EP4405256A1

EP4405256A1 - A machine for producing packets of smoking articles

Info

Publication number: EP4405256A1
Application number: EP22761290.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gilberto Spirito; Alessandro Venturoli; Michele Ferrari; Giuliano Gamberini
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2021-09-22
Filing date: 2022-08-17
Publication date: 2024-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2042-08-17
Also published as: WO2023047207A1; IT202100024299A1; EP4405256B1

Abstract

A machine (1) for producing packets of smoking articles of two different types, comprising: - a first wrapping unit (10) for wrapping ordered groups of cigarettes in an inner wrapper, which makes semifinished packets of a first type (110); - a second wrapping unit (20) for wrapping ordered group of cigarettes in a hermetically closed inner wrapper, which makes semifinished packets of a second type (120), the semifinished packets of the second type having one or more sealing or fixing areas, or points, which stably maintain closed the semifinished packets; - a packaging unit (30) for forming a closed outer casing around the semifinished packets of the first or second type, starting from a blank of sheet material; - at least one conveying device (40) for transferring the semifinished packets of the first or second type to the packaging unit (30); and - a feeding device (50) which is connected to the second wrapping unit (20) for receiving the semifinished packets of the second type (120) from the second wrapping unit, and which is configured to feed - one after another - the semifinished packets to the conveying device (40).

Description

“A machine for producing packets of smoking articles”

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TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a machine for producing packets of smoking articles. In particular, the machine described here is designed to produce packets of smoking articles of two different types.

In the prior art, packaging lines have already been proposed that are capable of producing packets of smoking articles of two different types. In particular, the document W02019/110704A1 presents a production line equipped with a plurality of mutually interchangeable operating units to switch the line between a first configuration, for producing a first packet type, and a second configuration, for producing a second packet type.

In this context, the present invention proposes a machine for producing packets of smoking articles of two different types that does not need to vary its layout in order to pass from producing packets of a first type to producing packets of a second type.

In particular, the machine described here is characterized in that it has the characteristics subject of claim 1. The present invention also relates to a method according to claim 12.

The claims form an integral part of the technical disclosure provided here.

As will become evident below, thanks to the fact that it is able to maintain the same layout for producing the two types of packets provided, the machine described here has the advantage of being equipped with a simpler structure and providing a more simple and efficient operation.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become evident from the description that follows with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

- Figure 1 schematically illustrates a layout example of the machine described here;

- Figure 2 represents a detail of the machine described here according to a preferred embodiment thereof;

- Figure 3 schematically represents an example of operation of the machine described here; - Figure 4 represents a cross-sectional view of a feeding device of the machine described here;

- Figure 5 represents a view from below of the device of Figure 4;

- Figures 6A-6E schematically represent successive steps of the operation of the device of Figure 5, according to a cross-sectional view along the plane III-III of Figure 4;

- Figure 7 represents an additional preferred embodiment of a feeding device of the machine described here;

- Figure 8 represents still another preferred embodiment of a feeding device of the machine described here;

- Figures 9A-9C schematically illustrate successive steps of the operation of the feeding device of Figure 8.

In the following description, various specific details are illustrated aimed at a thorough understanding of the embodiments. The embodiments may be implemented without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other cases, known structures, materials or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the embodiments.

The references used here are only for convenience and do not, therefore, define the field of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

With reference to the Figures, in general, the machine described here - indicated as a whole with the reference number 1 - comprises:

- a first wrapping unit 10 for wrapping ordered groups of smoking articles in an inner wrapper, which makes semifinished 110 packets of a first type;

- a second wrapping unit 20 for wrapping ordered groups of smoking articles in an inner wrapper, which makes semifinished 120 packets of a second type; and

- a packaging unit 30 for forming a closed outer casing around the semifinished packets of the first or second type, starting from a blank of sheet material.

The first wrapping unit 10 may be a conventional wrapping unit, designed to create an inner wrapper around the group of cigarettes - or rather, a semifinished packet - of any type. For example, the first wrapping unit may be arranged to wrap a wrapping sheet around the group of cigarettes, according to a tube conformation, and, subsequently, to fold the ends of the tube against the group of cigarettes according to a so-called “soap-wrapping” configuration, wherein two opposite faces of the inner wrapper are created, each consisting of two opposite edges in the shape of a trapezoid and two opposite edges in the shape of a rectangle.

