EP4294731A1

EP4294731A1 - Apparatus and method for packaging smoking articles

Info

Publication number: EP4294731A1
Application number: EP22706127.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fiorenzo Draghetti; Simone MONARI
Original assignee: IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Current assignee: IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Priority date: 2021-02-22
Filing date: 2022-01-28
Publication date: 2023-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 2042-01-28
Also published as: EP4294731C0; EP4294731B1; PL4294731T3; IT202100004028A1; WO2022175996A1

Abstract

There are described an apparatus (10) and a method for forming an assembly (A) comprising an organized group of smoking articles (11), an accessory element (12) and a reinforcement element (13), wherein the apparatus (10) comprises a forming conveyor (15) provided with a plurality of forming pockets (24), each configured to receive the assembly (A), a member (14) to feed the accessory element (12) and the reinforcement element (13), which is configured to feed them inside the pockets (24) according to a configuration whereby the accessory element (12) and the reinforcement element (13) are partly overlapping each other, and a thrust member (32) configured to introduce the organized group of smoking articles (11) inside the pocket (24).

Description

“APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING SMOKING ARTICLES” * * * *

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an apparatus and a method for packaging smoking articles, such as for example cigars or cigarettes.

In particular, the present invention concerns an apparatus and a method suitable to form an assembly able to be packaged inside a packet of smoking articles and comprising an organized group of smoking articles, a reinforcement insert or element which is at least partly wrapped around said group, and an insert or accessory element, for example a coupon with advertising purposes, configured to convey advertising or promotional messages.

Another object of the present invention is a machine for packaging packets of smoking articles comprising said apparatus and able to carry out the method for forming said assemblies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Smoking articles are traditionally packaged in rigid or semi-rigid packets, inside which said smoking articles are wrapped in an internal wrapping, generally made of aluminum foil.

Normally, in cooperation with the internal wrapping there is a reinforcement insert.

Machines for packaging packets for smoking articles are known in the state of the art, in which a plurality of transport members, usually configured as transport wheels, allow the reinforcement insert to be associated with a respective organized group of smoking articles.

Each transport wheel is provided with a plurality of parallelepiped-shaped pockets, each configured to receive an organized group of smoking articles wrapped in the respective internal wrapping.

The rotation of the transport wheel takes each pocket in correspondence with subsequent processing stations. For example, a first station to introduce the insert is provided, in which a reinforcement insert is introduced into the pocket by means of an introducer member that thrusts the U-shaped insert into the pocket.

Subsequently, downstream of the station to introduce the insert, the pocket continues along its path until it reaches a station to introduce the smoking articles, in which the organized group of smoking articles is introduced into the pocket in which the reinforcement insert has already been introduced by means of a thrust member dedicated to this purpose.

Certain solutions known in the state of the art contemplate the possibility of providing, in each packet, dedicated spaces for printing advertising or promotional messages.

The present invention is connected to technical solutions and operating methods which have been the subject of patent protection. The patent protection covers solutions which, structurally and functionally, are not able to define a result suitable for the intended purpose, and within the required terms.

According to a first type of packets of this type known in the state of the art, these dedicated spaces are made directly on one or more walls of the packet. This entails adopting packets of special shapes and sizes, such as those described, for example, in the international patent application WO-A-2011/010185.

In fact, in order to comply with the regulations in force in many European countries and beyond, the external surface visible to the eye must necessarily be covered, almost entirely, with images and messages intended to warn consumers about the health risks caused by smoking. This prevents advertising on traditional packets. To overcome these constraints, special packets have been developed, such as those described, for example, in patent application WO-A-2011/010185, in which the disposition of the walls exposed to sight is such as to obtain the desired advertising spaces, at the same time complying with the regulations in force.

However, these packets are necessarily more complex and expensive to make than traditional packets.

A second type of packets known in the state of the art consists of packets of traditional shape and size, inside which an insert is associated, possibly detachable or removable, configured as a sheet or slip of paper, cardboard or similar materials, which is disposed inside the packet. Advertising or promotional messages are printed on the insert.

