EP2726376A1

EP2726376A1 - Packing machine and method for producing rigid packets, each comprising at least two containers one inside the other

Info

Publication number: EP2726376A1
Application number: EP12751357.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luca Cavazza; Stefano Bruni; Luca Federici
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2011-06-28
Filing date: 2012-06-28
Publication date: 2014-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2032-06-28
Also published as: CN103702904B; CN103702904A; EP2726376B1; ITBO20110374A1; WO2013001497A1; JP2014522785A; JP6082000B2; ITBO20120062A1

Abstract

A packing. machine (19) and method for producing rigid packets, each having at least two containers (3, 4), one inside the other; the packing machine having: a first packing unit (20) for producing inner containers (3) by folding inner blanks (17) about corresponding articles; a second packing unit (21) for producing outer containers (4) by folding outer blanks (18) about corresponding inner containers (3); and a transfer unit (22), which receives the inner containers (3) from the first packing unit (20) at an input station, (23), feeds the inner containers (3) to the second packing unit (21) at an output station (24), and performs at least one orienting and/or grouping operation on the inner containers (3) at a manipulating station (32, 33, 34, 35) between the input station (23) and the output station (24).

Description

PACKING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING RIGID PACKETS, EACH . COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO CONTAINERS ONE INSIDE THE OTHER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The .present invention relates to a packing machine and method for producing rigid packets, each comprising a least, two containers, one inside the other.

The present invention may be used to advantage for producing rigid packets of cigarettes, to which the following .description refers purely by way of example. BACKGROUND ART

A conventional rigid packet of cigarettes is what is known as a rigid hinged-lid packet, which comprises a foil-wrapped group of cigarettes, and a single hinged- lid container formed by folding a single blank about the group of cigarettes.

In recent years, various last-generation types of rigid packets of cigarettes have been proposed, which differ from conventional hinged-lid packets by each comprising at least one inner container formed by folding an inner blank about the group of cigarettes; and an outer container enclosing, and formed by folding an outer blank about, the inner container. For example Patent Application WO2006021581A1 describes a swing-open rigid packet of cigarettes; Patent Application WO2007031484A1 describes a slide-open rigid packet of cigarettes; Patent Applications IT2000BO00245, IT2006BO00020 and IT2006BO00420 describe pocket-book rigid packets of cigarettes (comprising at least two inner containers held together by the outer container) ; and Patent Application EP2017198A1 describes a fan-open rigid packet of cigarettes (comprising at least two inner containers held together by the outer container) . The only characteristic common to all these last- generation rigid packets of cigarettes is that they are made from two different blanks folded one after the other (i.e. the inner blank is first folded about the group of cigarettes, and the outer blank is then folded about the folded inner blank) .

These last-generation rigid packets of cigarettes are currently manufactured on packing machines comprising a first packing unit, on which the inner blanks are folded about the inner packages (each comprising a foil-wrapped group of cigarettes) to form the inner containers; and a second packing unit, on which the outer blanks are folded about the inner containers.

Known packing machines for doing this, however, have the major drawback of being poorly adaptable, i.e. involve a good deal of painstaking, time-consuming work to switch from one type of rigid packet of cigarettes to another, whereas manufacturers need more and more to produce different types of rigid packets of cigarettes to adapt promptly to market demand (especially in the case of last-generation rigid packets of cigarettes, which are often produced in relatively limited numbers) , and. so need '-flexible' packing machines that adapt quickly and easily to different types of rigid packets of cigarettes.

On known machines for ..producing last-generation rigid packets of cigarettes, the most critical brand- change part (i.e. when switching from one type of rigid packet of cigarettes to another) is the transfer unit, which transfers the inner containers from the first packing unit to the second packing unit, and on which the inner containers are oriented and/or grouped specifically, according to the type of rigid packet . of cigarettes.

Patent Application WO2008101571A1 describes a packing machine . for producing rigid packets of cigarettes, each comprising an inner cursor folded about a wrapped group of cigarettes; and an^' outer blank folded about the wrapped group of cigarettes and the inner cursor. The packing machine comprises: a first packing unit for folding the inner cursors about the wrapped groups of cigarettes; a second packing unit for folding the outer blanks about the wrapped groups of cigarettes and the inner cursors; and a transfer unit, which receives the wrapped groups of cigarettes with the inner cursors from the first packing unit at an input station, feeds them to the second packing unit at an output station, and performs a single orienting operation on them at a manipulating station between the input station and the output station. The transfer unit comprises a single conveyor line, which feeds a succession of. wrapped groups of cigarettes with inner cursors along a path between the input station and the output station; and the manipulating station comprises an orienting wheel with peripheral pockets and mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the path.

