US2857720A

US2857720A - Art of packaging

Info

Publication number: US2857720A
Application number: US332022A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernard J Tamarin; Meletti Adolph
Original assignee: PULL PACKAGING Inc
Current assignee: PULL PACKAGING Inc
Priority date: 1946-08-16
Filing date: 1953-01-19
Publication date: 1958-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 1975-10-28

Description

Oct. 28, 1958 B. J. TAMARIN EIAL ART OF PACKAGING 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 16, 1946 INVENTOR- fiermrgkmapn and Adel h MeZetti Oct. 28, 1958 B.'J. TAMARIN ETAL 2,857,720

ART OF PACKAGING OriginaI Filed Aug. 16, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 28, 1958 B. J. TAMARIN ET AL' 2,857,720

ART OF PACKAGING Original Filed Aug. 16, 1946 a Sheets-$11991. 3

aJ/zes d we INVENTOR. BeznarJJ and Ale Melellt? Oct. 28, 1958 Original Filed Aug. 1.6, 1946 B. J. TAMARIN ETAL ART OF PACKAGING 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENTOR. Bertram! J; Tamanc'n h Meletti Oct. 28, 1958 B. J. TAMARIN ETAL ART OF PACKAGING 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 16, 1946 R w m m Benny-J I Ta marlin B. J. TAMARIN ETAL 2,857,720

Oct. 28, 1958 v ART OF PACKAGING Original Filed Aug. 16, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Oct. 28, 1958 B. J. TAMARlN ET AL ART OF PACKAGING 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Aug. 16, 1946 INVENTOR. Penn and J; Tamanin and [@d Me/ettzi Oct. 28, 1958 B. J. TAMARIN EIAL 2,857,720

ART OF PACKAGING Original Filed Aug. is, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet s F: l: 7 7 I. I l I I I I I "I l INVENTOR.

Benna'r-J J: Tamavin 8nd I Meletti United States Patent ass-1,1 0 ART OF PAGKAGING Bernard J. Tamarin; Fleurteyvn; and Adolph Mel'etti,

Philadelphia, Pa., assig'no'rs, by direct and mesneassignnients, to Pull-Packaging, Iiil, a corporation of Pennsyl'vania Original application August 16, 1946, Serial No. 691,130, new Patent No. 2,625,775, dated January 20, 1953; Divided andthis application January 19,1953, Serial No. 332,022

9 Claims. (Cl. 53-14) A Our invention isa method of and apparatus for incorporating a pullin apackag'e for facilitating the opening thereof and preferably for initiating the ejection of an article enclosed'therein, and our invention is particularly adapted for the production of a cigarette package inventedby Bernard Tamarinrandof the type illustrated in his Patent No. 2,415,117. This application is a division of application Serial Number 691,130, filed'Augus't 16, 1946', now Patent Number 2,625,775.

In accordance with our invention, a pull, such as a strip of tape, is overlaid by a wrapper and the wrapper is formed into a container for a group of articles, such as rows of cigarettes. The pullis' preferably attached to one or more articles of the group or to the Wrapper or to both wrapper and article, and portions of the Wrapper may be bent to form an. end closure having a member around which a pull section is. so looped that a pull thereon unfolds such member to expose an end of one or more of the enclosed articles. 7

Preferably the pull is anchored to at'least oneof the exposed articles so. that a continued pull on the pull after the opening of the closure member causes the attached article to rise until the point of attachment of the pull to the article clears the wrapper, whereupon the pull is stripped from the article and the latter is left projecting from but positioned by the remaining articles of. the group encased in.the Wrapper.

The wrapper and pull are preferably fed to a suitable support for positioning them relatively to one another during the overlaying of the pull' by the Wrapper and the formation of a container from the Wrapper around the pull and during the insertion of a group of' articles into such container.

Preferably each pull is. cut from a strip of multi-ply cellophane tape which is longitudinally creased to impart thereto a tendency to asumea' channeled cross section which stifIens the tape longitudinally to facilitate its rectilineal movement transversely to "thepath of'a' strip' of sheet material from which a' wrapper may be cut substantially concurrently With the severanceof a-pull'froni the tape strip; The; creased and channeled'cross section of the pull further facilitates the attachment thereof to one of the articles enclosed in the container; such attachment preferably being effected after the ejection of the container and its contents from the support'on'which the container is formed.

Each Wrapper is preferably pre-slit along'converging lines diagonal to one edge. The portion ofthe wrapper containing diagonal slits'forms acontaiuermargin' pro viding tuck and fold extensionsp'rojecting beyond the ends of the articles housed intheicontainenand' such marginal portion-is tucked andfoldeddown transversely to the body of the container-to forman end closurein eluding a member about-which an outer portion of the pull is looped; to which the pull is preferably attached,- and from which the terminus of the pull projects laterally. Preferably theend closure member about which the pull is looped consists of a tuck, which is partly 2,857,720 Patented Oct. 28, 1958 2'. overlaid by minor sectionsofsuch' folds which are sev" ered from; the major sections of suchqfolds by the'di agonal-slitsinthe mar-ginal portionto f-aeilitate the'suh sequent; unfolding of the minorfold sections" by rise 6f thetuck; covered thereby when it islifted' by a pull orf the pull looped thereotn- The major sections of the folds are secured by a stamp or the like adhesivelyat tached to the front and-back Walls-having anedge slightly over-lapping thediagonaledg'es of theminor fold sections toyieldingly-hold such minor fold sections in c'losed pos'r tions.-

At any stage in the proceedings, and preferably at-ari earlystage, the end of the container remote fromthe-pult terminus may be closed in any desired manner; and thecontainer formedby the wrapper may besheathed iiia; label jacket. After both ends: of the container closed;- it may be; enveloped in a cellophane covering of the'like'to' provide apackage similar general appeaf ance-to-standard cigarette packages;