In this case, the packet is the traditional type and therefore - unlike the first type mentioned above - it is no longer complicated or expensive to make.

However, the machine for packaging this type of packets is very complex due to the need to provide the station for inserting the internal advertising insert in a machine that usually operates at high or very high operating speeds.

One disadvantage of this solution is that in some cases there is a decrease in the operating speeds of the machine.

Another disadvantage is that the machine is more complex, since the insertion station of this insert is usually disposed in the transport wheel as above, in which the insertion stations of the reinforcement insert and of the organized group of smoking articles are already provided.

Another disadvantage is that advertising or promotional messages printed on the internal insert may be damaged by sliding contact with the reinforcement insert and/or with the internal wrapping, if the print has just been imparted. In the same way, it may happen that also exposure to heat, inside the machine, can damage these messages, at least partly, making them difficult to read or in any case unpleasant from an aesthetic point of view.

There is therefore a need to perfect an apparatus, and to develop a method, to process smoking articles which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to make available an apparatus for forming an assembly able to be packaged in a corresponding packet for smoking articles, which is constructively simpler than the solutions known in the state of the art, and which can be easily integrated in a machine for packaging smoking articles having high or very high productivity.

Another purpose is to make an apparatus available, and to develop a method, for forming assemblies comprising an organized group of smoking articles and also comprising a reinforcement element and an accessory element suitable for conveying advertising or promotional messages.

Another purpose is to make available an apparatus, and to develop a method, for forming said assemblies which allows to optimize the relative disposition of the reinforcement element and of the accessory element with respect to the internal wrapping that wraps the organized group of smoking articles, so as to prevent these internal components from being damaged or moving from their intended position during packaging.

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 set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, the invention concerns an apparatus for forming an assembly comprising smoking articles.

The apparatus in question comprises a member for feeding elements which are able to be incorporated in the assemblies as above.

In particular, these elements can comprise an insert or reinforcement element, also called a “collar”, which is configured to wrap the organized group of smoking articles on at least three sides, and an insert or accessory element, or “coupon”, configured to convey advertising or promotional messages, for example images accompanied by short texts.

It is quite clear that the apparatus and method according to the present invention are suitable to form assemblies comprising a reinforcement element and an accessory element, both having various shapes and sizes. The person of skill in the art will easily understand that simple structural adaptations are required in order to adapt the apparatus to the exact shapes and sizes of these elements, which do not impact the scope of protection defined by the present invention.

The feed member comprises one or more retention members, mobile along a feed path of the elements as above, so that each retention member is configured to receive in succession, in correspondence with respective feed stations, first an accessory element and subsequently a reinforcement element. Specifically, each retention member first passes through a first station, in correspondence with which it receives the accessory element, and then passes through a second station, in correspondence with which it receives the reinforcement element.

Preferably, the accessory element and the reinforcement element are retained by the retention member in such a way as to be partly overlapping each other.

Each retention member comprises a plurality of first and second gripping elements, configured to selectively retain or release the accessory element and the reinforcement element respectively. The number and position of the first and second gripping elements are correlated to the shape and size of the elements as above, also considering their reciprocal overlap. By way of a non-limiting example, the first and second gripping elements can comprise pneumatic elements, such as for example suckers connected to a suction system, or mechanical elements, such as grippers or similar elements.

The apparatus also comprises a forming conveyor configured to form an assembly comprising an organized group of smoking articles, wrapped inside a wrapping, an accessory element and a reinforcement element. Such assembly is able to be enclosed inside a packet, for example by means of a packaging machine comprising embodiments of the apparatus described here.

The forming conveyor, for example configured as a wheel rotatable around an axis of rotation, comprises a plurality of forming pockets, each configured to receive the assembly as above.

