GB1573634A

GB1573634A - Cigarette packaging machine

Info

Publication number: GB1573634A
Application number: GB11438/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 1976-03-17
Filing date: 1977-03-17
Publication date: 1980-08-28
Also published as: ATA184877A; SE7702972L; MX144133A; AT359926B; FR2344478B1; CH610561A5; IT1060845B; SU664550A3; BR7701603A; FR2344478A1; DE2711781A1; CS210612B2; ES456921A1; PL108231B1; NL7702797A; JPS52133672A; CA1069946A; IN146416B; DD129431A5; SE425153B

Abstract

Said apparatus comprises a single raising means (68) for forming single successive piles each consisting of a predetermined number n of articles and a pair of thrusting means (71, 75) moved in synchronism with each other at a frequency equivalent to 1/n of that of said single raising means (68). One of said thrusters (71) feeds successive single piles to a horizontal wheel (74) having a device (82) for discarding and replacing defective piles and the other (75) removes in sequence said piles from said horizontal wheel (74) and feeds them into a respectively adjacent position in single groups (79) to a channel (76) for feeding to the packing or box-filling machine. With this apparatus, therefore, it is possible to obtain groups of articles, each formed by a plurality of adjacent piles, all complete with the same number of articles and without the omission of any operating cycle. In particular, the apparatus is supplied with packets of cigarettes from a cellophane-wrapping machine, so as to obtain parallelepiped groups conveyed to the packing or box-filling machine. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) AN IMPROVED CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINE (71) We, G.D. SOCIETA PER AZIONI, of Via Pomponia, 10 Bologna, Italy, an Italian Body Corporate, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a cigarette packaging machine including an apparatus for forming groups made up of a plurality of piles of parallelepipedon shaped cigarette packets, positioned side-by-side, delivered by a high speed wrapping machine, which groups are, in use, supplied to a packing machine.

The groups of packets can be formed by superposing two or more rows, each of which is formed by the same number of packets, or by bringing a plurality of piles, each consisting of the same number of packets, close together.

As is known. conventional cigarette manufacturing plants include two different kinds of machines, i.e.: 1) Machines for producing cigarettes from shredded and cured tobacco leaves, usually called cigarette manufacturing machines, and 2) Cigarette packaging machines.

The latter machines comprise: a) Machines for producing packets of cigarettes, usually called packeting machines; b) Machines for producing packs of cigarette packets, usually called packing machines; and c) Wrapping machines, for wrapping with film both single packets of cigarettes and single packs of packets of cigarettes, the latter being usually called "overwrapping machines In such plants. the wrapping machines usually use regenerated cellulose film (hereinafter called ''film") and are positioned between the packeting machines and the packing machines, while the overwrapping machines are positioned downstream of the packing machines.

Packeting machines operate at output speeds of 100 to 400 packets of cigarettes per minute, whereas film wrapping machines which can wrap 400 packets of cigarettes per minute are widely used.

The operating output speed of the packing machines is a function of the number of cigarette packets making up the single packs.

The present invention aims to sove the problems concerned with the feeding of the packing machines by the film wrapping machines.

The main object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide an apparatus for connecting a film wrapping machine operating at very high output speed (400 packets per minute) to a packing machine, without any loss of operating cycles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus by which piles, consisting of any desired number of packets of cigarettes can be formed.

A further object is to provide an apparatus able to feed individual piles of cigarette packets to a resection and replenishment device, for rejecting defective piles and for replenishing the defective piles, and, in the meantime, able to reject individual piles from the same device in such a manner as to build up complete groups of piles of packets made up by any desired number of piles.

The present invention consists in a cigarette packaging machine including an apparatus for forming groups made up of a plurality of piles of parallelepipedon shaped cigarette packets positioned side-by-side, delivered by a high speed operating film wrapping machine, and which groups are, in use, supplied to a packing machine, said apparatus comprising a rejecting and replenishment device for reJecting defective piles and for replenishing said defective piles with non-defective piles, a pile forming means positioned upstream of the rejecting and replenishment device and comprising a vertically and reciprocatingly movable packetlifting means, said means forming piles of a preselected number n of said articles, first and second means synchronously and reciprocatingly movable with a frequency equal to 1/n that of said packet-lifting means, said first mean, in use, feeding individual piles into said rejecting and replenishment device, and said second means, in use, sequentially removing piles from said rejecting and replenishment device, and for feeding successive piles along an exit channel to form individual complete groups made up of a plurality of side-by-side positioned piles for feeding to said packing machine.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the mechanism for driving apparatus forming part of the present invention and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic schematic view showing the sequence of the various operations, performed by means driven by the mechanism according to Fig. 1, to build up complete groups from continuously fed cigarette packets.

