EP3468879B1

EP3468879B1 - Housing device for organized groups of smoking articles

Info

Publication number: EP3468879B1
Application number: EP17732827.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fiorenzo Draghetti; Antonio Caporale
Original assignee: IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Current assignee: IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Priority date: 2016-06-14
Filing date: 2017-06-13
Publication date: 2020-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-13
Also published as: EP3468879A1; ITUA20164360A1; WO2017216163A1; PL3468879T3

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described here concern a housing device for organized groups of smoking articles.
Other embodiments also concern a method and an apparatus for forming organized groups of smoking articles comprising said housing device.
In particular, embodiments described here concern the formation of organized groups of smoking articles to be wrapped in a wrapping sheet to form a bundle, such as for example cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or suchlike, to make packets of smoking articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that, as a result of regulations or legislation in the field of smoking articles, the free surface available in the design or sizing of the packets can, or will be able in the future to, be greatly reduced depending on the country. In particular, it is conceivable that in the future packets of smoking articles will have only certain predefined sizes, so that adapting the size of the packet to the actual size and the number of smoking articles contained therein could become difficult if not impossible.
For example, in the case of smoking articles with a reduced diameter, such as so-called "slim" cigarettes, or if it is desired to contain fewer smoking articles while maintaining the pre-determined size of the packet, it may become necessary to adapt the internal volume of the packets to prevent the smoking articles, either because of their smaller diameter, or because they are fewer in number, from moving freely inside the bundle in an unwanted manner, with the risk of being damaged.
To this purpose, one approach can be to provide, in the bundle formed by organized groups of smoking articles wrapped in a wrapping sheet, filling elements or inserts that compensate and fill the empty spaces caused by different sizes or quantities of smoking articles compared to the pre-determined volume of the packet.
In essence, the filling elements or inserts will define one or more dedicated compartments, in the bundle, with a volume coherent with the volume occupied by the smoking articles that will actually be provided in the bundle itself, thus preventing the smoking articles from being free to move in an unwanted manner.
In the field of packing machines, apparatuses are known for the formation of organized groups of smoking articles that provide feed devices configured to insert, by means of a thrust unit, one or more organized groups of smoking articles in forming drawers, or pockets, provided in suitable housing devices.
These known feed devices comprise one or more loading hoppers, provided along their vertical extension with a plurality of vertical outlets or conveying conducts, along which the smoking articles descend, aligned due to gravity, until they form an organized group on a lower stop plate.
A bottom portion of the column of smoking articles, formed on the lower stop plate, is transferred inside the forming drawer of one of the housing devices, which are typically attached to a linear or wheeled transfer unit.
In the case of wheeled transfer units, the housing devices are positioned on the periphery of the transfer wheel, which, driven step-wise, positions an empty forming drawer on each occasion with the entrance aperture facing toward the bottom portion of the column of smoking items to be transferred.
After the thrust unit has moved the organized groups into the forming drawer, the transfer wheel proceeds by positioning the forming drawer with the smoking articles in a second position, where the organized group of smoking articles is then transferred to a subsequent working station of the forming apparatus in order to obtain the finished packet.
In this context, there are various solutions to insert, inside the forming drawer, said filling elements or inserts before the transfer of the organized group of smoking articles inside the forming drawer itself.
It is precisely the step of transferring the organized groups of smoking articles into the forming drawer that can be critical, because the smoking articles can collide or interfere in their movement, particularly in the first introduction step, with the filling element or insert already present in the forming drawer, resulting in unwanted jamming, knocks, friction or blockages. This can be all the more undesirable if we consider the possibility that the smoking articles can be introduced into the forming drawer with the filter-less end which has the free tobacco at their head, which is the end most vulnerable and easily damaged in the event of interference or impact with the filling element or insert, and the part with the filter at the back.
This can result, in the case of slight knocks and/or sliding, in obtaining smoking articles that are ruined at their tip inside the final packet, which should be avoided in any case, or could even cause a blockage in the forming drawer, which requires the intervention of an operator to release the blocked areas; moreover, in order to intervene in safety, the operator is forced to stop the production.
Document DE-A-102014116784 is known, which describes a method and apparatus for producing cigarette packets, in which there is a housing drawer with separate chambers, into which an insert and the smoking articles are respectively introduced. The housing drawer comprises, in particular, recesses provided with at least one passage aperture, through which to insert at least the smoking articles. This prior art document also describes walls present in the housing drawer, able to separate the insert from the smoking articles inserted in the recesses.
Document DE-A-102014007415 describes a method and apparatus for making packets in which there are organized groups of smoking articles combined with an insert disposed adjacent to the smoking articles. This document also describes a housing drawer with separation walls inside it between the smoking articles and the insert.
Other limitations and disadvantages of conventional solutions and technologies will be clear to a person of skill after reading the remaining part of the present description with reference to the drawings and the description of the embodiments that follow, although it is clear that the description of the state of the art connected to the present description must not be considered an admission that what is described here is already known from the state of the prior art.
There is therefore a need to perfect the state of the art and to make available a housing device, a method and apparatus for forming organized groups of smoking articles, comprising said housing device, which overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.
In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to obtain a housing device that allows to receive organized groups of smoking articles inside one or more compartments of its forming drawer, with no rigid separating elements present inside the latter.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a housing device that allows not to damage and/or alter the smoking articles during their insertion, preventing them from knocking against the front profile of the walls of the filling insert.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for forming organized groups of smoking articles, comprising the aforesaid housing device, which is simple to obtain and which does not entail interruptions to the production due to blockages.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is assembly forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