When our; invention is utilized in connection withithe packagingzof; cigarettes or analogous articles, the'pulh is preferablyattached at a-point alongthe middle portion of acigarette which is spaced from the'wrap'perby a d= joiningcigarettes-so that the innerportionio'fathdpull lies in a channelbetween the cigarette to Which the.pull=is' attached; and the wrapper; such channel preferably bein'g' bounded laterally by end cigarettes of rows on opposite sides of the cigarette towhich the pull is attached" when the cigarettes-are arrangedin rows 76 7'. However; the pull may b e attac-hed-to an endcig'aretteofl a-side rovti and lie in achannel-between sueh cigarette and" a comet of the'p'ackage-When' thecigarettes are arrangedin rows 776; 7 r J V The pull is preferably attached to the cigaie'tte by means of an adhesiveapplied thereto'bfore the group has been fully housed Within the. wrapper. We have found it advantageous to apply the adhesive-to" airend cigarette after the g roup has been assembled andprefeliably after it has been partly inserted withinthe con tainer formed-by. the wrappenandtothe r completethe insertion of thecigarette group into the'containerwhile the-pull stripis out of contact with the 'adhesively coated cigarette and 1 thereafter to press the:pull= strip j into coii tact; with the-adhesively coated section" of the cigarette! While our method is capable of practice manually,-i t is particularly applicable to providing-pullsforpackages during, their manufacture on standard-types of-= cigarette packaging maehineshavingia turret foffo'rmitrgssequeir tial containers andrnech'anism 'for g'ro'upingiand compact? ingcigarettesand fillingt'the respective containers ther= with= immediately after completion of the containers? Our invention embraces apparatushereinaften described whereby 'thesteps of our methods "may be rapidlys'ca'rrie'd out during theformationand" loading: of a containef to produce asealed package having a pull for opening it and: initiating: the ejectionof its contents? The principles and characteristic features of our infvention, and the manner of practicing our method and of making; constructingand-usingi.iour' apparat1-is'-will further appear from the accompanying drawings' aifd the following description explaining 'the bestrno'des in''whicl 'i weha ve :c'onte'rnplated applying such principles.

In the dr awiiigg Figll is a' erspective on 16Wsu'pport or former forthiing a part of our inve an'd ada'pted to" facilitate the assembly 'of i the" p elements,- viz), container constituents antl' conte the preferred practic'e of'our" method and'in" th 1) ferred" embodiment'ofour paratus;'Figt 2'i1 fr'a' diagrammatically thein'itial positioning of apart wrapper relatively t'o'one anothen and pitiferably-gela tively tothe' tanner shown in Fig. l, in the practice; Of

our method after the pull and wrapper have been severed from the respective strips of which they initially form parts; Fig. 3 illustrates diagrammatically a later step in our method by which the wrapper is wrapped on the former and the pull is bent thereby; the remote end of the wrapper being tucked and folded to form a closure; Fig. 4 illustrates diagrammatically the application of adhesive to a side of the soft shell formed from the wrapper, the point of application being adjacent to the bent end of the pull; Fig. 5 illustrates diagrammatically the positioning of a label blank relative to the shell, pull and former; Fig. 6 illustrates diagrammatically the further bending of the pull strip and the tacking thereof to an end tuck extension of the shell after the label blank has been wrapped around the shell to provide a double walled pouch; the free end of the pull overlying the jacket formed from the label; Fig. 7 illustrates the position of the former, shell, pull and jacket just before the introduction of the bundle or load to be housed in the package; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic part sectional view illustrating the insertion of a bundle of cigarettes into the hollow former with the pouch thereon; the cigarettes projecting outward partway beyond the open end of the shell; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 and illustrating diagrammatically the application of an adhesive to a cigarette of the bundle intermediate the length of such cigarette; Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view further illustrating the application of the adhesive to the cigarette so that such adhesive is spaced from the inner wall of the former; Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the completion of the insertion of a bundle of cigarettes through the former and into the pouch and the partial removal of the bundle and pouch from the former; Fig. 12 a diagrammatic fragmentary sectional view illustrating the tucking and folding of the open end of the shell after the bundle of cigarettes has been pushed home and the positioning of a new wrapper with respect to the former; Fig. 14 is a side elevation, partly broken away, illustrating the pouch after one fold has been bent over the end tucks and pull; Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic transverse sectional view illustrating the tacking of the pull to the adhesive spot previously applied to a cigarette; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a completed package with parts broken away to show the adhesion of the pull to a cigarette; Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the cutting of a strip of sheet material to form a wrapper suitable for use in our method; Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic top plan view, with parts broken away, of a standard type of cigarette packaging machine having applied thereto our novel apparatus for the practice of our method; Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic rear elevation, partly in section, of the principal parts of the apparatus shown in Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is a front elevation of driving apparatus through which certain of the parts of the standard packaging machine and certain parts of our apparatus may be operated in timed relation; Fig. 21 is a detached perspective view showing the folding of a wrapper around a former and a pull thereon; Fig. 22 is a detached perspective view showing the end of the pull bent at right angles to the wrapper; Fig. 23 is a part sectional elevation of pull and wrapper feeding mechanism and taken approximately on the line 2323 of Fig. 18; Fig. 24 is an elevation of a pull strip feeder taken on the line 2424 of Fig. 23; Fig. 25 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pull strip creasing device looking in the general direction of line 25-25 of Fig. 23; Fig. 26 is an elevation of an adhesive applicator and taken approximately on the lines 26-26 of Fig. 19; Fig. 27 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing parts of the adhesive applicator of Fig. 26 in their relation to the former and a shell thereon; Fig. 28 is an elevation of mechanism for bending the pull against an adhesive spot on the shell and looking in the general direction indicated by line 28-28 of Fig. 19; Fig. 29 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a second adhesive applicator looking in the general direction indicated by the line 29-49 of Fig. 18; Fig. 30 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, taken approximately on the line 3030 of Fig. 18, showing the mechanism for maintaining contact between the pull and a cigarette in a package until the tacking of the pull to the cigarette is complete; Fig. 31 is a detached longitudinal sectional view illustrating the ejection of a cigarette bundle from a compressor into a former; Fig. 32 is a perspective view of a detached package before the folding of the end extension thereof; Fig. 33 is a perspective view of a filled pouch With its end tucked and partly folded; Fig. 34 is a perspective view of a completed package, minus a stamp; and Fig. 35 is a perspective view of a completed and stamped package with parts broken away to show the tacking of the pull to a cigarette.

