U.S. patent application number 11/374078 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-21 for method and a device for the assembly of packets for tobacco products.
Invention is credited to Luca Cerati, Gaetano De Pietra, Marco Ghini, Alessandro Minarelli, Franco Spisni.
Application Number | 20060207224 11/374078 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35148780 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060207224 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ghini; Marco ; et
al. |
September 21, 2006 |
Method and a device for the assembly of packets for tobacco
products
Abstract
Cigarette packets are assembled by a method that involves
dabbing or spraying a cold-setting adhesive onto selected areas of
a blank fed along the wrapping line of a packaging machine,
whereupon the blank is folded to form a packet; should there be a
break in operation of the machine following the application of the
adhesive, persisting for a certain length of time, the method
includes a heat-reactivation step whereby the adhesive applied
previously to the blank is warmed to a given temperature so as to
restore its bonding properties and guarantee the ultimate stability
of the assembled packet.
Inventors: |
Ghini; Marco; (San Lazzaro
Di Savena, IT) ; Minarelli; Alessandro; (Bazzano,
IT) ; Cerati; Luca; (Bologna, IT) ; Spisni;
Franco; (Monghidoro, IT) ; De Pietra; Gaetano;
(Casalecchio Di Reno, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Harbin King & Klima
500 Ninth Street SE
Washington
DC
20003
US
|
Family ID: |
35148780 |
Appl. No.: |
11/374078 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/466 ;
53/228 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 51/02 20130101;
B65B 19/223 20130101; B65B 61/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
053/466 ;
053/228 |
International
Class: |
B65B 11/06 20060101
B65B011/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 17, 2005 |
IT |
BO2005A000167 |
Claims
1. A method of assembling packets for tobacco products directed
along a wrapping line (1) of a packaging machine equipped with feed
means supplying a wrapping material (3) from which the packets (2)
are made, including the step of applying a layer or dab of
cold-setting adhesive (8) to predetermined areas (8a, 8b) of the
wrapping material (3), and the step of folding the wrapping
material (3) to form a packet, characterized in that it further
includes at least one step of reactivating the cold-setting
adhesive (8) applied to the predetermined areas (8a, 8b), by
exposing the selfsame areas to heat, at a predetermined
reactivation temperature (t.sub.r).
2. A method as in claim 2, including a cooling step following the
heat-reactivation step.
3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heat-reactivation step is
implemented on all packets (2) assembled by the packaging
machine.
4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heat-reactivation step is
initiated following a break in operation of the packaging machine
lasting for a predetermined interval of time (T1-T2).
5. A method as in claim 1 including a step, following the folding
step, of restraining the packets (2), wherein the step of
reactivating the cold-setting adhesive (8) by exposure to heat
occurs concurrently, at least in part, with the restraining
step.
6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heat-reactivation step is
implemented by means of heated restraint elements.
7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heat-reactivation step
precedes the folding step.
8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heat-reactivation step
occurs during the course of the folding step.
9. A method as in claim 7, wherein the heat-reactivation step is
implemented by radiating heat on the predetermined areas (8a, 8b)
to which the cold-setting adhesive (8) has been applied.
10. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heat-reactivation step
occurs as the wrapping material (3) advances along the wrapping
line (1).
11. A method as in claim 1, further including the steps of
measuring the length of time (T) elapsing during a break in
operation of the packaging machine, and comparing the resulting
stoppage time (T) with the predetermined interval of time (T1-T2)
between a first predetermined critical time value (T1) and a second
predetermined critical time value (T2), within which any
degradation of the cold-setting adhesive (8) and consequent loss of
bonding properties can be reversed by implementing the
heat-reactivation step.
12. A device for the assembly of packets for tobacco products,
comprising feed means by which a wrapping material (3) is advanced
along a wrapping line (1) of a packaging machine, means (4) by
which to apply a layer or a dab of cold-setting adhesive (8) to
predetermined areas (8a, 8b) of the wrapping material (3), and
folding means by which the wrapping material (3) is formed into a
packet, characterized in that it further comprises heater means
(15) serving to reactivate the cold-setting adhesive (8) applied to
the predetermined areas (8a, 8b), by exposure of the selfsame areas
to heat, at a predetermined reactivation temperature (t.sub.r).
