EP2500284A1

EP2500284A1 - Machine for forming and boxing groups of cigarettes

Info

Publication number: EP2500284A1
Application number: EP12159330A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ivanoe Bertuzzi; Alver Tacchi; Andrea Biondi
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2011-03-16
Filing date: 2012-03-13
Publication date: 2012-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-13
Also published as: CN102673824A; CN102673824B; ITBO20110127A1; EP2500284B1; PL2500284T3

Abstract

A machine for forming and boxing groups of cigarettes, where each group comprises a predetermined number of layers (4) and each layer is made up of a predetermined number of cigarettes (3), comprises a hopper (8) for forming, in respective channels (15b) of an outlet (9), a group of piles (18) of cigarettes equal in number to the number of cigarettes (3) in a layer (4), while each pile (18) is made up of a number of cigarettes (3) equal to the number of layers (4); the group of piles (18) divided into a plurality of sub-groups (34a, 34b, 34c) is transferred from the hopper (8) into respective pockets (29a, 29b, 29c) of a first container (27) which is movable between a first, transfer station (22) and a second, transfer station (30); the sub-groups (34a, 34b, 34c) of piles (18) are transferred from the first container (27) to a second container (41) for forming a group (2) of cigarettes (3); interposed between the outlet (9) of the hopper (8) and the pockets (29a, 29b, 29c) of the first container (27) there are first compacting means (31) for the individual sub-groups (34a, 34b, 34c) and interposed between the first container (27) and the second container (41) there are second compacting means (42) for the sub-groups (34a, 34b, 34c).

Description

This invention relates to a machine for forming and boxing groups of cigarettes.
In this specification, the term "group of cigarettes" is used to mean the set of cigarettes forming the contents of a package or box and having the same ordered arrangement that they have in the finished package.
More specifically, this invention relates to a machine for making a package containing a number of cigarettes considerably greater than that of customary packets.
For example, the cigarettes contained in a package according to the invention may be equivalent in number to the cigarettes contained in a carton, that is, in other words, the number of cigarettes contained in ten packets of twenty cigarettes each. The aim of this invention is to provide a machine for forming groups of cigarettes composed of a number of cigarettes greater than the customary number and for boxing the groups.
The technical need indicated and the aims specified are achieved by a machine comprising the technical features set out in one or more of the accompanying claims.
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred, non-limiting embodiments of it and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package of a group of cigarettes according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a machine for forming and boxing groups of cigarettes;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a detail from Figure 2;
Figures 4-6 are side views illustrating a detail from Figure 2 in successive operating conditions;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the machine shown in Figure 2;
Figures 8-11 are side views illustrating a detail from Figure 7 in successive operating conditions; and
Figures 12-14 are side views of a further detail of the machine according to the invention.

