US1795666A

US1795666A - Method of and means for forming cigarette and like packets

Info

Publication number: US1795666A
Application number: US294843A
Authority: US
Inventors: Molins Walter Everett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-08-18
Filing date: 1928-07-23
Publication date: 1931-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 1948-03-10

Description

W. E. MOLINS March 10, 1931.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FORMING CIGARETTE AND LIKE PACKETS Filed July 23, 1928 t 6 Sheets-Sheet IMP. c d :9: In 1 I I RHHWHM 1%. 393% w. E MOLJNS 1,795,655

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FORMING CIGARETTE AND LIKE PACKETS Filed July 2-3, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet March 10, 1931. w. E. MOLINS 1,795,666

VMETHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FORMING CIGARETTE A-ND LIKE PACKETS Filed July 23, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet March 10, 1931. w. E. MGLSTJS METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FORNTNG CTGARETTE AND LIV PACKETS Filed July 1 2 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 10, 1931.

w. E. MQLINS METHOD OF MEANS FOR FORMING CIGARETTE AND LIKE PACKETS Filed July 23, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 16, 1931 w. E. MOLINS 1,795,666

METHOD OF AND MEANS F01 FORMHEG CIGARETTE AND LIKE PACKETS Filed Jul; 23. 19338 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 gmmtoa Patented Mar. 10, 1931 a UNITEDJSTATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER EVERETT MOLINS; F DEPTFORD, LONDON, ENGLAND METHOD OF AND MEANS FORIORMING CIGARETTE AND LIKE PACKETS Application filed July 23, 1928, Serial No. 294,848, and in Great Britain August 18, 1927.

This invention is for an improved method container of the type referred to which comof and means for forming cigarette and, like prises in combination means for moving a P containers and more particularly to a maseries of open ended pockets in succession,

chino adapted to form automatically a cigmeans for automatically arranging the pockarctte and like containers of the type which cts in pairs with their open ends located ad- 55 comprises a pair of pockets hinged together jacent to one another and means for autoin such a manner that the open ends thereof matically hinging the open ends of each pair are directed towards one another when the of pockets together by a closure flap which container is in an extended condition, and extends across the open ends of the two pock- 0 wherein the hinge comprises a closure flap ets when one is folded upon the other. 60 for the open end of the two pockets when one Further, the present invention consists of pocket is folded upon the other. a machine for packing cigarettes in a double Packets of the above character have hithpocket container of the type referred to which erto been formed from a single blank of paper comprises in combination means for autowhich comprises a substantially rectangular matically enveloping a batch of cigarettes in strip having two integral side extensions one a U shaped block ended pocket open at one at either end, which are arranged to be folded end means for automatically arranging the so as to lie above the strip and to be folded filled pockets in pairs with the open ends together with the strip, along either end and thereof located adjacent to one another, and p along one side so as to form a container of means for automatically hinging the open the character above mentioned. ends of each pair of pockets together by a i i The blanks employed in forming such conclosure flap which is arranged to extend tainers are expensive to manufacture due to across the open ends of the two pockets when the considerable waste of material which is one is folded upon the other.

produced on account of the irregular outline The invention is more particularly deof the blank. Further, the rate at which scribed with reference to the accompanying cigarettes may be packed in such containers drawings wherein is slow, and it is an object of the present F ig. 1 illustrates in elevation the pocket invention to provide a method and means forming and filling mechanism of a machine whereby containers of the above character constructed according to the present invenmay be produced in a cheap and efiicient maution.

ner and also to permit cigarettes to be auto- Fig. 2 illustrates a. detailed view of the mat-ically enveloped in such containers at a pocket forming mechanism illustrated in much greater speed than is possible with the F1g- 1- method at present employed. Fig. 3 lllustrates the'mechanism by which The present invention consists of a method e Pockets are fed in pairs to a reversing of manufacturing a double pocket container mech nism.

of the type referred to which comprises the F g- 1S a Pl Vlew Of that P 0f t f ll i t machine wherein the pockets, after being (a) Automatically forming each pocket formed and filled with cigarettes, are removed t l in pairs to the reversing mechanism. and

(7)) Automatically arranging the sepathereafter sealed together to form a double rately formed pockets in pairs, and POCket Automatically hinging the open ends Fig. 5 is an elevation of Fig. 4 viewed in of each pair of pockets to one another by the direction of the arrow B.

a closure flap which is arranged to extend Figs. 6,7, 8 and 9 illustrate the mechanism across the open endsof the two pockets, when by which the individual packets are stacked one pocket is folded upon the other. prior to the same being transferred to the Again, the present invention consists in a reversing mechanism machine for manufacturing a double pocket- Fig. 10 illustrates in elevation the mechanism employed for feeding pictures to the packets.

