Package making – Wrapping machines – Cover-wiping passage or pocket for initial wrap
Patent
1998-01-14
1999-12-07
Hail, III, Joseph J.
Package making
Wrapping machines
Cover-wiping passage or pocket for initial wrap
53176, 53234, B65B 1106
Patent
active
059963107
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to packaging apparatus, particularly for packaging articles such as cigarettes in hinged-lid packets. The apparatus is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to so-called continuous packing machines, where the product is moved continuously through the apparatus while undergoing process operations. This is in contrast to conventional apparatus where the product is moved intermittently and often undergoes process operations while stationary.
According to one aspect of the invention packaging apparatus comprises first conveyor means having spaced means for conveying articles along a first path, second conveyor means having spaced means for conveying partially wrapped articles along a parallel second path, means for feeding wrapper sections along a further parallel path lying between said first and second paths, third conveyor means carrying means for transferring articles from said first path to said second path and for simultaneously plunging the articles against a wrapper section on said further path so that the articles become partially wrapped in said wrapper sections, further comprising fourth conveyor means carrying spaced forming means along an intermediate path lying between said further path and said second path, so that each of said articles and wrapper sections pass through one of said forming means in passing to said second path. The first, second, third and fourth conveyor means may each comprise endless band conveyors. Alternatively, two or more (including all) of the first, second, third and fourth conveyor means may have paths on or be carried by common conveyor means, e.g. a drum. In either case the paths of the respective conveyor means preferably include parallel portions. The spaced means of said first and second conveyor means may each comprise pockets, and the spaced forming means of said fourth conveyor means may comprise a sleeve-like element. The third conveyor means may comprise plunger means and may be so disposed relative to the other conveyors that the plungers are progressively moved from the region of said first path to the region of said second path as they are moved by said conveyor. To achieve this, the third conveyor preferably includes cam means for causing progressive extension of the plungers through the spaced means of said first and fourth conveyor means.
The articles may comprise batches of cigarettes for packing, and the wrapper sections may comprise foil in which the batches are to be wrapped prior to packaging in hinged lid packets. The forming means serves to form and align the wrapper section prior to receipt by the spaced means (e.g. pockets) of the second conveyor means, particularly those parts of the wrapper sections which remain to be folded downstream of the apparatus.
Where the articles are rectangular in cross-section, as in the case of a batch of cigarettes to be packed in a hinged-lid pack, the articles are preferably moved along said first and second paths in a direction parallel to their wider side: this can allow relatively close spacing of laterally-spaced wrapper section feeding means while still allowing access for the transferring means.
According to another aspect of the invention packaging apparatus comprises first conveyor means having spaced carriers for packets, second conveyor means for receiving packets from said first conveyor means and for delivering them to stack forming means, and transfer means for effecting transfer of packets from said first to said second conveyor means, wherein said second conveyor means comprises endless band means for receiving packets from said transfer means at a first spacing and for delivering them to said stack forming means at second spacing. In a preferred arrangement the second conveyor means comprises a suction band on which the packets can slip relative to the band and thereby change their spacing. The stack forming means may comprise a stop against which the suction band delivers packets and from which removal means (e.g. a plunger) directs the packets into a stack reservo
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patent: 4559758 (1985-12-01), Gamberini
patent: 5163268 (1992-11-01), Vaccari et al.
patent: 5216869 (1993-06-01), Boldrini et al.
patent: 5544467 (1996-08-01), Focke
patent: 5657609 (1997-08-01), Spada et al.
Bailey Thomas William
Cahill Michael John
Taylor Robert Howard
Hail III Joseph J.
Molins PLC
Tolan Ed
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