On the other hand, the second wrapping unit 20 is designed to make an inner wrapper around the group of cigarettes - or rather a semifinished packet - which has one or more areas, or points, for sealing or fixing (for example, with the application of glue), which keep the wrapping permanently closed. Preferably, the second wrapping unit 20 is arranged to make a hermetically closed wrapper. In particular, the second wrapping unit 20 may, for example, be arranged to wrap the wrapping sheet around the group of cigarettes according to a so-called “flow-pack” mode, wherein the wrapping sheet is wrapped in a tube around the group of cigarettes and is closed by a longitudinal sealing band and by two transversal sealing bands, opposite each other with respect to the group of cigarettes. The sealing areas (or points) can be made, for example, through a welding or gluing operation. The second wrapping unit may also be a conventional wrapping unit.

The packaging unit 30 may be a packaging unit of the conventional type, for example, arranged to fold around the semifinished packet, whether it is of the first or second type, a blank of sheet material having a predetermined perimeter edge and predefined folding lines, producing an outer envelope comprising a container containing the semifinished packet, and a cover hinged to the container to be movable between a closed condition and an open condition.

Incidentally, it should be noted that no further details will be provided on units 10, 20 and 30 in order not to burden the present discussion, considering that, as will be seen below, the machine described here is characterized by how the units 10, 20 and 30 are operationally associated with each other.

With reference to Figure 2, the machine 1 also comprises a conveying device 40 for transferring to the packaging unit 30 both the semifinished packets of the first type 110, coming from the first wrapping unit 10, and the semifinished packets of the second type 120, coming from the second wrapping unit 20. In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the conveying device 40 comprises a conveying wheel 42 rotatable around a vertical rotation axis K, which is provided with a plurality of housings 42A arranged in series around the rotation axis K, to receive the semifinished packets.

In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated (Figure 2), the wrapping unit 10 comprises a wrapping sheet forming-wheel 12, which is arranged to deliver the formed semifinished packets to the conveying wheel 42.

On the other hand, the machine 1 comprises a feeding device 50, which is arranged to feed the semifinished packets 120 coming from the second wrapping unit 20 to the conveying wheel 42.

In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated (Figure 2), the feeding device 50 is a hopper device, which is arranged to contain a stack 100 of semifinished products, and to feed one after the other of the semifinished products of the stack to the conveying wheel 42.

In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated (see Figures 4 and 5), the feeding device 50 comprises:

- a hopper 52 for containing the stack of semifinished packets, which is equipped with an outlet 52A for making the semifinished product arranged at the bottom of the stack exit from the hopper 52;

- a singularizing member 54 for separating the semifinished packet leaving the hopper 52, from the remaining semifinished packets;

- a member 56 for receiving the semifinished product released from the hopper 52, which is equipped with a seat 56A for housing the semifinished product.

Furthermore, in one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the machine comprises a gripping member 60, which is movable, for transferring, one by one, the semifinished products released by the feeding device 50 to the conveying wheel 42.

In particular, the gripping member 60 picks up the single semifinished packet contained in the member 56 and transfers it to the inside of a corresponding housing 42A of the conveying wheel 42.

The feeding device 50 is connected to the second wrapping unit 20 by means of conventional transport means, for example, a conveying channel 70 (Figure 1), in order to have a continuous supply of semifinished packets made by the second wrapping unit 20.

In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated (Figures 4 and 5), the outlet 52A of the hopper is delimited by an edge 52A’, which follows a closed-shaped profile corresponding to the outer profile of the semifinished packets 120 in a plane orthogonal to the main axis I of the hopper 52.

In the illustrated example, the profile of the semifinished packets is rectangular and the profile of the edge 51 A’ which delimits the outlet 52A has a corresponding rectangular shape, in particular, slightly larger to allow the free passage of the semifinished products 120 through the outlet 52A.

The receiving member 56 is arranged in a plane P2 parallel to the plane Pl of the outlet 52A of the hopper 52.

The seat 56A of the receiving member 56 is delimited, in a plane orthogonal to the axis I, by walls 56A’ that follow the same profile as the outlet 52A of the hopper 52. However, the receiving member 56 is positioned so that its seat 56A has a non-coincident arrangement with respect to the outlet 52A of the hopper 52.

