US3058275A - Wrapping or packaging machines - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 16, 1962 cs. D. HORGAN 3,058,275

WRAPPING OR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed July 26, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATT NEY Oct. 16, 1962 Filed July 26, 1957 G. D. HORGAN 3,058,275

WRAPPING OR PACKAGING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 [gig INVENTOR GEORGE DANIEL HORGAN ATT NEY Oct. 16, 1962 G. D. HORGAN 3,058,275

WRAPPING OR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed July 26, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR GEORGE DANIEL HORGAN Oct. 16, 1962 G. D. HORGAN 3,058,275

WRAPPING 0R PACKAGING MACHINES Filed July 26, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FlG.lO

FIG. l3 62 L INVENTOR GEORGE DANIEL HORGAN BY fiTTORZ EY nits Filed July 26, 1957, Ser. No. 637,595 20 Claims. (Cl. 53124) This invention relates to wrapping or packaging machines of the kind which comprise a hollow mandrel or arbor about which a wrapper can be folded and secured to form a container or package closed at one end and open at the other, an article or articles being inserted into the mandrel and the container or package together with its contents being subsequently removed. It has been proposed to mount a series of such forming mandrels on a rotary structure or turret which can be rotated to indexed positions to enable the various operations mentioned above to be carried out. On machines of this type heretofore available a disadvantage has been that the mechanisms required for the different operations are complex and relatively inaccessible so that the operations cannot easily be observed by the machine attendant and also it is difficult to remove faulty packages. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine of the kind referred to which affords an unobstructed view of the various operations and permits of easy access for the removal of faulty packages or for dealing with other defects in operation.

The invention comprises a machine of the kind referred to in which a series of hollow mandrels or arbors are connected together for guided intermittent movement along a rectilinear path, and means for forming packets about the mandrels or arbors, delivering articles thereto, and ejecting or removing the filled packets are arranged in spaced relation along such path.

This invention also comprises a machine according to the preceding paragraph in which the mandrels or arbors are connected together in the form of an endless chain or linked assemblage which is intermittently driven by sprocket wheels or the like.

According to a further feature of the invention the mandrels or arbors are carried by supports which are slidable in guides or tracks to provide the desired rectilinear path of travel. In a preferred arrangement the mandrels or arbors are caused to travel in a horizontal rectilinear path of the desired length and sprocket or like wheels supporting the linked series of mandrels are provided at each end of the machine.

According to a further feature of the invention there is associated with each mandrel or arbor a spring returnable clamping means for clamping a foil or wrapper to the mandrel, and means operated by cam or otherwise is provided for actuating said clamping means in a desired position or positions of the mandrel. According to a further feature of the invention, means such as a guide or supporting track is provided for maintaining the said clamping means in operative clamping position for a desired travel of the mandrel along its rectilinear path, as for example during the carrying out of the wrapper folding and tucking operations.

According to a further feature of the invention the feeding of articles such as cigarettes into the mandrels or arbors is effected by an intermittently operated and horizontally arranged rotary table carrying a series of radially disposed pockets into which the articles are introduced from a hopper or other supply and from which they are displaced into the mandrels, the movements of the table being synchronised with the step by step movements of the mandrels. According to a further feature of the invention the pockets are arranged or constructed to enable cigarettes or like articles to be compressed before they are displaced into the mandrel. The construction of the pockets is effected through suitable leverage and/or linkage from a cam or stationary cam track, and a fulcrum point of said leverage or linkage is adjustably mounted to permit variation of the stroke of the pocket contraction means whilst maintaining constant the initial position of said means.

Suitable means is provided for ejecting filled packet-s from the mandrels to a rotary transfer drum from which they are removed to a discharge device. The completion of the folding of the packet may be effected on the transfer drum.

