GB2088816A

GB2088816A - A transfer device for a cigarette packaging machine

Info

Publication number: GB2088816A
Application number: GB8136454A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Maschinenfabrik Alfred Schmermund GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Maschinenfabrik Alfred Schmermund GmbH and Co
Priority date: 1980-12-06
Filing date: 1981-12-03
Publication date: 1982-06-16
Also published as: SE8106896L; JPS57159481A; BE891338A; FR2495573A1; IT8168587A0

Abstract

A transfer device for a cigarette wrapping machine is for transferring a tubular wrapping 14 closed only at its bottom end 14a and containing a block of cigarettes from a hollow mandrel 11 into a cell of a closure device 17 for closing its open top end. The transfer device comprises a slider 15 for moving the cigarettes in a direction towards the closed bottom of the wrapping and a transporter 18 reciprocable within and relatively to the cell and having air nozzles 19 which are directed towards the bottom of the wrapping and which, during the transfer are connected to a source of air under pressure until the bottom of the wrapping contacts the transporter. At the commencement of transfer, the transporter is spread from the bottom of the wrapping. The air nozzles exert an opposing force against the freshly adhered wrapping bottom and ensure that the latter does not open up by the thrust of the cigarettes thereagainst. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A transfer device for a cigarette packaging machine The invention relates to a transfer device for a cigarette wrapping machine for transferring a wrapping open at its top end and containing a block of cigarettes from a hollow mandrel into one cell of a top closing device.

A transfer device is known from West German Patent Specification No. 28 51 473, in which a transporter formed as friction roller is, during the transfer, brought into engagement with and rotated with the top end of the open wrapping surrounding the hollow mandrel, in order to transport the wrapping into the cell.

Simultaneously, a slider removes the cigarette block lying in the hollow mandrel. In this way the cigarettes, at least during the initial phase of the removal, will not be impacted on the base of the wrapping. In order to perform the required cycle of mechanical motion, complicated devices are necessary. Even so, this device does not prevent the cigarettes finally impacting upon the base of the wrapping and this base, which, in general, has been freshly glued, is frequently broken open.

An object of the invention is to provide a transfer device, which is constructionally very simple but nevertheless ensures that, in general, in operation the base of the wrapping will remain closed.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a transfer device for a cigarette wrapping machine for transferring a wrapping open at its top end and containing a block of cigarettes from a hollow mandrel into one cell of a top closure device, the transfer device comprising a slider for moving the cigarettes in a direction towards a closed base of the wrapping and a transporter reciprocal within and relatively to the cell, the transporter, at the commencement of the transfer being spaced from the base of the wrapping and including air nozzles which are directed towards the base of the wrapping and which, during the transfer are connected to a source of air under pressure until the wrapping contacts the transporter.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a transfer device for transferring a block of cigarettes within a wrapping closed at a base end and open at the other, top, end from a hollow mandrel to a cell of a top closure device, the transfer device comprising a slider for moving the cigarettes towards the base of the wrapping and into the cell and a transporter reciprocable within the cell for movement with the partially packeted cigarettes during their transfer and including air jets connectable to a source of air under pressure for directing air towards the base of the wrapping until said base contacts the transporter.

The following is a more detailed description of one embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawing which is a cross-sectional view of a transfer device for a cigarette packaging machine.

Base folding packers for packing cigarettes have in general a rotatable wrapping drum 10 (here only shown partially in section) which has a plurality of cells and is associated with further drums (not illustrated), which are so axially and radially offset in relation to one another that, during transfer of cigarettes from one drum into the other, the cells to be emptied and to be filled lie axially aligned one behind the other. The drums are driven by a stepping drive (not illustrated) to produce a stepwise rotary movement of the drums through, at any given time, one cell division. The wrapping drum 10 has its cells in the form of a series of hollow mandrels 11, of which one is illustrated.The hollow mandrel 11 accommodates at any given time one block of cigarettes 1 2 and after the cigarettes have been inserted in a mandrel, a wrapping 14 is folded around the mandrel 11 by means of devices known per se (not shown). The wrapping 14 formed on the hollow mandrel 11 is open at its top end, but is formed, however, with a closed base 1 4a by the time it reaches a transfer station of the wrapping drum 10. Because of the open end of the wrapping 14, the length of the hollow mandrel 11 is greater than the length of the cigarette block 12 lying within the hollow mandrel 11, so that between the wrapping base 1 4a and the opposed end of the cigarette block 12 there is an intermediate space 13.