Preferably, the seat 56A is rotated with respect to the outlet 52A.

As seen above, the receiving member 56 defines a position for picking up the semifinished packet 120 coming out of the hopper 52, by the pickup member 60, for transferring the semifinished packet to the conveying device 40.

In the example illustrated, the seat 56 A of the receiving member 56 has no bottom, to be directly accessible to the pickup member 60.

Preferably, the housings 42A of the conveying wheel 42 are arranged one after the other under the seat 56A of the receiving member 56 by effect of a rotational movement in steps of the conveying wheel 42, to each receive a semifinished packet 120 coming from the hopper 52. In this case, the pickup member 60 may be movable only along a vertical direction, between the receiving member 56 and the conveying wheel 42. As can be seen in Figure 1, the bottom of the housing 42 A is provided with an opening 42 A’ to allow the passage of the gripping member 12 for carrying out the indicated actions.

The singularizing member 54 has a substantially planar body, oriented orthogonally to the axis I, and is equipped with an opening 54A for the passage of each semifinished packet 120 that comes out of the hopper 52.

The opening 54A is delimited by an edge 54A’ that substantially defines the same profile as the outlet 52A of the hopper 52.

Furthermore, the singularizing member 54 is rotatable around a rotation axis II parallel to the axis I, between a receiving position, wherein the opening 54A is arranged to be coincident with the outlet 52A of the hopper 52, for receiving the package leaving the hopper 52, and a release position, wherein the opening 54A is arranged to be coincident with the seat 56A of the receiving member 56, for releasing the semifinished packet that has left the hopper 52 into the seat 56A of the receiving member 56.

In particular, in the receiving position, the rectangular profile of the opening 54A of the singularizing member 54 coincides with the rectangular profile of the outlet 52A, while in the release position, the rectangular profile of the opening 54A coincides with the rectangular profile of the seat 56A.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the rotation axis II overlaps with the axis around which the seat 56A of the receiving unit 56 is rotated with respect to the outlet 52A of the hopper 52.

Preferably, the rotation axis II of the singularizing member 54 passes through the respective centers of symmetry of the rectangular profiles of the outlet 52A of the hopper 52 and of the seat 56A of the receiving member 56. In any case, according to the reciprocal positioning of the outlet 52A and the seat 56A and/or the shape of the relative profiles, it is possible to envisage a rotation axis of the singularizing member 54 that is positioned differently, or always inside the closed profiles of the outlet 52A and of the seat 56A, or outside of these.

Figures 6A-6E illustrate the operating mode of the singularizing member 54.

In Figure 6A, the singularizing member 54 is in its receiving position, wherein its opening 54A coincides with the outlet 52A of the hopper 52. In this position, the semifinished packet 1201 at the bottom of the stack 100 is inserted inside the opening 54A, causing all the packets in the stack to descend by a pitch equal to the size of each individual package along the reference axis I. The semifinished packet 1201 received in the opening 54A and the stack 100 above it are supported vertically by the upper side of the receiving member 56, which does not allow the passage of the semifinished packet 1201, due to the fact that its seat 56A is not aligned with the opening 54A of the singularizing member 54.

Subsequently, the singularizing member 54 is rotated to be brought into its release position (Figure 6B), in which its opening 54A now coincides with the seat 56A of the receiving member 56. In this position, the semifinished packet 1201 may be inserted inside the seat 56A of the receiving member 56, and - in this way - it is separated from the other semifinished products 120 of the stack 100 (Figure 6C).

Finally, the singularizing member 54 returns to the receiving position to separate a new semifinished packet 1201’ at the bottom of the stack 100 (Figures 6D and 6E).

Preferably, the singularizing member 54 has helical surfaces 54C, 54D, which delimit the opening 54A, and have the function of accompanying and guiding the semifinished packet 1201 in its movement along the axis I, during rotation of the singularizing member 54 from the release position to the receiving position.

In particular, with reference to Figures 6C and 6D, the surface 54D engages the semifinished packet 1201 and exerts a vertical support action thereon to guide its descent into the opening 54A. On the other hand, the opposite surface 54C engages the semifinished packet 1201 already separated from the stack 100 and contains it, laterally guiding it in its descending movement.

In this way, a smooth and jam-free descent of the packets is guaranteed.

