US2870584A - Apparatus for packing and wrapping cigarettes - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 27, 1959 J. H. SHERRILL 2,870,584

APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND WRAPPING CIGARETTES Filed May 20, 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. Jose/W /7. SHfK/Q/ZZ IBM 3, AM 1mm) APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND WRAPPING CIGARETTES Filed May 20, 1955 Jan. 27, 1959 A J. H. SHERRILL 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 mm 2 m5 i W a J BY A WSW

Jan. 27, 1959 J. H. SHERRILL 2,870,584

APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND WRAPPING CIGARETTES Filed May 20, 1955 7 Shets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. foam/v /7. Swim/44 Jan. 27, 1959 J. H. SHERRILL APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND WRAPPING CIGARETTES Filed May 20, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENITOR. Jbsfiv/ fi. Sam/m4 Jan. 27, 1959 J. H. SHERRILL 7 APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND WRAPPING CIGARETTES Filed May 20, 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTOK/Vf J. H. SHERRILL Jan. 27, 1959 APPARATUS F612 PACKING AND WRAPPING CIGARETTES Y Filed May 20. 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 W5 MUM ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1959 J. H. SHERRILL APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND WRAPPING CIGARETTES Filed May 20, 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Tic. E l

IN VEN TOR. ujasfP/a /7. S aw/em BY RM 8. MM

, Arron/5v 2,870,584 I i t I APPARATUS FOR 'PAcKINGiA'ND WRAPPING c 5 CIGARETTES Joseph H. Sherrill, Winston-Salem, -N.' C., assignor to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Winston-Salem; N. C., a corporation of New Jersey Application May. 20, 1955, Serial Na. 569,759 ,14 Claims. class-55 .This invention relates to apparatus for packing -and wrapping cigarettes and particularly 'toiinpro'ved 'r'r'iechanism, embodied in such apparatus, for producing 'c'iga rette packages of so-called easy-opening or rapid openin'g character.

While portions or sub-combinations of the apparatus hereinbelow described may be employed for other types of packages, a particularly convenient type of "easy-open. ing structure, which the present invention is designed to produce in an automatic fashion, may be described follows. The basic package structure is of presently con ventionaltype, embodying an inn r-wra pin foil covered paper (conveniently identified h'er'ein assa oil wrapping) which is tucked and folded at thefbott "and top ends of the package, an outer paper wrappi jacket which'covers the bottom end but not the top 'd which constitutes a label, carryingthe name, of design and other data. The conventionalreven or equivalent band .is adhered over the central the t'op end of the package, and the entire, wrapped in cellophane (or equivalent outer wrapping), with the conventional tear strip around'the sides adjacent the top end so that the end covering o'f 'cellophane may be rapidly removed. 1 k v The improved, rapid-opening form of, 'the package 6m}. prises a special fold at the top end 'o'fthe foil wrai ing such as to provide atriangula flap outermost, adjacent one of the narrow sides. The ,foil wrapping mater slit at regions over the top end, '.spaced; jssmewhatrrja the last-mentioned narrow side, for exampleadjaccnt the edge of the stamp or sealing band, to theefiect jthat when v the triangular flap is pulled up,v adjacent parts pr the" foil wrapping which were folded; over from ,.the wide: sides of the package .are pulled up withthe flap or atg least may be readily unfolded without tearing-or specialmanipulation. q

The package further includes angadhered relationshipbetween the top end coveriugof cellophaneand the ahoye-i mentioned triangular fiap, egg. by direct provision of ad; hesive material between the flap. and the cellophanewrap ping'. In consequence, upon removing the-cellophaneenti covering by pulling off the tear strip, the upward lift' of such covering simultaneously elevates the triangular fiat-1 so as to effectuate automatically the above-described rapid-opening of a part of the end portion oftheflfoils wrapper. The cellophane cover is easily separated from the wrapper flap, in that a small part ofv the adhered foil; can be easily torn out, away from the paper backing-L The unfolded portions of foil wrapper caneither bejo'rn off or left in place to be refolded for protection of the contained cigarettes. I v h I w H p s The present improvements are particularlydesfised ior embodiment in machines of the fonowingnpe, of wh ch specific-examples are described below. rnsueh machines,

foil wrapping material isadvancedto' 's'uc or mandrels iii the periphery' of' a turre 1nter advanced around a horizontal" An openin machines as described above and which will produce to afior d simple and effective means wherebya readily openedfiap is produced at one end of the package; and.

package is-progi'essively formed, including the jacket or label wrapper, and at a packing station the prescribed nUmber'ofcigaretteS, e. g. twenty (20), are'inserted as a compressed bundle within the wrapper-enclosed arbor. Thereafter the bottom end of the 'wrappings is closed and; upon return'of the turret to the initial station, the assembly is pushed endwise from the arbor to a final folding station where the top end of the, package, which remained open, is closed. Successive packages are there. after advanced past a stamp-applying station and then carried through the cellophane wrapping machine for ultimatedelivery in completed condition.

important objects of the present invention are to provide improved apparatus for packing and wrapping cigar'ette's, particularly mechanism which can be incorporated a rapid-opening package of the character stated. Further. objects are to afford new and advantageous devices for providing slits in,'the'inner wrapping material of cigarette packages to facilitate subsequent opening of the package;

to provide efficient means, appropriately timed and c0- ofrdin'ated with other wrapping instrumentalities, include ingparticularly the'cellophane wrapping apparatus, whereby adhesive connection is achieved betweenthe special, substantiallytriangular flap and the cellophane end cover.

' Another object is toaiford means, of special advantagein View of "the use of adhesive on the end of ,the foil Wrap p1 g, whejrebyfomission of the cellophane wrapping promptly detected ,as the package traverses the machine, automatic interruptionof-operation,-toavoid fouling subsequent parts of the equipment'with' wet adhesive. j

In coordination with means such as the turret-type apparatus described above for producing a packed cigarette package having an open top end from whichthe f0ilwrap'pin'g material extends in" unfolded condition at all foursides, the complete combination of the invention in-' I clud'es foil wrapper feeding means including continuous cooperating rollers, of which one carries a plurality of cutting means to gash or slit the foil Wrapping material at appropriately spaced localities near on'eedge. The structure is arranged and operated, in coordination with the conventional knife for severing. successive pieces from the continuoiisly advanced foil wrapping strip, so that in the wrapped package, the slits are appropriately disposed" at localities near but somewhat spaced from a narrow side of the package. v a The apparatus further includes. means at the folding station to which the open-ended packages are delivered frbmthe package arbor, whereby the definedfoldingis accomplishedat the top end of the package. These folding instrumentalities have not only means for folding or tucking down the projecting foil wrapper adjacent the narrow side opposite the one where easy-opening is ultimately provided, but also cooperating means for folding down the wrapper from one wide side, and further instrumentalities, past which the package is moved by a suitable advancing device, such that the foil wrapper projecting from the opposite wide side is folded down overthe other suchflap. These folding means are ar ranged to elevate a projecting, substantially triangular flap at the narrow side of the package, the folding element past} which the package is moved for the last wide side "folding being recessed to accommodate such fiap while initiating its fold toward the package end.

