WO1999006283A1

WO1999006283A1 - Method and device for erecting a packaging sleeve

Info

Publication number: WO1999006283A1
Application number: PCT/IE1998/000069
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Carey
Original assignee: R.J. Research Limited
Priority date: 1997-08-01
Filing date: 1998-08-04
Publication date: 1999-02-11
Also published as: AU8643898A; IES970573A2; IES79658B2

Abstract

An erecting device (4) for erecting a packaging sleeve (3) comprising a magazine (20) for holding a plurality of the sleeves in a collapsed state (6) in a stack. A dispensing outlet (22) from the magazine (20) accommodates the sleeves (6) sequentially from the magazine (20). A transfer mechanism (35) withdraws the sleeves (6) sequentially from the magazine (20) into a former (25) within which the sleeves (6) are erected. Restraining lips (23) located on opposite sides of the dispensing outlet (22) support the collapsed sleeves (6) in the magazine (20) and urge the side edges (17) of each collapsed sleeve (6) towards each other as it is being withdrawn through the dispensing outlet (22) for urging leaves (14 and 15) of the collapsed sleeve (6) apart for facilitating erection of the sleeve (3) in the former (25).

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ERECTING A PACKAGING SLEEVE

The present invention relates to a method and an erecting device for erecting a packaging sleeve of the type which is formed from a sleeve blank and which is in a collapsed state. The invention also relates to packaging apparatus which comprises the packaging sleeve erecting device.

Typically such sleeves are of cardboard and are provided for encircling packaged consumer products, typically, consumer products such as food products, which are sold in sealed trays, for example, trays of plastics material or tin foil. In general, such sleeves carry descriptions and particulars of the food or other products contained in the package as well as recommended retail price and data which is statutorily required, for example, the expiry date of the packaged product. Such sleeves, in general, are formed from a cardboard blank which is folded into a sleeve, and adjacent opposite ends of the blank are sealed, thus forming the sleeve. The sleeve is then collapsed to form two adjacent parallel leaves which are joined together along respective opposite folds which define respective opposite side edges of the collapsed sleeve. A pair of opposite end edges of the collapsed sleeve extend between the side edges, and when the sleeve is erected form respective opposite open ends for accommodating the package into and through the sleeve. Because the sleeves are supplied in collapsed form, it is necessary for each sleeve to be erected prior to insertion of the package into the sleeve. While packaging sleeve erecting devices are provided for erecting such sleeves from a collapsed state, they tend to be unsatisfactory, particularly for erecting packaging sleeves of the type in which all the opposite side walls thereof are not parallel to each other.

There is therefore a need for a method and an erecting device for erecting a packaging sleeve from a collapsed state, and there is also a need for packaging apparatus comprising the erecting device for inserting a package into the sleeve.

The present invention is directed towards providing such a method packaging sleeve erecting device and a packaging line.

According to the invention there is provided a packaging sleeve erecting device for erecting a sleeve which is formed from a sleeve blank and which is in a collapsed state, the collapsed sleeve having a pair of parallel adjacent leaves joined together along respective opposite folds which define respective opposite side edges of the collapsed sleeve, the collapsed sleeve defining a pair of respective opposite end edges which extend between the side edges, such that when the sleeve is erected the opposite end edges form respective open ends of the sleeve for accommodating a package therethrough, the erecting device comprising a magazine for holding a plurality of the collapsed sleeves, the magazine having a dispensing outlet for accommodating withdrawal of the collapsed sleeves sequentially from the magazine, an erecting means for erecting the sleeves, and a transfer means for transferring the sleeves sequentially from the dispensing outlet of the magazine to the erecting means, wherein the erecting means comprises a former, and the former co-operates with the transfer means for erecting the collapsed sleeve as the sleeve is being transferred into the former.

In one embodiment of the invention the former defines at least a part of the cross-section of the erected sleeve extending transversely of the side edges, and the transfer means draws the collapsed sleeve sequentially into the former so that as each collapsed sleeve is being drawn into the former the adjacent leaves of the collapsed sleeve are progressively urged apart, and the sleeve is progressively erected.