In the accompanying drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a wrapping or packaging machine for cigarettes, constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation showing the feed of a wrapper to a forming mandrel or arbor;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of a rotatable drum for transferring partially formed packages to a delivery;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a rotary cigarette transfer table showing a mechanism for laterally compressing a group of cigarettes prior to their delivery into a mandrel or arbor;

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the compression mechanism of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a diagram showing the principle of motion of the compression mechanism;

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view of one of the mandrels of the packaging mechanism;

FIGURE 8 is a front view of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of FIGURE 7;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a mandrel illustrating the action of the clamping means when in operative position;

FIG. 11 is a front View of a mandrel with conventional means for folding marginal portions of a wrapper over the mandrel;

FIG. 12 is a front view of a mandrel with conventional means for forming end tucks in the wrapping;

FIG. 13 is a side view of conventional means for effecting the top and bottom end folds, and

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 10, illustrating the clamping means in its inoperative position.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode as applied by way of example to the packaging of cigarettes, a series of hollow mandrels, such as 1 in FIGURE 1, about which a package can be formed are linked together in a suitable manner to form an endless chain. As shown, the mandrels are mounted upon a chain 2 which is carried upon chain sprockets 3 and arranged so that the upper run of the chain is horizontal with the mandrels extending horizontally from one side thereof. The chain is driven intermittently through any suitable mechanism so that the mandrels are moved in succession to a desired number of indexed positions at which the different wrapping and sealing operations are carried out. Referring to FIGURE 1, a Wrapper or foil is wrapped about the mandrel at position A. At position B the inner foil is wrapped about the mandrel. At position C a label is fed to the mandrel. At position D a label or wrapper is wrapped about the mandrel and the label and foil are end tucked. At position E the top and bottom folds are formed. At position F compression plungers are operated to compress the end tucks. At position G a filling of cigarettes is fed into the mandrel. At position H the partially wrapped cigarettes are removed to a transfer drum.

Referring to FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, each mandrel com prises a hollow rectangular box 4 formed from thin metal and open at both ends, the rear end being slightly flared as shown at 5 and being mounted on a bracket 6 secured to a mandrel block 7 slidable in horizontal guides extending along the horizontal bed 8 of the machine. The lower guide 9 has a V recess for receiving a V shaped lower end of the mandrel block 7 which has upwardly facing shoulders, the upper guide members 10 secured to the block 8 extend inwardly over the said shoulders. The lower guide is supported by spaced brackets 11. By these means the mandrels 4 are guided smoothly along their horizontal path without undesired vibration. Each mandrel block 7 has a neck or narrow portion 12 in cross section to which are secured a pair of parallel spaced strips 13 extending in the direction of the guides and forming part or" the endless chain 2 of links, cross pins, and rollers which connect all the mandrel blocks. As previously mentioned the chain passes over sprocket wheels at the ends of the horizontal guides. A pair of forwardly extending brackets 14 are attached to each mandrel block '7 and carry spaced vertical guide members 15 for a vertically slidable plate structure 16 having its upper end formed as a horizontally extending bracket 17 carrying clamping means for holding a wrapper to the mandrel 4 when required. Secured to the upper end of said vertically slidable structure is a clamping spring 18 of shallow U-shape in cross section which is adapted, when the clamping structure is moved upwardly in its guides, to engage the lower part of the two sides of the mandrel 4. A pair of transversely aligned spring loaded plungers 19 mounted for vertical movement in the centre of the bracket 17 carry a substantially flat spring 20 lying within the U-shaped clamping spring 18 and adapted to engage the under side of the mandrel 4 under spring pressure when the clamping structure is moved upwardly. A roller 21 is secured to the lower end of the plate 16 of the clamping structure and adapted to be engaged,"

at suitable positions of the mandrel, by a cam operated lifter, indicated at 22 in FIGURE 8, which raises the said structure to engage the clamping springs with the mandrel as previously described. The arrangement is such that the clamping means will be spring returned when releasd by the lifting means 22. Also suitable supporting tracks 23 are provided where necessary to maintain the clamping means in clamping position for a desired period as will appear hereinafter.

Lifter 22 is moved into and out of clamping relationship with mandrels 4 by cam 60 having a cam track 62 in which runs a cam follower 64 rotatively mounted on a forked rod 66 having one end pivotally attached a 68 to lifter 22, and its forked end seated over shaft 70 to which cam 60 is attached. Shaft 70 is driven in suitable timed relationship from the main drive shaft of the machine (not shown).

