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 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 apparatus there is usually positioned a station for distributing and possibly also a station for packing the finished smoking articles.

An example of an apparatus and a method for automatically producing products for smoking articles is described in the international patent application <CIT>. This solution known in the state of the art describes both a step of dosing the smoking material inside the smoking article, and also the subsequent step of closing the rear zone of the article itself after it has been filled with the smoking material.

With regards to the technical problem of the automated packaging of the smoking articles, and in particular of 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 thereof, it is known to use a closing device capable of twisting the rear zone, thus creating a closure of the "twist" type, known to the people of skill in the art, or, alternatively, a different closing device capable of folding the rear zone, thus creating a closure of the "Dutch crown" type, also known to the people of skill in the art. It is also known to create the closure of the rear zone of each casing manually, or with the assistance of an operator.

Therefore, in known apparatuses, even before making them it is necessary to decide whether a "twist" type closure or a "Dutch crown" type closure is to be obtained, and to prepare the corresponding closing device/closing mode. The choice of the type of closure is not a purely aesthetic question, but can also be correlated to the degree of filling of each casing.

Furthermore, it should also be taken into account that, usually, in order to completely resolve the technical problem of closing the casings of the smoking articles after they have been filled with the smoking material, it is also necessary to provide to cut the rear end of each casing to size. In fact, regardless of the initial length of each casing, the rear end has to be conveniently cut as a function of the quantity of smoking material inserted in the central zone of the casing and of the type of closure used.

At present, in the state of the art there are no packaging apparatuses and/or methods that can automatically and selectively carry out the closure of the casings of smoking articles using, optionally, one of the two types of closure as above, that is, by twisting or folding the rear end of each casing.

Therefore, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a packaging apparatus and to perfect a packaging method for automatically packaging smoking articles which are capable of carrying out both types of closure, that is, by means of twisting or folding, based on the operator's choice or in a programmed way.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a packaging apparatus and to perfect a packaging method for automatically packaging smoking articles which are very versatile, simple and reliable, and in which the passage from one type of closure of the smoking articles to another can take place without needing to intervene mechanically on the same apparatus, but it can be carried out simply by setting the required mode using any electronic input device whatsoever, even remotely.

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

In accordance with the above purposes, a packaging apparatus according to the present invention for automatically packaging smoking articles, each comprising a casing having a rear zone configured to be closed, comprises, disposed in sequence in a direction of working, a first closing assembly which can be selectively activated to close the rear zone of the casing in accordance with a first closing mode, a cutting assembly configured to selectively cut the rear zone of the casing to size and a second closing assembly which can be selectively activated to close the rear zone of the casing in accordance with a second closing mode, different from the first closing mode. The second closing assembly is therefore disposed downstream of the cutting assembly in the direction of working.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the first closing mode provides a twisting of the rear zone of the casing and the first closing assembly comprises twisting means.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the twisting means comprise, for each of the smoking articles, a closing device provided with rotating means configured to be activated in rotation so as to twist one end of the rear zones of the casings.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the first closing assembly also comprises, for each of the smoking articles, a first gripping member configured to selectively grip the corresponding smoking article and displace it toward the first closing assembly, in particular toward the closing device of the twisting means.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the second closing mode provides at least one folding of at least one flap of the rear zone of the casing, and the second closing assembly comprises folding means configured to close the rear zone by folding at least one flap thereof.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the second closing assembly also comprises, for each of the smoking articles, a second gripping member configured to selectively grip the corresponding smoking article and displace it toward the second closing assembly, in particular toward the folding means comprised therein.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in which each of the casings also comprises a front mouthpiece zone and a central zone intermediate between the front zone and the rear zone and filled with a smokable product, the cutting assembly comprises both cutting means to selectively cut the rear zone of the casing at a desired height, understood as the distance from the end of the central zone, and also suction means configured to suck any scraps produced by the cutting means.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a control unit operatively connected at least to the first closing assembly and to the second closing assembly, and programmed to activate the operation of only one of either the first or the second closing assembly for each smoking article.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packaging method for automatically packaging smoking articles, each comprising a casing having at least one empty rear zone configured to be closed. The method comprises at least one closing step in which the rear zone of the casing is selectively closed in accordance with a first closing mode by means of a first closing assembly, or with a second closing mode, different from the first closing mode, by means of a second closing assembly, and a cutting step in which the rear zone is selectively cut to size by means of a cutting assembly.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the first closing mode provides a twisting of the rear zone of the casing by means of twisting means.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the second closing mode provides at least one folding of at least one flap of the rear zone of the casing by means of folding means.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the cutting step occurs after the closing step when it is performed in accordance with the first closing mode, and, on the other hand, it occurs before the closing step when it is performed in accordance with the second closing mode.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the method comprises a step in which the casing is gripped and displaced toward the first closing assembly when the closing step is performed in accordance with the first closing mode, or a step in which the casing is gripped and displaced toward the second closing assembly when the closing step is performed in accordance with the second closing mode.

