ITBO20120391A1 - METHOD OF INCARTO AND PACKAGING MACHINE TO MAKE A SEALED SHEET CONTAINING A GROUP OF SMOKE ITEMS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the industrial invention entitled:

"Wrapping method and packing machine to make a sealed wrapping containing a group of smoking items."

____________

TECHNIQUE SECTOR

The present invention relates to a wrapping method and a packing machine for making a sealed wrapping containing a group of smoking articles.

ANTERIOR ART

Rigid cigarette packets with hinged lid are the most popular cigarette packets currently on the market as they are simple to make, are easy and practical to use, and offer good protection to the cigarettes contained inside.

A rigid packet of cigarettes with a hinged lid comprises an internal wrapping consisting of a group of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of metallized paper and a rigid outer wrapping that houses the inner wrapping inside. The outer casing consists of a cup-shaped container, which houses the group of cigarettes and has an open upper end, and a lid, which is also cup-shaped and is hinged to the container to rotate, with respect to the container itself, between an open position and a closed position of the open end.

Recently, the use of a sealed (i.e. waterproof) wrapping has been proposed with a cigarette extraction opening which is closed by a resealable closure label (the closure label is provided with reusable glue that does not drying that allows you to block the closing label several times in a closed position of the cigarette extraction opening).

Patent application WO2011110272A1 describes a wrapping method for making a sealed wrapping containing a group of cigarettes; this wrapping method is, as a whole, substantially conventional as it involves making the group of cigarettes intercept a sheet of wrapping spread in such a way that the wrapping sheet folds in a â € œUâ € shape around the group of cigarettes. In order to obtain a greater efficiency of the wrapping cycle with respect to that described in the patent application WO2011110272A1, in the patent application WO2011110272A1 a further wrapping method is proposed for making a sealed wrapping containing a group of cigarettes. This further wrapping method is based on the scheme normally called `` flow-pack '', in which a tubular wrapping is formed around a succession of groups of cigarettes by means of a continuous longitudinal sealing of a strip of wrapping material which is folded to tube; subsequently, the tubular wrapping is welded and cut transversely upstream and downstream of each group of cigarettes to obtain the single sealed internal wrappers.

However, the internal sealed wrappers obtained by the wrapping method described in the patent application WO2011110272A1 have a great drawback in that the extraction of the cigarettes through the extraction opening is quite complex due to the presence of a transversal seal arranged straddling the upper wall of the internal wrapping.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a wrapping method and a packing machine for making a sealed wrapping containing a group of smoking articles, which method and machine are free from the drawbacks described above and are, at the same time, easy and economical to produce. .

In accordance with the present invention, a wrapping method and a packing machine are provided for making a sealed wrapping containing a group of smoking articles, as claimed in the attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting examples of embodiment, in which:

â € ¢ Figure 1 is a front perspective view and in a closed configuration of a pack of cigarettes;

â € ¢ Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the cigarette packet of Figure 1 in an open configuration;

â € ¢ Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 in a closed configuration;

â € ¢ Figure 4a is a front perspective view of a sealed wrapping of the cigarette packet of Figure 1 which has been made in accordance with the wrapping method of the present invention;

â € ¢ Figures 4b and 4c are respectively a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of the sealed package of Figure 4a before the folding of the lateral welding fins;

â € ¢ figure 5 is a perspective view of a group of cigarettes enclosed in the sealed wrapping of figure 4;

â € ¢ figure 6 is a perspective view of a reinforcing element arranged inside the sealed wrapping of figure 4;

â € ¢ figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the reinforcement element of figure 6;

â € ¢ figure 8 is a perspective view of the reinforcement element of figure 6 showing the fold of a tab in correspondence of a lower wall;

â € ¢ Figure 9 is a view of a flat blank which is folded to form the reinforcement element of Figure 6; â € ¢ Figures 10-31 are views of alternative embodiments of the reinforcing element of Figure 6 and / or of the flat blank which is folded to form the reinforcing element of Figure 6;

â € ¢ Figure 32 is a perspective view, schematic and with parts removed for clarity of a packing machine which produces the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;

â € ¢ Figures 33 and 34 are two perspective views, schematic and with parts removed for clarity of a wrapping unit of the packing machine of Figure 32 which produces the sealed wrapping of Figure 4;

â € ¢ figure 35 is a plan view, schematic and with parts removed for clarity of the wrapping unit of figures 33 and 34;

â € ¢ Figure 36 is a schematic plan view of the advancement of the materials only in the wrapping unit of Figures 33 and 34; â € ¢ Figure 37 is a perspective and schematic view of the folding of the blank of Figure 9 to form the reinforcing element of Figure 6;

â € ¢ Figure 38 is a sectional view, schematic and with parts removed for clarity of a coupling conveyor of the wrapping unit of Figures 33 and 34;

â € ¢ Figure 39 is a schematic perspective view with parts removed for clarity of a wrapping conveyor of the wrapping unit of Figures 33 and 34;