In accordance with the above purposes, embodiments described here concern a housing device to house an assembly of one or more organized groups of smoking articles associated with at least one filling insert, comprising a forming drawer provided with at least one passage aperture through which to insert at least the smoking articles.
According to one aspect, the housing device comprises one or more anti-collision members disposed in correspondence with, or near, the passage aperture and configured to prevent collisions between the smoking articles and the filling insert during the introduction of the smoking articles into the forming drawer.
This aspect is advantageous because as well as preventing the collisions of the smoking articles with the front profile of the filling insert, the anti-collision members can also prevent jamming or collisions with surface discontinuities possibly present along the filling insert such as, for example, protuberances, indentations, hollows, incisions, holes or other types of surface discontinuities. Indeed, once inserted in the free passage section of said passage aperture, the smoking articles can be moved in a direction that advantageously does not intercept the possible surface discontinuities of the filling insert.
According to possible embodiments, the one or more anti-collision members can comprise at least one positioning member configured to position the filling insert in a pre-determined reference position, so as to define a pre-determined and repeatable free passage section of the passage aperture available for the insertion of the smoking articles. Advantageously, positioning the filling insert in a referred position which can be determined a priori, thanks to the at least one positioning member, it is possible to insert the smoking articles in a reliable and repeatable manner in the directions of insertion, so that they do not risk intercepting or colliding with the filling insert.
According to possible embodiments, the positioning member can comprise one or more deforming members configured to temporarily deform at least a proximal part of the filling insert to the at least one passage aperture, reducing the transverse bulk thereof with respect to the passage aperture, so as to increase the free passage section available for the insertion of the smoking articles.
According to a possible embodiment, one or more deforming members can be positioned at least partly and for a limited segment inside the forming drawer.
Advantageously, the limited segment along which the deforming members extend in the forming drawer is provided to extend or develop sufficiently to allow to easily insert the smoking articles from the passage aperture, without them knocking or rubbing against the proximal part to the passage aperture of the filling insert.
Therefore, once the smoking articles are inserted in the forming drawer, it is not necessary to keep the filling insert deformed for the whole extension of the drawer since the smoking articles flow easily in the forming drawer.
Thanks to the deformation action of the deforming members on the filling insert it is possible to increase the usable area for the insertion of the organized groups of smoking articles in the compartments defined by the filling insert inside the containing compartment.
According to possible embodiments, one or more deforming members can be configured like a fork, in order to define a mechanical interference with the filling insert, which is able to obtain the desired deformation of the filling insert.
According to some embodiments, the housing device can comprise an abutment member configured to define an abutment position of the filling insert, advantageously in correspondence with or near the passage aperture through which to insert the smoking articles.
According to some embodiments, the one or more anti-collision members can comprise the abutment member.
According to variant embodiments, the one or more deforming members can be associated with the abutment member.
According to possible embodiments, the positioning member can be associated with, in particular connected to, the abutment member. Advantageously, the positioning member is connected to the abutment member so as to be facing the inside of the forming drawer, to engage the insert.
According to possible embodiments, the positioning members can be fixed to the abutment members.
In possible embodiments, the abutment member comprises, or is associated with, or connected to the at least one masking member.
According to a possible embodiment, the deforming members can be disposed at a reciprocal distance slightly less than the width of the filling insert, in order to define the desired mechanical interference from the outside of the deforming members with the filling insert.
According to some embodiments, the one or more anti-collision members can comprise at least a masking member configured to mask and/or cover the bulk of the front profile of the filling insert. Advantageously, therefore, the anti-collision means, including the at least one masking member, are configured to define an anti-collision profile disposed transverse to the direction of introduction of the smoking articles in the forming drawer that, lying on the plane of the aperture of the forming drawer, covers at least the profile or transverse bulk of the insert present in the forming drawer.
Thanks to these embodiments and their combinations, it is possible to easily insert the smoking articles without their end knocking against the front profile of the walls of the filling insert and/or without the smoking articles blocking the forming drawer.
According to possible embodiments, the abutment member can comprise, or be associated with, the masking member.
According to some embodiments, as well as the passage aperture, the forming drawer is also provided with another passage aperture, opposite the passage aperture, which defines a containing compartment configured to house the assembly, the containing compartment developing in a direction of movement of the organized groups of smoking articles and of the filling insert, between the passage apertures.
According to a possible embodiment, the other passage aperture can be provided both for the introduction of the filling insert, before the smoking articles are inserted through the passage aperture, and for the expulsion of the assembly, in the direction of movement.
According to possible embodiments, the sense of introduction of the filling insert through the other passage aperture is opposite, in the direction of movement, to the sense of insertion of the smoking articles through the passage aperture, and to the sense of expulsion of the assembly through the other passage aperture.
According to possible embodiments, the apparatus for forming one or more organized groups of smoking articles can comprise a transfer unit on which a plurality of housing devices are mounted, an introduction station configured to introduce at least one filling insert into the housing device, an insertion station able to feed the organized groups into the housing device to form the assembly consisting of at least one filling insert and one or more organized groups of smoking articles.
According to possible embodiments, the transfer unit can comprise a transfer wheel on the peripheral zone of which the plurality of housing devices are attached, the transfer wheel being configured to position the housing devices in succession along a path, in correspondence to the working stations of the forming apparatus.
According to these embodiments, the forming apparatus can comprise an exit station configured to transfer the assembly to a subsequent working station.
The exit station can comprise a transfer member configured to transfer the filling insert and the organized groups of smoking articles from the transfer unit to a subsequent working station.
According to embodiments described here, the transfer member can comprise a thrust element conformed to thrust the assembly from the passage aperture out of the housing device, through the other passage aperture, without knocking the deforming members and/or the abutment member.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the method for forming an assembly of one or more organized groups of smoking articles associated with at least one filling insert can provide the following steps:

introducing the filling insert inside a housing device, before the introduction of the smoking articles, through the other passage aperture of the housing device;
associating the filling insert with one or more anti-collision members disposed at a passage aperture of the housing device, through which to insert at least the smoking articles, in order to prevent the collision on entrance of the smoking articles against the filling insert;
introducing the smoking articles inside the housing device through the passage aperture, to form the assembly with the filling insert.

According to possible embodiments, the filling insert is inserted in one sense and the organized group and the transfer of the assembly in the opposite sense. This allows to make the forming apparatus more compact and, moreover, allows to carry out, on at least three distinct housing devices, three working steps in three distinct working stations at the same time.
According to the invention, the one or more anti-collision members comprise at least one masking member that masks and/or covers the bulk of the front profile of the filling insert.
In possible embodiments, the one or more anti-collision members comprise at least one positioning member that positions said filling insert in a pre-determined reference position, so as to define a pre-determined and repeatable free passage section of the passage aperture available for the insertion of the smoking articles.
In a variant embodiment, the positioning member is configured like a fork.
In another variant embodiment, the positioning member is associated with or connected to the abutment member.
These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following description, drawings and attached claims. The drawings, which are integrated and form part of the present description, show some forms of embodiment of the present invention, and together with the description, are intended to describe the principles of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

fig. 1 is a detail of a housing device of one embodiment in accordance with the present description;
fig. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of an insertion station of a forming apparatus in accordance with the present description;
fig. 3 is a schematic lateral view of an embodiment of a forming apparatus in accordance with the present description;
fig. 4 is a lateral section view of an embodiment of a housing device, during the introduction step of the filling insert, in accordance with the present description;
fig. 5 is a section view of fig. 4;
fig. 6 is a lateral section view of an embodiment of a housing device, during the insertion step of organized groups of smoking articles, in accordance with the present description;
fig. 7 is a section view of fig. 6;
fig. 8 is a lateral section view of an embodiment of a transfer member in accordance with the present description;
fig. 9 is a rear view of fig.8;
fig. 10 is a front view of an embodiment of a housing device in accordance with the present description.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