The apparatus comprises a transfer member able to transfer the accessory element and the reinforcement element from the feed member to a respective forming pocket of the forming conveyor, in a station for transferring such elements. The transfer member transfers the elements while maintaining their reciprocally overlapping disposition, so that the two elements are also overlapping each other in the forming pocket, in particular with a disposition correlated to the succession with which they are fed to the feed member. The transfer member is linearly mobile with reciprocating motion between the feed member and the forming conveyor. Preferably, the directrix of movement of the transfer member is radial with respect to the forming conveyor, that is, with respect to the wheel rotatable around the axis of rotation as above.

On the basis of the sequence described above, the retention member arrives in the transfer station retaining an accessory element disposed on the back of the reinforcement element.

Preferably, the transfer of the two elements occurs without providing a relative movement between them, so that they are therefore transferred together inside a respective forming pocket. Consequently, on the basis of the sequence described above, the forming pocket receives the two elements in such a way that the reinforcement element is disposed inside, with reference to the forming pocket, while the accessory element is disposed outside, in a relation of partial reciprocal overlap which is inverse with respect to that provided in the retention member.

First and second support members are associated with each forming pocket in order to maintain respectively the reinforcement element and the accessory element in their respective positions inside the forming pocket in a stable manner. The number and position of the first and second support members are correlated to the shape and size of the two elements, also considering their reciprocal overlap inside the pocket.

The apparatus comprises a station for introducing an ordered group of smoking articles, wrapped inside a wrapping, in correspondence with which each forming pocket, inside which the reinforcement element and the accessory element have already been transferred, in the transfer station as above, receives the group of smoking articles.

According to one aspect, in the introduction station there are provided a thruster configured to introduce the group of smoking articles inside the forming pocket, and a counter-thruster contiguredfo move the accessory element outside the forming pocket, while the reinforcement element remains inside the forming pocket, to cause the accessory element to be associated with the organized group of smoking articles before the accessory element is associated with the reinforcement element inside the forming pocket. Thanks to the counter-thruster it is possible to first move the accessory element toward the group of smoking articles, and then accompany this group and the accessory element inside the forming pocket, without interfering with the reinforcement element disposed inside the forming pocket. The counter-thruster can be shaped so as to have a shape correlated to the shape of the accessory element and of the reinforcement element

According to one aspect the thruster and the shaped counter-thruster are mobile in a reciprocally coordinated manner to accompany the accessory element together with the group of smoking articles toward the reinforcement element located inside a respective pocket. In particular, the thruster and the shaped counter-thruster are mobile parallel to a linear directrix of movement, preferably radial with respect to the axis of rotation.

According to another aspect, the shaped counter-thruster comprises one or more movement elements disposed in such a way as to temporarily couple with the accessory element in order to retain and move the latter.

According to one possible embodiment, the counter-thruster comprises at least a first and a second movement element, both disposed in proximity to opposite ends of the accessory element in such a way that the reinforcement element that remains in position inside the forming pocket is longitudinally interposed between the first and the second movement elements.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second movement elements each comprise a pneumatic retention element, for example a sucker, connected to a suction system which allows the first and second movement elements to temporarily retain the accessory element during its movement along the directrix of linear movement.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method to form an assembly comprising an organized group of smoking articles, an accessory element and a reinforcement element, in this specific case both configured as an accessory element and a reinforcement element.

According to the embodiments described here, the method provides to make the assembly available to the forming conveyor provided with a plurality of forming pockets, wherein this step of making the assembly available to the forming conveyor comprises, in succession, the sub-steps of:

- transferring the accessory element and the reinforcement element from a feed member into the pockets, according to a configuration whereby the accessory element and the reinforcement element are partly overlapping each other, and

- introducing the organized group of smoking articles inside the pocket by means of a thrust member.