â € ¢ Figure 40 is a perspective and schematic view of the advancement of the materials only in a final part of the wrapping conveyor of Figure 39; And

â € ¢ Figures 41, 42 and 43 are three perspective views, schematic and with parts removed for clarity of a variant of the wrapping unit of Figures 33 and 34.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION In Figures 1, 2 and 3, the number 1 indicates as a whole a rigid packet of cigarettes. The pack 1 of cigarettes comprises an external container 2 which is made of cardboard or rigid cardboard, is cup-shaped, has a hinged lid and houses a sealed wrapper 3 (visible in figure 2). The sealed package 3 encloses a group 4 of cigarettes (illustrated in figure 5) with a parallelepiped shape and has an upper and frontal opening 5 for extracting the cigarettes, which is arranged centrally and affects a portion of a front wall of the Sealed package 3 and a portion of an upper wall of sealed package 3. The cigarettes of group 4 of cigarettes have a cylindrical shape and have a longitudinal axis of symmetry. The sealed wrapping 3 includes a sealant panel 6 (i.e. a closure label) that can be closed (i.e. of the â € œopen and closeâ € type) which is able to close the extraction opening 5 and is provided at the bottom. a layer of repositionable glue that does not dry (ie glue that never dries and therefore can be detached and re-attached several times); in this way, the sealing panel 6 normally adheres to the sealed package 3 to close (seal) the extraction opening 5 and can be temporarily lifted from the sealed package 3 to free the extraction opening 5 and therefore it allows the extraction of a cigarette through the extraction opening 4 itself.

In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the sealing panel 6 is applied externally to the wrapping material of the sealed package 3; according to alternative embodiments, the sealing panel 6 is obtained inside the double-layer wrapping material of the sealed wrapping 3, or the sealing panel 6 is shaped like a frame and is applied inside the wrapping material of the sealed package 3.

As better illustrated in figure 4, the sealing panel 6 is provided with a gripping tab 7, which is free of repositionable adhesive and is arranged near the extraction opening 5 and generally below the opening 5 of extraction itself.

As illustrated in figures 6, 7 and 8, the sealed wrapping 3 comprises a reinforcing element 8 (i.e. a tray), which is made of cardboard or rigid cardboard (completely similar to the cardboard or rigid cardboard making up the external container 2), is shaped like a â € œUâ € and is placed inside the sealed package 3 in contact with the group 4 of cigarettes. The reinforcing element 8 comprises a front wall 9 arranged in contact with the cylindrical side walls of the cigarettes of the group 4 of cigarettes, two side walls 10 arranged on opposite sides of the front wall 9 in contact with the cylindrical side walls of the cigarettes of the group 4 of cigarettes, and a lower wall 11 arranged in contact with the tips of the cigarettes of the group 4 of cigarettes. Preferably, the front wall 9 has an upper flare 12, which is arranged in correspondence with the cigarette extraction opening 5 in such a way that the front wall 9 does not overlap the cigarette extraction opening 5.

Each side wall 10 comprises a side tab 13 which is bent by 90 ° with respect to the side wall 10 and rests against the lower wall 11. Furthermore, the lower wall 11 comprises a lower tab 14 which is bent by 180 ° with respect to the lower wall 11 and rests against the lower wall 11 itself; the lower tongue 14 comprises an appendix 15 which is bent by 90 ° with respect to the lower tongue 14 and rests against the front wall 9.

The reinforcement element 8 is glue-free and includes a mechanical interlocking system which keeps the lower wall 11 and the side walls 10 in the correct position. This mechanical interlocking system comprises a through slot 16 shaped like a â € œUâ € which is obtained through the front wall 9 in correspondence with the bending line between the front wall 9 and the lower wall 11 and a protuberance 17 shaped like a â € œUâ € which is obtained in the lower tongue 14 in correspondence with the fold line between the lower tongue 14 and the appendix 15 and the lower tongue 14. The protuberance 17 of the lower tongue 14 is inserted inside the through slot 16 of the front wall 9 (by means of an elastic deformation of the protuberance 17) and causing a mechanical interlocking of the protuberance 17 in the through slot 16; this mechanical interlocking keeps the lower wall 11 and the side walls 10 in the correct position since it requires the application of a significant deforming force to be removed. The through slot 16 is obtained by means of a corresponding U-shaped notch which crosses the front wall 9 in correspondence with the fold line between the front wall 9 and the lower wall 11. Similarly, the protuberance 17 is obtained by means of a corresponding "U" -shaped notch which crosses the appendix 15 in correspondence with the fold line between the appendix 15 and the lower tab 14.