13. A device as in claim 12, comprising cooling means (28) located
downstream of the heater means (15) along the feed direction
followed by the wrapping material (3) and serving to cool at least
the predetermined areas (8a, 8b) exposed previously to the action
of the heater means (15).
14. A device as in claim 12, wherein the action of the heater means
(15) is applied to all of the packets (2) assembled by the
packaging machine when in operation.
15. A device as in claim 12, comprising processing means (16) able
to measure a stoppage time (T) resulting from a break in operation
of the packaging machine and connected on the output side to a
control unit (17) such as will generate a signal to activate the
heater means (15) in the event that the stoppage time (T) resulting
from the break in operation of the packaging machine is within a
given interval of time between a first predetermined critical time
value (T1) and a second predetermined critical time value (T2),
within which any degradation of the cold-setting adhesive (8) and
consequent loss of bonding properties can be reversed by
implementing the heat-reactivation step.
16. A device as in claim 12, further comprising means (14) by which
to restrain the packets (2), positioned downstream of the folding
means (5), wherein the cold-setting adhesive (8) is
heat-reactivated by means (15) associated with the restraint means
(14).
17. A device as in claim 16, wherein the restraint means (14)
comprise an outfeed channel (9) delimited by the active branches
(13) of two conveyor belts (10) offered in contact to the flank
faces of the packets (2), and the cold-setting adhesive (8) is
heat-reactivated by means (15) comprising heated plates (18)
breasted with the reverse faces of the active branches (13).
18. A device as in claim 12, wherein the cold-setting adhesive (8)
is heat-reactivated by means (15) positioned upstream of the
folding means (5).
19. A device as in claim 18, wherein the cold-setting adhesive (8)
is heat-reactivated by means (15) comprising at least one convector
heater or at least one radiator.
20. A cigarette packer, comprising a device as in claim 12.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a device for
the assembly of packets for tobacco products.
[0002] Cigarette packets are composed conventionally of an inner
wrapper, substantially parallelepiped in shape, fashioned generally
from metal foil paper and enveloping a group of cigarettes, for
example twenty in number, and an outer wrapper that can be either
of rigid or of soft type.
[0003] In the case of a rigid packet, which typically has a hinged
lid, the outer wrapper is fashioned from a flat diecut blank of
paperboard prepared with longitudinal and transverse crease lines
and cuts serving to delimit a plurality of panels and flaps that
will combine, after a succession of folding operations, to form the
structure of the outer wrapper.
[0004] In the case of a soft packet, the outer wrapper is again
fashioned by completing a succession of folding operations, in this
instance on a sheet of pliable paper separated by a cutting
operation from a continuous strip decoiled from a respective
roll.
[0005] Machines of prior art type able to manufacture such packets
comprise a wrapping line equipped with infeed stations supplying
the blanks or the sheets of paper, a station at which groups of
cigarettes enveloped each in a relative inner wrapper of metal foil
paper are taken up and paired with respective blanks or sheets of
paper, a plurality of folding stations, and outfeed conveyor means
from which the finished packets pass on to further machines.
[0006] Such machines are equipped with gluing devices, upstream of
the folding means, that will spread or spray an adhesive substance
onto selected portions of the wrapping material.
[0007] With the folding steps completed, the adhesive dries to the
point of setting and the outer wrapper can thus be rendered
stable.
[0008] Conventionally, where the adhesive employed is a
cold-setting type, such as a vinyl or similar glue, it will require
a certain length of time to dry to the point of setting, and
accordingly, to ensure the outer wrapper can be properly stabilized
during the course of this drying and setting interval, the packets
must be subjected to the action of suitable restraint means,
applied at least to the areas that have been glued.
[0009] To this end, the finished packets emerging from the
aforementioned wrapping line can be directed, for example, along an
outfeed channel consisting typically in pair of conveyor belts,
each looped around two respective return pulleys of which one at
least is power driven. The active branches of the two belts are
offered in contact to the flank faces of the assembled packet and
extend mutually parallel, delimiting the aforementioned outfeed
channel and functioning as the restraint means. In addition, the
machine will generally incorporate heated metal plates breasted
with the reverse sides of the active branches, so that the flank
faces of the packets, glued previously with the cold-setting
adhesive, can be warmed in such a way as to bring about the curing
process (evaporation of water) and the resulting stabilization of
the outer wrapper more quickly.