Fig. feed.

Fig. 11-2 iiltisii'utes the blank from which each pocket is f rmed.

Fig. lb 1:: a perspective view of a container constructed according to the present invention showing the container in a partly extended condition.

Fig. 1%. illustrates the container shown in Fig. 13 in the closed condition, wherein. one pocket is folded upon the other so that the hinge connecting the pockets constitutes the closure ilap for the open ends of the two pockets.

Figures 15 and 16 are fragmentary views in elevation illustrating in detail one form of mechanism for moving the pockets through a heater box;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary elevational view of the magazine for receiving the pockets as they are ejected from the heater box; and

Figures 18 to 21 inclusive are fragmentary sectional views on the lines (E U, l)--1) E-E, and FF respectively of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings a pocket fez-er ing mechanism is mounted upon a frame 1 secured to the machine bed 2 and comprises a reciprocating plunger 3 upon which the pocket is formed and thereafter stripped preferably by a device of the character described in U. S. Patent No. 1,091,235. The plunger 3 is guided by

rollers

4 and 5 and is reciprocated between a pair of parallel jaws 6 by any suitable means, such for example as b a rod 7 (Fig. 2) attached at its lower en to a connecting rod (not shown) and arranged at the back of the machine so as to be operated by a crank driven by any suitable source of: power. In operation the plunger 3 rises clear of the jaws 6 as shown in Fig. 1 for a short space of time during 11 is a detailed view of the picture which a blank of the character illustrated in Fig. 12 for making the pocket is fed across the top of the jaws 6.

The ocket blank comprises a rectangular strip 0 paper or like material B provided with an extension flap 1) (Fig. 12) and is preferably fed from a stack or stacks de pending upon whether different designs are to be illustrated upon the two pockets which constitute the finished container. If the two pockets comprising the finished container are to have different designs thereon, a blank is fed alternately from one side and the other of the machine in the manner hereinafter described. The mechanisms for one blank feed will be hereinafter more particularly set forth, but it is to be understood that a corresponding feed mechanism may be provided on the opposite side of the pocket forming mechanism and operable so as to feed alternately a blank to the pocket forming mechanism in the same manner as the blank feed on the opposite side. The blank feed mechanism is mounted upon the frame adjacent to the jaws (S and comprises a piir of rollers 8 which are adapted to rotate continuously at a. uniform speed and a further pair of rollers S) and 10 of which the roller 9 is arranged to rotate at a high speed and the roller 10 to act as a follower. The roller 10 is mounted upon a swinging lever 11 (Fig. 2) one end of which is secured 'to a rocking spindle 12 carried in a bearing and projecting to the back of the machine. the arrangement being such that the roller 10 is brought momentarily into contact with the roller 9 at the desired moment.

A blank is fed by the feeding rollers 8 to the rollers 9 and 10 and as the latter is brought into contact with the high speed roller 9. the blank receives a sharp impulse which delivers it into position above the jaws (5 at the moment when the plunger 3 leaves the jaws and before or during it commences its down stroke.

The operation of the roller 10 is controlled in synchronism with the movement of the plunger 3 by the following means :-The rod '7 which operates the plunger 3 is fitted with a striking piece 12-3 which is adapted to engage with a pawl 14 secured to a spindle 12. As the rod 7 rises and carries the plunger .3 clear of the jaws 6, the striking piece 13 engages with the pawl 14 and rocks the lever 11 so as to bring the roller 10 into contact with the roller 9 and thereby cause a blank to be fed beneath the plunger 3.

The spring 15 is adapted to return the parts to their original position as the rod 7 moves downwardly.

The blanksB are placed in a housing 16 located on one side of the frame 1 and the lowermost blank of each pile is adapted to be fed to the continuously rotating rollers 8 by means of an oscillating suction feed 17 preferably constructed according to U. S. Patent 1,419,466, British Patent No. 24,307 of 1914, and U. S. Patent 1,382,213, each of the oscillating suction mechanisms 17 being operable ill) alternately through the medium of

pivoted links

18 and 19 operated by cams 20 driven by the main shaft 19 of the machine, in such a manner that ablank from one stack is fed from the continuously rotating rol1ers-8 on one side of the machine whereupon the suction feed on the opposite side of the machine comes into operation.

