EP2643222B1

EP2643222B1 - Feed method and unit for fitting a coupon to a collar

Info

Publication number: EP2643222B1
Application number: EP11807750.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michele Ferrari; Davide Parazza; Stefano Sarti; Andrea Biondi
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2010-11-24
Filing date: 2011-11-24
Publication date: 2015-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2031-11-24
Also published as: WO2012070018A1; JP6012616B2; IT1403206B1; PL2643222T3; RU2580471C2; ITBO20100702A1; ITBO20110004A1; IT1402724B1; UA110810C2; EP2643222A1; RU2013128605A; JP2013543823A

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a feed method and unit for fitting a coupon to a collar.

BACKGROUND ART

A hinged-lid packet of cigarettes comprises an inner package housing a group of cigarettes; and a rigid container, which houses the inner package, has a hinged lid, and is wrapped in a heat-sealed transparent plastic (normally polypropylene) overwrap to preserve the moisture and aroma of the tobacco.
Some packets of cigarettes contain a coupon in the form of a sheet (possibly folded) printed with advertising or a picture, and which is normally inserted between the container and the transparent plastic overwrap, so it can be seen without opening the packet, or is inserted inside the front of the container, i.e. between a front wall of the inner package and a front wall of the container.
To insert a coupon inside the container, the coupon is placed on the front wall of the inner package, and a blank is folded about the inner package and the coupon to form the container. Though widely used, this method has a major drawback between the station where the coupon is placed on the front wall of the inner package, and the station where the blank is folded about the inner package and the coupon, the inner package is fed through numerous other stations, and, along the way, steps must be taken to prevent the coupon from slipping with respect to the inner package, i.e. to keep the coupon in the correct position on the inner package. Such steps, however, are invariably complicated and therefore expensive, and are not always effective, with the result that the number of reject packets is far from negligible.
One proposed solution to the problem is to fix the coupon to the inner package with a spot of hot (i.e. fast-stick) glue. This is not very popular, however, on account of part of the coupon being torn when removed from the inner package, thus ruining the look of the coupon (and also the inner package).
To solve this problem, Patent EP0665174B1 proposes first connecting the coupon mechanically (i.e. with no glue) to the collar, and then fitting the collar and coupon together to the inner package. To connect the coupon mechanically to the collar, the front wall of the collar has a V-shaped cut that is engaged by a corresponding portion of the coupon. In other words, the V-shaped cut forms a retaining tab, which is raised slightly off the front wall to engage and grip the coupon against the front wall. The cut is located centrally and faces upwards, and so substantially provides for retaining the coupon longitudinally with respect to the collar.
The solution proposed in Patent EP0665174B1 at least partly solves the problem of preventing slippage of the coupon when folding the blank about the inner package and the coupon to form the container, but, to be fully effective, also requires a cut in the coupon, in which to insert the retaining tab on the collar. Apart from the fact that cutting could spoil the look of the coupon (which is obviously an important issue, given the purely advertising function of the coupon), it is extremely difficult, on a packing machine, to insert the retaining tab on the collar automatically inside the cut in the coupon.
Moreover, the solution proposed in Patent EP0665174B1 only applies to non-folded coupons (i.e. does not apply to relatively large coupons folded once or more to make them smaller).
Patent application EP0691267A1 discloses a method and device for supplying collar-coupon assemblies to the wrapping line of a packing machine for producing rigid hinged-lid packets, whereby a collar and a respective coupon, as they travel along respective paths to a mating station, are respectively provided, by cutting, with a pocket, and with an appendix which is inserted at least partly inside the respective pocket at the mating station to make the collar and coupon substantially integral with each other as they travel along a common path extending downstream from the mating station.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a feed method and unit for fitting a coupon to a collar, designed to eliminate the above drawbacks, and which, in particular, are cheap and easy to implement.