In packaging cigarettes, for example, in accordance with our invention, we preferably form an inner shell of the package from a rectangular wrapper 1 having spaced slits 2 and 3 extending diagonally inward from an edge of the wrapper and converging toward one another. Such wrappers may consist of any desired type of sheet material but are preferably made from strips of laminated paper and metal foil.

In making a wrapper, a laminated strip is preferably cut to form the slit 3 before the severance of the wrapper from the strip, and the strip is then cut to simultaneously form the slit 2 and sever the wrapper from the strip.

The slitting and severance of a wrapper may be performed in any desired manner but is conveniently effected, as shown in Fig. 17, by feeding a laminated strip 4 in the path of a cutter 5 having short diagonal end blades 6 and 7 and an intermediate long blade 8. When the laminated strip and cutter are brought into cutting relationship, the blade 6 cuts a diagonal slit 3 in an unsevered section of the strip 4; the blade 8 severs a section from the strip 4 to form a wrapper 1, and simultaneously with such severance the blade 7 cuts a slit 2 in the wrapper 1 being severed; such Wrapper 1 already containing a slit 3 cut during the severance of a preceding wrapper.

In the practice of our method, we preferably utilize a hollow support or former 9, one end of which is seated in a hollow block or bracket 10 forming a peripheral rim about one end of the former 9. The rim 10 has a beveled nose 11 which extends over one of the narrower faces 9a of the former 9 and contains a slot 12 extending longitudinally of the former and having a bottom inclined downwardly toward the surface of the face 9a. The inner end of the inclined bottom of the slot 12 is separated from the surface of the face 9 by a short step 13. The rim 10 and former 9 contain a through aperture 14 having its mouth in the bottom of the groove 12 adjacent to the step 13.

In the preferred practice of our invention, a strip of longitudinally creased pull tape 15 is projected through the slot 12 and over the surface 9a at or about the time a wrapper 1 is positioned in the path of movement of the front or leading surface of the former 9, as shown in Fig. 2. The free end of the projected tape rests on the surface 9a near the end thereof opposite to the step 13 and the section of tape adjacent to the top of the step 13 is spaced from the surface 9a a distance substantially equal to the height of the step 13. The tape is then severed adjacent to the mouth of the former to leave a pull 15' resting in the channel 12 and on the surface 90.

The Wrapper 1, with the slit 2 above the level of the surface 9a, is bent circumferentially around the former 9, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the slits 2 and 3 are in substantial alignment on opposite sides of the former 9. One edge of the wrapper 1 is adjacent to the bottom of the step 13, and when the wrapper 1 is drawn tightly against the surface 9a, the projecting end 15a of the pull 15' is bent by the step 13 at right angles to the sur- '5 face 9a and to the tape section resting thereon, thereby uncovering themouth ofthe aperture 14'; i

The juxtaposed transverse edges of'the wrapperl" may beadhesively connected to form a seam lfi'andtheportionof the Wrapper 1 projecting beyond the end of the former 9may be tucked and'folded-in any'usual man her to form. a bottom. closure for the soft shell thus formed from the wrapper 1".

A tacky adhesive is applied by' any. suitable means, such as, an applicator 17, as shown in Fig. 4, tothe side surface of'the soft shell in alignment'with the bent end 15211 of. the pull 15 and preferably onthe endextension of the shell from which. the. top closure willbe formed;

If it is desired that the shell be sheathed in a'printed jacket, a second wrapper. or label I8, of somewhat less width than the wrapper 1,'is applied to the shell onthe former 9, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the inner edge of the label 18' leaves exposed the adhesive drop applied by the; applicator 17. When the label or wrapper" 18 has been bent circumferentially around the shellltoform a jacket, theprojecting pull strip section 15'ais folded'down against the end extension of the shell and against the jacket by any suitablemeans such. as, afolde'r' 19, and the folded-end 15a.of 'thepull is lightly tacked in place by the spot of adhesive previously applied by the applicator 17.

Theouter end of the label, or Wrapper 18 may be tuckedin any usual manner, asfor instance by tuckers' 20, and the flaps between the tucks then folded and secured together; By combiningthe shell and jacket there. is provided a double walled pouch havingfa pull extending along the inner surface of the shell and overlying. and tacked to the outer surface" of the. shell, as shown in vFig. 7.

A bundle of cigarettes 31 is inserted in the open, flared mouth of the. former 9 with the pouch thereon, the bundle preferably being preformed and.composed of. twoouter r'owsl31a and 3111, each containing an odd number of cigarettes, and an intermediate row 31c containingan even number of cigarettes. The end cigarette 310. of they intermediate row 31c forms thebottom of a shallow channel lying between the end cigarettes of the. outer rows 31'aand 31b.

A.spot.32 of adhesive is applied intermediate the ends of the end cigarette 31c before the bundle of..cigarettes is. fully seated in the soft shell or pouch formed by the wrapper 1, but preferably after a. group of cigarettes have been assembled'in a bundle. p

This adhesive spot 32 is preferably applied to the cigarette at a point along its length such that when the cigarette is shifted lengthwise to bring its spot adjustment to the fold line between the pouch and its tuck, one end of the cigarette will project-frornthe pouch suffi ciently to be easily grasped, whereas the other end of the cigarette willibe so far down withinthe-pouchas to firmly position the cigarette. On acigaretteofordi: nary length, the spot is preferably on-theintermediate halfof the length of the cigarette, that-is ata point not less than one-fourth its length from either end, and an advantageous positionis apoint spaced from its outer end approximately two-fifths the length of the cigarette.