We will now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall comprise all such modifications and variants.
Before describing these embodiments, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description using the attached drawings. The present description can provide other embodiments and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative.
Embodiments described here concern a housing device 10, which can be provided in a forming apparatus 50 of an assembly 11 of one or more organized groups 12 of smoking articles 13 associated with at least one filling insert 20 to obtain, after being wrapped in a wrapping sheet 14, a bundle to be inserted in a packet.
By way of example, the packets referred to in this description can comprise an external container provided with a lid, inside which the organized groups 12 of smoking articles 13 wrapped by a wrapping sheet 14 are inserted.
This example is provided as a non-restrictive illustration only, since the packet can also comprise other elements such as, for example, a rigid collar that wraps the bundle.
According to some embodiments, the housing device 10 can comprise a support body 15 and a forming drawer 16 defining a containing compartment 17 provided with at least one passage aperture 19 and inside which the organized groups 12 of smoking articles 13 can be housed.
According to some embodiments, in addition to the passage aperture 19, the forming drawer 16 can have another passage aperture 18, opposite the passage aperture 19.
The containing compartment 17 of the forming drawer 16 can develop in a direction of movement M of the organized groups 12 and the filling insert 20, which is defined between the passage aperture 19 and another passage aperture 18, opposite to the passage aperture 19.
According to possible embodiments, the passage aperture 19 and the other passage aperture 18 are suitable to allow the insertion and/or transfer of the organized groups 12, the filling insert 20, or assembly 11, which comprises both, into the containing compartment 17.
According to some embodiments, the other passage aperture 18 can be provided for both inserting the filling insert 20 before the smoking articles 13 are inserted through the passage aperture 19, and also for expelling the assembly 11, in the direction of movement M.
In particular, the sense of introduction of the filling insert 20 through the other passage aperture 18 is opposite, in the direction of movement M, to the sense of insertion of the smoking articles 13 through the passage aperture 19, and to the sense of expulsion of the assembly 11 through the other passage aperture 18.
As will be clear from the description, this aspect simplifies the production of the forming apparatus 50 and optimizes its bulk so as to obtain a compact forming apparatus 50.
According to possible embodiments, the edges of the walls of the forming drawer 16 that define the containing compartment 17 can be inclined, beveled, curved or have other geometries such as to promote a lead-in of the smoking articles 13 into the containing compartment 17.
According to possible embodiments, the containing compartment 17 can have a parallelepiped shape with a volume substantially equal to, or greater than, the volume of the compartment of the packet of smoking articles 13 intended to be made.
According to some embodiments, the containing compartment 17 can contain at least one filling insert 20 that defines a plurality of compartments 21 in the containing compartment 17.
According to some embodiments, the filling insert 20 can be a solid prismatic element, hollow, or with an empty box-like form, for example, obtained by folding a blank.
By way of non-restrictive example, the filling insert 20 can be made of flexible material such as paper, cardboard, or spongy material or of a deformable semi-rigid material.
Depending on production requirements, inside some or all of the available compartments 21 it is possible to insert organized groups 12 of smoking articles 13.
The compartments 21 can have different shapes, depending on how the organized groups 12 are to be divided in the bundle. For example, as shown in fig. 7, inserting in the containing compartment 17 a filling insert 20 conformed with a prismatic surface with a triangular base, it is possible to insert organized groups 12 into at least one of the compartments 21 with a triangular section.
According to some embodiments, it is generally preferable to insert organized groups 12 into the available compartments 21 in a symmetrical manner. For example, in the case of three compartments 21 as in fig. 7, it is preferable to insert two organized groups 12 with an equal number of smoking articles 13 into the two symmetrical lateral triangular compartments 21.
According to one characteristic of the embodiments described, the housing device 10 can comprise one or more anti-collision members 22 disposed in correspondence with, that is, near, the passage aperture 19 and configured to prevent collisions, knocks, sliding, blockages or jamming, between the smoking articles 13 and the filling insert 20 during the introduction of the smoking articles 13 into the forming drawer 16. In particular, the one or more anti-collision members 22 are disposed near the passage aperture 19, even more particularly lying mainly in the plane defined by the perimeter of the passage aperture 19. More specifically, the one or more anti-collision members 22 can be disposed in an essentially central position in the passage aperture 19.
In particular, if the smoking members 13 are inserted from the end with the tobacco, opposite the end with the filter 37, the anti-collision members 22 prevent collisions, knocks, sliding, jamming or other types of collisions that could create blockages, losses of tobacco and/or damage to the smoking articles 13.
Furthermore, the anti-collision members 22 not only prevent collisions of the smoking articles 13 with the front profile of the filling insert 20, but also prevent jamming or collisions with surface irregularities possibly present along the filling insert 20 such as, for example, protrusions, holes, or other types of irregularities. In fact, once the smoking articles 13 are inserted in the free passage section of the passage aperture 19, they are directed in a direction which does not intercept any surface irregularities of the filling insert 20.
Thanks to the action of the anti-collision members 22, it is possible to size and design the forming apparatus 50 so that the smoking articles 13 have a free passage section of the established passage aperture 19.
According to possible embodiments, the edges of the anti-collision members 22 can be inclined, beveled, curved or have other geometries such as to promote the lead-in of the smoking articles 13 into the compartments 21 defined by the filling insert 20.
In this way, knowing precisely the free passage section of the smoking articles 13, it is possible to direct and introduce the latter so that they do not intercept at entrance the filling insert 20 and the possible surface irregularities present along the walls 20a.
According to possible embodiments, combinable with other embodiments, the anti-collision member 22 can comprise a positioning member 23 configured to position the filling insert 20 in a pre-determined reference position, so as to define a pre-determined and repeatable free passage section of the passage aperture 19 available for insertion of the smoking articles 13. For example, the positioning member 23 can comprise pegs 23a or other similar elements, distanced to accommodate the filling insert 20 and keep it in the desired position. In particular, the positioning member 23 can be configured as a fork.
According to one embodiment, combinable with other embodiments, the anti-collision member 22 can comprise a masking member 24 configured to mask and/or cover the bulk of the front profile of the filling insert 20. For example, the masking member 24 can comprise a plate or other element with a shape mating with the front profile of the filling insert 20.