The packing machine described in Patent Application WO2008101571A1, however, can only produce packets of cigarettes of one type, and is not ^adaptable' , i.e. cannot be adapted quickly and easily to produce different types of rigid packets of cigarettes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a packing machine and method for producing rigid packets, each comprising a least two containers one inside the other, which machine and method are designed to eliminate the above drawbacks, and at the same time are cheap and easy to implement.

According to the present invention, there are provided a packing machine and method for producing rigid packets, each comprising a least two containers one inside the other, as claimed in the accompanying Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view in perspective of a slide-open rigid packet of cigarettes in the closed position;

Figure 2 shows a front view in perspective of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes in the open position;

Figure 3 shows an exploded view in perspective of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes;

Figure 4 shows a spread-out view of a blank from which to form an inner container of the. Figure 1 packet of cigarettes;

Figure 5 shows a spread-out view of^' a blank from which to form an outer container of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes;

Figure 6 shows a schematic view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a packing machine, in accordance with the present invention, for producing the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes;

Figure 7 shows . a schematic view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of an initial part of a first packing unit of the Figure 6 packing machine;

Figure 8 shows a schematic view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of an end part of the first packing unit of the Figure 6 packing machine;

Figure 9 shows a schematic view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a transfer unit of the Figure 6 packing machine;

Figure 10 shows a schematic view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a second packing unit of the Figure 6 packing machine;

Figure 11 shows a schematic view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of the Figure 9 transfer unit;

Figure 12 shows a schematic view in perspective of transfer of the inner containers by the Figure 9 transfer unit;

Figures 13 and 14 show two different schematic views in perspective,, with parts removed for clarity, of the Figure 9 transfer unit;

Figures 15 and 16 show respective front and plan views, with parts removed for clarity, of the Figure 9 transfer unit;

Figure 17 shows a schematic view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, _.of a first orienting conveyor of the Figure 9 transfer unit; Figure 18 shows a schematic view . in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a second orienting conveyor of the Figure 9 transfer unit;

Figure 19 shows a schematic view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a third orienting conveyor of the Figure 9 transfer unit;

Figures 20 and 21 show respective schematic front and plan views, with parts removed or clarity, of the third orienting conveyor in Figure 19;

Figure 22 shows a schematic, view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a grouping device of the Figure 9 transfer unity- Figure 23 shows a schematic view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a feed device of the

Figure 9 transfer unit;

Figure 24 shows a schematic view in perspective, with . parts removed for clarity, of a different embodiment of the transfer unit of the Figure 6 packing machine;

Figure 25 shows a schematic view in perspective of transfer of the inner containers by the Figure 24 transfer unit;

Figures 26 and 27 show schematic views in perspective of transfer of the inner containers by two further embodiments of the Figure 9 transfer unit.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Number 1 in ^' Figures 1-3 indicates as a whole a rigid slide-open packet of cigarette.

The Figure 1 packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a wrapped, i.e. foil-wrapped, group 2 of cigarettes; and a rigid outer package made of cardboard or similar, housing wrapped group 2, and in turn comprising a rigid inner container 3 actually housing wrapped group 2, and a rigid outer container 4 in which inner container 3. is housed to slide straight, with , respect to outer container 4, between a closed position (Figure 1) , in which . inner container 3 is fully inserted inside outer container 4, and an open position (Figure 2) , in which inner container 3 is extracted partly from outer container 4 for direct user access to wrapped group 2..

As shown in Figure 3, inner container 3 is parallelepiped-shaped, and has a bottom wall 5; a top wall 6; two opposite parallel major lateral walls 7; and two parallel minor lateral walls 8a, 8b interposed between major lateral walls 7. Close to minor lateral wall 8a, top wall 6 has an extraction opening 9 also extending over parts of major lateral walls 7, and which, when inner container 3 is in the open position, is located outside outer container 4 to permit withdrawal of the cigarettes (not shown) from inner container 3 once group 2 is unwrapped by the user. A retaining tab 10 is cut from each major lateral wall 7, close to minor lateral wall 8b, and projects outwards of inner container 3 from the edge between major lateral wall 7 and minor lateral wall 8b; four longitudinal edges are defined between major lateral walls 7 and minor lateral . walls 8; and eight transverse edges are defined between walls 7, 8 and walls 5, 6.

As shown in Figure 3, outer container 4 is also parallelepiped-shaped, and has a bottom wall 11; a top wall 12; two opposite parallel, major lateral walls 13; one minor lateral wall 14; and an opening 15 opposite minor lateral wall 14 and through which inner container 3 slides. A retaining tab 16 is connected to the edge of each major lateral wall 13 bounding opening 15, projects inwards of outer container 4 from major lateral wall 13, and, as inner container 3 is extracted, , engages a corresponding retaining tab 10 on inner container 3 to limit travel of. inner container 3 and prevent it from detaching completely from outer container 4. Two longitudinal edges are defined between major lateral walls 13 and minor lateral wall 14; and six transverse edges are defined between walls 13, 14 and walls 11, 12.

