EP2850002B1 - Procédé d'emballage et machine de fabrication d'un paquet de cigarettes à rabat rigide sur le revers - Google Patents

Procédé d'emballage et machine de fabrication d'un paquet de cigarettes à rabat rigide sur le revers Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2850002B1
EP2850002B1 EP12728789.4A EP12728789A EP2850002B1 EP 2850002 B1 EP2850002 B1 EP 2850002B1 EP 12728789 A EP12728789 A EP 12728789A EP 2850002 B1 EP2850002 B1 EP 2850002B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
panel
packing
container
folding
containers
Prior art date
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Not-in-force
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EP12728789.4A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP2850002A1 (fr
Inventor
Gilberto Spirito
Roberto Polloni
Stefano Negrini
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GD SpA
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GD SpA
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/12—Inserting the cigarettes, or wrapped groups thereof, into preformed containers
    • B65B19/20—Inserting the cigarettes, or wrapped groups thereof, into preformed containers into boxes with hinged lids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/22—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
    • B65B19/223—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers in a curved path; in a combination of straight and curved paths, e.g. on rotary tables or other endless conveyors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/22—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
    • B65B19/228—Preparing and feeding blanks

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a packing method and machine for producing a rigid, swing-open packet of cigarettes.
  • Patent EP2017198B1 describes a rigid, swing-open packet of cigarettes comprising: two inner packages, each containing a wrapped group of cigarettes; two inner containers, each housing a respective inner package; an outer container housing the two inner containers and having two opposite open lateral ends; and two hinges, each connecting an inner container to the outer container to allow the inner container to rotate between a closed position inserted inside the outer container, and an open position at least partly extracted from the outer container.
  • Each hinge is located close to a bottom wall edge of the inner container and a bottom wall edge of the outer container, at an open lateral end of the outer container.
  • Patent EP2017198B1 has proved extremely popular in terms of the ease with which the inner containers are opened (i.e. extracted from the outer container), but manufacturing it on known packing machines has proved unsatisfactory in terms of output.
  • Number 1 in Figures 1-3 indicates as a whole a rigid, swing-open packet of cigarettes.
  • the packet 1 of cigarettes in Figures 1-3 comprises two inner packages 2 ( Figure 2 ); two rigid, parallelepiped-shaped inner containers 3, each housing an inner package 2; and a rigid, parallelepiped-shaped outer container 4 housing inner containers 3.
  • Each inner container 3 is hinged to outer container 4 to rotate, with respect to outer container 4, between a closed position ( Figure 1 ) fully inserted inside outer container 4, and an open position ( Figure 2 ) partly extracted from outer container 4 for access to inner package 2.
  • Each inner package 2 comprises a group of cigarettes (not shown) arranged in a number of rows; and a sheet of foil wrap wrapped about and fully enclosing the group of cigarettes.
  • each inner container 3 is in the form of a cup-shaped parallelepiped, and comprises an open top end 5 for access to inner package 2; a bottom wall 6 opposite open top end 5; a front wall 7; a rear wall 8 opposite and parallel to front wall 7; and two opposite parallel lateral walls 9.
  • Outer container 4 is also parallelepiped-shaped, and comprises a top wall 10; a bottom wall 11 opposite and parallel to top wall 10; two opposite parallel lateral walls 12; and two opposite open lateral ends 13, through which respective inner containers 3 are extracted/inserted from/into outer container 4 into the open/closed position.
  • Each inner container 3 is hinged to outer container 4 by a hinge 14 between an edge of bottom wall 6 of inner container 3 and an edge of bottom wall 11 of outer container 4, at open lateral end 13 of outer container 4.
  • rear wall 8 of each inner container 3 is lower than front wall 7, so that, in the closed position, front wall 7 closes the respective open lateral end 13 of outer container 4 completely, and rear wall 8 does not impede rotation about hinge 14 of inner container 3 with respect to outer container 4 by interfering with top wall 10 of outer container 4. Also, the top portion of each lateral wall 9 of each inner container 3 is shaped to connect front wall 7 to rear wall 8 smoothly and compensate for the difference in height.
  • Packet 1 of cigarettes has stops for limiting withdrawal, and preventing detachment, of each inner container 3 from outer container 4, and which, for each inner container 3, comprise two retaining tabs 15 projecting outwards of inner container 3 from lateral walls 9 and located close to rear wall 8 of inner container 3; and two retaining tabs 16 projecting inwards of outer container 4 from lateral walls 12 and located close to open lateral end 13 of outer container 4.
  • each retaining tab 15 slides inside a respective retaining tab 16 to arrest withdrawal of inner container 3.
  • each lateral wall 12 of outer container 4 has a recess close to each open lateral end 13, to allow the user to grip and exert pull on lateral walls 9 of each inner container 3.
  • packet 1 of cigarettes comprises two inner containers 3, each housed inside and hinged to outer container 4 by a hinge 14 to rotate between the open and closed positions.
  • packet 1 of cigarettes comprises one inner container 3 housed inside and hinged to outer container 4 by a hinge 14 to rotate between the open and closed positions.
  • outer container 4 is half the size of outer container 4 in the Figure 1-3 embodiment, and one of the two open lateral ends 13 of the Figure 1-3 outer container 4 is closed by a further lateral wall.
  • each inner container 3 comprises a lid 29 hinged to inner container 3 by a hinge 30 to rotate with respect to inner container 3 between an open position opening open top end 5, and a closed position closing open top end 5.