Means is provided for feeding a wrapper (if desired with an inner foil) at a suitable point or points in its horizontal run. In a convenient arrangement an inner foil is fed in fiat condition to a suitably apertured supporting plate, as shown at 24 in FIGURE 7 at a point (A in FIGURE 1) near the commencement of the run. Referring to FIGURE 2, the foil 25 is severed by a device 26 and is fed over a guide plate 27 to a position below the mandrel 4 as referred to previously. Whilst the mandrel is stationary in an indexed position the clamping means described above is raised by the cam operated lifter 22 to grip the foil to the lower part of the mandrel as shown in FIG. 10 so that the foil assumes a generally U-shape. When the mandrel continues its travel the clamping means is maintained in clamping position by engagement with a fixed horizontal supporting track 23 (FIGURE 8). At a subsequent indexed position B of the mandrel, the gripping or clamping means being still in operation, the foil is wrapped about the mandrel by suitable folding devices. At a further indexed position C of the mandrel the supporting track is interrupted as seen in FIGURE 8 to release the clamping means which returns to inoperative position by spring action. An outer wrapper or label is then fed beneath the mandrel by means which may be similar to the foil feeding means. When the wrapper or label has been positioned over its apertured supporting plate the clamping means is moved upwardly by a further cam operated lifter to clamp the wrapper or label about the mandrel in a manner similar to that explained above with reference to FIG. 10. The clamping means is maintained in this position by the supporting track 23 until the filled packet is finally ejected. At a subsequent indexed position D of the mandrel the outer wrapper or label, which is then held to the mandrel by the clamping means, is folded over the top of the mandrel and two opposite end tucks are formed in the portion of the foil and wrapper which overhangs the outer end of the mandrel. The principles of such folding and end tucking mechanisms are well known. At a subsequent indexed position E of the mandrel the projecting portions of the foil and wrapper are folded down to form the top and bottom folds of the outer end of the packet. At a subsequent indexed position F of the mandrel, suitable plunger means indicated at 28, 28a in FIGURE 1, is provided for compressing the previously formed end folds and tucks.

As mentioned above, the respective mechanisms for folding the foil and wrapper over the top of the mandrel, and for effecting the folding and tucking of the projecting end portions thereof, are well known. Brief illustrations of such suitable mechanisms are, nevertheless, provided in FIGURES 11, 12 and 13. Although, as will be understood, the basic mechanism shown in FIG. 11 is used in the folding of both the inner and outer wrappers, the principal operations involved being identical, the folding of only the inner foil 25 across the top of the mandrel is illustrated. This mechanism, which is operatively mounted along the path of travel of mandrels 4 (at position B), comprises a first arm 62 having a folder plate 64 at its lower terminal end and being keyed or otherwise secured to a rocker shaft 66. Shaft 66 is adapted to be rocked by an arm 68 having a cam follower 70 which rolls on a cam 72 driven :by a shaft 73. Similarly, in opposed relation to arm 62 there is provided an arm 74 carrying at its lower terminal end a second folder plate 76, the latter also being pivotally mounted as at 78 and biased in a counter-clockwise direction by a coil spring 80. Arm 74 is keyed or otherwise secured to a rocker shaft 82, which shaft is rocked by means of an arm 84 having a follower element 86 which rides on a second cam 88. Cam 88 also is driven by shaft 73, wherefore the folder plates 64 and 76 are oscillated in fixed time relation. The timing of these elements is such that the plate 64 first wipes one marginal portion of foil 25 over a mandrel 4, and as plate 64 withdraws the plate 76 is moved inwardly to lap the other marginal portion over the mandrel. Again, it is noted that the mechanism shown in FIG. 11 is used also at position D to fold the outer wrapper or label over the top of the mandrel.