For a clear understanding of the present invention. only the essential components of a high-speed operating film wrapping machine are shown in the drawings, such machine being well known in the art.

In Fig. 1, there is indicated an electric motor 1 for driving a film wrapping machine of the type, for example, manufactured by the present Applicant, and known in the trade as "4350i CELL", which is capable of wrapping up to 400 cigarette packets per minute.

Keyed on a horizontal shaft of the motor 1 is a pulley 2, by which a second pulley 4, keyed on one end of a horizontal main shaft 5. is driven by a belt 3. On the same shaft 5 are keyed, starting from said one end, a skew gear wheel 6. and spaced gear wheels 7 and 8.

The skew gear wheel 6 meshes with a gear 9. keved on the lower end of a vertical shaft 10, by which a shaft 13, parallel to the shaft 5, is driven through a pair of skew gear wheels 11 and 12. The function of the shaft 13 will be described thereinafter.

A shaft 15, extending parallel to shaft 5, is driven by the gear 7, through a gear 14, and carries a conventional device 16. by which a six-space Maltase cross 17 is intermittently driven, the Nlaltese cross being keyed on the left end (as viewed in Fig. 1) of a shaft 18, also extending parallel to the main shaft 5.

The device 16 conventionally comprises oppositely positioned pins, or idle rollers, and a centering member in the form of an arcuate sector, these latter components have not been shown, for the sake of clarity, in the drawings.

An eccentric 19 is keyed on a shaft 21 and a grooved cam 20 is keyed on a shaft 22, both latter shafts extending parallel to the main shaft 5, and driven in a conventional manner, not shown.

A rod 24, extending perpendicularly to the main shaft 5 has one end pivotally connected, at 23, to the eccentric 19, and the other end of the rod 24 carries a pusher 64. On the rod 24 is slidingly mounted a block 26 having horizontal pins 25 engaging the upper end of a link rod 27, the lower end of which is provided with an idle cam follower 28 engaging the groove of the cam 20.

With such a construction, an axially directed, reciprocating motion is imparted by the eccentric 19 to the rod 24, and a swinging motion in a vertical plane extending through the axis of same rod 24, is superimposed on the axially directed, reciprocating motion by the action of the cam 20.

A shaft 30, extending parallel to the main shaft 5, is driven by the gear 8, through a gear 29, the shaft 30 having keyed thereon, from left to right (as viewed in Fig. 1), a gear 31, an eccentric 32, a grooved cam 33, and at the right end, a handwheel 34 for manually adjusting the apparatus.

Slidingly engaged with the groove of the cam 33 is a cam follower, shown by dashed lines in Fig. 1, secured to the lower end of a vertical rod 35 to which an axially directed reciprocating motion is imparted, along stationary guides (not shown), when the shaft 30 is turning. The upper end of the rod 35 carries a pile forming means 68 (Fig. 2), the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

The eccentric 32 turns freely within a ring provided on one end of a link rod 36, the opposite end of which is hinged to a lever 37 pivotally fitted by a pin 38, on the bed (not shown) of the film wrapping machine, the lever 37 having its free end formed with a slot 39.

Slidingly fitted in the slot 39 by means of a sliding shoe (not shown), is a horizontal pin 40, which connects the lever 37 to one end of a horizontal rod 41, positioned at right angles relative to the main shaft 5, and to which a reciprocating axial motion, along stationary guides (not shown), is imparted through the above-described connection. As shown in Fig. 2, a pusher 67 is secured on the other end of the rod 41.

The gear 31 meshes with a gear 42 keyed on a shaft 43, extending parallel to the main shaft 5, and whereon is keyed a drum-shaped cam 44 and a bevel gear 45.

