U.S. patent application number 11/772893 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-28 for method of transferring groups of cigarettes in a cigarette packing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI. Invention is credited to Andrea Biondi, Antonio Vitali.
Application Number | 20080050215 11/772893 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38577493 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080050215 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vitali; Antonio ; et
al. |
February 28, 2008 |
Method of Transferring Groups of Cigarettes in a Cigarette Packing
Machine
Abstract
A method of transferring groups of cigarettes on a packing
machine, whereby a group of cigarettes, as it travels along a first
path, is arrested in a pickup position inside a transfer station,
in which a gripper device, after being closed about the group of
cigarettes, is moved in a given transfer direction to transfer the
group of cigarettes from the pickup position to a release position
along a second path, and is opened to release the group of
cigarettes in the release position.
Inventors: |
Vitali; Antonio; (Molinella,
IT) ; Biondi; Andrea; (Bologna, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP
233 S. WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 6300
SEARS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
Bologna
IT
|
Family ID: |
38577493 |
Appl. No.: |
11/772893 |
Filed: |
July 3, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
414/790.2 ;
414/789.9; 53/444 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 19/223
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
414/790.2 ;
414/789.9; 053/444 |
International
Class: |
B65B 19/04 20060101
B65B019/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 4, 2006 |
IT |
BO2006A000516 |
Claims
1) A method of transferring groups (3) of cigarettes, on a
cigarette packing machine (2), from a first (P1) to a second (P2)
path at a transfer station (5), the method comprising the steps of:
feeding a group (3) of cigarettes along the first path (P1) to the
transfer station (5); positioning the group (3) of cigarettes in a
pickup position inside the transfer station (5); moving the jaws
(47, 48) of a gripper device (46) so as to close the gripper device
(46) about the group (3) of cigarettes in the pickup position along
the first path (P1); the gripper device (46) being closed by moving
the jaws (47, 48) from respective rest positions, in which the jaws
(47, 48) are located on the same side of one of the paths (P1, P2);
moving the gripper device (46) inside the transfer station (5) and
in a given transfer direction (50) to transfer the group (3) of
cigarettes from the pickup position to a release position along the
second path (P2); and opening the gripper device (46) to release
the group (3) of cigarettes in the release position.
2) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gripper device (46)
is closed by moving a first (47) of the jaws (47, 48) of the
gripper device (46) between the first and second path (P1, P2) in a
travel direction (49) crosswise to the first path (P1) and to the
transfer direction (50) to position the first jaw (47) facing a
second (48) of the jaws (47, 48) in the transfer direction (50);
and then moving the second jaw (48) towards the first jaw (47) in
the transfer direction (50).
3) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the group (3) of
cigarettes is arrested along the first path (P1) and inside the
transfer station (5) in an initial position, and is then moved into
the pickup position in a travel direction (49) crosswise to the
first path (P1) and to the transfer direction (50).
4) A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the group (3) of
cigarettes is moved in the travel direction (49) by the gripper
device (46).
5) A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the group (3) of
cigarettes is moved in the travel direction (49) by the gripper
device (46) and before the gripper device (46) is closed about the
group (3) of cigarettes.
6) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of closing the
gripper device (46) about the group (3) of cigarettes comprises the
substeps of: moving a first (47) of the jaws (47, 48) of the
gripper device (46) in a travel direction (49) crosswise to the
first path (P1) and to the transfer direction (50) to engage the
group (3) of cigarettes arrested inside the transfer station (5) in
an initial stop position along the first path (P1), and moving the
group (3) of cigarettes in the travel direction (49) into the
pickup position; and moving a second (48) of the jaws (47, 48) of
the gripper device (46) in the transfer direction (50) and towards
the first jaw (47) to grip the group (3) of cigarettes in the
pickup position between the first and second jaw (47, 48).
7) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steps of closing the
gripper device (46) about a group (3) of cigarettes and moving the
gripper device (46) and the group (3) of cigarettes in the transfer
direction (50) are performed by moving a first (47) of the jaws
(47, 48) of the gripper device (46) along an annular path (P3)
comprising a first portion (63) crosswise to the first path (P1)
and to the transfer direction (50), and a second portion (64)
parallel to the transfer direction (50), and by imparting to a
second (48) of the jaws (47, 48) of the gripper device (46) a back
and forth movement parallel to the transfer direction (50) and
across only one of the two paths (P1, P2).
