CA1039762A - Bundling of cigarettes - Google Patents
Bundling of cigarettesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1039762A CA1039762A CA246,428A CA246428A CA1039762A CA 1039762 A CA1039762 A CA 1039762A CA 246428 A CA246428 A CA 246428A CA 1039762 A CA1039762 A CA 1039762A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cigarettes
- cigarette
- rows
- group
- assembly station
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 274
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims description 20
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 19
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000875 corresponding effect Effects 0.000 claims 4
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
- B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
- B65B19/04—Arranging, feeding, or orientating the cigarettes
- B65B19/10—Arranging cigarettes in layers each comprising a predetermined number
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
Abstract
BUNDLING OF CIGARETTES
Abstract of the Disclosure Nested three-row bundles of cigarettes are formed in rapid, simple and effective manner by forming a three-row group of cigarettes in which each row contains the same number of cigarettes, removing one cigarette from one end of the centre row of cigarettes and displaying the remainder of the centre row cigarettes towards the one end a sufficient distance to cause nesting.
Abstract of the Disclosure Nested three-row bundles of cigarettes are formed in rapid, simple and effective manner by forming a three-row group of cigarettes in which each row contains the same number of cigarettes, removing one cigarette from one end of the centre row of cigarettes and displaying the remainder of the centre row cigarettes towards the one end a sufficient distance to cause nesting.
Description
~Q3976Z ;
The present invention relates to the bundling of cigarettes for ~ormation into individual packages.
In the formation of bundles of cigarettes containing three nested rows in which the centre row contains one less cigarette than the outer row for wrapping and later enclosure in a cigarette package, a variety of techniques have been used.
In one such technique, illustrated, for example, in U.S. Patents Nos. 2,334,142 and 3,435,940, the rows are laid one on top of another in separate operations from in-dividual hoppers, with the second hopper being designed todisperse one less cigaretta than the other hoppers. This technique is c~mbursome and uses bulky equipment.
~ Another technique, illustrated, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 1,601,257, 1,961,047 and 2,621,840 forms a group of 3 rows of cigarettes in which the bottom row of cigarettes has one less than the remaining rows and then rearranges the cigarettes in the group to cause a cigarette from the middle row to move to the bottom row and to cause nesting of the cigarettes. These operations require complicated camming arrangements and can often lead to cigarette damage.
In accordance with one aspect o~ the present inven-tion, there is provided a method for the formation of a nested group of cigarettes consisting of three rows of cigarettes the centre row of which contains one less cigarette than the outer two rows, which comprises: positioning on a substan-tially horizontal surface a block of cigarettes consisting of three superimposed rows of cigarettes containing the same ;
number of parallel cigarettes in which each cigarette in the centre row is in vertical alignment with and engages one only 3Q of the cigarettes in the upper and lower rows; moving all the - .
cigarettes of the block but the cigarette located at one end
The present invention relates to the bundling of cigarettes for ~ormation into individual packages.
In the formation of bundles of cigarettes containing three nested rows in which the centre row contains one less cigarette than the outer row for wrapping and later enclosure in a cigarette package, a variety of techniques have been used.
In one such technique, illustrated, for example, in U.S. Patents Nos. 2,334,142 and 3,435,940, the rows are laid one on top of another in separate operations from in-dividual hoppers, with the second hopper being designed todisperse one less cigaretta than the other hoppers. This technique is c~mbursome and uses bulky equipment.
~ Another technique, illustrated, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 1,601,257, 1,961,047 and 2,621,840 forms a group of 3 rows of cigarettes in which the bottom row of cigarettes has one less than the remaining rows and then rearranges the cigarettes in the group to cause a cigarette from the middle row to move to the bottom row and to cause nesting of the cigarettes. These operations require complicated camming arrangements and can often lead to cigarette damage.
In accordance with one aspect o~ the present inven-tion, there is provided a method for the formation of a nested group of cigarettes consisting of three rows of cigarettes the centre row of which contains one less cigarette than the outer two rows, which comprises: positioning on a substan-tially horizontal surface a block of cigarettes consisting of three superimposed rows of cigarettes containing the same ;
number of parallel cigarettes in which each cigarette in the centre row is in vertical alignment with and engages one only 3Q of the cigarettes in the upper and lower rows; moving all the - .
cigarettes of the block but the cigarette located at one end
- 2 :- ., -. ..
1~39762 of the centre row longitudinally of the cigarettes on the plane of the surface a distance at least equal to one cigarette length; maintaining the remainder of the cigarettes in the block in the same relative positions during the move-ment; thereafter continuing the movement on the plane while simultaneously displacing the cigarettes in the centre row a distance substantially equal to the radi1ls of the cigarette towards the one end of the centre row while preventing lateral movement of the upper and lower rows to cause nesting of the cigarettes in the rows; and laterally confining the block of cigarettes during the movement and displacement steps, whereby the lateral movement of the upper and lower rows during the latter steps is prevented.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for the formation of a nested group ofcigarettes consisting of three rows of cigarettes : the central row of which contains one less cigarette than the other two rows, which comprises: a hopper for dispensing down-. wardly cigarettes in parallel rows to an assembly station; a horizontal support platform at the assembly station to receive the dispensed rows of cigarettes thereon; an elongate channel extending from the a88emb1y station towards a wrapping station : for conveying a group of three rows of cigarettes therealong;
the elongate channel comprising a generally flat bottom surface coplanar with the platform and parallel side walls upstanding : from the bottom surface a distance at least equal to the depth :
:~ . of the group of cigarettes, the side walls being spaced apart ;
. the width of the group of cigarettes; a first elongate pro-trusion on~one of the side walls extending longitudinally from the assembly station towards the wrapping station; the first .
: protrusion being dimensioned so that its maximum vertical :`: ~ ; thickness is substantially equal to the diameter of a cigarette ~::
'' ~ /~ `` ~ , 1~)3~76~
Of the group and it protrudes ~rom the one wall towards the ~ ~
other wall a distance substantially equal to the diameter of : .
a cigarette in the group adjacent the assembly station and for ~ :
a distance therefrom at least equal to the length of a cigarette in the group, the first protrusion thereafter tapering longi- :
tudinally thereof to a dimension substantially equal to the . .~ .
radius o~ a cigarette; the first protrusion having a lower :~
surface spaced from the bottom surface a distance substantially equal to the diameter of a cigarette in the group; a second elongate protrusion on the other of the walls extending longi-tudinally from a position part way along the length of the ;.