  • Each lid 29 comprises a rectangular top wall 31, which is opposite and parallel to bottom wall 6 of inner container 3 when lid 29 is closed; a rectangular rear wall 32, which forms an extension of rear wall 8 of inner container 3 when lid 29 is closed; and two triangular lateral walls 33, which form extensions of lateral walls 9 of inner container 3 when lid 29 is closed.
  • Hinge 30 of each lid 29 connects a top edge of rear wall 8 of inner container 3 to a bottom edge of rear wall 32 of lid 29.
  • each lid 29 has a control system 34 connecting it to outer container 4 so that, when inner container 3 is extracted/inserted from/into outer container 4, lid 29 is connected to outer container 4 to open/close lid 29.
  • each lid 29 opens/closes 'automatically', when inner container 3 is extracted/inserted, with no assistance from the user.
  • each control system 34 comprises a control tab 35 extending inwards of outer container 4 from an edge of top wall 10 of outer container 4; and a slot 36 formed through top wall 31 of lid 29, and which is engaged by control tab 35.
  • each inner container 3 is formed by folding a flat, substantially elongated rectangular inner blank 17, the parts of which are indicated, where possible, using the same reference numbers, with superscripts, as for the corresponding parts of inner container 3.
  • Inner blank 17 has two longitudinal fold lines 18, and a number of transverse fold lines 19 which define, between longitudinal fold lines 18, a panel 8' forming rear wall 8; a panel 6' forming bottom wall 6; and a panel 7' forming front wall 7.
  • Panel 7' has a reinforcing flap 20 connected to panel 7' along a transverse fold line 19, and which is folded 180° onto panel 7' to reinforce the top of front wall 7.
  • Panel 8' has two lateral wings 9', which form respective inner portions of lateral walls 9, are located on opposite sides of panel 8', and are separated from panel 8' by longitudinal fold lines 18.
  • Panel 7' has two lateral wings 9", which form respective outer portions of lateral walls 9, are located on opposite sides of panel 7', and are separated from panel 7' by longitudinal fold lines 18.
  • Each lateral wing 9' of panel 8' has a tab 21 separated from lateral wing 9' by a transverse fold line 19, and which is folded 90° with respect to lateral wing 9' and fixed to an inner surface of panel 6'.
  • a window 22, containing a respective retaining tab 15, is formed in each lateral wing 9'; and each lateral wing 9" has a recess 23 designed to overlap a respective retaining tab 15.
  • Inner blank 17 also comprises a panel 32', which forms rear wall 32 of lid 29 and is connected to panel 8' along hinge 30; a panel 31', which forms top wall 31 of lid 29; and two lateral wings 33' forming lateral walls 33 of lid 29, and each of which has a tab 37, which is folded 90° with respect to lateral wing 33', is fixed to an inner surface of panel 31', and closes slot 36 from the inside. More specifically, each tab 37 has a triangular recess, so as not to close slot 36 completely; and tabs 37 serve to retain control tab 35 inside slot 36 once it is inserted. It is important to note that, to insert control tab 35 inside slot 36, tabs 37 must deform elastically, and so act like springs, which exert pressure on control tab 35 to press it against top wall 31 of lid 29.
  • panels 7' and 8' are folded 90° with respect to panel 6'; lateral wings 9' are folded 90° with respect to panel 8'; and lateral wings 9" are folded 90° with respect to panel 7' onto the folded lateral wings 9'.
  • outer container 4 is formed by folding a flat, substantially elongated rectangular outer blank 24, the parts of which are indicated, where possible, using the same reference numbers, with superscripts, as for the corresponding parts of outer container 4.
  • Outer blank 24 has two longitudinal fold lines 25, and a number of transverse fold lines 26 which define, between longitudinal fold lines 25, a panel 11' forming an inner portion of bottom wall 11; a panel 12' forming one lateral wall 12; a panel 10' forming top wall 10; a panel 12" forming the other lateral wall 12; and a panel 11" forming an outer portion of bottom wall 11.
  • Panel 10' has two inner flaps 27, which are located on opposite sides of panel 10', are separated from panel 10' by longitudinal fold lines 25, and are folded 180° onto panel 10' to reinforce top wall 10. And a window 38, containing a respective control tab 35, is formed in each inner flap 27.
  • Panels 12' and 12" each have two retaining tabs 16, which are located on opposite sides of panel 12', 12", are separated from panel 12', 12" by longitudinal fold lines 25, and are folded 180° onto panel 12', 12".
  • Panel 11' has two connecting tabs 28, which are located on opposite sides of panel 11', are separated from panel 11' by longitudinal fold lines 25, and are folded 180° onto panel 11'.
  • hinges 14 are separate from longitudinal fold lines 25, so, to rotate inner container 3 with respect to outer container 4 about hinge 14, formed by a fold line parallel to longitudinal fold lines 25, the portion, between hinge 14 and the adjacent longitudinal fold line 25, of the transverse fold line 26 separating panels 11' and 12' must be formed by a cut.
  • hinges 14 coincide with longitudinal fold lines 25: each connecting tab 28 is glued to bottom wall 6 of a respective inner container 3 to hinge inner container 3 to outer container 4, so the portion of longitudinal fold line 25 separating each connecting tab 28 from panel 11' therefore forms the hinge 14 of a respective inner container 3.
