US1673524A - Cigarette-wrapping machine and method - Google Patents

Description

June 12. 1928. 1,673,524

w. E. MOLINS CIGARETTE WRAPPING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 13. 1926 /N VE N TOR Patented June 12, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER EVERETT MOLINS, OF

DEPTFORD, LQNDON, ENGLAND.

CIGABETTE'WRAPPING MACHINE AND METHOD.

Application filed March 13, 1926, Serial No.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to a method and means for wrapping cigarettes and packets of cigarettes and more particularly to a method and means for sealing the open end of a block ended wrapper adapted to envelop a batch of cigarettes of a packet of the slide and shell type, and has for one of its objects the provision of a device which will ensure that the open end 10 of the block ended wrapper is sealed so as to render the wrapper substantially airtight, thereby effectively protecting the contents of the packet against the action of the atmosphere and enables cigarettes to retain the required amount of moisture for a considerable time.

It has hitherto been found that a good seal may be effected along the sides of a glascine wrapper, but that considerable diiliculty is experienced in effectively and neatly closing and sealing the open end of the same. This diificulty is due to a considerable extent to the slide of the packet being invariably made shorter than the shell, thereby leaving at the open end of the packet a shallow depression against which the side tucks and end folds are pressed, thereby rendering the effective sealing of the open end of the wrapper impossible.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of sealing the open end of a block ended wrapper which envelops a packet of the slide and shell type which comprises (a) Tucking and folding the open end of a wrapper; and

(b) Maintaining the slide flush with the shell at the open end of the wrapper as the side tucks and end foldsare being pressed, preferably with the aid of heat, upon the adjacent end of the packet.

Further the present invention consists of a device for sealing the open end of a block ended wrapper which envelops a packet of the slide and shell type wherein means (for example a lip formed upon an upwardly movable platform) are adapted to locate the shell of a slide and shell packet and permit one end of the slide to be brought flush with the shell at the open end of the wrapper.

Again the present invention consists of a method of sealing the open end of a blockended wrapper which envelops a batch of cigarettes which comprises (a) Folding one end flap of the wrapper, and

94,484, and in Great Britain April 28, 1925.

(b) Pressing said flap against the end surface of the contents of the wrapper prior to the other flap being folded and pressed thereon.

Further the present invention consists of a device for sealing the open end of a blockended wrapper which envelops a batch of cigarettes which comprises means (for example a lip formed upon an upwardly movable platform) adapted to fold one end flap of the wrapper and means adapted to press said flap against the end surface of the contents of the wrapper prior to the other flap being folded and pressed thereon.

The invention is more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 illustrates one method of carrying the invention into effect; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view which illustrates the manner in which one end of the slide is brought flush with the corresponding end of the envelo ing shell.

Referring to the drawings, 1 comprises a packet of the slide and shell type which has been partly enveloped in an outer wrapper composed of glascine. The said wrapper has been folded about the packet so as to constitute a block ended wrapper open at one end. The block ended wrapper is formed about the said packet, preferably by means of the mechanism described in m British Patent No. 165,891. After a bloc ended Wrapper open at one end has been formed about the said packet, the same is moved by means of side tuckers (not shown) into a position directly above a movable platform 2. The side tuckers are preferably constructed in the manner described in my Brit. Patent Specification No. 214,792, although it will be appreciated that packets may be advanced into the said position in any desired manner. The wrapper so formed about the packet is provided with two longitudinally extendin flaps 3 and 4. When the packet has been rought to rest above the platform 2 the same is moved upwardly by means of a bell crank lever 5 operated by the cam. 6 such that a lip 7 formed on the platform 2 engages with the lower fiap 4 of the wrapper and tucks the same against the end face of the packet. As the platform continues its upward movement the upper flap 3 engages with the lower edge of a heating element 8, which tucks the said upper flat 3 down upon the lower flap 4 of the packet which-has already been gummed in any desired manner.

As the platform moves upwardly a lever 9 pivoted to the bed of the machine at 10 engages with the block end of the wrapper, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The shell is secured against longitudinal movement by means of the lip 7 and consequently as the packet 1, enveloped in the wrapper, moves into the stacker the slide is moved longitudinally in the shell until the end of the slide is brought flush with the end of the shell, whereupon the heater 8 of the stacker irons the side tucks and end folds of the wrapper upon the flush end of the packet.

The pivoted lever 9 is preferably provided with a projection 11 whlch, as the platform 2 rises, engages with an arm 12 and moves the back wall 13 of the stacker out of engagement with the packet 1 so as to permit the same to be easily moved into the stacker. As the moving platform 2 descends the projection 11 upon the lever 9 releases the side wall 13 and the brushes formed thereon grip the packet and maintains the same within the stacker.

Thus it will be seen that according to the present invention means are provided whereby the open end of a glascine wrapper is ironed upon the flush end of a slide and shell packet so as to produce a neat and effective seal to the wrapper enveloping the packet.

It has been found in practice that the seal produced by the device hereinbefore described is so effective that considerable difficulty is experienced in removing the wrapper from the packet. It has been found advisable to provide means whereby the wrapper may be easil removed from the packet when it is desire to open the same.