The singularizing element 54 is operated in its oscillation movement around the rotation axis II by a respective actuator (not illustrated).

Figure 7 illustrates a different embodiment of the singularizing member 54, which allows the same member to be operated according to a rotation movement with a constant direction of rotation, rather than according to an oscillation movement.

According to this embodiment, the singularizing member comprises a ring 54’, which is rotatable around the rotation axis II, and is centrally equipped with a circular opening 54A’ coaxial to the rotation axis II. The ring 54’ has a plurality of teeth 54’B protruding from the inner edge of the circular opening 54 ’A, which are designed to identify a plurality of opening sectors for the passage of the semifinished packets 120. In Figure 7, two different sectors 54’A1, 54’A2 are highlighted by means of a dashed line. These sectors each have the same rectangular profile of the outlet 52A of the hopper 52 and of the seat 56A of the receiving member 56.

The singularizing member 54 thus made is operated according to a stepwise rotation movement, with a constant rotation direction, which leads

- one after the other - each opening sector, firstly, into a receiving position, wherein this sector coincides with the outlet 52A of the hopper, and subsequently into a release position, wherein this sector coincides with the seat 56A of the receiving member 56. In this way, an operation is carried out that corresponds exactly to what is described above with reference to Figures 6A-6E, with the only difference that, in this case, the different opening sectors intervene to separate the semifinished packets 120 - one after the other

- from the stack 100.

In view of the above, the person skilled in the art will understand that the feeding device 50 is capable of operating at high speeds comparable to the machine cycles of the units 10, 20 and 30 and - at the same time - guaranteeing a precise positioning of the semifinished packets for their insertion into the conveying device 40.

Moreover, feeding of the semifinished packets from a stack of semifinished products, made by the device 50, facilitates the transport of the semifinished products to the same device, allowing - in particular - the use of simple conveyors for transporting continuous lines of semifinished products.

This means that the wrapping unit 20 may also be arranged at a distance from the units 10 and 30, as schematically represented in Figure 1.

In an alternative embodiment (see Figures 8, 9A-9C), the feeding device 50 comprises:

- a conveyor 510 configured to move the semifinished packets 120 according to a line and in contact with one another along a movement path R terminating at a delivery position Pl of the semifinished packets to the conveying device 40; and

- a singularizing drum 520, which can rotate about a rotation axis 12 that is preferably horizontal, and is configured to separate the semifinished packet that is in the delivery position Pl from the other semifinished packets arranged in line, and release it onto the conveying device 40. In this case, the conveyor device 40 is preferably a conveyor belt, which receives, one after the other, the semifinished packets from the singularizing drum 520 and feeds them to the packaging unit 30.

In preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the conveying unit 510 consists of a gravity conveyor designed to move the line of semifinished packets 120 along a predetermined path R, which originates from an inlet section - not illustrated - and ends with an outlet section 511 at the delivery position Pl (Figure 9A).

In preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the conveyor 510 consists of a chute formed by two opposing guides 512A, 512B between which the passageway is defined for the semifinished packets 120 along the path R.

In preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the path R develops starting from an upper region - not illustrated - wherein the aforesaid inlet section is located, according to a descending circular section, which ends at the position Pl defining a feed direction T.

The first semifinished product 120 in the line then reaches the delivery position Pl by moving along the direction T.

Preferably, the feed direction T is oriented according to an angle equal to or less than 60° with respect to the feed direction U of the semifinished packets of the conveyor device 40. In the example illustrated, the direction T is defined by the guide 512A, which, in its end section, extends along this direction up to the position Pl.

The singularizing drum 520 comprises a plurality of protruding elements 522, distributed in succession along its entire perimeter region and mutually equidistant. These elements are arranged in such a way that each element and the successive one (with reference to the rotation direction of the drum) operate, respectively, to hold the semifinished packet 120 with respect to a movement along the feed direction T and to push the same semifinished packet along a direction S transverse to the direction T and in a direction away from the supplying line T and consequently from the rotation axis 12, due to a rotation of the drum.

In particular, the first element 522 operates to hold the semifinished packet 120 so that its movement is controlled, but without stopping it (Figure 9A), while the second protruding element 522 intervenes to deflect the semifinished packet 120 in the transverse direction S towards the conveyor device 40, so as to separate it from the other semifinished products arranged in a line in the conveyor 510, and to leave free the space for the approach of a new semifinished packet 120 to the delivery position Pl (Figure 9B). This new semifinished packet 120 will also be held by a first element 522, and then diverted by an additional element 522 towards the conveyor device 40.

In preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, each protruding element 522 is delimited by a first surface 522A and by a second surface 522B, which are parallel to the rotation axis 12 of the drum, and which define an acute angle 0 with each other inside the drum. Preferably, the rotation axis 12 is not included within the acute angle 0 facing the inside of the drum. In each protruding element 522, the surface 522A is designed to be arranged substantially parallel to the feed direction T, in a first angular position of the drum 520 (Figure 9A), to carry out the pushing action along the direction S, on a semifinished packet 120. On the other hand, the surface 522B is, instead, designed to be arranged transversely to the feed direction T, in a second angular position of the drum following the first angular position - with reference to the rotation direction of the drum - to hold a subsequent semifinished packet 120 along the direction T (Figure 9C).

As can be seen in Figure 9A, the surface 522B of an element 522 and the surface 522A of the successive element 522 (with reference to the rotation direction of the drum) define a seat 524 for receiving the semifinished packet 120.

Preferably, the conveyor device 40 is positioned below the conveyor 510 and the singularizing drum 520, and comprises a conveyor belt 540 extending along a closed-loop path, and equipped with an upper branch 542 arranged to receive the semifinished packet 120 separated from the singularizing drum 520 and to feed it to the packaging unit 30, along the direction U.

In preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the conveyor belt 540 is equipped along its surface with a plurality of pusher elements 544, which are preferably constituted by flaps that are transverse to the longitudinal direction of the belt and which have the function of defining an abutment surface intended to come into contact with the semifinished packet 120 that is received by the drum 520. The conveyor belt 540 is designed to operate in a synchronized manner with the singularizing drum 520, so that for each new semifinished product 120 that is separated from the drum 520, a pusher element 544 is ready to immediately come into contact with it and push it so as to feed it towards the packaging unit 30 (Figure 9C). Preferably, the conveyor belt 540 operates according to an intermittent movement so that each element 544 is stationed near the delivery position Pl waiting for the new semifinished product 120, and is then immediately advanced to transfer the new semifinished product 120 to the packaging unit 30.

During operation, the singularizing drum 520 is driven in rotation, preferably at a constant speed or - in any case - moderately pivoting in such a way as to generate in the conveyor 510 a flow of semifinished packets, which advances continuously and without interruptions. The single semifinished products 120 that reach the delivery position Pl one after the other are separated from the drum 520 by means of a deviation of their movement, but without being stopped. The separated 120 semifinished products are then received, one after the other, by the conveyor belt 540, which feeds them to the packaging unit 30. In any case, the feeding device 50 may also have configurations different from those illustrated above; for example, it may simply comprise a hopper of the type illustrated in Figure 4, designed to contain a stack of semifinished packets, which feeds the semifinished products directly to a conveyor belt designed to transport the semifinished packets to the packaging unit 30.

In general, in order to ensure a release of the semifinished packets to the conveyor device 40, which is synchronized with the operating mode of the latter, the feeding device 50 is preferably arranged to contain the semifinished packets according to a compact, preferably linear arrangement, wherein the semifinished products are in mutual contact, which can, for example, be a stack or a line of semifinished packets.

In one or more preferred embodiments, the machine 1 may be produced within a retrofit activity of an already existing machine for producing packets of the first type, comprising only the units 10 and 30, which also prepares the machine in question for producing packets of the second type. To this end, it is sufficient to connect a wrapping unit 20 to the units 10 and 30 of the existing machine through the feeding device 50. As anticipated at the beginning, the machine described here is able to alternatively produce the packets of smoking articles of the two types indicated without changing its own machine layout, but simply by activating or deactivating the units and devices described above in a selective manner.

In particular, in order to produce at least one batch of packets of smoking articles of the first type, the operation of the machine described here comprises the steps of:

- setting the first wrapping unit 10 into an active configuration;

- possibly setting the second wrapping unit 20 into an inactive configuration;

- possibly setting the feeding device 50 into an inactive configuration;

- operating the first wrapping unit 10 and the packaging unit 30 for making one or more batches of packets of smoking articles of the first type.

