Patent ID: 7900424

Claim:
A method of producing a package ( 1 ) containing a group ( 2 ) of cigarettes; the method comprising the steps of: feeding the group ( 2 ) of cigarettes along a path; feeding a sheet ( 6 ) of wrapping perpendicularly to the path of the group ( 2 ) of cigarettes; feeding a tubular spindle ( 49 ) along the path of the group ( 2 ) of cigarettes to intercept the sheet ( 6 ) of wrapping and fold the sheet ( 6 ) of wrapping into a U about the tubular spindle ( 49 ); feeding the group ( 2 ) of cigarettes through the tubular spindle ( 49 ) to slide the sheet ( 6 ) of wrapping off the tubular spindle ( 49 ) and apply the U-folded sheet ( 6 ) of wrapping to the group ( 2 ) of cigarettes; and moving a movable folding member with respect to the tubular spindle ( 49 ) to complete folding the sheet ( 6 ) of wrapping into a U on the tubular spindle ( 49 ).