GB2293817A

GB2293817A - Fabrication of folded coupons in a packaging machine

Info

Publication number: GB2293817A
Application number: GB9519839A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marco Brizzi; Lorenzo Cocchi; Antonio Gamberini
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 1994-10-06
Filing date: 1995-09-29
Publication date: 1996-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-29
Also published as: ITBO940435A0; DE19537099C5; GB2293817B; DE19537099A1; DE19537099B4; GB9519839D0; ITBO940435A1; IT1274049B

Description

1 1 2293817 A method and a device for the fabrication of folded coupons in

a packaging machine.

The present invention relates to a method by which to fabricate folded coupons in a packaging machine. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of fashioning folded coupons for insertion into packets of cigarettes, whereby the coupons are obtained from continuous strip material. The insertion of coupons into packets of cigarettes is a long established practice, the typical coupon consisting in a slip of paper printed on at least one side. More recently, it has been thought desirable to produce such coupons in the form of a printed slip folded double and flattened in such a way that the two leaves of the printed face are substantially breasted together. The object of the present invention is to provide a method by which the folded coupons in question can be obtained from a continuous strip of material fed along the wrapping line of a packaging machine, and thus to afford a simple and practical solution that 2 is complicates neither the structure nor the operation of the machine itself. The stated object is realized in accordance with the present invention, which relates to a method of fabricating folded coupons in a packaging machine; such a method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of directing a continuous strip material along an infeed line serving the packaging machine; generating a longitudinal and substantially median crease along the advancing strip material, by which the strip is divided into two essentially identical longitudinal portions; gumming at least one of the longitudinal portions; folding the strip material along the median crease in such a way that the two longitudinal portions become completely superposed one upon another; and cutting transversely through the folded strip at selected intervals to produce the folded coupons. The present invention relates also to a device for fabricating folded coupons in a packaging machine. Likewise in accordance with the present invention, the stated object is realized in a device by means of which to fabricate folded coupons in a packaging machine, characterized in that it comprises scoring means serving to mark an advancing strip material 3 with a longitudinal and substantially median crease by which the strip is divided into two essentially identical longitudinal portions, and arranged in sequence thereafter along the direction followed by the material, means by which to gum selected areas of the strip material, means by which to fold the strip material along the crease in such a way that the two longitudinal portions are made to advance completely superposed upon and in contact with one another, and transverse cutting means by which the longitudinally folded strip is divided into single folded coupons. The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which: -fig I illustrates a length of strip material, viewed schematically and in perspective, in the course of being processed by the method according to the present invention; -fig 2 illustrates the device according to the invention, viewed schematically and in perspective; -fig 3 illustrates a partially opened packet of cigarettes viewed in perspective, and protruding from the packet, a folded coupon obtained from the strip of figs 1 and 2.

4 is With reference to the accompanying drawings, the method to which the present invention relates is implemented in packaging machines, and for example, in machines as used to wrap packets of cigarettes; fig 2 illustrates part of an infeed line 16 along which strip material in supplied to such a machine, and more exactly a line designed to produce folded coupons from a strip 1 of material that will be printed at least on one face, denoted 2. Referring to fig 1, which illustrates the principle of the method in question, the strip 1 is advanced through a longitudinal feed direction F toward a successive station of the packaging machine, and subjected during the course of this same advancing movement to a series of operating steps. The first of these steps consists in generating a longitudinal median crease 3 along the strip 1, by which the area of the strip itself is divided into two identical portions 4 and 5. The crease 3 serves to establish a natural fold line along the length of the strip 1. Thereafter, the strip 1 is gummed on the printed face 2, which typically will exhibit a succession of script or picture panels denoted 6. The adhesive can be applied to one only of the two longitudinal is portions 4 and 5, for example to that denoted 4, and preferably to points of the face 2 which are devoid of script or pictures 6. The strip 1 is then bent double along the natural fold line or crease 3. As discernible from fig 1, just one of the two longitudinal portions 4 or 5 is folded along the crease 3, and in the specific case in point, only the longitudinal portion 5 that has not.been gummed, whereas the remaining or gummed longitudinal portion 4 continues to advance without any deviation whatever. Alternatively, the gummed portion 4 only might be folded along the crease 3. In a final step, the continuous folded strip 1 is cut transversely to produce a plurality of discrete flat pieces, each constituting a single coupon 8. The method thus described will be performed to good effect by means of a device, likewise constituting subject matter of the present invention, which is illustrated in fig 2 and denoted 9 in its entirety. Such a device 9 comprises, certain essential parts installed in succession along the longitudinal feed direction F followed by the strip 1, of which the first in sequence consists in at least one scoring roller 10 serving to generate the crease 3.

6 is The parts stationed beyond the scoring roller 10 include a gumming device 11, means 12 by which to f old the strip 1 in the longitudinal direction, and finally means 13 by which the strip 1 is cut in the transverse direction. Folding means 12 take the form of a plate 17 along which the strip 1 advances in sliding contact. The plate 17 appears flat initially, whilst exhibiting a geometrical structure that changes progressively along the path followed by the strip and comprises two discernible longitudinal portions 17a and 17b of identical width. At a given distance beyond the scoring roller 10, the outer edge 18 of one longitudinal portion 17a is caused to deviate from a hitherto straight path and rotate anticlockwise, presenting an essentially helical profile. As a result of the progressive twist generated in this way, accordingly, the portion 17a in question extends from a,position occupying the same plane as the remaining portion 17b. to a position directly above and facing this same portion 17b (see fig 2), in which the same two portions are separated by a distance substantially equal to twice the thickness of the strip material 1.