.first protrusion towards said ~rapping station and corres-. .
ponding to the position along the length of the ~irst protru~
sion o commencement of the tapering thereof; the second pro-trusion being dimensioned so that it protrudes from the other :.:
wall a distance increasing from its upstream end to a maximum dimension substantially equal to the radius of a cigarette in said group at its downstream end whi.ch coincides with the ':
downstream end of the first protrusion; the second protrusion . :
having a lower surface spaced from the bottom surface a distance . :at least the diameter of a cigarette in the group; the first and second protrusions cooperating to displace the centre row of cigarettes in the group a distance equal to the radius of :
a cigarette in that row during movement of the group along the .;
channel past the protrusions; and pusher means for pushing . ` the group. of cigarettes longitudinally thereof out of the . .
. assembly station and along the channel towards the wrapping station; the pusher means comprising a substantially vertical . ;
cigarette group-engaging surface,-the surface having a recess at one side thereof corresponding.to the oné wall and dimen~
.
~ sioned to allow the passage of a cigarette therethrough; the ..
.
: surfaoe being positioned to engage all the cigarettes in the .-.
,.,., 1~3~762 horizontal surfaces first and second blocks of cigarettes, each of the blocks consisting of three superimposed rows of cigarettes containing the same number of parallel cigarettes in which each cigarette in the centre row is in vertical align-ment with and engages one only of the cigarettes in the upper and lower rows; the first block of cigarettes containing fifteen cigarettes in three rows of five cigarettes each and the second block of cigarettes containing twelve cigarettes in three rows of four cigarettes each; simultaneously moving the blocks of cigarettes in the plane in parallel manner ~ -longitudinally of the cigaxettes while in each block removing one of the cigarettes from the centre row and nesting the cigarettes; the removal of the one cigarette and the nesting in each block is achieved by moving all the cigarettes in the . . .
block but the cigarette located at one end of the centre row longitudinally of the cigarettes a distance at least equal to '.
one cigarette length, maintaining the remainder of the cigarettes in the block in the same relative positions during the movement and displacing the cigarettes in the centre row a distance substantially equal to the radiu9 of the cigarette~
towards the one end of the centre row while 8imultaneously ;~
preventlng lateral di~placement of the upper and lower row~ : -to cause nesting of the cigarettes in the rows; simultaneously individually wrapping the nested blocks of cigarettes to provide a first wrapped parallelepiped block containing fourteen , ~ cigarettes arranged with five cigarettes in each of the outer : : : ~ , ::
;~: rows and four cigarettes in the centre row with each cigarette ~ . . . . : .
in the centre row engaging two cigarettes in each of the outer rows and a second wrapped parallelepiped block containing .
eleven cigarettes arranged with four cigarettes in each of -.:-.
the outer rows and three ci~arettes in the centre row with . : :
each oigarette in the centre row engaging two cigarettes in ~ :
~ - r- 3C
. . ' : . " . ' '', :' : ' ' ? ~ . . .
1~3976~2 group with the exception o~ the one cigarette on the centre row at the end of the row corresponding to the one side of the surface, whereby, when the pusher moves the group of cigarettes out of the assembly station the one cigarette remains in the -assembly station as the opening in the surface by-passes the one cigarette.
The present invention provides a simplified and reliable method and apparatus for formation of the nested -group of cigarettes, which includes the formation of three rows of cigarettes containing the same number of cigarettes, the cigarettes being aligned vertically, removal of a cigarette from one end of the centre row and displacement of the remainder of the cigarettes in the centre row towardæ the one end to cause nesting of the cigarettes.
This simplified and reliable method of forming the group of three rows of cigarettes in nested arrangement may be used to advantage in the formation of a novel cigarette package, as described in pending Canadian application Serial No. 229,494 filed June 17, 1975 and assigned to Peter Stuyvesant ~;
of Canada, Limited.
As described therein, a cigarette package of 25 cigarettes is provided with a flip-top and the cigarettes are arranged in two bundles in the package, each bundle containing three nested rows of cigarettes and one less cigarette in the centre row than the outer rows. In one of the bundles, fourteen cigarettes is provided while in the other eleven cigarettes is provided.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming a cigarette package con-
1~39762 of the centre row longitudinally of the cigarettes on the plane of the surface a distance at least equal to one cigarette length; maintaining the remainder of the cigarettes in the block in the same relative positions during the move-ment; thereafter continuing the movement on the plane while simultaneously displacing the cigarettes in the centre row a distance substantially equal to the radi1ls of the cigarette towards the one end of the centre row while preventing lateral movement of the upper and lower rows to cause nesting of the cigarettes in the rows; and laterally confining the block of cigarettes during the movement and displacement steps, whereby the lateral movement of the upper and lower rows during the latter steps is prevented.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for the formation of a nested group ofcigarettes consisting of three rows of cigarettes : the central row of which contains one less cigarette than the other two rows, which comprises: a hopper for dispensing down-. wardly cigarettes in parallel rows to an assembly station; a horizontal support platform at the assembly station to receive the dispensed rows of cigarettes thereon; an elongate channel extending from the a88emb1y station towards a wrapping station : for conveying a group of three rows of cigarettes therealong;
the elongate channel comprising a generally flat bottom surface coplanar with the platform and parallel side walls upstanding : from the bottom surface a distance at least equal to the depth :
:~ . of the group of cigarettes, the side walls being spaced apart ;
. the width of the group of cigarettes; a first elongate pro-trusion on~one of the side walls extending longitudinally from the assembly station towards the wrapping station; the first .
: protrusion being dimensioned so that its maximum vertical :`: ~ ; thickness is substantially equal to the diameter of a cigarette ~::
'' ~ /~ `` ~ , 1~)3~76~
Of the group and it protrudes ~rom the one wall towards the ~ ~
other wall a distance substantially equal to the diameter of : .
a cigarette in the group adjacent the assembly station and for ~ :
a distance therefrom at least equal to the length of a cigarette in the group, the first protrusion thereafter tapering longi- :
tudinally thereof to a dimension substantially equal to the . .~ .
radius o~ a cigarette; the first protrusion having a lower :~
surface spaced from the bottom surface a distance substantially equal to the diameter of a cigarette in the group; a second elongate protrusion on the other of the walls extending longi-tudinally from a position part way along the length of the ;.
.first protrusion towards said ~rapping station and corres-. .
ponding to the position along the length of the ~irst protru~
sion o commencement of the tapering thereof; the second pro-trusion being dimensioned so that it protrudes from the other :.:
wall a distance increasing from its upstream end to a maximum dimension substantially equal to the radius of a cigarette in said group at its downstream end whi.ch coincides with the ':
downstream end of the first protrusion; the second protrusion . :
having a lower surface spaced from the bottom surface a distance . :at least the diameter of a cigarette in the group; the first and second protrusions cooperating to displace the centre row of cigarettes in the group a distance equal to the radius of :
a cigarette in that row during movement of the group along the .;
channel past the protrusions; and pusher means for pushing . ` the group. of cigarettes longitudinally thereof out of the . .