In another embodiment of the invention the former comprises at least two adjacent forming walls which define at least respective portions of corresponding adjacent walls of the erected sleeve, and the transfer means engages the collapsed sleeves at a portion of one of the adjacent leaves thereof which is to form a wall of the sleeve corresponding to one of the adjacent forming walls of the former, and the transfer means draws the said engaged wall of the sleeve into abutment engagement with the said corresponding forming wall of the former.

Preferably, the former comprises a base forming wall and a pair of opposite side forming walls extending from the base forming wall, the base forming wall and the opposite side forming walls defining at least a part of the corresponding base wall and opposite side walls, respectively, of the erected sleeve, and the transfer means engages the collapsed sleeve at a portion of one of the leaves which is to form the base wall of the erected sleeve.

Advantageously, the former is of trough shape having at least one open end for communicating with an adjacent open end of the erected sleeve for accommodating a package into the erected sleeve. Ideally, the former defines a pair of opposite open ends for communicating with respective corresponding opposite open ends of the erected sleeve, one of the open ends of the former being provided for accommodating a package into the erected sleeve, and the other for accommodating the package with the sleeve located thereon from the former.

Ideally, a retaining means is located adjacent the dispensing outlet of the magazine for engaging one of the side edges of each collapsed sleeve as it is being withdrawn through the dispensing outlet by the transfer means, the retaining means and the transfer means co-operating with each other for causing the leaves of the collapsed sleeves to separate intermediate the side edges as the sleeves are being withdrawn through the dispensing outlet.

Preferably, a pair of retaining means is provided, the respective retaining means being provided at opposite sides adjacent the dispensing outlet for engaging the respective opposite side edges of the collapsed sleeves.

In one embodiment of the invention each retaining means cooperates with the other retaining means or with a part of the magazine defining the dispensing outlet for reducing the effective width of the dispensing outlet to be less than the width of the collapsed sleeves between the side edges of the respective collapsed sleeves, so that as each collapsed sleeve is being urged through the dispensing outlet by the transfer means, the adjacent leaves of the sleeve are urged apart from each other intermediate the opposite side edges.

In another embodiment of the invention the transfer means engages the leaf of the respective collapsed sleeves which is exposed by the dispensing outlet. Preferably, the transfer means comprises a suction means for engaging and gripping by suction the leaf of the respective sleeves which are exposed by the dispensing outlet. Advantageously, a pair of spaced apart suction means is provided on the transfer means for engaging the exposed leaf of the respective collapsed sleeves at spaced apart locations.

In one embodiment of the invention the respective suction means are aligned with each other for engaging the exposed leaf of the respective collapsed sleeves at locations spaced apart from the respective side edges of the collapsed sleeve.

In a further embodiment of the invention a drive means is provided for moving the transfer means from a first position engaged with the collapsed sleeve exposed by the dispensing outlet to a second position engaging the sleeve erected in the former, for transferring the sleeves sequentially from the magazine to the former and for drawing the sleeves into the former for erecting therein. Advantageously, the drive means returns the transfer means from the second position to the first position for engaging the next collapsed sleeve exposed by the dispensing outlet, and ideally the drive means comprises a drive ram. Preferably, the drive ram is provided by a pneumatic ram, and ideally a double acting ram.

Additionally, the invention provides a method for erecting a sleeve which is formed from a sleeve blank and which is in a collapsed state, the collapsed sleeve having a pair of parallel adjacent leaves joined together along respective opposite folds which define respective opposite side edges of the collapsed sleeve, the collapsed sleeve defining a pair of respective opposite end edges which extend between the side edges, such that when the sleeve is erected the opposite end edges form respective open ends of the sleeve for accommodating a package therethrough, the method comprising the steps of withdrawing the collapsed sleeves sequentially from a dispensing outlet of a magazine, and sequentially erecting the collapsed sleeves, wherein the collapsed sleeves are erected by sequentially drawing the sleeves into a former such that as each sleeve is being drawn into the former the sleeve is progressively erected by the action of the former on the sleeve.

In one embodiment of the invention the adjacent leaves of each collapsed sleeve are urged apart from each other as the collapsed sleeves are being withdrawn through a dispensing outlet of the magazine.

Preferably, the former defines at least a part of the cross- section of the erected sleeve extending transversely of the side edges so that as the sleeve is being drawn into the former the sleeve is erected.