The spot of adhesive 32 may be conveniently applied to thetcigarette 31c at-the desired p'ointby insertingzthe adhesively coated end of anapplicator- 33 (Figs. 9 and through the aperture 14 in the former 9 when the outer end of the cigarette bundle is aligned with the outer edge of the mouth of the former.

The cigarette 310 is positioned' by engagement inthe grooves between the two upper cigarettes of the respective rows 31a and 31b (Figs. 10 and and its peripheral surface is thereby held in spaced relation from the inner face of the former member 9a (Fig. 10).. Hence the bundled cigarettes may be pushed as a group through theformer 9 without contact of the adhesive spot 32- asamze with the inner face of the former or with the inner face of'the pouch-when the latter is detaelie'd ffoh he-reenter.-

The application of pressure to the enter end-lot the cigarette bundle willforce the cigarettes through the former 9 so as to first seat the inner ends offthe' ig; arettes' against the bottom of the pouch and then dis-' charge the pouch, with the cigarettes therein; from the for'mer'9, asshown'in-Fi'gs. 11and l2.

This longitudinal'movernent of the pouch'slides thepull 15' along the former member 9a'witlioutlongitudinally crumpling the pull; Theportion ofthe' pull lying within the ejected pouch tends to resume its channel-like: cross section and drop into the channel'formed by'the-ciga'rettes 31a and the end cigarettes'of the rows-31aand 3177 on either side thereof.

After the filled pouch'has'beenejectedfrom thefornier. 9, the projecting end sections In andl b thereof (Fig. 1 1) are tucked manually or :by'conventional. tuckers 35,. as shown in Fig. 12.; The tucking of the sectionv 121', to whichis attached the exterior section 15:: of the pull; preferably'b'rings this section 15a into the efle'ctivefizone" of an electric eye 36a in a circuit'preventing the subse: quent operation of a'conventional'throw-out' mechanism or alarm, andwhich are'actuated in the absence or displacement of the pull section 1521.

When the extensions 1a.and.1b have been tucked,.the side extensions 10 and 121 (Fig. l4)"are folded'over the tucksand over a portion" of the pull section overlying" the tuck section 122 and securedbya stamp 37.

It is preferablethat the sections, 12z.a'nd 1b be tucked before the sections 10 and ldare folded, as shown in Figs. 12 to 16, but it will be understooditha'tthe top extensions may be firstfolded'aridithentucked'inthe same manner as the bottom extensions, as shown in Figs. 3'an d 4, or the top may he closed by first tucking'one eaten.- sion, then formingone fold; then tucking another se tion; and thenfo'rming a second fold, orbyoihe'r'conibinae tions of tucks and folds, butvn'one of'such closures are as effective as having the tuck sectionlkz. evenaiaaby, a pair of'folds. I

To insureadhesionofthe.pull;to the cigarette 16' by the adhesive spot. 32, the edge, of. the. pouch may be bulged, inward, as for. instanceby a pressurevfinger. 36; so. as to. press the;pull,15' firmly-into contact,withfthe adhesive spot and holdit thereuntil such'spothas.solidi-- fied, as .shown in Figs. 15 and 16. Thepackage-istlien further sealed, by pasting a stampi37jl overl thefoldsectionslc. and 1dso as.to overlie, the now intersecting cuts '2 and 3 therein.

To open the package andejectta cigarette, it is only necessary to pull on the pull section;1.5 a. laterally. ofthe package. The pull on the pulldraws thertucked section 1a upward and outward and crumples it, thereby displacing the fold sections 10' and 1d! from beneaththe stamp; 37, and drawingthe cigarette 31c upward. As soon as the rise ofthe cigarette 31c moyestthe spot 32 above the crumpled tucksection la', the; lateral stress on the pull .15 strips itvfrom the cigarette 31c by-a splitting action without defacing the cigarette, which is left pro jecting: ;part way from the package but-withitsremainder held'byits engagement between the. cigarettes of. the end rows and prevented thereby from dropping;

The steps of our. rnethodmay; be=manually-performed but may be: more .rapidlyand eflieiently performedlby standing of the positioning and coaction of our apparatus relative thereto, but it will be understood that in the formation of a complete package various conventlonal steps and operations are involved that are not Illustrated in detail herein because they are well known and constitute no part of our invention.

In the drawings, and particularly in Figs. 18 and 19, there is illustrated a conventional intermittently rotatable turret or rotor carried by a shaft 41 mounted in a usual frame. The turret is provided with a disk shaped section 42 on which are mounted a series of our improved, equidistantly spaced brackets 10, such as shown in Fig. 1, which provides seats for the flaring mouths of the hollow formers or supports 9, which are of substantially the same shape and cross section as the package to be formed. These formers 9 may be made of thin sheet metal and are preferably twelve in number.

The turret 40 is turned intermittently in the usual manner to bring the respective formers 9 step by step into cooperative relation to various mechanisms at or between a series of stops or stations corresponding in position to the numerals on the dial of a clock when the turret is viewed from the front, and for convenience these stations may be designated by the I to XII oclock positions to which they correspond.

The proper timing of the step by step or intermittent movement of the turret 40 may be accomplished by any suitable indexing device (not shown), forming no par-t of our invention. The indexing device may be operated by power applied in the usual manner from a drive shaft 43 (Fig. 20) connected by beveled gears with a main shaft 44 which has fixed thereto a spur gear 45 meshing with a gear 46 on the shaft 47. The shaft 47 has fixed thereto a gear 48 meshing with a gear 49 on the shaft 50. A beveled gear 51 on the shaft meshes with a I beveled gear 52 on the shaft 53 connected with the indexing mechanism (not shown) for rotating the turret.