. assembly station and along the channel towards the wrapping station; the pusher means comprising a substantially vertical . ;
cigarette group-engaging surface,-the surface having a recess at one side thereof corresponding.to the oné wall and dimen~
.
~ sioned to allow the passage of a cigarette therethrough; the ..
.
: surfaoe being positioned to engage all the cigarettes in the .-.
,.,., 1~3~762 horizontal surfaces first and second blocks of cigarettes, each of the blocks consisting of three superimposed rows of cigarettes containing the same number of parallel cigarettes in which each cigarette in the centre row is in vertical align-ment with and engages one only of the cigarettes in the upper and lower rows; the first block of cigarettes containing fifteen cigarettes in three rows of five cigarettes each and the second block of cigarettes containing twelve cigarettes in three rows of four cigarettes each; simultaneously moving the blocks of cigarettes in the plane in parallel manner ~ -longitudinally of the cigaxettes while in each block removing one of the cigarettes from the centre row and nesting the cigarettes; the removal of the one cigarette and the nesting in each block is achieved by moving all the cigarettes in the . . .
block but the cigarette located at one end of the centre row longitudinally of the cigarettes a distance at least equal to '.
one cigarette length, maintaining the remainder of the cigarettes in the block in the same relative positions during the movement and displacing the cigarettes in the centre row a distance substantially equal to the radiu9 of the cigarette~
towards the one end of the centre row while 8imultaneously ;~
preventlng lateral di~placement of the upper and lower row~ : -to cause nesting of the cigarettes in the rows; simultaneously individually wrapping the nested blocks of cigarettes to provide a first wrapped parallelepiped block containing fourteen , ~ cigarettes arranged with five cigarettes in each of the outer : : : ~ , ::
;~: rows and four cigarettes in the centre row with each cigarette ~ . . . . : .
in the centre row engaging two cigarettes in each of the outer rows and a second wrapped parallelepiped block containing .
eleven cigarettes arranged with four cigarettes in each of -.:-.
the outer rows and three ci~arettes in the centre row with . : :
each oigarette in the centre row engaging two cigarettes in ~ :
~ - r- 3C
. . ' : . " . ' '', :' : ' ' ? ~ . . .
1~3976~2 group with the exception o~ the one cigarette on the centre row at the end of the row corresponding to the one side of the surface, whereby, when the pusher moves the group of cigarettes out of the assembly station the one cigarette remains in the -assembly station as the opening in the surface by-passes the one cigarette.
The present invention provides a simplified and reliable method and apparatus for formation of the nested -group of cigarettes, which includes the formation of three rows of cigarettes containing the same number of cigarettes, the cigarettes being aligned vertically, removal of a cigarette from one end of the centre row and displacement of the remainder of the cigarettes in the centre row towardæ the one end to cause nesting of the cigarettes.
This simplified and reliable method of forming the group of three rows of cigarettes in nested arrangement may be used to advantage in the formation of a novel cigarette package, as described in pending Canadian application Serial No. 229,494 filed June 17, 1975 and assigned to Peter Stuyvesant ~;
of Canada, Limited.
As described therein, a cigarette package of 25 cigarettes is provided with a flip-top and the cigarettes are arranged in two bundles in the package, each bundle containing three nested rows of cigarettes and one less cigarette in the centre row than the outer rows. In one of the bundles, fourteen cigarettes is provided while in the other eleven cigarettes is provided.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming a cigarette package con-
3~ taining 25 cigarettes which comprises: separately and simul-.
taneously positioning on later~lly-displaced coplanar : ' 1~3976Z
each of the outer rows; bringing the simultaneously wrapped blocks into engagement with each other in side face abutting relationship; and wrapping the resulting collated blocks in a cigarette package-~orming blank to provide a cigarette package containing 25 cigarettes.
.... ..
.
:,~ .,. :.' :' ' , '.~ '. . ' , ' ' :
, ~, , ' '"
...
' .
.
~ ' ,' ':
" "' '.
. . .
, .
. .
. .
:: : . , :
.
~ 3D
. .
.:
~, : -: .
1~3~762 ~
The invention is described further by way of illus-tration with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure l is a side ele~ational view of an apparatus :
in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a detail generally perspective part sectional view of the hopper area of the apparatus of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a further view of the hopper area;
Figure 4 is a detail of a portion of the conveyor of the apparatus of Figure l;
Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3;
. Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5; - .
Figure 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 5;
and . . ~ .: .
J Figure 8 is a schematic representation of a procedure ~ ~
for formation of a cigarette package. : .
Referring to the drawings, a cigarette bundling .~' apparatus 10 includes an assembly station 12, a hopper 14, :: , a wrapping station 16, an elongate channel 17 extending ` between the asse~bly station 12 and the wrapping station 16, an endless conveyor belt 18 and a plurality of pusher elements ~:
20 arranged to move a plurality of cigarettes from the assembly station to the wrapping station 16. : .~
'!~ Cigarettes are fed from the hopper 14 to the ,- .
.~ .
~' assembly station 12 through a plurality of individual vertical pa~allel channels which are separated by vanes 22. The as8embly station 12 includes laterally-confining side walls : 24.: At the base ~f the assembly station 12 is located a . ..
stationary platform 26 and a movable platform 27 pivoted for movement between a position coplanar with the stationary platform 26 and a position above the level of the platform 26, as seen from Figures 2, 3 and 5. The stationary platform 26 is : : an integral part of a base plate 28 of the apparatus.
taneously positioning on later~lly-displaced coplanar : ' 1~3976Z
each of the outer rows; bringing the simultaneously wrapped blocks into engagement with each other in side face abutting relationship; and wrapping the resulting collated blocks in a cigarette package-~orming blank to provide a cigarette package containing 25 cigarettes.
.... ..
.
:,~ .,. :.' :' ' , '.~ '. . ' , ' ' :
, ~, , ' '"
...
' .
.
~ ' ,' ':
" "' '.
. . .
, .
. .
. .
:: : . , :
.
~ 3D
. .
.:
~, : -: .
1~3~762 ~
The invention is described further by way of illus-tration with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure l is a side ele~ational view of an apparatus :
in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a detail generally perspective part sectional view of the hopper area of the apparatus of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a further view of the hopper area;
Figure 4 is a detail of a portion of the conveyor of the apparatus of Figure l;
Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3;
. Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5; - .
Figure 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 5;
and . . ~ .: .
J Figure 8 is a schematic representation of a procedure ~ ~
for formation of a cigarette package. : .