In order to produce, instead, at least one batch of packets of smoking articles of the second type, the operation of the machine described here comprises the steps of:

- possibly setting the first wrapping unit 10 into an inactive configuration;

- setting the second wrapping unit 20 into an active configuration;

- setting the feeding device 50 into an active configuration; and

- operating the second wrapping unit 20 and the packaging unit 30 for making at least one or more batches of packets of smoking articles of the second type.

In a particular operating mode, the feeding device 50 may be used to feed sheets to be inserted in the packets of smoking articles of the first type. In this case, the feeding device 50 is arranged in an active configuration together with the first wrapping unit 10. The operation of the machine, therefore, envisages operating the first wrapping unit 10 and the packaging unit 30 to produce one or more batches of packets of smoking articles of the first type, comprising the aforesaid sheets inside them.

The active configuration of the feeding device 50 envisaged for this mode of operation may involve an arrangement of the device wherein the singularizing member and the receiving member are both absent, therefore, only the hopper 52 remains to contain a stack of sheets, which are then picked up directly through the outlet 52A, by the pickup member 60. Preferably, the singularizing member 54 and the receiving member 56 are arranged with quick connection means to facilitate their assembly/disassembly into/from the conveying device 50.

According to still another operating mode of the machine described here, the first and second wrapping units 10, 20 are arranged simultaneously in an active configuration and are operated simultaneously to produce, respectively, the semifinished packets of the first type and the semifinished packets of the second type. The semifinished packets of the first or second type are then accumulated in an accumulation area, while the packaging unit 30 produces one or more batches of packets of smoking articles of the second or first type.

Once the batches of packages of the second or first type have been completed, the semifinished packets of the first or second type present in the accumulation area are fed to the packaging unit 30 to create one or more batches of packets of smoking articles of the first or second type.

This operating mode is particularly advantageous in cases wherein the work cycle of one of the two wrapping units is slower than the work cycle of the packaging unit.

Indeed, the preliminary accumulation of the semifinished packets made by the wrapping unit with a slower working cycle, allows avoiding a slowdown in the operation of the packaging unit when this starts to operate on the semifinished products of said wrapping unit.

Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to those illustrated here, purely by way of non-limiting example, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. A machine for producing packets of smoking articles of two different types, comprising:

- a first wrapping unit (10) for wrapping ordered groups of cigarettes in an inner wrapper, which makes semifinished packets of a first type (110);

- a second wrapping unit (20) for wrapping ordered group of cigarettes in an inner wrapper, which makes semifinished packets of a second type (120), the semifinished packets of the second type having one or more sealing or fixing areas, or points, which stably maintain closed the semifinished packets;

- a packaging unit (30) for forming a closed outer casing around the semifinished packets of the first or second type, starting from a blank of sheet material;

- at least one conveying device (40) for transferring the semifinished packets of the first or second type to the packaging unit (30); and

- a feeding device (5), which is connected to the second wrapping unit (20) for receiving from the second wrapping unit the semifinished packets of the second type (120), and which is configured to feed the semifinished packets of the second type (120) - one after another - to the conveying device (40).

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the feeding device (50) is a hopper device configured to contain a stack (100) of semifinished packets.

3. A machine according to claim 2, comprising a mobile, gripping member (60) for transferring - one after another - the semifinished packets (120) from the hopper device (50) to the conveying device (40).

4. A machine according to claims 2 or 3, wherein the at least one conveying device (40) comprises a conveyor wheel (42) that rotates about a vertical rotation axis (K), and is equipped with a plurality of housings (42A) arranged in series about the rotation axis (K), for receiving the semifinished packets of the first or second type (110, 120).

5. A machine according to claim 4, wherein the gripping member (60) is movable between a raised position for picking up the single semifinished packet from the hopper device (50), and a lowered position for releasing the semifinished packet into a respective housing (42A) of the conveyor wheel (42).

6. A machine according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the hopper device (50) comprises:

- a hopper (52) for containing the stack (100) of semifinished packets of the second type (120), which is equipped with an outlet (52A) for letting the semifinished packet (1201) at the bottom of the stack (100) exit from the hopper (52);

- a singularizing member (54) for separating the semifinished packet coming out of the hopper, from the remaining semifinished packets;

- a member (56) for receiving the semifinished packet that has come out of the hopper (52), which is equipped with a seat (56A) for housing the semifinished packet, said seat (56A) defining a position for picking up the semifinished packet so as to transfer it to the conveying device (50).