8) A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the path crossed by the
second jaw (48) is the first path (P1).
9) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the group (3) of
cigarettes is moved along the first path (P1) inside a first pocket
(4) defining a first seat (36) for a respective group (3) of
cigarettes positioned crosswise to the first path (P1); the first
seat (36) being arrested inside the transfer station (5) to
position the group (3) of cigarettes in an initial position offset
laterally, with respect to the pickup position, in a travel
direction (49) crosswise to the first path (P1) and to the transfer
direction (50); and the group (3) of cigarettes then being moved
longitudinally from the initial position to the pickup position in
the travel direction (49).
10) A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the group (3) of
cigarettes is moved between the initial position and the pickup
position by moving the group (3) of cigarettes along the first
pocket (4).
11) A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein each first pocket (4)
comprises a tubular portion (34), and a C-shaped portion (35) with
its concavity facing the second path (P2) in the transfer station
(5); the group (3) of cigarettes being moved in the travel
direction (49) between the initial position and the pickup position
by releasing the group (3) of cigarettes from the tubular portion
(34).
12) A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of closing
the gripper device (46) about the group (3) of cigarettes comprises
the substeps of: moving a first (47) of the jaws (47, 48) of the
gripper device (46) in the travel direction (49) and through the
tubular portion (34) of the first pocket (4) to engage the group
(3) of cigarettes arrested in the transfer station (5) in the
initial position, and to move the group (3) of cigarettes in the
travel direction (49) along the first pocket (4) into the pickup
position; and moving a second (48) of the jaws (47, 48) of the
gripper device (46) in the transfer direction (50), through an
opening (30) in a bottom wall (29) of the first pocket (4) and
towards the first jaw (47) to grip the group (3) of cigarettes in
the pickup position between the first and second jaw (47, 48).
13) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the group (3) of
cigarettes is released, in the release position, inside a second
seat (25) movable along the second path (P2); the method comprising
the further step of squeezing the group (3) of cigarettes
transversely as the group (3) of cigarettes moves in the transfer
direction (50).
14) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the group (3) of
cigarettes is released, in the release position, inside a second
seat (25) movable along the second path (P2); the method comprising
the further steps of feeding the group (3) of cigarettes, as it
moves in the transfer direction (50), into a tubular spindle (39)
movable back and forth in the transfer direction (50) inside the
transfer station (5); feeding the tubular spindle (39), and the
group (3) of cigarettes housed inside it, in the transfer direction
(50), so that the tubular spindle (39) engages the second seat
(25), and the group (3) of cigarettes is positioned in the release
position; and withdrawing the tubular spindle (39) from the second
seat (25) in the transfer direction (50), leaving the group (3) of
cigarettes stationary in the release position.
15) A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second seat (25)
is defined by a sheet (8) of packing material folded partly inside
a second pocket (6) movable along the second path (P2).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a method of transferring
groups of cigarettes on a cigarette packing machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] On cigarette packing machines, a succession of groups of
cigarettes is fed along a packing path defined by a succession of
conveyors, each of which is connected to at least one adjacent
conveyor at a respective transfer station, where each group of
cigarettes is expelled from a relative seat or pocket on the
upstream conveyor along the packing path, and is transferred into a
relative seat or pocket on the downstream conveyor along the
packing path.
[0003] When performing the above transfer operation, both the
position and configuration of the group of cigarettes being
transferred are normally controlled at all times. For which
purpose, the group of cigarettes to be transferred is normally
gripped between movable push members normally defined by a pusher
movable through or with respect to the upstream conveyor, and a
counter-pusher movable through or with respect to the downstream
conveyor.
[0004] In some cases, on account of the design of the seats or
pockets and/or conveyors, assembly of the movable push members, and
particularly the counter-pusher, is extremely difficult, and
involves major mechanical complications and fairly high cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method
of transferring groups of cigarettes on a cigarette packing
machine, designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawback.
[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a
method of transferring groups of cigarettes on a cigarette packing
machine, as claimed in the attached Claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be
described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view in perspective, with parts
removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of a device
implementing the method according to the present invention and in a
first operating position;
[0009] FIGS. 2 and 3 show views in perspective of a detail of FIG.
1 in a further operating position;
[0010] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the FIGS. 2 and 3 detail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates as a whole a packing wheel of a
packing machine 2 for packing groups 3 of cigarettes, in
particular, groups of cigarettes which are each already enclosed in
an inner wrapping preferably made of foil and having a longitudinal
axis 3a parallel to the axes of the relative cigarettes.