Conventional mechanism of the type used at position D for forming the two opposite end tucks in the projecting portions of foil and outer label is shown in FIG. 12. Each of a pair of arms 92 is adapted to be oscillated by a rocker shaft 94 on which it is mounted adjacent the path of travel of mandrels 4, and respectively carry at their lower terminal ends a pair of tucking elements 96. Rocker arms 95 are pivotally connected to toggle links 98 which have a common connection to a cam follower lever 102. Lever 102 is pivotally mounted at 104 and carries a roller 106 which rides upon a cam 108 driven by shaft 110. Shaft 110 is driven in timed relation to the conveyor chain 2. In operation, as maudrels 4 are successively and intermittently presented at position D, the rotation of cam 108 effects the simultaneous movement of tucking elements 96 inwardly across the end of the mandrel, thereby producing end tucks, as shown in FIG. 12, in the projecting portions of foil and outer wrapper. In FIG. 13 there is illustrated a conventional type of arrangement for producing the top and bottom end folds at position E. It will be understood that this latter mechanism in particular is entirely conventional, and comprises simply a first element 116 for gradually raising the lower flap against the end of the packet and a second element 1-18 for lowering the upper flap against the packet to overlap the bottom flap.

Means, as shown in FIGURES 1, 4 and 5, is provided for feeding the required groups or bunches of cigarettes into the mandrels after the containers or packets have been folded and sealed about the latter as previously described, and for ensuring closely filled packets. Said means comprise a horizontal rotary table 29 the upper surface of which is aligned with the horizontal run of the mandrels and which is driven by suitable means affording an intermittent motion of the table which is synchronised with the intermittent motion of the mandrels. The table 29 carries a series of radially arranged open ended pockets or containers 30, each of which is adapted to hold the required number of cigarettes to fill a packet. At a suitable position adjacent the table 29 and remote from the line of mandrels there is mounted a cigarette hopper 31 having a suitably shaped horizontal exit mouthpiece 32 and a pusher 3'3 aligned therewith for ejecting the required number of cigarettes into a table pocket 30 when the latter is brought, by appropriate indexed movement of the table, opposite the mouthpiece. The arrangement is such that as the table is intermittently rotated a bunch of cigarettes is delivered in turn to each of the pockets 30. Also the motion of the table is such that each of the filled pockets in turn is brought to a stationary position opposite to and aligned with the rear open and flared ends of a mandrel about which a packet has been previously folded and sealed at one end, so that the cigarettes can be displaced into the mandrel by the operation of a plunger.

To ensure that the packets shall be closely filled, each of the table pockets is constructed to apply lateral and top compression simultaneously to the cigarettes therein as the table is rotated. For this purpose each pocket is constituted by a pair of L-shaped sections 34, 35, the section 35 being secured to the table and the section 34 being mounted and guided for lateral sliding upon the section 35 so that the rectangular open ended pocket space enclosed between them can be contracted both horizontally and vertically. For this purpose the engaging surfaces 36 are inclined to the horizontal. The section 34 is guided by a pair of upwardly inclined pins 37 slidable in guides 38 secured to the table. The interior sides of the sections are grooved as shown to assist in maintaining the desired arrangement of the layers of cigarettes therein. Also the pockets may be adjustable to contain different numbers of cigarettes.

Contraction of the pockets is effected by a first lever 39 pivoted at a fixed intermediate point and carrying a roller 40 which engages a stationary cam 41. The lever 39 is connected by a link 42 to a pivot on the outer end of an arm 43 the inner end of which is pivotally mounted on a sector or other plate 44 adjustably secured to the table. Adjustment of the plate 44 is controlled by a sector shaped slot 45 therein so that adjusting movement of the inner arm pivot 46 can take place only on an arc the centre of which is the outer pivot connection 47 of the arm 43. At the lowest portion of the cam 41 the pocket 3%] is fully open and is closed progressively as the cam radius increases. The arrangement is such that adjustment of the sector plate 44 enables the stroke of the pocket section 34 and hence the amount of compression of the cigarettes to be varied. This is illustrated diagrammatically in FIGURE 6. The fulcrum b of the lever 39 is fixed as also is the point e representing pivot 46, so that point 1 representing the section 34 can only move along the line xx. When the lowest point of the cam is operative the linkage takes up the position a, be, cd, de, ef. When the highest cam point is operative, abc moves to abc; cd moves to cd'; de moves to de; and df moves to df'. It will be seen that by moving the point e on an arc centred at d to e the linkage takes up the following positions. With the lowest cam point engaged the positions are abc; cd; tie and d With the highest cam point engaged, abc moves to a'bc; cd moves to cd'; e'd moves to ed and d1 moves to d f thereby giving an increased movement to 7. Thus the amount of movement of f can be varied by the above adjustment, but the starting position corresponding to engagement of the lowest cam point will always be df. Hence only the final position of the section 34- is altered.