  • retaining tabs 16 are folded 180° onto panels 12' and 12"; inner flaps 27 are folded 180° onto panel 10'; connecting tabs 28 are folded 180° onto panel 11'; panels 12' and 12" are folded 90° with respect to panel 10'; panel 11' is folded 90° with respect to panel 12'; and panel 11" is folded 90° with respect to panel 12" onto the folded panel 11'.
  • Figure 6 shows a cigarette packing machine 39 for producing packets 1 of cigarettes as described above and shown in Figures 1-3 .
  • Packing machine 39 comprises a packing unit 40 (shown more clearly in Figure 7 ) for producing inner packages 2 by folding sheets 41 of foil wrap about respective groups 42 of cigarettes; a packing unit 43 for producing inner containers 3 by folding inner blanks 17 about respective inner packages 2; a packing unit 44 for producing outer containers 4 by folding outer blanks 24 about respective pairs of inner containers 3; and a transfer unit 45, which receives pairs of inner containers 3 from an output station 46 of packing unit 41, and feeds pairs of inner containers 3 to an input station 47 of packing unit 44, while at the same time orienting and grouping together the inner containers 3 in each pair.
  • a packing unit 40 shown more clearly in Figure 7
  • Packing machine 39 comprises a packing unit 40 (shown more clearly in Figure 7 ) for producing inner packages 2 by folding sheets 41 of foil wrap about respective groups 42 of cigarettes; a packing unit 43 for producing inner containers 3 by folding inner blanks 17 about respective inner packages 2; a packing unit 44 for producing outer containers 4 by folding outer blanks 24 about respective pairs of inner containers 3; and a transfer unit 45
  • packing unit 40 comprises a group-forming wheel for forming groups of cigarettes, and having a number of pockets, each for receiving a group 42 of cigarettes from the outlet of a hopper; and a packing conveyor having two straight, parallel, side by side packing lines, on which sheets 41 of foil wrap, cut off a continuous strip, are folded about groups 42 of cigarettes to form inner packages 2, which are then fed to packing unit 43.
  • packing unit 43 comprises a horizontal packing wheel 48, which rotates in steps about a vertical axis of rotation and has eight pairs of packing pockets 49, which packing wheel 48 rotates cyclically through eight stations S1-S8.
  • each pair of packing pockets 49 receives two inner blanks 17, each of which is fed downwards from a feed unit 50 ( Figure 6 ) into respective packing pocket 49, so that panel 8' rests on the bottom wall of packing pocket 49, and panel 6' and the two lateral wings 9' fold 90° with respect to panel 8'.
  • feed unit 50 Before feeding each inner blank 17 downwards into respective packing pocket 49, feed unit 50 performs a number of pre-folding operations: reinforcing flap 20 is folded 180° and glued to panel 7'; and tabs 21 are folded 90° with respect to wings 9' and spotted with glue (typically hot, fast-dry, fast-acting glue) on their outer faces (so as to ultimately glue to panel 6').
  • glue typically hot, fast-dry, fast-acting glue
  • tabs 37 of each inner blank 17 are folded 90° with respect to wings 33' onto the top wall of inner package 2.
  • a gumming device 51 sprays glue (typically hot, fast-dry, fast-acting glue) onto the outer faces of tabs 37 of each inner blank 17 (to ultimately glue tabs 37 to panel 31'); and panel 7' of each inner blank 17 starts folding 90° with respect to panel 6'.
  • glue typically hot, fast-dry, fast-acting glue
  • panel 31' of each inner blank 17 is folded 90° with respect to panel 32' onto the folded tabs 37, to which it glues; and panel 7' of each inner blank 17 finishes folding 90° with respect to panel 6'.
  • the two inner blanks 17, together with respective inner packages 2 are expelled from respective packing pockets 49 and fed to output station 46, where a gumming device 52 sprays glue (typically hot, fast-dry, fast-acting glue) onto wings 9" (or wings 9') of each inner blank 17, which are then folded 90° with respect to panel 7' to complete folding inner blank 17 and so complete inner container 3.
  • glue typically hot, fast-dry, fast-acting glue
  • the two inner blanks 17 for forming each pair of inner containers 3 differ as to the type and/or location of the graphics (images and writing) printed on the outer surface of inner blanks 17. Because the two inner containers 3 are positioned differently inside packet 1 of cigarettes (one on the 'right' and the other on the 'left' of packet 1), the graphics printed on the outer surface of each inner blank 17 must correspond with the actual position of the corresponding inner container 3 inside containers 3 in each pair are not interchangeable.
  • feed unit 50 To obtain two "different' inner containers 3 (identical structurally but differing as to the graphics printed on the outer surface of inner blanks 17), feed unit 50 must feed two different inner blanks 17 into respective packing pockets 49 at station S1, and so has two different feed paths with two different hoppers fed with different inner blanks 17.
  • the two hoppers of feed unit 50 may be fed with packs of inner blanks 17 either by two separate pallets (i.e. each containing one type of inner blank 17) or by a single pallet (on which packs of two types of inner blanks 17 are arranged in alternating rows).
  • Using one pallet for both types of inner blanks 17 has the advantage of requiring only one pallet unloading device, as opposed to two, when using two separate pallets.
  • transfer unit 45 comprises a manipulator 53, which rotates each inner container 3 ninety degrees about its longitudinal axis. It is important to note that manipulator 53 rotates the two inner containers 3 ninety degrees in opposite directions (i.e. rotates one inner container 3 ninety degrees clockwise, and the other inner container 3 ninety degrees anticlockwise). Once rotated, the two inner containers 3 are grouped together, i.e. are pushed transversely to bring rear walls 8 into contact with each other; and, downstream from manipulator 53, the two inner containers 3, formed into a group, are fed to input station 47 of packing unit 44.
