IT202000014167A1 - TRANSFER UNIT AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING PAIRS OF WRAPS CONTAINING GROUPS OF SMOKING ITEMS BY VARYING THEIR MUTUAL DISTANCE - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the industrial invention entitled:

"Transfer unit and method for transferring pairs of wrappings containing groups of smoking articles by varying their mutual distance."

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention ? relating to a unit? and to a transfer method for transferring pairs of wrappings containing groups of smoking articles, in particular groups of cigarettes, by varying their mutual distance.

EARLIER ART

For several years ? known a pack of cigarettes commercially called ?twin? and comprising a rigid external container which houses two groups of identical cigarettes (or ?twins? hence the commercial name of the cigarette pack), which are arranged side by side and are wrapped in corresponding sheets of paper .

EP3362365B1 discloses a packing machine for producing a ?twin? comprising: a unit? training in which groups of cigarettes are formed in succession, a first unit? of wrapping equipped with wheels with horizontal axis in which a sheet of wrapping is folded around each group of cigarettes to form a corresponding wrapping, a unit? grouping (coupling) equipped with a wheel in which the wrappings are grouped together (coupled) in pairs to form the contents of the cigarette packets, and a second unit? of wrapping equipped with wheels with a horizontal axis in which a collar and a blank are folded around each pair of wrappings to form an external container.

Also US4258528A discloses a packing machine for producing a ?twin? comprising: a unit? training in which groups of cigarettes are formed in succession, a first unit? of wrapping equipped with linear conveyors in which a sheet of wrapping is folded around each group of cigarettes to form a corresponding wrapping, a unit? of grouping (coupling) in which two by two the wrappings are grouped (coupled) to form the contents of the cigarette packets, and a second unit? of wrapping provided with a wheel with a vertical axis in which a collar and a blank are folded around each pair of wrappings to form an external container.

In recent years, the production of cigarette packs ? was it more and more frequently adapted to the impromptu requests of the market and consequently ? It is necessary to change a packing machine with a certain frequency to vary the type (or the format) of the cigarette packets that are produced. For example can? happen that a packing machine designed to produce a pack of ?twin? (i.e. containing two groups of wrapped cigarettes that are distinct and identical) should be modified to produce a conventional pack of cigarettes (i.e. containing a single group of wrapped cigarettes); in this case the problem arises of how to replace the unit? grouping (in which two by two the wrappings are grouped) with a unit? which transfers the wrappings from two parallel infeed conveyors (constituting the exit of the first wrapping unit) to a single exit conveyor (constituting the infeed of the second wrapping unit) perpendicular to the infeed conveyors.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Purpose of the present invention? provide a unit? and a transfer method for transferring pairs of wrappings containing groups of smoking articles by varying their mutual distance, which units? and transfer method are simple and compact to implement, allow you to operate at a high speed? productivity (measured as packets of cigarettes transferred per unit of time), and allow for quick execution of format changeover operations.

In accordance with the present invention are provided a unit? and a transfer method for transferring pairs of wrappings containing groups of smoking articles by varying their mutual distance, according to what is claimed in the attached claims. The claims describe embodiments of the present invention forming an integral part of the present description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention will come now described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof, in which:

? figure 1 ? a front perspective view and in a closed configuration of a rigid cigarette pack;

? figure 2 ? a rear perspective view of the cigarette packet of Figure 1 in a closed configuration;

? figure 3 ? a front perspective view of the cigarette packet of Fig. 1 in an open configuration;

? figure 4 ? a front perspective view of a wrapper of the package of Figure 1 ;

? figure 5 ? a perspective view of a group of cigarettes contained in the wrapping of figure 4;

? figure 6 ? a plan view of a sheet of wrapping used to make the wrapping of Figure 4;

? figure 7 ? a plan view of a collar of the cigarette packet of Figure 1;

? the figure 8 ? a plan view of a blank used to make an outer container with a hinged lid of the cigarette pack of Figure 1;

? figure 9 ? a perspective view, schematic and with parts removed for clarity, of a packing machine which produces the packet of cigarettes of figure 1 and ? made in accordance with the present invention;

? figure 10 ? a schematic plan view of part of the packaging machine of Figure 9;

? figure 11 ? a side and schematic view of part of the packing machine of figure 9;

? figures 12 and 13 are two different perspective views of a unit? of transfer of the packaging machine of figure 9 with the removal of parts for clarity;

? the figures 14-21 schematically illustrate the operation of the unit? of grouping of figures 12 and 13; And

? figures 22-25 schematically illustrate the operation of a simplified variant of the unit? of grouping of figures 12 and 13.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In figures 1, 2 and 3 with the number 1 ? indicated as a whole a rigid pack of cigarettes. The packet 1 of cigarettes comprises an external container 2 made of rigid cardboard or cardboard and shaped like a cup and a wrapping 3 (better illustrated in figure 4) housed inside the container 2.

Does the outer container 2 have one end? upper open and ? provided with a lid 4, which ? shaped like a cup and ? hinged to the outer container 2 along a hinge 5 (illustrated in Figure 2) to rotate, with respect to the outer container 2 itself, between an open position (illustrated in Figure 3) and a closed position (illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) of the ?end? top open.

The wrapping 3 encloses a group 5 of cigarettes (illustrated in figure 5) having a parallelepiped shape. Furthermore, the wrapping 3 has a removable portion at the top and front which is separated from the rest of the wrapping 3 by a pre-weakened tearable line; upon first opening of packet 1 of cigarettes, the user grabs and tears off the removable portion to gain access to the underlying cigarettes of group 5 of cigarettes.

As illustrated in figures 3 and 7, the packet 1 of cigarettes also comprises a rigid collar 6, which is connected (by gluing) folded into a ?U? inside the external container 2 to partially protrude outside the end? open top of the outer container 2 and engage a corresponding inner surface of the lid 4 when the lid 4 itself is placed in the closed position. As illustrated in figure 6, each wrapping 3 is made by folding around the group 5 of cigarettes a sheet 8 of wrapping provided on one side with the tearable line which delimits the removable portion. As illustrated in figure 8, the outer container 2 and the lid 4 are made by folding a blank 8 of the conventional type.

In figure 9, with the number 9 ? indicated as a whole a packing machine that ? adapted to form the pack 1 of cigarettes described above and operates with intermittent motion (ie a motion which provides for a cyclical alternation of motion phases and rest phases).

The packaging machine 9 comprises a frame 10 which rests on the ground by means of a plurality of of feet (not illustrated) and ? composed of the union of two bodies 11 and 12 arranged side by side; in particular, the body 11 has a front wall and a side wall on which the operating members (partially described below) are arranged, while the body 12 has (only) a front wall on which all the operating members (partially described below) are arranged. following).

The packaging machine 9 comprises a unit? A training in which the 5 groups of cigarettes are formed in succession, a unit? B of wrapping in which a respective sheet 7 of wrapping is wrapped around each group 2 of cigarettes to form a wrapping 3, a unit? C of transfer in which two by two the wrappings 3 are transferred to a subsequent unit? D wrapping, and the unit? D of wrapping in which a collar 6 and a blank 8 are wrapped around each wrapping 3 to create an external container 2 provided with a lid 4.

The unit A for forming groups 5 of cigarettes comprises a hopper 13 provided with three outlet mouths 14 for simultaneously feeding three pairs of groups 5 of cigarettes (or six groups 5 of cigarettes) to three respective pockets 15 of a forming conveyor 16 which supports a plurality? of pockets 15 (each of which accommodates two groups 5 of cigarettes at a time). The forming conveyor 16 comprises an annular shaped conveyor belt, which is wrapped around two pulleys end? (one of which is motorized), supports the pockets 15 and steps to cyclically move the pockets 15 along a forming path P1 (illustrated in Figure 10). As better illustrated in figure 10, the formation path P1 develops between an entry station S1 in which each group 5 of cigarettes is extracted from an outlet mouth 14 of the hopper 13 and enters a corresponding pocket 15 and a station S2 of exchange in which each group 5 of cigarettes is extracted from the corresponding pocket 15.

According to what is illustrated in figure 10, the unit? B comprises a wrapping conveyor 17 able to advance two groups 5 of side by side cigarettes (extracted together from the same pocket 15 of the forming conveyor 16 in the exchange station S2) along a straight and horizontal wrapping path P2. In particular, the wrapping path P2 extends from the exchange station S2 in which the wrapping conveyor 17 extracts two groups 5 of cigarettes at a time from the corresponding pocket 15 of the forming conveyor 16, passes through a supply station S3 in which each group 5 of cigarettes is coupled to a corresponding sheet 7 of wrapping which folds into a ?U? around the group 5 of cigarettes itself, and ends in an exchange station S4 in which two side by side wrappings 3 (each formed by a sheet 7 of wrapping folded around a group 5 of cigarettes) leave the wrapping conveyor 17 (to enter the ?transfer C drive). As illustrated in figure 11, the wrapping conveyor 17 comprises an annular conveyor belt 18, which is wrapped around two pulleys end? (one of which ? motorized) and supports a plurality? of pairs of pushers 19, each of which ? connected to the conveyor belt 18 by means of a support column (narrow, i.e. narrower than the pusher 19) and ? adapted to engage a rear wall of a corresponding group 5 of cigarettes to push the group 5 of cigarettes along the wrapping path P2. In other words, the wrapping conveyor 17 comprises two twin horizontal channels, parallel and side by side, each of which ? delimited at least below and laterally (preferably also above in its initial part), ? arranged along the wrapping path P2, and contains inside each group 5 of cigarettes while the group 5 of cigarettes itself advances along the wrapping path P2 pushed at the rear by a corresponding pusher 19.

Along the wrapping path P2 (and therefore in correspondence with the wrapping conveyor 17) ? there is a feed station S3 in which each sheet 7 of wrapping is arranged to be intercepted by a corresponding group 5 of cigarettes around which the sheet 7 of wrapping itself folds into a ?U?; in other words, each group 5 of cigarettes advancing along the wrapping path P2 intercepts a corresponding sheet 7 of wrapping placed in the feeding station S3 causing the ?U? of sheet 7 of the wrapping itself.

The packing machine 9 comprises a feed device 20 which cyclically feeds pairs of sheets 7 of packing material into the feeding station S3, i.e. it arranges each pair of sheets 7 of packing material into the feeding station S3 in such a way that the sheets 7 of packing material are intercepted by two corresponding groups 5 of cigarettes advancing along the wrapping path P2. As illustrated in figure 9, the feed device 20 comprises an unwinding station in which a ribbon 21 of wrapping material is unwound from a reel 22 and is advanced (passing alongside the hopper 13) towards a cutting member 23 of known type that ? arranged above the feed station S3 and cyclically performs both a longitudinal cut of the material strip 21 and a transversal cut of the wrapping material strip 21 to separate pairs of sheets 7 of wrapping material from the strip 21 of wrapping material itself. The feed device 20 could also comprise a processing member (for example an embossing device) which? arranged between the unwinding station and the cutting member 23 and performs a working (for example an embossing) of the strip 21 of wrapping material.

According to what is illustrated in figure 10, the unit? B of wrapping comprises a pair of folding devices 24 which are arranged along the wrapping path P2 downstream of the feeding station S3 and are able to fold two ends? open sides of each sheet 7 of wrapping paper folded into a ?U? around a corresponding group 5 of cigarettes to form a tubular wrapping having one end? rear open. Preferably, each folding device 24 only comprises folding profiles (ie folding helixes) which are fixed (that is, completely devoid of moving parts) and are arranged on opposite sides of the wrapping path P2.

According to what is illustrated in figure 10, the unit? B of wrapping comprises a pair of folding devices 25 which are arranged along the wrapping path P2 downstream of the folding devices 24 and are suitable for completing the folding of each sheet 7 of wrapping around the corresponding group 5 of cigarettes (and therefore completing the creation of the wrapper 3) to close the end? rear open (that is left open previously by the corresponding folding device 24).

The wrapping path P2 begins in the transfer station S2 (in which the groups 5 of cigarettes enter the wrapping conveyor 17 two by two) and ends in the exchange station S4 (in which the wrappings 3 leave the conveyor 17 two by two of wrapping to enter the transfer unit C). As illustrated in Figure 9, the packaging machine 9 comprises a feed conveyor 26 which receives the wrappings 3 from the packaging unit. transfer C (as further described below) and advances the wrappings 3 themselves along a rectilinear and perpendicular feeding path P3 to the wrapping path P2 up to an exchange station S5 (in which the wrappings 3 leave the feeding conveyor 26) . The feed conveyor 26 comprises an annular shaped conveyor belt, which is wrapped around two pulleys end? (one of which is motorized), supports a plurality? of feed pockets 27 each adapted to house a corresponding wrapping 3, and moves in steps to cyclically move the feed pockets 27 along the feed path P3 from the unit? C for transfer to the exchange station S5.

As previously mentioned, the unit? Transfer C ? arranged between the wrapping conveyor 17 and the feeding conveyor 26, it receives cyclically from the wrapping conveyor 17 and in the exchange station S4 a pair of wrappings 3 which, arranged at an input distance I from each other (illustrated in Figure 14), bring / moves the two wrappings 3 away from each other to arrange them at an output distance O (shown in Figure 14) different from the input distance I, and then transfers the two wrappings 3 to two respective feed pockets 27 of the feed conveyor 26 . In general, the distance O of the output pu? be more large (according to a variant not illustrated) or more? small (as illustrated in the attached figures) of the input distance I; or the? unit? C transfer pu? moving away (according to a variant not illustrated) or approaching (according to what is illustrated in the enclosed figures) the two wrappings 3 which are transferred together. For example, depending on the format of the pack 1 of cigarettes, the inlet distance I could be between 40 and 60 mm while the outlet distance O could be between 50 and 100 mm. In particular, the wrapping conveyor 17 cyclically advances along the wrapping path P2 a pair of wrappings 3 disposed from each other at the inlet distance I, while the feed conveyor 26 advances its own feed pockets 27 containing the wrappings 3 arranged between them at the output distance O along the feed path P3.

According to what is illustrated in figure 14, the unit? C includes four transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31, each of which ? designed to house a respective wrapping 3. Furthermore, the unit? transfer station C comprises two output stations S7 and S8 and an input station S6 arranged between the two output stations S7 and S8 (and arranged in correspondence with the exchange station S4).

The unit transfer C comprises an insertion device 32 (schematically illustrated in Figure 14) which ? adapted to simultaneously insert two wrappings 3 received together by the wrapping conveyor 17 and disposed from each other at the inlet distance I into the transfer pocket 28 and into the transfer pocket 29 which are located together in the infeed station S6 (as illustrated in Figures 14, 15 and 16 ) or in the transfer pocket 30 and the transfer pocket 31 which are together at the input station S6 (as illustrated in FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 ).

The unit transfer C comprises an extraction device 33 (schematically illustrated in Figure 14) which is suitable for simultaneously extracting two wrappings 3 disposed from each other at an exit distance O from the transfer pocket 28 and from the transfer pocket 29 which are together in the exit station S7 (as illustrated in figures 14, 15 and 16) or from the pocket 30 transfer pocket 31 and the transfer pocket 31 together at the output station S8 (as shown in FIGS. 18, 19 and 20) which ? opposite the exit station S7 with respect to the entry station S6.

The unit transfer C comprises a handling device 34 (illustrated in figure 12 and partially in figure 13) which ? adapted to move the transfer pocket 28 and the transfer pocket 29 between the input station S6 and the output station S7 along a horizontal direction D1 and at the same time ? adapted to move the transfer pocket 30 and the transfer pocket 31 between the output station S8 and the input station S6; obviously, when the transfer pocket 28 and the transfer pocket 29 are together in the input station S6 (as shown in FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 ) the transfer pocket 30 and the transfer pocket 31 are together in the input station S8 output while when the transfer pocket 28 and the transfer pocket 29 are together in the output station S7 (as shown in Figs. 14 , 15 and 16 ) the transfer pocket 30 and the transfer pocket 31 are together in the station S6 input.

As ? well illustrated in Figure 14, the input station S6 and the output stations S7 and S8 are mutually aligned along the direction D1 of movement and, as previously stated, the input station S6 is located in the middle between the two stations S7 and S8 exit. As ? well illustrated in figure 14, the four transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31 are mutually aligned along the direction D1 of movement; moreover, the transfer pocket 28 and the transfer pocket 29 are arranged on one side while the transfer pocket 30 and the transfer pocket 31 are arranged on the opposite side such that the transfer pocket 29 and the transfer pocket 30 are arranged between the transfer pocket 28 and the transfer pocket 31 (that is, the transfer pockets 29 and 30 are located in the middle while the transfer pockets 28 and 31 are located at the ends).

As illustrated in figure 12, the movement device 34 comprises an actuator element 35 (essentially a bar arranged horizontally along the movement direction D1) which ? mounted axially slidable to alternately move back and forth along the direction D1 of movement; the actuator element 35 moves the transfer pockets 29 and 30, i.e. the transfer pockets 29 and 30 are slidably mounted on a fixed guide and are connected to the actuator element 35 and thus move together with the actuator element 35 ( i.e. the two transfer pockets 29 and 30 always move synchronously with each other). Furthermore, the movement device 34 comprises an actuator element 36 (essentially a bar arranged horizontally along the movement direction D1) which ? separate and independent from the actuator element 35, ? mounted axially sliding to alternately move back and forth along the D1 direction of movement, and ? arranged parallel to and beside the actuator element 35; the actuator element 36 moves the transfer pockets 28 and 31, i.e. the transfer pockets 28 and 31 are slidably mounted on a fixed guide and are connected to the thrust element 36 and thus move together with the actuator element 36 (i.e. the two transfer pockets 28 and 31 always move synchronously with each other). In summary, the two transfer pockets 29 and 30 always have the same motion law (imposed by the actuator element 35) which ? different from the motion law (imposed by the actuator element 36) of the two transfer pockets 28 and 31 (which always have the same motion law).

The movement device 34 always moves the two actuator elements 35 and 36 along the direction D1 of movement in the same direction and causing the two actuator elements 35 and 36 to travel through respective differentiated strokes C1 and C2 (illustrated in figures 16, 17, 20 and 21 ) or by making the actuator elements 35 and 36 travel different distances. In particular, the handling device 34 makes the actuator element 35 (therefore the transfer pockets 29 and 30) travel a path C1 which is ? always greater in both directions with respect to a stroke C2 traveled by the actuator element 36 (therefore by the transfer pockets 28 and 31).

As illustrated in Figure 12, the movement device 34 comprises an actuation member 37 which moves the actuator element 35 along the direction D1 of movement alternately in both directions, and an actuation member 38 (substantially a twin of the member 37 drive) which moves the actuator element 36 along the direction D1 of movement alternately in both directions. The movement device 34 comprises a single common electric motor 39: the actuation member 37 transmits the motion from the common electric motor 39 to the actuator element 35 and similarly the actuation member 38 transmits the motion from the common electric motor 39 to the actuator element 39; element 36 actuator. According to the (non-limiting) embodiment illustrated in figure 15, the actuation member 37 comprises a rocker arm 40 which is centrally hinged to a fixed frame 41 to rotate about a horizontal rotation axis 42 and ? connected (hinged) to one end? higher than the actuator element 35; similarly, the actuation member 38 comprises a rocker arm 43 which ? arranged next to the balance wheel 40, ? centrally hinged to the fixed frame 41 to rotate around a horizontal rotation axis 44 (parallel to the rotation axis 42) and ? connected (hinged) to one end? superior to the support element 36. The two rocker arms 40 and 43 are connected to each other by means of a connecting arm 45 to rotate together about the respective rotation axes 42 and 44; or the connecting arm 45 ? hinged at the ends? of the two rocker arms 40 and 43 (on the opposite side of the actuator elements 35 and 36 with respect to the rotation elements 42 and 44) to make the two rocker arms 40 and 43 angularly integral with each other. In particular, the common electric motor 39 transmits the rotational movement only to the rocker arm 40 (which in turn transmits the rotational movement to the other rocker arm 43 through the connecting arm 45) by means of an eccentric arm 46 which ? hinged to a lever 47 angularly integral with the balance wheel 40.

As illustrated in Figure 12, it can be seen that the extension of the balance wheel 40 (that is, the arm of the balance wheel 40 with respect to the axis of rotation 42) is greater than the extension of the rocker arm 43 (or of the arm of the rocker arm 43 with respect to the rotation axis 44); in this way, on equal terms? of rotation, the rocker arm 40 impresses the transfer actuator element 35 (which carries the transfer pockets 29 and 30) with the stroke C1 which is? greater than the stroke C2 imparted by the rocker arm 43 to the transfer actuator element 36 (which carries the transfer pockets 28 and 31).