At an immediately subsequent folding station, a final fold member completesthe downward fold or crease of the substantiallyjtriangular flap, whereupon the package is advanced against the conventional means for applying the cellophane wrapping section. In combination with means advancing successive packages, conveniently in spaced relation, into the last-mentioned machine, means are provided for automatically applying a, spot of ad: hesive to the outer surface of the last-folded substantially triangular flap, such means being advantageously a rotary ly beyond the latter in the path of travel of the cigarette package, means are provided for sensing the end of the package to determine whether cellophane has been applied. Such means advantageously comprise electrical sensing elements adapted to abut the top end of the passing package, so that if there is no insulating cellophane present, an electrical circuit is completed through the exposed foil of the wrapping. Electrical control means, for example of electromagnetic.character, are arranged for actuation by such circuit so as to arrest the apparatus, i. e. both the packing (package forming) and outer wrapping mechanisms. t

The several instrumentalities are appropriately coordinated, with each other and particularly with the organization of the packing andwrapping devices, so that as the foil wrapper supply is advanced and utilized forpackage-forming and so that as the successive packages traverse the equipment, the desired special package characteristics are appropriately achieved. The features or mechanism of modification are readily embodied in machines of the stated, existing type, being fully accommodated to available space in and about the several elements and to the various driving connections. In consequence, efiicient and economical operation is ob tained, for the desired purpose.

Aspecific embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view, highly simplified and indeed largely diagrammatic, of the foil wrapper advancing and slitting mechanism and of provisions for transferring the open-ended package from the packing turret to a further wrapping station;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, somewhat simplified, of the end folding station receiving packages from the package arbor of Fig. l;

the revenue stamp, and thence'into the incoming line of further localityin the path of package travel, showing final creasing-down of the triangular flap;

Fig. 14 shows the package after the operation of Fig. 13;

Fig. is a simplified and diagrammatic view, chiefly in elevation, to illustrate driving connections for various moving parts in Fig. 2;.

Fig. 16 ,is another simplified, schematic view illustrating the transfer of successive packages to the cellophane wrapping section and their advancethrough said section, with'means for applying adhesive to the inner foil wrapper and. means for detecting absence of cellophane wrapping, and the control of the drive systems for the complete a. j apparatus thereby; 1

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, from another side, of a folder block constituting an element in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the first folding operation by the means of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 shows the package following the operation of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is another fragmentary perspective view showing the second folding operation, on a wide side portion of wrapper, with the devices of Fig. 2; 1

Fig. 7 shows the package following the folding ope'ration of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is another fragmentary perspective view of the instrumentalities of Fig. 6 showing the package advancing during a further folding operation, on the other wide side portion;

Fig. 9 shows the state of the package following the operation of Fig. 8;

Figs. 10 and 11 are views essentially in vertical section taken at successive points in the path of cigarette packages through the arrangement of Fig. 2, showing respectively the passage of the package and its remaining triangular end fiap, past the folder block, and the further creasing or folding operation on the end flap;

Fig. 12 shows the package essentially as it would appear if removed following the operation of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view essentially in vertical section at a Fig. 17 is 'a simplified, perspective view, from an opposite side, of the adhesive-applying means;

Fig. 18 is a similar perspective view of the wrappersensing means, showing a finished package in transit;

-Eig. 19 is an elevation of the wrapper-sensing means from the opposite side of packagetpath;and

.Figs. 20 and21 show respectively successive steps in the opening of a complete package produced in accordance with the invention.

In thedrawings, the present improvements are shown embodied in cigarette packing and wrapping mechanisms of presently known types, mutually integrated by an appropriate package travel system of known character. Specifically, these mechanisms are a standard No. 3-79 packaging machine or cigarette packing machine as made by American Machine & Foundry Company, and a model GMT-1 cellophane wrapping machine as made by Package Machinery Company. I 7,

Many details of this known equipment are therefore omitted from the" drawings and from the present descrip tion, sucli omission. extending to details of driving and timing means in ,situations wh'e're the novel parts and combinations of the present invention, are essentially so connected'to the known elementsof the machine as to be operated by the existing. driving instrumentalities in the conventional timed relationof the latter. Likewise in view of the known character of the basic equipment, representations of many parts'ha've been shown simplified, or illustrated in different and simpler forms, and some dimensional and spacial relationships of the known parts are shown as altered or distorted in the drawings (for example, in depicting the foil wrapper feeding section, where the path of the wrapper strip has been prolonged between, succeeding rolls), all for convenience and clarity'in'illustrating'the mode of operation of the old sprocket 37; This-shee't'material is'what is convention ally called foil wrapping,'which preferably comprises "not merely metal foil'but also an adhered backing of paper.

It is wound on the reel so that the foil side 30a is outermost, and is at the underside of the strip as it passes the rollers 33, 34. I p .From the last-mentioned rollers, the foil wrapper strip passes downwardly between a pair of rollers 38, 39, roller 38 being a feed roller drivenby appr'opriatechain drive 40 'from the shaft of the roller 33. These rollers 38., 39 serve to pull the wrapperstrip 30 from the reel 31. They also cause the wrapper strip to travel downwardly past the locality of the cut-off knife 42,, and into the package arbor turret 44. In,'the turret, with the aid of conventional means' notshown,.the foil strip is wrapped around'a' suitable mandrel or package'arbor' 45, which is La thin hollow structure: supported by suit m n- 1 2, "rofssa that shown), at the end 'nearest in ew (Fi'g; n-and having essentially 'the shape and dimensions or an open ended cigarette package. lt will b'etunderstood that the turret 44 is advanced intermittently about its shaft 46,

so that successive package arbo'rs are presented to the foil receiving station as indicated, While other folding, wrapping and packing operations occur at 'other stations about ,the periphery 20f the turret, appr' priate'dwell being provided for :all such operations. 1

The rollers .38., 39 and 33., 34 :are appropriately carried by a rigid fr-amework'asuch 'aslschema'tically indicated at 48, this assembly being "arranged to be rocked about the axis of the roller shaft 3S,.\e. .g. ton trunnions -a's at 49. Thus the rollers 38,, ,39 move periodical-lyup and down relative to the shaft 35,.=len-'gthening 'andsho'rtening the .foil path between the roller .38 and the turret 44. As the .leadingedge of the foil'st'rip enters-the turret and is thereafter wrapped around :the package .arbor 45 the frame 48 descends, thereby accelerating :the wrapping until the desired length of foil has been applied around the arbor. The knife 42 then .severs the foil and the frame 48 moves upward, carrying the rollers 38,.39 and taking up, so to speak, the continuing advance of foil wrapper. During this interval the turret advances one step and the preliminary package-ejecting operation is performed at the uppermost arbor station, such operation occurring during the first part of the inext turret dwell just before the frame 48 startstmoving downward for another wrapper feed. Auxiliary supporting, guiding and like structures are provided as necessary in and about the foil wrapper path, but are omitted from the drawing for clarity.

