Method and machine for the making of cigarette packs or the like

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of transporting filled containers along a fourth path, said step of subjecting filled containers to at least one treatment being carried out simultaneously with the transport of filled containers along said fourth path.

Claim 4

A method as defined in claim 2, wherein said step of subjecting filled containers to at least one treatment comprises closing and at least partially sealing the containers around the respective groups.

Claim 5

A method as defined in claim 3, wherein said first path is distinct and separate from said fourth path.

Claim 6

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said first path is an endless path.

Claim 7

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said converting step comprises introducing the blanks into said first path, transporting the blanks along at least a portion of said first path, and deforming the blanks during transport along said portion of said first path so that each of the thus deformed blanks constitutes at least one envelope of an open empty container.

Claim 8

A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said first path is an endless path.

Claim 9

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said first path constitutes at least one endless path wherein empty containers circulate preparatory to withdrawal from said first path for reception of a commodity.

Claim 10

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of temporarily storing empty containers in a portion of said first path.

Claim 11

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said first path constitutes at least one endless path wherein empty containers circulate preparatory to withdrawal for reception of a group and wherein such withdrawal takes place in a predetermined portion of said endless path so that an empty container which is not withdrawn from said portion of said endless path can thereupon be withdrawn only after completion of travel along the full length of said endless path.

Claim 12

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said first path constitutes at least one endless circular path for empty containers.

Claim 13

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said first path comprises at least one straight portion.

Claim 16

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said converting step comprises providing selected portions of at least some blanks with an adhesive, deforming the blanks to form open empty containers, and heating said selected portions of the blanks.

Claim 17

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of removing from said first path those empty containers which are not withdrawn for reception of groups.

Claim 18

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of monitoring said second path to detect the presence and absence of groups, and withdrawing from said first path empty containers in response to detection of groups in said second path.

Claim 19

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of transporting filled containers along a fourth path, said step of subjecting filled containers to at least one treatment being performed upon containers in said fourth path and said withdrawing step comprising transferring empty containers from said first into said fourth path.

Claim 20

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second paths extend along a filling station and further comprising the steps of scanning said second path at a predetermined distance from said filling station to detect the presence and absence of groups, selecting in said first path an empty container for each of the thus detected groups, and transporting the detected group and the selected empty container at such speeds that the detected group reaches said filling station simultaneously with the selected empty container.

Claim 21

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said converting step comprises transporting the blanks stepwise, always for a first predetermined interval of time, maintaining the blanks at a standstill for predetermined second intervals of time which alternate with said first intervals, and deforming the blanks during at least one of said first intervals and at least one of said second intervals.

Claim 22

A method as defined in claim 19, wherein said deforming step is completed during a period which is a whole multiple of the sum of one of said first and second intervals.

Claim 23

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of scanning said first path to detect the presence and absence of empty containers therein, and regulating said converting step in dependency on such detection.

Claim 24

A method as defined in claim 21, further comprising the steps of scanning said first path to detect the presence and absence of empty containers therein, and regulating the admission of blanks into said first path in dependency on such detection.

Claim 25

A method as defined in claim 22, wherein the admission of blanks into said first path takes place in response to detection of the absence of empty containers.

Claim 26

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of scanning said first path to detect the presence and absence of empty containers and regulating said converting step in response to such detection.

Claim 27

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of scanning said first path for the presence and absence of blanks, and regulating said converting step in dependency on such detection.

Claim 28

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of supplying blanks into said first path along at least one further path, scanning said further path to detect the presence and absence of blanks, and Producing signals in response to such detection.

Claim 29

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said transporting steps comprise intermittently advancing the containers and the groups, always for a first predetermined interval of time, and maintaining the containers and groups at a standstill for second predetermined intervals of time, said converting step comprising moving the blanks intermittently into and along said first path in synchronism with said containers and groups.

Claim 30

A method as defined in claim 27, wherein said converting step further comprises deforming the blanks in said first path during at least one period which is a whole multiple of the sum of one of said first and one of said second intervals.

Claim 31

A machine for making, filling and treatment of containers, particularly packs for groups of rod-shaped tobacco products, comprising blank supplying means including at least one source of deformable sheet-like blanks, an assembly for converting blanks furnished by said source into open empty containers, including blank deforming means and first transporting means for conveying empty containers along a first path; means for producing tobacco products; conveyor means for delivering the output of said producing means; a magazine arranged to receive such output and to accumulate therein a floating supply of tobacco products; means for forming a succession of groups of rod-shaped tobacco products independently of the operation of said blank deforming means and vice-versa, comprising means for removing groups of tobacco products from said floating supply; means for deactivating said forming means in response to depletion of said supply to a predetermined level; second transporting means for conveying the groups along a second path; filling means for transferring groups from said second path into empty containers; transfer means for transferring from said first path to said filling means empty containers when said filling means transfers groups from said second path; and treating means for treating the thus filled containers.