In the finished pack 1 of cigarettes, the reinforcement element 8 has the function of giving greater stiffness and greater stability of shape to the sealed pack 3 in order to prevent the sealed pack 3 from collapsing on itself © itself after having extracted a part of the cigarettes contained in the sealed package 3 making it difficult to extract the remaining cigarettes and in particular making the opening and subsequent reclosing of the sealing panel 6 extremely complicated. On the other hand, during the making of the sealed package 3 and as will be better described later, the reinforcing element 8 has the function of keeping together and with the correct arrangement the cigarettes of group 4 of cigarettes.

Figure 9 illustrates a blank 18 which is folded to form the reinforcing element 8 illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8; Figure 7 clearly shows the notches that define the through slot 16 and the protuberance 17.

Figure 10 shows a variant of the blank 18 illustrated in figure 9. The blank 18 illustrated in figure 10 differs from the blank 18 illustrated in figure 9 due to the presence of a `` logo '' which can be seen positively in correspondence with the countersink 12 upper (i.e. in the visible part of the reinforcement element 8 through the opening 5 for extracting the sealed package 3) and can be seen in negative at the lower tab 14 and the appendix 15 (in this way the blank 18 shown in figure 10 can be made from a continuous cardboard tape without scraps). Figures 11 and 12 show an alternative embodiment of the reinforcing element 8 illustrated in figures 6, 7 and 8. The reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figures 11 and 12 differs from the element 8 of reinforcement illustrated in figures 6, 7 and 8 due to the fact that in the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figures 11 and 12 the dimension of the appendix 15 is reduced to a minimum.

Figures 13 and 14 show an alternative embodiment of the reinforcing element 8 illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8; Figure 15 illustrates the blank 18 which is used to make the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in Figures 13 and 14.

The reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figures 13 and 14 differs from the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figures 6, 7 and 8 due to the fact that in the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figures 13 and 14 it is absent the appendix 15 and in the slot 16 the tip of the lower tongue 14 is inserted (by means of an elastic deformation of the lower tongue 14) causing a mechanical interlocking of the lower tongue 14 in the through slot 16.

Figures 16 and 17 show an alternative embodiment of the reinforcing element 8 illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8; Figure 18 shows the blank 18 which is used to make the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figures 16 and 17. The reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figures 16 and 17 differs from the reinforcement element 8 shown in figures 6, 7 and 8 due to the fact that in the reinforcement element 8 shown in figures 16 and 17 the through slot 16 and the protuberance 17 are absent and in the front wall 9 there is a through notch 19 (typically shaped inverted "U") inside which the appendix 15 mechanically fits (with an elastic deformation of the through notch 19); in other words, the mechanical connection system includes the through notch 19 which is obtained in the front wall 9 and is shaped like an inverted `` U '', and the appendix 15 of the lower tongue 14 which is bent by 90 ° with respect to the lower tab 14 and rests against the front wall 9 in correspondence with the through notch 19 to mechanically fit into the through notch 19 itself. Figure 19 shows a variant of blank 18 illustrated in figure 18. Blank 18 illustrated in figure 19 differs from blank 18 illustrated in figure 18 due to the presence of a `` logo '' which is seen in positive at the flare 12 upper (i.e. in the visible part of the reinforcement element 8 through the opening 5 for extracting the sealed package 3) and can be seen in negative at the lower tab 14 and the appendix 15 (in this way the blank 18 shown in figure 19 can be made from a continuous cardboard ribbon without scraps).

Figures 20, 21 and 22 show an alternative embodiment of the reinforcing element 8 illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8; figure 23 shows the blank 18 which is used to make the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figures 20, 21 and 22. The reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figures 20, 21 and 22 differs from the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figures 6, 7 and 8 due to the fact that in the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figures 20, 21 and 22 the appendix 15, the through slot 16 and the protuberance 17 are absent and in the tabs 13 lateral notches 20 are formed inside which the lower tab 14 is mechanically fitted (with an elastic deformation of the lateral tabs 13). Figures 24, 25 and 26 show three alternative embodiments of the blank 18 illustrated in Figure 9. The blank 18 illustrated in Figures 24, 25 and 26 differs from the blank 18 illustrated in Figure 9 in that in the blank 18 illustrated in figures 24, 25 and 26 the lower tab 14, the appendix 15, the through slot 16 and the protuberance 17 are absent, in the lateral tabs 13 there are notches 20, and in the lower wall 11 there are two notches 21; when the lateral tabs 13 are superimposed on the lower wall 11, each notch 20 penetrates by mechanically fitting into a corresponding notch 21 (by means of an elastic deformation of the relative lateral tongue 13).

Figure 27 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8. The reinforcement element 8 illustrated in Figure 27 differs from the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in the figures 6, 7 and 8 due to the fact that in the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figure 27 the lower tongue 14, the appendix 15, the through slot 16 and the protuberance 17 are absent, and in the lower wall 11 there are two carvings 21; when the lateral tabs 13 are superimposed on the lower wall 11, the tip of each lateral tab 13 engages with an elastic deformation in a corresponding notch 21.