The masking member 24 can cover all or only part of the front profile of the filling insertion 20 so that, during the insertion of the smoking articles 13, the latter cannot collide with the filling insert 20. Furthermore, the smoking articles 13 inserted to the side of the masking members 24 are directed in a direction which does not collide with possible surface irregularities of the filling insert 20.
This solution, especially in the case of insertions from the end with the tobacco, prevents possible damage to the smoking articles 13 being inserted, and in particular prevents possible cuts at the end with the tobacco.
According to possible embodiments, the positioning members 23 and/or the masking members 24 can be members removably attachable to the forming drawer 16, or can be integrated with each other and/or with the forming drawer 16 to obtain a single body.
According to one embodiment, combinable with other embodiments, the positioning member 23 can comprise one or more deforming members 48 disposed in correspondence with or near the passage aperture 19 and configured to temporarily deform at least a proximal part of the filling insert 20 at the passage aperture 19, reducing its transverse bulk with respect to the passage aperture 19, so as to increase the free passage section available for inserting the smoking articles 13.
According to one embodiment, combinable with other embodiments, the deforming member 48 can be attached to the positioning member 23, made in a single body with it, or separate from it.
According to possible embodiments, the housing device 10 can comprise an abutment member 49 advantageously disposed in correspondence with the passage aperture 19 and configured to define an abutment position of the filling insert 20. In particular, the abutment member 49 is disposed at the passage aperture 19, more particularly lying mainly in the plane defined by the perimeter of the passage aperture 19. More specifically, the abutment member 49 can be disposed in an essentially central position in the passage aperture 19.
According to some embodiments, the positioning members 23 can be attached to the abutment member 49.
The abutment member 49 can be attached to an element integrated with the masking member 24, or separated from it. For example, the abutment member 49 can comprise an abutment plate and/or several abutment elements, positioned to stop the filler insert 20 abutting on the edge of the passage aperture 19.
According to possible embodiments, the deforming members 48 can be integrated with or attached to the abutment member 49 in a desired position.
According to a possible embodiment, one or more deforming members 48 are configured as a fork to define a mechanical interference with the filling insert 20 able to obtain a desired deformation of the latter.
According to one aspect of the present description, the deforming members 48 cooperate with the filling insert 20 so that when the latter is inserted into the containing compartment 17, at least a proximal part of the filling insert 20 to the deforming members 48 is deformed passively to facilitate the insertion of the organized groups 12.
For example, the deforming members 48 can be configured to tighten the filling insert 20 from the lateral walls 20a, so as to reduce its width.
According to possible embodiments, one or more deforming members 48 are configured to widen the walls 20a of the filling insert 20 when the latter is associated with the deforming members 48 by mechanical interference.
According to a possible embodiment, the abutment member 49 can be attached to the support body 15 or can be a separate member configured to position itself on each occasion in a convenient position to allow the filling insert 20 to abut and be deformed by the action of the deforming members 48. The positioning of the abutment member 49 can be cadenced.
According to a possible embodiment, shown in fig. 10, the housing device 10 can also comprise only one anti-collision member 22. This solution is preferred if the filling insert 20 has a limited number of walls 20a or complex forms of filling insert 20 because it optimizes the number and type of anti-collision members 22 needed to prevent the collision of the smoking articles 13 with the filling insert 20.
In particular, the anti-collision member 22 comprises an abutment member 49 which, in addition to providing a mechanical abutment reference for the filling insert 20, can be shaped so as to cover at least part of the front profile of the walls 20a of the filling insert 20, so as to prevent, during the insertion of the organized groups 12, any smoking article 13 from knocking against the walls 20a. For example, the abutment member 49 can comprise a plate with a shape mating to that of the filling insert 20, for example, as shown in the drawings, a triangular shape, a "V" shape or other type.
According to a possible implementation, one or more deforming members 48 can be positioned at least partly and for a limited section inside the forming drawer 16 and define a space between them where the filling insert 20, as it is positioned, deforms by mechanical interference at least a proximal part thereof with respect to the passage aperture 19.
Advantageously, the deforming members 48 extend inside the forming drawer 16 for a limited segment because, in order to easily insert the smoking articles 13 into the forming drawer 16, it is sufficient to deform the proximal part at the other passage aperture 18 of the filling insert 20.
For example, the deforming members 48 can include a fork structure, for example formed by pegs 23a, or distanced pins, or other similar or comparable elements which, going into mechanical interference with the filling insert 20, and the latter being made of material suitable to be deformed and essentially to recover its original shape at the end of deformation, allow to temporarily deform the filling insert 20 without damaging it.
According to a possible variant embodiment, the pegs 23a can be parallel to the direction of feed of the smoking articles 13 and/or the direction of insertion of the filling insert 20.
According to some embodiments, combinable with other embodiments, the pegs 23a can be attached parallel and equidistant from the longitudinal central axis of the forming drawer 16. This solution provides a certain positioning for the filling insertion 20 disposed between pegs 23a.
According to possible embodiments, while the filling insert 20 is introduced into the containing compartment 17, it is associated through mechanical interference inside the space defined between the deforming members 48.
According to a possible implementation, the deforming members 48 can be disposed at a reciprocal distance slightly smaller than the width of the filling insert 20, for example defined by the distance between the opposite lateral walls 20a of the filling insert 20 and possibly inclined, to define the desired mechanical interference from the outside of the deforming members 48 with the filling insert 20.
This facilitates the insertion of the filling insert 20 into the space comprised between the deforming members 48, that is, between the pegs 23a, and the association of the external part of the pegs 23a with the internal face of the walls 20a of the filling insert 20.
In this way, once the filling insert 20 is inserted in the space defined between the deforming members 48, the filling insert 20 deforms its walls 20a cooperating with the deforming members 48.
According to other possible embodiments, the deforming members 48 can be moved so as to adhere to the walls 20a to deform them by the desired amount.
According to possible embodiments, depending on the compartments 21 to be filled, the deforming members 48 can be configured to deform the walls 20a by widening them. By way of example, the deforming members 48 can be inclined, so as to widen the walls 20a during the insertion of the filling insert 20, or are moved to be distanced from each other. The movement of the deforming members 48 can be performed with drive members, or other known movement members.