The stationary cam 41 is shaped so that the cigarettes in the pocket 30 are progressively compressed as the pocket moves from the cigarette hopper 31 to the delivery point G, but just before delivery the compression is slightly released to prevent damage during transfer. A plunger 48 located inside the circular series of pockets 30 is cam operated at an appropriate time to eject the cigarettes into a mandrel at the station G. At a subsequent indexed position H there is provided adjacent the outer end of the mandrel a rotary packet transfer drum 49 the axis of which lies parallel to the line of mandrels. The drum 49 is given a step by step rotation in synchronism with the stepwise advance of the mandrels and carries a series of outwardly extending packet supports 50 hinged to the drum at 51 so that their inclination to the drum circumference can be changed as the drum revolves. A plunger 52 aligned with the mandrel in position H is operated by cam or other means to eject the cigarettes from the mandrel together with the" packet thereon, the spring clamping means of the mandrel having been released as shown in FIG. 14 before the mandrel reaches this position. The filled packet is received by a packet support 53 on the drum and in this position a pair of end tucking devices 54- are actuated to form end tucks in the foil or alternatively in the wrapper overhanging the cigarettes therein. A folder 55 is then operated by the initial movement of the drum as it moves on to fold inwardly the upper end fold, the lower fold 56 remaining extended as seen in FIGURE 3. Continued movement of the drum brings the packet to an up-ended position opposite a horizontal chute or collecting passage 57 for collected packets. In this position the lower part 50 of the packet support is moved downwardly to a horizontal position 50' and a pusher 58 is operated to eject the packet into the chute 57. The upper wall of the chute is formed at 59 so that such movement folds down the final end fold 56 of the packet. Means may be provided if desired at this position for applying a revenue stamp or other adhesive closure member to the folded end of the packet.

It will be understoood that the details and general arrangement of the means for forming and folding the packets and for transferring and completing the folding of filled packets may be widely varied and may, if desired, be similar in operation and construction to that shown in Bronander Patent 1,926,192 for a Cigarette Packaging Machine, Arelt Patent 2,344,666 for a High Speed Cigarette Packaging Machine, Arelt Patent 2,378,- 457 for Mechanism for Closing the Tubular End of the Wrapper of the Package and Arelt Patent 2,402,231 for Wrapper Sealing Mechanism for Packaging Machine. The different mechanisms are driven and controlled so that the operations are effected automatically.

Whilst the invention is intended more particularly for the packaging of cigarettes it is not essentially restricted thereto but may be applied to the wrapping or packaging of other articles. A

I claim:

1. A machine for packaging articles comprising a source of supply of articles to be packaged, a series of hollow mandrels, support means mounting said mandrels for movement along a pre-determined rectilinear path of travel, means for folding a length of wrapper about each of said mandrels to form packets thereabout, a traveling article assembling device, means mounting said device proximate the path of travel of said mandrels for delivery of a succession of assemblies of said articles from said device into said mandrels, means for introducing said articles from said source of supply into said article assembling device, means for delivering articles from said article assembling device into said mandrels about which said lengths of wrapper are folded, and means for ejecting packets with articles therein from said mandrels. V

2. A machine for packaging articles comprising a series of hollow mandrels, support means mounting said mandrels for movement along a rectilinear path of travel, means for folding a length of wrapper about each mandrel to form a packet thereabout, a hopper, a rotatable feeding member, means mounting said feeding member for travel in a path tangent to the path of movement of said mandrels, means for delivering said articles from said hopper to said feeding member, means for rotating said feeding member to deliver a succession of groups of said articles from said hopper to said mandrels about which said lengths of wrapper are folded at the point of tangency on their path of travel, means for discharging said articles from said feeding member into said mandrels and means for ejecting said packets with articles therein from said mandrels.