Containers 3 and 4 of the Figure 1-3 packet 1 are formed from respective known blanks 17 and 18 shown in Figures 4 and 5 respectively.

Figure 6 shows a cigarette packing machine 19 for producing packets 1 of cigarettes as described above and shown in Figures 1-3.

Packing machine 19 comprises a packing unit 20 for producing inner containers 3 by folding blanks 17 about respective wrapped groups 2 of cigarettes; a packing unit 21 for producing outer containers 4 by folding blanks 18 about respective, inner containers 3; and a transfer unit 22, which receives inner containers 3 from packing unit 20 at an input station 23, and feeds inner containers 3 to packing unit 21 at an output station 24.

As shown in Figure 7, packing unit 20 comprises a group-forming conveyor 25 for forming groups 26 of cigarettes, and having a number of pockets, each for receiving a group 26 of cigarettes from the outlet of a hopper; and a packing conveyor 27 having two straight, parallel, superimposed packing lines, on which sheets 28 of packing material, cut off a continuous strip, are folded about groups 26 of cigarettes to form wrapped groups 2 of cigarettes.

As shown in Figure 8, packing unit 20 comprises a transfer wheel 29 for receiving wrapped groups 2 of cigarettes from packing conveyor 27; a packing wheel 30, which receives wrapped groups 2 ^' of cigarettes from transfer wheel 29, and folds blanks 17 about wrapped groups 2 of cigarettes to form inner containers 3; and a drying conveyor 31 having two straight, parallel, superimposed drying lines for receiving and feeding inner containers 3 from packing wheel 30 to input station 23 of transfer unit 22.

As shown in Figure 9, transfer unit 22 transfers inner containers 3 from input station 23 to output station 24, and orients (in another embodiment, also groups) inner, containers at four manipulating stations 32-35 arranged in series^' between input station 23 and output station 24. As described in more detail below, transfer unit 22 comprises four manipulating stations 32-35 that can be fully or even partly activated or deactivated individually, depending on the desired orientation and/or grouping of inner containers 3. In other words, some of manipulating stations 32-35 may be activated (and the rest left idle) to perform all or only the desired orienting and/or grouping operations on inner containers 3. For example, in the Figure 9 embodiment, only manipulating stations 33 and 34 are activated (i.e. actually work on inner containers 3), and manipulating stations 32 and 35 are deactivated (i.e. do no work on inner containers 3).

As shown in Figure 10, packing unit 21 comprises a packing wheel 36, which receives inner containers 3 from output station 24 of transfer unit 22, and folds blanks 18 about inner containers 3 to form outer containers 4 and so complete packets 1 of cigarettes; and a drying conveyor 37 having two straight, parallel, superimposed drying.- lines, which receive and feed packets 1 of cigarettes from packing wheel 36 to an output _. station 38 of packing machine 19.

It is important to note that packing unit 21 is identical to the end part of packing unit 20 shown in Figure 8: the obvious similarities between packing wheels 30 and 36, drying conveyors 31 and 37, and the

Λ

devices supplying blanks 17 and 18, simplify manufacture of packing units 20 and 21 by employing numerous identical or at least very similar parts.

As shown in Figures 11 and 12, transfer unit 22 comprises two parallel, superimposed horizontal conveyor lines, each of which feeds a succession of inner containers 3 - preferably in steps (i.e. in a cyclically alternating stop-go movement) - along a straight path P between input station 23 and output station 24. As stated, only ... manipulating stations 33 and 34 are activated in the Figure 11 and 12 embodiment. More specifically, and as explained below, manipulating station 33 performs a 180° rotation about a vertical axis of rotation perpendicular to path P, and manipulating station. 34 performs, simultaneously, a further 180° rotation about a vertical axis of rotation perpendicular to path P, and a 90° rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation perpendicular to path P.

^'Each conveyor line comprises two belt conveyors 39 and 40 arranged in series, separated at manipulating station 34, and each comprising a number of partitions projecting perpendicularly from the belt to form respective seats 41 (Figure 13) for inner containers 3. On the bottom belt conveyor 39, inner containers 3 rest (and are therefore supported from underneath) on the belt of conveyor 39; whereas the top belt conveyor 39 comprises a static supporting surface 42 (Figures 17 and 18) on which inner containers 3 rest and slide (and are therefore supported from underneath) as they are fed along path P. And each belt conveyor 40 also comprises a static supporting surface 43 (Figure 22) on which inner containers 3 rest and slide (and are therefore supported from underneath) as they are fed along path P.

As shown in Figure 17, manipulating .station 32 comprises an orienting conveyor 43 located along and locally intercepting the two conveyor lines. Orienting conveyor 43 comprises an orienting wheel 44, which is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation 45 parallel to the two paths P, is rotated in steps about axis of rotation 45 by an electric motor 46, and supports four U-shaped pockets 47, each of which is open on both sides to allow inner containers 3 through, and is positioned with its central channel parallel to paths P.