Referring to the drawings, a cigarette bundling .~' apparatus 10 includes an assembly station 12, a hopper 14, :: , a wrapping station 16, an elongate channel 17 extending ` between the asse~bly station 12 and the wrapping station 16, an endless conveyor belt 18 and a plurality of pusher elements ~:
20 arranged to move a plurality of cigarettes from the assembly station to the wrapping station 16. : .~
'!~ Cigarettes are fed from the hopper 14 to the ,- .
.~ .
~' assembly station 12 through a plurality of individual vertical pa~allel channels which are separated by vanes 22. The as8embly station 12 includes laterally-confining side walls : 24.: At the base ~f the assembly station 12 is located a . ..
stationary platform 26 and a movable platform 27 pivoted for movement between a position coplanar with the stationary platform 26 and a position above the level of the platform 26, as seen from Figures 2, 3 and 5. The stationary platform 26 is : : an integral part of a base plate 28 of the apparatus.
- 4 , ~ .
1~39762 With the movable platform 27 in its coplanar posi-tions, cigarettes are positioned in the assembly station 12 in a plurality of rows each containing the same number of cigarettes.
The front and rear faces of the assembly station 12 are open to allow passage of the pusher element 20 therethrough.
The base plate 28 has an elongate slot 30 extending from the assembly station 12 to the wrapping station 16 to allow for communication of the drive portion and driven portion of the pusher members 20 and movement of the pusher members 30 between the stations.
The pusher members 20 each include a base 32 which is secured to the endless conveyor 18 by cross members 33 and a head 34 joined to the base 32 by a web 36 which extends through the slot 30.
The head 34 has a planar cigarette-engaging front surface 38 and a sloping rear surface 40. Formed in the head 34 are vertical slots 42 extending downwardly from the upper surface of the head 34 to allow the head 34 to pass the centre two vanes 22 in the assembly station without fouling the same.
Two grooves 44 also are provided in the upper surface of the head 34 to allow the head 34 to pass the outer two vanes 22 ; without fouling the same.
The head 34 has a recess or cutaway 46 formed at its right hand end (as seen in Figure 2~ extending generally perpendicularly of the front surface 38 and generally semi-circular in shape with a radius greater than a cigarette radius.
- A second smaller recess 48 is formed at the left .
hand end of the head 34 also extending generally perpendicularly of~the front surface 38. The second recess 48 is dimensioned to allow the head 34 to pass protrusions from the channel 17 1~13~76Z
corresponding to that side of the head 34 and described in more detail below. The head 34 of the pusher member 20 is dimensioned so that the front surface 38 engages three rows of cigarettes simultaneously for pushing such three rows out of the assembly station 12 and into the channel 17. The elongate channel 17 includes a bottom surface which is part of the base plate 28 and upright side walls 50.
The side walls 50 are spaced apart a distance sub- -~
stantially equal to the width of the group of cigarettes to be wrapped, except immediately adjacent the assembly station 12 where the width is slightly greater to allow for the less compact form of the group of cigarettes in the assembly station 12.
A first protrusion 52 is provided extending longi-tudinally from the assembly station 12 towards the wrapping station 16 a distance which is at least one cigarette length. ~-. ....... . .
The protrusion 52 is located on the wall 50 corresponding to the side on which is located the recess 46 in the head 34 of the pusher member 20.
The protrusion 52 is positioned and dimensioned to take the position of a cigarette of the centre row of cigarettes.
The protrusion 52 is tapered at its downstream end.
A second protrusion 54 extends from the other wall 50 and is tapered at its assembly station 12 end and extends in overlapping relationship with the first protrusion 52.
In operation, the planar surface 38 engages three rows of cigarettes positioned in the assembly station 12 and pushes the group of cigarettes out of the assembly station 12 and into the channel 17. The cigarette at the end of the centre row aligned with the recess 46, however, is not sub- -jected to such pushing action and hence remains at the assembly station 12.
.~
1~)3976Z
To discourage this cigarette from being drawn forward by the frictional forces of the neighbouring upper and lower cigarettes, a stop member or pin 56 typically is provided at the exit of the assembly station 12 in alignment with the -ënd cigarette so that if there is a tendency for that cigarette to be carried forward it will be restrained by the stop member 56.
As the group of cigarettes is discharged from the assembly station 12, the first protrusion 52 occupies the space in a group of cigarettes vacated by the cigarette left behind at the assembly station to prevent the cigarette in the top row above the vacated space from falling down. The group of cigarettes is compacted by narrowing distance between the side walls 50 when it first leaves the assembly station 12.
When the second protrusion 54 engages the cigarette located at the other end of the middle row from the missing cigarette to displace that cigarette and hence the other cigarettes of the middle row sideways a distance equal to a one-half cigarette diameter, the cigarettes in khe bundle move into a nesting arrangement. The displacement is possible since the first protrusion 52 tapers at its downstream end in its overlapping relationship with the protrusion 54.
The side walls 50 serve to prevent lateral dis-pla~ement of the cigarettes in the other rows during the lateral di~placement of the centre row of cigarettes. The resulting nested group of cigarette5 in which the number of cigarettes in the middle row is one less than the number in ;
the outer rows then is forwarded to the wrapping station 16.
The cigarette which is left at $he assembly station 12 falls down to become the end cigarette of the bottom row of the next formed group of cigarettes discharged from the hopper through the vanes 22.
~ - 7 - ~-1~39762 -8-As the bundle passes beyond the movable platform 27, the platform 27 pivots upwardly and assists in guiding the left-behind cigarette to its position as may be seen from Figure 7. A cut-away guide 58 assists in maintaining ~-the cigarette in longitudinal alignment and guards against the cigarette falling cross-wise onto the platforms 26 and 27. A reciprocating pusher pin 60 also may be used to engage the forward end of the cigarette to correct its alignment.
Other devices may be used to ensure the proper location of the left-behind cigarette.
While the operation and structure of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.l to 7 is directed to ~-~
the formation of a group of three rows of nested cigarettes containing 14 cigarettes, this particular number of cigarettes is chosen as the number of cigarettes to be included in one bundle of a two bundle - 25 cigarette pack formed in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention described in more , detail below. The invention may be used to form a group of ¦ nested cigarettes containing any convenient number in three rows, including S, 8, 11, 17 and 20 cigarettes.
20 cigarettes is a conventional number in such a bundle. It will be seen that the above-described apparatus and procedure provides a simplified and reliable manner of producing such conventional bundles.
! Referring now to Figure 8, cigarettes from any ~, source are fed by line 100 to a hopper 102 designed to dis- ;
perse cigarettes to two assembly stations 104 and 106. The assembly stations 104 and 106 are typically designed as shown in Figure 2 to provide a group of three rows of cigarettes.