[0012] Packing wheel 1 comprises a number of pockets 4, each for
housing and feeding a relative group 3 of cigarettes in steps along
a packing path P1 extending about an axis of rotation (not shown)
of packing wheel 1 and through a transfer station 5, where packing
path P1 is substantially tangent to a packing path P2, along which
travel pockets 6 of a further packing wheel 7 rotating in steps
about an axis (not shown) parallel to the axis of rotation (not
shown) of packing wheel 1.
[0013] Each pocket 6 receives and partly houses a respective known
blank 8, which is substantially rectangular and comprises a central
portion 9 extending along a longitudinal axis 10, and in turn
comprising a front lid panel 11 with a reinforcing flap 12; a top
lid panel 13; a rear panel 14; a bottom panel 15; and a front panel
16. Blank 8 also comprises two longitudinal lateral wings 17
located on opposite sides of central portion 9, and each comprising
a portion 18 extending along front lid panel 11; a portion 19
extending along rear panel 14; a portion 20 extending along front
panel 16; a tab 21 extending from portion 19 towards portion 18;
and a tab 22 extending from portion 19 towards portion 20.
[0014] Each pocket 6 is substantially U-shaped with its concavity
facing outwards of packing wheel 7, and comprises a bottom wall 23
parallel to the axis of rotation (not shown) of packing wheel 7;
and two lateral walls 24 perpendicular to bottom wall 23 and also
parallel to the axis of rotation (not shown) of packing wheel 7.
More specifically, the distance between lateral walls 24 is
approximately equal to but no smaller than the width of central
portion 9 of blank 8; lateral walls 24 and bottom wall 23 are the
same length as rear panel 14 of blank 8; and the height of each
lateral wall 24 is greater than the width of each longitudinal
lateral wing 17 of blank 8.
[0015] Each blank 8 is fed into respective pocket 6, so that rear
panel 14 contacts bottom wall 23, and the rest of central panel 9
projects outwards of pocket 6.
[0016] As it travels along packing path P2, each blank 8 is
gradually folded in known manner with respect to relative pocket 6,
so that it reaches transfer station 5 in a partly folded position,
in which reinforcing flap 12 is folded onto front lid panel 11;
portions 18 are folded squarely with respect to front lid panel 11;
portion 19 of each lateral wing 17 is folded squarely with respect
to rear panel 14 and contacting the inner surface of relative
lateral wall 24; and tabs 21 and 22 are folded squarely with
respect to portions 19 of relative lateral wings 17 and to rear
panel 14, and are perpendicular to relative longitudinal axis 10.
In this partly folded configuration, each blank 8 defines a
cup-shaped seat 25, which is bounded by rear panel 14, tabs 21 and
22, and portion 19 of each lateral wing 17, and which receives a
respective wrapped group 3 of cigarettes from packing wheel 1 at
transfer station 5.
[0017] In addition to pockets 4, packing wheel 1 also comprises two
coaxial disks 26 separated by a distance equal to the length of
pockets 4, and supporting respective ends of each pocket 4. More
specifically, each pocket 4 is positioned with its longitudinal
axis 34a parallel to the axis of rotation (not shown) of wheel 1
and to the cigarettes in relative group 3 of cigarettes, and
comprises two end cross members 27 and 28, which are located at the
periphery of respective disks 26, and define a bottom wall 29
having a central opening 30 between disks 26. Each pocket 4 also
comprises two lateral walls 31 parallel to each other and to the
axis of rotation (not shown) of packing wheel 1, and projecting
radially outwards of disks 26; and an outer cross member 32
connected integrally to the free edges of lateral walls 31 and
facing cross member 28. Outer cross member 32 is parallel to cross
member 28, is relatively narrow, measured parallel to longitudinal
axis 34a of relative pocket 4, with respect to the length of pocket
4, and is divided into two equal parts by an intermediate slit
33.