When orienting wheel 44 is stationary, i.e. not rotating about axis of rotation 45, inner containers 3 on belt conveyors 39 of the two conveyor lines are fed, unmanipulated, through pockets 47 at manipulating station 32 (more specifically, static supporting surface 42 of the top belt conveyor 39 is interrupted at orienting wheel 44 and replaced locally^' by the bottom wall of the pocket 47 in the top position).

Conversely, when orienting wheel 44 rotates in steps about axis of rotation 45, at manipulating station 32, an inner container 3 on the top. conveyor line is engaged by a pocket 47 at a receiving/release station 48 along the top conveyor line, and is released to a receiving/release station 49 along the bottom conveyor line by orienting wheel 44 rotating 180° about axis of rotation 45. And similarly, ..an inner container 3 on the bottom conveyor line is engaged by a pocket 47 at receiving/release station 49 along the bottom conveyor line, and is released to receiving/release station 48 along the top conveyor line by orienting wheel 44 rotating 180° about axis of rotation 45. In other words, each pocket 47 receives an inner container 3 from one conveyor line at receiving/release station 48 or 49, releases the inner container 3 to the other conveyor line at receiving/release station 49 or 48, and, in transferring the inner container 3 from receiving/ release station 48 or 49 to receiving/release station 49 or 48, rotates it 180° about horizontal axis of rotation 45.

As shown, in Figure 18, manipulating station 33 comprises two orienting conveyors 50, each located along and locally, intercepting a corresponding conveyor line. Each orienting conveyor 50 comprises an orienting wheel

51 mounted to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation

52 crosswise to the two paths P (the two orienting wheels 51 are positioned coaxially one. over the other); two independent electric motors (not shown) rotate orienting wheels 51 in steps about axis of rotation 52; and each orienting wheel 51 supports four U-shaped pockets 53, each open on both sides to let inner containers 3 through. More specifically, each orienting wheel 51 is hollow to allow an inner container 3 to be fed through it, through two aligned pockets 53.

Each orienting wheel 51 is cup-shaped, i.e. has a bottom wall, and an open end opposite the bottom wall; the top orienting wheel 51 is positioned with its open end facing upwards, so its bottom wall forms an extension of static supporting surface 42 of the top belt conveyor 39; and the bottom orienting wheel 51 is positioned with its open end facing downwards.

When each orienting wheel 51 is stationary, i.e. not rotating about axis of rotation 52, inner containers 3 on belt conveyors 39 of the two conveyor lines are fed, unmanipulated, through respective orienting . wheels 51 at manipulating station 33 (more specifically, static supporting surface 42 of the top belt conveyor 39 is interrupted at orienting wheel 51^" and replaced locally by the bottom wall of orienting wheel 51) .

Conversely, when each orienting wheel 51 rotates in . steps about axis of rotation 52, at manipulating station 33, an inner container 3 on the conveyor line is engaged by a pocket 53 at a receiving ..station 54, and is released at a release station 55, by orienting wheel 51 rotating 180° about axis of rotation 52. In other words, each pocket 53 receives an inner container 3 from a conveyor line at a receiving station 54, releases the inner container 3 to the same conveyor line at a release station 55 downstream from receiving station 54, and, in transferring inner container 3 from receiving station 54^' to release station 55, rotates it 180° about vertical axis of rotation 52.

As shown in Figures _.19-21, manipulating station 34 comprises two orienting conveyors 56, each located along and intercepting a corresponding conveyor line. Each orienting conveyor 56 comprises an orienting wheel 57 mounted to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation 58 crosswise to the two paths P (the two orienting wheels 57 are positioned coaxially one over the other) ; two independent electric motors (not shown) rotate orienting wheels 57 in steps about axis of rotation 58; and each orienting wheel 57 supports twelve U-shaped pockets^' 59.

Orienting wheels 57 are never stopped,, .in that they serve to transfer inner containers 3 from belt conveyors 39 to belt conveyors 40.

As each orienting wheel. 57 rotates in steps about axis of rotation 58, at manipulating station 34, an inner container 3 on the conveyor line is engaged by a pocket 59 at a receiving station .60, and is released at a release station 61, by orienting wheel 57 rotating 180° about axis of rotation 58. In other words, each pocket 59 receives an inner container 3 from a conveyor line at a receiving station 60, releases the inner container 3 to the same conveyor line at a release station 61 downstream from receiving station 60, and, in transferring inner container 3 from receiving station 60 to release station 61, rotates it 180° about vertical axis of rotation 58.