Further, the invention provides packaging apparatus for sequentially inserting a plurality of packages into respective erected sleeves, the packaging apparatus comprising a means for sequentially erecting a plurality of the sleeves from collapsed sleeves, and an urging means for sequentially urging the packages into the erected sleeves as the sleeves are erected, wherein the means for erecting the sleeves from the collapsed sleeves comprises an erecting device according to the invention, the urging means being located relative to the erecting device for sequently urging the packages into the respective sleeves as the ^•sleeves are erected.

Preferably, the urging means sequentially feeds the packages into the former for engaging the erected sleeves in the former.

Advantageously, the transfer means retains each erected sleeve in the former until the corresponding package has been inserted in the erected sleeve.

Ideally, the urging means urges the packages sequentially into the former through one of the open ends defined by the former.

In one embodiment of the invention the urging means urges the packages when inserted in the corresponding sleeve with the sleeve through the other open end defined by the former.

Additionally, the invention provides a package which has been inserted in a sleeve erected by the erecting device according to the invention. Further, the invention provides a package which has been inserted in a sleeve by the packaging apparatus according to the invention.

The invention further provides a package which has been inserted in a sleeve using the method according to the invention.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of packaging apparatus according to the invention for inserting a package in a sleeve,

Fig. 2 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional end elevational view of an erecting device also according to the invention of the packaging apparatus of Fig. 1 on the line II-II of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a part of the erecting device in a different position,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the part of the erecting device, illustrating the erecting device in another different position,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a package inserted in a sleeve by the apparatus of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the package of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of the package of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to Figs. 1 to 4 there is illustrated packaging apparatus according to the invention which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for inserting packages 2 into erected sleeves 3. The apparatus 1 comprises an erecting device 4 also according to the invention for erecting the sleeves 3 from a collapsed state 6 to the erected state 3.

Before describing the apparatus 1 further the packages 2 and the sleeves 3 will first be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 7. The packages 2, typically, are sealed tin foil trays of the type in which food products and other products are packed, although needless to say, the apparatus 1 and the erecting device 4 may be used for inserting any other packages into the sleeves 3. Each sleeve 3 when erected comprises a base wall 7 and a top wall 8, which are joined by upwardly outwardly diverging side walls 9 and 10. Opposite end edges 11 of the sleeve 3 when erected define opposite open ends 12 which accommodate the package 2 therethrough. The sleeves 3 are typically of cardboard and carry relevant data and information on their respective base, top and side walls 7 to 10 such as, for example, trade marks, a description and particulars of the goods packed in the package 2, the recommended retail price and the expiry date of the goods. Each sleeve 3 is formed from a cardboard blank which is folded into a sleeve and adjacent opposite ends of the blank are sealed to form the sleeve. Each sleeve 3 in the collapsed state 6 comprises a pair of parallel adjacent leaves 14 and 15, see Figs. 2 to 4. The leaves 14 and 15 are joined along opposite folds 16 which form opposite side edges 17 of the collapsed sleeve, and which extend between the end edges 11. The lower leaf 14 forms the base wall 7, and the side wall 9 and a part 18 of the side wall 10. The upper leaf 15 forms the top wall 8 and the remaining part 19 of the side wall 10. Fold lines 13a and 13b are provided for facilitating the formation of the base wall 7, and a fold line 13c cooperates with the fold line 13b for facilitating the formation of the side wall 10. The side wall 9 is formed between the fold 16 and the fold line 13a, while the top wall 8 is formed between the fold 16 and the fold line 13c. The formation of such sleeves will be well known to those skilled in the art.

