GB2447779A - Group forming apparatus and method - Google Patents

Group forming apparatus and method Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2447779A
GB2447779A GB0805212A GB0805212A GB2447779A GB 2447779 A GB2447779 A GB 2447779A GB 0805212 A GB0805212 A GB 0805212A GB 0805212 A GB0805212 A GB 0805212A GB 2447779 A GB2447779 A GB 2447779A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
group
pocket
packages
forming
forming unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0805212A
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GB0805212D0 (en
GB2447779A8 (en
GB2447779B (en
Inventor
Francesco Bertuzzi
Michele Squarzoni
Stefano Negrini
Alessandro Minarelli
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GD SpA
Original Assignee
GD SpA
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Publication date
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Publication of GB0805212D0 publication Critical patent/GB0805212D0/en
Publication of GB2447779A publication Critical patent/GB2447779A/en
Publication of GB2447779A8 publication Critical patent/GB2447779A8/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2447779B publication Critical patent/GB2447779B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
    • B65B35/54—Feeding articles along multiple paths to a single packaging position
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
    • B65B35/50—Stacking one article, or group of articles, upon another before packaging
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G15/00—Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration
    • B65G15/30—Belts or like endless load-carriers
    • B65G15/32—Belts or like endless load-carriers made of rubber or plastics
    • B65G15/42—Belts or like endless load-carriers made of rubber or plastics having ribs, ridges, or other surface projections
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/02—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors
    • B65G47/04—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles
    • B65G47/06—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines
    • B65G47/08—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/34—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor 
    • B65G47/46—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points
    • B65G47/51—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination
    • B65G47/5104—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination for articles
    • B65G47/5109—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination for articles first In - First Out systems: FIFO
    • B65G47/514—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination for articles first In - First Out systems: FIFO using stacking and/or destacking arrangements or stacks of articles or article carriers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G57/00—Stacking of articles
    • B65G57/02—Stacking of articles by adding to the top of the stack
    • B65G57/09—Stacking of articles by adding to the top of the stack from alongside
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G57/00—Stacking of articles
    • B65G57/32—Stacking of articles characterised by stacking during transit

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Replacement Of Web Rolls (AREA)
  • Paper (AREA)

Abstract

A group-forming unit 2 for forming a group 3 of packages 4 comprises a pocket 7 for housing the group 3, which is fed along a group-forming path 8 by a group-forming conveyor 6. Packages 4 are fed by respective feed conveyors 9 along respective feed paths 10, which are parallel to one another, perpendicular to the group-forming path 8, and terminate at the group-forming path 8. The pocket 7 is arrested facing each feed conveyor 9 to insert the respective package 4 from the feed conveyor 9 into the pocket 7.