An orienting member 62 extends about each orienting wheel 57, and is designed to impart to each inner container 3, travelling inside pocket 59 from receiving station 60 to release station 61, a further 90° rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation crosswise to axis of rotation 58 of orienting wheel 57. More specifically, each orienting member 62 is defined by a channel, which extends about respective orienting wheel 57, surrounds and guides inner container 3 from receiving station 60 to release station 61, is designed to rotate inner container 3 90°, and comprises a number of round rails forming the walls of the channel and supported by four transverse supporting members. In a preferred embodiment, the rails are arranged to engage at least two opposite edges of inner container 3.

As . stated, orienting wheels 57 are never stopped, in that they serve to transfer inner containers 3 from belt conveyors 39 to belt conveyors 40, but orienting members 62 can be dismantled quickly -to eliminate further rotation of inner containers 3 by orienting members 62.

As shown in Figure 22, manipulating station 35 comprises a grouping device 63 positioned Crosswise to the two conveyor . lines to group an inner container 3 on the . top conveyor line with an inner container 3 on the bottom conveyor line, by moving the inner container 3 on the top conveyor line in a direction perpendicular to the two paths P onto the bottom conveyor line. Downstream from grouping device 63, the bottom conveyor line supplies output station 24 with a succession of groups, each comprising two inner containers 3, and the top conveyor line supplies no inner containers 3 to output station 24 (as shown in Figures 24 and 25) .

Grouping device 63 comprises a belt conveyor 64 positioned- crosswise to the two conveyor lines and in turn comprising a belt, and a number of partitions projecting perpendicularly, from the belt to form respective seats 65 for inner containers 3. Each seat 65 on belt conveyor 64 is oriented to let through the inner containers 3 travelling along paths P.

When belt conveyor 64 is stationary, at manipulating station 35, the inner containers 3 on belt conveyors 40 of the two conveyor lines are fed, unmanipulated, through seats 65 on belt conveyor 64 (as shown in Figures 11 and 12). More specifically, static supporting surface 43 of the top belt conveyor 40 is interrupted partly at belt conveyor 64 and replaced locally by a partition on belt conveyor 64.

When belt conveyor 64 is moved in steps, at manipulating station 35, an inner container 3 on the top conveyor line is transferred to the bottom conveyor line and paired with an inner container 3 on the bottom conveyor line (as shown in Figures 24 and 25) .

It is important to note that the attached drawings are purely schematic, and, for the sake of clarity, do not show various minor component part. In actual fact, all the above conveyors are equipped with fixed rails (not shown, to permit a clear view of the conveyors) extending along the paths, of inner containers 3 and defining ^channels' for guiding inner containers 3 along predetermined routes.

As shown in Figures 13 and 16, transfer unit 22 comprises - two compensating, conveyors 66, .each of which is connected to a respective conveyor line, extends crosswise to path P, contains a reserve of inner containers 3, and travels in an insertion direction to transfer an inner container 3 from the reserve to the conveyor line, and in a withdrawal direction, opposite the. insertion direction, to transfer an inner container 3 from the conveyor line to the reserve.

Each compensating conveyor 66 is a belt conveyor, and comprises a belt with a number of partitions projecting perpendicularly from the belt to form respective seats 67 for inner containers 3. More specifically, the compensating conveyor 66 connected to the top conveyor line is located beneath' the inner containers 3 travelling along path P, so the .inner containers 3 are supported from underneath on the belt of compensating conveyor 66; whereas the compensating conveyor 66 connected to the bottom conveyor line is located 'over' the inner containers 3 travelling along path P, so the inner containers 3 are supported from underneath on (and, when moving, slide along) a static supporting surface (not shown) . Each seat 67 of each compensating conveyor 66 is perpendicular to path P, and is open on both sides to allow inner containers 3 through when compensating conveyor 66 is stationary.

^'In one embodiment shown in Figure 16, transfer unit 22 ^"comprises a bin 68 for inner containers 3, located beneath a first end of compensating conveyors 66 close to the conveyor lines; and/or a bin 69 for inner containers 3, located beneath a second end of compensating conveyors 66 opposite the first end and

*far' from the conveyor lines. Bin 68 is normally used to collect reject inner containers 3 (i.e. faulty inner containers 3 removed from paths P) detected at a quality control station (not shown) upstream from transfer unit 22. To reject an inner container 3 from respective path P, when the reject inner container 3 is engaged inside a seat 67 on one of compensating conveyors 66, the compensating conveyor 66 is moved forward one step' to push the inner container 3 off path P and by gravity into bin 68 underneath. Bin 69 is normally used to collect sample inner containers 3 for quality control

(e.g. the first fifty inner containers 3 produced at the start of a production shift or after a branch change) . To collect sample inner containers 3, each compensating conveyor 66 is run for a given length of time to remove the target number of inner containers 3 from path P and drop them by gravity into bin 69 underneath.