Before describing the packaging line 1 in detail, the erecting device 4 for erecting the sleeves 3 from their collapsed state 6 will first be described with reference to Figs. 2 to 4. The apparatus 1 comprises a main support framework (not shown). A magazine 20 of the erecting device 4 within which a plurality of the sleeves 3 in the collapsed state 6 are stacked one on top of the other is supported on the framework (not shown). The magazine 20 at its lower end defines a downwardly facing dispensing outlet 22 through which the collapsed sleeves 6 are sequentially withdrawn as will be described below. A pair of retaining means for engaging and retaining the collapsed sleeves 6 in the magazine 20 comprises a pair of retaining lips 23 which extend into the dispensing outlet 22 from two opposite sides of the magazine 20. The retaining lips 23 extend into the dispensing outlet 22 for engaging the side edges 17 of the collapsed sleeves 6, so that as the collapsed sleeves 6 are being withdrawn from the dispensing outlet 22 as will be described below, the side edges 17 are moved towards each other, thereby urging the leaves 14 and 15 of the collapsed sleeve apart for facilitating subsequent erection of the collapsed sleeve 6 as will be described below.

A former 25 within which the collapsed sleeves 6 are erected is located in the framework (not shown) below the dispensing outlet 11 for receiving sleeves from the magazine 20 as will be described below. The former 25 is of trough shape and comprises a base forming wall 27 which defines the base wall 7 of the sleeves 4 when erected. Side forming walls 28 and 29 extending upwardly from the base forming wall 27 at respective opposite sides thereof define the side walls 9 and 10, respectively, of the erected sleeves 3. The slope of the side forming walls 28 and 29 corresponds to that of the side walls 9 and 10. Thus, as each collapsed sleeve 6 is drawn downwardly in the direction of the arrow A into the former 25, the action of the former 25 on the collapsed sleeve 6 progressively urges the sleeve into the erected state 3. Opposite ends 30 and 31 of the former 25 which correspond with the respective opposite open ends 12 of the erected sleeves 3 are open for accommodating the packages 2 sequentially into the former 25 for insertion in the respective sleeves 3 as the sleeves 3 are erected in the former 25, see Fig 1.

A transfer means for sequentially transferring the collapsed sleeves 6 from the magazine 20 to the former 25, and for drawing the collapsed sleeves 6 into the former 25 for erection thereof comprises a transfer mechanism 35 which is mounted in the main framework (not shown). The transfer mechanism 35 comprises a pair of transfer rods 37 which are slidably carried in linear bearings

38 in the base 27 of the former 25. Each transfer rod 37 terminates in a suction cup 39 for engaging and gripping the lower leaf 14 of the collapsed sleeve 6 exposed by the dispensing outlet 22. Vacuum from a vacuum pump (not shown) is fed to the suction cups 39 through bores (not shown) in the respective transfer rods 37 for securing and retaining the lower leaves 14 of the collapsed sleeves 6 to the suction cups 39. A drive means, namely, a pair of double-acting pneumatic drive rams 40 are mounted on the main framework (not shown) at 41 for driving the transfer rods 37, and in turn the suction cups 39 downwardly in the direction of the arrow A from a first position illustrated in Fig. 2 with the suction cups extending into the dispensing outlet for engaging and gripping the exposed leaf 14 of the collapsed sleeve 6 in the dispensing outlet 22, to a second position illustrated in Fig. 4 with the sleeve 3 drawn into the former 25 and erected therein. The transfer rods 37 extend from piston rods 43 of the drive rams 40. The vacuum is applied to the bore (not shown) in the transfer rods 37 through the end of the rams 40 and 41.

The vacuum is applied to the suction cups 39 as the suction cups

39 engage the leaf 14 of the exposed collapsed sleeve 6 for gripping the sleeve 6, and is maintained until the sleeve 3 is erected in the former 25 and the package 2 has been inserted in the erected sleeve 3, as will be described below. Recesses 44 in the base forming wall 27 of the former 25 accommodate the suction cup 39 when the transfer rods 37 are in the second position so that the portion of the lower leaf 14 which forms the base wall 7 of the sleeve 3 abuts the base 27 of the former 25. The transfer mechanism 35 co-operates with the retaining lips 23 so that as the transfer mechanism 35 is withdrawing each collapsed sleeve 6 through the dispensing outlet 22 the retaining lips 23 urge the respective opposite side edges 17 of the collapsed sleeve 6 towards each other, thereby urging the leaves 14 and 15 of the collapsed sleeve 6 apart, see Fig. 3. Because the leaves 14 and 15 have already been urged apart by the co-operating action of the transfer mechanism and the retaining lips 23, each sleeve 6 is readily erected as it is being drawn into the former 25 without any danger of damage to the sleeve. It has been found that where the leaves 14 and 15 of a collapsed sleeve 6 are not urged apart prior to being drawn into the former 25, the leaves 14 and 15 may fail to separate in the former 25, and both leaves would thus take up the shape of the former, thereby preventing erection of the sleeve, and in general, leading to damage of the sleeve.