Each blank B which may be automatically gummed along its two edges as it passes between rollers 8 is guided into position beneath the plunger 3 by a channel 21 fitted with a pivoted stop arranged to permit a blank to be fed beneath the same from one direction but acts as a stop when a blank is fed in the opposite direction.

Whom the blank is located beneath the plunger 3, the same descends and carries the blank through folding and stripping mechanisms which forms the same into a pocket open at one end and a blank is arranged to bemain drive of the machine by a. cam through the medium of the

pivoted links

25, 26 and 27. This mechanism is illustrated in detail in Figure 15 of the drawings. I

The pockets are intermittently fed along the heater box 23 in which the sides of the pocket are sealed together if the pocket has previously been gummed. The leading pocket when it reaches the end of the heater box 23, swings through a right angle into the magazine 28 in the manner described in British Patent No. 166,466. The pockets are in this manner fed downwardly to the bed 2 of the machine, falling over by gravity into the magazine as shown in Figure 17 of the drawings.

Mounted upon the end of the bed 2 of the machine is a hopper mechanism 44, preferably constructed in accordance with the disclosures of British Patent 205,586 and U. S. Patents 1,497,576, 1,601,257, 1,688,982,- and 1,668,693. I

The cigarettes are removed from the vanes of the hopper mechanism by meansofan endless conveyor and conveyed thereby to the filling portion of the machine. The cigarettes are carried by the conveyor 45 between guides 46 into amouthpiece 47 (Fig. 1). The

' mouthpiece 47 is mounted upon a. swinging arm 48 pivotally secured at one end to the vertical magazine 28, and at the other end to the. mouthpiece 47. Themouthpiece 47 is held in its normal position by means of a spring arranged to hold the arm 48 away from the magazine 28. The under side of the mouthpiece is slotted to allow the pusher pieces 45a to pass through the same.

It will be appreciated that as the cigarettes are pushed into the mouthpiece 47 the latter is moved, against the influence of the spring controlling the swinging arm 48, into the mouth of the lowermost pocket located in the magazine 28, which is yieldingly held by means of a light spring 456, until the cigarettes are completely inserted in the pocket.

The filled pocket is moved by the pusher piece 45 out of engagement with the mouthpiece 47 and is thereafter conveyed beneath the plate 62 into a delivery wheel, wh ch comprises a pair of discs 6) which may be constructed of metal. The discs 7 0 r0.- tate on a spindle 7 5 and grip the filled pockets between them and carry the same towards an ejector. The ejector comprises a plate 72 pivoted at 73 (Fig. 1) andoscillated by acam 74 mounted on the spindle 75 through a roller 76 against the tension of a spring 77 The plate 72 moves inward between the discs 70 and then outwards into a stacker 78. On moving inwards the plate 72 removes a pocket and then moving outwards under the action of the cam 74 delivers the pocket to the stacker 78 and pushes it along the same until the spring non-return catches 80 on the sides of the stacker prevent its return. The sides of the stacker may be heatedby electric heater 81 and in order to relieve the pressure on the packet, one or both sides of the ejector may be movable by a cam at each stroke of the ejector, in the example illustrated in Fig. 1. One movable side 82 of the stacker is fitted with two long arms 83 each pivoted at 84 to the main frame of the stacker. A rod 85 (Fig. 6) pivoted at 86. at one end is connected by a pin 87 to the side of the magazine 78, the other end of the rod carrying a roller 88 engaging with a crown cam 89 on the spindle 75. l/Vith this arrangement at every stroke of the ejector, a movement of the side 78 is obtained which limits the pressure on the pockets and allows the ejector to move them easily along the stacker 78. 7