It Will be understood that as each package mandrel or arbor 45 is carried through successive stations (not shown) by the turret, the foil wrapping .is not only' closed around the arbor and partially closed atone end (the package bottom), but the paper jacket or label wrapping is also applied, both wrappings being-brought to -a fully closed condition, and the label wrapping sealed, at the same end, viz. the bottom of the package. At-a further station the required number of cigarettes, by conventional transfer means, are inserted Within the arbor (for example, the usual twenty cigarettes) in appropriately compressed condition, through the open end of the package, which is to be the top end and which is :nearest to view in Fig. l. approaches the foil wrapper-receiving station, such package 50 has been essentially completed and filled with cigarettes 51, except that the foil wrapper is entirely unfolded at one end. The structure there projecting from the package comprises the unfolded foil wrapper portions 52, 53 corresponding to narrow sides of the package and similar portions 54, 55 corresponding to wide sides.

At the wrapper-receiving station, before the rolls 38, 39 start again on their downward travel to feed a fresh length of the continuouslyv advanced wrapper strip (or not later than the initiation of such travel) the previously completed package is ejected laterally as by a pusher 58 which enters the unfolded end, i. e. within the portions 52-55, engaging the ends of the packed cigarettes, thereby moving the package endwise as at 50a. Although depicted for clarity as if separated from the package, the pusher 58 in fact advances. the package entirely into the further folding mechanism generally designated 66, which may actually be located very close tow the arbor turret 44. As the next section'of foil is then fed around the arbor 45, the pusher 58 is retracted entirely out of the latter so as to permit subsequent advance of the turret.

Since the. means for driving and timing the various moving parts are known and conventional for the machine of Fig. 1, they are simply indicated by -dot-'and-' dash lines 4841, 37a, 42a, 58a and. 46a (for corres end- When the supported package thus 6 'infgly hampered elements an a m'atea, directly or ladi'rectly, from --'a main =driveshaft 62.

To provide the desired slits in the sides of the wrapper, the present improvements 'embrace a kniferoll iele merit 64, mounted on the shaft 35 of the roller 33 and carrying a pair of circumferentially spaced knives or cutters 65, 66. The cooperating'portion 67 of the idler roll 34 may be of suitably hardened character "(as by consisting of-afhardened steel sleeve) .toact fa's a ledger or striking "block -for the cutters '65, 66. Thus as the foil continuously passes the {rolls 33, '34, the knives f65, 66 gash the foil wrapper (bdt h'paper and foil) .a'tsuitably spaced localities, i. e. such that when it 'is applied in wrapping relation about "the arbor 45 'the resulting slit's 69, 70 will appear in the opposite unfolded side'fpoiftions 54, 55 of the package at localities equally spaced from but near the narrow 'unfolded wrapper portion 353. The position of these slits preferably coincides with the'edg'e of the subsequently applied stamp the end of the package. I

Since the ro'llers 33-38 and the rocking motion of the frame 48 are inherently arranged and timed in the existing -machine 'to cooperate with the cut-off knife 42 andfthe location of the ,package arbor .45 for achievement of a predetermined wrapping relation, and since the parts (including the feed roller can be proportioned so that one Wrapper length is 'fed for each revolution of the shaft 35, the disposition of the slitting knives 65., 66 on the roller portion 64 can be easily determined for the desired location of the slits 69, 7 0.

Thus by the operations 'in Fig. 1, a foil and paperwrapped "package 50a, which is packed with cigarettes but has one end of it'sfoil wrapping unfolded, .is delivered endwise ("traveling on one of its narrow sides) fully into.

the folding means 60.

'Fig. 2. shows .principal details "or the folding ,means 60, which is in part of conventional character but incorporates several novel features as described below.

The package enters over, i. e. by sliding upon, a receiver p'late section 72, having a sloping entrance portion or apron 73 and made flush (and conveniently integral) with a further supporting plate or table 74. Thus the package Sila (Fig. 2) is brought to rest with its foldedbottom end 75 abutting a rear guide wall 76 (see "Figs.

4 and 6), having come into sidewise abutment with a presently stationary pusher 78, and having passed between a folder plate member 79 and an upright folder block 86*, the block 80 being arranged for limited movement in a direction lengthwise of the package and being new in a retracted position (Fig. 6) so that a part of the wide side of the package near the top end now :abuts this block.

normal handling by a user; as explained, the unfolded foil Wrapperportions 52 to 55 are at the topend.

. The assemblyrshown in Fig. 2 also includes an -ex-.-

tended portion 74a of the table orbase plate and a cooperating upright guide wall 82 spaced from the wall 76, so as to constitute a guide channel leading sidewise' from the initially received position of the cigarette package, such channel havi'ng'a width equal to the top-to bottom dimension of the package. In this channel the packages are ultimately advanced in sidewise abutting relation as indicated at 56x, away from the mechanism 60. The folding parts also include a folding or tucking ele ment 84, having a flattened lower surface 85' (Fig. 10) and carried on a horizontal shaft 86, so offset and ar- 50b in this position) being illustrated in Fig. 5. As will or retaining strip over It may be explained that .the ends of thepackage are herein designated as top and bottom, not with respect to Figs. 2, 4, 6, but with respect to ultimate- 7 be seen, the folding-or tucking operation has not only brought the portion 52 fiatwise against theend of the cigarettes, but has also produced diagonal folds at the adjacent ends of the wrapper portions 54, 5.

.Thereupon, with the folder block 80 still in position of abutment with a part of the side 88 of the package 50b (see Fig. 6) the folder plate.79 is moved horizontally from the package-admitting position of Fig. 2, crosswise of the end of the package, so as to bend and crease down the wrapper portion 55, i. e. against the ends of the cigarettes and partly over the inwardly tucked portion 52. The plate 79 has a projecting foot or angular part 89 along its lower edge, whichcooperates with the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 72 v (omitted, for clarity, from Fig. 6) so that in the same motion; a part of thelower wrapper portion 53 is folded over and creased upon itself. This operation is illustrated in Fig. 6, and the resulting shape of the package 50b appears in Fig. 7.

The folder block 80 (Figs. 2, 3,6, 8 and which is 3 conveniently made in two parts 80a and 80b secured rigidly and permanently togethen has a supporting por- 1 tion 90 arranged to slide in an appropriate recess of the floor plate 74, such portion or arm being connected to a downwardly facing rack 92 (Figs. 10 and by a transverse arm 93. The rack 92 is disposed beneath the floor plate 73 and meshes with a gear 94 on a horizontal shaft 95 so that upon rotating the shaft through a limited distance, in one direction or the other, the folder block 80 is correspondingly reciprocated in a direction parallel to the package, i. e. transverse of the channel constituted by the walls 82, 76. The package-facing portion 80a of the block assembly has a curved or beveled edge 97 at its inner corner nearest the initial package position and a. downwardly extending finger 98' (Figs. 2 and 3), while the lower part of the block portion 80b is cut away as shown so as to afford a recessed passage beneath the block portion 80a. shape of a reentrant curve 99 (Figs. 2 and 10) at the side nearest the folder 79, rising to a linear slope 100 at the opposite or exit side (Fig. 3) of the device. Thus between the finger 98 and the surface 99--100 of the block element 80b, a space is provided wherein a lowermost fiap of the package may be received and guided v somewhat upwardly.

Following the operation shown in Fig. 6, the block 80 is. moved outwardly, e. g. by counterclockwise rotation of the gear 94 (Fig. 10) to the position of Fig. 8, so that the package may be pushed past the block. The pusher 78 is now operated to advance the package toward the exit channel, and upon such movement of the package,

the abutting edge and face of the block 80 engage the opposite wide-side flap 54 of the foil wrapper, folding and creasing the same down against the end of the package, over the previously folded flaps 52 and 55. The bottom flap 53 thereby also has another portion of itself folded over, completing a substantially triangular configuration for the flap 53, all as seen in Fig. 9. This op' eration is thus illustrated in Fig. 8, with the resulting package sha e shown in Fig. 9. At the same time, the lower flap 53. being guided upwardly into the passage between the surface 99-100 and finger 98, is folded slightly last-entered'package 50cfully beyond the block 80 and into a second folding position, i. e. where thelower part of the package, in particular the triangular flap 53, now faces a creaser or folder element 104 (Figs. 2 and 11).

The element 104 is carried on a rocker shaft 105'which by means of a short crankarm 106, an angle link 107 and a crank arm 108 on the shaft 95 (Fig. 11) is arranged to be rotated back and forth through a limited angular extent by corresponding rocking ofthe shaft 95. The creaser member 104 may be considered to be normally disposed in an outer position (such as shown in Fig. 11), from whichit is moved to an upper or package-abutting position as shown in Fig. 2, the guide wall 82 being appropriately cut away to admit the member 104.

Thus when the package reaches the position 50d (Fig. 11), beyond the folder block 80, the shaft 95 is turned clockwise, bringing the folder block 80 back to its original position of Fig. 6 and swinging the creaser member 104.

upward to fold and crease the-flap formed of the wrapper portion 53, flatwise against the end of the package. The

*position of the'parts after initiation of this operation is shown in Fig. 11, while Fig. 12 shows the condition 'of a the package 50d essentially as at the end of the operation.

The surface facing the finger 98 has the upward, as will be apparent from Fig. 10 which shows arran ement mav be convenient v such that as the for-.

ward face 88 of'the packa e advances bevond the block 80. the packa e 500 is brou ht a ainst the line of packages in the channel, and further movement of the pusher advances the entire line. Such movement brings the Further'advance of the package along the channel will ultimately occur, i. e. in that another package has now in the meanwhile been introduced through the opening between folder plate 79 and block 80, and after the described course of advance will be urged by the pusher arm 78 (which had been retracted) against the package now occupying the position d of Fig. 11. The lastmentioned package is thus carriedv along the channel. To the extent that the flap or tab 53 may still project slightly from the end of the package (Fig. 12), it is engaged and forced inwardly by the lower sloping edge: 1100f the opening 112 in the guide wall 82 (Figs. 2

and 15). This last operation is'shown in Fig. 13, the package being new at position 50a (see Fig. 15 also) and the resulting condition of the package, similarly designated, is shown in Fig. 14.

per surrounding the bundle or compressed group of cigarettes, together with the outer imprinted paper wrapping covering all but the top end. The previously unfolded foil wrapper portions at such end have now all been folded down in the manner described, one narrow portion 52 beingtucked down first, the wide portions and 54 being successively folded across the package, and the remaining narrow flap portion 53 being folded in triangular shape over the others. As will also be seen, the slits 69, (Fig; 14) now in effect traverse the covered top end of the foil wrapper, in alignment or substantial alignment with each other.

It will be understood that the driving and timing means for the various instrumentalities shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, ll and 13 may be of the character conventionally embodied in packaging machines of the illustrated type, andindeed the various novel elements are generally suchas to utilize existing mechanism for actuating and timing purposes. Hence full illustration of the driving parts is deemed unnecessary, but for completeness Fig. 15 shows, in a schematic way, one example of an appropriate drive arrangement.

f In Fig. 15, the folder plate member 79 is shown as a bell crank123 and link 124 may be driven by suitable means (not shown) similar to the box cam 120,

from, the main shaft '62. Likewise the. folding or tucking element 84, whichis moved by turning-the shaft 86, is d ive y a pair of sh ng ge r s gments'lli 26; respectively carried on the shaft 86 and another shaft 127, the latter being arranged to be rocked about its axis by an arm 128 and a connected link 129. The link 129 may again be reciprocated vertically by suitable mechanism (not shown) under drive of the main shaft 62, e. g. similar to the box cam 1 20 and its associated rocker 118.

As explained above, oscillatory rotation of the shaft 95 actuates the folder block 80 for its transverse motion, and also the folder member 104 which is carried on the supplemental shaft 105. By way of illustration of. suit-' able driving means, the shaft 95 is shown as rocked about its axis by an arm 130 which in turn is connected by a link 131 to a rocker assembly 132, the latter being reciprocated by a follower 133 in a suitable track 134 of a cam member 135. The earn 135 is again appropri ately connected for drive by the main shaft 62.

By the foregoing or equivalent means, the various wrapper-folding and advancing instrumentalities are driven in suitable relation, and indeed all parts of the mechanism, including the arrangements illustrated in Fig. l, are thus appropriately actuated from a common drive indicated by the shaft 62.

The transfer of successive packages from the packing machine to the cellophane wrapping line is indicated in Fig. 16, which also shows, in essentially diagrammatic form, certain further instrumentalities of the pres! ent invention, arranged in operative relation to the successive packages as they respectively advance to and depart from the cellophane wrapping mechanism.

- Thus the successive packages 502 are advanced in" abutting relation, resting on their narrow sides, along the channel constituted by and continued from the plates 82, 76, into which they had successively been received from the packing turret 44. By appropriate transfer means not material to the present invention and therefore not shown, successive packages are moved endwise from the last-described row and rotated 90 counterclockwise (as seen in Fig. 16) at the locality 140. Along center, with end portions of the strip extending a short distance down each of the wide side faces, in the customary position. or seal to each passing package may be conventional and is therefore not shown.

From the end of the channel 141 successive packages are displaced one width laterally and then advanced alongan arcuate path downward and forward, i. e. at 144, so as to be deposited flatwise on their wide side faces, as at 59f, on an elongated table or track desig nated 145. The successive packages are thereupon advanced along the track 145 in horizontal direction past the-cellophane wrapping mechanism at locality 14-6 (or a first part of such mechanism, including folding at both ends of the package), and thence to a further locality, here simply indicated as an end 147 of the path, where further parts (not shown) of the cellophane wrapping mechanism may complete the operation (as by effecting and sealing a fold along the side of the package), the successive, finished packages being thereafter discharged, e. g. for collection in cartons.

As illustrative of one of various suitable means which may be employed for advancing successive packages, preferably in considerable spaced relation, along the path 145, the drawing shows a plurality of pushers 148 carried by conveyor chains 149, 150 below the table 145 at opposite sides. Each of the pushers 148 has an upstand ing pusher arm 152 which projects through a longitudinal slot 153 .in the table 145 so as to engage the rearwardly The means for so applying the stamp disposed narrow side of a cigarette package 50f (also designated 56g at further localities of the table)- The chains 14 9, are driven by appropriate means, here for simplicity indicated as sprocket wheels 155, .156 on a drive shaft 157. These being endless chains, approa priate further means are provided for guiding them through a lower locality below the instrumentalities at 146 for applying the transparent wrapping and thence to the entrance end of the table'145; for/simplicityv only the arrangement at one side of the table is shown, it being understood that the parts are duplicated at the other side for the other chain 149. Thus the chain 150 rides around the lower central sprocket wheel 158 and a sprocket wheel 159 at the entering end, whereby the pusher elements 148 are continuously broughtback to the latter end for engaging additionally successive packages. 6

To keep the packages in proper alignment alongthe path 145, elongated upright guide plates generally designate 160, 161' are disposed along opposite sides, being transversely spaced by the length (top'to-bottom dimen. sion) of a single cigarette package.

As seen in Figs. 16 and 17, the disposition of the packagesSQf', 50 on the table 145 is such that the top end faces of the guide strip 161, the special tab or fiap 53 beinglocated at the rearward part of the top of the traveling pa k Before-the successive packages reach the cellophane wrapping section at 146, they pass an applicator device which is generally designated 162 and is shown in diagrammatic or simplified form in Fi 16, with certain portions broken away, and also in Fig, 17. This device, which in itself may be similar to glue pot arrangements heretofore employed for applying adhesive to certain parts of the cellophane wrapping as the same is applied in the wrapping section at 146, comprises a receptacle 163 containing a body of liquid or semiliquid glue or other adhesive 164 into which a transfer disk 165 con-. stantly dips, the disk 165 being continuously rotated on a horizontal axis and having a lower part immersed in the glue bath 164. The disk 165 is carriedon a shaft 166 which has a spur gear 167', meshing with a gear 168 on a shaft 169 that may be driven in timed relation with the conveyor chains 149, 150. For cxainple,-the shaft 169 may extend beneath the table 145 and have a sprocket wheel 170 driven by a chain 171 from a wheel 172 on the same shaft 173 as the sprocket wheel 158.- Since the latter is turned by the conveyor chains, e. g. the chain 150, the sprocket and chain system 172- 171- 170 thereby drives the shaft 169 and the glue transfer disk 165.

By bevel gears 174, 175, respectively carried on the shaft 166 and a vertical shaft 176, the latter is continuously turned, bythe same mechanism as employed for driving the disk 165. The shaft 176 carries a glue transfer wheel 177, conveniently of conical shape as shown,-

arrangfidwith one or more means (as necessary for proper timed operation) for transferring small quantities of gluefr0m the disk 165 to the top ends of packages traversmg the table 145. Specifically, for example, the wheel 177 has at its outer periphery a pair of oppositely disposed projections or lugs 178, 178, whichare thus continuously rotated in a horizontal, circular path disposed between and tangent to the'flat surface of the 'disk 165- and the region traversed by the top ends of the cigarette packages abutting the inner face of the guide rail 161' Therail or plate 161 is appropriately slotted'at 179. to

accommodate the lugs 178, i. e. so that the latter have" access directly to the top end of the cigarette package exposed through such slot.

' It will be seen that as the disk 165 turns, its face opposite the table 145 is kept coated with liquid adhesive. The continuously turning transfer wheel 177 therefore transfers successive small quantities of adhesive, on the ends of the lugs 178, from the disk 165 toth'e appro i priate locations on the ends of the packages 50 Specifi cally, the timing'of the drive of the glue transfer device 162 and of the package pushers 148 is such that as each package 50) passes the wheel 177, one of the lugs 178 brushes a small spot of glue on the outer surface of the fiap 53, this spot of glue remaining sufiiciently wet or tacky through the subsequent cellophane wrapping operation to serve the desired function of adheringthe inner face of the cellophane wrapping to the flap 53.

Thus by the applicator 162 a dab of adhesive is applied to the outer face of the special flap or tab 53 at the top of each cigarette package. Such adhesive may be glue or any other suitable substance, e. g. of liquid or semiliquid consistency, capable of drying or solidifying for adherence of cellophane or like material to the foil surface of the flap 53.

The successive packages then advance, along the table 145, past the cellophane wrapping mechanism (or portion thereof) at 146, which may be entirely conventional and is therefore not shown. Upon leaving such mechanism, each package 50g is now encased in an outer wrapping, i. e. of cellophane or similar transparent material, it being understood that the elements serving to hold and press said wrapping in place (at the ends of the package) have effectively forced the top portion 180 of the wrapping into the desired adhesive engagementwith the flap 53. The wrapping also preferably includes the conventional tear strip 181 encircling the wrapping about its sides at a locality very near the top and having a free or releasable end 182, such that upon pulling the end 182, the tear strip may be progressivelytorn away to sever the top cellophane section 180. For. convenience of illustration, Figs. 16, 18 and 19 show the package as having the cellophane wrapping completed on leaving the region 146; it will be understood that with a preferred type of wrapping mechanism, the single fold along one (narrow) side of the package may remain to be completed by a further section of the mechanism, not shown. 1

Should the instrumentalities at 146 for any reason fail to apply the cellophane or other outer wrapping as intended, there is danger that glue from the tabs 53 would be spread through subsequent parts of the equipment (fouling the same with glue) or to other objects with which the packages may come in contact after leaving the table 145. An electrical sensing means 183 to detect the absence of cellophane wrapping is therefore provided in the path of the packages along the table 145 after leaving the wrapping mechanism section at 146. To prevent spreading of glue by a package as it travels from applicator 162 to the wrapping section at 146, a pair of parallel ribs or beads 183a are provided along the package-facing side of the guide 161 (Figs. 17 and 19) for example by soldering a pair of wires respectively adjacent the upper and lower edges of the guide face, between the locality of the applicator and the region where cellophane is wrapped around the package. These ribs tend to hold the flap 53 against the package, while affording clearance for the glue spot.

The sensing means 183 comprises an upstanding guide section 184 of metallic, electrically conducting material having a block'185' of insulating material inset therein and also having a smaller block or plate 186 (see Figs. 18 and 19) of brass or other electrically conductive metal inset in the insulating block. Thus the inner face of the guide wall 184 presents an insulated section 185 around a conductive section 186, these parts being arranged so that as a package passes, its top end rubs along the member 184 and member 186. If there is no outer (cellophane) wrapping on the package, the exposed foil 7 I12 Although any of 'a variety' of control or signalling instrumentalities maybe actuated by the closure of such circuit through the members 184 and 186, Fig. 16 includes a simplified embodiment of a means for arresting the apparatus, the details of such embodiment being se-' lectedchiefly for convenience of illustration. The conveyor chains 149,150 (Fig. ,16') and the elements driven centric with but not carried upon'the shaft; If any oc currence positively and immovably arrests the shaft 157 or the parts driven thereby, the continuing rotation of the sprocket 192 forces the pawl 193 to ride up out-of the notch in the wheel 194, interrupting the drive and" thus, for example, preventing damage should there be any jamming in the Wrapping mechanism.

A solenoid 195 is connected in a circuit consisting of conductors 196, 197, current source 198, contact member 186, guide plate 184and conductors 199 and 200, such that bridging of'the members 186 and 184 (as by the foil of an unencased package) closes the circuit and energizes the solenoid. A core member 201 of iron or like magnetic material, normally disposed (as by gravity) in an outer or lower position with respect to the open core 202 of the solenoid, is connected by a link 203 to an angular lever 204 which has a detent arm 205 that can'- be rocked into and out of the path of a detent face-206 of a wheel 207 carried by the shaft 157. Upon energization of the solenoid 195 the core 201 is attracted upwards, rocking the lever member 204 and bringing-its stop arm 205 into the path of the detent wheel 207, so that the arm will engage the detent surface 206 and positively arrest the shaft 157. Thereupon, as explained conveyor system and cellophane wrapping machine are halted.

It is also desirable to arrest simultaneously the drive motor itself, especially so as toarrest the packing ma chine, including the packing turret 44 and the various folding and advancing parts operated therewith at 60. While a convenient mode of arresting such drive may be otherwise arranged (for example, with electrical means mechanically responsive to the outward displacement of the pawl 193), Fig. 16 illustrates, for simplicity, a direct electrical control from the circuit of the sensing device 183. For example, in order to synchronize the packing machine to the extent necessary with the cellophane wrapping machine, the packing machine, through its main shaft 62, may be driven (as diagrammatically shown) by the same motor 190. This motor, which is energized from a current source 211 through an appropriate control box 212, is shown as adapted to be thrown out of circuit by energization of a suitable breaker or relay which is generally indicated at 213 in the box 212 and which can be connected by conductors 214, 215 to the conductors 197 and 199 respectively of the sensing means circuit.

Thus when an unencased. package causes completion of the circuit betweenmembers 184 and 186, current is also caused to flow in the circuit portion that includes the conductors 214 and 215, energizing the relay device 213 and interrupting the motor 190. Although in detail this ul-g timate function may be specifically accomplished by having the relay 213 momentarily break a holdingcit'cuit'of a motor control relay not shown, or by employing any other conventional means for arresting the entire. drive; the schematically depicted. arrangement of Fig. 16 serves torillustrate one example of means to halt the entire system'of machines in response to a signal from the sensing device 183.

If the package 50g passing the sensing means (Figs. 16, I7 and 18) is properly encased at its ends in a cellophane or other outer wrapping, the underlying foil is insulated from the elements 184and 186 and no circuit is. closed between them. Inconsequence the solenoid 195 remains deenergized and the detent element 205 stays out of the path of the detent face 206. The shaft 157 continues to be driven by the motor 190, and there is likewise no interruption in the drive of the packing machine.

1 For purposes of illustration, the package 50g has been shown as if entirely completed in Fig. 18. Figs. 20 and 21 show its easy-opening characteristics. That is to say, when the tear strip 181 is severed by pulling its end 192 around the package, the top portion 180 of the cellophane wrapping may be pulled back, e. g. as if hinged at the short top edge adjacent the special tab 53. It will be noted that the disposition of the packages relative to the cellophane wrapping machine is preferably such that the tear strip functions in the described manner, severing the cellophane top portion 180 completely at the short or narrow top edge remote from the flap 53 but'leaving momentarily a weakened hinged connection of the top portion adjacent the flap 53. Since this foil wrapper flap is adhered to the inner face of the portion 180, upward displacement of the latter serves to elevate the flap as shown in Fig. 20, i. e. pulling it up from the top surface of the package. 1

This operation at least partially'opens the package at the top end region of the flap 53. If desired, the portion 180 may be pulled away from the package, leaving the latter in opened condition. If necessary, slight manual displacement of the now projecting portions of foil wrapping may be effected to complete the opening to the state where such wrapping portions stand vertically upward as shown in Fig. 21. By virtue of the slits previously effected along lines now represented by edges 6%, 70a of the upstanding foil portions, elevation of such foil wrapping is made possible without special effort and without anytearing of the foil wrapping. Upon accomplishment of this simple opening operation by the user, the contents of the package are made accessible and cigarettes may be withdrawn for use. If desired, the upstanding foil wrapper portions, including the original flap section 53, may be folded back into place to protect the contents between the times when access is wanted.

It is believed that the complete operation of the entire machine will be readily understood from the foregoing description, without detailed repetition. Successive openended but filled packages are advanced, endwise, from the packing turret "44 (Fig. 1), the upstanding unfolded foil portions being provided with slits at 69 and 70 by reason of the mechanism including the knife wheel 64 for making such slits in the web of foil wrapping material, in timed relation with the packing-and wrapping. As the package then undergoes the further folding operations at the station 60, the novel arrangement ofelements effec tuates closure of the package end with the special flap 53 provided to lie outside one portion of the top end of the package.

The packages are thereafter advanced as indicated at the upper part of Fig. 16, and after receiving the conventional revenue stamp are delivered to the table or track 145 along which they are moved in spaced relation. The applicator 162 places a dab of glue on the flap 53 of each passing package. Each is then wrapped with cellophane or the like in conventional manner, but at an intermediate stage in the wrapping, the packages traverse the sensing station 183, where the presence of an unencased'package i4 is detected and caused. to interrupt drive of the entire apparatus.

If all operations, however, have, been, performed as normally intended, successive cellophane. wrapped packages are ultimately delivered from the machine in the conventional way. By the described instrumentalities the packages have been provided with easy-opening structure or meansv of the character explained. That, is to say, by virture of the slits 69, .70, and the special flap 53 in adherence to the cellophane. wrapping, all that is necessary is to remove the tear strip 181 in the usual fashion whereupon separation of the, cellophane top. portion automatically brings up the foil wrapping portion and exposes the contents of the packagefor access. Until it is opened, moreover, each package is characterized by an effectively closed and sealed condition equivalent to that of cigarette packages of conventional construction.

It will be noted that all, of the, novel instrumentalities herein disclosed can be incorporated (e. g. as shown) in existing packing (or packaging) and wrapping equipment of conventional or other known type, without involving bulky or other parts that might encumber the operation or might require drastic redesign, enlargement or like dislocation of the various parts. In other words, the means described are applicable to existing machines within the space and functional limitations of such equipment and without necessitating extensive reconstruction. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments herein shown and described, but may be carried out in other ways without departure from its spirit.

I. claim:

1. In. cigarette packing and wrapping apparatus, the combination for producing an easy-opening package which comprises means for producing a cigarette package packed with cigarettes and having an open end from which the wrapping material projects in unfolded condition at two narrow sides and two wide sides, means for supplying wrapping material to the first-mentioned means, including rotary cutting means for slitting a side portion of said wrapping material at spaced localities. to provide slits in the projecting unfolded wide side por tions of the aforesaid package spaced from but near one of the narrow side unfolded portions, means for inwardly folding the narrow projecting portion of material which is opposite the last-mentioned narrow portion, folding means for folding down the projecting wide side portions over the first-mentioned narrow portion fold and with one of the folded wide portions overlying the other, to provide a substantially triangular flap consituting the remaining projecting'narrow portion of material, folding means for engaging the flap to fold it against the end of the package over the last previously" made fold, means for applying to thepackage an outer protective wrapping having a portion to cover the aforesaid end thathas the folds produced from the unfolded portions, andmeans intermediate the last-mentioned folding means andthe outer wrapping means, for applying adhesive to the outer surface of the aforesaid lastfolded triangular flap, for adherence of the aforesaid End-covering portion of the outer wrapping to the said 2. In cigarette packing and wrapping apparatus, the combination for producing an easy-opening package which comprises means for producing a cigarette package packed with cigarettes and having an open end from which the wrapping material projects in unfolded condition at two narrow sides and two wide sides, means for supplying wrapping material to the first-mentioned means, including rotary cutting means for slitting a side portion of said wrapping material at spaced localities, to provide slits inthe projecting unfolded wide side portions of the package. spaced from but near one. of the narrow, s ide up folded portions, means transferring the package to a folding station, means at said station for inwardly folding the narrow projecting portion of material which is opposite the last-mentioned narrow portion, folding means at said station for folding down one of the projecting wide side portions over the first-mentioned narrow portion fold, a folder member adjacent the other projecting wide side portion of the package at said station, means for advancing the package past the folder member with said other wide wrapping portion in engagement with the folder member, to fold down said lastmentioned portion over the previously made folds, for

providing a substantially triangular flap constituting the remaining projecting narrow portion of material, said folder member being shaped to permit passage ofsaid flap during advance of the package, said advancing means carrying the package to a second folding station,

folding means at said second station for engaging the 3. In cigarette packing and wrapping apparatus, the

combination for producing an easy-opening package which comprises means for producing a cigarette package packed with cigarettes and having an open end from which the wrapping material projects in unfolded coni dition at two narrow sides and two wide sides, means receiving a continuous strip of Wrapping materialQfor feeding same to the first-mentioned means, and including knife means for severing a length of the material as it is advanced into the first-mentioned means, said feeding means including rollers continuously traversed by the strip material, one of said rollers carrying a plurality of cutting means for slitting a side portion of thewrapping material at spaced localities in predetermined spatial relation to the knife means, to provide slits in the projecting unfolded wide side portions of the package spaced from but near one of the narrow side unfolded portions, means transferring the package to a folding station, means at said station for inwardly folding the narrow projecting portion of material which is opposite the lastmentioned narrow portion, a folder member disposed adjacent a wide side of the package, folding means movable across the unfolded end of the package toward the folder member to fold down one of the projecting wide side portions over the first-mentioned narrow portion fold, means shifting the folder member lengthwise of the package to a position for movement of the package past the same, means advancing the package past the foldermem her with the other wide unfolded wrapping portion in engagement with the folder member, to fold down said having a severable portion to cover the aforesaid end that has the folds produced at the first and second folding stations, means feeding the package to the lastmentioned wrapping means, means associated with said feeding means for applying adhesive to the outer surface of the aforesaid last-folded flap, for adherence of the subsequently-applied severable portion of the outer wrapping to the said flap, and sensing means in the lastmentioned wrapping means for detecting the absence of outer wrapping material as the package leaves said l6 wrapping means, to interrupt operation of the apparatus in response to such detection.

4. In cigarette packing and wrapping apparatus, the combination for producing an easy-opening package which comprises means for producing a cigarette package comprising foil wrapping material and packed with cigarettes and having an Open end from which said foil wrapping material projects in unfolded condition at two narrow sides and two Wide sides, means for supplying foil wrapping material to the first-mentioned means, including rotary cutting means for slitting a side portionof said wrapping material at spaced localities, to provide slits in the projecting unfolded wide side portions of the aforesaid package spaced from but near one of the narrow side unfolded portions, folding means for folding down against the packed cigarettes in succession, the narrow projecting portion of material which is opposite the last mentioned narrow portion, then one of the projecting wide side portions and thirdly, the other of the projecting wide side portions, to provide a substantially triangular fiap constituting the remaining projecting narrow portion of material, means engaging said flap for folding it against the end of the package over the folded-down wide side portions, means for applying to the package an outer transparent wrapping having a severable portion to cover the aforesaid end that has the folds produced from the unfolded portions, means intermediate the lastmentioned folding means and said transparent wrapping 1 means, for applying adhesive to the outer surface of the aforesaid last-folded flap, for adherence of said separable portion of the transparent wrapping to said flap, and electrical contact means associated with the transparent wrapping means for engaging the flap-carrying end of the package when the package leaves the transparent wrapping means, to provide an electrical signal indicative of absence of transparent wrapping when foil wrapping material is exposed to said contact means.

5. In cigarette packing and wrapping apparatus, the combination for producing an easy-opening package which comprises means for producing a cigarette pack age packed with cigarettes and having an open end from which thewrapping material projects in unfolded condition at two narrow sides and two wide sides, means for supplying wrapping material to the first-mentioned means, including rotarycutting means for slitting a side portion of said wrapping material at spaced localities, to provide slits in the projecting unfolded wide side portions of the package spaced from but near one of the narrow side unfolded portions, means transferring the package to a folding station, means at said station for inwardly folding the narrow projecting portion of material which is opposite the last-mentioned narrow portion, folding means at said station for folding down one of the projecting wide side portions over the first-mentioned narrow portion fold, a folder member adjacent the other pro-. jecting wide side portion of the package at said station, means for advancing the package past the folder member with said other wide wrapping portion in engagement with the folder member, to fold down said last inentioned portion over the previously made folds, for providing a substantially triangular flap constituting the remaining projecting narrow portion of material, said folder memher being shaped to permit passage of said flap during advance of the package, said advancing means carrying the package to a second folding station, and folding means at said second station for engaging the flap to fold it against the end of the package over the l a st previously made fold.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 5, which includes means for applying to the package an o uter protective wrapping having a severable portion to cover the aforesaid end that has the folds produced at the first and second folding stations, cooperating means, including a device for applying adhesive to the outer surface of the last-folded triangular flap, for adhering said severable portion of the outer wrapping to the said flap, and sensing means associated with the last-mentioned wrapping means for detecting the absence of, outer wrapping material as the package leaves said last-mentioned wrapping means,

to interrupt operation of the apparatus in response to such detection.