Referring now to Fig. 1 the packaging apparatus 1 as well as comprising the erecting device 4 comprises a belt conveyor 45 which is mounted in the framework (not shown), and which continuously conveys the packages 2 which are located thereon at spaced apart intervals in the direction of the arrow B towards the former 25. A plurality of spaced apart support bars 48 which are carried in the framework (not shown) extend parallel to each other and longitudinally from the conveyor 45 for receiving the packages 2 sequentially from the conveyor 45. The former 25 is located in the packaging apparatus 1 with its open end 30 facing the support bars 48 and the conveyor 45 for sequentially receiving the packages 2 into the erected sleeves 3.

An urging means for urging each package 2 from the support bars 48 into the corresponding erected sleeve 3 in the former 25 comprises a double-acting pneumatic feed ram 50 which is pivotally mounted in the framework (not shown) by a pivot mounting 51 beneath the former 25 and the support bars 48. A piston rod 52 extending from the feed ram 50 terminates in a pusher member 53 for engaging and urging the respective packages 2 on the support bars 48 into the former 25 as the piston rod 52 is retracted in the direction of the arrow C. The feed ram 50 is pivotal in the direction of the arrow D about the pivot mounting 51 by a double-acting pneumatic lift ram 55 from a position illustrated in Fig. 1 with the pusher member 53 below and spaced apart from the support bars 48 to a position (not shown) with the pusher member 53 extending upwardly between and above the support bars 48 for engaging each package 2 on the support bars 48 for transferring the packages 2 sequentially into the former 25. The lift ram 55 is mounted on the main framework (not shown) at 56.

A support means, namely, support pins 57 extend into the magazine 20 from opposite sides thereof for supporting the collapsed sleeves 6 in the upper part of the magazine 20, for in turn minimising the weight of collapsed sleeves 6 on the collapsed sleeves 6 supported on the retaining lips 23 in the dispensing outlet 22. By minimising the weight of collapsed sleeves 6 support on the collapsed sleeve 6 in the dispensing outlet 22, withdrawing of the collapsed sleeve 6 in the dispensing outlet 22 is facilitated. In this embodiment of the invention, the support pins 57 are located at a height above the dispensing outlet 22 which is equivalent to the height of a stack of approximately ten collapsed sleeves 6. The pins 57 are carried on double-acting pneumatic rams (not shown) and are withdrawable for feeding collapsed sleeves 6 to the dispensing outlet 22. Typically, the support pins 57 are withdrawn at intervals corresponding to the withdrawal of seven collapsed sleeves 6 through the dispensing outlet 22, so that the number of collapsed sleeves 6 supported on the retaining lips 23 ranges from three to ten. After the appropriate number of collapsed sleeves have passed the support pins 57, the support pins 57 are again urged into the magazine 20.