Thanks to the deformation action of the deforming members 48 on the walls 20a of the filling insert 20, it is possible to increase the usable area of the compartments 21 for inserting the organized groups 12 of smoking articles 13.
In this way, no compaction of the smoking articles 13 is required, and the smoking articles 13 can easily be inserted without them knocking against the front profile of the walls 20a of the filling insert 20 and/or without blocking the forming drawer 16.
According to advantageous embodiments, the deforming members 48 are positioned so that once the organized groups 12 are inserted, they are protruding into the spaces available between the smoking articles 13.
According to some embodiments, the forming apparatus 50 can comprise a mobile transfer unit 25, for example linear or wheeled, on which a plurality of housing devices 10 can be disposed.
In some embodiments, combinable with all of the embodiments described here, the transfer unit 25 can comprise a transfer wheel 26, drivable step-wise to rotate around an axis of rotation Z. The axis of rotation Z, as will be clear hereafter in the description, can advantageously be parallel to the direction of transfer of the organized groups 12.
The housing devices 10 can be positioned on a peripheral zone of the transfer wheel 26 with the passage apertures 18 and 19 of the containing compartment 17 substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation Z.
According to possible embodiments, the transfer wheel 26 allows to position sequentially one of the housing devices 10 in correspondence with one of the working stations of the forming apparatus 50, where three distinct steps are performed to form the assembly 11 of the organized groups 12 of smoking articles 13 with the filling insert 20.
According to this latter implementation, the housing devices 10, disposed near the periphery of the transfer wheel 26, follow a circular P path defined around the axis of rotation Z and, according to the work to be done, are positioned at a point of the path P in correspondence with the specific working station.
According to some embodiments described here, the forming apparatus 50 can comprise an introduction station 27 configured to introduce at least one filling insert 20 inside the housing device 10, and an insertion station 28 able to feed the organized groups 12 into the housing device 10 to form an assembly 11 consisting of at least one filling insert 20 and the organized groups 12 of smoking articles 13, that is, inside the compartments 21 defined by the filling insert 20.
According to possible embodiments, the forming apparatus 50 can also comprise an exit station 29 configured to transfer the assembly 11 to a subsequent working station.
The forming apparatus 50 provides that in order to perform the various processing steps to form the organized groups 12 of smoking articles 13 to be packaged, the housing devices 10 are positioned in succession in the introduction station 27, the insertion station 28 and then in the exit station 29. In particular, the positioning is carried out step-wise by means of the mobile transfer unit 25.
According to possible embodiments, the introduction station 27 can comprise a forming device 30 configured to form the filling insert 20, or to take it already ready from another working station, and then transfer it from the forming device 30 to the containing compartment 17 of a forming drawer 16.
According to a possible embodiment, the transfer of the filling insert 20 inside the containing compartment 17 can be performed using a mobile pin 31 able to thrust the filling insert 20 through the other passage aperture 18 into the containing compartment 17.
According to a possible embodiment, the filling insert 20, positioned inside the deforming members 48, is deformed by the action of the latter on its walls 20a.
According to some embodiments, the insertion station 28 can comprise a feed device 32 configured to arrange and insert inside the containing compartment 17 organized groups 12 of smoking articles 13.
According to some embodiments, the feed device 32 can comprise one or more loading hoppers 33 containing one or more types of smoking articles 13.
The loading hoppers 33 can have a plurality of conveying conducts 34 along their vertical extension, along which the smoking articles 13 descend, aligned due to gravity.
The smoking articles 13 descend along the conveying conducts 34 while maintaining a substantially orthogonal orientation to the vertical fall direction, until they are aligned in a column on a lower stop plate 35.
The bottom portion of the column of smoking articles 13 formed on the lower stop plate 35 defines at least one organized group 12.
The organized group 12 can be transferred inside the containing compartment 17 by means of a thrust unit 36 disposed orthogonal to the column of smoking articles 13 formed on the stop plate 35 and at the front of the passage aperture 19 of the containing compartment 17.
The smoking articles 13 can preferably be inserted into the loading hopper 33 oriented in the same way, so as to obtain a column of smoking articles 13 oriented in the same way, for example with the end with the filter 37 facing toward the thrust unit 36.
According to possible embodiments, combinable with other embodiments, the thrust unit 36 can comprise one or more thrust elements 38 configured to selectively thrust an organized group 12 inside the containing compartment 17, and hence inside the compartments 21 of the forming drawer 16.
For example, the thrust elements 38 can be prismatic elements with cross sections of various shapes, for example, triangular, circular, square or other.
In particular, the shape of each thrust element 38 is defined according to the organized group 12 which is to be transferred to the compartments 21 defined by the filling insert 20 in the containing compartment 17.
According to a possible embodiment, the thrust elements 38 can be fixed to a thrust member 39 which can be driven in a cadenced fashion.
According to one embodiment, shown in fig. 2, the thrust elements 38 are conformed so as to allow the transfer of two organized groups 12 of smoking articles 13 with a triangular section located specular which define a V-shaped space between them.
Possible embodiments described here provide that, after having inserted the organized groups 12 of smoking articles 13 into the compartments 21, the filling insert 20 together with the organized groups 12 is transferred to the exit station 29 of the forming apparatus 50.
According to possible embodiments, the exit station 29 can comprise a transfer member 40 configured to pick up the assembly 11 consisting of the filling insert 20 with the organized groups 12 without any blockages occurring and/or impacts against one or more anti-collision members 22.
According to possible embodiments, the transfer member 40 can comprise a mobile support 41, for example mobile on a conveyor belt 42, oriented along the passage apertures 18 and 19 of the forming drawer 16, and a thrust element 43 conformed to thrust the assembly 11 from the passage aperture 19 outside the housing device 10, through the other passage aperture 18, to transfer it to a subsequent working station.
By way of non-restrictive example, the next working station provides devices, not shown, suitable to wrap the assembly 11 consisting of the filling insert 20 and the organized groups 12 inside a wrapping sheet 14 to obtain the bundle.
According to possible implementations, shown in fig. 9, the thrust element 43 can comprise a flat element 44 consisting of two triangular portions 45 connected by a connecting portion 46 passing under the anti-collision members 22, and a transverse portion 47 connected to the connection portion 46 which intercepts at least one wall 20a of the filling insert 20. This configuration allows to thrust both the filling insert 20 and also the organized groups 12 without the thrust element 43 knocking against the anti-collision members 22.
According to one aspect of the present description, the method for forming an assembly 11 of one or more organized groups 12 of smoking articles 13 associated with at least one filling insert 20 can comprise the following steps:

introducing the filling insert 20 inside a housing device 10 before the introduction of the smoking articles 13 through the other passage aperture 18 of the housing device 10;
associating the filling insert 20 with one or more anti-collision members 22 disposed at the passage aperture 19 of said housing device 10, through which to insert at least the smoking articles 13 to prevent the collision of said smoking articles 13 at entrance against the filling insert 20;
introducing the smoking articles 13 inside the housing device 10 through the passage aperture 19 to form, with the filling insert 20, the assembly 11, keeping the filling insert 20 deformed at least during the initial introduction of the smoking articles 13.

According to a possible embodiment, the introduction of the filling insert 20 can take place on a first side of the transfer unit 25, while the insertion of the organized groups 12 of smoking articles 13 into the compartments 21 and the transfer to a subsequent working station of the assembly consisting of the filling insert 20 and the organized groups 12 can be performed on a second side of the transfer unit 25, opposite the first side. This aspect allows to compact the forming apparatus 50 and also allows to introduce the filling insert 20, to insert the organized groups 12 of smoking articles 13 into the compartments 21, and to transfer the assembly 11 formed by the filling insert 20 and the organized groups 12 on at least three separate housing devices 10 simultaneously.
In particular, the forming apparatus 50 is configured to perform in succession the three forming steps of the assembly 11 by simultaneously positioning at least three distinct housing devices 10 in the three working stations 27, 28 and 29.
It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the housing device, the method and apparatus for forming organized groups of smoking articles, comprising said housing device, as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention. It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of housing device, the method and apparatus for forming organized groups of smoking articles, comprising said housing device, having the characteristics as group forth in the claims and hence all coming inside the field of protection defined thereby.
In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.