According to the present invention, there are provided a feed method and unit for fitting a coupon to a collar, as claimed in the accompanying Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with referenced to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a front view in perspective of a packet of cigarettes in a closed position;
Figure 2 shows a front view in perspective of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes in an open position;
Figure 3 shows a rear view in perspective of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes in the closed position;
Figure 4 shows a spread-out view of a collar of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes;
Figure 5 shows the Figure 4 collar fitted with a coupon;
Figures 6, 7 and 8 show three design variations of the Figure 4 collar;
Figure 9 shows a schematic view in perspective of a packing machine for producing the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes;
Figures 10 and 11 show two views in perspective of a collar feed unit forming part of the Figure 9 packing machine;
Figures 12-17 show schematics of an operating sequence performed by the Figure 10 and 11 feed unit to fit a coupon to a collar of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes;
Figure 18 shows a view in perspective of a different embodiment of the Figure 10 and 11 collar feed unit;
Figure 19 shows a different view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a number of component parts of the Figure 18 feed unit.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Number 1 in Figures 1, 2 and 3 indicates as a whole a rigid packet of cigarettes comprising a cup-shaped cardboard container 2, and an inner package 3 housed inside container 2. Inner package 3 contains a parallelepiped-shaped group of cigarettes, and has a top and front cigarette withdrawal opening closed by a tear-off cover portion and extending over part of a front wall and part of a top wall of inner package 3.
Container 2 has an open top end 4; and a cup-shaped lid 5 hinged to container 2 along a hinge 6 to rotate with respect to container 2 between an open position (Figure 2) and a closed position (Figures 1 and 3) opening and closing open top end 4 respectively.
When lid 5 is in the closed position, container 2 is rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped, comprising a top wall 7 and a bottom wall 8 opposite and parallel to each other; a front wall 9 and a rear wall 10 opposite and parallel to each other; and two parallel lateral walls 11 interposed between walls 9 and 10. Four longitudinal edges 12 are defined between lateral walls 11 and front and rear walls 9, 10; and eight transverse edges 13 are defined between top and bottom walls 7, 8 and front, rear and lateral walls 9, 10, 11.
In the Figure 1-3 embodiment, edges 12 and 13 are all straight. In alternative embodiments not shown, some edges 12 and 13 may be bevelled or rounded.
Packet 1 also comprises a rigid (i.e. cardboard) collar 14, which is folded into a U and connected (glued) to the inside of container 2, and projects partly outwards of open top end 4 to engage a corresponding inner surface of lid 5 when lid 5 is in the closed position. In a preferred embodiment, collar 14 has two projections 15, which project laterally to interfere with the lateral walls of lid 5 to hold lid 5 in the closed position. Collar 14 comprises a front wall 16 positioned contacting front wall 9 of container 2; and two lateral walls 17 located on opposite sides of front wall 16 and positioned contacting lateral walls 11 of container 2. The two lateral walls 17 of collar 14 are folded 90° with respect to front wall 16 of collar 14, and are connected to front wall 16 along two longitudinal crease lines 18 (shown in Figure 4).
Packet 1 also comprises a coupon 19 inserted inside container 2, between front wall 16 of collar 14 and a front wall of inner package 3, so one surface of coupon 19 contacts front wall 16 of collar 14, and the opposite surface of coupon 19 contacts the front wall of inner package 3.