Claim 32

A machine for making, filling and treatment of containers, particularly packs for groups of rod-shaped tobacco products, comprising blank supplying means including at least one source of deformable sheet-like blanks, an assembly for converting blanks furnished by said source into open empty containers, including blank deforming means and first transporting means for conveying empty containers along a first path; means for producing tobacco products; conveyor means for delivering the output of said producing means; a magazine arranged to receive such output and to accumulate therein a floating supply of tobacco products; means for forming a succession of groups of rod-shaped tobacco products independently of the operation of said blank deforming means and vice-versa, comprising means for removing groups of tobacco products from said floating supply; means for deactivating said forming means in response to depletion of said supply to a predetermined level; second transporting means for conveying the groups along a second path; filling means for transferring groups from said second path into empty containers; transfer means for transferring from said first path to said filling means empty containers when said filling means transfers groups from said second path; and treating means for treating the thus filled containers.

Claim 33

A machine as defined in claim 29, wherein at least a portion of said first path constitutes an endless path.

Claim 34

A machine as defined in claim 29, wherein said first transporting means comprises at least one rotary conveyor.

Claim 35

A machine as defined in claim 31, wherein said deforming means comprises deforming elements arranged to move with said conveyor.

Claim 36

A machine as defined in claim 29, wherein said first transporting means includes means for temporary storage of empty containers.

Claim 37

A machine as defined in claim 29, wherein said filling means and said transfer means are respectively adjacent to said second and first paths.

Claim 38

A machine as defined in claim 29, wherein said first transporting means comprises at least one rotary turret.

Claim 39

A machine as defined in claim 29, wherein said first transporting means comprises at least one conveyor which defines a substantially straight portion of said first path.

Claim 40

A machine as defined in claim 36, wherein said one conveyor comprises at least one endless flexible element.

Claim 41

A machine as defined in claim 29, wherein said first transporting means comprises a conveyor arranged to accommodate and to advance a row of empty containers.

Claim 42

A machine as defined in claim 38, wherein said conveyor constitutes a magazine for temporary storage of empty containers and defines a substantially straight portion of said first path.

Claim 43

A machine as defined in claim 38, wherein said blank supplying means is arranged to supply blanks which are provided with adhesive and wherein said deforming means is arranged to convert such blanks into envelopes forming part of said containers and having adhesive-coated portions overlapping other portions of the respective envelopes, and further comprising means for promoting the binding action of adhesive on said envelopes.

Claim 44

A machine as defined in claim 40, wherein said meaNs for promoting the binding action of adhesive comprises heating means.

Claim 45

A machine as defined in claim 40, wherein said means for promoting the binding action of adhesive is adjacent to that portion of said first path which is defined by said conveyor.

Claim 46

A machine as defined in claim 40, wherein the adhesive is a heat-activatable adhesive.

Claim 47

A machine as defined in claim 38, wherein said conveyor constitutes a substantially vertical magazine and said row of empty containers is a stack of superimposed containers.

Claim 48

A machine as defined in claim 44, wherein said magazine comprises movable supporting means for the stack of containers therein.

Claim 49

A machine as defined in claim 29, wherein said blank deforming means comprises a plurality of mandrels which are movable with and relative to said first transporting means.

Claim 50

A machine as defined in claim 46, wherein said first transporting means comprises a plurality of conveyors and further comprising means for transferring said mandrels between said conveyors.

Claim 51

A machine as defined in claim 29, wherein said blank deforming means comprises a plurality of mandrels and said transfer means comprises stripping means for separating empty containers from such mandrels.

Claim 52

A machine as defined in claim 48, wherein said stripping means comprises pneumatic holder means for holding empty containers by suction.

Claim 53

A machine as defined in claim 49, further comprising means for moving said holder means with reference to said mandrels and for connecting said holder means to a suction generating device in response to relative movement between such holder means and said mandrels.

Claim 54

A machine as defined in claim 29, further comprising segregating means for removing from said first path those empty containers which are not transferred by said transfer means.

Claim 55

A machine as defined in claim 29, further comprising signal generating detector means for scanning the groups in said second path and control means for actuating said transfer means in response to signals from said detector means.

Claim 56

A machine as defined in claim 52, wherein said detector means is arranged to generate signals in response to detection of groups in a predetermined portion of said second path.