The drive is transmitted from the gear 42, through a gear 46, to a vertical shaft 47.

Secured to the shaft 47 is a conventional device 48, comprising a pin and an arcuate sector (not shown), by which a six-space Mal tese cross 49, keyed on the lower end of a vertical shaft 50, is intermittently driven. On the upper end of the shaft 50 is secured a horizontally disposed compartmented wheel 74, having a plurality of radially disposed compartments 73.

Slidingly engaged with the groove of the drum-shaped cam 44 is a cam follower secured to one end of a lever 51, the other end of the lever being secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 52.

The upper end of the shaft 52 carries a horizontal arm 53, the free end of which is provided with a slot 53' engaging, through a sliding shoe (not shown), a pin 54 extending vertically from the centre portion of a horizontal rod 55. The rod 55 is axially slidable along guides, not shown, and secured to the bed of the film wrapping machine.

One end of the rod 55 carries a first pusher 71, and the other end thereof carries a second pusher 75, both pushers lying substantially in the horizontal plane containing the upper surface of the horizontal compartmented wheel 74.

Revolution of the drum-shaped cam 44 results, through the connection above described, in a swinging motion in a horizontal plane of the arm 53, and in an axially directed, reciprocatory motion of the rod 55 together with the pushers 71 and 75.

The bevel gear 45 meshes with a bevel gear 56 keyed on one end of a horizontal shaft 57, positioned at right angles relative to the main shaft 5. The shaft 57 represents the source of drive of the packing machine located downstream of the film wrapping machine, and fed with groups of piles of cigarette packets made up by the apparatus described herein.

A first horizontal inlet channel 60, conven tionallv comprising a pair of spaced endless conveying belts 60' and 60" passing around idler rollers 61 and rollers 62 (only one shown in Fig. 1) keyed on the shaft 13.

The two belts 60' and 60" are spaced apart at a distance slightly shorter than the length of a cigarette packet 58, so as to support each packet on the two opposite ends thereof.

Between the two belts 60' and 60" is longitudinally positioned, coplanar with the upper run of the same belts, a strip 63.

The channel 60 is formed with a plurality of compartments 59, each for housing a packet 58, and is provided for individually and sequentially feeding the cigarette packets 58 into radially disposed pockets 65 (six in the embodiment shown) of an intermittently, clockwise rotating wrapping wheel 66, forming part of the film wrapping machine, and keved on the horizontal shaft 18.

The pusher 67 moves along a second outlet channel 83, (shown in dashed lines in Fig. 2) which lies on the horizontal plane containing the first inlet channel 60, but opposite to the wrapping wheel 66, and extends up to the pile forming means 68.

The first pusher 71 moves along a third channel 69 which partially overlaps the second channel 83, the inlet portion of the third channel 69, overlaps the pile forming means 68, is spaced above the second channel 83 by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a packet 58, and extends up to the horizontal compartmented wheel 74. The length of the third channel 69 is, in the embodiment shown, twice the crosswise dimension of the packets 58.

On each side of the inlet portion of the third channel 69, i.e. on that portion overlapping the pile forming means 68, there is provided a resiliently movable retaining means 70 (Fig. 2) which can be moved from a first substantially horizontal operative position to a second substantially vertical inoperative position. Spring means, (not shown) returns the retaining means to the first operative position.

The second pusher 75 moves along a fourth channel 76, connecting the compartmented horizontal wheel 74 with a supporting surface 78.

As particularly shown in Fig. 2, the cigarette packets, delivered by a packeting machine (not shown, and advantageously of the type described in British Patent Specification No. 1425009, are fed to the film wrapping machine by a continuously driven conveyor 84, positioned parallel to the main shaft 5, in the direction of arrow 85. On conveyor 84 the packets 58 are positioned end-to-end and flatwise.

As disclosed in the British Patent Specification No. 1434430, at the discharge end of the conveyor 84, the packets 58 are individually housed in the compartments 59 (Fig. 1) of the conveyor, or first inlet channel 60. As shown in Fig. 2, the conveyor 60 is transversely positioned relative to the conveyor 84, and is continuously moved in the direction of the arrow 86.

In operation, a packet 58 is continuously moved by the conveyor 60 until it reaches the right hand end of the same conveyor, whereat the pusher 64, secured to the free end of the rod 24, is standing.