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

Furthermore, as schematically shown in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> is configured to form part of a machine <NUM> for the preparation of smoking articles <NUM>, which, for example, comprises, in sequence, a feed station <NUM>, a filling station <NUM>, both disposed upstream 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 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> 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> comprises a transport member <NUM> (figs. from <NUM> to <NUM>) having the shape and function of a shuttle and configured to slide on a fixed guide <NUM> in the direction of working X. 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> 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> 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 axis Y and is configured to house a smoking article <NUM> that can be inserted from the top downward, with the rear zone Z3 facing upward (<FIG>).

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 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> and <NUM> and in the apparatus <NUM>.

Before describing the apparatus <NUM> and the corresponding method for automatically packaging 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> (figs. from <NUM> to <NUM>).

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 is open 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 LF that depends on its format, which in turn depends both on the quantity of incoherent material M inserted in the casing <NUM> and also on the type of closure of its rear zone Z3, that is, whether by means of twisting (<FIG>) or by means of folding (<FIG>).

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> and <FIG>) essentially comprises a first closing assembly <NUM>, a cutting assembly <NUM> and a second closing assembly <NUM>, which are disposed in sequence in the direction of working X.

In particular, the first closing assembly <NUM> is disposed adjacent to the filling station <NUM> (<FIG>) and it is configured to close the rear zones Z3 (<FIG>) of the casings <NUM>, in accordance with a first closing mode, that is, by twisting them; the second closing assembly <NUM> is disposed adjacent to the distribution station <NUM> (<FIG>) and it is configured to close the rear zones Z3 (<FIG>) of the casings <NUM>, in accordance with a second closing mode, that is, by folding the ends thereof; and the cutting assembly <NUM> is disposed between the first closing assembly <NUM> and the second closing assembly <NUM>, and it is configured to cut the rear zones Z3 of the casings <NUM> to size.

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

Each closing device <NUM> comprises a rotating gripper <NUM>, of a type known per se and provided with jaws <NUM>, which, for example, are internally lined with a high grip material, such as rough rubber.

In accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention, not shown in the drawings, each closing device <NUM> can comprise a series of grippers provided with jaws on which rotating elements are installed, such as, for example, one or more rollers.

Each rotating gripper <NUM> is configured to tighten the rear zone Z3 of each casing <NUM> between its jaws <NUM> and to twist the rear zone Z3 around the vertical axis R, while the smoking article <NUM> is held still by the corresponding first gripping member <NUM>.

A first actuator <NUM> (<FIG>) is mounted on a first vertical plate <NUM> of a fixed structure and is configured to simultaneously command the four rotating grippers <NUM>.

The four first gripping members <NUM>, in an idle position PH1, are disposed on a same horizontal plane and have the function of being lowered, into a lowered position PA1, in order to simultaneously pick up the four smoking articles <NUM> housed in the seatings <NUM> of the transport member <NUM> which is temporarily under them, and take them, in a raised position PS1, in correspondence with the rotating grippers <NUM>.

The simultaneous lowering and raising of the four first gripping members <NUM> is commanded by a first movement device <NUM>, which comprises a first slider <NUM>, sliding vertically with respect to the first vertical plate <NUM> and driven by a second actuator <NUM>, of a known type, mounted on the vertical plate <NUM>.

Each first gripping member <NUM> comprises at least two jaws <NUM>, the internal part of which is shaped in such a way as to have semi-cylindrical recesses, opposite each other and specular, so that when the two jaws <NUM> are tightened against each other, their recesses form a gripping seating suitable to pinch the smoking articles <NUM> without damaging the structural integrity of the casing <NUM>. Also in this case, in order to improve the grip, the internal part of the jaws <NUM> is internally lined with a high-grip material, for example rough rubber.

The opening and closing of the jaws <NUM> of the four first gripping members <NUM> is obtained simultaneously by means of two substantially horizontal slides <NUM> and <NUM> mounted sliding axially on the first 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.