It may happen that a batch of cigarettes is carried into the mouthpiece 47, but owing to the failure of the pocket feed, no pocket has dropped from the magazine on to the bed of the machine into the path of the oncoming cigarettes. The loose cigarettes will be carried forward, but in order to prevent any trouble occurring in the stacking apparatus, it is necessary to remove the loose cigarettes before they are delivered into the stacker. In order to effect this automatic operation, a sharp edged pawl 90 (Figs. 8 and 9.) is pivoted on a spindle 91 over the channel along which the pockets pass adjacent tothe delivery Wheel and the pawl is normally held slightly below the level of the top of a filled pocket by a spring 92 (Fig. 8). \Vhen a filled pocket meets the pawl 90, the latter is lifted and rides lightly over the top of the pocket without damaging the same. -It, however, a loose batch of cigarettes meets the pawl, the latter drops between two adjacent cigarettes in the manner indicated in Fig. 9. As shown in Fig. 6 an arm 93 is secured to the spindle 91 and carries a pin 94- on which a hook shaped lever 95 is pivoted. The book normally engages with a stop lever 96 held by a spring 97 and pivoted at 98. If the pawl 90 drops, the lever 95 also drops releasing the lever 96 which, under the action of the spring 97, is oscillated about its thereby leaves a space between the discs and the ejector 72 through which the loose cigarettes fall undamaged into a collector box (not shown). If the next group of cigarettes are enveloped in a pocket, the pawl is raised and the hook on the lever moves into position to engage with the stop lever 96, as soon as the latter is lowered. The lowering of the lever 96 is effected by a cam 100 on the back of one of the discs 70 which engages a roller 101 on the lever 96 swinging the same about its pivot into the desired position. The ejector plate 72 can then travel through its full stroke and stack the pockets in the stacker. The delivery mechanism may be provided with a hinged cover 102 to prevent the pockets being thrown outward by the ejector. The hook 95 is free on the pin 94, but is controlled by a torsion spring 103 which twists it in a clockwise direction, a tail 104, on the hook engaging the spindle 91 to limit the motion of the hook. This arrangement gives flexibility to the action and ensures that the hook 95 will always operate correctly. The hook 95 can only disengage from the stop lever 96 when the roller 101 is lifted by the cam 100. The action is timed to take place when a group is located beneath av pawl 90.

Due to the action of the ejector 72 the filled pockets are moved through the stacker 78 in steps. \Vhen the pockets reach the end of the stacker 78 an endless conveyor 105 is adapted to remove the leading pair of pockets and convey the same upwardly through the channel 106 on to a bed 107 so as to locate each pair of pockets in the path of a conveyor 108.

As the pair of pockets are carried upwards by the conveyor 105 the upper one is turned over by means of a spirally twisted rail 109 acting in co-operation with a guide 110. The upper pocket of the pair is first displaced laterallywith respect to the lower pocket by means of a projecting guide 109 so that the upper pocket overlaps the lower one and is able to lie upon the upper surface of the spirally twisted rail 109. As the upper pocket moves on the surface of the rail 109 its other face is acted upon by the guide 110 and when the upper pocket reaches the position marked C on Fig. 4 it is standing on its edge on the surface of the lower pocket. The spring con trolled arm 111 then causes the upper pocket to overbalance so that its outer surface now becomes the inner surface in contact with the lower pocket. The upper pocket is restrained folder 111 fixed to the bed. This folder is of the usual spiral shape.

The packet is controlled during its movement along the bed plate 107 by means of a guide 115 and a top plate 116.

After leaving the folder 114 the packet passes by a gum wheel 122 running in a gum )ath 123 and this applies a streak of gum to the remaining projecting flap. The gummed packet then passes along between the guidev 115 and another guide 123 and is delivered to a reciprocating table 124 at the bottom of a magazine 125. The table 124 is moved vertically upwards by means of a cam and lever 12?.

Three sides of the magazine are formed by brushes 128 and the fourth side is formed by an electrically heated plate 129. As the pairs of pockets are thrust upwardly into the magazine 125, the gunnned flap of the upper-pocket is bent down by the edge of the heated plate 129 and presses firmly on to the flap of the lower pocket. The pairs of pockets are retained in position in the magazine by means of small ratchet stops (not shown). By the time the pairs of pockets reach the top of the magazine they are securely giunmed together in the manner indicated in Fig. 11 and they may be removed by the operator for further treatment.