In use, with the transfer mechanism 35 in the second position, and the support pins 57 withdrawn, the magazine 20 is charged with a stack of collapsed sleeves 6. The collapsed sleeves 6 are arranged so that the retaining lips 23 support the side edges 17 of the lowest sleeve 6. The supporting pins are urged into the magazine 20 for supporting the collapsed sleeves 6 in the upper part of the magazine 20. Packages 2 to be inserted into the respective sleeves 3 are delivered onto the conveyor 45 at spaced apart intervals, and the conveyor 45 conveys the packages 2 in the direction of the arrow B and on to the support bars 48. The transfer mechanism 35 is operated by the drive rams 40 which urge the transfer rods 37 and in turn the suction cups 39 from the second to the first position with the suction cups 39 within the dispensing outlet 22 and engaging the collapsed sleeve 6 which is exposed by the dispensing outlet 22. The vacuum is applied to the suction cups 39 for gripping the lower leaf 14 of the exposed collapsed sleeve 6. The drive rams 40 are then operated for urging the transfer rods 37 and in turn the suction cups 39 to the second position in the direction of the arrow A for withdrawing the exposed collapsed sleeve 6 from the magazine 20 and drawing the sleeve into the former 25 for erection of the sleeve 3. As the drive rams 40 commence to move the transfer rods 37 and the suction cups 39 in the direction of the arrow A downwardly from the dispensing outlet 22, the side edges 17 of the collapsed sleeve 6 are urged towards each other by the action of the retaining lips 23 thereby urging the leaves 14 and 15 apart, see Fig. 3. Further downward movement of the transfer rod 37 and the suction cups 39 draws the sleeve 6 into the former 25. When the suction cups 39 are in the second position, namely, recessed into the recesses 44, the portion of the lower leaf 14 which forms the base wall 7 of the erected sleeve 3 is in tight abutting engagement with the base forming wall 27 of the former 25 and the remaining part of the lower leaf 14 which forms the side wall 9 is in tight abutting engagement with the side forming wall 28 of the former. The part 18 of the lower leaf 14 and the part 19 of the upper leaf 15 are brought into tight abutting engagement with the side forming wall 29 of the former 25, and thereby, the sleeve 3 is erected. The vacuum is still maintained on the suction cups 39 for retaining the erected sleeve 3 in the former 25 and the feed ram 50 is pivoted upwardly in the direction of the arrow D by the lift ram 55 so that the pusher member 53 extends between and upwardly between the support bars 48 behind the package 2 which is supported on the support bars 48. The feed ram 50 is then operated for retracting the piston rod 52 for in turn causing the pusher member 53 to engage the package 2 on the support bars 48, and for urging the package 2 through the open end 30 into the former 25 and inserting the package 2 into the erected sleeve 3. The suction cups 39 are then isolated from the vacuum pump (not shown) thereby releasing the sleeve 3 within the former 25. A discharge ram (not shown) is activated for urging the package 2 with the sleeve 3 extending around the package 2 from the former 25 through the open end 31. The lift ram 55 lowers the feed ram 50 and the piston rod 52 of the feed ram 50 is extended so that the pusher member 53 is in position for engaging behind the next package 2 when the feed ram 50 is pivoted upwardly by the lift ram 55. The packaging cycle then commences again for erecting the next sleeve 3 and inserting the next package 2 in the erected sleeve 3.

It will be appreciated that while the various drive means have been described as being double-acting pneumatic rams, any other suitable drive means, feed ram or lift ram may be used, for example, single acting rams which may be pneumatic or hydraulic, or double-acting hydraulic rams. Indeed, any other suitable drive means may be used.

The advantages of the packaging apparatus and erecting device according to the invention are many. A particularly important advantage is provided by the erecting device which readily easily erects collapsed sleeves, and in particular, collapsed sleeves in which opposite side walls of the collapsed sleeve diverge upwardly outwardly from the base. This is achieved largely as a result of the provision of the former which in this case defines the transverse cross-section of the sleeve, although, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that while it is advantageous, it is not essential that the former should define the entire transverse cross-section of the sleeve. It is envisaged in certain cases that the side walls of the former may not necessarily extend to the full height of the side walls of the sleeve. The co-operating action between the transfer mechanism and the retaining lips, which urges the leaves of the collapsed sleeves apart facilitates erection of the sleeves in the former.

Claims

1. A packaging sleeve erecting device (4) for erecting a sleeve (3,6) which is formed from a sleeve blank and which is in a collapsed state (6), the collapsed sleeve (6) having a pair of parallel adjacent leaves (14,15) joined together along respective opposite folds (16) which define respective opposite side edges (17) of the collapsed sleeve (6), the collapsed sleeve (6) defining a pair of respective opposite end edges (11) which extend between the side edges (17), such that when the sleeve (3) is erected the opposite end edges (11) form respective open ends (12) of the sleeve (3) for accommodating a package (2) therethrough, the erecting device (4) comprising a magazine (20) for holding a plurality of the collapsed sleeves (6), the magazine (20) having a dispensing outlet (22) for accommodating withdrawal of the collapsed sleeves (6) sequentially from the magazine (20), an erecting means (25) for erecting the sleeves (6), and a transfer means (35) for transferring the sleeves (6) sequentially from the dispensing outlet (22) of the magazine (20) to the erecting means (25), characterised in that the erecting means (25) comprises a former (25), and the former (25) co-operates with the transfer means (35) for erecting the collapsed sleeve (6) as the sleeve (6) is being transferred into the former (25).