Sheet material, such as paper, tinfoil or laminated paper and tinfoil T is fed from a supply roll (not shown) over the roller 54 (Fig. 19) and between the guide rollers 55 and 56. The roller 54 is loosely journalled on a shaft 57 journalled in a bracket of the packer frame in the usual manner. The shaft 57 has fixed thereto a pair of sprocket wheels, one of which is driven, through the chain 58 and suitable intermediate mechanism, from the chain 58' (Figs. 19, 20) meshing with a sprocket 59 on the drive shaft 43. The other sprocket wheel is connected through a sprocket chain 60 with a sprocket wheel 61 fixed on the shaft of the feed roller 55 in the usual manner.

The rollers 55 and 56 are mounted in a pair of frames 1 62 vertically oscillatable about the axis of the shaft 57 as a center. The oscillation of the frames 62 and the rotation of the rollers 55, 56 and 54 feeds the strip T step by step past the triple bladed cutter mechanism 5 (Figs. 17 and 23), which, in accordance with our invention, is mounted on the bracket 63 (Fig. 19) in place of the usual single bladed cutter mechanism of conventional packers. This triple bladed cutter mechanism is operable in timed relation to the feed of the wrapper strip T and to the rotation of the turret 40 by the actuating mechanism customarily used to operate the conventional single bladed cutter mechanism.

In accordance with our invention, a tape layer 64 (Figs. 18, 23) is mounted in alignment with station XII on the housing (not shown) which normally overlies the rearwardly extending portion of the turret 40.

The tape feeder 64 (Figs. 23, 24, 25) preferably comprises a folder 65; a pair of peripherally contacting feed rollers 66 and 67 for intermittently advancing the pull tape 15; and a cutter 68 for cutting from the tape 15 a length sufficient for a pull 15' after delivery to a support or former 9 at position XII. V

The folder 65 consists 'of a plate containing a narrow slot 65 through which the tapelS is led to creaseit longitudinally and impart thereto a tendency to assume a channel shape or V-cross section imparting greater longi' tudinal rigidity to the tape.

The feed wheel 66 is fixed to a shaft 66a which is journalled in the frame 69 and has a bevel gear 70 and a gear 71 fixed to the ends thereof. The feed wheel 67 is fixed on a shaft 72 provided with a knurled knob 74 and a gear wheel 75; this shaft being journalled in a slide 76 which is vertically movable on slideways 77 of the frame 69. The slide 76 is normally biased downwardly by springs 78 and a follower 79 which is adjustable by a screw having a knurled knob 80 to regulate the traction between the peripheries of the feed wheels 66 and 67.

The gears 71 and 75 mesh with one another to effect their simultaneous rotation, and may be manually positioned by the knurled knob 74 to regulate their initial position relative to the tape 15 when the knurled knob 80 has been unscrewed to diminish the traction between the wheels 66 and 67. The length of the tape fed per revolution of the wheels 66 and 67 may be varied by the use of feed wheels of different diameters.

The feed wheels 66 and 67 are mechanically driven through the beveled gear 70 by means of a beveled gear 81 fixed on a shaft 82 (Figs. 23, 24) journalled in bearings 83 of a frame bracket. The shaft 82 has fixed thereon a spur gear 84 meshing with a gear 85 fixed on the shaft 86. The shaft 86 is rotated step by step in timed relation with the wrapper feeder and turret 40 through any suitable step by step mechanism, such as a Geneva movement or mutilated gear (not shown) so as to rotate the feed wheels 66 and 67 in desired timed relation to the movements of the turret 40, so that a tape strip 15' is laid on each former 9 in position XII during or immediately following the ejection of a filled package from the former and before the folding of a new wrapper 1 on the former.

The Geneva movement, mutilated gear or other suitable step by step mechanism may be driven through any suitable means such as gearing 87, 88, from a source of continuous rotary power, such as the shaft 57 actuated from the main shaft 43.

As soon as a suitable section of the tape 15 has been laid upon the former 9, the cutter 68 is rocked by power applied through the link 68' from any suitable source, such for instance as the link 97 hereinafter described.

In conventional cigarette packaging machines there may be provided a transfer plunger carried by the turret in complementary relation to each former 9, or a series of plungers may be mounted on the turret housing and reciprocated in the various formers 9 as they are moved into alignment with the several plungers. Our improvements are adapted for use without change with either plunger arrangement, and, as an example only, we have illustrated our improvements in conjunction with the former type of plunger arrangement wherein each plunger is reciprocable in a complementary former 9 to a limited degree during a major portion of the turrets rotation by a cam mounted on the turret housing and is reciprocable to a greater degree at position XII by a supplementary plunger carried by the housing and reciprocable by an oscillating lever having a timed relation to the turrets rotation.

In accordance with our invention (Figs. l8, 19, 23), there is substituted for each usual transfer plunger complementary to a former 9, a pusher or head 90 having a cam operated shaft 91 offset from the center thereof so as to lie below the feeder 64 so that the modified plunger 9091 may be reciprocated by the usual cam and lever mechanisms without interference by or with the tape feeder 64.

As above noted, the rim or bracket 10 of each former 9 is provided with a groove or channel 12 for positioning the pull 15 cut from the tape, with a step 13 for bending the pull at right angles when a wrapper 1 is folded on the former 9, and with an aperture 14 adjacent to the step 13 for -the insertion of an adhesive applicator. To assist 9t he W 11D heroo in-pps tiening the. nul 15'. a $Rl u ;d92" y; e meunt' 'don the packer: n pesit nfo n age e by the pper" surfae'eof the rim. during the. initialimovement"'thereofffom XII e k' p i n t dl'ee be pos o -(Fi s- 1f9; 2.3

he r ppe 1 c omn h s ip: fb'y the cutter and'p o id dw e Ot 2 and' ;,a previou y; de- S!ib d i held a a t he ead n r a' ftro t side are QUB?! 9 at XII" pos tion i t sw r n Wr ped" emnf i l 'yr about uch f rme y e tlsualw a pin' a s a h ermer oves f om stat on II teete i t In accordance wi h' u inv n n, this wrappingof t e wrap e 1' a qu dth' far e T(F"i'gs- 'lraindz'z) sttds l P .1S .l P;- 5' a ainst he t p 13 nda r h angles to the face 9a ofthe formergthere'by clearing the channel 12 and uneoveringth'e aperturetl ll' When t e e em ty. .5a Q i e pull ha been: thus' b nt" t htan e the adhesive tip d, =a 1ieator. 17' may be brought into-action-at any suitable location, as fo nsta e a the ta i n L T e ppli a e flrod 17 y be neunted' n a he st a 3 (F s 21') andiy'i ldina y. pr n gb ase y an adius te pr n -Mtherein. The en i flfi mo ted n arm .i is i ot d on bearings 96: (Fig 18)i n the frameof'the packer'and biased bya spring 95'i Thearrnj95is' oscillated, through} a pivoted'flexible link 97 byJa cam 98"fixed ongthe main: S annaig 18:19; 20, 126;and27); I