\Vhen it is desired to insert in the container of cigarettes a picture, coupon or the like, the picture is delivered to the bed of the machine prior to the cigarettes being inserted into the pocket. The cigarette pictures are preferably fed from a magazine 130 by means of'a suction mechanism 131 preferably constructed in a similar manner to the blank feed described with reference to the pocket forming mechanism, and each picture is received by a pair of travelling

bands

132, 133 and fed downwardly to a curved plate 131 which is adapted to lead the picture beneath the surface of the machine bed 2. A light pawl 135 is rocked by an eccentric 136 and at the correct time the pawl is reciprocated to carry the picture down to the center of the bed. The conveyor 45 then carries the picture along as indicated in Fig. 11 and the picture rises up the incline 136 formed in the bed 2 until it is in contact with the group of cigarettes.

It is to be understood that a packet composed of two pockets may be formed without filling the same with cigarettes, in which case the conveyor 45 would be arranged to con vey formers into the pocket delivered by the magazine 28 and a container composed of two pockets formed about said formers. The formers could thereafter be removed from the packets and the packets filled by hand.

If necessary, the batch of cigarettes and picture may be inserted in foil, prior to the same being inserted into the pocket, the foil being either formed as a strip about the cigarettes or into a U shaped block ended container in the manner described in British Patents Nos. 165,891 and 214,792.

Various methods may be employed in carrying the invention into effect Without departing from the spirit of the present invention, thus for example the cigarettes may be Wrapped-in a strip of material fed vertically across the bed of the machine and thereafter formed into a U shaped block ended pocket open at one end. The mechanism in such case would be preferably constructed according to British Patent No. 165,891. Further, the pocket might be formed by the plunger method described, but the sealing of sides of the pocket performed after the cigarettes had been inserted in the formed but ungummed pocket. in which case the gumming and folding mechanism would be located between the pocket forming mechanism and the stacker 78.

Further, the pockets might be formed and filled upon one machine and secured together in pairs upon a second unit, in which case the pockets would not be automatically transported from one unit to the other.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A machine for packing cigarettes or like articles in a double pocket container of the type referred to which comprises incombination means for enveloping a batch of cigarettes in a U shaped block ended pocket open at one end, means for arranging the ockets in pairs with the open ends thereof located adjacent to one another and means for hinging the open ends of each pair of pockets together to form a closure flap which extends across the open ends of the two pockets when one is folded upon the other.

2. A machine for packing cigarettes or like articles in a double 'ocket container of the type referred to whic comprises in combination means for enveloping a batch of cigarettes in a U shaped block ended pocket open at one end and provided with an extension flap at one broad side thereof, means for arranging the filled pockets in pairs with the open ends thereof located adjacent to one another and the extension fla of one pocket located on the opposite side 0 the same relatively to the other pocket and means for securing the extension flaps together so as to form the hinge between the pair of pockets and constitute a closure flap for the open ends of the pocket when one pocket is folded upon the other.

3. A machine for packing cigarettes or like articles in a double pocket container of the type referred to which comprises-in combination plunger operated means for forming a succession of U sha ed block ended pockets each open at one en and provided with an extension flap at one broad side, means for locating each pocket in the path of a batch tension fiap of one pocket is located on the opposite side thereof relatively to the extension flap of the other pocket, and means for folding the extension flap of one pocket upon the extension flap-of the other and securing the same together so as to form a hinge between the pockets and constitute a closure flap for the open ends of said pockets when one pocket is folded upon the other.

4:. A method of packing cigarettes or like articles which comprises inserting batches of cigarettes in separately formed pockets hav ing free extending flaps at the open ends thereof, arranging the filled pockets in pairs with the faces thereof juxtaposed and with the flaps located outwardly of the pockets, and securing the flaps on each pair of pockets together to form a hinge for the pockets adapted to close the open ends of the pockets when the latter are folded upon each other.

5. A method of packing cigarettes or like articles which comprises inserting batches of cigarettes in separately formed open ended pockets, arranging the pockets in pairs with their faces juxtaposed, and hingedly connectingthe pairs of pockets together to form a flap which serves to close the open ends of the pockets when the latter are folded upon each other.

6. A method of packing cigarettes or like articles which comprises inserting a batch of cigarettes in separately formed U-shap'ed block ended pockets open at one end and provided with an extensionflap at one broad side thereof adjacent the open end, arranging the pockets in pairs with the opposite broad sides juxtaposed, and securing the extension flaps of each pair together to form a hinge between the pockets and to constitute a closure flap extending across the 0 en ends of the pockets when one pocket is olded upon the other.