As shown in Figure 23, transfer unit 22 comprises a feed device 70 located . at output station 24 to feed inner containers 3 from each conveyor line to packing unit -21. For each conveyor line, feed device 70 comprises an. elector 71, which, in a first movement perpendicular to path P, ejects inner containers 3 from the respective conveyor line into a first intermediate position facing an input pocket (i.e. a. pocket on packing wheel 36) of packing unit 21; and a pusher 72, which pushes inner containers 3, in a second movement parallel to path P., from the first intermediate position into the input pocket of packing unit 21.

Each ejector 71 comprises a C-shaped ejector pocket 73 movable back and forth between an. insertion position, in which ejector pocket 73 is traversed by path P, and a withdrawn position, in which ejector pocket 73 is in the first intermediate position, at a given distance from path P.

In the Figure 23 embodiment, feed device 70 feeds inner containers 3 to packing wheel 36, i.e. each inner container 3 is inserted into a respective pocket on packing wheel 36, in an axial feed direction (i.e. parallel to the axis of rotation of packing wheel 36) .

In an alternative embodiment not shown, feed device 70 feeds inner containers 3 to packing wheel 36, i.e. each inner container 3 is inserted into a respective pocket on packing wheel 36, in a radial feed direction (i.e. perpendicular to the axis of rotation of packing wheel 36) , and, for each conveyor line, comprises ejector 71, which, in a first movement perpendicular to^" path P, . ejects^' inner containers 3 ^'from the respective conveyor line into a first intermediate position; pusher 72, which pushes inner containers 3, in a second movement parallel to path P, from the first intermediate position into a second intermediate position facing an input pocket (i.e. a pocket on packing .wheel 36) of packing unit 21; and a further pusher (not shown) , which pushes inner containers 3, in a third movement perpendicular to path P, from the second intermediate posit_.ion into the input pocket of packing unit_.21.

As stated, transfer unit. 22 comprises four manipulating stations 32-35 that can be activated or deactivated individually, depending on the desired orientation and/or grouping of inner containers 3. In other words, some of manipulating stations 32-35 may be activated (and the rest left idle) to perform all or only the desired orienting and/or grouping operations on inner containers 3.

In the Figure 9, 11 and 12 embodiment, only manipulating stations 33 and 34 are activated (i.e. actually work on inner containers 3), and manipulating stations 32 and 35 are deactivated (i.e. do no work on inner containers 3) . At manipulating station 33, inner containers 3 are rotated 180° about a vertical axis of rotation and, at manipulating station 34, are rotated 18,0° about a vertical axis of rotation (which cancels out the 180°^' rotation about a vertical- axis of rotation at manipulating station 33), and are also rotated 90° about a horizontal axis of rotation. '

In the Figure 24 and 25. embodiment, manipulating station 33 is only partly activated (i.e. is only activated for the top conveyor line) and so actually works on inner containers 3 on the top conveyor line, and does no work on inner containers 3 on the bottom conveyor line; manipulating stations 34 and 35 are activated (i.e. actually work on inner containers 3); and manipulating station 32 is deactivated (i.e. does no work on inner containers 3). At manipulating station 33, inner containers .3 on the top conveyor line are rotated 180° about a vertical axis of rotation (whereas inner containers 3 on the bottom conveyor line are unaffected). At manipulating station 34, inner containers 3 are rotated 180° about a vertical axis of rotation (which cancels out the 180° rotation about a vertical axis performed on inner containers 3 on the top conveyor line at manipulating station 33) and are also rotated 90° about a horizontal axis of rotation. And, at manipulating station 35, inner containers 3 are formed into groups each of two superimposed inner containers 3, on the bottom conveyor line. In the Figure 26 embodiment, manipulating stations 32, 33 and 34 are activated (i.e. actually work on inner containers 3), and manipulating station 35 is deactivated (i.e. does no work on inner containers 3). At manipulating station 32, inner containers 3 are rotated 180° about, a horizontal axis of rotation. At manipulating station 33, inner containers 3 are rotated 180° about a vertical axis of rotation. And, at manipulating station 34, inner containers 3 are rotated 180° about a vertical axis of rotation (which cancels out the 180° rotation about a vertical axis of rotation performed at manipulating station 33) , and are also rotated 90° about a horizontal axis of rotation.

In the Figure 27 embodiment, manipulating stations 34 and 35 are activated (i.e. actually work on inner containers 3) and manipulating stations 32 and 33 are deactivated (i.e. do no work on inner containers 3). At manipulating station 34, inner containers 3 are rotated 180° about a vertical axis of rotation, and 90° about a horizontal axis of rotation; and, at manipulating station 35, inner containers 3 are formed into groups, each of two superimposed inner containers 3, on the bottom conveyor line.