The lever95iihas a c am.n os e 99.,'(Fi' gs. 19', 26j)'for e a in an a 0 f e l ra k. fn ei "en" a bearing 1 01; the bell 'crank including an arm102,. in which' is journalled a wheel 103having;a"beveledj edg'ei The bearing a 101 is supported, by a.. bracket 1 104j"o i anadhesive fountain 105, and the bell crank arirn102ji's biasedflagainst thelaction of'thjecam 98 ,by a spring 106 anchored on the bracket 104; I

Thefo'untain 105jcontains a bevelled 'edge:whfeeli1 07 which rotates in and projects abovean ladhesive pool in the fountain; lf 'desired, the wheel107 may be cojntinu ously rotated by a motor 108.

The cam 98 is so shaped that during theportion'ofthe rotation oi the shaft 44',' which,eifects aj step'movement of the 'turr'et 40;'the spring 95," is permittedtobias; down. ward the rear endjof the lever95and"elvatethe forward-end of this, lever so as to lifttheappliator stem 17 "out of the path of any movingfo'rmer 9.f Inthis posi; tion, the bellqcrank100+102is,turned on its'axis 101 so as to bring the bevelediedge of the adh'esively coated wheel 10'3finto contact with the end offthe applicator stem 17 and coat it with adhesive.

When -a former 9,. with a wrappertl folded; thereon, comes to rest at the station 1; the cam 98 elevates .the link 97 to rockthe lever 95"so as to ,movc'the-"stem'.17 downwardly-to deposita spot of adhesive on the outer. face-of' the wrapper section adjacent to the upturnedpull section 151i. The downward'movernent of the nose'99i of the lever 95 permits the spring 106to retract'the'wheel' 103- from the path of the stem 17, andibringjthe periphery, ofthe wheel 103 into contact with; the adhesively coated periphery of the rotating -wheel"107i v Di'iring theprogress-of'atormer 9 from station Ito station'V; the wrapper -1 thereonis tucked andfdlded andsheathed in a la'beljjacket"in-the usual rnanner the timethe former 9 -arrives;at-station VI; the wrapping;

- tucking-and foldingof 'the inner-wrapper or'shell' and ofthe :jacket have been completed and consequently the" pull-extension a m a-y nowi be" further =bent--soasito' overlie the'edge Qf thelabeljacket and be securedin' position by the adhesive spot=-previ0us1y applied to the shell by the applicator 17.

This bending 'or folding ofthepull extensiorr-15zi at station V I may beeffe'ctedby mounting the foldihgfinger 19 on theend of a bent lever109"fulcrumed*on a frame bearing 110 and connected through an adjtistable; yielding; link 'lllwith an arm 112 fir'red'to th'e-conventionaloscil f 10 lating lever 340 for. reciprocating thesupplernentary phinger for operating}, eachj transfer-plunger at. stat XII abo've' referred .to viz, the part 340 '1 of "Patent No; 9 ;12j6;192.' The arm 12"is" fiXedto'the1ever 340 adja eiit' to the'ax'isiof oscillation th'ereofif. The'link IIIcOniprisesi telescoped members having limitedilongitudinalmove merit relative" to one another'and normallyi biased" to their outward positions bya coiledjspring, Hence when the lever 3 l0is .rocked"to thefulllin'evposition shown in Fig. 28" to advance aphi'nger 9(lat station XII'tothe" position shown in Fig." 23; it rocks-the member 1'12Zand thrust is transmitted through the springl'of the linkilll to thelever 109 tornove the folder '19'Jyieldi'ngly against and"f'old"a pull extension 1521 of'a' p o'uch ona former 9 at station VL Duringtrar'rsit ofa pouch fror'n'station I to station VI the adhesive, applied "by the applicator 1Tbecomes more tacky so that 'whenthe pull extension 15ais folded at stationVL; it immediately adherest'o thf adhesive-spot on the shell. I

ln'pa'ssing fr'omjstation Vl'toward' station IX, the pouch issubjected to the'action of aiheater (not shown) to drj the adhesives. sealingits seams and'end's and attaching'; the end 1521 of the pull to the shell.

Upon the arrival of each former 9at station IX, there'- isibrought into. registration therewith on'e'of. a series of. pockets 115 (Figs. .18, 19,31) each containing alcorn pacted bundleiof cigarettes SIfarrangedJin three rows; preferably containing: respectively. 7'6'17" cigarettes- The pockets 1'15' are carrie'dflon thearm of a convenl-i tional rotary compactingimechanism 116;

When a pocket 11'5"is brought into1registration with the .mouth"of'a former-9;,the' transfer plunger 90 cornplernentaryto the latter is' operated in the usual manner by 'carn on theturret housing; (not shown').' to push the bundle of; cigarettes 31 out of 'the'compactor. pocketf'llsl into the former 9" so1that the outerends of "the'cigarette's? are fl'ti'sh' with the .7 edge of the mouth of the former 9 and rim 10.'(see Figs. 18, 19., and 31); The plunger 90" is' then retracted by the cam (not shown) to permitrelatiye movements of the turret 40 and 'cornpactor-116'. t