2. An erecting device as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the former (25) defines at least a part of the cross-section of the erected sleeve (3) extending transversely of the side edges (17), and the transfer means (35) draws the collapsed sleeve sequentially into the former (25) so that as each collapsed sleeve (6) is being drawn into the former (25) the adjacent leaves (14,15) of the collapsed sleeve (6) are progressively urged apart, and the sleeve (3) is progressively erected.

3. An erecting device as claimed in Claim 2 characterised in that the former comprises at least two adjacent forming walls (27,28,29) which define at least respective portions of corresponding adjacent walls (7,9,10) of the erected sleeve (6), and the transfer means (35) engages the collapsed sleeves (6) at a portion of one of the adjacent leaves (14) thereof which is to form a wall (7) of the sleeve (3) corresponding to one of the adjacent forming walls (27) of the former (25), and the transfer means (35) draws the said engaged wall (7) of the sleeve (3) into abutment engagement with the said corresponding forming wall (27) of the former (25) .

4. An erecting device as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 characterised in that the former (25) comprises a base forming wall (27) and a pair of opposite side forming walls (28,29) extending from the base forming wall (27), the base forming wall (27) and the opposite side forming walls (28,29) defining at least a part of the corresponding base wall (7) and opposite side walls (9,10) respectively, of the erected sleeve, and the transfer means (35) engages the collapsed sleeve at a portion of one of the leaves (14) which is to form the base wall (7) of the erected sleeve .

5. An erecting device as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the former (25) is of trough shape having at least one open end (30,31) for communicating with an adjacent open end (12) of the erected sleeve (3) for accommodating a package (2) into the erected sleeve (3).

6. An erecting device as claimed in Claim 5 characterised in that the former (25) defines a pair of opposite open ends (30,31) for communicating with respective corresponding opposite open ends (12) of the erected sleeve (3), one of the open ends (30) of the former (25) being provided for accommodating a package (2) into the erected sleeve (3), and the other (31) for accommodating the package (2) with the sleeve (3) located thereon from the former (25).

7. An erecting device as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that a retaining means (23) is located adjacent the dispensing outlet (22) of the magazine (20) for engaging one of the side edges (17) of each collapsed sleeve (6) as it is being withdrawn through the dispensing outlet (22) by the transfer means (35), the retaining means (23) and the transfer means (35) cooperating with each other for causing the leaves (14,15) of the collapsed sleeves (6) to separate intermediate the side edges (17) as the sleeves (6) are being withdrawn through the dispensing outlet (22).

8. An erecting device as claimed in Claim 7 characterised in that a pair of retaining means (23) is provided, the respective retaining means (23) being provided at opposite sides adjacent the dispensing outlet (22) for engaging the respective opposite side edges (17) of the collapsed sleeves (6).

9. An erecting device as claimed in Claim 7 or 8 characterised in that each retaining means (23) co-operates with the other retaining means (23) or with a part of the magazine (20) defining the dispensing outlet (22) for reducing the effective width of the dispensing outlet (22) to be less than the width of the collapsed sleeves (6) between the side edges (17) of the respective collapsed sleeves (6), so that as each collapsed sleeve (6) is being urged through the dispensing outlet (22) by the transfer means (35), the adjacent leaves (14,15) of the sleeve (6) are urged apart from each other intermediate the opposite side edges (17).

10. An erecting device as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the transfer means (35) engages the leaf (14) of the respective collapsed sleeves (6) which is exposed by the dispensing outlet (22).

11. An erecting device as claimed in Claim 10 characterised in that the transfer means (35) comprises a suction means (39) for engaging and gripping by suction the leaf (14) of the respective sleeves (6) which are exposed by the dispensing outlet (22).

12. An erecting device as claimed in Claim 11 characterised in that a pair of spaced apart suction means (39) is provided on the transfer means (35) for engaging the exposed leaf (14) of the respective collapsed sleeves (6) at spaced apart locations.