As shown in Figures 4 and 5, collar 14 comprises two retaining tabs 20 located on opposite sides of front wall 16 of collar 14, and each of which secures coupon 19 to collar 14 by gripping coupon 19 against front wall 16 of collar 14. In other words, an end portion of coupon 19 is inserted and gripped between a respective retaining tab 20 and front wall 16 of collar 14. As shown more clearly in the Figure 5 detail, each retaining tab 20 is raised partly off front wall 16 of collar 14 to grip coupon 19 against front wall 16. Obviously, each retaining tab 20 is raised partly off front wall 16 of collar 14 in the direction of the front wall of inner package 3 (i.e. inwards of container 2), seeing as the opposite side of front wall 16 of collar 14 is glued to front wall 9 of container 2.
In a preferred embodiment, each retaining tab 20 is formed by a U-shaped through cut extending from the two ends of a fold line 20a located alongside and close to a respective crease line 18 (i.e. the two ends of the U-shaped through cut "rest" on fold line 20a). In other words, each retaining tab 20 is rectangular, and bounded on one side by a U-shaped through cut, and on the other side by a fold line 20a different and separate from crease line 18. Each fold line 20a must be different and separate from the corresponding crease line 18, on account of the material (cardboard) of collar 14 being weakened, and therefore not very resilient, along crease lines 18; whereas, along each fold line 20a, the material (cardboard) of collar 14 must be left resilient enough for retaining tab 20 to grip coupon 19 firmly.
In an alternative and perfectly equivalent embodiment not shown, each retaining tab 20 is formed by one or more V-shaped through cuts (and is therefore triangular).
In the Figure 4 and 5 embodiment, each retaining tab 20 is formed in front wall 16 by a U-shaped through cut extending inwards of front wall 16 from the corresponding fold line 20a. Whereas, in the equivalent embodiment in Figure 6, each retaining tab 20 is formed in a lateral wall 17 by a U-shaped through cut extending inwards of lateral wall 17 from the corresponding fold line 20a, and must be folded 180° about fold line 20a onto front wall 16 to grip coupon 19 against front wall 16.
In the Figure 7 embodiment, the bottom side of each retaining tab 20 coincides with the bottom edge of front wall 16 of collar 14; in an equivalent embodiment, the top side of each retaining tab 20 coincides with the top edge of front wall 16 of collar 14; and, in both cases, each through cut is L-shaped.
In the Figure 4-7 embodiments, the two fold lines 20a are parallel to each other and to crease lines 18. In the Figure 8 embodiment, the two fold lines 20a slope with respect to each other and to crease lines 18. More specifically, they converge towards the top of collar 14, and diverge towards the bottom of collar 14 (i.e. if projected, the two fold lines 20a would intersect above collar 14). In the Figure 8 embodiment, each retaining tab 20 is rectangular-trapezium-shaped.
Each fold line 20a slopes only slightly, by no more than 30°, and normally by 10-15° with respect to respective crease line 18.
It is important to note that retaining tabs 20 may be other shapes (e.g. semicircular, semielliptical, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.) not described or illustrated in detail.
The embodiment shown in the drawings has one coupon 19 resting on front wall 16 of collar 14. Another embodiment, not shown, has one coupon 19 resting on a lateral wall 17 of collar 14, or two coupons resting on the two lateral walls 17 of collar 14.
Figure 9 shows part of a G.D. Società per Azioni model X2, X3 or X6 cigarette packing machine 21 for producing a packet 1 of cigarettes of the type described above and shown in Figures 1-3.
Packing machine 21 comprises a group-forming unit 22 for forming groups 23 of cigarettes; a packing unit 24 for packing groups 23 of cigarettes in sheets 25 of foil packing material to form inner packages 3; and a packing unit 26 for forming outer containers 2 by folding collars 14, fitted with coupons 19, and blanks 27 about inner packages 3. Collars 14 fitted with coupons 19 are fed to packing unit 26 by a feed unit 28 shown schematically in Figure 9.
As shown in Figures 10 and 11 (showing part of feed unit 28), feed unit 28 comprises a transfer wheel 29 rotating about a central axis of rotation (not shown) and fitted with a number of suction gripping heads 30, each of which comprises a suction device 31 (comprising two side by side suction members) for retaining a collar 14; and a suction device 32 (comprising one suction member) for retaining a corresponding coupon 19. Obviously, the number and position of the suction members of suction devices 31 and 32 may vary to adapt to specific collars 14 and/or coupons 19. Each suction device 31 has a folding device 33, which comprises a fork-shaped folder 34 having two ends located at the retaining tabs 20 of the collar 14 carried by suction device 31. Each folder 34 is movable radially, by a cam actuating system, between a withdrawn position (shown on suction device 31 on the right in Figure 10, and suction device 31 in Figure 11), in which the two ends of folder 34 are withdrawn with respect to (i.e. a given distance from) collar 14 carried by device 31, and an extracted position (shown on suction device 31 on the left in Figure 10), in which the two ends of folder 34 are inserted through collar 14 carried by suction device 31, to fold the two retaining tabs 20 on collar 14 through 90°.
