GB1384722A - Methods and apparatus for packing articles - Google Patents

Abstract

1384722 Packaging cigarettes HAUNIWERKE KORBER & CO KG 10 March 1972 [31 March 1971] 11404/72 Addition to 1349244 Heading B8C In a method for packing articles in which wrapper components and articles are conveyed cyclically and packing operations are effected during work cycles which consist in each case of a feed step and an associated stoppage period and in which the packing operations can be terminated by an interruption signal, the packing operations which have already commenced are continued over a sequence of work cycles up to the end of critical packing operations. As shown in Fig. 1 cigarettes finished on a cigarette rod machine 5001 are transferred to a take off drum 5003 and fed therefrom to a filter attachment machine 5002 from which the filter cigarettes 5022 are delivered on to a conveyer belt 5023 (Fig. 3) which feeds them into a funnel 5014 of a magazine 5004. The machines 5001, 5002, a packing machine 5012 and a transparent foil wrapper machine 5013, are driven by a common motor which is coupled through a clutch 5232 (Fig. 5) with the machine 5012 and through a clutch 5718 (Fig. 8) with the wrapper machine 5013. With both clutches engaged, a light control 5029 in the funnel 5014 is covered by cigarettes 5022 and switch 5099 is periodically operated to supply clock pulses to a pulse shaper 5101, the shaped pulses being fed to control units 5376, 5387 and 5417. An empty packet turret 5042 (Fig. 4) a tin foil device 5069, a roll pair 5072, a wrapper device 5131, a packing turret 5179, a cell drum 5033, a presser turret 5036 and a tabbing turret 5207 and driven stepwise by the drive of the packing machine 5012. Blocks 5008 of cigarettes are each delivered into a cell 5009 of a chain conveyer 5011, Fig. 4b, which delivers it to a transfer point A5<SP>1</SP> where it is transferred into a holder 5039 of a presser turret 5036. An empty pocket 5041 is prepared on a turret 5042 from tin foil 5073 which is fed, cut and folded about a mandrel 5043 together with a paper blank 5132 drawn from a magazine 5133, the finished packet then being moved to a transfer point B5 where it is transferred to the packing turret 5179 and is moved out of its holder 5039 into an empty packet 5041. The filled packet is then moved to a folder 5196 and thereafter to a transfer point A5<SP>11</SP> and a tabbing turret 5207. The package is then transferred from its holder 5206 to a feed belt 5203 for conveyance to the transparent foil wrapper 5013, Fig. 6, where the package is transferred into a holder 5712 of a turret 5711. Wrapper material 5716 is fed to a drum 5726 where it is cut to length and fed to a point C6 for assembly with the package 5201. The package and wrapper are then passed to a holder of turret 5713 where partial folding and sealing of the wrapper takes place at points 5733, 5736, whereafter further folding is effected at a unit 5739 before the package is transferred to a holder 5741 of a turret 5714 where the folding and sealing of the package wrapper is completed by folders 5743 and sealing devices 5744. The finished package is then fed to a take-off conveyer 5752. If the supply of cigarettes to the magazine 5004 is stopped, or a hand switch 5702 is operated, the clutch 5232 disconnects the drive for the packing machine 5012 after completion of eight work cycles of the machine 5012, during which all cigarette blocks 5008 which are still assembled with empty packets 5041 are manipulated to form finished packages 5201 and are provided with a tab 5202 and all folding operations on empty packets are completed. The packing machine 5012 is restarted by a hand switch 5391. The foil wrapping machine 5013 may be stopped by a switch 5819 (Fig. 8) which disconnects a clutch 5799 for the drive to rolls 5717, 5718 and a cutter 5724, from the drive for the machine 5013, whereby no wrapper material is transferred to drum 5726 and a wrapper blank is transferred only for the package already in the turret 5711. Subsequently the clutch 5781 disconnects the drive for the machine 5013 and packages on the belt 5203 are transferred to a store 5764. All packages already in the turret 5711 are fed through the turrets 5713, 5714 to the conveyer 5752. In an alternative arrangement, only the feed of wrapper material to the turret 5711 is stopped and packages assembled with wrapping material are completed, and the store 5764 is omitted.