3. A machine for packaging articles comprising a series of hollow mandrels, an endless traveling support for said mandrels, means mounting said mandrels at equidistantly spaced intervals on said support, means for traveling said support to move said mandrels along a rectilinear path of travel, means for holding a length of wrapper about its associated mandrel, means for folding said Wrapper about the sides and bottom of its associated mandrel to form a packet thereabout, a source of supply for articles to be wrapped, a movable feeding device having a plurality of spaced pockets, means for delivering said articles from said source of supply of said device, means for moving said feeding device to deliver said articles from said pockets into the open ends of each of said mandrels about which said lengths of wrapper are folded at a selected point on the path of travel of said mandrels, means for discharging said articles from said device into said mandrels and means for ejecting said packets with articles therein from said mandrels.

4. A machine for packaging articles comprising a series of hollow mandrels, flexible support means connecting said mandrels together, means for moving said connected mandrels along a rectilinear path of travel, means for folding a length of wrapper about each of said mandrels to form packets thereabout, means for feeding articles into said mandrel at a selected position on their rectilinear path of travel, said last named means including a table having a series of radially disposed pockets, means rotatably mounting said table for movement in a generally horizontal plane, a hopper, means for introducing articles to be wrapped from said hopper into said pockets, means for rotating said table synchronously with the movement of said mandrels, whereby each of said pockets is brought into alignment with one of said mandrels at said selected position on the rectilinear path of travel of said mandrels, means for discharging said articles from said pockets to their associated aligned mandrels, and means for ejecting said packets with articles therein from said mandrels.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein each pocket comprises a pair of generally L-shaped elements, said elements having inclined, engaging faces, said elements being adapted for lateral sliding movement one over the other and cam-actuated means for moving said elements whereby articles in said pockets are compressed to facilitate movement into said mandrels.

6. A machine for packaging articles comprising a series of hollow mandrels, an endless chain connecting said mandrels together,, means for driving said chain to move said mandrels intermittently along a rectilinear path of travel, slidable guides for supporting said mandrels, clamping means for each of said mandrels for clamping a length of wrapper about its associated mandrel, means for folding said wrappers about the sides and bottom of said mandrels to form pockets thereabout, a table having a series of radially disposed pockets, means rotatably mounting said tabie for movement in a generally horizontal plane, a source of supply for said articles, means for introducing said articles from said source of supply into said pockets, means for intermittently rotating said table in timed relationship with the movement of said mandrels whereby each of said pockets is brought into alignment with the open end of one of said mandrels at a selected point on the path of travel of said mandrels, means for discharging said articles from each of said pockets into its associated aligned mandrel and means for ejecting said packets with articles therein from said mandrels.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said lastmentioned means includes a plunger, means supporting said plunger for movement against said filled mandrel at an indexed position on its path of travel, means for operating said plunger to eject filled packets from said mandrels, a transfer drum for receiving said ejected packets provided with hinged outwardly extending packet supports, means for rotating said transfer drum in a substantially vertical plane to deliver packets to an elevated discharge device, means for removing packets from said transfer drum at said elevated discharge device, and folding means for folding down the open end of said packets as each of said packets is moved on said transfer drum and to said discharge device.