The assembly station 104 is designed to provide a group of fifteen cigarettes while assembly station 106 is designed to provide a group of twelve cigarettes. The assembly station 104 with its associated pusher may be as shown in Figures 1 to 7~- While as~embly station 106 is ~ ~
, , ~ 3976Z
dimensioned to accommodate only four cigarettes in each row by the use of a single centre vane 22 and two outer vanes 22. The pusher 20 is proportionally dimensioned with only one slot 42 being provided in the head thereof.
The grou~ of cigarettes simultaneously formed in the assembly stations 104 and 106 then pass through cigarette removal and nesting 108 and 110 respectively, typically in - equivalent manner to these operations as outlined above with respect to the apparatus of Figures 1 to 7.
The nested bundles of 14 and 11 cigarettes respect-ively then are passed to separate bundle wrapping operations 112 and 114 in which the bundles are wrapped in foil paper or other conventional wrapping to provide individual wrapped bundles.
The wrapped bundles are intended to provide a single package of 25 cigarettes of the type described above and out-lined in the aforementioned pending Canadian application Serial No.229,494. The bundles typically are block-shaped having the same depth but different widths, owing to the three-row nested configuration of the cigarettes in each bundle and the different numbers of the cigarettes in the two blocks.
The bundles then are collated in side-abutting relationship at 116 followed by positioning of the collated bundles on a blank at 118, the blank being one from which the pack enclosure is to bc formed. The blank is folded at 120 to provide the finished cigarette package which is removed by line 122. Blank positioning and folding operations àre well known and require no description.
The blank preferably is one which olds to a "flip-30 top" type package. The embodiment of Figure ~ therefore, -illustrates the formation of the novel cigarette pack of the above-mentioned application by modificatian of conventional _ 9 _ ' ~
. : ' : '.
.. . . . .
1~3976Z
procedures and preferably using the nested bundle formation procedure of the invention.
It will be seen, therefore, that the present invention provides an improved cigarette bundling procedure. ~ ~ -Modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.
. . .
.
~ ;
, ~
; ; 30 ; ~
~: , . ,' ' -. .
- 1 0 - - . "
1~39762 With the movable platform 27 in its coplanar posi-tions, cigarettes are positioned in the assembly station 12 in a plurality of rows each containing the same number of cigarettes.
The front and rear faces of the assembly station 12 are open to allow passage of the pusher element 20 therethrough.
The base plate 28 has an elongate slot 30 extending from the assembly station 12 to the wrapping station 16 to allow for communication of the drive portion and driven portion of the pusher members 20 and movement of the pusher members 30 between the stations.
The pusher members 20 each include a base 32 which is secured to the endless conveyor 18 by cross members 33 and a head 34 joined to the base 32 by a web 36 which extends through the slot 30.
The head 34 has a planar cigarette-engaging front surface 38 and a sloping rear surface 40. Formed in the head 34 are vertical slots 42 extending downwardly from the upper surface of the head 34 to allow the head 34 to pass the centre two vanes 22 in the assembly station without fouling the same.
Two grooves 44 also are provided in the upper surface of the head 34 to allow the head 34 to pass the outer two vanes 22 ; without fouling the same.
The head 34 has a recess or cutaway 46 formed at its right hand end (as seen in Figure 2~ extending generally perpendicularly of the front surface 38 and generally semi-circular in shape with a radius greater than a cigarette radius.
- A second smaller recess 48 is formed at the left .
hand end of the head 34 also extending generally perpendicularly of~the front surface 38. The second recess 48 is dimensioned to allow the head 34 to pass protrusions from the channel 17 1~13~76Z
corresponding to that side of the head 34 and described in more detail below. The head 34 of the pusher member 20 is dimensioned so that the front surface 38 engages three rows of cigarettes simultaneously for pushing such three rows out of the assembly station 12 and into the channel 17. The elongate channel 17 includes a bottom surface which is part of the base plate 28 and upright side walls 50.
The side walls 50 are spaced apart a distance sub- -~
stantially equal to the width of the group of cigarettes to be wrapped, except immediately adjacent the assembly station 12 where the width is slightly greater to allow for the less compact form of the group of cigarettes in the assembly station 12.
A first protrusion 52 is provided extending longi-tudinally from the assembly station 12 towards the wrapping station 16 a distance which is at least one cigarette length. ~-. ....... . .
The protrusion 52 is located on the wall 50 corresponding to the side on which is located the recess 46 in the head 34 of the pusher member 20.
The protrusion 52 is positioned and dimensioned to take the position of a cigarette of the centre row of cigarettes.
The protrusion 52 is tapered at its downstream end.
A second protrusion 54 extends from the other wall 50 and is tapered at its assembly station 12 end and extends in overlapping relationship with the first protrusion 52.
In operation, the planar surface 38 engages three rows of cigarettes positioned in the assembly station 12 and pushes the group of cigarettes out of the assembly station 12 and into the channel 17. The cigarette at the end of the centre row aligned with the recess 46, however, is not sub- -jected to such pushing action and hence remains at the assembly station 12.
.~
1~)3976Z
To discourage this cigarette from being drawn forward by the frictional forces of the neighbouring upper and lower cigarettes, a stop member or pin 56 typically is provided at the exit of the assembly station 12 in alignment with the -ënd cigarette so that if there is a tendency for that cigarette to be carried forward it will be restrained by the stop member 56.
As the group of cigarettes is discharged from the assembly station 12, the first protrusion 52 occupies the space in a group of cigarettes vacated by the cigarette left behind at the assembly station to prevent the cigarette in the top row above the vacated space from falling down. The group of cigarettes is compacted by narrowing distance between the side walls 50 when it first leaves the assembly station 12.
When the second protrusion 54 engages the cigarette located at the other end of the middle row from the missing cigarette to displace that cigarette and hence the other cigarettes of the middle row sideways a distance equal to a one-half cigarette diameter, the cigarettes in khe bundle move into a nesting arrangement. The displacement is possible since the first protrusion 52 tapers at its downstream end in its overlapping relationship with the protrusion 54.
The side walls 50 serve to prevent lateral dis-pla~ement of the cigarettes in the other rows during the lateral di~placement of the centre row of cigarettes. The resulting nested group of cigarette5 in which the number of cigarettes in the middle row is one less than the number in ;
the outer rows then is forwarded to the wrapping station 16.
The cigarette which is left at $he assembly station 12 falls down to become the end cigarette of the bottom row of the next formed group of cigarettes discharged from the hopper through the vanes 22.