Rotation of transfer wheel 29 feeds each suction gripping head 30 cyclically through a pickup station (Figure 19), where suction gripping head 30 picks up a collar 14 from a collar feed unit; a coupling station 35 (Figures 10 and 11) where suction gripping head 30 picks up a coupon 19, which is fitted to collar 14 picked up previously; and a release station (not shown) where suction gripping head 30 releases collar 14, fitted with coupon 19, to packing unit 26.
Feed unit 28 comprises a belt conveyor 36, which feeds coupons 19 successively to coupling station 35, and comprises an endless belt 37 fitted with a number of pockets 38, each housing a respective coupon 19.
Coupling station 35 comprises a supporting surface 39, onto which conveyor 36 deposits coupons 19 successively for subsequent pickup by suction gripping heads 30 on transfer wheel 29. Supporting surface 39 is movable vertically (perpendicular to the axis of rotation of transfer wheel 29) between a lowered receiving position (Figure 10), in which a pocket 38 on conveyor 36 positions a coupon 19 over and a given distance from supporting surface 39, and a raised release position (Figure 11), in which supporting surface 39 removes coupon 19 from pocket 38, and moves coupon 19 into position for pickup by suction gripping head 30 on transfer wheel 29. More specifically, when supporting surface 39 is in the lowered receiving position (Figure 10), a pocket 38 on conveyor 36 positions a coupon 19 over supporting surface 39; and, as it moves vertically up into the raised release position (Figure 11), supporting surface 39 intercepts and removes coupon 19 vertically from pocket 38 on conveyor 36. Obviously, pockets 38 on conveyor 36 and supporting surface 39 are designed to allow pockets 38 to move through supporting surface 39 as this moves up from the lowered receiving position (Figure 10) into the raised release position (Figure 11).
Finally, coupling station 35 comprises a folding device 40 comprising two folding members 41, which are moved cyclically to and from each other, and which, in a preferred embodiment, are rotated about respective axes of rotation parallel to each other and crosswise to the axis of rotation of transfer wheel 29. Supporting surface 39 has a through opening 42, through which one folding member 41 moves, while the other folding member 41 is positioned alongside supporting surface 39. In this way, supporting surface 39 is free to move vertically with respect to folding members 41, with no mechanical interference. Clearly, each folding device 33 is integral with and moves together with a corresponding gripping head 30; and folding device 40 is separate from and independent of gripping heads 30, and is located at coupling station 35.
Operation of feed unit 28 to connect a coupon 19 to a collar 14 will now be described with particular reference to the sequence shown in Figures 12-17.
First, as shown in Figure 12, collar 14 is fed by a suction gripping head 30 on transfer wheel 29 to coupling station 35.
As shown in Figure 13, before collar 14 reaches coupling station 35, folding device 33 on suction gripping head 30 moves from the withdrawn to the extracted position to insert the two ends of folder 34 through collar 14 and fold the two retaining tabs 20 on collar 14 through 90° (this step is also shown on gripping head 30 on the left in Figure 10). Then, before coupon 19 is placed on front wall 16 of collar 14, folding device 33 folds each retaining tab 20 into a raised position off front wall 16.
As shown in Figure 14, when collar 14 reaches coupling station 35, folding device 33 on suction gripping head 30 returns from the extracted to the withdrawn position to disengage retaining tabs 20. By this time, supporting surface 39 has moved from the lowered receiving position (Figure 10) to the raised release position (Figure 11), and has removed coupon 19 vertically from pocket 38 on conveyor 36, as described in detail above.