To accomplish this purpose it is proposed, according to the present invention, to form the upper flap 3 of a longer length than the lower flap 4, such that the end of the flap 3 extends over the side of the packet and may be easily gripped when it is desired to remove the outer wrapper. By providing simple and eflicient means of this character the necessity of providing strips of thread and like contrivances by which the wrapper may be removed is obviated.

This invention has been described with reference to a packet of the slide and shell type enveloped in a wrapper of glascine but it is to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to a batch of cigarettes enveloped 1n a block ended wrapper. With cigarettes so packed the lip on the platform 2 folds the lower flap upwardly, whereupon the pivoted lever moves the packet forward and presses the lower flap through the medium of the cigarettes against the lip of the platform. The packet is thereafter moved Into the stacker and the u per flap pressed smoothly upon the lower ap, thus producing a neat finish to the block ended packet. The upper flap may be provided with an extension for the easy removal of the wrapper.

What I claim as m invention and desire to secure by Letters atent is 1. A device for sealing the o 11 end of a block ended wrapper arrange to envelo a packet of the slide and shell type, whic comprises a pusher piece operable automatically to move the slide relatively to the shell and means for locating the shell as the slide is moved relatively thereto.

2. A device for sealing the open end of a block ended wrapper which envelope a packet of the slide and shell type which comprises in combination an u wardly movable platform having a lip ormed thereon adapted to secure the shell against longitudlnal movement in one direction and a pivoted lever adapted to push the slide of the packet during the upward movement of the platform and move the slide into a position such that the end adjacent to the open end of the wrapper lies flush with the corresponding and of the shell.

3. A cigarette packin machine of the type operable to envelop pac ets of the slide and shell type in an outer wrapper which comprises a pusher piece 0 erable automatically to move the slide relatively to the shell and means operable to locate the shell of the packet as the slide is brought flush with that end of the shell which lies adjacent to the open end of the wrapper.

4. A cigarette packing machine of the type operable to envelop packets of the slide and shell type in an outer wrapper which comprises an upwardly movable platform adapted to move a packet enveloped in a block ended wrapper into a stacker, a lip arranged upon said movable platform so as to locate the shell of the packet, and a pusher piece operable to move the slide relatively to the shell so as to bring the same flush with that end of the shell located adjacent to the open end of the wra per.

5. A cigarette packing machine of the type operable to envelop packets of the slide and shell type in an outer wrapper which comprises a movable platform provided with a lip adapted to secure the shell against longitudinal movement in one direction and a pivoted lever adapted to engage with the slide of the packet during the upward movement of the platform so as to move the same into a positlon flush with the end of the shell located adjacent to the open end of the wrapper.

6. The method of sealing the open end of a block ended wrapper which envelops a packet of the slide and shell type, which comprises, tucking and folding the open end of the wrapper, thereby forming s ide tucks and end folds, and holding the slide flush with the shell at the open end of the wrapper, and pressing the side tucks and end folds upon the adjacent end of the packet.

7. The method of sealing the .open end of a block ended wrapper which envelops a packet of the slide and shell" type, which comprises, tucking and folding the open end of t e wrapper forming side tucks and end folds, and holding the slide flush with the shell at the open end of the wrap er, and pressing the side tucks and end fo ds upon the adjacent end of the acket and simultaneously heating the side tucks and end folds.

8. In a cigarette packing machine of the type wherein a conveyor is adapted to movethe slide and shell packets through wrapping mechanism so as to envelop the same in a block ended wrapper open at one end and wherein means are provided to move the wrapped packets at a speed greater than the linear speed of the conveyor into a stationary position where the upper and lower broad end flaps of the open end of the wrapper are folded, means adapted to locate the shell of the acket and secure the same against longitu inal movement, and means adapted to move the slide relatively to the shell and bring the same flush with the shell at that end thereof which is adjacent to the open end of the wrapper.

9. In a cigarette packing machine of the type wherein a conveyor is adapted to move slide and shell packets through wrapping mechanism so as to envelop each packet in a block ended wrapper open at one end and wherein means are prov1ded to move each packet at a. speed greater than the linear speed of the conveyor into a stationary position, an upwardly movable platform adapted to receive each packet and secure the shell against longitudinal movement in one direction and a pivoted lever adapted to engage with the slide of the acket so as to move the same flush with t at end of the shell which lies adjacent to the open end of the wrapper.

10'. The method of sealing the open end of a block ended wrapper which envelops a packet of the slide and shell type, which comprises moving the slide relatively to the shell and toward the open end of the wrapper so that the slide and shell are flush at that end, and pressing the free ends of the wrapper upon the adjacent end of the packet.

11. The method of sealin the open end of a block ended wrapper w ich envelops a packet of the slide and shell type, which comprises moving the slide relatively to the shell and toward the open end of the wrapper so that the slide and shell are flush at that end, tucking and folding the open end of the wrapper, thereby forming side tucks and end folds, and pressing the side tucks and end folds upon the adjacent end of the packet.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifi mysignature.

WALTER EVERETT MOLINS.

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