According to one aspect, the method provides, after the sub-step of transferring and before the sub-step of introducing, to move the accessory element outside the forming pocket by means of a counter-thruster, while the reinforcement element remains inside the same pocket, in order to associate the accessory element with the organized group of smoking articles before the accessory element is associated with the reinforcement element inside the pocket, the thruster and the counter-thruster being moved in a reciprocally coordinated manner in order to accompany the accessory element together with the organized group of smoking articles toward the reinforcement element located inside the pocket.

According to another aspect, the method provides to retain the accessory element and the reinforcement element first by means of the feed member, and then by means of the forming pockets, with retention and support means of the pneumatic type connected to suction systems that allow to retain and support, firmly and in a temporary manner, the accessory element and the reinforcement element. The first and second gripping elements comprised in each retention member, as well as the first and second support members associated with each forming pocket embody, by way of a non-limiting example, such retention and support means.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second movement elements of the shaped counter-thruster also pneumatically retain the accessory element during the step of moving described above; such movement elements also embodying retention and support means.

According to another aspect, there is provided a packaging machine for packaging packets for smoking articles which enclose an assembly comprising at least one organized group of smoking articles, an accessory element and a reinforcement element, wherein the machine comprises an apparatus as described above.

Advantageously, the apparatus and the method according to the present invention allow to form assemblies of smoking articles provided with an accessory element, or coupon, in a simple and effective way.

The fact that the counter-thruster moves the accessory element outside the pocket in order to associate it with the organized group of smoking articles before their introduction into the pocket itself ensures that the accessory element is not damaged by unwanted creases or wrinkles, and that it remains instead well stretched against the internal wrapping that wraps the smoking articles, so as to remain in this position even when it is subsequently disposed in the packet.

Furthermore, it is also advantageous that the reinforcement element remains inside the pocket during this movement of the accessory element due to the peculiar “U” shape that the reinforcement element assumes inside the forming pocket, against the rear and lateral walls of the pocket itself. It is evident that avoiding removing and subsequently repositioning the reinforcement element inside the forming pocket reduces or even eliminates the risk of incorrect positioning of this element inside the pocket, which could jeopardize its correct positioning folded around the group of smoking articles on at least three sides.

Furthermore, another advantage of the present invention relates to the fact that the counter-thrust member, cooperating with the thrust member, allows to maintain the ordered disposition of the organized group of smoking articles even while this group is moved at high operating speeds of the machine, something which would otherwise be impossible in a machine of this type in which it is provided to insert a coupon in the assembly in question.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages 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 schematic front view of an apparatus for forming assemblies comprising smoking articles according to some embodiments described here;

- fig. 2 is a schematic section view of a portion of the apparatus of fig. 1 taken according to the trace plane II-II;

- fig. 3 is a partly sectioned plan view of the portion of the apparatus of fig. 2, in which a component has been removed for reasons of clarity;

- figs. 4A-4C are schematic front views that show an operating sequence of successive transfer steps comprised in the method to form assemblies comprising smoking articles according to the present invention;

- fig. 5 is a schematic section view, taken along the trace plane V-V shown in fig. 4A, which shows a forming pocket comprised in the apparatus of fig. 1, in an operating condition of movement of an accessory element;

- fig. 6 is a schematic section view taken along the trace plane VI- VI shown in fig. 4A, which shows a forming pocket comprised in the apparatus of fig. 1, shown in the same operating condition as fig. 5.

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 be conveniently incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a non-limiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

The embodiments described here with reference to the attached drawings concern an apparatus for forming an assembly A comprising smoking articles, which is indicated as a whole with the reference number 10. Specifically, the apparatus 10 is configured to form the assembly A (figs. 1 and 4C) comprising an organized group of smoking articles 11, wrapped in an internal wrapping, for example made of aluminum foil, an accessory element or “coupon” 12, and a reinforcement element or “collar” 13.

The apparatus 10 comprises a feed member 14 and a forming conveyor 15.

In the example provided here, the feed member is configured as a feed wheel 14, rotatable around its own horizontal axis of rotation Y.