8. A machine for packaging cigarettes comprising a series of spaced hollow mandrels, endless conveying means supporting said mandrels, means for driving said conveying means intermittently to move said mandrels to indexed positions along a rectilinear path of travel, slidable guides for supporting said mandrels, clamping means for each of said mandrels, means for actuating said clamping means for securing a length of wrapper about its associated mandrel, means for folding said wrappers about the sides and bottom of each of said mandrels to form a packet thereabout, means for de-actuating said clamping means, a table having a series of radially disposed pockets, means rotatably mounting said table for movement in a generally horizontal plane, a cigarette hopper, means for introducing said cigarettes from said hopper into said pockets, said pockets being provided with means for compressing said cigarettes laterally and vertically therein, means for intermittently rotating said table synchronously with the move ment of said mandrel whereby each of said pockets is brought into alignment with the open end of one of said mandrels at a selected indexed position on the path of travel of said mandrels, means for discharging said cigarettes from said pockets into its associated aligned mandrel, a plunger, means supporting said plunger for move ment against said filled mandrel at a succeeding indexed position on its path of travel, means for operating said plunger to eject filled packets from said mandrels, a transfer drum provided with hinged outwardly extending packet supports, means for rotating said transfer drum in a substantially vertical plane to deliver packets to an elevated discharge device, said plunger adapted to deliver packets from said mandrels onto said packet supports of said transfer drum when said packet supports are substantially horizontal, a first folding means actuated by the movement of said drum in moving a packet to said elevated discharge device for folding the upper end fold of said packet, means for removing packets from said transfer device at said elevated discharge device, and a second folding means for completing the end fold of said packet as said packet is moved to said discharge device.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said discharge device comprises a collecting chute, means supporting said chute at a position adjacent the point of uppermost travel of said transfer drum and including a pusher member, means for operating said pusher member to remove packets on said transfer drum delivered to said collecting chute, said packet supports being adapted to pivot downwardly out of the path of travel of said packets as said pusher member moves said packets into said collecting chute, and wherein the upper wall of said chute is operative as said second folding means fold down the final end fold of said packet as said packet is moved by said pusher member into said collecting chute.

10. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said pockets each comprise a pair of opposed elements having inclined engaging faces, the first of said elements being fixed to said table, the second of said elements being mounted for lateral sliding movement relative to said first element, means for controlling the lateral sliding movement of said second element including a lever, means connecting one end of said lever to said second element, a roller connected to the other end of said lever, a stationary cam track supporting said roller in its path of travel with said table, said cam track being operative to urge said second element to fully open position at said cigarette hopper and to progressively urge said second element toward closed position, compressing said cigarettes between said elements, as said pocket is moved by said table from said hopper toward said mandrel, to facilitate transfer from said pockets into said mandrels.

11. The invention as defined in claim wherein said cam track is operative to urge said second element toward open position to release said compression slightly as said pocket approaches its aligned mandrel whereby damage to said cigarettes during transfer is prevented.

12. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said means connecting said lever to said second element include a link member connected at one end to said lever, an arm, means pivotally connecting said link member to one end of said arm, a sector member, means pivotally mounting the other end of said arm on said sector member, means connecting said arm to said second element and means adjustably securing said sector on said table adjacent said elements, whereby the amount of sliding movement of said second element relative to said first element is controlled.

13. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said clamping means is spring actuated and includes a support track for urging said spring actuated clam-ping means into operative position for clamping said Wrapper about its associated mandrel at a selected point on the path of travel of said mandrel, said track maintaining said clamping means in operative position for a selected length of travel of said mandrel along its rectilinear path of travel, said clamping returning to non-operative position at the end of said selected length of travel.

14. In a packaging machine, the combination comprising endless conveyor means, a series of open-ended and box-shaped mandrels mounted in spaced relation on said conveyor means with the open ends of the mandrels facing sidewise, means driving said conveyor means and the mandrels carried thereby along a rectilinear path of travel, means associated with each of said mandrels for securing a length of wrapper thereagainst and for folding said wrapper over the sides of the mandrel, means supplying a wrapper and positioning the same for operation thereon by each said securing and folding means, means mounting each said securing and folding means for rectilinear movement with its associated mandrel, means effecting operation of said securing and folding means at a selected point along said rectilinear path of travel, means at succeeding station points along said rectilinear path of travel for overlapping the remaining marginal wrapper portions and for tucking and folding of the wrapper at one end, means stationed at the side of said conveyor means for delivering a succession of article assemblies into said mandrels through the other end of each, means for ejecting the packets thus formed with said articles therein from said mandrels, and means completing the formation of the individual packets by end tucking and folding of each wrapper at said other end.