Manipulating stations 32-35 described (which can be fully or partly activated or deactivated, depending on the packet 1 of cigarettes being produced) provide for manipulating inner containers 3 as required to produce a wide range of packets 1 of cigarettes. In the case -of an exceptionally complex packet 1 of cigarettes, however, an additional manipulating station may be required.

Transfer unit 22 described has numerous advantages.

In particular, by selectively activating or deactivating manipulating stations 32-35 quickly and easily, it provides for performing substantially any orienting and/or grouping operation on inner containers 3 specific to each type of rigid packet of cigarettes producible on packing machine 19. When changing brands (i.e. switching from production of one type of rigid packet of cigarettes to another), packing machine 19 can be adapted quickly and, by virtue of transfer unit 22 described, is therefore highly 'flexible' by being adaptable quickly to a wide range of rigid packets of cigarettes.

Moreover, transfer unit 22 described is cheap and easy to produce, by comprising conventional (individual) component parts.

Claims

1) A packing machine for producing rigid packets, each comprising at least two containers (3, 4), one inside the other; the packing machine (19) comprising: a first packing, unit (20) for producing inner containers (3) by folding inner blanks (17) about corresponding articles;

a second packing unit (21) for producing outer containers (4) by folding outer blanks (18) about corresponding inner containers (3); and

a transfer unit (22), which receives the inner containers (3) from the first packing unit (20) at an input station (23) and feeds the inner containers (3) to the second packing unit (21) at an output station (24); wherein the transfer unit (22) comprises at least one conveyor line, which feeds a succession of inner containers (3) along a path (P) extending between the input station (23) and the output station (24); and at least one manipulating station (32,. 33, 35) located along the path (P) and for orienting and/or grouping the inner containers (3) ;

the packing machine (19) being characterized in that:

the transfer unit (22) comprises at least three manipulating stations. (32, 33, 35) , each for orienting and/or grouping the inner containers (3) ; and

each manipulating station (32, 33, 35) of the transfer unit (22) is activatable to actually orient and/or group the inner containers (3), or deactivatable to perform, no operation on the inner containers (3), depending on the desired orientation and/or grouping of the inner containers (3) .

2) A packing machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transfer unit (22) comprises at least two orienting conveyors (43, 50, 56), each of which is located at a corresponding manipulating station (32, 33, 34) along the conveyor line, locally intercepts the conveyor line, and comprises a pocket (47, 53, 59), which receives an inner container (3) from the conveyor line at a receiving station (48, 49, 54, 60), releases the inner container (3) to the conveyor line at a release station (49, 48, 55, 61), and, in transferring the inner container (3) from the receiving station (48, 49, 54, 60) to the release station (49, 48, 55, 61), rotates the inner container (3) at least 90° and/or 180°.

3) A packing machine as claimed in Claim 2, wherein :

the path (P) is straight;

each orienting conveyor (43, 50, 56) comprises an orienting wheel (44, 51, 57) mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation (45, 52, 58), and which rotates 180° about the axis of rotation (45, 52, 58) to transfer each inner container (3) from the receiving station (48, 49, 54, 60) to the release station (49, 48, 55, 61) and rotate the inner container (3) 180°; and a first axis of rotation (45) of a first orienting wheel (44) is parallel to the path (P) , and a second axis of rotation (52, 58) of a second orienting wheel (51, 57) is perpendicular to the path (P) and therefore to the first axis of rotation (45) .

.4) A packing machine as claimed in Claim 3, wherein:

the transfer unit (22) comprises two conveyor lines for respectively feeding two successions of inner containers (3) along two straight parallel paths (P) ; and the pocket (47) of the first orienting wheel (44) receives an inner container (3) from one conveyor line at the receiving station (48, 49), and releases the inner container (3) to the other conveyor line at the release station (49, 48).

5) A packing machine as claimed in Claim 4, wherein a first pocket (47) of the first orienting wheel (44) receives an inner container (3) from a first conveyor line at the receiving station (48), and releases the inner container (3) to a second conveyor line at the release station (49); and, at the same time, a second pocket (47) of the first orienting wheel (44) receives an inner container (3) from the second conveyor line at the receiving station (49), and releases the inner container (3) to the first conveyor line at the release station (48) .

6) A packing machine as claimed in Claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein a third axis of rotation (58) of a third orienting wheel (57) is crosswise to the path (P) ; and the transfer unit (22) comprises an orienting member (62) extending about the third orienting wheel (57) and designed to further rotate the inner container (3), travelling from the receiving station (60) to the release station (61)., about a fourth axis of rotation crosswise to the third axis of rotation (58) of the third orienting wheel (57) .

7) A packing machine as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the orienting member (62) comprises a channel, which extends about the third orienting wheel (57), surrounds and guides the inner container (3) from the receiving station (60) to the release station (61), and is designed to rotate the inner container (3) about the fourth axis of rotation.