With reference to Figure 1 the numeral 1 denotes a package made by a machine according to the invention.
The package 1 is in the shape of a parallelepiped and contains a group 2 consisting, for example, of two hundred cigarettes 3 placed side by side and arranged in eight layers 4 of twenty-five cigarettes each.
With reference to Figure 2, the numeral 5 denotes in its entirety a machine for forming and boxing groups 2 of cigarettes 3 and comprising an infeed unit 6 designed to form the groups 2 and an outfeed unit or packaging line 7 for boxing the groups 2. The infeed unit 6 comprises a hopper 8 containing a mass of cigarettes 3 and having at the bottom of it an outlet 9.
The hopper 8 is closed at the bottom end of it by a horizontal base wall 10 and is delimited at the front and back by two vertical walls 11 and 12, which are parallel to each other and transversal to the axes of the cigarettes 3. The hopper 8 is laterally delimited by two walls 13 which, in the bottom portion of the hopper 8 itself, present respective first stretches 13a which converge on each other towards the base wall 10.
At the outlet 9, the bottom ends of the two side walls 13 extend parallel to each other for a second stretch 13b whose length is preferably greater than or equal to the height of the layers 4, which in this example, correspond to eight times the diameter of a cigarette 3.
With reference to Figure 3, at the bottom of it, the hopper 8 is divided by partitions 14 into twenty-five channels 15 whose width is slightly greater than the diameter of a cigarette 3. Between the upper stretches 13a of the walls 13, the channels 15, labelled 15a, are convergent towards the outlet 9, whilst at the outlet 9, the channels 15, labelled 15b, are vertical and parallel to each other.
The front wall 11 and the rear wall 12 terminate at a predetermined distance from the base wall 10, in such way as to define, for someone observing Figure 2, a front opening 16 and a rear opening 17, substantially at the twenty-five vertical channels 15b.
The rear opening 17 constitutes the outlet 9 for the cigarettes 3 from the hopper 8.
The cigarettes 3 massed in the hopper 8 are arranged along the channels 15 in ordered columns and as mentioned above, at the openings 16 and 17, the twenty-five channels 15b are adapted to contain twenty-five piles 18 of eight cigarettes each, that is to say, the two hundred cigarettes 3 that will make up the group 2 of the package 1.
The numeral 19 denotes first transfer means comprising a pusher device 20 mounted, for someone observing Figure 2, in front of the hopper 8 and at the front opening 16.
The pusher device 20 comprises twenty-five pusher elements 21 which are movable with horizontal motion transversally to the vertical walls 11 and 12, at a first transfer station labelled 22.
Each pusher element 21 comprises two superposed plates 23 and, 24 arranged transversally to the base wall 10 and in line with the midplane of a respective channel 15b.
Actuating means of known type, not illustrated, drive the pusher elements 21 with reciprocating outward and return movements between a retracted position where they are disengaged from the channels 15b and an operating position where they pass through the selfsame channels 15b.
During the outward movement, the two plates 23 and 24 of each pusher 21 slide simultaneously through a corresponding channel 15b, whereas the subsequent return movement is performed in two distinct steps and, more specifically, the bottom plates 24 are retracted only after the upper plates 23 have returned to the initial disengaged position (Figures 4, 5, 6).
On the side of the hopper 8 opposite the pusher elements 21, there is a first horizontal conveyor 26, which is movable transversally to the pusher elements 21, and on which is mounted a container 27 divided by two walls 28 into three pockets or compartments, labelled 29a, 29b, 29c from left to right.
The conveyor 26 is moved with reciprocating motion by actuating means not illustrated, between a first end-of-stroke position where the container 27 is positioned at the first transfer station 22, in line with the path of the pusher elements 21, and a second end-of-stroke, or unloading, position at a second transfer station 30.
The three compartments 29a, 29b, 29c of the container 27 are of a size such that they can together contain the two hundred cigarettes 3 occupying the twenty-five channels 15b of the outlet 9 of the hopper 8.
More specifically, in the example considered, the two outer compartments 29a and 29c are the same and are adapted to contain eight piles 18 of eight cigarettes 3 each, while the middle compartment 29b is adapted to contain nine piles 18 of eight cigarettes 3 each.
Along the path travelled by the pusher elements 21 between the hopper 8 and the container 27 when the container 27 itself is at a dwell position at the first transfer position 22, there are interposed first, fixed compacting means 31 (Figure 3). The first compacting means 31 comprise a duct 32, with a substantially rectangular cross-section, divided into three compartments labelled 32a, 32b, 32c from left to right, each of which has side walls 33 that are convergent in the direction of feed of the pusher elements 21.