In this example, the forming conveyor is also configured as a forming wheel 15 which also rotates around its own axis of rotation X, preferably disposed parallel to the axis Y, therefore also horizontal.

The feed wheel 14 comprises, in the example shown in the attached drawings, four retention heads 16, configured as retention members capable of temporarily retaining the elements 12, 13, and supported in an angularly equidistant way, in particular at 90° with respect to each other, with respect to the axis of rotation Y by respective support arms 17.

Each retention head 16 comprises a plurality of first gripping elements 18 and a plurality of second gripping elements 19 (fig. 3), configured as suckers, to retain the accessory element 12 and the reinforcement element 13 respectively. In the specific example shown in the attached drawings, the first gripping elements 18 comprise three suckers, and the second gripping elements 19 comprise four suckers. For example, the first gripping elements 18 are distributed in such a way that two suckers retain the upper end of the accessory element 12 and the third sucker retains the lower end of such element. As for the second gripping elements 19, they can be distributed in such a way as to provide a pair of suckers in proximity to each lateral edge of the reinforcement element 13.

The first and second gripping elements 18, 19 are connected to a suction system, which allows to create a desired depression such as to allow the action of retaining the elements 12, 13.

According to possible variants, a single suction system can be provided to which there are connected both the first and the second gripping elements 18, 19, as well as independent and dedicated suction systems for the first and second gripping elements 18, 19.

A first and a second delivery element 20, 21 are provided, configured to deliver to a retention head 16 the accessory element 12 and the reinforcement element 13 respectively, in a first and in a second delivery station 22, 23.

The forming conveyor 15 comprises a plurality of forming pockets 24, hereafter also called simply pockets for short, homogeneously distributed along a perimeter edge of the forming conveyor 15, as can be seen in fig. 1. Each pocket 24 is configured to receive one of the assemblies A, as will be explained in greater detail in the following of the present detailed description.

Each pocket 24 comprises a rear wall 25 and two lateral walls 26, opposite each other with respect to the rear wall 25.

Each pocket 24 comprises a plurality of first support members 27 and a plurality of second support members 28 (fig. 6), configured as suckers, to retain the reinforcement element 13 and the accessory element 12 respectively. In the specific example shown in the attached drawings, the first support members 27 and the second support members 28 each comprise a pair of suckers.

The first and second support members 27, 28 are connected to a suction system, which allows to create a desired depression such as to allow the action of retaining the elements 12, 13.

According to possible variants, a single suction system can be provided to which there are connected both the first and second support members 27, 28, as well as independent and dedicated suction systems for the first and second support members 27, 28.

As can be seen in figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus 10 comprises a transfer member 29 able to transfer the accessory element 12 and the reinforcement element 13 from the feed wheel 14 to a respective pocket 24 of the forming wheel 15, in a transfer station 30 for transferring the elements 12, 13.

The transfer member 29 is mobile with alternating movement along a directrix of linear movement. In the example provided here, this directrix of movement coincides with a directrix of radial movement joining the axes of rotation X, Y of the wheels 14, 15. It should be noted that, in the transfer station 30, the rotation of the feed wheel 14 leads, on each occasion, a retention head 16 to be facing a corresponding pocket 24 into which the elements 12, 13 are to be transferred.

The apparatus 10 also comprises an auxiliary transfer member 31 (figs. 1-3) disposed in the transfer station 30. The auxiliary transfer member 31 is mobile with reciprocating motion along the same directrix of linear movement as the transfer member 29 in order to assist the latter in the step of transferring the elements 12, 13 from the feed wheel 14 to the forming wheel 15.

In the example provided here, the auxiliary transfer member 31 is normally disposed in a rearward configuration behind the pocket 24 which is located in the transfer station 30 in order to assist the transfer member 29 in the step of transferring the elements 12, 13 from the feed wheel 14 to forming wheel 15.

The apparatus 10 comprises a thruster 32 configured to introduce an organized group of smoking articles 11 into the pockets 24 in correspondence with an introduction station 33.