After the bundle ofi'cigarettes' 31has been-inserted in. a pouch, an adhesive"applicator"33is 'insert'ed in the aper ture 14-" throughthe rim 10 and"former' 9" to. apply "a' spot of ;adhesive' -32"to an 'end'cigarette oftthe middle row-of the-bundle.- Pieferablytheinsertion in the appli cator-takes place "when theformer' 9 stops at' station The applicator 33, and the mounting i and"op er-ation' thereof;-are similar-to the applicator 17 andthe'mount'- ing and operation-thereof; that istoisay; the headed stern 33-(Fig.; 29) is-reciprocably rnoi1nted-in a 'housingz9 3iz and yieldingly spring biased'by an adjustable spring 94}; therein: The housing -93 a-is mounted in an"arrn-95iii, which ispivoted" on-hearings-96ft in'thefrarn of the packer" andbiascd b'y"a= spring* 952'1 mounted" on the packer-frame: The arm 95z'iis'rocked'through apivoted, flexible link' 97a 'by' a" cam 98w 'fixed" to the main shaft? 44 '(Figs.-19; 20"and29); The-lever 95a ha's 'acarn-nose 99a-forengaging-the arm 10041 ofa =bett crank lever fulcrumed on the bearing'ltlla'and having warm-102d inwhich -isjournalleda wheel- 103a-having a' beveled edge. The bearing-101d is supported by a bracket 1040 of air adhesive -fountain --a,- andthe bell crank arm 102a isb'iasedbya spring {'106a anchorecl onthe'bracket 104d? The -fountain 105d contains a'beveled wheel lo i ir which rotates in and projectsabove an adhesive-poolin the fountain. If-dsir'edith wheel-107d may be' -continuou-sly rotated bya motor similar to the =motor' 168 1' The cam 98:: is-so shaped-thatduringthe portion of the rotatio'nof 'th'e shaft "44 which effe'cts a step'ni'ovement of th -turret,-- thespring 95a.- is permitted i to bias dawn-- wa'rd'the'rear 'end of the lever 95a (Fig. 29 ,"thereb y' ele vating 'th "forward-end of the lever "95h so "as to lift the applicator stern 33' out of the path of any movingfo rmer' 9.1 Inthis'position ofq'the lever asamnig. 19)" the-bell crank 10021, 10251' is 'tu'rn'edion' itSax'i 1012i soias" tow 11 bring the beveled edge of the adhesively coated wheel 103a into contact with the end of the applicator stem 33 and coat it with adhesive. When a former 9 containing a bundle of cigarettes 31 comes to rest at, for instance, the station XI, the cam 98a acts through the link 97a to rock the rear end of the lever 95a upward so as to move the spring biased stem 33 downwardly through the aperture 14 in the rim and former 9 to deposit a spot of adhesive 32 on the end cigarette 310 of the middle row 310 of the bundle (Figs. 9, 10, 29). V

The aperture 14 is preferably positioned at a distance of about 1 /8 inches from the mouth of the former 9 so that the spot of adhesive 32 is applied to the middle half of 'the length of the cigarette.

The downward movement of the nose 99a of the lever 95a, toward the position shown in full lines in Fig. 29, permits the spring 1061: to retract the wheel 103a from the path of the stem 33 and bring the periphery of the Wheel into contact with the adhesively coated periphery of the wheel 107a to renew the supply of adhesive on the wheel 103a. When the pin 33 is again rocked away from the former 9, to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 29, the nose 99a of the lever 95:: engages and rocks the bell crank arm 100a so as to move the periphery of the wheel 1031: into engagement with the end of the stem 33 and renew the supply of adhesive thereon.

When a filled former 9 has been moved from position XI to position XII, its plunger 90 is given an extreme forward movement through the lever 340 to complete the insertion of the bundled cigarettes into the former and against the bottom of the pouch and to eject the cigarettes and pouch from the former 9, as shown in Fig. 23. This movement transfers the filled pouch into the entrance of the delivery guideway 120 and into position for the usual tucking and folding of its sections 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d. The stripped former 9 is thus prepared for the laying of a new pull strip and the positioning and cutting of a new wrapper 1 for a new cycle of operations.

The ejected package in the guideway 120 is moved along the guideway by the pressure of a follower 121. Such lateral pressure on the face of the packages tends to bulge upward the narrow upper side of the package. To reverse this outward bulging of the upper side of the package and to press the pull 15 running along the inner face of such side against the adhesive spot 32 applied by the applicator 33, we mount a series of fingers 36 on a plate 123 which is connected, through pivoted

links

124 and 125 and spring 126, with an oscillating arm 62 of the paper feed mechanism. Consequently each paper feeding movement of the arm 62 imparts a yielding pressure to a group of the finished packages on the guideway 120 without interfering with the movement of the packages to provide room for the ejection of a new package. Such repeated yielding pressure insures the adhesion of the pull 15 to the spot 32 whose tackiness increases during its transit from the applicator 33 to the fingers 36.

From the foregoing it will be understood that during or immediately upon the completion of the ejection of a filled pouch from a given former 9 at position XII (Fig. 23), the shaft 82 is rotated to impart rotation to the feed wheels 66 and 67 which feed a predetermined length of laminated tape, which has been creased by the folder 65, through the slot 12 and onto the top 9a of the former 9, which has just been emptied.

As soon as a length of tape suflicient to form a pull 15' has been laid, it is severed by the operation of the cutter 68 by the cam 93 and intermediate linkage. Substantially simultaneously with the laying of the tape, the arms 62 and the rollers 55 and 56 advance a strip of sheet material T from which a new wrapper 1 is severed and slit by the knives 6, 7 and 8 while in position for engagement by the leading face of the former 9. The wrapper is bent around the former 9 and over the pull (Fig. 21) upon the movement of the turret 40 in a clockwise direction when looked at from the front (anti- 12 clockwise as it appears in Figs. 19 and 31). The bending of the wrapper 1 over the pull 15 bends the end 15a of the latter at right angles thereto against the step 13 (Fig. 22) and, while the pull end 15a is so bent, a spot of adhesive is applied by the applicator 17 and on a part 1a of the wrapper which will subsequently form an end truck of the package; the spot being near the base of the pull and 15a. After the bottom of the wrapper has been tucked and folded and the wrapper has been sheathed in a pouch in the usual manner during the progress of the former from station XII to station VI, the projecting end of the pull 15a is bent back (Figs. 28, 32) against the adhesive spot applied by the applicator 17.