  • transfer unit 45 comprises two fill-in devices 54 located upstream from manipulator 53, and each of which stores a number of corresponding inner containers 3, and supplies transfer unit 45 with a corresponding inner container 3 if this is found missing.
  • inner packages 2 i.e. folding inner blanks 17, non-supply of any of the materials (i.e. group 42 of cigarettes, sheet 41 of foil wrap, or inner blank 17) or a quality control reject results in an 'on-line gap' (i.e. an empty seat with no inner container 3) which, if fed to packing unit 44, would result in an incomplete packet 1 of cigarettes (i.e. containing only one inner container 3) which would have to be rejected.
  • an 'on-line gap' i.e.
  • the corresponding fill-in device 54 supplies transfer unit 45 with an inner container 3 from its internal store to fill in the 'gap' and so ensure a complete packet 1 of cigarettes.
  • the corresponding fill-in device 54 may remove the existing inner container 3 from the 'on-line gap' on transfer unit 45, so as to form no group of two inner containers 3 at all. In this way, an incomplete packet 1 of cigarettes is avoided (in fact, no packet 1 of cigarettes is formed at all) and the existing inner container 3 removed from transfer unit 45 can be saved and used again.
  • fill-in devices 54 remove inner containers 3 automatically from transfer unit 45 as described, for example, in Patent Application IT2012BO00062 .
  • packing unit 44 is connected to a feed unit 55 for feeding packing unit 44 with partly pre-folded outer blanks 24 as shown in Figure 9 , in which the two connecting tabs 28 are folded 180° about the two longitudinal fold lines 25 onto panel 11'; the four retaining tabs 16 are folded 180° about the two longitudinal fold lines 25 onto corresponding panels 12' and 12"; and the two inner flaps 27 are folded 180° about the two longitudinal fold lines 25 onto panel 10'.
  • connecting tabs 28 are glued to panel 11' by glue 56 ( Figure 10 )
  • retaining tabs 16 are glued to corresponding panels 12' and 12" by glue 57
  • inner flaps 27 are glued to panel 10' by glue 58 ( Figure 10 ).
  • connecting tabs 28 are not glued to panel 11' (i.e. no glue 56 is applied, but glue 57 and glue 58 are).
  • feed unit 55 comprises a station S9 where an outer blank 24 is withdrawn from the bottom of a hopper; a station S10 where a gumming device 59 applies glue 56, 57 and 58 to outer blank 24; a station S11 where a folding device 60 folds tabs 16, 28 and flaps 27 a hundred-and-eighty degrees about the two longitudinal fold lines 25; and a station S12 where the pre-folded outer blank 24 is fed to packing unit 44.
  • outer blanks 24 are pre-folded off packing machine 39 (i.e. before being fed to feed unit 55), at the factory, for example, where they are made, thus greatly simplifying feed unit 55. Whichever the case, outer blanks 24 are fed to packing unit 44 pre-folded as shown in Figure 9 .
  • packing unit 44 comprises a horizontal packing wheel 61, which rotates in steps about a vertical axis of rotation and has eight packing pockets 62, which packing wheel 61 rotates cyclically through eight stations S13-S20.
  • an outer blanks 24, partly pre-folded as shown in Figure 9 is fed downwards from feed unit 55 into a packing pocket 62, so that panel 12' rests on the bottom wall of packing pocket 62, and panel 10' fold 90° with respect to panel 12' to form an L-shaped outer blank 24 as shown in Figure 12 .
  • a grouped pair of inner containers 3 from transfer unit 45 is inserted longitudinally into the L-folded outer blank 24 in the corresponding packing pocket 62, as shown in Figure 13 .
  • a gumming device 63 sprays glue (typically hot, fast-dry, fast-acting glue) onto the outer faces of connecting tabs 28 of outer blank 24 (so connecting tabs 28 ultimately glue to bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3) or onto bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3.
  • glue typically hot, fast-dry, fast-acting glue
  • panel 11' is folded 90° with respect to panel 12' onto bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3 (so connecting tabs 28 glue to bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3).
  • panel 12" is folded 90° with respect to panel 10' onto lateral walls 9 of inner containers 3.
  • a gumming device 64 sprays glue (typically hot, fast-dry, fast-acting glue) onto the outer face of panel 11' of outer blank 24 (so panel 11' ultimately glues to panel 11") or onto the inner face of panel 11".
  • glue typically hot, fast-dry, fast-acting glue
  • panel 11" is folded 90° with respect to panel 12" onto the folded panel 11' to complete folding outer blank 24 and so complete outer container 4.
  • outer container 4 is expelled radially from packing pocket 62 and fed to an output station of packing unit 44.
  • packing units 40 and 43 are two-line units, i.e. respectively process two inner packages 2 and two inner containers 3 at a time.
  • packing units 40 and 43 are one-line units, i.e. respectively process one inner package 2 and one inner container 3 at a time, so grouping by transfer unit 45 is more complicated, and also involves moving one inner container 3 longitudinally with respect to another to form pairs of side by side inner containers 3 for supply to packing unit 44.
  • Another embodiment not shown comprises two sets of packing units 40 and 43, each producing one inner container 3 at a time; and transfer unit 45 receives one inner container 3 from a first packing unit 43 (working with a corresponding first packing unit 40) and another inner container 3 from a second packing unit 43 (working with a corresponding second packing unit 40), and groups the two inner containers 3 together to form pairs of side by side inner containers 3 for supply to packing unit 44.
