Patent ID: 8046978

Claim:
A machine for sleeving two or more individual packages of smoking articles, each package sealed with a polymeric film, the machine comprising: a bundling unit configured to combine at least two individual packages so that a bundle of packages is formed; a sleeve folding station configured to receive a blank of sleeve material and orient said blank to be foldable around said bundle; a drive train; a first conveyor operatively coupled to the drive train and configured to transfer a plurality of individual packages to the bundling unit; and a transfer unit comprising a second conveyor coupled between the bundling unit and the sleeve folding station, the transfer unit operatively coupled to the drive train and configured to move said bundle to contact the blank at the sleeve folding station, wherein the first and second conveyors are oriented side-by-side, wherein the bundling unit comprises a series of bundling pocket guides coupled to the second conveyor, the bundling pocket guide being configured to receive two or more individual packages from the first conveyor.