The eccentric 19, cam 20 and link rod 27 co-operate, as above described, to impart an axially directed, reciprocating motion to the rod 24 to extend the pusher 64, during its forward stroke, between the belts 60' and 60", just downstream of that compartment 59 which reaches the right hand end of the conveyor 60, so as to push the packet 58 housed in the compartment, together with a piece of film wrapping material, (not shown) into that one of the radial pockets 65 which is dwelling in an inlet station aligned with the conveyor 60.

After insertion of a packet into a pocket 65, the pusher 64 begins its backward stroke, by swinging downwardly to prevent it from interfering with the next packet 58 advancing on the conveyor 60, and with which it will come into engagement during its next forward stroke.

The considered cigarette packet 58, due to the stepwise and clockwise rotation (arrow 87, Fig. 2) of the wrapping wheel 66, is transferred from said inlet station to a diametrically opposite outlet station, and during this transferring the considered packet 58 is sub jetted to a first series of wrapping operations by conventional stationary and movable folding means (not shown), as well as by welding means fitted around the wrapping wheel 66.

The pusher 67 acts on the outlet station and removes the considered and partially wrapped packet from the relative pocket 65, and moves in onto the second channel 83, along which the wrapping operations are completed.

The second channel 83 has a length equal to a multiple of the crosswise dimension of the packets 58, and, during normal operation, accommodates a row made up of a certain number of packets positioned side-byside. The insertion of a new packet into the channel 83 causes, therefore, the row of packets to move. in the direction of the arrow 88, a distance equal to the crosswise dimension of a packet, and the transfer of the first packet of the row onto the pile forming means 68, now dwelling in a downwardly directed, inoperative position.

During the upward stroke of the pile forming means 68, controlled by the cam 33 through the vertical rod 35, the packet previously transferred onto the means 68, is pushed through the spring controlled retaining means 70. and, during the return stroke of the means 68, retained by the means 70 in the inlet portion of the third channel 69.

As stated above, the first and second pushers 71 and 75 are secured to the two ends of the rod 55. and are actuated in unison bv the rod 55 with a frequency which is onehalf that of the pile forming means 68.

Since the first pusher 71, carried by the left hand end (as viewed in Fig. 1) of rod 55. is horizontally reciprocated along the third channel 69. in the time interval between two successive upward strokes of the pile forming means 68, a pile 72 consisting of two superposed packets 5 8. is formed by the pile forming means 68 in the inlet portion of the third channel 69. the newly formed pile being in side-by-side relationship with the previously formed pile, the latter now resting on the outlet portion of the channel 69.

During its forward stroke. the pusher 71 engages the left hand side of the pile 72 resting on the inlet portion of the channel 69, and pushcs it to the outlet portion of the channel, thus allowing the formation, by the pile forming means 68. of a new pile 72 in the inlet portion of the channel 69.

As a consequence of the shifting of a pile 72 from the inlet portion of the channel 69 up to the outlet portion of the same channel, the pile previously positioned in the outlet portion is pushed into that one of the compartments 73 of the wheel 74, dwelling in an inlet station aligned with the channel 69, and thus aligned with the path of the pushers 71 and 75.

As stated above, the horizontal compartmented wheel 74 is keyed on the upper end of shaft 50, and it is intermittently rotated anti-clockwise at the same frequency as the pushers 71 and 75, so that at each forward stroke of the pusher 71, successive piles 72 are inserted into successive compartments 73 of the wheel 74.

Due to the intermittent rotation of the horizontal compartmented wheel 74, the piles 72 housed in the compartments 73 are transferred from the inlet station to an oppositely disposed outlet station aligned with the fourth channel 76, and during each forward stroke of the second pusher 75, working in unison with the first pusher 71, a pile is removed from the outlet station, and pushed onto the fourth channel 76.

At each stroke from left to right of the rod 55, a pile is introduced into a compartment 73 by the first pusher 71, and a pile is removed from the diametrically opposite compartment 73 by the second pusher 75, and introduced into the fourth channel 76 bv the latter pusher 75, thus gradually forming, on the supporting surface 78, a complete group 79 underneath a conventional brush 77 (in the embodiment shown, the complete group 79 is made up of five side-by-side positioned piles 72, each comprising two superposed packets 58).