  • feed unit 50 supplies the two types of inner blanks 17 alternately, and comprises an optical control device for checking the correct sequence of inner blanks 17; and a reject device for eliminating any 'wrong' inner blanks 17 and ensuring the right sequence of inner blanks 17 is fed to packing wheel 48.
  • the embodiment shown in the drawings has no drying conveyors downstream from packing unit 43 and/or packing unit 44. If cold, slow-drying, slow-acting, vinyl (typically water-based) glue is used, however, known drying conveyors are provided downstream from packing unit 43 and/or packing unit 44.
  • panel 12' of outer blank 24 rests on the bottom wall of packing pocket 62.
  • panel 12" of outer blank 24 rests on the bottom wall of packing pocket 62; panel 12' is folded 90° with respect to panel 10' at station S16; panel 11' is folded 90° with respect to panel 12' onto bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3 at station S17; panel 11" is folded 90° with respect to panel 12" onto the folded panel 11' at station S18; gumming device 63 for spraying glue onto connecting tabs 28 is located between stations S16 and S17; and gumming device 64 for spraying glue onto the outer face of panel 11' is located between stations S17 and S18.
  • packing unit 44 comprises a retaining device 65 which, as panel 11' is folded 90° with respect to panel 12' onto bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3 (i.e. at station S16), fits onto top walls 31 of lids 29 of inner containers 3 to retain inner containers 3 longitudinally and ensure sufficient pressure on panel 11' and the bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3 to glue connecting tabs 28 firmly to bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3. Without retaining device 65, inner containers 3 could slip towards panel 10' (from which they are separated, as shown clearly in Figure 16 ), thus preventing sufficient pressure being applied to panel 11' and bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3.
  • packing unit 44 comprises a spacer 66 in accordance with the present invention, which, as panel 11' is folded 90° with respect to panel 12' onto bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3 (i.e. at station S16), fits between rear walls 8 of inner containers 3 to keep the two inner containers 3 a given distance apart as bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3 are glued to connecting tabs 28, and so keep inner containers 3 in the correct position, i.e. prevent them from opening slightly when in the closed position.
  • retaining device 65 and spacer 66 are defined by respective perpendicular edges on a common support 67, which moves vertically (i.e. perpendicularly to panel 12' of outer blank 24) between a rest position ( Figures 15 and 16 ) raised over inner containers 3, and a work position (not shown) substantially resting on lateral walls 9 of inner containers 3, with retaining device 65 inserted between top walls 31 of lid 29 of inner containers 3 and panel 10' of outer blank 24, and with spacer 66 inserted between rear walls 8 of inner containers 3.
  • retaining device 65 comprises a fixed (or even movable) body forming part of (i.e. fitted to) each packing pocket 62, and extending towards inner container 3 (i.e. towards the top of front wall 7 of inner container 3, which is the 'highest' point of inner container 3 and projects at least partly from outer container 4) to push inner container 3 longitudinally.
  • retaining device 65 is defined by a 'step' on packing pocket 62, which pushes on the top of front wall 7 of inner container 3 to push inner container 3 downwards.
  • retaining device 65 is defined by a 'projection' on packing pocket 62, which pushes on the top of front wall 7 of inner container 3 to push inner container 3 downwards.
  • Figures 17 , 18 and 19 show a variation of retaining device 67 and spacer 66, which comprises two side by side supports 67: a movable support 67a supporting a retaining device 65, which acts on one inner container 3; and a movable support 67b supporting both a retaining device 65, which acts on one inner container 3, and a spacer 66, which fits between rear walls 8 of the two inner containers 3 (as shown clearly in Figure 19 ).
  • a further embodiment (not shown) only has retaining device 65, i.e. has no spacer 66, and support 67 need not necessarily be movable; in which case, retaining device 65 engages/releases inner containers 3 by virtue of the rotation of packing wheel 61.
  • Figures 20 and 21 show a different embodiment of packing wheel 61 of packing unit 44, in which, as opposed to being horizontal and rotating in steps about a vertical axis of rotation as in the Figure 6 and 11 embodiment, packing wheel 61 is vertical and rotates in steps about a horizontal axis.
  • packing wheel 61 rotates the eight packing pockets 62 cyclically through eight stations S21-S28.
  • gumming device 63 sprays glue (typically hot, fast-drying, fast-acting glue) onto the inner faces of connecting tabs 28 of outer blank 24 (so connecting tabs 28 ultimately glue to bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3) or onto bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3.
  • glue typically hot, fast-drying, fast-acting glue
  • a packing pocket 62 simultaneously receives a partly folded outer blank 24 (as shown in Figure 9 ) and a grouped pair of inner containers 3 from transfer unit 45. More specifically, at station S21, outer blank 24 and the pair of inner containers 3 are inserted together upwards into packing pocket 62, so that panel 12' of outer blank 24 rests on the bottom wall of packing pocket 62, the two inner containers 3 rest on panel 12' of outer blank 24, and panel 11' of outer blank 24 folds 90° with respect to panel 12' onto bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3 to glue connecting tabs 28 to bottom walls 6 of inner containers 3.
  • panel 10' starts folding 90° with respect to panel 12'.
  • panel 10' finishes folding 90° with respect to panel 12'.
  • panel 12" starts folding 90° with respect to panel 10'.
  • panel 12" finishes folding 90° with respect to panel 10'.