Figure 28 shows an alternative embodiment of the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8. The reinforcement element 8 illustrated in Figure 28 differs from the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in the figures 6, 7 and 8 due to the fact that in the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figure 28 the lower tongue 14, the appendix 15, the through slot 16 and the protuberance 17 are absent, the two lateral tongues 13 are connected to the lower wall 11 at opposite ends of the lower wall 11 and are bent by 90 ° with respect to the lower wall 11 itself to rest against the side walls 10, and each side wall 10 comprises a lateral fin 22 which is bent by 180 ° with respect to the wall 10 on the side and against the side wall 10 itself, enclosing a corresponding lateral tongue 13. Each lateral fin 22 comprises two protuberances 23 which are inserted (by means of an elastic deformation) inside corresponding through slits 24 obtained in the front wall 9 causing a mechanical interlocking of the protuberances 23 in the through slots 24.

Figures 29 and 30 show an alternative embodiment of the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8. The reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figures 29 and 30 differs from the element 8 of reinforcement illustrated in figures 6, 7 and 8 due to the fact that in the reinforcement element 8 illustrated in figures 29 and 30 the appendix 15, the through slot 16 and the protuberance 17 are absent and the lower tongue 14 is bent 90 ° with respect to the lower wall 11.

Figure 31 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the blank 18 illustrated in Figure 9. The blank 18 illustrated in Figure 31 differs from the blank 18 illustrated in Figure 9 in that the blank 18 illustrated in Figure 31 is absent the tab 14, the appendix 15, the through slot 16 and the protuberance 17, and each lateral tab 13 is glued by means of glue 25 to the lower wall 11. In other words, in all the embodiments illustrated in Figures 6-30 the reinforcing element 8 is glue-free and comprises a mechanical interlocking system which keeps the lower wall 11 and the side walls 10 in the correct position; on the other hand, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 31 the reinforcing element 8 is devoid of the mechanical interlocking system and is provided with two glue areas 25 which keep the lower wall 11 and the side walls 10 in the correct position. According to an alternative embodiment not shown and perfectly equivalent to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 31, the two lateral tabs 13 are connected to the lower wall 11 at opposite ends of the lower wall 11, they are bent 90 ° with respect to the wall 11 itself to rest against the side walls 10, and are glued by means of the glue 25 to the side walls 10.

The choice of the embodiment of the reinforcing element 8 to be used among all the previously proposed embodiments also depends on the dimensional relationships existing between the thickness of the group 4 of cigarettes (and therefore between the dimension of the lower wall 11 of the ™ reinforcing element 8) and the flaring 12 (which, in the absence of scraps, influences the shape and dimensions of the lower tab 14 and of the appendix 15).

In figure 32 the number 26 indicates as a whole a packing machine which produces the pack 1 of cigarettes illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3. The packing machine 26 comprises a wrapping section 27 which makes the sealed wrappers 3 and a subsequent wrapping section 28 which forms the external containers 2 by folding rigid blanks 29 around the sealed wrapping 3 received from the wrapping section 27.

As illustrated in Figure 33, the wrapping section 27 comprises a forming unit 30, in which the groups 4 of cigarettes are made and in which the reinforcing elements 8 are made by folding the blanks 18, a coupling unit 31, in in which the groups 4 of cigarettes are coupled to the corresponding reinforcing elements 8, and a wrapping unit 32, in which the sealed wrappers 3 are formed by folding and heat-sealing a tape 33 of wrapping material (already provided with the extraction openings 5 and the overlying sealing panels 6) around the groups 4 of cigarettes coupled to the corresponding reinforcing elements 8.

The forming unit 30 comprises a hopper 34 provided with four outlets and a belt forming conveyor 35 supporting a plurality of forming pockets 36. The forming conveyor 35 advances each forming pocket 36 between an inlet station 37 which is arranged in front of an outlet of the hopper 34 and in which a group 4 of cigarettes is extracted from the outlet of the hopper 34 and inserted in the forming pocket 36, and an outlet station 38 in which the group 4 of cigarettes is extracted from the forming pocket 36. Furthermore, the forming unit 30 comprises a belt folding conveyor 39 which supports a plurality of folding pockets (not shown) and is arranged parallel to and alongside the forming conveyor 35. The folding conveyor 39 advances each folding pocket between an inlet station 40 in which a blank 18 is inserted into the folding pocket, a series of folding stations, in which the blank 18 is folded (completely or only partially) to form a reinforcing element 8, and an output station 41 in which the reinforcing element 8 is extracted from the folding pocket.