7. In cigarette packing and wrapping apparatus, the combination for producing an easy-opening package which comprises means for producing a cigarette package packed with cigarettes and having an open end from which the wrapping material projects in unfolded condition at two narrow sides and two wide sides, means receiving a continuous strip of wrapping material, for feeding same to the first-mentioned means, and including knife means for severing a length of the material as it is advanced into the first-mentioned means, said feeding means including rollers continuously traversed by the strip material, one of said rollers carrying a plurality of cutting means for slitting a side portion of the wrapping material at spaced localities in predetermined spatial relation to the knife means, to provide slits in the projecting unfolded wide side portions of the package spaced from but near one of the narrow side unfolded portions, means for inwardly folding the narrow projecting portion of material which is opposite the last-mentioned narrow portion, folding means for folding down the projecting wide side portions over the first-mentioned narrow portion fold and with one of the folded wide portions overlying the other, to provide a substantially triangular flap constituting the remaining projecting narrow portion of material, folding means for engaging the flap to fold it against the end of the package over the last previously made fold, means for applying to the package an outer protective wrapping having a severable portion to cover the aforesaid end that has the folds produced from the unfolded portions, means feeding the package to the lastmentioned wrapping means, and means associated with said feeding means for applying adhesive to the outer surface of the aforesaid last-folded flap, for adherence of the subsequently-applied severable portion of the outer wrapping to the said flap.

8. In cigarette packing and wrapping apparatus, in combination, package folding station means adapted to receive a cigarette package packed with cigarettes and having an open end from which the wrapping material projects in unfolded condition at two narrow sides and two wide sides, means at said station for inwardly folding one of the narrow projecting portions of material, a folder member disposed adjacent a wide side of the package, folding means movable across the unfolded end of the package toward the folder member to fold down one of the projecting wide side portions over the firstmentioned narrow portion fold, means shifting the folder member lengthwise of the package to a position for movement of the package past the same, means advancing the package past the folder member with the other wide unfolded wrapping portion in engagement with the folder member, to fold down said last-mentioned portion over the previously made folds, for providing a substantially triangular flap constituting the remaining projecting narrow portion of material, said folder member including recess structure shaped to bend said flap toward. the package during advance of the package, said advancing means carrying the package to a second folding station, and folding means at said second station for engaging the flap to fold it against the end of the package over the last previously made fold. I

9. In cigarette packing and wrapping apparatus, the combination for producing an easy-opening package which comprises means for producing a cigarette package packed with cigarettes and having an open end from which the wrapping material projects in unfolded condition at two narrow sides and two wide sides, folding means for folding down against the packed cigarettes in succession, one narrow projecting portion of material,

then one of the projectingwide side portions and thirdly, the other of the projecting wide side portions, to provide a substantially triangular flap constituting the remaining projecting narrow portion of material, means engaging said flap for folding it against the end of the package over the folded-down wide side portions, means for applying to the package an outer'transparent wrapping having a severable portion to cover the aforesaid end that has the folds produced from the unfolded portions, and means intermediate the last-mentioned folding means and said transparent wrapping means, for applying adhesive to theouter surface of the aforesaid last-folded flap, for adherence ofsaid separable portion of the transparent wrapping to said. flap.

10. In cigarette packaging apparatus for producing a transparent-material-wrapped easy-opening package, in combination, means for wrapping a foil-wrapped cigarette package with transparent material, means for advancing to said wrapping means a cigarette package having a foil wrapping which at one end comprises two down-folded narrow side foil portions and two downfolded wide side foil portions, one of said folded narrow side portions being a foil flap overlying the wide folded foil portions, said wrapping means comprising means for applying to the package an outer transparent wrapping having a severable portion to cover the aforesaid end of the package, means in the path of packages advanced to said wrapping means, for applying adhesive to the outer surface of the aforesaid foil flap, for adherence of said separable portion of the transparent Wrapping to said flap, and electrical contact means associated with the transparent wrapping means for engaging the flapcarrying end of the package when the package leaves the transparent wrapping means, to provide an electrical signal indicative of absence of transparent wrapping when the foil wrapping material is exposed to said contact means.

11. In cigarette packing and wrapping apparatus, the combination for producing an easy-opening package which comprises means for producing a cigarette package packed with cigarettes and wrapped with an inner wrapper having at one end a flap folded to lay flat against said end and separable therefrom to open the package, means for applying adhesive to the outer surface of said flap, and means for applying to the package a removable outer wrapping having a portion to cover said end, said portion of the outer wrapping thereby adhering to the adhesive covered portion of said flap.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, including means for conveying packages from said package producing means past said adhesive applying means to said outer wrapping applying means, said conveying means comprising a track, a guide plate along one side of the track,

means for moving the packages along the track with said one end thereof adjacent the guide plate, said guide plate having a slot therein extending longitudinally of the track and adjacent said one end of the packages and between and spaced from the edges thereof, said adhesive applying means including lug means movable throughsaid slot and supplied with adhesive and means coordimated with said package moving means to move said lug means through the slot and into contact with said flaps on said packages to transfer adhesive thereto, and a pair of ribs on the package-facing side of said guide plate adjacent the margins of the packages, said ribs extending from adjacent said slot to said outer wrapping applying means and being effective to prevent contact between the adhesive on the package flaps and the guide plate structure.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, including sensing means for detecting the absence of outer wrapping material on a package leaving said outer wrapping applying means, and means controlled by said sensing means to interrupt operation of the apparatus in response to such detection. 4

producing a package wrapped, in an inner wrapping of material at least the outer surface of which is electrically conductive, means for applying to the package an outer Wrapping of electrically insulating material, means for checking the operation'of said outer wrapping applying means comprising a sensing station including two electrically conductive contacts insulated from each other, an electric circuit including said contacts, and means for moving said packages from said outer wrapping applying means to said sensing station so as to bring the outer surface of each package into engagement with both saidcontacts, saidinner wrapping being then effective to complete said circuit if no outer wrapping has been applied 'overit, and control means connected in said cirQ cuit energized upon completion thereof, and effective upon energization to operatea device indicative of the absence of said outer wrapping. y

References Cited in the file of this Patent 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 972,300 Vavra Oct. 11, 1910 1,196,094 Fischer Aug. 29, 1916 1,201,370 Smith Oct. 17, 1916 1,452,604 Hopkins Apr. 24, 192 3 1,835,547 Wetmore' Dec. 8, 1931 2,675,169 Tamarin "Apr. 13, 1954.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,870,584 January 27, 1959 Joseph Sherrill It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of June 1959 (SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents KARL Ha AXLINE Attesting Officer

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