[0018] Outer cross member 32 defines, on pocket 4, a tubular
portion 34 coaxial with longitudinal axis 34a of pocket 4
(coincident, in use, with longitudinal axis 3a of relative group 3
of cigarettes); and a portion 35, which is aligned with tubular
portion 34 along longitudinal axis 34a, is C-shaped with its
concavity facing radially outwards, and defines, with tubular
portion 34, a seat 36 for housing a respective group 3 of
cigarettes positioned with the cigarettes parallel to the axis of
packing wheel 1 and to longitudinal axis 34a. A further seat (not
shown) is formed inside seat 36, is located inside C-shaped portion
35 of pocket 4, flush with outer cross member 32, houses a U-folded
collar 37, and is designed so that each collar 37, when inserted
inside pocket 4, is locked axially inside pocket 4, is kept outside
relative seat 36, and partly surrounds group 3 of cigarettes when
this is housed inside seat 36.
[0019] At transfer station 5, each pocket 4, housing a respective
group 3 of cigarettes and a respective collar 37, is arrested
substantially facing--along a radial axis 38, but offset laterally
with respect to radial axis 38 by a distance equal to the width of
outer cross member 32--a relative pocket 6, also arrested at
transfer station 5. Pocket 6 houses a blank 8, the seat 25 of which
is coaxial with radial axis 38 and positioned with its concavity
facing relative pocket 4 and a funnel-shaped intermediate spindle
39, which is mounted inside transfer station 5 and is moved back
and forth along radial axis 38 and between packing wheels 1 and 7
by a known actuating device not shown.
[0020] Spindle 39 comprises an annular, substantially rectangular
frame 40 defining an inner passage 41, which is coaxial with radial
axis 38 and has a rectangular cross section of approximately the
same shape as and no smaller than rear panel 14 of blank 8, and
substantially the same shape as the cross section of seat 25. Frame
40 has two long sides 42 crosswise to paths P1 and P2; and two
short sides 43 parallel to paths P1 and P2, and one of which,
located on the same side as outer cross members 32 of pockets 4,
has an intermediate slit 44 of at least the same width as
intermediate slits 33.
[0021] A respective tab 45 is connected integrally to the inner
surface of each long side 42 of frame 40, is made of relatively
elastic material, converges slightly with the other tab 45, and
projects from relative long side 42 towards packing wheel 7 by a
distance at most equal to the width of longitudinal lateral wings
17 of blank 8, and therefore to the depth of seat 25.
[0022] Spindle 39 moves along radial axis 38 to and from a work
position (not shown), in which tabs 45 engage seat 25 defined by a
blank 8 inside a pocket 6 arrested at transfer station 5, and each
tab 45 is positioned contacting the inner surface of portion 19 of
relative longitudinal lateral wing 17 of blank 8.
[0023] Each group 3 of cigarettes is transferred in controlled
manner from a stationary pocket 4 at transfer station 5 to seat 25,
defined by relative blank 8 inside the relative stationary pocket 6
at transfer station 5, by means of a gripper device 46 located at
transfer station 5 and comprising two jaws 47 and 48; jaw 47
performs a first reciprocating movement in a direction 49 parallel
to axis 34a, and a second reciprocating movement to and from seat
25 in a radial direction 50; and jaw 48 performs one reciprocating
movement in direction 50 to and from seat 25 and at least partly
through opening 30 of relative pocket 4.
[0024] More specifically, jaw 47, at rest (FIG. 1), is located
alongside packing wheel 1, close to tubular portion 34 of the
stationary pocket 4 at transfer station 5, and comprises an
actuating arm 51 parallel to axis 34a and supporting, on the end,
an L-shaped pusher 52 comprising a rectangular plate 53, which is
perpendicular to axis 34a, engages tubular portion 34 when moved in
direction 49 from said rest position, and has, on the side facing
packing wheel 1, a central groove 54 parallel to radial axis 38.
Pusher 52 also comprises a rectangular plate 55 crosswise to plate
53 and perpendicular to radial axis 38, and which extends from
plate 53 towards packing wheel 1, is located outwards of a lateral
edge 56 of plate 53 facing packing wheel 7, and is connected
integrally to a central portion of lateral edge 56 by an L-shaped
bracket 57 thinner than the width of intermediate slit 33 in outer
cross member 32 of pocket 4.
[0025] Jaw 48, at rest, is located radially inwards of the
stationary pocket 4 at transfer station 5, and comprises two
actuating arms 58 and 59 integral with each other and parallel to
radial axis 38. Actuating arm 58 is substantially coaxial with
radial axis 38, and is fitted integrally, on the end facing packing
wheel 7, with a plate 60, which is perpendicular to radial axis 38,
is movable in direction 50 through opening 30, and has a central
lateral appendix 61 parallel to radial axis 38 and which slides
inside groove 54 in plate 53. Actuating arm 59 is located laterally
outwards of the disk 26 opposite the one facing jaw 47 in the rest
position, and is fitted integrally, on the end facing packing wheel
7, with a plate 62, which is coplanar with plate 60, moves with
plate 60 in direction 50, and is substantially the same shape and
size as outer cross member 32.
