GB1570605A

GB1570605A - Wrapping groups of cigarettes

Info

Publication number: GB1570605A
Application number: GB1240976A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Molins Ltd
Current assignee: Mpac Group PLC
Priority date: 1976-03-27
Filing date: 1976-03-27
Publication date: 1980-07-02
Also published as: JPS52120095A

Description

(54) WRAPPING GROUPS OF CIGARETTES (71) We, MOLINS LIMITED, a British Company, of 2 Evelyn Street, Deptford, London, SE8 5DH, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention is concerned with a method of and apparatus for wrapping groups of cigarettes.

In a conventional soft packet, a group or bundle of cigarettes is contained first in an inner foil wrapper which entirely surrounds the cigarettes, next in a paper label formed into a cup with an open top which is usually partly covered by a revenue stamp, and lastly in a moisture-proof wrapper entirely surrounding the contents. Such a construction has been considered necessary to maintain the cigarettes in the packet in a fresh condition, and thus give them an adequate shelf life. However with improved materials, such as polypropylene, which are now available for the outer wrapper, there is nowadays little difficulty in providing an adequate shelf life.

According to the invention we provide a method of wrapping groups of cigarettes, comprising the steps of feeding a succession of wrappers along a first path, each wrapper being disposed in a U-shape, the sides of the U-shaped wrapper lying in planes perpendicular to the path, synchronously feeding groups of cigarettes along a second path which is closely spaced and parallel to the first path at least at a transfer position therebetween, the axes of the cigarettes being perpendicular to the two paths at said transfer position, successively engaging an end of each group to transfer the group axially into a wrapper when in alignment therewith at said transfer position, the group being transferred in an oblique direction towards said first path, folding over said sides of each wrapper on to the group to form a tubular wrapper, and forming a folded closure at one end thereof.

The invention also extends to apparatus for wrapping groups of cigarettes, comprising a continuously driven first conveyor for feeding a succession of U-shaped wrapper, the sides of each wrapper lying in planes perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor, a continuously driven second conveyor for feeding groups of cigarettes in synchronism and in alignment with said wrappers, the first and second conveyors being closely spaced and parallel at least at a transfer position therebetween, the axes of the groups of cigarettes being perpendicular to the directions of movement of the first and second conveyors at said transfer position, pusher means for successively engaging an end of each group to transfer the group axially into an adjacent wrapper at said transfer position, said pusher means moving in an oblique direction towards said moving in an oblique direction towards said first conveyor at said transfer position, means for folding over the sides of the wrapper on to the group to form a tubular wrapper, and means for forming a folded closure at one end thereof.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the sequence of wrapping operations in the formation of a soft packet, Figure 2 is a schematic plan of a machine for performing the wrapping operations shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the packet so formed, prior to being overwrapped, and Figure 4 is a front view of a modification of the wrapping machine shown in Figure 2.

Referring first to Figure 2, there is shown a conveyor 10 travelling towards the left, as indicated by the arrow, and carrying a succession of compartments 11 each adapted to receive a group or bundle of filter tipped cigarettees. Three cigarette hopper, (of which delivery drums 12 only are shown) are provided above the conveyor 10 to form successive rows of cigarettes in each compartment to make up a conventional bundle B of 20 cigarettes (see also Figure 1). The hoppers containing drums 12 are preferably of the type disclosed in our co-pending British Application No. 11325176 (Serial No. 1,524,463) to which reference is made in its entirety. However other means may, alternatively, be provided to form bundles of cigarettes in the compartments 11.

Running parallel and partly adjacent to the conveyor 10 is another conveyor 13 travelling at the same speed as conveyor 10.

The conveyor 13 is provided with U-shaped compartments 14 which are aligned and in close proximity with the compartments 11, while travelling adjacent to one another. At the upstream end of the conveyor 13 is a device 13A for inserting a wrapper of aluminium foil F in each compartment 14. Figure 1 shows a wrapper formed in the shape of a U, the respective compartment 14 not being shown in Figure 1, for the sake of clarity. The two sides of the wrapper F are unequal as shown, the leading side being higher than the trailing side, as considered in the direction of movement of the conveyor 13.