The cutting assembly <NUM> (<FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>) essentially comprises one or more cutting members <NUM> (<FIG>), for example each consisting of a blade, or a shear, of a known type, which are configured to simultaneously cut the rear zones Z3 of the casings <NUM> of the four smoking articles <NUM> housed in the transport member <NUM>, after the rear zones Z3 have been twisted by the first closing assembly <NUM>, or before they are closed by the second closing assembly <NUM>, as will be described in detail below.

In the example provided here, the cutting members <NUM> are mounted on a second slider <NUM>, substantially as wide as a transport member <NUM>, and they are simultaneously driven by a third actuator <NUM>, which is also mounted on the second slider <NUM>.

On the second slider <NUM> there is also mounted a suction member <NUM> of a known type and provided with a suction duct <NUM>, having one end disposed in proximity to the zone where the cutting occurs, in order to suck the cut parts, or scraps, produced by the cutting members <NUM>.

The second slider <NUM>, together with the cutting members <NUM> and the suction member <NUM>, is selectively mobile with respect to a second vertical plate <NUM> of the fixed structure, between an idle position PR (<FIG>), in which it is outside the overall size of the smoking articles <NUM> present on the transport member <NUM>, and an operating position PO, in which the cutting members <NUM> can cut the rear zone Z3 of the casings <NUM> to size, and vice versa. The movement of the second slider <NUM> between the idle position PR and the operating position PO occurs in a direction perpendicular to the direction of working X, by means of a fourth actuator <NUM>, as will be described in detail below.

Both the movement of the second slider <NUM> and also the activation of the cutting members <NUM> are coordinated with the movement of the transport member <NUM>, as will be described in detail below.

The second closing assembly <NUM> comprises four folding devices <NUM> which are the same as each other and are 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. Between each folding device <NUM> and the fixed guide <NUM> there is a second gripping member <NUM> which is also aligned with the corresponding vertical axis T (<FIG>).

Each folding device <NUM> is configured to perform the inward fold of the flaps of the rear zone Z3 of the casing <NUM>, the rear zone Z3 having already been cut to size by the cutting assembly <NUM>.

The four folding devices <NUM> can be of any known type whatsoever, or one that will be made in the future, capable of performing a so-called "Dutch-crown" fold of the end of the rear zone Z3, and they are commanded, for example, by a fifth actuator <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>) mounted on a third vertical plate <NUM> of the fixed structure.

In an idle position PH2, the four second gripping members <NUM> are disposed on a same horizontal plane and they are first configured to be lowered all together toward a lowered position PA2, 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 PS2, higher than the idle position PH2, in which the four smoking articles <NUM> that were picked-up are in correspondence with the four folding devices <NUM>.

The simultaneous lowering and raising of the four second gripping members <NUM> is commanded by a second movement device <NUM>, which comprises a third slider <NUM>, sliding vertically with respect to the third fixed vertical plate <NUM> and driven by a sixth actuator <NUM>, of a known type, mounted on the latter.

Each second gripping member <NUM> comprises at least two jaws <NUM> (<FIG>), the internal part of which is shaped in such a way as to have semi-cylindrical recesses, opposite each other and specular, so that when the two jaws <NUM> are tightened against each other, their recesses form a gripping seating suitable to pinch the smoking articles <NUM> without damaging the structural integrity of the casing <NUM>. Also in this case, in order to improve the grip, the internal part of the jaws <NUM> is internally lined with a high grip material, for example rough rubber.

The opening and closing of the jaws <NUM> of the four second gripping members <NUM> is obtained simultaneously by means of two substantially horizontal slides <NUM> and <NUM> mounted sliding axially on the third 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 closure by means of folding to be performed correctly and for the four second gripping members <NUM> to be able to pinch four corresponding smoking articles <NUM> in the central zone Z2 of the casings <NUM>, regardless of their format, one or more lifting devices <NUM>, of a type known per se, are disposed below the fixed guide <NUM>, which are configured to simultaneously lift the same smoking articles <NUM>. In the example given here, there are four lifting devices <NUM>, but even a single lifting device <NUM> could be provided, configured to perform the same function.

The lifting devices <NUM> are disposed on a fixed horizontal plate <NUM> and they are driven simultaneously by a seventh actuator <NUM>, also disposed on the latter.

The apparatus <NUM> also comprises an electronic control unit <NUM> (<FIG>), for example of the programmable type, configured to control the operation of the first closing assembly <NUM>, of the cutting assembly <NUM> and of the second closing assembly <NUM> in order to selectively activate, according to the mode for closing the smoking article <NUM> that has been selected, alternatively either the first closing assembly <NUM> or the second closing assembly <NUM>, as will be described in greater detail below with reference to the operation of the apparatus <NUM>.