  • gumming device 64 sprays glue (typically hot, fast-drying, fast-acting glue) onto the outer face of panel 11' of outer blank 24 (so panel 11' ultimately glues to panel 11") or onto the inner face of panel 11"; and outer container 4 is expelled radially from packing pocket 62, so that panel 11" of outer blank 24 folds 90° with respect to panel 12" onto the folded panel 11' to complete folding outer blank 24 and so complete outer container 4.
  • glue typically hot, fast-drying, fast-acting glue
  • the grouped pair of inner containers 3 is inserted upwards into packing pocket 62 using a horizontal, vertically moving support 67 with both retaining device 67 and spacer 66 (the functions of which are as already explained).
  • support 67 acts as a lifting device, i.e. forms part of a pusher, which lifts and inserts the grouped pair of inner containers 3 upwards into packing pocket 62, intercepting also outer blank 24.
  • hot glue referred to repeatedly in the above description may either be used on its own (i.e. only one type of glue is deposited) or together with cold, vinyl (typically water-based) glue, i.e. two different types of glue are deposited together or in rapid succession, one alongside the other.
  • packing machine 39 comprising a number of packing units 40, 43, 44. It is important to note that the arrangement shown is purely 'formal', in that packing units 40 and 43 may form a first independent packing machine (i.e. with its own independent frame and main motor); and packing unit 44 may form a second independent packing machine (i.e. with its own independent frame and main motor) connected to the first packing machine by transfer unit 45 (which may also comprise an intermediate compensating store of inner containers 3).
  • transfer unit 45 which may also comprise an intermediate compensating store of inner containers 3
  • packing machine 39 may comprise two separate packing machines connected by transfer unit 45.
  • a two-line first packing machine (comprising packing units 40 and 43) may be replaced with two one-line first packing machines (each comprising packing units 40 and 43) connected parallel by transfer unit 45.
  • the packing method and machine 39 described have numerous advantages.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Procédé de conditionnement pour produire un paquet de cigarettes rigide à ouverture pivotante (1), comprenant :
    deux emballages internes (2) contenant chacun un groupe enveloppé de cigarettes ;
    deux contenants internes (3) logeant chacun un emballage interne (2) respectif et formés par pliage d'une ébauche interne (17) ;
    un contenant externe (4), qui loge les contenants internes (3), comporte deux extrémités latérales ouvertes (13), et est formé par pliage d'une ébauche externe (24) comportant un premier panneau (11') formant une paroi inférieure (11) ; un deuxième panneau (12') formant une paroi latérale (12) ; un troisième panneau (10') formant une paroi supérieure (10) ; et un quatrième panneau (12") formant une autre paroi latérale (12) ; le premier panneau (11') comportant deux pattes de connexion (28) séparées du premier panneau (11') par des lignes de pliage longitudinales (25) respectives ; le deuxième panneau (12') comportant deux premières pattes de retenue (16) séparées du deuxième panneau (12') par des lignes de pliage longitudinales (25) respectives, et le quatrième panneau (12") comportant deux deuxièmes pattes de retenue (16) séparées du quatrième panneau (12") par des lignes de pliage longitudinales (25) respectives ; et le troisième panneau (10') comportant deux volets internes (27) séparés du troisième panneau (10') par des lignes de pliage longitudinales (25) respectives ; et
    deux articulations de connexion (14) reliant chacune un contenant interne (3) respectif au contenant externe (4) et formées dans le premier panneau (11') pour permettre au contenant interne (3) de tourner entre une position fermée, dans laquelle le contenant interne (3) est inséré à l'intérieur du contenant externe (4), et une position ouverte, dans laquelle le contenant interne (3) est, au moins en partie, extrait du contenant externe (4) ;
    le procédé de conditionnement comprenant les étapes consistant à :
    former les emballages internes (2) sur une première unité de conditionnement (40) ;
    déposer chaque emballage interne (2) sur une ébauche interne (17) respective ;
    plier chaque ébauche interne (17) autour d'un emballage interne (2) respectif pour former le contenant interne (3) sur une deuxième unité de conditionnement (43) ;
    déposer les deux contenants internes (3) côte à côte sur l'ébauche externe (24) ; et
    plier l'ébauche externe (24) autour des contenants internes (3) pour former le contenant externe (4) sur une troisième unité de conditionnement (44) ;
    le procédé de conditionnement étant caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend l'étape supplémentaire consistant à insérer un élément d'espacement (66) entre les parois arrière (8) des contenants internes (3), tandis que le premier panneau (11') est plié à 90° par rapport au deuxième panneau (12') sur les parois inférieures (6) des contenants internes (3).
  2. Procédé de conditionnement selon la revendication 1, dans lequel :
    le premier panneau (11') forme une partie interne de la paroi inférieure (11) du contenant externe (4) ; et
    l'ébauche externe (24) comprend un cinquième panneau (11"), qui forme une partie externe de la paroi inférieure (11) et est superposé et collé au premier panneau (11').
  3. Procédé de conditionnement selon la revendication 2, dans lequel l'étape de pliage de l'ébauche externe (24) autour des contenants internes (3) comprend les étapes supplémentaires consistant à :
    insérer l'ébauche externe (24) et les contenants internes (3) dans une poche de conditionnement (62) d'un transporteur de conditionnement (61) ;
    plier le contenant externe (24) en un "U" autour des contenants internes (3), de manière que le premier panneau (11') repose sur une paroi inférieure (6) de chaque contenant interne (3), et que le troisième panneau (10') soit tourné vers une paroi supérieure (31) de chaque contenant interne (3) ;
    plier le quatrième panneau (12") à 90° par rapport au troisième panneau (10') sur une paroi latérale (9) de chaque contenant interne (3) ; et
    plier le cinquième panneau (11") à 90° par rapport au quatrième panneau (12") sur le premier panneau (11') déjà plié.