As shown in Figures 14 and 15, at coupling station 35, the two folding members 41 of folding device 40 move horizontally from a position inwards of retaining tabs 20 (Figure 14) to a position outwards of retaining tabs 20 (Figure 15) to fold retaining tabs 20 over 90° with respect to front wall 16 of collar 14 and into a V-shaped "funnel" by which to subsequently feed coupon 19 onto front wall 16 of collar 14. In other words, each retaining tab 20 is folded 90° with respect to front wall 16 of collar 14 by a first folding operation performed by folding device 33 moving perpendicularly to front wall 16, and is then folded over 90° with respect to front wall 16 of collar 14 by a second folding operation, after and separate from the first, performed by folding device 40 moving parallel to front wall 16.
When supporting surface 39 is as close as it can get to gripping head 30, as shown in Figure 16, coupon 19 is inserted between the two retaining tabs 20 and onto front wall 16 of collar 14, and is engaged by suction device 32 of gripping head 30 (as shown by gripping head 30 in Figure 11).
Once coupon 19 is deposited on front wall 16 of collar 14, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, the two folding members 41 of folding device 40 move horizontally from the position outwards of retaining tabs 20 (Figure 16) to the position inwards of retaining tabs 20 (Figure 17) to fold retaining tabs 20 towards collar 14 and secure coupon 19 to collar 14 by gripping coupon 19 against front wall 16. In other words, once coupon 19 is deposited on front wall 16 of collar 14, folding device 40 folds each retaining tab 20 towards collar 14 to secure coupon 19 to collar 14 by gripping coupon 19 against front wall 16.
Coupon 19 is thus fitted to collar 14, so gripping head 30 leaves coupling station 35 and moves on to the release station (not shown) where suction gripping head 30 releases collar 14, fitted with coupon 19, to packing unit 26 (as shown by gripping head 30 on the right in Figure 10).
In the Figure 18 variation, feed unit 28 has no folding devices 33 (i.e. each suction device 31 on transfer wheel 29 has no folding device 33) and no folding device 40.
In this embodiment, the two retaining tabs 20 on each collar 14 are folded 90° with respect to front wall 16 of collar 14 by a folder 43 at the pickup station (Figure 19) where suction gripping head 30 picks up a collar 14 from a collar feed unit. In other words, in this embodiment, a folder 43 in a fixed position at the pickup station and off transfer wheel 29 folds the two retaining tabs 20 of each collar 14 through 90° with respect to the front wall 16 of collar 14.
This embodiment has two fixed folding screws 44 on opposite sides of the route travelled by suction gripping heads 30 between the pickup station and coupling station 35. Each folding screw 44 is mounted in a fixed position, and has a folding profile which engages a respective retaining tab 20, as the corresponding gripping head 30 moves past, to fold the retaining tab 20 over 90° with respect to front wall 16 of collar 14, before coupon 19 is deposited on front wall 16 of collar 14, so that retaining tabs 20 open out into a V-shaped "funnel" by which to subsequently insert coupon 19 onto front wall 16 of collar 14.
This embodiment also has two fixed folding screws 45 (only one shown in Figure 18) on opposite sides of the route travelled by suction gripping heads 30 between coupling station 35 and the release station (not shown). Each folding screw 45 is mounted in a fixed position, and has a folding profile which engages a respective retaining tab 20, as the corresponding gripping head 30 moves past, to fold the retaining tab 20 towards collar 14, to secure coupon 19 to collar 14 by gripping coupon 19 against front wall 16, after coupon 19 is deposited on front wall 16 of collar 14.
In other words, each retaining tab 20 is folded 90° with respect to front wall 16 of collar 14 by a first folding operation performed by folding device 43, and is then folded over 90° with respect to front wall 16 of collar 14 by a second folding operation, after and separate from the first, performed by a folding screw 44.
When using the Figure 18 feed unit 28, fold lines 20a preferably slope with respect to each other and to crease lines 18, as shown in the Figure 8 embodiment, to facilitate folding of retaining tabs 20 by folding screws 44 and 45.
In an alternative embodiment not shown, feed unit 28 may comprise parts of the Figure 10 and 11 embodiment, and parts of the Figure 18 embodiment. For example, feed unit 28 may comprise folding devices 33 (Figure 10 and 11 embodiment) and folding screws 44 and 45 (Figure 18 embodiment), or may comprise folder 43 at the pickup station (Figure 18 embodiment) and folding device 40 (Figure 10 and 11 embodiment).