The two outer compartments 32a and 32c are of a size such as to form a passage for two sub-groups 34a and 34c consisting of eight side-by-side piles 18 of cigarettes 3, while the middle compartment 32b is of a size such as to form a passage for a sub-group 34b consisting of nine side-by-side piles 18 of cigarettes 3.
At the second transfer station 30, there are second transfer means 35 comprising a further pusher device 36 which is movable with reciprocating motion under the action of actuating means, not illustrated, along a path parallel to that of the pusher device 20.
The pusher device 36 comprises a horizontal rod 37 equipped, at the end of it nearer the conveyor 26, with three parallel arms 38, the ends of which are bent at right angles to define respective, substantially rectangular pusher elements labelled 39a, 39b, 39c from left to right.
The transversal dimensions of the outer pusher elements 39a and 39c are slightly smaller than the cross section size of the outer pockets 29a and 29c of the container 27, while the transversal dimension of the middle pusher element 39b is slightly smaller than the cross section size of the middle pocket 29b of the container 27.
At the second transfer station 30, on the side of the pusher device 36 opposite the conveyor 26, there is a second horizontal conveyor 40 supporting a second container 41 which is movable parallel to the first conveyor 26.
Along the path of the pusher element 39, between the first conveyor 26 and the second conveyor 40, there are interposed second, fixed compacting means 42 comprising a duct with a substantially rectangular cross-section and having side walls 43 that are convergent in the direction of feed of the pusher element 39.
The compacting means 42 define a passage for the three sub-groups 34a, 34b, 34c in contact with each other, that is to say, for a group 2 of two hundred cigarettes 3 made up of twenty-five piles 18 of eight cigarettes 3 each, placed side by side.
The second conveyor 40 is moved with reciprocating motion by actuating means not illustrated, between a first end-of-stroke position where the container 41 is positioned at the second transfer station 30, in line with the pusher device 39, and a second end-of-stroke position where the container 41 is located at a third transfer station 44.
In the station 44, transfer means comprising a pusher 45 which is movable parallel to the pusher devices 20 and 36 transfers the groups 2 to the packaging line 7.
In use the cigarettes 3 descend along the channels 15a until they form, at the outlet 9, the group of twenty-five piles 18 of eight cigarettes 3 each.
At this point, the pusher elements 21, under the action of the actuating means 25 and during each machine cycle, perform an outward stroke through the channels 15b, pushing the cigarettes 3, divided into three sub-groups 34a, 34b, 34c of eight, nine and eight piles 18 of cigarettes 3, respectively, into the three compartments 29a, 29b, 29c of the first container 27, which is at its end-of-stroke dwell position at the first station 22.
For each sub-group 34a, 34b, 34c, the compacting means 31 interposed between the hopper 8 and the container 27 progressively eliminate the spaces occupied by the partitions 14 between one pile and another in the outlet 9.
As already mentioned, and illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6, during every machine cycle, the return stroke of the pusher elements 21 is performed in two distinct steps: the upper plate 23 is retracted to the initial disengaged position and then the lower plate 24 is.
Thus, the cigarettes 3 drop by half the height at a time when the new piles 18 are formed in the channels 15b of the outlet 9, thereby eliminating the possibility of problems due to incorrect arrangement of the cigarettes 3.
The pusher elements 21 therefore also act as means for controlling the descent of the cigarettes 3 in the channels during the formation of new piles 18 in the outlet 9 of the hopper 8.
Under the action of actuating means not illustrated, the reciprocating conveyor 26 performs its outward stroke and transfers the loading container 27 for the sub-groups 34a, 34b, 34c from the transfer 22 to the transfer station 30, in front of the pusher 36.
Under the action of the above mentioned actuating means not illustrated, the pusher 36 performs an outward stroke through the compartments 32a, 32b, 32c of the container 27 and thus pushes the three sub-groups 34a, 34b, 34c into the second container 41 which is at a dwell position at the station 30. The second compacting means 42 interposed between the first container 27 and the second container 41 eliminate the spaces between one sub-group and another occupied by the walls 28 which divide the container 27 into compartments.
The second conveyor 40 then transfers the second container 41, which contains the group 2, from the second transfer station 30, in line with the second pusher device 36, to the third transfer station 44. At the third transfer station 44 the third pusher 45, which is movable along a path parallel to that of the pushers 20 and 36, expels the group 2 from the second container 41 and feeds it to an infeed unit 46 of the packaging line 7.