Claim 57

A machine as defined in claim 53, wherein said first transporting means and said transfer means are arranged to convey empty containers at predetermined rates of speed and said second transporting means is arranged to convey groups at such a speed that said transfer means transfers to said filling means a selected empty container simultaneously with the arrival of the detected group to said filling means.

Claim 58

A machine as defined in claim 29, further comprising drive means for intermittently operating at least some of said deforming means and said first and second transporting means.

Claim 59

A machine as defined in claim 29 further comprising signal generating detector means for scanning empty containers in said first path and control means for operating said deforming means in response to signals from said detector means.

Claim 60

A machine as defined in claim 29, wherein said converting assembly further comprises conveyor means for transporting blanks along a third path, and further comprising signal generating detector means for scanning the blanks in said third path and control means for operating said deforming means in response to signals from said detector means.

Claim 61

A machine as defined in claim 29, further comprising control means for regulating the delivery of blanks from said source to said deforming means.

Claim 62

A machine as defined in 38, 29, further comprising signal generating detector means for monitoring the delivery of blanks from said source to said deforming means and means for receiving signals from said detector means in to detected absence of blanks.

Claim 63

A machine as defined in 38, 29, further comprising signal generating detector means for monitoring the delivery of blanks from said source to said deforming means and means for receiving signals from said detector means in to detected absence of blanks.

Claim 64

A machine as defined in claim 29, further comprising drive means for operating at least Some of said deforming means and said first and second transporting means in stepwise fashion for first predetermined intervals of time which alternate with second predetermined intervals of dwell, arresting means actuatable to stop the operation of said deforming means and said first transporting means, and means for continuing the operation of said deforming and first transporting means when said arresting means is actuated at a time other than upon completion of a stage including one of said first intervals and one of said second intervals.

Claim 65

A machine as defined in claim 36, wherein said first transporting means further comprises at least one rotary conveyor for transport of blanks during conversion into empty containers by said deforming means and means for transferring containers from said rotary conveyor to said one conveyor.

Claim 66

In a machine for the making of partially open empty packs each of which consists of at least one envelope, particularly for reception of groups of rod-shaped tobacco products, a combination comprising conveyor means; a plurality of mandrels arranged to travel with said conveyor means along a predetermined path; a source of blanks having adhesive-coated portions; means for supplying blanks from said source to successive mandrels; and converting means for converting the thus supplied blanks into empty packs which surround the respective mandrels and wherein the adhesive-coated portions overlap with other portions of converted blanks, said converting means comprising means for pressing said adhesive-coated portions of blanks against said other portions during travel of the respective mandrels along at least one elongated portion of said path, said pressing means having at least one pack-engaging surface adjacent to said elongated portion of said path and said conveyor means comprising means for reducing the mutual spacing of said mandrels during travel along said elongated portion of said path.

Claim 67

In a machine for the making of partially open empty packs each of which consists of at least one envelope, particularly for reception of groups of rod-shaped tobacco products, a combination comprising conveyor means; a plurality of mandrels arranged to travel with said conveyor means along a predetermined path; a source of blanks having adhesive-coated portions; means for supplying blanks from said source to successive mandrels; and converting means for converting the thus supplied blanks into empty packs which surround the respective mandrels and wherein the adhesive-coated portions overlap with other portions of converted blanks, said converting means comprising means for pressing said adhesive-coated portions of blanks against said other portions during travel of the respective mandrels along at least one elongated portion of said path, said pressing means having at least one pack-engaging surface adjacent to said elongated portion of said path and said conveyor means comprising means for reducing the mutual spacing of said mandrels during travel along said elongated portion of said path.

Claim 68

A combination as defined in claim 62, wherein each of said mandrels has a predetermined length and each of said packs has a closed end at one end and an open end at the other end of the respective mandrel.

Claim 69

A combination as defined in claim 62, wherein each of said mandrels is a substantially box-shaped body.

Claim 70

A combination as defined in claim 62, wherein the mutual spacing of said mandrels during travel along said elongated portion of said path is zero.

Claim 71

A combination as defined in claim 62, further comprising means for separably coupling said mandrels to said conveyor means, the mandrels travelling along said elongated portion of said path forming a stack of superimposed mandrels.

Claim 72

A combination as defined in claim 62, further comprising at least substantially upright wall means flanking said elongated portion of said path and means for heating said wall means, said surface being provided on said wall means.

Claim 73

A combination as defined in claim 62, further comprising drive means for operating said conveyor means in stepwise fashion so that a mandrel enters and a mandrel leaves said elongated portion of said path in response to each stepwise operation of said conveyor means.