM> by the drum <NUM>, and finally released to the device <NUM> by the drum <NUM>.

During this step, the structure <NUM> is in the loading position P1 illustrated in <FIG> to accommodate the single blanks through the inlet 12A.

The belt-like supports <NUM>, <NUM>, 15III, 151V are operated according to a continuous movement and at a constant speed, to keep the already-received blanks grouped against each other and close to the inlet 12A.

Once the collecting space S is filled with labeled blanks W, the structure <NUM> is carried to the delivery position P2 illustrated in <FIG>, where the group of blanks is placed on the carriage <NUM>.

The belt-like supports <NUM>, <NUM>, 15III, 151V are operated once again to free the group of blanks from the engagement of the abutment portions 15IB, 15IIB, 15IIIB, 15IVB.

At this point, the carriage <NUM> extracts the group of blanks from the structure <NUM>, through the outlet 12B, and transports them directly to the packaging machine mentioned above.

It will be noted that the treatment process carried out by the machine <NUM> can be performed in line with the packaging process without the speed of the first machine affecting the speed of the second, and vice versa, thanks to the device <NUM>, which operates to generate a reserve of blanks directly upstream of the packaging machine.

Of course, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to those illustrated here, purely by way of non-limiting example, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the attached claims. For example, alternative embodiments to that illustrated may provide only the lower belt-like supports <NUM> and 151V or the two lower belt-like supports <NUM> and 151V and a single upper belt-like support.

Claim 1:
A device (<NUM>) for grouping blanks (w1, w2) of smoking-article wrappers, coming one after another from a machine (<NUM>) for treating said blanks,
said device (<NUM>) comprising a structure (<NUM>) for receiving said blanks (w1, w2) having an inlet (12A) for said blanks coming from said treatment machine (<NUM>), and a collecting space (S), in communication with said inlet (12A), for receiving said blanks and housing a group of said blanks (w1, w2) under formation,
wherein said collecting space (S) extends along a reference axis (J) of said structure (<NUM>),
said device also comprising at least one support (<NUM>, <NUM>, 15III, 15IV), which is movably mounted on said structure (<NUM>), for keeping the already-received blank or blanks in said collecting space close to said inlet (12A) and according to such an orientation that the lying plane of said blanks is transversal to said reference axis (J),
wherein said at least one support (<NUM>, <NUM>, 15III, 151V) is movable along said reference axis (J) for moving away the already-received blank or blanks (w1) from said inlet (12A), and enabling reception of a new blank (w2) in said collecting space (S),
wherein said at least one movable support (<NUM>, 151V) comprises at least one belt-like support (<NUM>, 15IV), which is movable along a ring-like closed path having a portion oriented along said reference axis (J), and wherein the portion (<NUM>'<NUM>, <NUM>'IV) of said at least one belt-like support (<NUM>, 151V) extending along said portion is configured to engage a lower side of the group of said blanks under formation, received within said collecting space (S),
said device being characterized in that said belt-like support (<NUM>, 151V) comprises one or more abutment portions (15IIB, 15IVB) configured to engage the front side of the blank that, in a given cycle of operation of said device, is first received in said collecting chamber (S), and for keeping said blank or the blanks that are received afterwards, in said orientation transversal to said reference axis (J).