The packaging line 7 then makes the packages 1 by wrapping the groups 2 (in a per se known manner) in blanks 47 fed transversely to the direction of feed of the groups 2 themselves.
The embodiment illustrated in Figure 7 differs from the one illustrated in Figure 2 in that the hopper 8 comprises, instead of a single outlet 9, three equispaced outlets 9a, 9b, 9c for forming the sub-group 34a, the sub-group 34b and the sub-group 34c, respectively, from left to right.
Associated with the three outlets 9a, 9b, 9c there is a pusher device 20, divided into three pushers 20a, 20b, 20c which comprise eight, nine and eight pusher elements 21, respectively.
Aligned with each pusher 20, on the opposite side of each outlet 9a, 9b, 9c there are, for the individual sub-groups, compacting means which are labelled 31 in their entirety and which comprise three distinct, equispaced ducts 32 with a rectangular cross-section, each of which is provided with two side walls 33 that are convergent in the direction of feed of the pusher elements 21. In this second embodiment, the conveyor 26 is substituted (preferably but not necessarily) for a conveyor 48, for example of the type with an endless belt trained around end rollers 49 (only one of which is shown in the drawing), movable with intermittent motion.
The conveyor 48 supports a plurality of first containers 27, each comprising three pockets 29a, 29b, 29c independent of each other and placed side by side in pairs.
In this case, the three pockets 29a, 29b, 29c are separate from each other, unlike the first container 27 of the embodiment of Figure 2, so as to facilitate the passage of the containers 27 in the curved stretches round end rollers 49 with relatively reduced diameters.
In use, as the conveyor 48 advances, each container 27 stops at each of the three outlets 9a, 9b, 9c. During the stop at the first outlet 9a the pusher 20a transfers the sub-group 34a into the pocket 29a.
Next, during the stop at the outlet 9b the pusher 20b transfers the sub-group 34b into the pocket 29b and, lastly, during the stop at the outlet 9c the pusher 20c transfers the sub-group 34c into the pocket 29c, thereby filling the container 27 completely.
During a subsequent stop of the conveyor 48, the three sub-groups 34a, 34b, 34c are transferred to the second container 41, as described previously. With reference to Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11, the pusher elements 21 of the piles 18 comprise, for each channel 15b, a single pusher plate 51 instead of the two plates 23, 24 of the embodiment of Figure 2.
Also, associated with each channel 15b there is a respective plate 52, called accompanying plate, which is movable with reciprocating vertical motion transversal to that of the pusher elements 21, along a plane between the pusher plate 51 and a lateral wall of the channel 15b and through slits 10a in the base wall 10.
Each plate 52 moves from a lower end-of-stroke position under the respective channel 15b to an upper end-of-stroke position where the end of it is positioned substantially at the level of the upper edge of the pusher plate 51.
In use, the upper end-of-stroke position of the plates 52 is reached synchronously when the pusher plates 51 start the return stroke.
Thus, at first, when the pusher plates 51 withdraw, the plates 52 constitute elements for supporting the cigarettes 3, and then, during their return to the lower end-of-stroke position, they constitute means for accompanying the cigarettes 3 along the channels 15b, that is to say, means for controlling the descent of the cigarettes 3 in the channels during the formation of new piles 18 in the outlet 9 of the hopper 8.
With reference to Figures 12, 13 and 14, a plain function of supporting the cigarette 3 when the pusher elements 21 withdraw may also be performed by stop elements 53, which oscillate about horizontal axes 54 transversal to the axes of the cigarettes 3 and which are located at the inlet of each channel 15b.
When each pile 18 is expelled from the respective channel 15b, the stop elements 53 move alongside the ends of the cigarettes 3 occupying the lower ends of the channels 15a.
Actuating means not illustrated remove the stop elements 53 only after the coming into operation of the above mentioned means 21 or 52 for controlling the descent of the cigarettes 3 in the channels 15b.
From the foregoing description it is clear that the machine according to the invention solves all the problems arising out of the production of packages containing a relatively high number of cigarettes and, first of all, the problem of placing the piles of cigarettes side by side as they feed out of the hopper channels.
Clearly, dividing the groups of piles into a plurality of sub-groups makes it possible to perform the operation of eliminating the gaps between one pile and another of the groups 2 of cigarettes 3 in two or more successive steps, in such a way that the cigarettes 3 are handled in an extremely delicate manner.
Secondly, any risk of arranging the cigarettes 3 incorrectly when the pushers 21 are withdrawn while the channels 15 are being filled is eliminated by the use of the means for controlling the descent of the single piles of cigarettes 3.