[0010] In the event of a break in production occurring and the
machine being brought to a standstill, so that the time elapsing
from the moment when the adhesive is applied to the moment when the
glued portions are bent and joined becomes long enough for the
bonding properties of the adhesive to be degraded, the packets
emerging from the restraint means may lose their stability and
certain of the glued and joined parts may separate and lift, with
the result that the packets are rendered defective and must be
discarded.
[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide a method
and a device for use in the assembly of packets containing tobacco
products, such as will be unaffected by the drawbacks described
above.
[0012] One particular object of the invention is to set forth a
method and a device used in the assembly of packets for tobacco
products such as will guarantee that all packets assembled are
guaranteed free of gluing defects, regardless of any machine
stoppages attributable, for example, to technical problems or
maintenance requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The stated objects are realized according to the present
invention in a method of assembling packets for tobacco products
directed along the wrapping line of a packaging machine. The method
disclosed is applicable to a machine equipped with feed means
supplying a wrapping material from which the packets are made, and
includes the steps of applying a layer or dab of cold-setting
adhesive to predetermined areas of the wrapping material, folding
the wrapping material to form a packet, then reactivating the
cold-setting adhesive applied to the predetermined areas by
exposing these same areas to heat at a predetermined reactivation
temperature.
[0014] The aforementioned objects are realized similarly in a
device according to the invention for the assembly of packets
around tobacco products, comprising feed means by which a wrapping
material is advanced along a wrapping line of a packaging machine,
means by which to apply a layer or a dab of cold-setting adhesive
to predetermined areas of the wrapping material, and folding means
by which the wrapping material is formed into a packet; the device
further comprises heater means serving to reactivate the
cold-setting adhesive applied to the predetermined areas by
exposing these same areas to heat at a predetermined reactivation
temperature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The invention will now be described in detail, by way of
example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a wrapping line on which
packets for tobacco products are assembled by the method according
to the present invention, viewed schematically and in
perspective;
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a constructional example of the line in FIG.
1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] With reference to the drawings, numeral 1 denotes a portion
of a wrapping line, in its entirety, on which packets 2 for tobacco
products are assembled in a packaging machine.
[0019] The wrapping line follows a predetermined path P along which
sheets 3 of wrapping material, referred to commonly as blanks, or
diecuts, are caused to advance in succession by suitable feed means
of conventional embodiment (not illustrated in the drawings),
following a feed direction denoted F.
[0020] Located along the aforementioned wrapping path P are
components 4 serving to apply a layer or dab of cold-setting
adhesive, denoted 8, on selected areas of the wrapping material,
and folding means 5 such as will fashion an enclosed packet about a
relative group 6 of cigarettes already enveloped, typically, in a
leaf of metal foil paper.
[0021] In the example of FIG. 1, the wrapping line 1 passes through
a first and a second folding station illustrated schematically as
two blocks 5a and 5b, positioned in sequence along the line 1, and
on toward an outfeed stage 7 from which the finished packet 2
emerges.
[0022] The components 4 serving to apply layers or dabs of adhesive
8, which might consist in contact or spray type gluing devices, are
shown in the example of FIG. 1 as two pairs of gluing nozzles 4a
and 4b positioned above the wrapping line and in such a way that a
blank 3 passing beneath can be sprayed with adhesive on respective
first lateral flaps 8a and second lateral flaps 8b that will be
associated with further corresponding flaps 8c and 8d when the
blank is folded.
[0023] After the nozzles 4a and 4b have deposited the cold-setting
adhesive 8, the group 6 of cigarettes is placed on the blank 3 and
directed thus into the first folding station 5a, whereupon the
blank 3 is closed around the group 6 of cigarettes in familiar
manner, neither described nor illustrated, except for the glued
second lateral flaps 8b, which will be bent and secured to the
corresponding flaps 8d at the second folding station 5b.
[0024] The wrapping line 1 further comprises an outfeed channel 9
placed to take up the finished packets 2 downstream of the folding
means 5 and embodied as a pair of conveyor belts 10 each looped
around two respective return pulleys 11 turning on vertical axes
12, of which one at least is power driven.