As shown in Figure 38, the coupling unit 31 comprises a coupling conveyor 42, which is arranged perpendicularly to the forming conveyor 35 and to the folding conveyor 39, picks up each group 4 of cigarettes from the output station 38 of the forming conveyor 35, couples to the group 4 of cigarettes a corresponding reinforcing element 8 in a coupling station 43 (arranged above and vertically aligned with the station 41 for the output of the folding conveyor 39), and then conveys the group 4 of cigarettes coupled to the reinforcement element 8 to an entry station 44 of the wrapping unit 32. The coupling conveyor 42 comprises a ring-wound belt 45 which supports a plurality of pallets 46 which push the groups 4 of cigarettes along a sliding plane 47 which connects the outlet station 38 of the forming conveyor 35 to the inlet station 44 of the 32 unit of wrapping.

The sliding plane 47 is static (i.e. it is arranged in a fixed position) and is coupled to an elevator 47a which is vertically movable between a lower position (illustrated in figure 38) in which the elevator 47a is arranged in the output station 41 of the folding conveyor 39 and an upper position (not shown in Figure 38) in which the elevator 47a is arranged in the coupling station 43. The sliding surface 47 has a passage hole (ie a passage slot) through which a reinforcement element 8 raised by the elevator 47a passes; in use, the elevator 47a is moved to the lower position to pick up a reinforcement element 8 and is then subsequently raised to arrange the reinforcement element 8 in the coupling station 43 in which the reinforcement element 8 intercepts a corresponding group 4 of cigarettes with which it is coupled (ie the group 4 of cigarettes, in its forward movement, impacts against the lower wall 11 of the reinforcement element 8, dragging the reinforcement element 8 with it. According to a preferred embodiment, the end of the sliding surface 47 around the passage hole is shaped to complete the bending of the lower tongue 14 and of the appendix 15 during the ascent of the reinforcement element 8 pushed by the € ™ elevator 47a.

As illustrated in Figure 39, the wrapping unit 32 comprises a wrapping conveyor 48 which advances each group 4 of cigarettes (coupled to the corresponding reinforcing element 8) along a straight wrapping path P. A fixed folder device 49 (schematically illustrated in Figure 35) wraps longitudinally, i.e. parallel to the wrapping path P, the wrapping material web 33 around the wrapping path P to bring two opposite ends of the wrapping material into mutual contact. wrapping and then forming a tubular wrapping which encloses the groups 4 of cigarettes (coupled to the corresponding reinforcing elements 8). Furthermore, the wrapping unit 32 comprises a sealing device 50 (schematically illustrated in figure 35 and in figure 40) which is arranged downstream of the folding device 49 and welds longitudinally, i.e. parallel to the wrapping path P, the two ends opposite and overlapping the ribbon 33 of wrapping material to stabilize the tubular wrapping. Finally, the wrapping unit 32 comprises a sealing device 51 (schematically illustrated in Figure 35 and Figure 40) which is arranged downstream of the sealing device 50 and welds and cuts transversely, or perpendicular to the wrapping path P, the Tubular wrapping downstream and upstream of each group 4 of cigarettes (coupled to the corresponding reinforcing element 8) to complete the formation of the sealed wrappers 3.

It is important to note that the wrapping conveyor 48 transversely advances each group 4 of cigarettes (coupled to the corresponding reinforcement element 8) along the wrapping path P, i.e. with the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes perpendicular to the wrapping path P, perpendicular to the longitudinal welds and parallel to transverse welds. This mode of advancement of the groups 4 of cigarettes is very important since in each sealed package 3 it allows to have the transverse welds in correspondence with the side walls, leaving the lower wall completely free (from welding) and, above all, the upper wall in which The extraction opening 5 is arranged.

As previously said, the strip 33 of wrapping material already has the extraction openings 5 covered by the reclosable sealing panels 6 which are respectively made and applied in processing stations (not shown) arranged upstream of the wrapping unit 32. In the strip 33 of wrapping material, the extraction openings 5 covered by the resealable sealing panels 6 are arranged on the opposite side of the tubular wrapping with respect to the longitudinal seal, and are arranged centered between the two transverse welds; according to a different embodiment not shown, the extraction openings 5 covered by the sealing panels 6 could be arranged in the tubular wrapping on the same side of the weld and could not be centered but more or less asymmetrical in shape and / or position.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 39, the wrapping conveyor 48 comprises a static (or immobile) sliding plane 52 on which each group 4 of cigarettes slides and around which the tape 33 of wrapping material is wound, and a device 53 for push which is placed on top of groups 4 of articles and pushes each group 4 of cigarettes along the wrapping path P. The pusher 53 comprises a conveyor belt 54 which is arranged above each group 4 of cigarettes parallel to the wrapping path P, presses each group 4 of cigarettes against the sliding surface 52, and comprises accompanying elements 55 which protrude to cantilever from the conveyor belt 54 to arrange itself upstream and downstream of each group 4 of cigarettes and therefore define a seat inside which the group 4 of cigarettes itself is arranged.