At the transfer station of the wrapping drum 1 0 the transfer of the cigarette block 12 and the packaging 14 is effected into a cell 16 of a top closing device 1 7 by means of a slider 1 5. In the embodiment illustrated, however, each hollow mandrel 11 is provided with an axial slot 11 a, through which the slider arm 1 spa is moved to push the cigarette blocks 12. Preferably, the slider 1 5 is a double slider and two cigarette blocks 12 are pushed from two hollow mandrels 11 simultaneously.The slider 1 5 does not therefore need to be reciprocated during the machine stroke, but can, after two cigarette blocks have been simultaneously pushed and during the next machine step, be pivoted from the region of the hollow mandrels 11 and returned to the initial position.

The top closure device 1 7 is preferably a top closure drum having axially open cells 16.

A transporter 1 8 is provided, which is movable axially in relation to the cell 16 and has a series of air nozzles 19, which are connectable through supply passages 20 with a source of air under pressure (not shown).

Before the transfer process, the transporter 1 8 is moved into the cell 16, until the air nozzles 19 are closely adjacent the wrapping base 1 4a of the packaging 14 carried on the hollow mandrel 11.

During the transfer the wrapping 1 4 encases the cigarette block 12 and the cigarettes move to the base of the wrapper 14. When the cigarette block 12 arrives at the packaging base 1 4a, it has a predetermined velocity, which, during the transfer is initially increased and then reduced to a standstill. The transporter 1 8 must be accelerated to this velocity, and since a predetermined time is necessary for this, the wrapping 14 will initially approach the transporter 1 8 as it increases in speed. The transporter 18 is further accelerated and, substantially at the maximum speed, the packaging 14 is engaged by the transporter 18 which thus engages the wrapping base 1 4a, and runs in synchronism with the wrapping 14. At this point in time, the air supply to the air nozzles 1 9 is cut off. The initial spacing between the base 1 4a and the transporter 1 8 which is determined by the motion at any given time, is spanned by the air jets delivered by the air nozzles 19.

The cells 16 of the top closure drum 16 can be arranged to be axially displaceable, so that after the transfer, the open ends of the wrappings are moved away from the zone of the slider 1 5.

During the transfer, the air nozzles of the transporter exert an opposing force on the freshly glued wrapping base and ensure that the wrapping base will not be opened up by the cigarettes as they are pushed against the base by the slider. Complex motions are not necessary, so that the construction is essentially simple. The transporter is displaceable into the cell of-the top closure drum and then moves itself into the transfer device during the transfer, simultaneously with the slider.

Claims

1. A transfer device for a cigarette wrapping machine for transferrihg a wrapping open at its top end and containing a block of cigarettes from a hollow mandrel into one cell of a top closure device, the transfer device comprising a slider for moving the cigarettes in a direction towards a closed base of the wrapping and a transporter reciprocal within and relatively to the cell, the transporter, at the commencement of the transfer being spaced from the base of the wrapping, and including air nozzles which are directed towards the base of the wrapping and which, during the transfer are connected to a source of air under pressure until the wrapping contacts the transporter.

2. A transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the cells are axially displaceable.

3. A transfer device for transferring a block of cigarettes within a wrapping closed at a base end and open at the other, top, end, from a hollow mandrel to a cell of a top closure device, the transfer device comprising a slider for moving the cigarettes towards the base of the wrapping and into the cell and a transporter reciprocable within the cell for movement with the partially packeted cigarettes during their transfer and including air jets connectable to a source of air under pressure for directing air towards the base of the wrapping until said base contacts the transporter.

4. A transfer device for a cigarette packaging machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.