7. A method of packing cigarettes or like articles which comprises forming U-shaped block ended pockets, each open at one end and provided with an extension flap at one broad side thereof adjacent the open end, inserting a batch of cigarettes in each pocket, arranging the pockets in pairs with the opposite broad sides juxtaposed, and securing the extension flaps of each pair together to form a hinge between the pockets and to constitute a closure'flap extending across the open ends of the pockets when one pocketis folded upon the other.

8. A machine for packing cigarettes or like articles which comprises in combination means for forminga succession of open ended pockets, means for inserting a batch of cigarettes in each pocket, means for arranging the filled pockets in pairs with their open ends located adjacent to one another and means for hinging, the open ends of each pair of pockets together to form a closure flap which extends across the open ends of the two pockets when one is folded upon the other.

9. A machine for packing cigarettes or like articles which comprises in combination means for feeding a series of open ended pockets in succession, means for inserting a batch of cigarettes in each pocket, means for arranging the filled pockets in pairs with their open ends located adjacent to one another and means for hinging the open ends of each pair of pockets together to form a closure flap which extends across the open ends of the two pockets when one is folded upon the other.

10. A machine for packing cigarettes or like articles which comprises in combination means for forming a succession of U shaped block ended pockets each open at one end, means for inserting a batch of cigarettes in each pocket, means for arranging the filled pockets in pairs with their open ends located adjacent to one another, and means for hinging the open ends of each air of pockets together to form a closure ap which extends across the open ends of the pockets when one is folded upon the other.

11. A machine for packing cigarettes or like articles which comprises in combination means for forming a succession of U shaped block ended pockets each open at one end and provided with an extension flap at one broad side thereof, means for inserting a batch of cigarettes in each pocket, means for arranging the filled pockets in pairs with the extension flap of one pocket located on the opposite side of the same relatively to the flap of the other pocket and means for securing the extension flaps of each pair of pockets together to form a hinge between the pockets and to constitute a closure flap for the open ends of the pockets when one pocket is folded upon the other.

12. A machine for packing cigarettes or like articles which comprises in combination means for feeding blanks alternately from two distinct piles of blanks, means for forming the blanks so fed into open ended pocket-s, means for inserting a batch of cigarettes in each pocket, means for arranging the filled pockets in pairs with their open ends located adjacent to one another and means for hinging the open ends of each pair of pockets together by a closure flap which extends across the open ends of the two pockets when one is folded upon the other.

13. In a machine for packing cigarettes or like articles, the combination with means for inserting batches of cigarettes into open ended pockets each having an extension a9 formed on one broad face of the pocket adjacent the open end thereof, of means for feeding said filled pockets in succession with the broad faces on which the extension flap is formed directed downwardly, and means for superposing one of a pair of pockets on the other pocket of the pair with the broad face on which the extension flap is formed directed upwardly whereby the extension flaps of each pocket may be secured together to form a hinge connecting the two pockets and a closure for the open ends thereof when the pockets are folded upon each other.

14. In a machine for packing cigarettes or like articles, the combination with means for inserting batches of cigarettes into open ended pockets each having an extension flap formed on one broad face of the pocket adjacent the open end thereof, of means for feeding said filled pockets in succession with the broad faces on which the extension flap is formed disposed on the same side of each pocket, and means for superposing one of a pair of pockets on the other pocket of the pair in such manner the broad faces of the pockets'on which the end flaps are formed are directed outwardly of the pair of pockets whereby the extension flaps of each pocket may be secured together to form a bin e connecting the two pockets and a closure or the open ends thereof when the pockets are folded upon each other.

15. In a machine for packing cigarettes or like articles, the combination with means for inserting batches of cigarettes into open ended pockets each having an extension flap formed on one broad face of the pocket adjacent the open end thereof, of means for feeding said filled pockets in succession with the broad faces on which the extension fla is formed disposed on the same side of eac pocket. and means for superposing one of a pair of pockets on the other pocket of the air in such manner the broad faces of the poo ets on which the end flaps are formed are directed outwardly of the pair of pockets whereby the extension flaps of each pocket may be secured together to form a hinge connecting the two pockets and a closure for the open ends thereof when the pockets are folded upon each other, said last named means including means for moving the pair of pockets simultaneously, and means through which of the pair of pockets, and means for folding and securing the flaps together across the open ends of the pockets to form a closure therefor when the pockets are folded.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

WALTER EVERETT MOLINS.