Finally, the wrapping unit 32 comprises a feed conveyor 56 which receives the groups 4 of cigarettes from the coupling conveyor 42 in the inlet station 44 and feeds the groups 4 of cigarettes on the sliding surface 52 (i.e. deposits the groups 4 of cigarettes on the sliding surface 52). The feed conveyor 56 comprises a pair of conveyor belts 57 which are parallel and side by side with each other, are arranged under the groups 4 of cigarettes, and on which the groups 4 of cigarettes themselves rest. Each conveyor belt 57 comprises accompanying elements 58 which protrude from the conveyor belt 57 to arrange themselves upstream and downstream of each group 4 of cigarettes and therefore define a seat inside which the group 4 of cigarettes itself is arranged.

According to a preferred embodiment, the wrapping unit 32 comprises a pair of conveyor belts 59 arranged facing each other on opposite sides of the wrapping path P immediately upstream of the sealing device 50; the two conveyor belts 59 press the tubular wrapping from opposite sides to compress transversely, during the wrapping of the wrapping tape 33, two opposite ends of the tubular wrapping arranged longitudinally (in other words, the two belts 59 conveyors press on the lower wall and on the upper wall of each future sealed package 3 which are arranged longitudinally).

As better illustrated in Figure 40, the longitudinal welding (performed by the welder device 50) of the two opposite and superimposed ends of the wrapping material strip 33 to stabilize the tubular wrapping determines the formation of a longitudinal fin 60 which initially protrudes and perpendicularly from the tubular wrapping. According to a preferred embodiment, the welder device 50 which carries out the longitudinal welding is coupled to a folder which bends the longitudinal fin 60 by 90 ° by pressing the longitudinal fin 60 itself against the tubular wrapping. Furthermore, each transverse welding (performed by the welder device 51) of the tubular wrapping determines the formation of a transversal fin 61 which initially protrudes perpendicularly and perpendicularly from the corresponding sealed wrapping 3 (ie from a side wall of the corresponding sealed wrapping 3). According to a preferred embodiment, downstream of the welder device 51 there is a folder which bends each transverse fin 61 by 90 ° by pressing the transverse fin 61 itself against the corresponding sealed package 3 (i.e. against a side wall of the corresponding sealed package 3 ); preferably, each transverse fin 61 is fixed (by heat sealing or gluing) to the corresponding sealed package 3 (or to a side wall of the corresponding sealed package 3) in such a way as to always remain in contact with the corresponding sealed package 3 itself.

It is important to note that each transverse fin 61 must be fixed to the corresponding sealed package 3 in such a way that the transverse fin 61 always remains in contact with the corresponding sealed package 3 itself. On the other hand, the longitudinal fin 60 always remains in contact with the corresponding sealed wrapping 3 due to the effect of the subsequent transverse welds.

Figures 4b and 4c illustrate a package 3 sealed before the folding (rewriting) of the two transversal fins 61, while figure 4 ° illustrates a package 3 sealed after the folding (rewriting) of the two transversal fins 61.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 32-40, each group 4 of cigarettes is formed in the forming conveyor 35 independently and separately from the corresponding reinforcing element 8, each reinforcing element 8 is folded into the folding conveyor 39 independently and separately from the forming of the corresponding group 4 of cigarettes, and finally each group 4 of cigarettes already formed is coupled in the coupling conveyor 42 to the corresponding already folded reinforcement element 8. As previously said, the forming conveyor 35 in which the groups 4 of cigarettes are formed is parallel and adjacent to the folding conveyor 38 in which the reinforcing elements 8 are folded; on the other hand, the coupling conveyor 42 in which each group 4 of cigarettes already formed is coupled to the corresponding reinforcing element 8 already folded is perpendicular to the forming conveyor 35 and to the folding conveyor 38.

On the contrary, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 41-43, each reinforcing element 8 is fed into a formation pocket 36 of the formation conveyor 35 upstream of the hopper 34; subsequently each group 4 of cigarettes is transferred from the hopper 34 to the formation pocket 36 (already containing the reinforcing element 8) directly inside the reinforcing element 8 fed previously. In this embodiment, the bending conveyor 39 which folds the reinforcing elements 8 is not parallel and adjacent to the forming conveyor 35, but is arranged upstream of the forming conveyor 35 to feed at the beginning of the conveyor 35 the already folded reinforcement elements 8 are formed.

Figures 41-43 illustrate for simplicity a simplified reinforcement element 8 having only the front wall 9 and the side walls 10 (ie without the lower wall 11); It is clear that also in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 41-43 the reinforcing element 8 could be realized as illustrated in Figures 6-31 and as previously described.

According to a possible embodiment, the wrapping unit 32 comprises a treatment device which eliminates (by suction) the air inside the tubular wrapping to make vacuum sealed wrappers 3; alternatively, the treatment device, in addition to sucking the air inside the tubular wrapping, also feeds an inert gas to create sealed wrappers 3 in a controlled atmosphere.