The apparatus 10 also comprises a counter-thruster 34 configured to move the accessory element 12 outside the pocket 24.

The thruster 32 and the counter-thruster 34 are mobile in a reciprocally coordinated manner parallel to a directrix of linear movement, which is disposed in such a way as to be radial with respect to the axis of rotation X.

In the example provided here, the counter-thruster 34 comprises a pair of first movement elements 35 and a second movement element 36, which are disposed in proximity to opposite ends of the accessory element 12. In the specific example, the pair of first movement element 35 retains the accessory element 12 in proximity to an upper end thereof, and the second movement element 36 retains the accessory element 12 in proximity to a lower end thereof.

Preferably, each movement element 35, 36 comprises a sucker element, connected to a suction system that allows to determine the action of retaining the accessory element 12.

In one variant, the counter-thruster 34 can comprise only a first movement element 35 and a second movement element 36, suitably sized to allow a firm retention of the accessory element 12, and which are disposed in proximity to opposite ends thereof.

In another variant, not shown, the counter-thruster 34 can comprise only one of the movement elements 35, 36, disposed in proximity to one of the opposite longitudinal ends of the accessory element 12, for example at the upper or lower part. In another variant, the counter-thruster 34 can comprise a pair of movement elements 35, or a pair of movement elements 36, wherein both elements of the pair are disposed in proximity to the same end of the accessory element 12, which is therefore not retained in correspondence with the opposite end.

In the following, we describe some embodiments of the method to form the assemblies A as above according to the present invention, by means of the apparatus 10 previously described.

In the first delivery station 22, the first delivery element 20 delivers an accessory element 12 to a retention head 16, which retains it by means of the first gripping elements 18. By way of a non-limiting example, the first delivery element 20 picks up the elements 12 from a dedicated magazine, not shown.

The rotation of the feed wheel 14 around its own axis of rotation Y then takes the retention head 16, which is already retaining an accessory element 12, into a second delivery station 23. Here, a second delivery element 21 delivers a reinforcement element 13 in an extended configuration to the retention head 16. The reinforcement element 13 then partly overlaps the accessory element (fig. 3) and is retained by suction by the second gripping elements 19. By way of a nonlimiting example, the second delivery element 21 picks up the elements 13 from a dedicated magazine, not shown.

Another rotation of the feed wheel 14 around its own axis of rotation Y then takes the retention head 16 into the transfer station 30. Here, first the auxiliary transfer member 31 is made to advance toward the retention head 16 until it contacts the elements 12, 13 retained by the retention head 16. Subsequently, the auxiliary transfer member 31 and the transfer member 29 move in a correlated manner, retaining the elements 12, 13 between them on opposite sides with respect to each other, in order to take these elements from the retention head 16 to the pocket 24 disposed in front of it.

In this transfer step, the gripping elements 18, 19 can possibly be deactivated, after the elements 12, 13 have been released to the transfer member 29 and to the auxiliary transfer member 31. Both the latter can retain the elements 12, 13 by means of a mechanical or pneumatic retaining action.

The reinforcement element 13 is disposed in contact with the rear wall 25 and the lateral walls 26 of the pocket 24. The entry of the reinforcement element 13 into the pocket 24 determines its passage from the extended configuration which it is in, to a configuration in which it is folded in a “U” shape against the walls 25, 26, in such a way as to be suitable to wrap around the organized group of smoking articles 11 in correspondence with three sides. The reinforcement element 13 in the pocket 24 is disposed on the back of the accessory element 12.

In the pocket 24, the reinforcement element and the accessory elements 13 and 12 are respectively retained by suction by the first and second support members 27, 28.

The rotation of the forming wheel 15 then takes the pockets 24 in which the elements 12 and 13 are disposed into the introduction station 33, where the thruster 32, carrying an organized group of smoking articles 11 wrapped in a wrapping made of aluminum foil, moves closer to the pocket 24 as indicated by the arrow F2 in the operating sequence of figs. 4A-4C.