Description

GROUP-FORMING METHOD AND UNIT FOR FORMING A GROUP OF
PACKAGES
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a group-forming method and unit for forming a group of packages.
The present invention may be used to advantage in a packing machine for producing book-cover packets of cigarettes, to which the following description refers ]0 purely by way of example.
EACKGROUND ART
A book-cover packet of cigarettes comprises at least two packages containing respective groups of cigarettes and hinged to each other to rotate between a closed configuration, in which the two packages are superimposed, and an open configuration, in which the two packages are separated for access to the respective groups of cigarettes. A book-cover packet of cigarettes is described, for example, in Patent US 4294353.
To produce a book-cover packet of cigarettes, a group of at least two packages must be formed on a packing machine and then fed to a packing station where an outer blank is glued and folded about, or a connecting member of any sort is fitted to, the two packages.
To form a group of two superimposed packages on a packing machine, a group-forming unit has been proposed comprising two feed belt conveyors, which feed the two packages along two parallel paths to a group-forming station where the two packages are moved towards the centre, crosswise to the feed conveyors, arid offset vertically with respect to each other to superimpose the two packages and so form the group. The above known group-forming unit, however, has the major drawback of only being able to run at low operating speeds (no more than 120-150 groups/minute) which is totally unacceptable, given the packing potential of modern cigarette packing machines (at least 400-500 packets/minute)
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a group-forming method and unit for forming a group of packages, and which eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks, while at the same time being cheap and easy to implement.
According to the present invention, there are provided a group-forming method and unit for forming a group of packages, as claimed in the accompanying Claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic view in perspective of a group-forming unit for forming a group of packages; Figure 2 shows a schematic view in perspective of a first variation of the Figure 1 group-forming unit; Figure 3 shows a schematic front view of a second variation of the Figure 1 group-forming unit; Figure 4 shows a larger-scale detail of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a schematic side view of the Figure 3 group-forming unit; Figure 6 shows a schematic view in perspective of a feed device of the Figure 3 group-forming unit; Figure 7 shows a schematic view in perspective of a different embodiment of the Figure 6 feed device; Figure 8 shows a schematic view in perspective of a third variation of the Figure 1 group-forming unit; Figure 9 shows a schematic view in perspective of a different embodiment of a groupforming unit for forming a group of packages; Figure 10 shows a schematic view in perspective of a first variation of the Figure 9 group-forming unit; Figure 11 shows a schematic view in perspective of a second variation of the Figure 9 group-forming unit; Figure 12 shows a schematic view in perspective of a third variation of the Figure 9 group-forming unit; Figure 13 shows a schematic view in perspective of a fourth variation of the Figure 9 group-forming unit; Figure 14 shows a schematic view in perspective of a fifth variation of the Figure 9 group-forming unit; Figure 15 shows a schematic view in perspective of a sixth variation of the Figure 9 group-forming unit; Figure 16 shows a schematic view in perspective of a feed device for gravity feeding packets of cigarettes, and located at an output of a packing machine; Figure 17 shows a schematic view in perspective of a further feed device for gravity feeding packets of cigarettes, and located at an output of a packing machine.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a combine packing machine for producing book-cover packets of cigarettes (not shown), e.g. of the type described in Patent US 4294353. Packing machine 1 comprises a group-forming unit 2 for forming a group 3 of two superimposed packages 4; and a packing unit 5 for folding and gluing a connecting member (not shown) about each group 3 to form a book-cover packet of cigarettes. More specifically, in the Figure 1 embodiment, each group 3 comprises two superimposed packages 4.
Group-forming unit 2 comprises a group-forming conveyor 6, which supports and feeds a number of pockets 7 along a straight group-forming path 8. Each pocket 7 houses a respective group 3, and receives the two packages 4 of group 3 along group-forming path 8.
Group-forming unit 2 also comprises two feed conveyors 9 for feeding packages 4 along respective parallel feed paths 10 perpendicular to and terminating at group-forming path 8.
In actual use, group-forming conveyor 6 arrests each pocket 7 facing each feed conveyor 9 to insert the respective package 4 from feed conveyor 9 into pocket 7.
That is, in actual use, group-forming conveyor 6 arrests each pocket 7 facing a feed conveyor 9 to insert a first package 4 from feed conveyor 9 into pocket 7, and then arrests each pocket 7 facing a feed conveyor 9 to insert a second package 4 from feed conveyor 9 into pocket 7 and on top of the previously inserted first package 4, so that group 3 is formed inside pocket 7 by feeding the two packages 4 successively into pocket 7.
In the Figure 1 embodiment, each feed conveyor 9 comprises a vertical hopper 11 housing a stack of superimposed packages 4 and having a bottom outlet 12, and a pusher 13 which moves along feed path 10 to push the bottom package 4 in the stack out of bottom outlet 12 of hopper 11 and into a stationary pocket 7 facing bottom outlet 12. In other words, each pusher 13 moves back and forth to cyclically transfer a package 4 from bottom outlet 12 of hopper 11 to a stationary pocket 7 facing bottom outlet 12.
Each vertical hopper 11 preferably comprises at least one fixed structural member 14 defining a vertical shaft, down which packages 4 are fed by gravity. A single tubular fixed member 14 may be provided, or four fixed L-section members 14 located at the corners of the stack of packages 4. In other words, packages 4 are inserted successively into each hopper 11 through a top inlet opening 15, and move down along hopper 11 to bottom outlet 12 by force of gravity.
Finally, each feed conveyor 9 comprises a belt conveyor 16, which feeds a succession of packages 4 to the top inlet opening 15 of hopper 11, so as to feed hopper 11 continuously with packages 4.
To assist insertion of packages 4 into each hopper 11 through top inlet opening 15, an insertion device 17 is provided at top inlet opening 15 to insert, or aid in inserting, packages 4 correctly inside hopper 11.