Therefore, in the process of forming the sealed wrappers, a phase of elimination of the air from the inside of the tubular wrapping can be envisaged to create vacuum-sealed wrappers and / or an introduction phase inside the tubular wrapping. ™ tubular wrapping of an inert gas to make sealed wrappers in a controlled atmosphere.

According to a different embodiment not shown, the packing machine 26 comprises only the wrapping section 27 which produces the sealed wrappers 3; in this embodiment, the sealed wrappers 3 are marketed as they are without being inserted into the outer container 2 (i.e. each pack 1 of cigarettes comprises only the sealed wrapper 3 and has no outer container 2), or A further packing machine is provided (separate and completely independent from the packing machine 26) which receives the sealed wrappers 3 from the packing machine 26 and makes the external containers 2 around the sealed wrappers 3.

The wrapping method and the packing machine 26 described above have numerous advantages.

First of all, the wrapping method and the packing machine 26 described above make it possible to create, by means of the â € œflow-packâ € scheme, 3 sealed wrappers in which the extraction of the cigarettes through the extraction opening 5 is It is particularly simple. As previously mentioned, this result is obtained thanks to the fact that in each sealed package 3 the transverse welds (i.e. the transverse fins 61) are arranged in correspondence with the side walls, leaving the lower wall completely free (from welding) and, above all, the upper wall in which the extraction opening 5 is located.

Furthermore, the wrapping method and the packing machine 26 described above allow to create, by means of the â € œflow-packâ € scheme, 3 sealed wrappers in which the group 4 of cigarettes is correctly formed, i.e. presents the cigarettes in the correct position as shown in Figure 5. In the wrapping conveyor 48, in which each group 4 of cigarettes is advanced transversely (i.e. with the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes perpendicular to the wrapping path P) there is a risk that the group 4 of cigarettes will break up, or that the cigarettes make unwanted movements within group 4 of cigarettes by assuming unwanted positions; this risk is avoided thanks to the combined action of the reinforcing element 8 which defines a â € œboxâ € which contains and retains the group 4 of cigarettes and of the wrapping conveyor 48 which always maintains the reinforcement element 8 ( and therefore the group 4 of cigarettes contained inside the reinforcing element 8) adequately compressed both transversely and longitudinally. In particular, the reinforcing element 8 (and therefore the group 4 of cigarettes contained inside the reinforcing element 8) is compressed longitudinally by the accompanying elements 55 of the pusher 53 which define a seat inside which the group 4 of cigarettes itself; furthermore, the reinforcing element 8 (and therefore the group 4 of cigarettes contained inside the reinforcing element 8) is compressed transversely by the pair of conveyor belts 59.

Particularly important to ensure the correct conformation of the group 4 of cigarettes is the fact that the reinforcement element 8 has a mechanical connection system between the lower wall 11 and the side walls 10 which prevents the lower wall 11 from making any movements with respect to to the two side walls 10 (that is, from another point of view, it prevents the two side walls 10 from making movements with respect to the lower wall 11); in fact, this mechanical connection system increases the stiffness of the reinforcing element 8 and therefore hinders the movements of the individual cigarettes within the group 4 of cigarettes more particularly during the formation of the tubular wrapping.

Finally, the wrapping method and the packing machine 26 described above are easy and inexpensive to produce since they use simple and easily motorizable components.

As a result of the numerous advantages presented by the packet 1 of cigarettes described above, the shape of this packet 1 can also be taken up in its entirety also for the production of a carton of cigarette packets, which carton is substantially the same as the packet 1 described above, but contains a group of packs of cigarettes instead of the group of cigarettes, or for the realization of a packet of cigars or similar which is substantially the same as packet 1 described above, but contains a group of cigars or similar instead of the group of cigarettes .

Claims (16)