The shaped counter-thruster 34 advances towards the thruster 32, as indicated by the arrow Fl in figs. 4A and 4B, to take the accessory element 12 into contact with the organized group of smoking articles 11 so as to associate it with the latter (fig. 4B).

Subsequently, it is provided to reverse the direction of movement of the counter-thruster 34, which now moves in the sense indicated by the arrow F1’ of fig. 4C, that is, in a direction concordant with the advance of the thruster 32 in the direction F2, so that the thruster 32 and counter-thruster 34 move in a coordinated manner in order to return the accessory element 12 joined to the organized group of smoking articles 11 inside the pocket 24.

Downstream of the introduction station 33, the assembly A comprising the accessory element 12, the reinforcement element 13 and the organized group of smoking articles 11 has therefore been formed inside each pocket 24.

The forming wheel 15 then takes the assembly A toward subsequent processing stations, not shown, in which, for example, each assembly A is packaged inside a corresponding packet.

It is then provided to cyclically repeat the processing steps described above.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts or steps may be made to the apparatus 10 and to the method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.

Claims

1. Apparatus (10) for forming an assembly (A) able to be packaged inside a packet for smoking articles and comprising an organized group of smoking articles (11), an accessory element (12) and a reinforcement element (13), wherein the apparatus (10) comprises:

- a forming conveyor (15) provided with a plurality of forming pockets (24), each forming pocket (24) being configured to receive said assembly (A),

- a feed member (14) configured to feed said accessory element (12) into said pockets (24),

- a thrust member (32) configured to introduce the organized group of smoking articles (11) inside said pocket (24), characterized in that said feed member (14) is also configured to feed said reinforcement element (13) inside said pockets (24) according to a configuration whereby said accessory element (12) and said reinforcement element (13) are partly overlapping each other, and in that it also comprises a counter-thrust member (34) configured in such a way as to move said accessory element (12) outside said pocket (24) while said reinforcement element (13) remains inside said pocket (24), in order to ensure that said accessory element (12) is associated with said organized group of smoking articles (11) before the latter is associated with the reinforcement element (13) inside the forming pocket (24), said thrust member (32) and said counter-thrust member (34) being mobile in a reciprocally coordinated manner in order to accompany said accessory element (12) together with said organized group of smoking articles (11) toward said reinforcement element (13) located inside said pocket (24).

2. Apparatus (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said counter-thrust member (34) comprises one or more movement elements (35, 36), disposed in such a way as to temporarily couple to said accessory element (12) in order to retain and move said accessory element (12).

3. Apparatus (10) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said forming conveyor (15) is configured as a wheel rotatable around an axis of rotation (X) and in that said thrust member (32) and said counter-thrust member (34) are mobile parallel to a directrix of movement linear, in particular radial, with respect to said rotatable wheel. 17

4. Apparatus (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises first and second support members (27, 28) associated with each of said pockets (24) in order to maintain respectively said accessory element (12) and said reinforcement element (13) in the respective positions inside said pocket (24) in a stable manner, wherein the number and position of said first and second support members (27, 28) are correlated to the shape and size of said accessory element (12) and of said reinforcement element (13), also considering their reciprocal overlap.

5. Apparatus (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said feed member (14) comprises one or more retention members (16), mobile along a feed path, in such a way that each retention member (16) is configured to receive in succession said accessory element (12) and said reinforcement element (13), in correspondence with respective feed stations (22, 23), and to retain said accessory and reinforcement elements (12, 13) so that they are partly overlapping each other.

6. Apparatus (10) as in claim 5, characterized in that each of said retention members (16) comprises a plurality of first and second gripping elements (18, 19), configured to selectively retain or release said accessory element (12) and said reinforcement element (13) respectively, wherein the number and the position of said first and second gripping elements (18, 19) are correlated to the shape and size of said accessory element (12) and of said reinforcement element (13), also considering their reciprocal overlap.