Each complete group 79 is conventionally pushed, in a manner not shown, along the supporting surface 78 in the direction of the arrow 89 (Fig. 2) toward the packing machine (not shown).

In Fig. 1 are also shown two stations 80 and 81, the latter underlaying a storage unit 82 containing a stack of non-defective packets.

As described in our British Patent Specification No. 1014949 suitable means (not shown) reJects piles 72 containing one or more defective packets from the station 80.

and in the station 81 a new pile is supplied from the storage unit 82.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A cigarette packaging machine including an apparatus for forming groups made up of a plurality of piles of parallelepipedon shaped cigarette packets positioned side-byside, delivered by a high speed operating film wrapping machine, and which groups are, in use, supplied to a packing machine, said apparatus comprising a rejecting and replen

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. by swinging downwardly to prevent it from interfering with the next packet 58 advancing on the conveyor 60, and with which it will come into engagement during its next forward stroke. The considered cigarette packet 58, due to the stepwise and clockwise rotation (arrow 87, Fig. 2) of the wrapping wheel 66, is transferred from said inlet station to a diametrically opposite outlet station, and during this transferring the considered packet 58 is sub jetted to a first series of wrapping operations by conventional stationary and movable folding means (not shown), as well as by welding means fitted around the wrapping wheel 66. The pusher 67 acts on the outlet station and removes the considered and partially wrapped packet from the relative pocket 65, and moves in onto the second channel 83, along which the wrapping operations are completed. The second channel 83 has a length equal to a multiple of the crosswise dimension of the packets 58, and, during normal operation, accommodates a row made up of a certain number of packets positioned side-byside. The insertion of a new packet into the channel 83 causes, therefore, the row of packets to move. in the direction of the arrow 88, a distance equal to the crosswise dimension of a packet, and the transfer of the first packet of the row onto the pile forming means 68, now dwelling in a downwardly directed, inoperative position. During the upward stroke of the pile forming means 68, controlled by the cam 33 through the vertical rod 35, the packet previously transferred onto the means 68, is pushed through the spring controlled retaining means 70. and, during the return stroke of the means 68, retained by the means 70 in the inlet portion of the third channel 69. As stated above, the first and second pushers 71 and 75 are secured to the two ends of the rod 55. and are actuated in unison bv the rod 55 with a frequency which is onehalf that of the pile forming means 68. Since the first pusher 71, carried by the left hand end (as viewed in Fig. 1) of rod 55. is horizontally reciprocated along the third channel 69. in the time interval between two successive upward strokes of the pile forming means 68, a pile 72 consisting of two superposed packets 5 8. is formed by the pile forming means 68 in the inlet portion of the third channel 69. the newly formed pile being in side-by-side relationship with the previously formed pile, the latter now resting on the outlet portion of the channel 69. During its forward stroke. the pusher 71 engages the left hand side of the pile 72 resting on the inlet portion of the channel 69, and pushcs it to the outlet portion of the channel, thus allowing the formation, by the pile forming means 68. of a new pile 72 in the inlet portion of the channel 69. As a consequence of the shifting of a pile 72 from the inlet portion of the channel 69 up to the outlet portion of the same channel, the pile previously positioned in the outlet portion is pushed into that one of the compartments 73 of the wheel 74, dwelling in an inlet station aligned with the channel 69, and thus aligned with the path of the pushers 71 and 75. As stated above, the horizontal compartmented wheel 74 is keyed on the upper end of shaft 50, and it is intermittently rotated anti-clockwise at the same frequency as the pushers 71 and 75, so that at each forward stroke of the pusher 71, successive piles 72 are inserted into successive compartments 73 of the wheel 74. Due to the intermittent rotation of the horizontal compartmented wheel 74, the piles 72 housed in the compartments 73 are transferred from the inlet station to an oppositely disposed outlet station aligned with the fourth channel 76, and during each forward stroke of the second pusher 75, working in unison with the first pusher 71, a pile is removed from the outlet station, and pushed onto the fourth channel 76. At each stroke from left to right of the rod 55, a pile is introduced into a compartment 73 by the first pusher 71, and a pile is removed from the diametrically opposite compartment 73 by the second pusher 75, and introduced into the fourth channel 76 bv the latter pusher 75, thus gradually forming, on the supporting surface 78, a complete group 79 underneath a conventional brush 77 (in the embodiment shown, the complete group 79 is made up of five side-by-side positioned piles 72, each comprising two superposed packets 58). Each complete group 79 is conventionally pushed, in a manner not shown, along the supporting surface 78 in the direction of the arrow 89 (Fig. 2) toward the packing machine (not shown). In Fig. 1 are also shown two stations 80 and 81, the latter underlaying a storage unit 82 containing a stack of non-defective packets. As described in our British Patent Specification No. 1014949 suitable means (not shown) reJects piles 72 containing one or more defective packets from the station 80. and in the station 81 a new pile is supplied from the storage unit 82. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A cigarette packaging machine including an apparatus for forming groups made up of a plurality of piles of parallelepipedon shaped cigarette packets positioned side-byside, delivered by a high speed operating film wrapping machine, and which groups are, in use, supplied to a packing machine, said apparatus comprising a rejecting and replen