~ - 7 - ~-1~39762 -8-As the bundle passes beyond the movable platform 27, the platform 27 pivots upwardly and assists in guiding the left-behind cigarette to its position as may be seen from Figure 7. A cut-away guide 58 assists in maintaining ~-the cigarette in longitudinal alignment and guards against the cigarette falling cross-wise onto the platforms 26 and 27. A reciprocating pusher pin 60 also may be used to engage the forward end of the cigarette to correct its alignment.
Other devices may be used to ensure the proper location of the left-behind cigarette.
While the operation and structure of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.l to 7 is directed to ~-~
the formation of a group of three rows of nested cigarettes containing 14 cigarettes, this particular number of cigarettes is chosen as the number of cigarettes to be included in one bundle of a two bundle - 25 cigarette pack formed in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention described in more , detail below. The invention may be used to form a group of ¦ nested cigarettes containing any convenient number in three rows, including S, 8, 11, 17 and 20 cigarettes.
20 cigarettes is a conventional number in such a bundle. It will be seen that the above-described apparatus and procedure provides a simplified and reliable manner of producing such conventional bundles.
! Referring now to Figure 8, cigarettes from any ~, source are fed by line 100 to a hopper 102 designed to dis- ;
perse cigarettes to two assembly stations 104 and 106. The assembly stations 104 and 106 are typically designed as shown in Figure 2 to provide a group of three rows of cigarettes.
The assembly station 104 is designed to provide a group of fifteen cigarettes while assembly station 106 is designed to provide a group of twelve cigarettes. The assembly station 104 with its associated pusher may be as shown in Figures 1 to 7~- While as~embly station 106 is ~ ~
, , ~ 3976Z
dimensioned to accommodate only four cigarettes in each row by the use of a single centre vane 22 and two outer vanes 22. The pusher 20 is proportionally dimensioned with only one slot 42 being provided in the head thereof.
The grou~ of cigarettes simultaneously formed in the assembly stations 104 and 106 then pass through cigarette removal and nesting 108 and 110 respectively, typically in - equivalent manner to these operations as outlined above with respect to the apparatus of Figures 1 to 7.
The nested bundles of 14 and 11 cigarettes respect-ively then are passed to separate bundle wrapping operations 112 and 114 in which the bundles are wrapped in foil paper or other conventional wrapping to provide individual wrapped bundles.
The wrapped bundles are intended to provide a single package of 25 cigarettes of the type described above and out-lined in the aforementioned pending Canadian application Serial No.229,494. The bundles typically are block-shaped having the same depth but different widths, owing to the three-row nested configuration of the cigarettes in each bundle and the different numbers of the cigarettes in the two blocks.
The bundles then are collated in side-abutting relationship at 116 followed by positioning of the collated bundles on a blank at 118, the blank being one from which the pack enclosure is to bc formed. The blank is folded at 120 to provide the finished cigarette package which is removed by line 122. Blank positioning and folding operations àre well known and require no description.
The blank preferably is one which olds to a "flip-30 top" type package. The embodiment of Figure ~ therefore, -illustrates the formation of the novel cigarette pack of the above-mentioned application by modificatian of conventional _ 9 _ ' ~
. : ' : '.
.. . . . .
1~3976Z
procedures and preferably using the nested bundle formation procedure of the invention.
It will be seen, therefore, that the present invention provides an improved cigarette bundling procedure. ~ ~ -Modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.
. . .
.
~ ;
, ~
; ; 30 ; ~
~: , . ,' ' -. .
- 1 0 - - . "
Claims (16)
1. A method for the formation of a nested group of cigarettes consisting of three rows of cigarettes the centre row of which contains one less cigarette than the outer two rows, which comprises:
positioning on a substantially horizontal surface a block of cigarettes consisting of three superimposed rows of cigarettes containing the same number of parallel cigarettes in which each cigarette in the centre row is in vertical align-ment with and engages one only of the cigarettes in the upper and lower rows, moving all the cigarettes of said block but the cigarette located at one end of the centre row longitudinally of the cigarettes on the plane of said surface a distance at least equal to one cigarette length, maintaining the remainder of the cigarettes in said block in the same relative positions during said movement, thereafter continuing said movement on said plane while simultaneously displacing the cigarettes in said centre row a distance substantially equal to the radius of the cigarette towards said one end of said centre row while preventing lateral movement of said upper and lower rows to cause nesting of the cigarettes in said rows, and laterally confining said block of cigarettes during said movement and displacement steps, whereby said lateral movement of said upper and lower rows during said latter steps is prevented.
positioning on a substantially horizontal surface a block of cigarettes consisting of three superimposed rows of cigarettes containing the same number of parallel cigarettes in which each cigarette in the centre row is in vertical align-ment with and engages one only of the cigarettes in the upper and lower rows, moving all the cigarettes of said block but the cigarette located at one end of the centre row longitudinally of the cigarettes on the plane of said surface a distance at least equal to one cigarette length, maintaining the remainder of the cigarettes in said block in the same relative positions during said movement, thereafter continuing said movement on said plane while simultaneously displacing the cigarettes in said centre row a distance substantially equal to the radius of the cigarette towards said one end of said centre row while preventing lateral movement of said upper and lower rows to cause nesting of the cigarettes in said rows, and laterally confining said block of cigarettes during said movement and displacement steps, whereby said lateral movement of said upper and lower rows during said latter steps is prevented.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the cigarette located at said one end of the centre row is moved vertically downwardly onto said surface after said remainder of said cigarettes has moved off said surface to form one end cigarette of the bottom row of the next block of cigarettes formed on said surface.
3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said nested group contains twenty cigarettes.
4. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein said nested group contains fourteen cigarettes.
5. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein said nested group contains eleven cigarettes.