At a transfer position above the downstream end of the conveyor 10 is an overhead conveyor belt 15 which runs obliquely towards the conveyor 13, as shown by the arrow. The speed of the belt 15 is such that its component of motion to the left corresponds with the speed of the conveyors 10 and 13. Depending lugs 16 carried by the belt 15 successively engage the bundles of cigarettes at the end of the conveyor 10 and move them laterallv so that each enters a U-shaped wrapper F in the compartment 14 of the conveyor 13. Each lug 16 is arranged to reverse out of engagement with the bundle as soon as the end of the bundle engaged by the lug (preferably, as shown, the filter tip end) is level with the top edae of the respective wrapper (see position PO) i.e. with the edge nearest the conveyor 10.

In moving on the convevor 13 to a position Pl, the trailing and leading upstanding sides of the wrapper F are folded down onto the bundle and glued together (by conventional means, not shown) to form an open-ended tube. Between positions P1 and P2 there are further folders. tuckers and gluers (indictated generally at 23) which form an end closure at the bottom of the tube, resulting in a foil bundle with an open top end (position P2) i.e. in the form of a so-called "cup".

A second overhead conveyor belt 17 having lurs 18, and generally similar to the belt 15. now engages the foil wrapped bundle at P2 and transfers it on to a further conveyor 19 disposed perpendicular to the conveyor 13. The speeds of belt 17 and conveyors 13 and 19, and the direction of travel of belt 17, are so related that the component of motion of the belt 17 parallel to each conveyor equals that conveyor's speed.

Paper labels L are fed down across the path of conveyor 19, and as each bundle B is plunged into a label at position P3 the label is folded about the bottom and the large faces of the bundle. Tuckers (not shown) then form bottom tucks T in the label as shown at position P4. It will be appreciated that, to allow the labels L to pass across the path of conveyor 19 into the requisite position for the bundles to be plunged into them, the conveyor needs to be in two sections, separated by a small gap allowing the leading end of each label L to pass below the path of the conveyor 19.

Between positions P4 and P5 are gluers and folders (not shown) to enclose and secure the sides of the label around the narrow sides of the bundle, thus completing the formation of the label into a so-called paper cup. At P5 the partly formed packet is transferred to a further conveyor 20 which runs parallel to conveyor 13 but in the opposite direction.

In moving from position PS to P6 the partly formed packet passes a stamping device (not shown). This applies a wide stamp asymmetrically across the top of the paper cup and secures it to the top of the large faces of the cup to enclose one side of the filter ends of the cigarettes and leave a width of about two cigarette diameters exposed at the other side, as best seen in the packet shown in Figure 3.

From position P6 the packet passes into an overwrapping device 21, where the packet is enclosed in a film of polypropylene or cellulose (e.g. cellophane R.T.M.; The packet then passes into a machine 22 for enclosing several packets (usually 10) in a box.

The space between the conveyors 13, 19 and 20 is left unobstructed to enable an operator 24 to control the operation of the machine.

It will be observed that the conveyors are all continuously moving and that all wrapping operations are continuous, with the exception of the means for the folding down of the trailing side of the U-shaped foil wrapper after position PO. As the machine thus has very few reciprocating parts, it can operate comparatively quietly and can be maze of a relatively light construction.

If it is preferred to produce a packet in which the paper cup. instead of having side folds and a single thickness of material at the bottom (a so-called block bottom), is formed with a folded closure at the bottom (similar to the inner foil wrapper described above), then the machine may be modified as follows.

The foil bundles from position P2 are each transferred to the position P5 without any operations being performed on them, and the conveyor 20 is extended to provide an initial section in which the alternative paper cups are formed around the bundles. The bundles are thus each plunged sideways (i.e.

with a narrow side leading) into a paper label fed down across the path of the extended conveyor 20, the label then being folded and glued to form a tube, similar to the open-ended foil tube shown at position P1. The bottom of the tube is next folded and glued to form the paper cup. A stamp S is next applied as at P6, and the packet similarly overwrapped and boxed as described above.

The general outer appearance and feel of the completed packet differs little from that of a conventional soft packet. On the other hand as soon as the outer wrapper has been removed (see Fig. 3) immediate access is provided to the cigarettes, without the need to tear away part of the foil wrapper at the top, as is normally necessary in a conventional packet.