[0025] The active branches 13 of the two belts 10 placed in contact
with the flanks of the packets 2 extend parallel one with another,
delimiting the outfeed channel 9 and functioning as restraint means
14 by which the packets 2 are held firmly in such a way as to
stabilize the outer wrapper satisfactorily.
[0026] The device according to the present invention comprises
heater means 15 of which the function is to reactivate the
cold-setting adhesive 8 applied to the aforementioned predetermined
areas of the blank, in particular when the operating cycle of the
packaging machine is interrupted for a given interval of time T,
long enough for the bonding properties of the cold-setting adhesive
to be lost yet short enough for the loss to be reversible by means
of a heat-reactivation step.
[0027] With this end in view, the adhesive is warmed up to a
predetermined reactivation temperature t.sub.r, at which it regains
the bonding properties lost during the break in the operating cycle
of the machine.
[0028] More precisely, the device disclosed comprises processing
means 16 such as will measure the time T elapsing in the event of a
machine stoppage, when in receipt of a warning signal S from a
device (not shown in the drawings) connected to the packaging
machine and able to generate a start signal and a stop signal
indicating the start and finish of a break in the operating cycle
of the machine.
[0029] The processing means 16 consist in metering means able to
measure the duration of the stoppage when the machine is idle, and
are connected to the heat reactivation means 15 by way of a control
unit 17 governing the operation of these same means 15.
[0030] In particular, the stoppage time T is compared by the
processing means 16 with a first predetermined critical time value
T1 indicating that the adhesive will have lost its bonding
properties and needs to be reactivated, and with a second
predetermined critical time T2 indicating that the adhesive will
have deteriorated beyond recovery and even the heat-reactivation
step is no longer of any use.
[0031] Should the measured stoppage time T fall between the first
and second predetermined critical time values T1 and T2, then the
processing means 16 will respond by piloting the control unit 17 to
initiate the heat reactivation step.
[0032] In the preferred solution of FIG. 1, the step of
heat-reactivating the cold-setting adhesive 8 is initiated after
the folding step and concurrently, at least in part, with the
restraint step. To this end, the heat-reactivation means 15 are
associated with the restraint means 14.
[0033] In particular, the heat-reactivation means 15 comprise
heated metal plates 18 breasted with the active branches 13 of the
two belts 10, on the reverse side. Thus, the heat-reactivation step
is brought about by associating heated restraining elements with
each of the formed packets 2.
[0034] The method according to the invention might also include a
cooling step, implemented following the step of reactivating the
cold-setting adhesive 8 by the application of heat so as to avoid
degrading the packet 2 and the warmed adhesive, through the agency
of cooling plates installed in series with the heated plates 18 and
breasted with the reverse faces of the active branches 13. The
plates could operate at ambient temperature, by way of example, or
could be suitably cooled.
[0035] Finally, the wrapping line could also incorporate means by
which to dry the packets 2, downstream of the heat-reactivation
means 15.
[0036] The drying means, conventional in embodiment and therefore
not illustrated, will comprise further plates dedicated to the
drying step, located beyond the heated plates 18 and, if installed,
the cooling plates.
[0037] Such drying plates would be breasted likewise with the
active branches 13 of the belts 10 dedicated to heat-reactivation
of the adhesive, on the reverse side, or alternatively mounted to
other belts located further along the wrapping line.
[0038] The drying plates operate at a temperature t.sub.d lower
than the reactivation temperature t.sub.r of the heated plates
18.
[0039] In an alternative solution, not illustrated, the drying
plates and the heated plates 18 could be one and the same,
operating at different temperatures controllable selectively
according to whether the plates are being utilized at a given
moment to dry or to reactivate the adhesive 8.
[0040] Alternatively, or in addition, to the elements described
above, the means 15 for heat-reactivation of the adhesive can be
positioned upstream of the folding means 5, coming into operation
before the folding step, or, if the folding means 5 comprise a
plurality of folding stations 5a and 5b as in the example of FIG.
1, the heat-reactivation means 15 can be positioned, additionally
or alternatively, between one folding station 5a and the next
folding station 5b.