13. An erecting device as claimed in Claim 12 characterised in that the respective suction means (39) are aligned with each other for engaging the exposed leaf (14) of the respective collapsed sleeves (6) at locations spaced apart from the respective side edges (17) of the collapsed sleeve (6).

14. An erecting device as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that a drive means (40) is provided for moving the transfer means (35) from a first position engaged with the collapsed sleeve (6) exposed by the dispensing outlet (22) to a second position engaging the sleeve erected in the former (25), for transferring the sleeves (6) sequentially from the magazine (20) to the former (25) and for drawing the sleeves (6) into the former (25) for erecting therein.

15. An erecting device as claimed in Claim 14 characterised in that the drive means (40) returns the transfer means (35) from the second position to the first position for engaging the next collapsed sleeve (6) exposed by the dispensing outlet (22).

16. An erecting device as claimed in Claim 15 or 16 characterised in that the drive means (40) comprises a drive ram (40).

17. An erecting device as claimed in Claim 16 characterised in that the drive ram (40) comprises a pneumatic ram (40).

18. An erecting device as claimed in Claim 16 or 17 characterised in that the drive ram (40) is a double acting ram (40) .

19. A method for erecting a sleeve (3) which is formed from a sleeve blank and which is in a collapsed state (6), the collapsed sleeve (6) having a pair of parallel adjacent leaves (14,15) joined together along respective opposite folds (16) which define respective opposite side edges (17) of the collapsed sleeve (6), the collapsed sleeve (6) defining a pair of respective opposite end edges (11) which extend between the side edges (17), such that when the sleeve (3) is erected the opposite end edges (11) form respective open ends (12) of the sleeve (3) for accommodating a package (2) therethrough, the method comprising the steps of withdrawing the collapsed sleeves (6) sequentially from a dispensing outlet (22) of a magazine (20), and sequentially erecting the collapsed sleeves, characterised in that the collapsed sleeves (6) are erected by sequentially drawing the sleeves (6) into a former (25) such that as each sleeve (6) is being drawn into the former (25) the sleeve is progressively erected by the action of the former (25) on the sleeve (3).

20. A method as claimed in Claim 19 characterised in that the adjacent leaves (14,15) of each collapsed sleeve (6) are urged apart from each other as the collapsed sleeves (6) are being withdrawn through a dispensing outlet (22) of the magazine (20).

21. A method as claimed in Claim 19 or 20 characterised in that the former (25) defines at least a part of the cross-section of the erected sleeve (3) extending transversely of the side edges (17) so that as the sleeve is being drawn into the former (25) the sleeve is erected.

22. Packaging apparatus for sequentially inserting a plurality of packages (2) into respective erected sleeves (3), the packaging apparatus (1) comprising a means (4) for sequentially erecting a plurality of the sleeves (3) from collapsed sleeves (6), and an urging means (50,53) for sequentially urging the packages (2) into the erected sleeves (3) as the sleeves (3) are erected, characterised in that the means (4) for sequentially erecting the sleeves (3) from the collapsed sleeves (6) comprises an erecting device (4) as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 18, the urging means (50,53) being located relative to the erecting device (4) for sequentially urging the packages (2) into the respective sleeves (3) as the sleeves (3) are erected.

23. Packaging apparatus as claimed in Claim 22 characterised in that the urging means (50,53) sequentially feeds the packages (2) into the former (25) for engaging the erected sleeves (3) in the former (25) .

24. Packaging apparatus as claimed in Claim 22 or 23 characterised in that the transfer means (35) retains each erected sleeve (3) in the former (25) until the corresponding package (2) has been inserted in the erected sleeve (3).

25. Packaging apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 22 to 24 characterised in that the urging means (50, 53) urges the packages

(2) sequentially into the former (25) through one of the open ends (30,31) defined by the former (25).

26. Packaging apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 22 to 25 characterised in that the urging means (50,53) urges the packages (2) when inserted in the corresponding sleeve (3) with the sleeve

(3) through the other open end (31) defined by the former (25).

27. A package which has been inserted in a sleeve erected by the erecting device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 18.

28. A package which has been inserted in a sleeve by the packaging apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 22 to 26.

29. A package which has been inserted in a sleeve using the method as claimed in any of Claims 19 to 21.