6. A method of forming a cigarette package containing 25 cigarettes which comprises:
separately and simultaneously positioning on laterally-displaced coplanar horizontal surfaces first and second blocks of cigarettes, each of said blocks consisting of three superimposed rows of cigarettes containing the same number of parallel cigarettes in which each cigarette in the centre row is in vertical alignment with and engages one only of the cigarettes in the upper and lower rows, said first block of cigarettes containing fifteen cigarettes in three rows of five cigarettes each and said second block of cigarettes containing twelve cigarettes in three rows of four cigarettes each, simultaneously moving said blocks of cigarettes in said plane in parallel manner longitudinally of said cigarettes while in each block removing one of the cigarette from the centre row and nesting the cigarettes, said removal of said one cigarette and said nesting in each block is achieved by moving all the cigarettes in the block but the cigarette located at one end of the centre row longitudinally of the cigarettes a distance at least equal to one cigarette length, maintaining the remainder of the cigarettes in the block in the same relative positions during said movement and displacing the cigarettes in said centre row a distance substantially equal to the radius of the cigarette towards said one end of the centre row while simultaneously preventing lateral displacement of said upper and lower rows to cause nesting of the cigarettes in said rows, simultaneously individually wrapping the nested blocks of cigarettes to provide a first wrapped parallelepiped block containing fourteen cigarettes arranged with five cigarettes in each of the outer rows and four cigarettes in the centre row with each cigarette in the centre row engaging two cigarettes in each of the outer rows and a second wrapped parallelepiped block containing eleven cigarettes arranged with four cigarettes in each of the outer rows and three cigarettes in the centre row with each cigarette in the centre row engaging two cigarettes in each of the outer rows, bringing the simultaneously wrapped blocks into engagement with each other in side face abutting relationship, and wrapping the resulting collated blocks in a cigarette package-forming blank to provide a cigarette package containing 25 cigarettes.
separately and simultaneously positioning on laterally-displaced coplanar horizontal surfaces first and second blocks of cigarettes, each of said blocks consisting of three superimposed rows of cigarettes containing the same number of parallel cigarettes in which each cigarette in the centre row is in vertical alignment with and engages one only of the cigarettes in the upper and lower rows, said first block of cigarettes containing fifteen cigarettes in three rows of five cigarettes each and said second block of cigarettes containing twelve cigarettes in three rows of four cigarettes each, simultaneously moving said blocks of cigarettes in said plane in parallel manner longitudinally of said cigarettes while in each block removing one of the cigarette from the centre row and nesting the cigarettes, said removal of said one cigarette and said nesting in each block is achieved by moving all the cigarettes in the block but the cigarette located at one end of the centre row longitudinally of the cigarettes a distance at least equal to one cigarette length, maintaining the remainder of the cigarettes in the block in the same relative positions during said movement and displacing the cigarettes in said centre row a distance substantially equal to the radius of the cigarette towards said one end of the centre row while simultaneously preventing lateral displacement of said upper and lower rows to cause nesting of the cigarettes in said rows, simultaneously individually wrapping the nested blocks of cigarettes to provide a first wrapped parallelepiped block containing fourteen cigarettes arranged with five cigarettes in each of the outer rows and four cigarettes in the centre row with each cigarette in the centre row engaging two cigarettes in each of the outer rows and a second wrapped parallelepiped block containing eleven cigarettes arranged with four cigarettes in each of the outer rows and three cigarettes in the centre row with each cigarette in the centre row engaging two cigarettes in each of the outer rows, bringing the simultaneously wrapped blocks into engagement with each other in side face abutting relationship, and wrapping the resulting collated blocks in a cigarette package-forming blank to provide a cigarette package containing 25 cigarettes.
7. Apparatus for the formation of a nested group of cigarettes consisting of three rows of cigarettes the central row of which contains one less cigarette than the other two rows, which comprises:
a hopper for dispensing downwardly cigarettes in parallel rows to an assembly station, a horizontal support platform at said assembly station to receive said dispensed rows of cigarettes thereon, an elongate channel extending from said assembly station towards a wrapping station for conveying a group of three rows of cigarettes therealong, said elongate channel comprising a generally flat bottom surface coplanar with said platform and parallel side walls upstanding from said bottom surface a distance at least equal to the depth of the group of cigarettes, said side walls being spaced apart the width of said group of cigarettes, a first elongate protrusion on one of said side walls extending longitudinally from said assembly station towards said wrapping station, said first protrusion being dimensioned so that its maximum vertical thickness is substantially equal to the diameter of a cigarette of said group and it protrudes from said one wall towards the other wall a distance substantially equal to the diameter of a cigarette in said group adjacent said assembly station and for a distance therefrom at least equal to the length of a cigarette in said group, said first pro-trusion thereafter tapering longitudinally thereof to a dimension substantially equal to the radius of a cigarette, said first protrusion having a lower surface spaced from said bottom surface a distance substantially equal to the diameter of a cigarette in said group, a second elongate protrusion on the other of said walls extending longitudinally from a position part way along the length of said first protrusion towards said wrapping station and corresponding to the position along the length of said first protrusion of commencement of said tapering there-of, said second protrusion being dimensioned so that it protrudes from said other wall a distance increasing from its upstream end to a maximum dimension substantially equal to the radius of a cigarette in said group at its down-stream end which coincides with the downstream end of said first protrusion, said second protrusion having a lower surface spaced from said bottom surface a distance at least the diameter of a cigarette in said group, said first and second protrusions cooperating to displace the centre row of cigarettes in the group a distance equal to the radius of a cigarette in that row during movement of said group along said channel past said protrusions, and pusher means for pushing said group of cigarettes longitudinally thereof out of said assembly station and along said channel towards said wrapping station, said pusher means comprising a substantially vertical cigarette group-engaging surface, said surface having a recess at one side thereof corresponding to said one wall and dimensioned to allow the passage of a cigarette there-through, said surface being positioned to engage all the cigarettes in said group with the exception of the one cigarette on the centre row at the end of said row corres-ponding to said one side of said surface, whereby, when said pusher moves said group of cigarettes out of said assembly station said one cigarette remains in said assembly station as the opening in said surface by-passes said one cigarette.