Claims

Housing device to house an assembly (11) of one or more organized groups (12) of smoking articles (13) associated with at least one filling insert (20), said housing device comprising a forming drawer (16) provided with at least one passage aperture (19) through which to insert at least said smoking articles (13), characterized in that said housing device comprises one or more anti-collision members (22) disposed in correspondence with said at least one passage aperture (19) and configured to prevent collisions between said smoking articles (13) and said filling insert (20) during the introduction of said smoking articles (13) into said forming drawer (16), said one or more anti-collision members (22) comprise at least a masking member (24) configured to mask and/or cover the bulk of the front profile of said filling insert (20).
Device as in claim 1, characterized in that said one or more anti-collision members (22) comprise at least one positioning member (23) configured to position said filling insert (20) in a pre-determined reference position, so as to define a pre-determined and repeatable free passage section of said passage aperture (19) available for the insertion of said smoking articles (13).
Device as in claim 2, characterized in that said positioning member (23) is configured like a fork.
Device as in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said positioning member (23) comprises one or more deforming members (48) configured to temporarily deform at least a proximal part of said filling insert (20) to said at least one passage aperture (19), reducing the transverse bulk thereof with respect to said at least one passage aperture (19), so as to increase the free passage section available for the insertion of said smoking articles (13).
Device as in claim 4, characterized in that said one or more deforming members (48) are positioned at least partly and for a limited segment inside said forming drawer (16).
Device as in claims 3 and 4 or 3 and 5, characterized in that said one or more deforming members (48) are configured like a fork, in order to define a mechanical interference with said filling insert (20) able to obtain a deformation of said filling insert (20).
Device as in any of the claims from 4 to 6, characterized in that said deforming members (48) are disposed at a reciprocal distance slightly less than the width of said filling insert (20), in order to define a desired mechanical interference from the outside of said deforming members (48) with said filling insert (20).
Device as in any of the claims from 1 to 7, characterized in that said housing device comprises an abutment member (49) configured to define an abutment position of said filling insert (20).
Device as in claim 8 and any of the claims from 2 to 7, characterized in that said positioning member (23) is connected to said abutment member (49).
Device as in either claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said abutment member (49) comprises, or is connected to, said at least one masking member (24).
Device as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that, as well as said passage aperture (19), said forming drawer (16) has another passage aperture (18), opposite said passage aperture (19), said forming drawer (16) defining a containing compartment (17) configured to house said assembly (11), said containing compartment (17) developing in a direction of movement (M) of said organized groups (12) of smoking articles (13) and of said at least one filling insert (20), between said passage apertures (18, 19).
Device as in claim 11, characterized in that said other passage aperture (18) is provided both for the insertion of said filling insert (20), before the smoking articles (13) are inserted through said passage aperture (19), and for the expulsion of said assembly (11), in said direction of movement (M).
Device as in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the sense of introduction of said filling insert (20) through said other passage aperture (18) is opposite, in said direction of movement (M), to the sense of insertion of said smoking articles (13) through said passage aperture (19), and to the sense of expulsion of said assembly (11) through said other passage aperture (18).
Apparatus for forming one or more organized groups (12) of smoking articles (13) comprising:
- a transfer unit (25) on which a plurality of housing devices (10) as in any claim from 1 to 13 are mounted;

- an introduction station (27) configured to introduce at least one filling insert (20) into said housing device (10);

- an insertion station (28) able to feed said organized groups (12) in said housing device (10) to form an assembly (11) consisting of said at least one filling insert (20) and said one or more organized groups (12) of smoking articles (13).
Apparatus as in claim 14, characterized in that said transfer unit (25) comprises a transfer wheel (26) on the peripheral zone of which said plurality of housing devices (10) are attached, said transfer wheel (26) being configured to position said housing devices (10) in succession along a path (P), in correspondence to said working stations (27, 28).
Apparatus as in claim 14 or 15, characterized in that it comprises an exit station (29) configured to transfer said assembly (11) to a subsequent working station, said exit station (29) comprising a transfer member (40) comprising a mobile support (41) and a thrust element (43) conformed to thrust said assembly (11) from said passage aperture (19) out of said housing device (10), through said other passage aperture (18).
Method for forming an assembly (11) of one or more organized groups (12) of smoking articles (13) associated with at least one filling insert (20), characterized in that said method comprises:
- introducing said filling insert (20) inside a housing device (10), before the introduction of said smoking articles (13), through another passage aperture (18) of said housing device (10);

- associating said filling insert (20) with one or more anti-collision members (22) disposed at a passage aperture (19) of said housing device (10), through which to insert at least the smoking articles (13), in order to prevent the collision on entrance of said smoking articles (13) against said filling insert (20), said one or more anti-collision members (22) comprising at least a masking member (24) which masks and/or covers the bulk of the front profile of said filling insert (20);

- introducing said smoking articles (13) inside said housing device (10) through said passage aperture (19), to form said assembly (11) with said filling insert (20).