ishment device for rejecting defective piles and for replenishing said defective piles with non-defective piles, a pile forming means positioned upstream of the rejecting and replenishment device and comprising a vertically and reciprocatingly movable packetlifting means, said means forming piles of a preselected number n of said articles, first and second means synchronously and reciprocatingly movable with a frequency equal to l/n that of said packet lifting means, said first means, in use, feeding individual piles into said reJecting and replenishment device, and said second means, in use, sequentially removing piles from said rejecting and replenishment device, and for feeding successive piles along an exit channel to form individual complete groups made up of a plurality of side-by-side positioned piles for feeding to said packing machine.

2. A machine, according to claim 1, wherein the film wrapping machine includes an intermittently and unidirectionally rotating wrapping wheel provided with a plurality of radially disposed pockets, there being provided a first horizontal inlet channel along which individual packets, are sequentiallv fed into each pocket of said wrapping wheel during each dwell thereof, a second outlet channel coplanar with said first inlet channel, pushing means for sequentially removing said individual packets from said radial pockets and for pushing said removed packets onto said second outlet channel, a third channel extending above, parallel to and partially overlapping said second chan nel. resiliently movable retaining means positioned along the opposite longitudinal sidcs of the overlapping area of said third channel relative to said second channel. said packkt-lifting means being positioned underneath said second channel in alignment with said retaining means. and cyclically and reciprocatingly movable in a vertical dircction by cam driving means for sequentially transferring packets from said second chan ncl in pilcd relationship above said retaining means. a stepwise, unidirectionally rotating horizontal wheel provided with a plurality of radially disposed compartments coplanar with said third channel. said reacting and replenishment device being positioned to remove any defective pile from said wheel and replace same with a non-defcictive pilc from a storage unit. a fourth channel coplanar with said third channel and oppositely positioned relative to said horizontal compartmcnted wheel.. driving means for stcp- "iso. unidirectionally rotating said horizontal compartmcnted wheel with a frequency which is determined by the cyclic frequency of said lifting means, and for stopping a com- partmcnt and the relative oppositcly dis posed compartment in alignment. respcc- timely. with ith said third channel and said fourth channel, said first and second feeding means comprising a first and a second pushing means horizontally and reciprocatingly movable along a path parallel to and above said third channel and said horizontal compartmented wheel in unison actuated by cam driving means with a frequency equal to the dwelling frequency of said horizontal compartmented wheel, said first pushing means transferring individual piles from said third channel into that one of the compartments of the compartmented wheel which is dwelling in alignment with the third channel, and said second pushing means removing individual piles from said oppositely disposed compartment, and pushing said piles onto said fourth channel, along which successive piles are approached together in a side-by-side relationship to form groups of piles to be fed to said packing machine.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the length of said second and third channels is, in use, equal to a multiple of the dimension of the cigarette packets as measured in the direction of their advancement, the difference in height between said second and third channels being at least equal to the dimension of the same cigarette packets, as measured in a direction perpendicular to said advancemcnt.

4. A cigarette packaging machine including an apparatus for forming groups made up of a plurality of piles of cigarette packets, substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.