In a preferred (non-limiting embodiment) shown in Figure 19, a cutting device 46 at the pickup station cuts collars 14 successively off a continuous strip unwound off a reel, and comprises a movable blade 47 that rotates back and forth; and a fixed counter-blade 48 which cooperates with movable blade 47 to cut the strip. More specifically, movable blade 47 moves cyclically from a withdrawn position (Figure 19), in which the strip is fed through the gap between movable blade 47 and counter-blade 48, and a forward position (not shown), in which movable blade 47 deposits a cut collar 14 on suction device 31 of a suction gripping head 30.
Cutting device 46 also comprises two fixed counter-blades 49, which cooperate with movable blade 47 to form the cuts in collar 14 defining retaining tabs 20, i.e. movable blade 47 moves through each counter-blade 49, which reproduces the shape of a retaining tab 20, to form the cut defining retaining tab 20. In other words, rotation of movable blade 47 from the withdrawn position (Figure 19) to the forward position (not shown) not only cuts collar 14 off the continuous strip by the cutting action produced by fixed counter-blade 48 cooperating with movable blade 47, but also forms the two cuts in collar 14 defining retaining tabs 20, by the cutting action produced by fixed counter-blades 49 cooperating with movable blade 47. Obviously, movable blade 47 has two through openings, which are located at fixed counter-blades 49, negatively reproduce the shape of fixed counter-blades 49, and allow fixed counter-blades 49 to skim through movable blade 47.
In addition to cutting collar 14 to form retaining tabs 20, fixed counter-blades 49 also provide for simultaneously folding retaining tabs 20 through 90° with respect to front wall 16 of collar 14. In other words, one easy-to-make feature (fixed counter-blades 49) provides for performing two different operations cutting collar 14 to form retaining tabs 20, and folding retaining tabs 20 through 90° with respect to front wall 16 of collar 14.
It is important to note that cutting device 46 with two fixed counter-blades 49 as described above only provides for producing a collar 14 of the type shown in Figure 7, in which one side of each retaining tab 20 coincides with an edge of front wall 16 of collar 14, on account of fixed counter-blades 49 being unable to make cuts in the middle of front wall 16 of collar 14.
The design of packet 1 of cigarettes described also applies to the manufacture of other types of packages, such as a carton of cigarettes, which differs from packet 1 of cigarettes solely by containing a group of packets of cigarettes, as opposed to an inner package 3.
Packet 1 of cigarettes described has numerous advantages.
In particular, in packet 1 of cigarettes described, coupon 19 is retained on collar 14 by retaining tabs 20. Which means, once fitted in the correct position to collar 14, any slippage of coupon 19 with respect to collar 14 is prevented, and packet 1 of cigarettes described can be produced on a standard packing machine, with no special measures required to keep coupon 19 in the correct position.
The two retaining tabs 20 provide for securing coupon 19 crosswise with respect to collar 14, i.e. allow coupon 19 to move longitudinally (i.e. parallel to crease lines 18), but not crosswise (i.e. perpendicular to crease lines) with respect to collar 14. Preventing coupon 19 from moving crosswise with respect to collar 14 is essential, in that, any crosswise movement would be immediately noticeable when packet 1 of cigarettes is opened; whereas a limited amount of longitudinal movement of coupon 19 with respect to collar 14, occurring as it does in the withdrawal direction of coupon 19 from packet 1 of cigarettes, goes substantially unnoticed.
The two retaining tabs 20 also provide for securing coupon 19 on front wall 16 of collar 14 as the cigarettes are withdrawn one by one from packet 1. In other words, the consumer may even wait until packet 1 is empty before removing coupon 19, without the coupon interfering in the meantime with withdrawal of the cigarettes.
Coupon 19 is secured to collar 14 strictly mechanically, i.e. with no glue.
Retaining tabs 20 are invisible from outside packet 1 of cigarettes, and so concealed from the user's view.
Feed unit 28 described also has numerous advantages it is cheap and easy to make, and provides for effectively folding retaining tabs 20 onto coupon 19 to secure coupon 19 to collar 14.