In particular, the electronic control unit <NUM> is configured to command the actuators <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <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 first and second gripping members <NUM> and <NUM> (<FIG>) are in their idle position PH1 and PH2, respectively, and the second slider <NUM> of the cutting assembly <NUM> is in the idle position PR (<FIG>).

Before starting the operations for closing the casings <NUM> and cutting their rear zones Z3 to size, the electronic control unit <NUM> is set so that one of either the first closing assembly <NUM> or the second closing assembly <NUM> is activated. Consequently, the apparatus <NUM> will have two different operations, depending on whether each rear zone Z3 of the casings <NUM> is to be closed by means of twisting or by means of folding.

In fact, if the closing mode by means of twisting has been set, the transport member <NUM> is transported to a first position P1 (<FIG>) exactly below the first closing assembly <NUM>. In this position, the four vertical axes R of the closing devices <NUM> are coincident with the axes Y of the four seatings <NUM>.

A closing step then takes place under the control of the electronic control unit <NUM>, during which the transport member <NUM> remains stationary in the first position P1 for an interval of time equal to the cycle time TC necessary for the first closing assembly <NUM> to perform the simultaneous closure of the four rear zones Z3 of the casings <NUM> of the same number of smoking articles <NUM> (<FIG>), which are housed in the seatings <NUM> of the transport member <NUM>.

Then, the second actuator <NUM> (<FIG>) lowers the first slider <NUM> and the four gripping members <NUM> mounted thereon, from the idle position PH1 to the lowered position PA1, in which the slides <NUM> and <NUM> are then driven so that they reciprocally move with respect to each other in order to lightly tighten the four smoking articles <NUM> present in the seatings <NUM> of the transport member <NUM> between the jaws <NUM>.

Subsequently, the second actuator <NUM> raises the first slider <NUM> together with the four smoking articles <NUM> gripped by the first gripping members <NUM>, taking the latter from the lowered position PA1 to the raised position PS1, in which the rear zones Z3 of the casings <NUM> are taken, as a consequence, between the corresponding open jaws <NUM> of the four rotating grippers <NUM>.

Then, the first actuator <NUM> closes the jaws <NUM> on at least one portion of the rear zones Z3 of the casings <NUM>, and the four rotating grippers <NUM> rotate simultaneously around their vertical axes R, thus twisting the four rear zones Z3 (<FIG>), closing them.

Then, with operations that are inverse to those described heretofore, the rotating grippers stop, the jaws <NUM> reopen and the first 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 first gripping members <NUM> are returned to the idle position PH1.

Once the closing step described above is completed, the transport member <NUM> (<FIG>) is displaced in a known way in the direction of working X toward the cutting assembly <NUM> by a pitch PT, which in the example provided here is equal to four times the distance D between two adjacent seatings <NUM> of the transport member <NUM>, in order to reach a second position P2, exactly below the center of the cutting assembly <NUM>.

A cutting step then takes place under the control of the electronic control unit <NUM>, during which the fourth actuator <NUM> lowers the second slider <NUM>, together with the cutting members <NUM>, from the idle position PR to the operating position PO, taking the latter exactly in correspondence with the point of the rear zones Z3 of the casings <NUM> in which to perform the cutting thereof.

Then, in the operating position PO, both the third actuator <NUM> and also the suction member <NUM> are driven, the former activating the cutting members <NUM> to cut the rear zones Z3 to size, the latter sucking and removing the cut portion, or scrap, of the same rear zones Z3, thus making the four smoking articles <NUM> assume the final length LF (<FIG>).

Once the cutting step has been completed, the fourth actuator <NUM> raises the second slider <NUM> together with the cutting members <NUM> and takes them back to their initial idle position PR (<FIG>). In addition, the transport member <NUM> is displaced by two other pitches PT in the direction of working X, up to the distribution station <NUM> (<FIG>), after having passed through the second closing assembly <NUM>, without stopping there.

As an alternative to what described above, if the closing mode by means of folding has been set in the electronic control unit <NUM>, the transport member <NUM>, instead of being transported to the first position P1 (<FIG>), is immediately transported to the second position P2 (<FIG> and <FIG>), in which the cutting of the rear zones Z3 of the casings <NUM> that are still open and not twisted occurs.

For this closing mode, the cutting step is the same as the one described above.

Subsequently, once the cutting is completed, the transport member <NUM> is transported from the second position P2 to a third position P3 (<FIG>), exactly below the second closing assembly <NUM>. In this position, the four vertical axes T of the folding devices <NUM> are coincident with the axes Y of the four seatings <NUM> of the transport member <NUM>.