[0026] In actual use, when a pocket 4, housing a respective group 3
of cigarettes, and a pocket 6, housing a respective blank 8 folded
to define seat 25, are arrested at transfer station 25, as shown in
FIG. 1, jaws 47 and 48 of gripper device 46 are positioned in their
respective rest positions, laterally outwards and radially inwards
of packing wheel 1 respectively; spindle 39 is positioned in an
intermediate rest position between packing wheels 1 and 7 and
directly facing seat 25 along radial axis 38; and pocket 4 is
positioned facing seat 25, but offset laterally in direction 49,
together with relative group 3 of cigarettes and with respect to
radial axis 38, by a distance equal to the width of outer cross
member 32.
[0027] At this point, when actuating arm 51 is acted on by a known
push device not shown, jaw 47 is moved in direction 49, so that
plate 53 engages tubular portion 34 of pocket 4, bracket 57 engages
intermediate slit 33 in outer cross member 32, and plate 55 is
positioned parallel to and outwards of outer cross member 32 on the
side facing spindle 39. Jaw 47 continues moving in direction 49
until the group 3 of cigarettes, moving along axis 34a from an
initial stop position at transfer station 5, and sliding over
relative collar 37, clears tubular portion 34 of pocket 4 and is
positioned in a pickup position directly facing passage 41 in
spindle 39 and seat 25 along radial axis 38. In the pickup
position, group 3 of cigarettes is positioned partly outwards of
pocket 4 and of the disk 26 located at end cross member 27, and
plate 55 is positioned substantially contacting the surface of
group 3 of cigarettes facing spindle 39.
[0028] At this point, jaw 47 stops moving in direction 49, and a
known push device (not shown) acts on actuating arms 58 and 59 to
move jaw 48 in direction 50, so that plates 60 and 62 contact the
surface of group 3 of cigarettes opposite the surface facing
spindle 39, and appendix 61 engages groove 54 in plate 53 to close
gripper device 46 about group 3 of cigarettes and grip it between
jaws 47 and 48.
[0029] In connection with the above closing sequence of gripper
device 46, it should be pointed out that, during the closing
sequence, neither of jaws 47 and 48 crosses packing paths P1 and P2
in direction 50. More specifically, in the rest positions shown in
FIG. 1, both jaws 47 and 48 are located on the same side of path
P2, and jaw 47 reaches the closed position without crossing packing
path P2.
[0030] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, when gripper device 46 is in the
closed position, the group 3 of cigarettes between jaws 47 and 48
is perfectly controlled as to both position and shape, by virtue of
plate 53 being positioned contacting one of the end surfaces of
group 3 of cigarettes and so keeping the relative wrapping
closed.
[0031] Next, gripper device 46, still in the closed position, is
moved in direction 50 along radial axis 38 towards seat 25, and, at
the same time, spindle 39 is moved in direction 50 to insert tabs
45 inside seat 25. Group 3 of cigarettes, still gripped between
jaws 47 and 48, therefore reaches its release position inside seat
25 by passing through spindle 39 and stopping between tabs 45,
which squeeze group 3 of cigarettes transversely; and actuating arm
51 first engages slit 44 in frame 40, and then the gap between the
opposite ends of tabs 21.
[0032] At this point, spindle 39 is moved back into the rest
position, releasing group 3 of cigarettes in the release position
inside seat 25; jaw 47 is extracted from seat 25 in direction 49,
thus outwardly unfolding tabs 21 (which are folded back into the
FIG. 1 position by two known folding devices not shown), and is
then moved in direction 50 back into the rest position; and jaw 48
is moved back into the rest position in direction 50.
[0033] In other words, when transferring group 3 of cigarettes, jaw
48 moves back and forth in direction 50, and jaw 47 moves along an
annular path P3 comprising, as of the FIG. 1 rest position, an
initial portion 63 in direction 49, an intermediate portion 64 in
direction 50, and a return portion 65 comprising a first movement
in direction 49, and a second movement in direction 50.
* * * * *