8) A packing machine as claimed in any one of Claims 3-7, wherein the conveyor line comprises at least two belt conveyors (39, 40) arranged in series and separated by at least one orienting wheel (57), and each of .which comprises a belt, and a number of partitions perpendicular to the belt to define respective seats (41) for the inner containers (3).

9) A packing machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1-8, wherein the transfer unit (22) comprises a compensating conveyor (66), which is perpendicular to the path (P), contains a reserve of inner containers (3), moves in an insertion direction to transfer an inner container (3) from the reserve to the conveyor line, arid moves in a withdrawal direction, opposite the insertion direction, to transfer an inner container (3) from the conveyor line to the reserve.

10) A packing .machine as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the transfer unit (22) comprises at least- one first bin (68) for the inner containers (3), located beneath a first end of the compensating conveyor (66); and/or at least one second bin (69) for the inner containers (3), located beneath a second end, opposite the first end, of the compensating conveyor (66).

11) A packing machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1-10, wherein the transfer unit (22) comprises: two conveyor lines for respectively feeding two successions of inner containers (3) . along two straight parallel paths (P) ; and

a grouping device (63) positioned crosswise to the two conveyor lines at a respective manipulating station (35), and which groups together an inner container (3) of a first conveyor line and an inner container (3) of a second conveyor line, by moving one inner container (3) from the first conveyor line to the second conveyor line in a direction perpendicular to the two paths (P) :

wherein, downstream from the grouping device (63), the second conveyor line feeds the output station (24) with a succession of groups, each comprising two inner containers (3), and the first conveyor line feeds no inner containers (3) to the output station (24) .

12) A packing machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1-11, wherein:

the transfer unit (22) comprises a feed device (70) located at the output station (24) to feed the inner containers (3) from the conveyor, line to the second packing unit (21) ; and

the feed device (70) comprises an ejector (71) for ejecting the inner containers (3) from the conveyor line, in a first movement perpendicular to the path (P), into a first intermediate position facing an input pocket Of the second packing unit (21) ; and a pusher (72) for pushing the inner containers (3), in a second movement parallel to the path (P), from the first intermediate position into the input pocket of the second packing unit (21) .

13) A packing machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1-11, wherein:

the transfer unit (22) comprises a feed device (70) located at the output, station (24) to feed the inner containers (3) from the conveyor line to the second packing unit (21) ; and

the feed device (70) comprises an ejector (71) for ejecting the inner containers (3) from the conveyor line, in a first movement perpendicular to the path (P), into a first intermediate position; a first pusher (72) for pushing the inner containers (3), in a second movement parallel to the path (P) , from the first intermediate position to a second intermediate position facing an input pocket of the second packing unit (21) ; and a second pusher for pushing the inner containers (3) , in a third movement perpendicular to the path (P) , from the second intermediate position into the input pocket of the second packing unit (21) .

14) A packing machine as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, wherein the ejector (71) comprises a C-shaped ejector pocket (73) movable back and forth between an insertion position, in which the ejector pocket (73) is traversed by the path (P) , and a withdrawn position, in which the ejector pocket (73) is in the first intermediate position, at a given distance from the path (P) .

15) A packing method for producing rigid packets, each comprising at least two containers (3, 4), one inside the other; the packing method comprising the steps of:

producing inner containers (3) by folding inner blanks (17) about corresponding articles on a first packing unit (20) ;

producing outer containers (4) by folding outer blanks (18) about corresponding inner containers (3) on a second packing unit (21) ; and

transferring the inner containers (3) from the first packing unit (20) to the second packing unit (21) by means of a transfer unit (22), which receives the inner containers (3) from the first- packing unit (20) at an input station (23), feeds the inner containers (3) to the second packing unit (21) at an output station (24), and comprises at least three manipulating stations (32, 33, 35) , . each . for orienting- and/or grouping the inner containers (3);

the packing method being. characterized in that each manipulating station (32, 33, 35) of the transfer unit (22) is activatable to actually orient and/or group_. the inner containers (3), or deactivatable to perform no operation on the inner containers (3) , depending on the desired orientation and/or grouping of the inner containers ( 3 ) .

16) A packing machine for producing rigid packets, each comprising at least two containers (3, 4), one inside the. other; the packing machine (19) comprising: a first packing unit (20) for producing inner containers (3) by folding inner blanks (17) about corresponding articles;

a transfer unit (22), which receives the inner containers (3) from the first packing unit (20) at an input station (23), feeds the inner containers (3) to the second packing unit (21) at an output station (24), and performs at least one orienting and/or grouping operation on the inner containers (3) at a manipulating station (32, 33, 34, 35) between the input station (23) and the output station (24);

wherein the transfer unit (22) comprises at least one conveyor line, which feeds a succession of inner containers (3) along a path (?) extending between the input station (23) and the output station (24) .