Claims

A feed method for fitting a coupon (19) to a collar (14);
the feed method comprising the steps of:
placing the coupon (19) on a first wall (16; 17) of the collar (14); and

folding at least one retaining tab (20) of the collar (14) into a raised position with respect to the first wall (16; 17);
the feed method being characterized by comprising the further steps of:
folding the retaining tab (20) 90° with respect to the first wall (16; 17) by means of a first folding operation, before placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17);

folding the retaining tab (20) more than 90° with respect to the first wall (16; 17) of the collar (14), before placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17) and by means of a second folding operation following and separate from the first folding operation; and

folding the retaining tab (20) towards the collar (14), after placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), to secure the coupon (19) to the collar (14) by gripping the coupon (19) against the first wall (16; 17) .
A feed method as claimed in Claim 1, and comprising the further step, before placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), of folding the retaining tab (20) 90° with respect to the first wall (16; 17) by means of a first folding device (33) that moves perpendicular to the first wall (16; 17).
A feed method as claimed in Claim 1, and comprising the further steps of:
cutting the collar (14) to form a through cut defining the retaining tab (20); and

folding the retaining tab (20) 90° with respect to the first wall (16; 17) and simultaneously cutting the collar (14), before placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17).
A feed method as claimed in Claim 3, wherein cutting the collar (14) also separates the collar (14) from a continuous strip.
A feed method as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, wherein the collar (14) is cut by a movable blade (47) that moves through a fixed counterblade (49) reproducing the shape of the retaining tab (20).
A feed method as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 5, and comprising the further step, after placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), of folding the retaining tab (20) with respect to the first wall (16; 17) by means of a second folding device (40) that moves parallel to the first wall (16; 17).
A feed method as claimed in Claim 6, and comprising the further steps of:
moving the second folding device (40), before placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), in a first direction parallel to the first wall (16; 17), to fold the retaining tab (20) more than 90° with respect to the first wall (16; 17); and

moving the second folding device (40), after placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), in a second direction parallel to the first wall (16; 17) and opposite the first direction, to secure the coupon (19) to the collar (14) by gripping the coupon (19) against the first wall (16; 17).
A feed method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, and comprising the further step, after placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), of folding the retaining tab (20) with respect to the first wall (16; 17) by means of a first fixed folding screw (45) which movement of the collar (14), with the coupon (14) on it, brings into contact with the retaining tab (20).
A feed method as claimed in Claim 8, and comprising the further step, before placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), of folding the retaining tab (20) over 90° with respect to the first wall (16; 17) by means of a second fixed folding screw (44) which movement of the collar (14) brings into contact with the retaining tab (20).
A feed method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, and comprising the further steps of:
picking up the collar (14) by means of a suction gripping head (30);

placing the coupon (19) on a supporting surface (39); and

removing the coupon (19) off the supporting surface (39) by means of the suction gripping head (30), so the coupon (19) rests on the first wall (16; 17) of the collar (14).
A feed method as claimed in Claim 10, and comprising the further steps of:
moving the supporting surface (39) into a lowered receiving position;

positioning the collar (19) over and a given distance from the supporting surface (39); and

raising the supporting surface (39) vertically, to engage the coupon (19), from the lowered receiving position into a raised release position, in which the coupon (19) is picked up by the suction gripping head (30).
A feed method as claimed in Claim 11, and comprising the further step of feeding a pocket (38) of a conveyor (36) to the supporting surface (39) to position the collar (19) over the supporting surface (39); the pocket (38) and the supporting surface (39) being designed to allow the pocket (38) to move through the supporting surface (39), when the supporting surface (39) is raised from the lowered receiving position to the raised release position.
A feed unit for fitting a coupon (19) to a collar (14);
the feed unit (28) comprising:
a coupling station (35) where the coupon (19) is placed on a first wall (16; 17) of the collar (14); and

a first folding device (33) which folds a retaining tab (20) of the collar (14) into a raised position with respect to the first wall (16; 17);
the feed unit (28) being characterized in that:
the first folding device (33) folds the retaining tab (20) 90° with respect to the first wall (16; 17) by executing a first folding operation, before placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17);

a second folding device (40) folds the retaining tab (20) more than 90° with respect to the first wall (16; 17) of the collar (14), before placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17) and by executing a second folding operation following and separate from the first folding operation; and

a third folding device (40) which, after the coupon (19) is placed on the first wall (16; 17), folds the retaining tab (20) towards the collar (14) to secure the coupon (19) to the collar (14) by gripping the coupon (19) against the first wall (16; 17).