Thereafter a bundle of cigarettes, preferably arranged in rows of 767 are inserted in the former and partway within the length of the pouch formed by the wrapper 1 and label 18 and a further spot of adhesive 32 is applied by the applicator 33 to a cigarette aligned with the pull 15 at a point on the cigarette just beyond the outer edge of the wrapper.

The bundled cigarettes are then pushed completely into the pouch (Figs. 23, 34) and the open end of the wrapper 1 is tucked and folded (Figs. 33 and 34) so that the extremity 15a of the pull projects laterally from the completed package. An intermediate section of the pull strip forms a loop (Fig. 14) around the end tuck 1a and the inner section of the pull strip is adhesively connected to an end cigarette of the middle row, which cigarette is spaced from the package wall and slides freely in grooves formed by adjacent cigarettes of the two outer rows 31a and 31b. The end tuck 1a and the outer section of the pull loop thereon are partly covered by the severed end sections 10 and 1d of side flaps bent down from the front and back walls of the wrapper 1 and such flaps are secured in folded position by a stamp 37 or the like; the stamp being pasted to the front and back walls and main portions of the flaps 1c and 1d and projecting slightly over the edges of the severed portions 1c and 1d of the flaps.

When the projecting end 15a of the pull strip is pulled laterally, it raises the tuck 1a to which it is adhesively connected and thereby draws the severed fold sections 10 and 1d from beneath the edge of the stamp 37 and turns them upwardly. A continued lateral pull on the pull splits it from its adhesive connection to the outer face of the tuck 1a and thereupon imparts an endwise stress on the cigarette 310, which is thereby drawn up ward until the adhesive spot 32 rises above the top of the package, whereupon the pull 15 splits or strips off the cigarette 31c and leaves it partially projecting from the package but free from the pull strip.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. In the art of packaging, the steps which include bending a wrapper around a pull lying substantially parallel to the bends so formed in said wrapper, and bending end sections of said wrapper to form an end closure having a tuck looped by said pull and flaps partially overlying said tuck and pull and leaving exposed an end of said pull adjacent to the loop thereof.

2.- In the art of packaging, the steps which include sequentially severing a wrap from a web, wrapping a severed wrapper around a section of a pull to form a pouch while said pull is unattached to said wrapper, looping said pull around an end of said wrapper, attaching a section of said pull to an end section of said pouch, and bending end sections of said wrapper to form an end closure having a tuck formed from said end section first named and looped by said pull.

3. In the art of packaging, the steps which include wrapping a wrapper around a section of a pull and leaving a pull section projecting therefrom, sheathing said wrapper in a jacket, bending said projecting pull section over said wrapper and attaching said projecting pull section to said wrapper with its end overlying said sheathing jacket.

4. Packaging apparatus comprising a former, means for feeding a wrapper strip to said former, and cutter mechanism having spaced blades for slitting the edge section of said wrapper strip concurrently along spaced lines and for severing a wrapper from said strip between a pair of said concurrently formed slits.

5. Packaging apparatus comprising a movable former having a guide slot, means for laying a pull in said guide slot and on said former lengthwise thereof, and a guard closing said slot to retain a pull therein during movement of said former relative to said guard and about an axis offset from saidformer.

6. Packaging apparatus comprising a rotatable turret, hollow formers around said turret, means for feeding a continuous strip of wrapping toward said turret, a severing cutter and a margin slitter movable into the path of wrapping delivered from said means to each former, said cutter forming edges transverse to the side edges of said strip and said slitter intersecting an edge of a wrapping which had been an edge of said strip and at a considerable distance from any edge formed by said cutter and means for folding a section of wrapping severed by said cutter around each former, to form a container, and means folding the slit margin of said section to form a slit end closure for said container.

7. Packaging apparatus comprising a rotatable turret, hollow formers around said turret, means for feeding a continuous strip of wrapping toward said turret, a severing cutter movable into the path of wrapping delivered from said means vto each former and margin slitters movable into the path of a longitudinal edge of said continuous strip to cut converging slits extending inward from said longitudinal edge, means for shooting the free end of a pull strip along a horizontal upper surface of one of said formers and substantially parallel with said severing cutter, means for cutting said pull strip adjacent to the end of said former, and means for folding a section of wrapping severed by said cutter around each former to form a container with said converging slits on opposite sides of said pull strip, and means folding the slit margin of said section to form a slit end closure for said container in operable relation to a severed section of said pull strip.

8. In the art of packaging, the steps which include feeding a wrapper strip, slitting a marginal section of said strip diagonally to the edge thereof to form a slit, cutting a wrapper from said strip, folding said wrapper to form a container having a body and a tuck extending transversely to said body and having an edge extending substantially across the hop of said body, said body including a substantially rectangular side having a longitudinal edge spaced from said slit, said slit being adjacent to said edge, bending down a section of said substantially rectangular side along a line parallel to said first named edge and at a distance therefrom approximating the distance between said slit and said second named edge, folding said slit marginal section to form a fiap over said side section and form therewith an end closure transverse to said body, said tuck and flap normally remaining folded.

9. In the art of packaging, the steps which include feeding a wrapper strip, slitting a marginal section of said strip simultaneously at a plurality of points, severing a wrapper from said strip between said simultaneously slit points, folding said wrapper transversely to the length thereof to form a container body and bending a part of said marginal section between said slit therein to form a tuck nonnally remaining folded which tuck has an edge transverse to said body, and bending the remainder of said marginal section to form flaps normally remaining closed having edges adjacent to the edge of said tuck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS