Patent Description:
In particular, the present invention concerns an apparatus and a method suitable to form an assembly able to be packaged inside a packet of smoking articles and comprising an organized group of smoking articles, a reinforcement insert or element which is at least partly wrapped around said group, and an insert or accessory element, for example a coupon with advertising purposes, configured to convey advertising or promotional messages.

Another object of the present invention is a machine for packaging packets of smoking articles comprising said apparatus and able to carry out the method for forming said assemblies.

Machine, apparatus and method for forming an assembly able to be packed inside a packet for smoking articles and comprising an organized group of smoking articles, are generally known in the art, e.g. from document <CIT>.

Smoking articles are traditionally packaged in rigid or semi-rigid packets, inside which said smoking articles are wrapped in an internal wrapping, generally made of aluminum foil.

Normally, in cooperation with the internal wrapping there is a reinforcement insert.

Machines for packaging packets for smoking articles are known in the state of the art, in which a plurality of transport members, usually configured as transport wheels, allow the reinforcement insert to be associated with a respective organized group of smoking articles.

Each transport wheel is provided with a plurality of parallelepiped-shaped pockets, each configured to receive an organized group of smoking articles wrapped in the respective internal wrapping.

The rotation of the transport wheel takes each pocket in correspondence with subsequent processing stations. For example, a first station to introduce the insert is provided, in which a reinforcement insert is introduced into the pocket by means of an introducer member that thrusts the U-shaped insert into the pocket.

Subsequently, downstream of the station to introduce the insert, the pocket continues along its path until it reaches a station to introduce the smoking articles, in which the organized group of smoking articles is introduced into the pocket in which the reinforcement insert has already been introduced by means of a thrust member dedicated to this purpose.

Certain solutions known in the state of the art contemplate the possibility of providing, in each packet, dedicated spaces for printing advertising or promotional messages.

The present invention is connected to technical solutions and operating methods which have been the subject of patent protection. The patent protection covers solutions which, structurally and functionally, are not able to define a result suitable for the intended purpose, and within the required terms.

According to a first type of packets of this type known in the state of the art, these dedicated spaces are made directly on one or more walls of the packet. This entails adopting packets of special shapes and sizes, such as those described, for example, in the international patent application <CIT>.

In fact, in order to comply with the regulations in force in many European countries and beyond, the external surface visible to the eye must necessarily be covered, almost entirely, with images and messages intended to warn consumers about the health risks caused by smoking. This prevents advertising on traditional packets. To overcome these constraints, special packets have been developed, such as those described, for example, in patent application <CIT>, in which the disposition of the walls exposed to sight is such as to obtain the desired advertising spaces, at the same time complying with the regulations in force.

However, these packets are necessarily more complex and expensive to make than traditional packets.

A second type of packets known in the state of the art consists of packets of traditional shape and size, inside which an insert is associated, possibly detachable or removable, configured as a sheet or slip of paper, cardboard or similar materials, which is disposed inside the packet. Advertising or promotional messages are printed on the insert.

In this case, the packet is the traditional type and therefore - unlike the first type mentioned above - it is no longer complicated or expensive to make.

However, the machine for packaging this type of packets is very complex due to the need to provide the station for inserting the internal advertising insert in a machine that usually operates at high or very high operating speeds.

One disadvantage of this solution is that in some cases there is a decrease in the operating speeds of the machine.

Another disadvantage is that the machine is more complex, since the insertion station of this insert is usually disposed in the transport wheel as above, in which the insertion stations of the reinforcement insert and of the organized group of smoking articles are already provided.

Another disadvantage is that advertising or promotional messages printed on the internal insert may be damaged by sliding contact with the reinforcement insert and/or with the internal wrapping, if the print has just been imparted. In the same way, it may happen that also exposure to heat, inside the machine, can damage these messages, at least partly, making them difficult to read or in any case unpleasant from an aesthetic point of view.

There is therefore a need to perfect an apparatus, and to develop a method, to process smoking articles which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to make available an apparatus for forming an assembly able to be packaged in a corresponding packet for smoking articles, which is constructively simpler than the solutions known in the state of the art, and which can be easily integrated in a machine for packaging smoking articles having high or very high productivity.

Another purpose is to make an apparatus available, and to develop a method, for forming assemblies comprising an organized group of smoking articles and also comprising a reinforcement element and an accessory element suitable for conveying advertising or promotional messages.

Another purpose is to make available an apparatus, and to develop a method, for forming said assemblies which allows to optimize the relative disposition of the reinforcement element and of the accessory element with respect to the internal wrapping that wraps the organized group of smoking articles, so as to prevent these internal components from being damaged or moving from their intended position during packaging.

In accordance with the above purposes, the invention concerns an apparatus for forming an assembly comprising smoking articles.

The apparatus in question comprises a member for feeding elements which are able to be incorporated in the assemblies as above.

In particular, these elements can comprise an insert or reinforcement element, also called a "collar", which is configured to wrap the organized group of smoking articles on at least three sides, and an insert or accessory element, or "coupon", configured to convey advertising or promotional messages, for example images accompanied by short texts.

It is quite clear that the apparatus and method according to the present invention are suitable to form assemblies comprising a reinforcement element and an accessory element, both having various shapes and sizes. The person of skill in the art will easily understand that simple structural adaptations are required in order to adapt the apparatus to the exact shapes and sizes of these elements, which do not impact the scope of protection defined by the present claims.

The feed member comprises one or more retention members, mobile along a feed path of the elements as above, so that each retention member is configured to receive in succession, in correspondence with respective feed stations, first an accessory element and subsequently a reinforcement element. Specifically, each retention member first passes through a first station, in correspondence with which it receives the accessory element, and then passes through a second station, in correspondence with which it receives the reinforcement element.

Preferably, the accessory element and the reinforcement element are retained by the retention member in such a way as to be partly overlapping each other.

Each retention member comprises a plurality of first and second gripping elements, configured to selectively retain or release the accessory element and the reinforcement element respectively. The number and position of the first and second gripping elements are correlated to the shape and size of the elements as above, also considering their reciprocal overlap. By way of a non-limiting example, the first and second gripping elements can comprise pneumatic elements, such as for example suckers connected to a suction system, or mechanical elements, such as grippers or similar elements.

The apparatus also comprises a forming conveyor configured to form an assembly comprising an organized group of smoking articles, wrapped inside a wrapping, an accessory element and a reinforcement element. Such assembly is able to be enclosed inside a packet, for example by means of a packaging machine comprising embodiments of the apparatus described here.

The forming conveyor, for example configured as a wheel rotatable around an axis of rotation, comprises a plurality of forming pockets, each configured to receive the assembly as above.

The apparatus comprises a transfer member able to transfer the accessory element and the reinforcement element from the feed member to a respective forming pocket of the forming conveyor, in a station for transferring such elements. The transfer member transfers the elements while maintaining their reciprocally overlapping disposition, so that the two elements are also overlapping each other in the forming pocket, in particular with a disposition correlated to the succession with which they are fed to the feed member. The transfer member is linearly mobile with reciprocating motion between the feed member and the forming conveyor. Preferably, the directrix of movement of the transfer member is radial with respect to the forming conveyor, that is, with respect to the wheel rotatable around the axis of rotation as above.

On the basis of the sequence described above, the retention member arrives in the transfer station retaining an accessory element disposed on the back of the reinforcement element.

Preferably, the transfer of the two elements occurs without providing a relative movement between them, so that they are therefore transferred together inside a respective forming pocket. Consequently, on the basis of the sequence described above, the forming pocket receives the two elements in such a way that the reinforcement element is disposed inside, with reference to the forming pocket, while the accessory element is disposed outside, in a relation of partial reciprocal overlap which is inverse with respect to that provided in the retention member.

First and second support members are associated with each forming pocket in order to maintain respectively the reinforcement element and the accessory element in their respective positions inside the forming pocket in a stable manner. The number and position of the first and second support members are correlated to the shape and size of the two elements, also considering their reciprocal overlap inside the pocket.

The apparatus comprises a station for introducing an ordered group of smoking articles, wrapped inside a wrapping, in correspondence with which each forming pocket, inside which the reinforcement element and the accessory element have already been transferred, in the transfer station as above, receives the group of smoking articles.

According to one aspect, in the introduction station there are provided a thruster configured to introduce the group of smoking articles inside the forming pocket, and a counter-thruster configured to move the accessory element outside the forming pocket, while the reinforcement element remains inside the forming pocket, to cause the accessory element to be associated with the organized group of smoking articles before the accessory element is associated with the reinforcement element inside the forming pocket. Thanks to the counter-thruster it is possible to first move the accessory element toward the group of smoking articles, and then accompany this group and the accessory element inside the forming pocket, without interfering with the reinforcement element disposed inside the forming pocket. The counter-thruster can be shaped so as to have a shape correlated to the shape of the accessory element and of the reinforcement element.

According to one aspect, the thruster and the shaped counter-thruster are mobile in a reciprocally coordinated manner to accompany the accessory element together with the group of smoking articles toward the reinforcement element located inside a respective pocket. In particular, the thruster and the shaped counter-thruster are mobile parallel to a linear directrix of movement, preferably radial with respect to the axis of rotation.

According to another aspect, the shaped counter-thruster comprises one or more movement elements disposed in such a way as to temporarily couple with the accessory element in order to retain and move the latter.

According to one possible embodiment, the counter-thruster comprises at least a first and a second movement element, both disposed in proximity to opposite ends of the accessory element in such a way that the reinforcement element that remains in position inside the forming pocket is longitudinally interposed between the first and the second movement elements.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second movement elements each comprise a pneumatic retention element, for example a sucker, connected to a suction system which allows the first and second movement elements to temporarily retain the accessory element during its movement along the directrix of linear movement.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method to form an assembly comprising an organized group of smoking articles, an accessory element and a reinforcement element, in this specific case both configured as an accessory element and a reinforcement element.

According to the embodiments described here, the method provides to make the assembly available to the forming conveyor provided with a plurality of forming pockets, wherein this step of making the assembly available to the forming conveyor comprises, in succession, the sub-steps of:.

According to one aspect, the method provides, after the sub-step of transferring and before the sub-step of introducing, to move the accessory element outside the forming pocket by means of a counter-thruster, while the reinforcement element remains inside the same pocket, in order to associate the accessory element with the organized group of smoking articles before the accessory element is associated with the reinforcement element inside the pocket, the thruster and the counter-thruster being moved in a reciprocally coordinated manner in order to accompany the accessory element together with the organized group of smoking articles toward the reinforcement element located inside the pocket.

According to another aspect, the method provides to retain the accessory element and the reinforcement element first by means of the feed member, and then by means of the forming pockets, with retention and support means of the pneumatic type connected to suction systems that allow to retain and support, firmly and in a temporary manner, the accessory element and the reinforcement element. The first and second gripping elements comprised in each retention member, as well as the first and second support members associated with each forming pocket embody, by way of a non-limiting example, such retention and support means.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second movement elements of the shaped counter-thruster also pneumatically retain the accessory element during the step of moving described above; such movement elements also embodying retention and support means.

According to another aspect, there is provided a packaging machine for packaging packets for smoking articles which enclose an assembly comprising at least one organized group of smoking articles, an accessory element and a reinforcement element, wherein the machine comprises an apparatus as described above.

Advantageously, the apparatus and the method according to the present invention allow to form assemblies of smoking articles provided with an accessory element, or coupon, in a simple and effective way.

The fact that the counter-thruster moves the accessory element outside the pocket in order to associate it with the organized group of smoking articles before their introduction into the pocket itself ensures that the accessory element is not damaged by unwanted creases or wrinkles, and that it remains instead well stretched against the internal wrapping that wraps the smoking articles, so as to remain in this position even when it is subsequently disposed in the packet.

Furthermore, it is also advantageous that the reinforcement element remains inside the pocket during this movement of the accessory element due to the peculiar "U" shape that the reinforcement element assumes inside the forming pocket, against the rear and lateral walls of the pocket itself. It is evident that avoiding removing and subsequently repositioning the reinforcement element inside the forming pocket reduces or even eliminates the risk of incorrect positioning of this element inside the pocket, which could jeopardize its correct positioning folded around the group of smoking articles on at least three sides.

Furthermore, another advantage of the present invention relates to the fact that the counter-thrust member, cooperating with the thrust member, allows to maintain the ordered disposition of the organized group of smoking articles even while this group is moved at high operating speeds of the machine, something which would otherwise be impossible in a machine of this type in which it is provided to insert a coupon in the assembly in question.

It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

The embodiments described here with reference to the attached drawings concern an apparatus for forming an assembly A comprising smoking articles, which is indicated as a whole with the reference number <NUM>. Specifically, the apparatus <NUM> is configured to form the assembly A (<FIG> and <FIG>) comprising an organized group of smoking articles <NUM>, wrapped in an internal wrapping, for example made of aluminum foil, an accessory element or "coupon" <NUM>, and a reinforcement element or "collar" <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> comprises a feed member <NUM> and a forming conveyor <NUM>.

In the example provided here, the feed member is configured as a feed wheel <NUM>, rotatable around its own horizontal axis of rotation Y.

In this example, the forming conveyor is also configured as a forming wheel <NUM> which also rotates around its own axis of rotation X, preferably disposed parallel to the axis Y, therefore also horizontal.

The feed wheel <NUM> comprises, in the example shown in the attached drawings, four retention heads <NUM>, configured as retention members capable of temporarily retaining the elements <NUM>, <NUM>, and supported in an angularly equidistant way, in particular at <NUM>° with respect to each other, with respect to the axis of rotation Y by respective support arms <NUM>.

Each retention head <NUM> comprises a plurality of first gripping elements <NUM> and a plurality of second gripping elements <NUM> (<FIG>), configured as suckers, to retain the accessory element <NUM> and the reinforcement element <NUM> respectively. In the specific example shown in the attached drawings, the first gripping elements <NUM> comprise three suckers, and the second gripping elements <NUM> comprise four suckers. For example, the first gripping elements <NUM> are distributed in such a way that two suckers retain the upper end of the accessory element <NUM> and the third sucker retains the lower end of such element. As for the second gripping elements <NUM>, they can be distributed in such a way as to provide a pair of suckers in proximity to each lateral edge of the reinforcement element <NUM>.

The first and second gripping elements <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to a suction system, which allows to create a desired depression such as to allow the action of retaining the elements <NUM>, <NUM>.

According to possible variants, a single suction system can be provided to which there are connected both the first and the second gripping elements <NUM>, <NUM>, as well as independent and dedicated suction systems for the first and second gripping elements <NUM>, <NUM>.

A first and a second delivery element <NUM>, <NUM> are provided, configured to deliver to a retention head <NUM> the accessory element <NUM> and the reinforcement element <NUM> respectively, in a first and in a second delivery station <NUM>, <NUM>.

The forming conveyor <NUM> comprises a plurality of forming pockets <NUM>, hereafter also called simply pockets for short, homogeneously distributed along a perimeter edge of the forming conveyor <NUM>, as can be seen in <FIG>. Each pocket <NUM> is configured to receive one of the assemblies A, as will be explained in greater detail in the following of the present detailed description.

Each pocket <NUM> comprises a rear wall <NUM> and two lateral walls <NUM>, opposite each other with respect to the rear wall <NUM>.

Each pocket <NUM> comprises a plurality of first support members <NUM> and a plurality of second support members <NUM> (<FIG>), configured as suckers, to retain the reinforcement element <NUM> and the accessory element <NUM> respectively. In the specific example shown in the attached drawings, the first support members <NUM> and the second support members <NUM> each comprise a pair of suckers.

The first and second support members <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to a suction system, which allows to create a desired depression such as to allow the action of retaining the elements <NUM>, <NUM>.

According to possible variants, a single suction system can be provided to which there are connected both the first and second support members <NUM>, <NUM>, as well as independent and dedicated suction systems for the first and second support members <NUM>, <NUM>.

As can be seen in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> comprises a transfer member <NUM> able to transfer the accessory element <NUM> and the reinforcement element <NUM> from the feed wheel <NUM> to a respective pocket <NUM> of the forming wheel <NUM>, in a transfer station <NUM> for transferring the elements <NUM>, <NUM>.

The transfer member <NUM> is mobile with alternating movement along a directrix of linear movement. In the example provided here, this directrix of movement coincides with a directrix of radial movement joining the axes of rotation X, Y of the wheels <NUM>, <NUM>. It should be noted that, in the transfer station <NUM>, the rotation of the feed wheel <NUM> leads, on each occasion, a retention head <NUM> to be facing a corresponding pocket <NUM> into which the elements <NUM>, <NUM> are to be transferred.

The apparatus <NUM> also comprises an auxiliary transfer member <NUM> (<FIG>) disposed in the transfer station <NUM>. The auxiliary transfer member <NUM> is mobile with reciprocating motion along the same directrix of linear movement as the transfer member <NUM> in order to assist the latter in the step of transferring the elements <NUM>, <NUM> from the feed wheel <NUM> to the forming wheel <NUM>.

In the example provided here, the auxiliary transfer member <NUM> is normally disposed in a rearward configuration behind the pocket <NUM> which is located in the transfer station <NUM> in order to assist the transfer member <NUM> in the step of transferring the elements <NUM>, <NUM> from the feed wheel <NUM> to forming wheel <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> comprises a thruster <NUM> configured to introduce an organized group of smoking articles <NUM> into the pockets <NUM> in correspondence with an introduction station <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> also comprises a counter-thruster <NUM> configured to move the accessory element <NUM> outside the pocket <NUM>.

The thruster <NUM> and the counter-thruster <NUM> are mobile in a reciprocally coordinated manner parallel to a directrix of linear movement, which is disposed in such a way as to be radial with respect to the axis of rotation X.

In the example provided here, the counter-thruster <NUM> comprises a pair of first movement elements <NUM> and a second movement element <NUM>, which are disposed in proximity to opposite ends of the accessory element <NUM>. In the specific example, the pair of first movement element <NUM> retains the accessory element <NUM> in proximity to an upper end thereof, and the second movement element <NUM> retains the accessory element <NUM> in proximity to a lower end thereof.

Preferably, each movement element <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a sucker element, connected to a suction system that allows to determine the action of retaining the accessory element <NUM>.

In one variant, the counter-thruster <NUM> can comprise only a first movement element <NUM> and a second movement element <NUM>, suitably sized to allow a firm retention of the accessory element <NUM>, and which are disposed in proximity to opposite ends thereof.

In another variant, not shown, the counter-thruster <NUM> can comprise only one of the movement elements <NUM>, <NUM>, disposed in proximity to one of the opposite longitudinal ends of the accessory element <NUM>, for example at the upper or lower part. In another variant, the counter-thruster <NUM> can comprise a pair of movement elements <NUM>, or a pair of movement elements <NUM>, wherein both elements of the pair are disposed in proximity to the same end of the accessory element <NUM>, which is therefore not retained in correspondence with the opposite end.

In the following, we describe some embodiments of the method to form the assemblies A as above according to the present invention, by means of the apparatus <NUM> previously described.

In the first delivery station <NUM>, the first delivery element <NUM> delivers an accessory element <NUM> to a retention head <NUM>, which retains it by means of the first gripping elements <NUM>. By way of a non-limiting example, the first delivery element <NUM> picks up the elements <NUM> from a dedicated magazine, not shown.

The rotation of the feed wheel <NUM> around its own axis of rotation Y then takes the retention head <NUM>, which is already retaining an accessory element <NUM>, into a second delivery station <NUM>. Here, a second delivery element <NUM> delivers a reinforcement element <NUM> in an extended configuration to the retention head <NUM>. The reinforcement element <NUM> then partly overlaps the accessory element (<FIG>) and is retained by suction by the second gripping elements <NUM>. By way of a non-limiting example, the second delivery element <NUM> picks up the elements <NUM> from a dedicated magazine, not shown.

Another rotation of the feed wheel <NUM> around its own axis of rotation Y then takes the retention head <NUM> into the transfer station <NUM>. Here, first the auxiliary transfer member <NUM> is made to advance toward the retention head <NUM> until it contacts the elements <NUM>, <NUM> retained by the retention head <NUM>. Subsequently, the auxiliary transfer member <NUM> and the transfer member <NUM> move in a correlated manner, retaining the elements <NUM>, <NUM> between them on opposite sides with respect to each other, in order to take these elements from the retention head <NUM> to the pocket <NUM> disposed in front of it.

In this transfer step, the gripping elements <NUM>, <NUM> can possibly be deactivated, after the elements <NUM>, <NUM> have been released to the transfer member <NUM> and to the auxiliary transfer member <NUM>. Both the latter can retain the elements <NUM>, <NUM> by means of a mechanical or pneumatic retaining action.

The reinforcement element <NUM> is disposed in contact with the rear wall <NUM> and the lateral walls <NUM> of the pocket <NUM>. The entry of the reinforcement element <NUM> into the pocket <NUM> determines its passage from the extended configuration which it is in, to a configuration in which it is folded in a "U" shape against the walls <NUM>, <NUM>, in such a way as to be suitable to wrap around the organized group of smoking articles <NUM> in correspondence with three sides. The reinforcement element <NUM> in the pocket <NUM> is disposed on the back of the accessory element <NUM>.

In the pocket <NUM>, the reinforcement element and the accessory elements <NUM> and <NUM> are respectively retained by suction by the first and second support members <NUM>, <NUM>.

The rotation of the forming wheel <NUM> then takes the pockets <NUM> in which the elements <NUM> and <NUM> are disposed into the introduction station <NUM>, where the thruster <NUM>, carrying an organized group of smoking articles <NUM> wrapped in a wrapping made of aluminum foil, moves closer to the pocket <NUM> as indicated by the arrow F2 in the operating sequence of <FIG>.

The shaped counter-thruster <NUM> advances towards the thruster <NUM>, as indicated by the arrow F1 in <FIG>, to take the accessory element <NUM> into contact with the organized group of smoking articles <NUM> so as to associate it with the latter (<FIG>).

Subsequently, it is provided to reverse the direction of movement of the counter-thruster <NUM>, which now moves in the sense indicated by the arrow F1' of <FIG>, that is, in a direction concordant with the advance of the thruster <NUM> in the direction F2, so that the thruster <NUM> and counter-thruster <NUM> move in a coordinated manner in order to return the accessory element <NUM> joined to the organized group of smoking articles <NUM> inside the pocket <NUM>.

Downstream of the introduction station <NUM>, the assembly A comprising the accessory element <NUM>, the reinforcement element <NUM> and the organized group of smoking articles <NUM> has therefore been formed inside each pocket <NUM>.

The forming wheel <NUM> then takes the assembly A toward subsequent processing stations, not shown, in which, for example, each assembly A is packaged inside a corresponding packet.

It is then provided to cyclically repeat the processing steps described above.

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.

Claim 1:
Apparatus (<NUM>) for forming an assembly (A) able to be packaged inside a packet for smoking articles and comprising an organized group of smoking articles (<NUM>), an accessory element (<NUM>) and a reinforcement element (<NUM>), wherein the apparatus (<NUM>) comprises:
- a forming conveyor (<NUM>) provided with a plurality of forming pockets (<NUM>), each forming pocket (<NUM>) being configured to receive said assembly (A),
- a feed member (<NUM>) configured to feed said accessory element (<NUM>) into said pockets (<NUM>),
- a thrust member (<NUM>) configured to introduce the organized group of smoking articles (<NUM>) inside said pocket (<NUM>), characterized in that said feed member (<NUM>) is also configured to feed said reinforcement element (<NUM>) inside said pockets (<NUM>) according to a configuration whereby said accessory element (<NUM>) and said reinforcement element (<NUM>) are partly overlapping each other, and in that it also comprises a counter-thrust member (<NUM>) configured in such a way as to move said accessory element (<NUM>) outside said pocket (<NUM>) while said reinforcement element (<NUM>) remains inside said pocket (<NUM>), in order to ensure that said accessory element (<NUM>) is associated with said organized group of smoking articles (<NUM>) before the latter is associated with the reinforcement element (<NUM>) inside the forming pocket (<NUM>), said thrust member (<NUM>) and said counter-thrust member (<NUM>) being mobile in a reciprocally coordinated manner in order to accompany said accessory element (<NUM>) together with said organized group of smoking articles (<NUM>) toward said reinforcement element (<NUM>) located inside said pocket (<NUM>).