Claims

A machine for forming and boxing groups of cigarettes, where each group comprises a predetermined number of layers (4) and each layer is made up of a predetermined number of cigarettes (3), the machine comprising: a hopper (8) for forming, in respective channels (15b) provided at least at its outlet (9), a group of piles (18) of cigarettes (3) which are side by side, each pile (18) comprising a number of cigarettes (3) equal to the number of layers (4) and the number of piles (18) being equal to the number of cigarettes (3) in a layer (4) ; first transfer means (19) for feeding the group of piles (18), divided into a plurality of sub-groups (34a, 34b, 34c) of piles (18) which are side by side, from the hopper (8) into respective pockets (29a, 29b, 29c) of a first container (27) ; conveyor means (26) for conveying the first container (27) between at least a first, feed station (22) for the sub-groups (34a, 34b, 34c) of piles (18) and a second, transfer station (30) for the sub-groups (34a, 34b, 34c) of piles; second transfer means (35) for feeding the sub-groups (34a, 34b, 34c) of piles (18) from the first container (27) to a second container (41) for forming the group (2) ; third transfer means (45) for transferring the group (2) from the second container (41) to a packaging line (7); first compacting means (31) for the piles (18) of individual sub-groups (34a, 34b, 34c) being interposed between the outlet (9) of the hopper (8) and the pockets (29a, 29b, 29c) of the first container (27) and second compacting means (42) for the sub-groups (34a, 34b, 34c) of piles (18) being interposed between the first container (27) and the second container (41).
The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom of the hopper (8) is equipped with a single outlet (9) for forming the group of piles (18) which are side by side, the transfer means (19) being a pusher device (20) comprising a pusher element (21) for each of the channels (18) for simultaneously filling the pockets (29a, 29b, 29c) of the first container (27).
The machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the pockets are compartments (29a, 29b, 29c) of the first container (27).
The machine according to any of the claims from 1 to 3, characterized in that the conveyor means (26) have an outward and return movement between the first station (22) and the second station (30).
The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom of the hopper (8) is divided into a plurality of secondary hoppers (8a, 8b, 8c) each equipped with a respective outlet (9a, 9b, 9c) for forming a sub-group (34a, 34b, 34c) of piles (18) ; the transfer means (19) comprising, relative to each outlet (9), pusher devices (20a, 20b, 20c) each comprising a pusher element (21) for each of the channels (15b) of the respective outlet (9a, 9b, 9c).
The machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the conveyor means comprise a looped conveyor (48) supporting a plurality of first containers (27).
The machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the pockets (29a, 29b, 29c) of each first container (27) are made independent of each other and are drawn near each other in pairs.
The machine according to any of the claims from 1 to 7, characterized in that the pusher elements (21) related to each of the channels (15b) comprise at least two superposed plates (23, 24) arranged transversally to a base wall (10) of the hopper (8), the plates (23, 24) performing, during each machine cycle, a simultaneous outward movement through a respective channel (15b) of the hopper (8) and a return movement in successive steps, starting with the upper plate (23), in such a way as to form means for controlling the descent of the cigarettes (3) in the channels (15b)
The machine according to any of the claims from 1 to 8, characterized in that the pusher elements (21) related to each of the channels (15b) comprise a pusher plate (51), each pusher plate (51) being associated with means for controlling the descent of the cigarettes (3) in the respective channel (15b), comprising an accompanying plate (52), movable with reciprocating vertical motion transversal to that of the pusher elements (21), along a plane between the pusher plate (51) and a lateral wall of the channel (15b) and through slits (10a) in the base wall (10) of the hopper (8).
The machine according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises stop elements (53) for the cigarettes (3) located at the inlet of each channel (15b) and able to move between a closed position and an open position, respectively for stopping the descent of the cigarettes (3) and for allowing the descent.
The machine according to any of the claims from 1 to 10, characterized in that the first compacting means (31) and the second compacting means (42) comprise ducts (32) having a substantially rectangular cross-section and which are equipped with converging vertical inner walls (33), (43).