Thus the packet offers the advantages of a significant saving in foil material, and of easier access for the consumer, yet without detriment to its shelf life.

In Figure 4 there is shown a modification of the wrapping machine of Figure 2.

A convevor 10 again carries a succession of compartments 11, each supporting a bundle B of cigarettes. The conveyor 10 passes around a drum 30 which is coaxially secured to a similar drum 31 and is rotatable in an anticlockwise direction therewith, the drum 30 being behind the drum 31 as viewed in Figure 4.

A succession of wrapper compartments 14 are provided around the periphery of the drum 31, which thus replaces the conveyor 13 of Figure 2. The bundle compartments 11 are again in close proximity with the wrapper compartments 14, and are kept aligned with the compartments 14 by means of a chain or toothed belting (not shown) on the conveyor 10. A U-shaped foil wrapper F is formed in each compartment 14 by a device 13A positioned at the 3 o'clock position of the drum 31. The foil wrapper may be held in position in the compartment 14 by suction.

Mounted on the drum 30 in alignment with each comnartment 14 is a pusher (not shown) which is movable in a direction across the neripheries of the drums 30, 31 bv a cam 32. As a bundle B travels around the drum 30, the bundle is enPasyed at its rear end bv a pusher and transferred by the risinfy part of the cam 32 into a foil wrapper F in a compartment 14. The falling part of the cam 32 then allows the pusher to return to its rearward position.

After the wrapper F has been glued (by means not shown) its trailing side is folded down on to the bundle by a chasing folder 33. The leading side of the wrapper is then also folded on to the bundle by a fixed folder 34, which extends around the pert- phery of the drum 31 to a position at which a rotary tucker 35 forms tucks at the end of each resulting wrapper tube. Lastly, the projecting ears are folded against the end of the bundle by pairs of ploughs 36.

Though the wrapping machines above described are particularly suited to making soft packets as shown in Fig. 3, they may also be adapted to make conventional soft packets having foil tops. It is only required to use wider pieces of foil wrapper, and a wider conveyor 13 or drum 31 as the case may be, and to transfer the bundles of cigarettes correspondingly further into the foil wrappers so that closures can also be formed at their other ends.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A method of wrapping groups of cigarettes, comprising the steps of feeding a succession of wrappers along a first path, each wrapper being disposed in a U-shape, the sides of the U-shaped wrapper lying in planes perpendicular to the path, synchronously feeding groups of cigarettes along a second path which is closely spaced and parallel to the first path at least at a transfer position therebetween, the axes of the cigarettes being perpendicular to the two paths at said transfer position, successively engaging an end of each group to transfer the group axially into a wrapper when in alignment therewith at said transfer position, the group being transferred in an oblique direction towards said first path, folding over said sides of each wrapper on to the group to form a tubular wrapper, and forming a folded closure at one end thereof.