7. A machine according to claim 6, wherein: the seat (56) of the receiving member (56) is on a plane (P2) that is parallel to the plane (Pl) of the outlet (52A) of the hopper and in an noncoinciding arrangement with respect to the outlet (52A) of the hopper;

- the singularizing member (54) is placed between the outlet (52A) of the hopper and the receiving member (56), and is equipped with an opening (54A; 54 ’A) for a single semifinished packet that has left the hopper (52) to pass through;

- the singularizing member (54) is, furthermore, rotatable about a rotation axis (II) that is parallel to the main axis (I) of the hopper along which the stack (120) contained therein extends, between a receiving position, wherein the opening (54A, 54 ’A) is in an arrangement coinciding with the outlet (52A) of the hopper (52), for receiving the semifinished packet exiting from the hopper (52), and a release position, wherein the opening (54A; 54’A) is in an arrangement coinciding with the seat (56A) of the receiving member (56), for releasing the semifinished packet (120) that has left the hopper (52), into the seat (56A) of the receiving member (56).

8. A machine according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the hopper device (50) is configurable to receive a stack of sheets and to feed, one after another, the sheets of the stack to the conveying device (40), in an operating mode of the machine wherein the packets of smoking articles of the first type comprise said sheets in their inside. - 16 -

9. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the feeding device (50) comprises:

- a conveyor (510) configured to move the semifinished packets according to a line and in contact with one another along a movement path (R) terminating at a delivery position (Pl) of the semifinished packets to the conveying device (40); and

- a singularizing drum (520), which can rotate about a rotation axis (12) preferably horizontal, and is configured to separate the semifinished packet that is in the delivery position (Pl) from the other semifinished packets arranged in line, and release it onto the conveying device (40).

10. A machine according to claim 9, wherein the singularizing drum (520) comprises at least one first and one second projecting element (522), which are angularly spaced apart from one another about the rotation axis (12) of the drum and which are arranged, respectively, to hold the semifinished packet that is in the delivery position (Pl) with respect to its movement along a feed direction (T) of the end section of the movement path (R), and to push the semifinished packet along a direction (S) transversal to the feed direction (T) and away from the rotation axis (12) of the drum, as a result of a rotation of the drum itself

11. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feeding device (50) is configured to contain the semifinished packets according to a compact arrangement, preferably linear, wherein the semifinished packets are in contact with one another, which can, e.g. be a stack or a line of semifinished packets.

12. A method for operating a machine for producing packets of smoking articles according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of:

- setting the first wrapping unit (10) into an active configuration;

- possibly setting the second wrapping unit (20) into an inactive configuration;

- possibly setting the feeding device (50) into an inactive configuration;

- operating the first wrapping unit (10) and the packaging unit (30) for making at least one batch of packets of smoking articles of the first type; or - 17 -

- possibly setting the first wrapping unit (20) into an inactive configuration;

- setting the second wrapping unit (20) into an active configuration;

- setting the feeding device (50) into an active configuration; and

- operating the second wrapping unit (20) and the packaging unit (30) for making at least one batch of packets of smoking articles of the second type.

13. A method according to claim 12, which includes, successively:

- possibly setting the first wrapping unit (10) into an inactive configuration;

- setting the second wrapping unit (20) into an active configuration;

- setting the feeding device (50) into an active configuration; and

- operating the second wrapping unit (20) and the packaging unit (30) for making at least one batch of packets of smoking articles of the second type; or

- setting the first wrapping unit (10) into an active configuration;

- possibly setting the feeding device (50) into an inactive configuration;

- operating the first wrapping unit (10) and the packaging unit (30) for making at least one batch of packets of smoking articles of the first type;

14. A method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein setting the feeding device (50) into an active configuration includes positioning, in the feeding device (50), the semifinished packets according to a compact arrangement, preferably linear, wherein the semifinished packets (120) are in contact with one another, which can, e.g. be a stack or a line of semifinished packets.

15. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, which includes setting the first and the second wrapping units (10, 20) at the same time into an active configuration, and collecting the semifinished packets of the second type (110, 120) in a collecting zone, while the packaging unit (30) makes at least one batch of packets of smoking articles of the first type.