7 The diverted portion 5 of the strip 1 is thus made by the folding means 12 to rotate gradually in a transverse direction about the natural fold line 3, with the result that the outer edge Sa of this same portion 5 of the strip 1 moves across and comes to rest substantially along the outer edge 4a of the other longitudinal portion 4, describing a helical trajectory in relation to the feed direction F of the.strip material 1. In the example of fig 2, the device 9 additionally comprises a pair of power driven pinch rolls 14, positioned preceding the cutting means 13, by which the strip 1 is drawn along the feed direction F. The scoring roller 10 can generate the natural fold line or crease 3 by subjecting the strip 1 to a continuous impression or non-perforating incision, or alternatively, by producing a line of discrete perforations. In a preferred solution, the gumming device 11 will be a jet or gun type operating in such a way as to deposit dabs 7 of adhesive on the strip at points entirely outside the areas occupied by the script or picture panels 6, thereby ensuring that these will not be defaced or damaged when the respective coupon 8 is opened up.

8 is The cutting means 13, which are timed to strike intermittently during the passage of the strip 1, might consist in a pair of rollers 15 operating synchronously with the pinch rolls 14 and with the scoring roller 10. The cutting means 13 will operate in conjunction with transfer means of conventional embodiment (not illustrated) located immediately beyond in the feed direction F, by whch the coupons 8 are taken up and associated. in familiar fashion with respective packets in the process of being wrapped, in such a manner that the coupon 8 can be withdrawn when the relative packet is opened as indicated in fig 3. The method according to the present invention is easily implemented, and affords the advantage of avoiding any drop in production tempo due to the operations of folding and cutting the coupons 8. It will be observed that the expedient of folding the strip 1 by manipulating just one of the two longitudinal portions 4 or 5 is also advantageous, inasmuch as the strip can, continue to advance in the same plane following its passage through the folding means 12. Accordingly, the folded coupons 8 in question can be fashioned by means of the device disclosed with 9 no need whatever for any structural modification of the packaging machine. it will be observed moreover that, by functioning as a hinge, the natural fold line 3 facilitates the procedure whereby the one portion 5 is rotated and superposed completely upon the other portion 4. Without the crease, it would be necessary to offset the transverse thrust of the folding means 12 by incprporating longitudinal restraints, which have been found to damage the outer edges 4a and Sa of the strip 1 especially at high operating speeds.

1 cl IMS 1) 2) A method for the fabrication of folded coupons in a packaging machine, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: -dipecting a continuous strip material along an infeed line serving the packaging machine; - generating a longitudinal and substantially median crease along the advancing strip material, by which the strip is divided into two essentially identical longitudinal portions; -gumming at least one of the longitudinal portions; -folding the strip material along the median crease in such a way that the two longitudinal portions become completely superposed one upon another; and -cutting transversely through the folded strip at selected intervals to produce the folded coupons.

A method as in claim 1, wherein the gumming step is performed on a printed face of one longitudinal portion only and consists in gumming at least one area of the face, for each coupon ultimately cut, 11 on which no printed matter is displayed.

3) 4) 5) A method as in claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of folding the strip material is effected by rotating at least one of the two longitudinal portions about the longitudinal crease to the point at which the selfsame longitudinal portion advances completely superposed upon and in contact with the remaining longitudinal portion.

A method as in any preceding claim, wherein the step of folding the strip material is effected by rotating at least one of the two longitudinal portions about the crease in such a way that the outer edge of this same longitudinal portion is made to follow a helical path extending along the feed direction of the strip material, and brought to rest substantially superposed upon the outer edge of the remaining longitudinal portion.

A method as in any preceding claim, wherein the step of folding the strip material is effected by rotating at least one of the two longitudinal portions about the crease while causing the strip to advance, during its progress along the infeed 12 line, through folding means of helical geometry embodied as a plate that appears flat initially and exhibits two substantially identical longitudinal portions of which one is twisted in relation to the other in such a way as to describe a helical path extending to the point at which the two selfsame portions gradually converge and are breasted one with another, separated by a distance substantially equal to twice the thickness of the strip material.

6) A device for the fabrication of folded coupons in a packaging machine, characterized in that it comprises scoring means serving to mark an advancing strip material with a longitudinal and substantially median crease by which the strip is divided into two essentially identical longitudinal portions, and arranged in sequence thereafter along the direction followed by the material, means by which to gum selected areas of the strip material, means by which to fold the strip material along the crease in such a way that the longitudinal portions are made to advance completely superposed upon and in contact with one another, and transverse cutting means by which the longitudinally folded strip is divided into single folded coupons.

7) 8) 9) 10) 13 A device as in claim 6, wherein the gumming means are designed to operate on a printed face presented by one only of the two longitudinal portions into which the strip material is divided.

A device as in claim 6, wherein the folding means are designed to operate on one only of the two longitudinal portions into which the strip material is divided.

A device as in claim 6, wherein the folding means are of helical geometry and consist in a plate that appears substantially flat at first and exhibits two substantially identical longitudinal portions, one of which at least presenting an outer edge of helical profile and thus appearing twisted with respect to the other in such a way that the two portions gradually converge and are substantially breasted with one another, separated by a distance substantially equal to twice the thickness of the strip material.

A method for the fabrication of folded coupons in a packaging machine, substantially as described with 14 reference to the accompanying drawings.

11) A device for the fabrication of folded coupons in a packaging machine, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.