[0041] The positioning and number of heat-reactivation means 15
will depend in any event on the effective structure of the device
and the interval of time elapsing between application of the
cold-setting adhesive to the predetermined areas of the blank, and
subsequent association of these same areas with the respective
areas to which they are bonded.
[0042] The heat-reactivation step could also be brought about by
exposing the areas dabbed or sprayed with adhesive to convection,
directing hot air from a convector heater, for example, or to
radiated heat issuing from a suitable source.
[0043] In the example of FIG. 2, the final part of the wrapping
line is equipped with a wrapping wheel 19 set in rotation about a
first horizontal axis 20, a conveyor and reject wheel 21 located
substantially tangential to the wrapping wheel 19 and rotatable
about a second horizontal axis 22, also a drying wheel 23 rotatable
about a third horizontal axis 24 and an outfeed channel 9a similar
in all respects to the outfeed channel 9 of FIG. 1.
[0044] The channel 9a in question extends substantially parallel to
the third horizontal axis 24 and is positioned on the same side of
the drying wheel 23 as the wrapping and reject wheels 19 and
21.
[0045] The wrapping wheel 19 is supplied with diecut blanks 3
advanced singly and in succession by feed means indicated
schematically by an arrow 26, each slotted radially into a
respective radial cavity or pocket (not illustrated) of the wheel
19, together with a respective group 6 of cigarettes.
[0046] Advancing on the wrapping wheel 19, the blanks 3 are
directed from an infeed station 27 through a plurality of folding
stations 5, at which each one is bent by steps around the
respective group 6 of cigarettes and secured in the folded position
by means of the cold-setting adhesive, applied by two pairs of
gluing nozzles 4a and 4b similar to those already described above
with reference to FIG. 1.
[0047] In the example of FIG. 2, the nozzles 4a and 4b are
positioned beneath the predetermined path P and designed thus to
spread the adhesive 8 on a blank 3 as it passes above.
[0048] The folding steps performed on the blank 3 are completed in
such a way that the packet arrives at the outfeed channel 9 in the
finished state.
[0049] The wrapping, reject and drying wheels 19, 21 and 23 are set
in rotation by an indexing device not illustrated in the drawings,
and the transfer of the packets 2 from one wheel to another takes
place with the two wheels motionless.
[0050] The aforementioned heat-reactivation means 15 are positioned
next to the wrapping wheel 19 and/or to the outfeed channel 9a.
[0051] The wrapping line of FIG. 2 is equipped with cooling plates
28 of the type mentioned previously, though not indicated in FIG.
1, installed along the outfeed channel 9a in sequence with the
heated plates 18.
[0052] Also illustrated in FIG. 2, by way of example, are a
plurality of heating elements 15a located at several points along
the circumferential path of the wrapping wheel 19, albeit in
practice a limited number of such elements could be adopted,
according to requirements, shaped and proportioned to match the
glued areas of the blank 3 that need heating. The heating elements
15a are placed in such a way that, as the blank 3 advances and
folds partially around the group 6 of cigarettes, the predetermined
areas on which adhesive 8 has been deposited will pass in close
proximity to the positions occupied by the elements 15a and receive
the heat emitted by them.
[0053] It will be evident from the foregoing that the method and
the device according to the invention are able to guarantee the
successful gluing and stabilization of packets even in the event of
breaks in production occurring.
[0054] In effect, by warming the glued portions of the outer
wrapper, after the formation of the packet, or between the step of
applying the adhesive and the subsequent folding step, it becomes
possible to recover the bonding properties of the adhesive when
lost due to a break in production and thus ensure that all of the
packets are securely bonded.
[0055] With the method and the device according to the invention,
accordingly, the proportion of defective packets rejected as
presenting unstuck folds can be considerably reduced, if not
totally eliminated.
[0056] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the adhesive
8 could be heat-reactivated utilizing means 15 that remain
permanently in operation, even during normal operation of the
packaging machine, in such a manner that all packets 2 turned out
by the machine can be conditioned at the reactivation temperature
t.sub.r. In this instance the wrapping line will be set up so that
all the packets 2 have time to cool sufficiently, following the
application of heat, before being distanced from the elements (the
belts 10, for example) that serve to stabilize the glued outer
wrapper.
* * * * *