7. Apparatus (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises a transfer member (29) able to transfer said accessory element (12) and said reinforcement element (13) from said feed member (14) to a respective one of said forming pockets (24), in a transfer station (30), wherein said transfer member (29) is configured to transfer said accessory element (12) and said reinforcement element (13) maintaining their reciprocally overlapping disposition.

8. Method for forming an assembly (A) able to be packaged inside a packet for smoking articles and comprising an organized group of smoking articles (11), an accessory element (12) and a reinforcement element (13), wherein the method provides to make said assembly (A) available to a forming conveyor (15) provided with a plurality of forming pockets (24), wherein said step of making said assembly available comprises, in succession, the sub-steps of:

- transferring said accessory element (12) from a feed member (14) into said pockets (24),

- introducing the organized group of smoking articles (11) inside said pocket (24) by means of a thrust member (32); wherein said method is characterized in that the sub-step of transferring also provides to transfer said reinforcement element (13) from the feed member (14) inside said pockets (24), according to a configuration whereby said accessory element (12) and said reinforcement element (13) are partly overlapping each other, and in that after said sub-step of transferring and before said sub-step of introducing, it is provided to move said accessory element (12) outside said pocket (24) by means of a counter-thrust member (34), while said reinforcement element (13) remains inside said pocket (24), in order to associate said accessory element (12) with said organized group of smoking articles (11) before said organized group of smoking articles (11) is associated with said reinforcement element (13) inside said pocket (24), said thrust member (32) and said counterthrust member (34) being moved in a reciprocally coordinated manner in order to accompany said accessory element (12) together with said organized group of smoking articles (11) toward said reinforcement element (13) located inside said pocket (24).

9. Method as in claim 8, characterized in that it is provided to retain said accessory element (12) and said reinforcement element (13) first by means of said feed member (14), and then by means of said forming pockets (24), with retention and support means (18, 19, 27, 28) of the pneumatic type connected to suction systems that allow to retain and support, firmly and in a temporary manner, said accessory element (12) and said reinforcement element (13).

10. Method as in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it is provided to move said accessory element (12) outside said forming pocket (24) by means of one or more movement elements (35, 36) of said counter-thruster (34) and in that during the step of moving it is provided that said movement elements (35, 36) pneumatically retain said accessory element (12).

11. Method as in any claim from 8 to 10, wherein said feed member (14) comprises one or more retention members (16), said method being characterized in that there is provided a step of moving said retention members (16) along a feed path, in such a way that each retention member (16) receives in succession said accessory element (12) and said reinforcement element (13), in correspondence with respective feed stations (22, 23), and subsequently retains said accessory element (12) and said reinforcement element (13) in a disposition whereby one is partly overlapping the other.

12. Method as in any claim from 8 to 11, characterized in that said step of transferring said accessory element (12) and said reinforcement element (13) from said feed member (14) to a respective one of said forming pockets (24) by means of a transfer member (29) disposed in a transfer station, provides that said accessory element (12) and said reinforcement element (13) are transferred while maintaining their reciprocally overlapping disposition so that said accessory element (12) and said reinforcement element (13) are partly overlapping each other also in said forming pocket (24).

13. Method as in any claim from 8 to 12, characterized in that during the step of moving said accessory element (12) outside said forming pocket (24) by means of said counter-thrust member (34) and during the subsequent step of accompanying said accessory element (12) together with said organized group of smoking articles (11) inside said pocket (24), it is provided that said thrust member (32) and said counter-thrust member (34) are displaced parallel to a linear directrix of movement, which coincides with a radial directrix leaving an axis of rotation (X) around which it is provided to make said forming conveyor (15) rotate.

14. Packaging machine for packaging packets for smoking articles which enclose an assembly (A) comprising at least an organized group of smoking articles (11), an accessory element (12) and a reinforcement element (13), wherein said packaging machine is characterized in that it comprises an apparatus (10) as in any claim from 1 to 7.