Patent ID: 6964148

Claim:
A method of wrapping orderly groups ( 4 ) of cigarettes ( 3 ) arranged, in each group ( 4 ), in a number of superimposed layers ( 5 , 5 a ), of which an outer layer ( 5 a ) is narrower than the adjacent layer ( 5 ) and defines, in the relative group ( 4 ), at least one longitudinal lateral gap ( 7 ), the method comprising the steps of feeding each group ( 4 ) into a respective folding pocket ( 11 ), together with a sheet ( 21 ) of wrapping material which is folded into a U inside said folding pocket ( 11 ) and has a lateral portion ( 64 ) projecting from the folding pocket ( 11 ); clamping the group ( 4 ) inside said folding pocket ( 11 ), with the outer layer ( 5 a ) of the group facing outwards, by moving into a closed work position two end clamping members ( 32 ), each having an appendix ( 45 ) which engages a respective end of said longitudinal lateral gap ( 7 ) when the relative end clamping member ( 32 ) is moved into said closed work position; folding the lateral portion ( 64 ) of said sheet ( 21 ) of wrapping material about the group ( 4 ) and about the appendixes ( 45 ) of the end clamping members ( 32 ) to form a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped tubular wrapping ( 65 ) about said group ( 4 ); and extracting the end clamping members ( 32 ) from said tubular wrapping ( 65 ).