When a format changeover operation requires the modification of the strokes C1 and C2 of the actuator elements 35 and 36 (that is of the transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31) transfer can? it may be necessary to replace the components of the actuation members 37 and 38 (for example the rocker arms 40 and 43); such an operation? still relatively simple and fast.

According to a different embodiment not shown, the actuation member 37 comprises a first electric motor and the actuation member 38 comprises a second electric motor separate and independent from the first electric motor. In this way, when a format change operation requires the modification of the strokes C1 and C2 of the actuator elements 35 and 36 (ie of the transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31) for transfer? simply update the control software of the two electric motors without any replacement of physical components.

As illustrated in Figure 14, the insertion device 32 comprises two pushers 48 which are arranged at the entry station S6 and are movable perpendicularly to the direction D1 of movement along a main horizontal direction D2; moreover, the extraction device 33 comprises two pairs of pushers 49 which are arranged at the exit stations S7 and S8 and are movable perpendicularly to the direction D1 of movement along the main and horizontal direction D2.

As illustrated in figure 13, the transfer group C comprises a rigid and common support element 50 which supports both the two pushers 48 of the input station S6, and the two pairs of pushers 49 of the output stations S7 and S8; in this way all the pushers 48 and 49 always move together with the same motion law. Finally, the transfer unit C comprises a handling device 51 (partially illustrated in Figure 13 and using an articulated quadrilateral) which alternately moves the support element 50 both along the main and horizontal direction D2 perpendicular to the direction D1 of movement, and along a vertical minor D3 direction, perpendicular to the major D2 direction, and perpendicular to the D1 direction of displacement. In particular, the handling device 51 causes the support element 50 (therefore to the pushers 48 and 49 carried by the support element 50) to perform a working stroke (in which the pushers 48 and 49 push respective wrappings 3) moving the support element 50 only along the main direction D2 and causes the support element 50 to perform a return stroke (in which the pushers 48 and 49 do not touch any wrapping 3) by moving the support element 50 in the secondary direction D3 and downwards, then in the main D2 direction with the opposite direction to the working stroke, and finally in the secondary D3 direction and upwards. In other words, in the return stroke the support element 50 (therefore to the pushers 48 and 49 carried by the support element 50) are lowered so as not to interfere with the wrappings 3.

It should be noted that, as shown in Figure 12, the transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31 have a slit at the bottom through which a thin stem passes which connects the pushers 48 and 49 to the rest of the support element 50.

According to a possible embodiment, the movement imparted to the support element 50 by the handling device 51 could also be used to complete the folding of the wrappings 3; i.e. to the support element 50 there are also connected folding elements which, due to the movement of the support element 50, carry out the final folding operations on the wrappings 3.

With reference to figures 14-21, is the operation of the unit described below? Transfer C.

Initially and as illustrated in Figure 14 , the transfer pockets 30 and 31 are stationary and are located in the infeed station S6 in alignment with the wrapping conveyor 17 and therefore ready to receive two wrappings 3 which come from the wrapping conveyor 17 itself and they are arranged at the input distance I from each other; at the same time, the transfer pockets 28 and 29 are stationary and are located in the outfeed station S7 in alignment with two respective feed pockets 27 of the feed conveyor 26 and therefore ready to transfer two wrappings 3 to the two feed pockets 27.

At this point, and as illustrated in figures 15 and 16, while the transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31 are at a standstill, the pushers 48 and 49 complete their work stroke: the pushers 48 insert two packages 3 which are arranged from each other at the entry distance I into the transfer pockets 30 and 31 which are located in the entry station S6 and at the same time the pushers 49 extract two wrappings 3 which are disposed from each other at the exit distance O from the transfer pockets 28 and 29 which they find in the outfeed station S7 and insert the two wrappings 3 into two corresponding feed pockets 27 of the feed conveyor 26. In this phase, the two pushers 49 of the output station S8 also complete their work stroke which is for? made empty since in the outfeed station S8 there are no transfer pockets 30 and 31.

Subsequently, and as illustrated in figure 17, all the transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31 move in the same direction along the direction D1 of movement: the transfer pockets 28 and 31 complete the C2 stroke more? short while the transfer pockets 29 and 30 complete the C1 run more? long for moving the transfer pockets 28 and 29 from the exit station S7 to the entry station S6 and for moving the transfer pockets 30 and 31 from the entry station S6 to the exit station S8. As a result of the differentiated strokes C1 and C2, while the transfer pockets 28 and 29 moving from the exit station S7 to the entry station S6 increase their reciprocal distance (from the exit distance O to the entry distance I since the difference between the two strokes C1 and C2 ? equal to the difference between the entry distance I and the exit distance O), the transfer pockets 30 and 31 moving from the entry station S6 to the exit station S8 decrease their reciprocal distance (from the distance I of entry to the exit distance O since the difference between the two strokes C2 and C1 is equal to the difference between the entry distance I and the exit distance O).

As illustrated in figures 18 and 19, at the end of the movement the transfer pockets 28 and 29 are stationary and are located in the input station S6 in alignment with the wrapping conveyor 17 and therefore ready to receive two wrappings 3 which are arranged between them at the inlet distance I and come from the wrapping conveyor 17 itself; at the same time, the transfer pockets 30 and 31 are stationary and are located in the outfeed station S8 in alignment with two corresponding feed pockets 27 of the feed conveyor 26 and therefore ready to release two wrappings 3 (disposed from each other at a distance O outlet) to the feed pockets 27.

At this point, and as illustrated in figures 19 and 20, while the transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31 are at a standstill, the pushers 48 and 49 complete their work stroke: the pushers 48 insert two packages 3 which are arranged from each other at the entry distance I into the transfer pockets 28 and 29 which are located in the entry station S6 and at the same time the pushers 49 extract two wrappings 3 which are disposed from each other at the exit distance O from the transfer pockets 30 and 31 which they find in the outfeed station S8 and insert the two wrappings 3 into respective feed pockets 27 of the feed conveyor 26. In this phase, the two pushers 49 of the output station S7 also complete their work stroke which is for? made empty since in the outgoing station S7 there are no transfer pockets 28 and 29.

Subsequently, and as shown in figure 21, all the transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31 move in the same direction along the direction D1 of movement: the transfer pockets 28 and 31 complete the C2 stroke more? short while the transfer pockets 29 and 30 complete the C1 run more? long for moving transfer pockets 28 and 29 from input station S6 to output station S7 and for moving transfer pockets 30 and 31 from output station S8 to input station S6. As a result of the differentiated strokes C1 and C2, while the transfer pockets 30 and 31 moving from the exit station S8 to the entry station S6 increase their reciprocal distance (from the exit distance O to the entry distance I), the pockets 28 and 29, moving from the input station S6 to the output station S7, reduce their reciprocal distance (from the input distance I to the output distance O). At this point the unit? transfer C finds itself in the situation illustrated in figure 14 and restarts the cycle described above.

Obviously, during the movements of the transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31 the feed conveyor 26 also performs its forward steps to move the full feed pockets 27 from the outfeed stations S7 and S8 and towards the exchange station S5 (ie containing respective wrappings 3) and replace in the outfeed stations S7 and S8 the full feed pockets 27 with as many empty feed pockets 27. In particular, the feed conveyor 26 advances along the feed path P3 by a stroke equal to the output distance O with twice the cadence with respect to a movement of the extraction device 33 and of the insertion device 32 (i.e. with respect to a movement of the pushers 48 and 49 which are mounted on the same common support member 50). For example, if the pushers 48 and 49 operate at a rate of 250 times per minute (acting on pairs of wrappers 3, thus moving two wrappers 3 each time), the feed conveyor 26 must advance along the feed path P3 by one stroke equal to the output distance O with a cadence of 500 times per minute, each time carrying a feed pocket 27 containing a wrapping 3 to the exchange station S5.

In figures 22-25 ? illustrated a simplified version of the unit? C, in which instead of four transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31 connected to the two actuator elements 35 and 36 there are only one transfer pocket 30 connected to the actuator element 35 and a transfer pocket 31 connected to the support member 36; ie the transfer pockets 28 and 29 have been dismantled (eliminated). Consequently, only the input station S6 and the output station S8 are used (which remains unique as the output station S7 is no longer provided).

Initially and as illustrated in Figure 22, the transfer pockets 30 and 31 are stationary and are located in the infeed station S6 in alignment with the wrapping conveyor 17 and therefore ready to receive two wrappings 3 which come from the wrapping conveyor 17 itself and are arranged at the input distance I from each other.

At this point, and as illustrated in figure 23, while the transfer pockets 30 and 31 are at a standstill, the pushers 48 and 49 complete their work stroke: the pushers 48 insert two wrappings 3 which are arranged at a distance I of entry into the transfer pockets 30 and 31 located in the infeed station S6 while the two pushers 49 of the outfeed station S8 complete their work stroke which comes for? made empty since in the outfeed station S8 there are no transfer pockets 30 and 31. Subsequently, and as illustrated in Figure 23, the transfer pockets 30 and 31 move in the same direction along the direction D1 of movement: the transfer pocket 31 completes the stroke C2 pi? short while the transfer pocket 30 completes the run C1 pi? long to move the transfer pockets 30 and 31 from the input station S6 to the output station S8. As a result of the differentiated strokes C1 and C2, the transfer pockets 30 and 31 moving from the entry station S6 to the exit station S8 decrease their reciprocal distance (from the entry distance I to the exit distance O since the difference between the two strokes C2 and C1 is equal to the difference between the entry distance I and the exit distance O).

As illustrated in Figure 24, at the end of the movement, the transfer pockets 30 and 31 are stationary and are located in the outfeed station S8 in alignment with two corresponding feed pockets 27 of the feed conveyor 26 and therefore ready to release two wrappings 3 ( arranged at the outlet distance O from each other) to the feed pockets 27.

At this point, and as illustrated in figure 25, while the transfer pockets 30 and 31 are at rest, the pushers 48 and 49 complete their working stroke: the pushers 48 complete their working stroke without load since in station S6 at the entrance there are no transfer pockets 30 and 31 and at the same time the pushers 49 extract two wrappings 3 which are arranged from each other at a distance O at the exit from the transfer pockets 30 and 31 which are located in the exit station S8 and insert the two wrappings 3 into respective feed pockets 27 of the feed conveyor 26.

Subsequently and as illustrated in figure 25, the transfer pockets 30 and 31 move in the same direction along the direction D1 of movement: the transfer pocket 31 completes the stroke C2 more than? short while the transfer pocket 30 completes the run C1 pi? long to move the transfer pockets 30 and 31 from the output station S8 to the input station S6. As a result of the differentiated strokes C1 and C2, the transfer pockets 30 and 31 moving from the output station S8 to the input station S6 increase their reciprocal distance (from the output distance O to the input distance I).

At this point the unit? transfer C finds itself in the situation illustrated in figure 22 and restarts the cycle described above.

The embodiment illustrated in figures 12-21 which provides for the presence of the four transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31 allows to lengthen the pause between the movements of the transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31 along the direction D1 of movement and therefore also allows the transfer of relatively ?long? (or more developed along the main D2 direction) that need more? time to enter/exit transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31 (due to their length); on the other hand, the embodiment illustrated in figures 12-21 which provides for the presence of the four transfer pockets 28, 29, 30 and 31? more bulky, i.e. it has a greater development along the D1 direction of movement.

Instead, the embodiment illustrated in figures 22-25 which provides for the presence of only two transfer pockets 30 and 31? more compact, i.e. it has a smaller development along the D1 direction of movement; on the other hand, the embodiment illustrated in figures 22-25, which provides for the presence of only two transfer pockets 30 and 31, requires longer pauses. between the movements of the transfer pockets 30 and 31 along the direction D1 of movement and therefore only allows the transfer of relatively ?short? (ie less developed along the main direction D2) which require less time to enter/exit the transfer pockets 30 and 31 (due to their limited length).

According to a preferred, but non-binding, embodiment, the handling of the various components (wrapping wheels, feed conveyors, pushers, movable folders?) of the packing machine 9? achieved by means of respective electric motors which are mutually independent mechanically and are synchronized (ie moved in phase) in a virtual way (ie not by means of a physical constraint, but by means of a control constraint). Normally an electric motor is considered as a reference (?master?) and all the other electric motors (?slave?) follow the position of the reference electric motor (?master?). In order to obtain linear movements (that is, movements involving a movement along a rectilinear trajectory), a rotating electric motor is generally used which rotates a pinion which meshes with a rack; ie is a ?pinion-rack? mechanism used? to transform the rotary movement generated by the electric motor into a linear movement. The embodiments described here can be combined with each other without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

The unit C of transfer described above has numerous advantages.

Firstly, the unit? C transfer described above allows you to operate at a high speed? productive (ie with a high number of wrappings 3 produced in the unit of time) without damaging the wrappings 3 themselves.

Furthermore, the unit? C of transfer described above allows to change the format of packets 1 of cigarettes in a relatively simple and fast way.

Finally, the unit? C transfer described above ? compact and has an accessibility? optimal for all its components (particularly useful feature during the execution of a format change).

The embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures refers to the production of a packet of cigarettes, but the present invention ? also applicable without substantial modifications to the creation of any other type of package of smoking articles (for example a package of cigars, a package of electronic cigarettes of the liquid vaporization type, a package of new generation cigarettes without tobacco combustion? ).

Claims (19)

1) Unit? (C) transfer to transfer wrappings (3) containing groups of smoking articles by varying their mutual distance; the unit? (C) Transfer includes: at least two transfer pockets (30, 31), each of which ? suitable for housing a respective wrapping (3); at least one first output station (S8); a single input station (S6); an insertion device (32) which ? adapted to simultaneously insert two wrappings (3) arranged at an infeed distance (I) from each other into the transfer pockets (30, 31) which are located together in the infeed station (S6); an extraction device (33) which ? suitable for simultaneously extracting two wrappings (3) disposed from each other at an output distance (O) different from the input distance (I) from the transfer pockets (30, 31) which are located together in the first output station (S8) for inserting the two wrappings (3) into two respective feed pockets (27) of a feed conveyor (26); and a first movement device (34) which ? adapted to move simultaneously along a direction (D1) of movement the two transfer pockets (30, 31) between the infeed station (S6) and the first outfeed station (S8) by passing through the two pockets (30, 31) of stroke transfer (C1, C2) of different lengths. 2) Unit? (C) transfer according to claim 1, wherein: the input station (S6) and the first output station (S8) are mutually aligned along the direction (D1) of movement; And the two transfer pockets (30, 31) are mutually aligned along the direction (D1) of movement. 3) Units (C) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first handling device (34) comprises a first actuator element (35) connected to a transfer pocket (31) and a second actuator element (36) which ? separate and independent from the first actuator element (35) and ? connected to another transfer pocket (30). 4) Units (C) transfer according to claim 3, wherein the first movement device (34) always moves the two actuator elements (35, 36) along the movement direction (D1) in the same direction and making the two elements (35 , 36) actuators with differentiated strokes (C1, C2). 5) Units (C) transfer according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first handling device (34) comprises: a first drive member (37) which moves the first actuator element (35) along the direction (D1) of travel alternately in both directions; and a second drive member (38) which moves the second actuator element (36) along the direction (D1) of travel alternately in both directions. 6) Units (C) according to claim 5, wherein the first drive member (37) comprises a first electric motor and the second drive member (38) comprises a second electric motor separate and independent from the first electric motor. 7) Units (C) transfer according to claim 5, wherein: the first driving device (34) comprises a single common electric motor (39); the first actuating member (37) transmits the motion from the common electric motor (39) to the first actuator element (35); and the second actuating member (38) transmits the motion from the common electric motor (39) to the second actuator element (36). 8) Units (C) transfer according to claim 7, wherein: the first operating member (37) comprises a first rocker arm (40) which ? centrally hinged to rotate about a first rotation axis (42) and ? connected at one end? to the first actuator element (35); and the second actuation member (38) comprises a second rocker arm (43) which ? centrally hinged to rotate around a second axis (44) of rotation and ? connected at one end? to the second actuator element (36). 9) Units (C) transfer according to claim 8, wherein: the two rocker arms (40, 43) are connected to each other by means of a connecting arm (45) to rotate together around their respective rotation axes (42, 44); the common electric motor (39) transmits the rotation movement to only one of the two rocker arms (40, 43) by means of an eccentric arm (46) which ? hinged to a lever (47) integral with the balance wheel (40). 10) Units (C) transfer according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the feed conveyor (26) advances along a feed path (P3) parallel to the direction (D1) of travel. 11) Units (C) transfer according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: the insertion device (32) comprises two first pushers (48) which are arranged at the entry station (S6) and are movable perpendicularly to the direction (D1) of movement; and the extraction device (33) comprises two second pushers (49) which are arranged at the first exit station (S8) and are movable perpendicularly to the direction (D1) of movement. 12) Units (C) transfer according to claim 11 and comprising: a common rigid support element (50) which supports both the two first pushers (48) and the two second pushers (49); and a second movement device (51) which alternately moves the third support element (50) both along a main and horizontal direction (D2) perpendicular to the direction (D1) of movement, and along a secondary vertical direction (D3), perpendicular to the direction (D2) main and perpendicular to the direction (D1) of movement. 13) Units (C) transfer according to claim 12, wherein the second handling device (51) causes the third support element (50) to perform a working stroke by moving the third support element (50) only along the direction (D2) and causes the third support element (50) to perform a return stroke by moving the third support element (50) first in the secondary direction (D3) and downwards, then in the main direction (D2) with the opposite direction to the stroke of work, and finally in the secondary direction (D3) and upwards. 14) Units (C) transfer according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein: four transfer pockets (2829, 30, 31) are provided, each of which ? suitable for housing a respective wrapping (3); are there two exit stations (S7, S8) between which ? the entry station (S6) is arranged; the insertion device (32) ? adapted to simultaneously insert two wrappings (3) arranged at an input distance (I) from each other into a first transfer pocket (30) and into a second transfer pocket (31) which are located together in the input station (S6) or in a third transfer pocket (28) and a fourth transfer pocket (29) which are together in the input station (S6); the extraction device (33) ? suitable for simultaneously extracting two wrappings (3) disposed mutually at the exit distance (O) from the first transfer pocket (30) and from the second transfer pocket (31) which are located together in the first exit station (S8) or from the third transfer pocket (28) and the fourth transfer pocket (29) which are together in a second output station (S7) which ? opposite the first exit station (S8) with respect to the entry station (S6); and the first handling device (34) ? adapted to move the first transfer pocket (30) and the second transfer pocket (31) along the direction (D1) of movement between the input station (S6) and the first output station (S8) and simultaneously ? adapted to move the third transfer pocket (28) and the fourth transfer pocket (29) between the second output station (S7) and the input station (S6). 15) Units (C) transfer according to claim 13, wherein the first transfer pocket (30) and the second transfer pocket (31) are arranged on one side while the third transfer pocket (28) and the fourth transfer pocket (29) are arranged on the opposite side such that the first transfer pocket (30) and the fourth transfer pocket (29) are arranged between the second transfer pocket (31) and the third transfer pocket (28). 16) Units (C) transfer according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the first handling device (34) comprises a first actuator element (35) connected to the second transfer pocket (31) and to the third transfer pocket (28) which then always move synchronously with each other and a second actuator element (36) which ? separate and independent from the first actuator element (35) and ? connected to the first transfer pocket (30) and the fourth transfer pocket (29) which therefore always move synchronously with each other. 17) Units (C) transfer according to claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein: the insertion device (32) comprises two first pushers (48) which are arranged at the entry station (S6) and are movable perpendicularly to the direction (D1) of movement; and the extraction device (33) comprises two pairs of second pushers (49) which are arranged at the outlet stations (S7, S8) and are movable perpendicularly to the direction (D1) of movement. 18) Units (C) transfer according to one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the feed conveyor (26) advances along a feed path (P3) parallel to the direction (D1) of travel by a stroke equal to the distance (O) of output with twice the frequency of a movement of the extraction device (33). 19) Transfer method for transferring wrappings (3) containing groups of smoking articles by varying their mutual distance; the transfer method comprises the steps of: inserting simultaneously, by means of an insertion device (32), two wrappings (3) disposed from each other at an inlet distance (I) into the transfer pockets (30, 31) which are located together in a single input station (S6); simultaneously extract, by means of an extraction device (33), two wrappings (3) disposed one from the other at an output distance (O) different from the input distance (I) from the transfer pockets (30, 31) which are located together in an outlet station (S8) for inserting the two wrappings (3) into two respective feed pockets (27) of a feed conveyor (26); And simultaneously move, by means of a first moving device (34) and along a moving direction (D1), the first transfer pocket (30) and the second transfer pocket (31) between the input station (S6) and the station (S8) by making it travel to the two transfer pockets (30, 31) of different lengths (C1, C2).