a hopper for dispensing downwardly cigarettes in parallel rows to an assembly station, a horizontal support platform at said assembly station to receive said dispensed rows of cigarettes thereon, an elongate channel extending from said assembly station towards a wrapping station for conveying a group of three rows of cigarettes therealong, said elongate channel comprising a generally flat bottom surface coplanar with said platform and parallel side walls upstanding from said bottom surface a distance at least equal to the depth of the group of cigarettes, said side walls being spaced apart the width of said group of cigarettes, a first elongate protrusion on one of said side walls extending longitudinally from said assembly station towards said wrapping station, said first protrusion being dimensioned so that its maximum vertical thickness is substantially equal to the diameter of a cigarette of said group and it protrudes from said one wall towards the other wall a distance substantially equal to the diameter of a cigarette in said group adjacent said assembly station and for a distance therefrom at least equal to the length of a cigarette in said group, said first pro-trusion thereafter tapering longitudinally thereof to a dimension substantially equal to the radius of a cigarette, said first protrusion having a lower surface spaced from said bottom surface a distance substantially equal to the diameter of a cigarette in said group, a second elongate protrusion on the other of said walls extending longitudinally from a position part way along the length of said first protrusion towards said wrapping station and corresponding to the position along the length of said first protrusion of commencement of said tapering there-of, said second protrusion being dimensioned so that it protrudes from said other wall a distance increasing from its upstream end to a maximum dimension substantially equal to the radius of a cigarette in said group at its down-stream end which coincides with the downstream end of said first protrusion, said second protrusion having a lower surface spaced from said bottom surface a distance at least the diameter of a cigarette in said group, said first and second protrusions cooperating to displace the centre row of cigarettes in the group a distance equal to the radius of a cigarette in that row during movement of said group along said channel past said protrusions, and pusher means for pushing said group of cigarettes longitudinally thereof out of said assembly station and along said channel towards said wrapping station, said pusher means comprising a substantially vertical cigarette group-engaging surface, said surface having a recess at one side thereof corresponding to said one wall and dimensioned to allow the passage of a cigarette there-through, said surface being positioned to engage all the cigarettes in said group with the exception of the one cigarette on the centre row at the end of said row corres-ponding to said one side of said surface, whereby, when said pusher moves said group of cigarettes out of said assembly station said one cigarette remains in said assembly station as the opening in said surface by-passes said one cigarette.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said hopper includes a plurality of vertical vane members separating the cigarettes of said rows from each other during dispensing.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 or 8 including stop means located at the exit from said assembly station in alignment with said one cigarette to inhibit longitudinally movement of said one cigarette.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said side walls are spaced apart a greater distance immediately adjacent said assembly station than elsewhere along the length of said channel.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 including a drive conveyor means extending from said assembly station to said wrapping station, a plurality of said pusher means mounted on said conveyor means at spaced locations therealong for successive engagement of blocks of cigarettes in said assembly station and movement thereof along said channel to said wrapping station.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 including an elongate open-ing formed in each of said platform and said bottom surface of said channel, and wherein said drive conveyor is located below said platform and said surface and each of said pusher means comprises a base member mounted on said drive conveyor, a head member including said vertical surface extending generally transverse of said head member, and a vertical web member integrally joining said base and head members and adapted to extending through said elongate opening during movement of said pusher means from said assembly station to said wrapping station.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said head member and a semi-circular recess at said one side perpendicular to said surface, and a recess at the other side to allow passage of said head past said second protrusion without engaging the same.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said hopper includes a plurality of vertical vane members separating the cigarettes of said rows from each other during dispensing, and said head member includes vertical slots therein in locations corres-ponding to said vanes and arranged to avoid engagement between said head member and said vanes during passage of the head member through said assembly station.
15. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said horizontal support platform at said assembly station comprises a first stationary platform portion and a second movable platform portion mounted for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the platform between a first position coplanar with said stationary platform portion and a second position above the level of the stationary platform portion; said movable platform portion being positioned coplanarly with said stationary platform portion when said dispensed rows of cigarettes are located at said assembly station for ejection therefrom by said pusher means and being pivoted upwardly when said pusher means has moved out of said assembly station to assist in guiding the cigarette left behind in said assembly station into position on said platform upon return of the movable platform portion to said coplanar position with said stationary platform portion.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 including positioning means for ensuring longitudinal alignment of the left-behind cigarette at the assembly station.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA246,428A CA1039762A (en) | 1976-02-24 | 1976-02-24 | Bundling of cigarettes |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA246,428A CA1039762A (en) | 1976-02-24 | 1976-02-24 | Bundling of cigarettes |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1039762A true CA1039762A (en) | 1978-10-03 |
Family
ID=4105307
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA246,428A Expired CA1039762A (en) | 1976-02-24 | 1976-02-24 | Bundling of cigarettes |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1039762A (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0790186A1 (en) * | 1996-02-19 | 1997-08-20 | G.D Societa' Per Azioni | Unit for forming groups of cigarettes |
| CN104443502A (en) * | 2014-09-29 | 2015-03-25 | 佛山市顺德区美嘉思食品有限公司 | Strip-shaped biscuit quantitative conveying managing device |
| CN107814001A (en) * | 2017-11-09 | 2018-03-20 | 江苏汤姆森智能装备有限公司 | A kind of three row's weighing filling machines |
| WO2020035784A1 (en) * | 2018-08-16 | 2020-02-20 | International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. Z O.O. | Method of filling containers with rod-like articles |
-
1976
- 1976-02-24 CA CA246,428A patent/CA1039762A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0790186A1 (en) * | 1996-02-19 | 1997-08-20 | G.D Societa' Per Azioni | Unit for forming groups of cigarettes |
| CN104443502A (en) * | 2014-09-29 | 2015-03-25 | 佛山市顺德区美嘉思食品有限公司 | Strip-shaped biscuit quantitative conveying managing device |
| CN107814001A (en) * | 2017-11-09 | 2018-03-20 | 江苏汤姆森智能装备有限公司 | A kind of three row's weighing filling machines |
| WO2020035784A1 (en) * | 2018-08-16 | 2020-02-20 | International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. Z O.O. | Method of filling containers with rod-like articles |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4771882A (en) | Cigarette package with spacer | |
| US5214901A (en) | Apparatus and method for inserting a spacer between two packs of cigarettes | |
| US4507903A (en) | Packing cigarettes | |
| EP1160165B1 (en) | A device for forming groups of cigarettes | |
| EP0959002B1 (en) | Device for packaging groups of (single-)packages | |
| US4096682A (en) | Bundling of cigarettes | |
| JPH0710688B2 (en) | A method for forming a group of cigarettes in a cigarette parceling machine. | |
| CZ279197A3 (en) | Packaging machine for multiple packaging | |
| DE19743120A1 (en) | Container pack for cigarettes and method and device for producing the same | |
| EP2703304B1 (en) | Method and device for filling packages | |
| DE19716930A1 (en) | Device for producing preferably large packs | |
| DE19512547B4 (en) | Device for producing and filling carton blank packaging with lumpy packaged goods | |
| EP1052192A1 (en) | A packet for a group of articles of elongated shape, and method of manufacture | |
| JP7704759B2 (en) | How to pair packs | |
| CA1039762A (en) | Bundling of cigarettes | |
| EP0893349B1 (en) | Method and device for making packaging units | |
| GB2132975A (en) | Machine for packing cigarettes | |
| EP2582595A1 (en) | Pack for cigarettes and method and device for producing same | |
| US5476354A (en) | Method and apparatus for opening soft-cup cigarette packs | |
| US4341298A (en) | Forming groups of rod-like articles | |
| RU2229831C2 (en) | Method for feeding of cigarettes to hopper discharge opening and hopper for feeding of cigarettes | |
| US7128520B2 (en) | Method and a device for transferring articles, in particular blister packs, to the feeding line of a packaging machine | |
| US5375392A (en) | Formation of cigarette blocks | |
| CN111086676A (en) | Method and apparatus for manufacturing packages of tobacco industry products | |
| US20050061828A1 (en) | Smoking product packaging device and method |