R I V E N D I C A Z I O N I 1) Wrapping method for making a sealed wrapping (3) containing a group (4) of cylindrical shaped smoking articles; the wrapping method includes the steps of: advancing a group (4) of smoking articles along a wrapping path (P) and by means of a wrapping conveyor (48); longitudinally, i.e. parallel to the wrapping path (P), a ribbon (33) of wrapping material around the wrapping path (P) to bring two opposite ends of the wrapping material ribbon (33) into mutual contact and then form a tubular wrapping that encloses the group (4) of smoking articles; longitudinally weld, or parallel to the wrapping path (P), the two opposite and overlapping ends of the wrapping material tape (33) to stabilize the tubular wrapping; And weld and cut transversely, or perpendicular to the wrapping path (P), the tubular wrapping downstream and upstream of the group (4) of smoking items to complete the formation of the sealed wrapping (3); the wrapping method is characterized by the fact that the group (4) of smoking articles is advanced transversely along the wrapping path (P), i.e. with the longitudinal axes of the smoking articles perpendicular to the wrapping path (P), perpendicular to the longitudinal welds and parallel to transverse welds. 2) Wrapping method according to claim 1, wherein the web (33) of wrapping material has an extraction opening (5) which is covered by a resealable sealing panel (6), is arranged on the opposite side of the ™ tubular wrapping with respect to the longitudinal seal, and is placed centered between the two transverse seals. 3) Wrapping method according to claim 1 or 2 and comprising the further step of coupling, upstream of the wrapping path (P), the group (4) of smoking articles with a reinforcing element (8) which comprises a front wall (9) which is arranged in contact with the cylindrical side walls of the smoking articles and is oriented longitudinally, and two side walls (10) which are arranged on opposite sides of the front wall (9) in contact with the side walls cylindrical of the smoking articles and are oriented transversely to the wrapping path (P). 4) Wrapping method according to claim 3, wherein the reinforcing element (8) comprises a lower wall (11) which is arranged in contact with the tips of the smoking articles and is oriented longitudinally to the path (P) of wrapping. 5) Wrapping method according to claim 4, wherein the reinforcing element (8) comprises a mechanical connection system between the lower wall (11) and the side walls (10) of the reinforcing element (8) which prevents the two lateral walls (10) from making movements with respect to the lower wall (11). 6) Method of wrapping according to claim 3, 4 or 5 and comprising the further steps of: forming the group (4) of smoking articles independently and separately from the reinforcing element (8); folding from the reinforcing element (8) independently and separately from the formation of the group (4) of smoking articles; and couple the group (4) of smoking articles already formed to the reinforcement element (8) already folded. 7) Wrapping method according to claim 6 and comprising the further steps of: forming the group (4) of smoking articles by means of a forming conveyor (35) coupled to a hopper (34); And fold the reinforcing element (8) by means of a folding conveyor (38) which is parallel and adjacent to the forming conveyor (35). 8) Wrapping method according to claim 7 and comprising the further step of coupling the group (4) of smoking articles to the reinforcing element (8) by means of a coupling conveyor (42) which is perpendicular to the conveyor (35) forming and folding conveyor (38). 9) Wrapping method according to claim 3, 4 or 5 and comprising the further steps of: feeding the reinforcement element (8) into a formation pocket (36) of a formation conveyor (35) upstream of a hopper (34); and transfer the group (4) of smoking articles from the hopper (34) to the formation pocket (36) and directly inside the reinforcement element (8) previously fed. 10) Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the wrapping conveyor (48) comprises a sliding plane (52) on which the group (4) of smoking articles slides and around which the tape is wound ( 33) of wrapping material, and a pusher (53) which is placed over the group (4) of items and pushes the group (4) of smoking items along the wrapping path (P). 11) Wrapping method according to claim 10, wherein the pusher device (53) comprises a first conveyor belt (54) which is arranged above the group (4) of smoking articles parallel to the wrapping path (P), presses the group (4) of smoking articles against the sliding surface (52), and comprises accompanying elements (55) which protrude from the first conveyor belt (54) to arrange themselves upstream and downstream of the group (4) of smoking articles and therefore define a seat in which the group (4) of smoking articles itself is arranged. 12) Wrapping method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the group (4) of smoking articles is fed onto the sliding plane (52) by a feed conveyor (56) comprising at least a second conveyor belt (57) which It is placed under the group (4) of smoking articles and on which the group (4) of smoking articles itself rests. 13) Method according to one of the claims from 1 to 12 and comprising the further step of compressing transversely, during the winding of the wrapping material tape (33), two opposite ends of the tubular wrapping arranged longitudinally by means of two corresponding third conveyor belts (59) arranged facing each other on opposite sides of the wrapping path (P). 14) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a step of eliminating the air from the inside of the tubular wrapping (3) to make vacuum-sealed wrappers (3). 15) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it comprises a step of introducing an inert gas inside the tubular wrapping (3) to make sealed wrappers (3) in a controlled atmosphere. 16) Packing machine (26) for making a sealed wrapping (3) containing a group (4) of smoking articles; the packing machine (26) comprises a wrapping conveyor (48) for advancing a group (4) of smoking articles along a wrapping path (P); a folding device (49) for longitudinally wrapping, or parallel to the wrapping path (P), a web (33) of wrapping material around the wrapping path (P) so as to bring two opposite ends of the web into mutual contact ( 33) of wrapping material and then forming a tubular wrapping that encloses the group (4) of smoking articles; a first sealing device (50) for sealing longitudinally, or parallel to the wrapping path (P), the two opposite and superimposed ends of the wrapping material tape (33) to stabilize the tubular wrapping; and a second welder device (51) to weld and cut transversely, or perpendicular to the wrapping path (P), the tubular wrapping downstream and upstream of the group (4) of smoking items to complete the wrapping process (3) sealed; the packing machine (26) is characterized by the fact that the wrapping conveyor (48) transversely advances the group (4) of smoking articles along the wrapping path (P), i.e. with the longitudinal axes of the smoking articles perpendicular to the wrapping path (P), perpendicular to the longitudinal seal and parallel to the transverse seal.