  4. Procédé de conditionnement selon la revendication 3, dans lequel l'étape de pliage de l'ébauche externe (24) autour des contenants internes (3) comprend les étapes supplémentaires consistant à :
    encoller la patte de connexion (28) ou une paroi inférieure (6) de chaque contenant interne (3) avant de plier le premier panneau (11') à 90° par rapport au deuxième panneau (12') ; et
    encoller le cinquième panneau (11") ou le premier panneau (11') avant de plier le cinquième panneau (11") à 90° par rapport au quatrième panneau (12") sur le premier panneau (11') déjà plié.
  5. Procédé de conditionnement selon l'une des revendications 2 à 4, dans lequel l'étape d'insertion de l'ébauche externe (24) et des contenants internes (3) dans la poche de conditionnement (62) comprend les étapes supplémentaires consistant à :
    insérer l'ébauche externe (24) dans la poche de conditionnement (62) de manière que l'ébauche externe (24) se plie en un "L", par pliage du troisième panneau (10') à 90° par rapport au deuxième panneau (12') ; et
    insérer ensuite les contenants internes (3) dans la poche de conditionnement (62) de manière que les contenants internes (3) reposent sur le deuxième panneau (12') de l'ébauche externe (24).
  6. Procédé de conditionnement selon l'une des revendications 2 à 5, dans lequel l'étape d'insertion de l'ébauche externe (24) et des contenants internes (3) dans la poche de conditionnement (62) comprend l'étape supplémentaire consistant à insérer les contenants internes (3) et l'ébauche externe (24) conjointement dans la poche de conditionnement (62), de manière que les contenants internes (3) reposent sur le deuxième panneau (12') de l'ébauche externe (24).
  7. Procédé de conditionnement selon la revendication 6, et comprenant l'étape supplémentaire de pliage du premier panneau (11') à 90° par rapport au deuxième panneau (12') sur une paroi inférieure (6) de chaque contenant interne (3) simultanément à l'insertion de l'ébauche externe (24) et des contenants internes (3) dans la poche de conditionnement (62).
  8. Procédé de conditionnement selon la revendication 7, et comprenant les étapes supplémentaires consistant à :
    plier le troisième panneau (10') à 90° par rapport au deuxième panneau (12'), après pliage du premier panneau (11') à 90° ;
    plier le quatrième panneau (12") à 90° par rapport au troisième panneau (10') sur une paroi latérale (12) du contenant interne (3) ; et
    plier le cinquième panneau (11") à 90° par rapport au quatrième panneau (12") sur le premier panneau (11') déjà plié.
  9. Procédé de conditionnement selon l'une des revendications 1 à 8 et comprenant l'étape supplémentaire consistant à transférer deux contenants internes (3) de la deuxième unité de conditionnement (43) à la troisième unité de conditionnement (44) au moyen d'une unité de transfert (45) qui oriente et rassemble les deux contenants internes (3).
  10. Procédé de conditionnement selon la revendication 9, et comprenant les étapes supplémentaires consistant à :
    faire tourner les deux contenants internes (3) à 90° dans des directions opposées sur l'unité de transfert (45) ; et
    rassembler les deux contenants internes (3) ayant été tournés, en les faisant se contacter.
  11. Procédé de conditionnement selon l'une des revendications 1 à 10, et comprenant les étapes supplémentaires consistant à :
    détecter un "espace sur chaîne", c'est-à-dire un contenant interne (3) manquant, sur l'unité de transfert (45) ; et
    alimenter l'unité de transfert (45) en un contenant interne (3) supplémentaire, distribué par un dispositif de comblement (54) relié à l'unité de transfert (45), pour combler l'"espace sur chaîne" et former un groupe complet de deux contenants internes (3), ou enlever le contenant interne (3) de l'unité de transfert (45) au niveau de l'"espace sur chaîne", afin de ne former aucun groupe de deux contenants internes (3).
  12. Procédé de conditionnement selon l'une des revendications 1 à 11, et comprenant l'étape supplémentaire consistant à déplacer l'élément d'espacement (66) entre une position de repos distante des contenants internes (3) et une position opérante se situant entre les parois arrière (8) des contenants internes (3).
  13. Procédé de conditionnement selon l'une des revendications 1 à 12, et comprenant l'étape supplémentaire consistant à placer un dispositif de retenue (65) sur une paroi supérieure (31) de chaque contenant interne (3) tandis que le premier panneau (11') est plié à 90° par rapport au deuxième panneau (12') sur une paroi inférieure (6) de chaque contenant interne (3).
  14. Procédé de conditionnement selon la revendication 13, et comprenant l'étape supplémentaire consistant à déplacer le dispositif de retenue (65) entre une position de repos distante des contenants internes (3), et une position opérante en contact avec la paroi supérieure (31) de chaque contenant interne (3).