2. Apparatus for wrapping groups of cigarettes, comprising a continuously driven first conveyor for feeding a succession of U-shaped wrapper, the sides of each wrapper lying in planes perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor, a continuously driven second conveyor for feeding groups of cigarettes in synchronism and in alignment with said wrappers, the first and second conveyors being closely spaced and parallel at least at a transfer position therebetween, the axes of the groups of cigarettes being perpendicular to the directions of movement of the first and second conveyors at said transfer position, pusher means for successively enRaging an end of each group to transfer the group axiallv into an adjacent wrapper at said transfer position, said pusher means moving in an oblique direction towards said first conveyor at said transfer position,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The foil bundles from position P2 are each transferred to the position P5 without any operations being performed on them, and the conveyor 20 is extended to provide an initial section in which the alternative paper cups are formed around the bundles. The bundles are thus each plunged sideways (i.e. with a narrow side leading) into a paper label fed down across the path of the extended conveyor 20, the label then being folded and glued to form a tube, similar to the open-ended foil tube shown at position P1. The bottom of the tube is next folded and glued to form the paper cup. A stamp S is next applied as at P6, and the packet similarly overwrapped and boxed as described above. The general outer appearance and feel of the completed packet differs little from that of a conventional soft packet. On the other hand as soon as the outer wrapper has been removed (see Fig. 3) immediate access is provided to the cigarettes, without the need to tear away part of the foil wrapper at the top, as is normally necessary in a conventional packet. Thus the packet offers the advantages of a significant saving in foil material, and of easier access for the consumer, yet without detriment to its shelf life. In Figure 4 there is shown a modification of the wrapping machine of Figure 2. A convevor 10 again carries a succession of compartments 11, each supporting a bundle B of cigarettes. The conveyor 10 passes around a drum 30 which is coaxially secured to a similar drum 31 and is rotatable in an anticlockwise direction therewith, the drum 30 being behind the drum 31 as viewed in Figure 4. A succession of wrapper compartments 14 are provided around the periphery of the drum 31, which thus replaces the conveyor 13 of Figure 2. The bundle compartments 11 are again in close proximity with the wrapper compartments 14, and are kept aligned with the compartments 14 by means of a chain or toothed belting (not shown) on the conveyor 10. A U-shaped foil wrapper F is formed in each compartment 14 by a device 13A positioned at the 3 o'clock position of the drum 31. The foil wrapper may be held in position in the compartment 14 by suction. Mounted on the drum 30 in alignment with each comnartment 14 is a pusher (not shown) which is movable in a direction across the neripheries of the drums 30, 31 bv a cam 32. As a bundle B travels around the drum 30, the bundle is enPasyed at its rear end bv a pusher and transferred by the risinfy part of the cam 32 into a foil wrapper F in a compartment 14. The falling part of the cam 32 then allows the pusher to return to its rearward position. After the wrapper F has been glued (by means not shown) its trailing side is folded down on to the bundle by a chasing folder 33. The leading side of the wrapper is then also folded on to the bundle by a fixed folder 34, which extends around the pert- phery of the drum 31 to a position at which a rotary tucker 35 forms tucks at the end of each resulting wrapper tube. Lastly, the projecting ears are folded against the end of the bundle by pairs of ploughs 36. Though the wrapping machines above described are particularly suited to making soft packets as shown in Fig. 3, they may also be adapted to make conventional soft packets having foil tops. It is only required to use wider pieces of foil wrapper, and a wider conveyor 13 or drum 31 as the case may be, and to transfer the bundles of cigarettes correspondingly further into the foil wrappers so that closures can also be formed at their other ends. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A method of wrapping groups of cigarettes, comprising the steps of feeding a succession of wrappers along a first path, each wrapper being disposed in a U-shape, the sides of the U-shaped wrapper lying in planes perpendicular to the path, synchronously feeding groups of cigarettes along a second path which is closely spaced and parallel to the first path at least at a transfer position therebetween, the axes of the cigarettes being perpendicular to the two paths at said transfer position, successively engaging an end of each group to transfer the group axially into a wrapper when in alignment therewith at said transfer position, the group being transferred in an oblique direction towards said first path, folding over said sides of each wrapper on to the group to form a tubular wrapper, and forming a folded closure at one end thereof.

means for folding over the sides of the wrapper on to the group to form a tubular wrapper, and means for forming a folded closure at one end thereof.

3. Apparatus according to clam 2 in which the first and second conveyors are linear, and in which said pusher means, com- prises an overhead conveyor belt carrying a plurality of depending pusher lugs each of which is successively engageable with said end of each group of cigarettes, the belt moving obliquely towards the first conveyor at a speed such that its component of motion in the direction of the first conveyor corres ponds with the speed of the first conveyor.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which each pusher lug is disengageable from said end of each group when said end is level with the edge of a respective wrapper nearest the second conveyor.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the first conveyor is provided with compartments each arranged to accommodate a wrapper in a U-shape.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a third conveyor movable perpendicularly away from the first conveyor, transfer means for - transferring wrapped groups from the first conveyor to the third conveyor, and means for forming a paper cup about each wrapped group on the third conveyor.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said transfer means comprises a second overhead conveyor belt movable at such a speed that its components of motion parallel to the first and third conveyors are equal to the speeds of the first and third conveyors respectively.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising means for forming an outer wrapper about the paper cup to enclose the entire wrapped group.

9. A method of wrapping groups of cigarettes substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

10. Apparatus for wrapping groups of cigarettes substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.