15. I11 a packaging machine, the combination comprising endless conveyor means, a series of packet forming mandrels mounted in spaced relation on said conveyor means, means driving said conveyor means and the said mandrels carried thereby along -a rectilinear path of travel, means associated with each of said mandrels for securing a length of Wrapper thereagainst and including a U-shaped member for folding said wrapper over the sides of the mandrel, means mounting each last-mentioned means for movement into and out of operative position adjacent its associated mandrel and for movement with said associated mandrel along its rectilinear path of travel, means for feeding a wrapper between each said member and its associated mandrel, means for moving said member into operative wrapper securing and folding position at a selected point along said rectilinear path of travel thereof, and means at succeeding station points along said rectilinear path of travel effecting further formation of the individual packets by overlapping of the Wrapper margins over the mandrels and by end tucking and folding.

16. In a packaging machine, the combination comprising a plurality of movable packet forming devices, an endless conveyor, means mounting said devices in spaced relation on said conveyor, means for driving said conveyor with the said devices carried thereby along a rectilinear path of travel, a wrapper securing member for holding a length of wrapper about each of said devices, means mounting said members for movement into and out of operative position adjacent their associated devices and for movement therewith as said devices are moved along said rectilinear path of travel, means for moving said securing members into operative position at a selected point along said rectilinear path of travel, means at succeeding station points along said rectilinear path of travel further effecting formation of the individual packets by overlapping of the wrapper margins over the mandrels and including end tucking and folding, and means for maintaining said securing member in said operative position during operation of the last-mentioned means and thereafter effecting withdrawal thereof from said operative position.

17. The invention as defined in claim 16, wherein the respective means for moving said wrapper securing member into and maintaining the same in said operative position include a cam-actuated lifter, means for moving said lifter into engagement with a member whereby it is moved into operative position adjacent its associated packet forming device, support tracks for maintaining said member in the operative position for a selected length of travel of its associated device, and spring means normally urging said member out of said operative position.

18. The invention as defined in claim 16, wherein said member is moved into and out of said operative position at a plurality of selected points along its rectilinear path of travel, whereby an outer wrapper may be applied to the packet for-med about its associated forming device.

19. In a packaging machine provided with a horizontally traveling article feeding mechanism, an article compressing device carried by said mechanism and comprising a pair of opposed elements adapted to receive therebetween a plurality of horizontally oriented oblong articles, said elements having inclined mutually engaging surfaces, the first of said elements being fixed with respect to said mechanism and the second element being mounted for inclining lateral sliding movement relative to said first element, and means controlling said relative movement of the second element including an elongate member, means connecting one end of said member to said second element, a cam track engaging the other end of said member in its path of travel with said feeding mechanism, said cam track being operable on said member to urge said second element to fully open position as said horizontally oriented articles are received between said elements at an article delivery station and progressively to urge said second element toward closed position, compressing the horizontally oriented articles between said elements, during movement of said feeding mechanism from said delivery station prior to transfer of the articles from the feeding mechanism.

20. In a packaging machine provided with a rotary article feeding mechanism having a substantially vertical axis, an article compressing device carried by said mechanism and comprising a pair of opposed elements adapted to receive therebetween a plurality of oblong articles oriented horizontally and radially with respect to said mechanism, said elements having inclined mutually engaging guide surfaces whereby the elements are relatively movable for both lateral and vertical compressing of said oriented articles, the first of said elements being fixed with respect to said mechanism and the second being mounted for said lateral and vertical movement relative to said first element, and means controlling said relative movement of the elements comprising a stationary cam station and progressively to urge said second element toward closed position, compressing the horizontally oriented articles between said elements, during movement of said feeding mechanism from said delivery station prior to transfer of the articles from the feeding mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,568,989 Molins Jan. 12, 1926 1,606,834 Halank Nov. 16, 1926 1,608,163 Bronander Nov. 23, 1926 1,792,203 Wakefield Feb. 10, 1931 1,870,533 Scott et al Aug. 9, 1932 1,926,192 Bronander Sept. 12, 1933 1,954,020 Neif Apr. 10, 1934 2,048,281 Muller July 21, 1936 2,344,666 Arelt Mar. 21, 1944 2,867,065 Hall Ian. 6, 1959

Images