  15. Machine de conditionnement (39) pour produire un paquet de cigarettes rigide à ouverture pivotante (1), comprenant :
    deux emballages internes (2) contenant chacun un groupe enveloppé de cigarettes ;
    deux contenants internes (3) logeant chacun un emballage interne (2) respectif et formés par pliage d'une ébauche interne (17) ;
    un contenant externe (4), qui loge les contenants internes (3), comporte deux extrémités latérales ouvertes (13), et est formé par pliage d'une ébauche externe (24) comportant un premier panneau (11') formant une paroi inférieure (11) ; un deuxième panneau (12') formant une paroi latérale (12) ; un troisième panneau (10') formant une paroi supérieure (10) ; et un quatrième panneau (12") formant une autre paroi latérale (12) ; le premier panneau (11') comportant deux pattes de connexion (28) séparées du premier panneau (11') par des lignes de pliage longitudinales (25) respectives ; le deuxième panneau (12') comportant deux premières pattes de retenue (16) séparées du deuxième panneau (12') par des lignes de pliage longitudinales (25) respectives, et le quatrième panneau (12") comportant deux deuxièmes pattes de retenue (16) séparées du quatrième panneau (12") par des lignes de pliage longitudinales (25) respectives ; et le troisième panneau (10') comportant deux volets internes (27) séparés du troisième panneau (10') par des lignes de pliage longitudinales (25) respectives ; et
    deux articulations de connexion (14) reliant chacune un contenant interne (3) respectif au contenant externe (4) et formées dans le premier panneau (11') pour permettre au contenant interne (3) de tourner entre une position fermée, dans laquelle le contenant interne (3) est inséré à l'intérieur du contenant externe (4), et une position ouverte, dans laquelle le contenant interne (3) est, au moins en partie, extrait du contenant externe (4) ;
    la machine de conditionnement (39) comprenant :
    une première machine de conditionnement (40) pour former les emballages internes (2) ;
    une deuxième unité de conditionnement (43) pour déposer chaque emballage interne (2) sur une ébauche interne (17) respective et plier l'ébauche interne (17) autour de l'emballage interne (2) pour former le contenant interne (3) ; et
    une troisième unité de conditionnement (44) pour déposer les deux contenants internes (3) côte à côte sur l'ébauche externe (24) et plier l'ébauche externe (24) autour des contenants internes (3) pour former le contenant externe (4) ;
    la machine de conditionnement (39) étant caractérisée en ce que la troisième unité de conditionnement (44) comprend un élément d'espacement (66) qui est inséré entre les parois arrière (8) des contenants internes (3), tandis que le premier panneau (11') est plié à 90° par rapport au deuxième panneau (12') sur les parois inférieures (6) des contenants internes (3).
EP12728789.4A 2012-05-14 2012-05-14 Procédé d'emballage et machine de fabrication d'un paquet de cigarettes à rabat rigide sur le revers Not-in-force EP2850002B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IB2012/052402 WO2013171540A1 (fr) 2012-05-14 2012-05-14 Procédé d'emballage et machine de fabrication d'un paquet de cigarettes à rabat rigide sur le revers

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EP2850002A1 EP2850002A1 (fr) 2015-03-25
EP2850002B1 true EP2850002B1 (fr) 2016-04-27

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EP3070005B1 (fr) 2015-03-18 2017-10-25 G.D Societa' Per Azioni Procédé et machine d'emballage pour fabriquer des paquets d'articles de tabac, contenant chacun deux groupes distincts d'articles de tabac
ITUB20154801A1 (it) * 2015-10-16 2017-04-16 Gd Spa Macchina impacchettatrice e metodo di incarto per realizzare un pacchetto di articoli da fumo contenente due gruppi di articoli da fumo tra loro distinti.
KR102148301B1 (ko) * 2017-11-14 2020-08-26 에이스기계 주식회사 다형다종 물품을 포장하기 위한 케이스 제조 시스템
KR102148304B1 (ko) * 2017-11-28 2020-08-26 에이스기계 주식회사 다형다종 물품을 포장하기 위한 이중 케이스 제조 장치
IT201800004029A1 (it) * 2018-03-28 2019-09-28 Gd Spa Metodo e macchina per realizzare un pacchetto di articoli da fumo
IT201900000545A1 (it) * 2019-01-14 2020-07-14 Gd Spa Procedimento e apparecchiatura per confezionare prodotti in pacchetti a forma di scatola

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ITBO20040434A1 (it) * 2004-07-12 2004-10-12 Gd Spa Metodo per la formazione di un pacchetto a portafoglio a coperchio incernierato
DE102007009251A1 (de) * 2007-02-22 2008-08-28 Focke & Co.(Gmbh & Co. Kg) Packung für Zigaretten sowie Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Packungen
ITBO20070300A1 (it) * 2007-04-23 2008-10-24 Gd Spa Macchina impacchettrice e metodo di incarto per la produzione di pacchetti di sigarette con apertura a scorrimento.
ITBO20070480A1 (it) * 2007-07-17 2007-10-16 Gd Spa Pacchetto di sigarette rigido con apertura a basculante.
ITBO20080092A1 (it) * 2008-02-13 2009-08-14 Gd Spa Macchina impacchettatrice di sigarette per la realizzazione di un pacchetto rigido con coperchio incernierato.
DE102008027258A1 (de) * 2008-06-06 2009-12-10 Focke & Co.(Gmbh & Co. Kg) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Zigarettenpackungen

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JP2015520709A (ja) 2015-07-23
EP2850002A1 (fr) 2015-03-25
RU2014150542A (ru) 2016-07-20
RU2596036C2 (ru) 2016-08-27
WO2013171540A1 (fr) 2013-11-21

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