In the Figure 1 embodiment, each insertion device 17 comprises an inserter 18 hinged to rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation 19 and push each package 4 down into hopper 11. More specifically, inserter 18 rotates back and forth about a lateral axis of rotation 19, and performs a downward forward movement to push a package 4 down into hopper 11, and an upward return movement back into the start position. Inserter 18 is preferably teardrop-shaped, with the narrow end along axis of rotation 19.
In the Figure 5 and 6 embodiment, each insertion device 17 comprises an inserter 18 hinged to rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation 19 and push each package 4 down into hopper 11. More specifically, inserter 18 is in the form of a wheel, rotates one way about a central axis of rotation 19, and has a number of teeth 20 arranged symmetrically about axis of rotation 19. Each tooth 20 has a front wall 21 located downstream and sloping downwards in the rotation direction of inserter 18; and a flat rear wall 22 located upstream in the rotation direction of the inserter and perpendicular to axis of rotation 19. Front wall 21 of each tooth 20 preferably comprises a flat front portion and a cylindrical rear portion.
In actual use, as inserter 18 rotates about axis of rotation 19, front wall 21 of each tooth 20 gradually pushes each package 4 downwards into hopper 11.
Iri the Figure 7 embodiment, each insertion device 17 comprises a vertically movable supporting surface 23, along which each package 4 slides into vertical hopper 11. More specifically, supporting surface 23 is mounted La rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation 24 to adjust the height of the point at which packages 4 are released into vertical hopper 11.
In the Figure 1 and 2 embodiment, each hopper 11 is perfectly vertical, so bottom outlets 12 are all aligned side by side, and all of inlet openings 15 are also aligned side by side. In the Figure 3-5 embodiment, each hopper 11 is tilted slightly with respect to the vertical and in the opposite direction to the adjacent hopper 11, so that the respective bottom outlets 12 of two adjacent hoppers are aligned side by side, and the respective top inlet openings 15 are located a given distance apart. This embodiment allows a given distance between two adjacent top inlet openings 15, and so increases the space available for respective insertion devices 17.
In the Figure 1-7 embodiments, each vertical hopper 11 comprises at least one fixed structural member 14 defining a vertical shaft, down which packages 4 move by force of gravity.
In the Figure 8 embodiment, each vertical hopper 11 comprises a top portion 25 having a number of downward-moving pockets 27 housing and for moving respective packages 4 downwards; and a bottom portion 26 having at least one fixed structural member 14 defining a vertical shaft, down which packages 4 move by force of gravity.
More specifically, each hopper 11 comprises two parallel conveyor belts 28 defining between them a downward path for packages 4, and which have respective teeth 29 defining pockets 27. In a further embodiment not shown, each hopper 11 only comprises top portion 25 with pockets 27.
In other words, in the Figure 1-7 embodiments, packages 4 move freely by force of gravity down each hopper 11, whereas, in the Figure 8 embodiment, the downward movement of packages 4 along each hopper 11 is guided by pockets 27.
In the Figure 9 embodiment, each feed conveyor 9 has no hopper 11 and no pusher 13, and is defined solely by belt conveyor 16, which extends along feed path 10 and feeds a succession of packages 4 directly to group-forming conveyor 6.
In the Figure 1-9 embodiments, group-forming path 8 is straight, and group-forming conveyor 6 comprises a belt conveyor supporting pocket 7 and looped about at least two end pulleys 30.
In the Figure 10-15 embodiments, group-forming path 8 is circular, and group-forming conveyor 6 comprises a wheel supporting pocket 7 and mounted to rotate about a central axis of rotation 31. Group- forming conveyor 6 may comprise either a horizontal wheel mounted to rotate about a vertical central axis of rotation 31 (Figures 10, 11, 15), or a vertical wheel mounted to rotate about a horizontal central axis of rotation 31 (Figures 12, I() 13, 14) In the Figure 1-10 and Figure 12 embodiments, each pocket 7 is stopped and kept in a number of different successive positions, in each of which it receives a respective package 4.
In the Figure 11 and Figure 13-15 embodiments, each pocket 7 is stopped and kept in one insertion position facing feed conveyors 9, to insert all the packages 4 in group 3 into pocket 7. In the latter case, packages 4 in group 3 may be fed into respective pocket 7 through the same inlet opening of pocket 7, as shown in Figure 15, or through two inlet openings of pocket 7, located on opposite sides of pocket 7, as shown in Figures 11, 13 and 14.
Group-forming unit 2 described herein has various advantages. In particular, it is quick and easy to produce, and, above all, can operate at high speed (at least 500-600 groups/minute) to cater to the packing potential of modern cigarette packing machines.
-10 -Given its numerous advantages, group-forming unit 2 described herein may also be used to advantage to form groups of other than packages of cigarettes (e.g. packages of confectionary or other foodstuffs) Number 32 in Figures 16 and 17 indicates as a whole a feed device for gravity feeding packets 33 of cigarettes. Feed device 32 comprises a vertical shaft 34, along which packets 33 of cigarettes fall by gravity from a top inlet end 35 to a bottom outlet end 36; and an inner surface of shaft 34 has a projection 37, which is struck by one end of each packet 33 to rotate packet 33.
Each packet 33 of cigarettes is parallelepiped-shaped, and has two opposite parallel major lateral walls, two opposite parallel minor lateral walls, and two opposite parallel end walls. In the Figure 16 embodiment, projection 37 is located so as to be struck by a major lateral wall of each packet 33 and rotate the packet 33 through 180 . In the Figure 17 embodiment, projection 37 is located so as to be struck by a minor lateral wall of each packet 33 and rotate the packet 33 through 90 .
As shown in Figure 17, a number of successive projections 37 may be provided to produce a number of successive rotations of packet 33 as it falls down shaft 34.
Having no moving parts, and operating solely by force of gravity, feed device 32 has the major advantage -11 -of being cheap and easy to produce, and may be used to advantage at an output station of a packing machine, or at an input station of an overwrapping machine (typically, a cellophaning machine)

Claims (35)

-12 - CLAIMS
1) A group-forming method for forming a group of packages, the method comprising the steps of: feeding a pocket, for housing the group, along a group-forming path by means of a group-forming conveyor; feeding the packages along respective feed paths by means of respective feed conveyors; and arresting the pocket facing each feed conveyor to insert the respective package from the feed conveyor into the pocket.
2) A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the feed paths are parallel to one another, are perpendicular to the group-forming path, and terminate at the group-forming path.
3) A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein each feed conveyor comprises a belt conveyor extending along the feed path.
4) A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein each feed conveyor comprises a vertical hopper housing a stack of superimposed packages, and having a bottom outlet, and a pusher which is movable along the feed path to push the bottom package in the stack out of the bottom outlet of the hopper and into the stationary pocket facing the bottom outlet of the hopper.
5) A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the pocket is stopped and kept in one insertion position facing the feed conveyors, to insert all the -13 -packages in the group into the pocket.
6) A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the packages in the group are fed into the pocket through the same inlet opening of the pocket.
7) A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the packages n the group are fed into the pocket through two inlet openings of the pocket, located on opposite sides of the pocket.
8) A group-forming unit for forming a group of packages; the group-forming unit comprising: a pocket for housing the group; a group-forming conveyor for feeding the pocket along a group-forming path; and feed conveyers for feeding the packages along respective feed paths; the group-forming conveyor arresting the pocket facing each feed conveyor, to insert the respective package from the feed conveyor into the pocket.
9) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the feed paths are parallel to one another, are perpendicular to the group-forming path, and terminate at the group-forming path.
10) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, wherein each feed conveyor comprises a belt conveyor extending along the feed path.
11) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, wherein each feed conveyor comprises a vertical hopper housing a stack of superimposed packages, and -14 -having a bottom outlet, and a pusher which is movable along the feed path to push the bottom package in the stack out of the bottom outlet of the hopper and into the stationary pocket facing the bottom outlet of the hopper.
12) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 11, wherein each vertical hopper comprises at least one fixed structural member defining a vertical shaft, down which the packages move by gravity.
13) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 11, wherein each vertical hopper comprises a number of downward-moving pockets housing respective packages to move the packages downwards.
14) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 13, wherein each hopper comprises two parallel conveyor belts defining between them a downward path for the packages, and which have respective teeth defining the pockets.
15) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 11, wherein each vertical hopper comprises a top portion having a number of downward- moving pockets housing respective packages to move the packages downwards; and a bottom portion having at least one fixed structural member defining a vertical shaft, down which the packages move by gravity.
16) A group-forming unit as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 15, wherein each vertical hopper comprises an insertion device for inserting the packages into the -15 -hopper through a top inlet opening.
17) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the insertion device comprises an inserter hinged to rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation and push each package down into the hopper.
18) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the inserter rotates back and forth about the axis of rotation, located laterally, and performs a downward forward movement to push the package down into the hopper, and an upward return movement back to a start position.
19) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the inserter is teardrop-shaped, with the narrow end at the axis of rotation.
20) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the inserter is in the form of a wheel, rotates one way about the axis of rotation, positioned centrally, and has a number of teeth arranged symmetrically about the axis of rotation.
21) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 20, wherein each tooth has a front wall located downstream in the rotation direction of the inserter and sloping downwards in the rotation direction of inserter; and a flat rear wall located upstream in the rotation direction of the inserter and perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
22) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the front wall of each tooth comprises a flat -16 -front portion and a cylindrical rear portion.
23) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the insertion device comprises a vertically movable supporting surface, along which each package slides into the vertical hopper.
24) A qroup-forminq unit as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the supporting surface is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation to adjust the height of the point at which the packages are released into the vertical hopper.
25) A group-forming unit as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 24, wherein each hopper is tilted slightly with respect to the vertical and in the opposite direction to the adjacent hopper, so that the respective bottom outlets of two adjacent hoppers are aligned side by side, and the respective top inlet openings are located a given distance apart.
26) A group-forming unit as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 25, wherein the group-forming path is straight, and the group-forming conveyor comprises a belt conveyor supporting the pocket and looped about at least two end pulleys.
27) A group-forming unit as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 25, wherein the group-forming path is circular, and the group-forming conveyor comprises a wheel supporting the pocket and mounted to rotate about a central axis of rotation.
28) A group-forming unit as claimed in any one of -17 -Claims 8 to 23, wherein the pocket is stopped and kept in one insertion position facing the feed conveyors, to insert all the packages in the group into the pocket.
29) A group-forming unit as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 28, wherein the packages in the group are fed into the pocket through the same inlet opening of the pocket.
30) A group-forming unit as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 28, wherein the packages in the group are fed into the pocket through two inlet openings of the pocket, located on opposite sides of the pocket.
31) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 30, wherein the group-forming path is circular, and the group-forming conveyor comprises a horizontal wheel supporting the pocket and mounted to rotate about a vertical central axis of rotation.
32) A group-forming unit as claimed in Claim 30, wherein the group-forming path is circular, and the group-forming conveyor comprises a vertical wheel supporting the pocket and mounted to rotate about a horizontal central axis of rotation.
33) A feed device for gravity feeding packets of cigarettes; the feed device comprising a vertical shaft, down which the packets of cigarettes fall by gravity from a top inlet end to a bottom outlet end; and the feed device being characterized in that an inner surface of the shaft has a projection which is struck by one end of each packet to rotate the packet.
-18 - 34) A feed device as claimed in Claim 33, wherein each packet of cigarettes is parallelepiped-shaped, and has two opposite parallel major lateral walls, two opposite parallel minor lateral walls, and two opposite parallel end wails; and the projection is located so as to he struck by a major lateral wall of each packet and rotate the packet through 1800.
35) A feed device as claimed in Claim 33, wherein each packet of cigarettes is parallelepiped-shaped, and has two opposite parallel major lateral walls, two opposite parallel minor lateral walls, and two opposite parallel end walls; and the projection is located so as to be struck by a minor lateral wall of each packet and rotate the packet through 90 .
GB0805212A 2007-03-23 2008-03-20 Group-forming method and unit for forming a group of packages Expired - Fee Related GB2447779B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000211A ITBO20070211A1 (en) 2007-03-23 2007-03-23 METHOD AND TRAINING UNIT FOR THE FORMATION OF A GROUP OF PAPERS.

Publications (4)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0805212D0 GB0805212D0 (en) 2008-04-30
GB2447779A true GB2447779A (en) 2008-09-24
GB2447779A8 GB2447779A8 (en) 2009-01-21
GB2447779B GB2447779B (en) 2011-09-28

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CN (1) CN101269708B (en)
DE (1) DE102008015190A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2447779B (en)
IT (1) ITBO20070211A1 (en)

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CN103101645A (en) * 2013-02-22 2013-05-15 厦门烟草工业有限责任公司 Z type cigarette falling device of high-speed packaging machine outlet
WO2021144279A1 (en) * 2020-01-15 2021-07-22 Philip Morris Products S.A. Method for transporting pairs of packs
EP3909439A1 (en) * 2020-05-12 2021-11-17 G.D S.p.A. Unit for picking up and forwarding rod-shaped articles of the tobacco industry
IT202000017557A1 (en) * 2020-07-20 2022-01-20 Gd Spa SINGULARIZATION DEVICE FOR PACKS ARRANGED IN A ROW
IT202100010193A1 (en) * 2021-04-22 2022-10-22 Gd Spa GROUPING UNIT AND METHOD TO FORM A GROUP COMPOSED OF TWO WRAPS EACH CONTAINING A GROUP OF SMOKING ITEMS

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DE102009022820B4 (en) * 2009-05-27 2017-12-28 Iwk Verpackungstechnik Gmbh Transfer device and method for forming a product stack in a packaging machine
CN102431679A (en) * 2011-12-12 2012-05-02 颐中(青岛)烟草机械有限公司 Longitudinal and transverse conversion collector for strip cigarette
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GB0805212D0 (en) 2008-04-30
ITBO20070211A1 (en) 2008-09-24
CN101269708A (en) 2008-09-24
DE102008015190A1 (en) 2008-10-16
CN101269708B (en) 2012-07-18
GB2447779A8 (en) 2009-01-21
GB2447779B (en) 2011-09-28

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