A closing step then takes place under the control of the electronic control unit <NUM>, during which the transport member <NUM> remains stationary in the third position P3 for an interval of time equal to the cycle time TC necessary for the second closing assembly <NUM> to perform the simultaneous closure, by means of folding, of the four rear zones Z3 of the casings <NUM> of the same number of smoking articles <NUM> (<FIG>), which are housed in the seatings <NUM> of the transport member <NUM>.

Then, the sixth actuator <NUM> (<FIG>) lowers the third slider <NUM> and the four second gripping members <NUM> mounted thereon, from the idle position PH2 to the lowered position PA2, in which the slides <NUM> and <NUM> are then driven so that they move reciprocally with respect to each other in order to lightly tighten the four smoking articles <NUM> present in the seatings <NUM> of the transport member <NUM> between the jaws <NUM>.

If necessary, simultaneously with the lowering of the third slider <NUM> and, therefore, of the four second gripping members <NUM> into the lowered position PA2, the seventh actuator <NUM> drives the lifting devices <NUM> to simultaneously lift the four smoking articles <NUM> so that the grip of the jaws <NUM> occurs in the central zone Z2 of the casings <NUM>.

Subsequently, the sixth actuator <NUM> raises the third slider <NUM> together with the four smoking articles <NUM> gripped by the second gripping members <NUM>, taking the latter from the lowered position PA2 to the raised position PS2, in which the rear zones Z3 of the casings <NUM> are taken, as a consequence, in correspondence with the four folding devices <NUM>.

Then, the fifth actuator <NUM> drives the four folding devices <NUM> which perform a fold of at least one flap of the rear zone Z3 of the casings <NUM> of the four smoking articles <NUM> (<FIG>).

Then, with operations that are inverse to those described heretofore, the third 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 second gripping members <NUM> are returned to the idle position PH2.

Once the step of closing by means of folding has been completed, the transport member <NUM> is displaced by another pitch PT (<FIG>), in the direction of working 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 <NUM> and to the method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

For example, the electronic control unit <NUM> could be set so that, after having activated the first closing assembly <NUM> in order to close the rear zone Z3, and after having driven the cutting assembly <NUM>, the second closing assembly <NUM> is also activated, but not to close the rear zone, which is already closed, but only to fold the part of the latter that is already twisted and already cut to size.

Therefore, the apparatus <NUM> allows, in a very versatile way, to produce four different types of smoking articles <NUM>, in which the casings <NUM> are closed according to the first mode or the second mode.

In the smoking articles <NUM> closed as in A, B or C, the rear zone Z3 is closed by means of twisting, possibly cut (in B), and/or optionally folded (in C). In the smoking articles <NUM> closed as in D, the rear zone Z3 is, on the other hand, closed by means of folding after having been suitably cut.

As is evident from the previous detailed description, in the closing mode referred to in point A listed above, the electronic control unit <NUM> drives only the first closing assembly <NUM>, in the closing mode referred to in point B listed above, the electronic control unit <NUM> drives the first closing assembly <NUM> and the cutting assembly <NUM>, in the closing mode referred to in point C listed above, the electronic control unit <NUM> drives all three assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, while in the closing mode referred to in point D listed above, the electronic control unit <NUM> drives only the cutting assembly <NUM> and the second closing assembly <NUM>.

Furthermore, we must clarify that, while the first assembly <NUM> for closing by means of twisting, the cutting assembly <NUM> and the second assembly <NUM> for closing by means of folding have to be disposed in sequence and respecting this order, they can also be non-consecutive. In fact, other devices, apparatuses and/or work stations of the machine <NUM> could be positioned between them, such as for example a control station, a pressing station, and suchlike.

Claim 1:
Packaging apparatus (<NUM>) for automatically packaging smoking articles (<NUM>) each comprising a casing (<NUM>) having at least one rear zone (Z3) configured to be closed, said apparatus comprising, disposed in sequence in a direction of working (X), a first closing assembly (<NUM>) which can be selectively activated to close said rear zone (Z3) of said casing (<NUM>) in accordance with a first closing mode, and a cutting assembly (<NUM>) configured to selectively cut said rear zone (Z3) of said casing (<NUM>), characterized in that it also comprises a second closing assembly (<NUM>) which can be selectively activated to close said rear zone (Z3) of said casing (<NUM>) in accordance with a second closing mode different from said first closing mode, said second closing assembly (<NUM>) being disposed downstream of the cutting assembly (<NUM>) in said direction of working (X).