Cigarette packing machine

Claim 2

A machine for packing rod-like articles comprising in combination endless conveyor means having regularly-spaced carrier members thereon; a plurality of packet-making devices arranged to make open-ended packets; a plurality of packettransferring devices, one associated with each packet-making device, arranged in succession in spaced positions along a first part of said conveyor means, each packet-transferring device being operable to transfer packets from the associated packetmaking device into carrier members on said conveyor means; a plurality of batch handling devices arranged to form batches of rod-like articles and convey said batches for insertion into said packets, each batch-handling device comprising a conveyor member having carrier means for receiving a batch of rod-like articles at a loading position and for conveying said batch from said loading position to an unloading position, said batch-handling devices being arranged in succession in spaced positions along a second part of said conveyor means downstream of said first part; and a plurality of packet-filling devices, one associated with each of said batch-handling devices, operable to transfer batches of rod-like articles from the carrier means of the associated batch-handling device at said unloading position into packets carried in said carrier members of said conveyor means.

Claim 3

A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said conveyor means comprises a continuous band provided with tubular carrier members in the form of open-ended pockets adapted to receive open-ended packets from said packet-making devices.

Claim 4

A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said packet-making devices comprises at least one packet former, first feeding means for feeding an inner layer of packet material to said former, second feeding means for feeding an outer layer of packet material to said former and folding means associated with said former to wrap said inner layer around said former and said outer layer around said former outside said inner layer.

Claim 5

A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which at least one of said first and second feeding means comprises means for advancing a continuous web of packet material, means for cutting a succession of packet blanks from said web, and means for conveying said blanks in succession to said former.

Claim 6

A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which each of said packet-making devices includes a rotable wheel, a plurality of formers carried by said wheels, and means for intermittently moving said wheel so that each former is moved in steps to a plurality of positions including first and second transfer positions for said formers, the first and second feeding means being arranged to deliver packet material to each of said formers in succession while said formers are at said first and second transfer positions respectively, said packet-transferring device associated with each packet-making device being arranged adjacent said first transfer position for removing open-ended packets from each former in succession and transferring each packet to the conveyor means.

Claim 7

A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said endless conveyor means has a substantially straight run which includes said second part of said conveyor means whereby batches of rodlike articles are transferred into packets carried in said carrier members of said conveyor means while said carrier members of said conveyor means are on said substantially straight run.

Claim 8

A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein each batch-handling device comprises a conveyor member in the form of a rotatable turret, said turret having a plurality of spaced carrier means in the form of tubular open-ended pockets adapted to receive and convey batches of rod-like articles.

Claim 9

A machine for packing rod-like articles comprising in combination an endless band conveyor provided with tubular open-ended pockets adapted to receive packets; a plurality of packet forming devices arranged to make open-ended packets; each packet-forming device including an intermittently rotatable wheel, a plurality of formers carried by said wheel, and first and second feeding means for feeding respectively an inner layer and an outer layer of packet material onto each former in succession; a plurality of packet-transferring devices, one associated with each packet forming device, arranged in succession in spaced positions along a first part of said band conveyor, each packet-transferring device being operable to transfer packets from successive formers of the associated packet-forming device into said tubular pockets of said band conveyor; a plurality of batch-handling devices arranged to form batches of rod-like articles and to convey said batches for insertion into said packets, each batch-handling device comprising a rotatable turret carrying a plurality of spaced tubular carriers for receiving batches of rod-like articles at a loading position and for conveying said batches from said loading position to an unloading position, said batch-handling devices being arranged in succession in spaced positions along a second part of said band conveyor downstream of said first part, and a plurality of packet-filling devices, one associated with each of said batch-handling devices, operable to transfer batches of rod-like articles from the tubular carriers of the associated batch-handling device at said unloading position into packets carried in said tubular pockets of said band conveyor.

Claim 10

A machine for packing rod-like articles comprising in combination an endless band conveyor provided with tubular open-ended pockets adapted to receive packets; a plurality of packet forming devices arranged to make open-ended packets; each packet-forming device including an intermittently rotatable wheel, a plurality of formers carried by said wheel, and first and second feeding means for feeding respectively an inner layer and an outer layer of packet material onto each former in succession; a plurality of packet-transferring devices, one associated with each packet forming device, arranged in succession in spaced positions along a first part of said band conveyor, each packet-transferring device being operable to transfer packets from successive formers of the associated packet-forming device into said tubular pockets of said band conveyor; a plurality of batch-handling devices arranged to form batches of rod-like articles and to convey said batches for insertion into said packets, each batch-handling device comprising a rotatable turret carrying a plurality of spaced tubular carriers for receiving batches of rod-like articles at a loading position and for conveying said batches from said loading position to an unloading position, said batch-handling devices being arranged in succession in spaced positions along a second part of said band conveyor downstream of said first part, and a plurality of packet-filling devices, one associated with each of said batch-handling devices, operable to transfer batches of rod-like articles from the tubular carriers of the associated batch-handling device at said unloading position into packets carried in said tubular pockets of said band conveyor.

Claim 11

A machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein said band conveyor and each of said batch-handling devices are so arranged that said tubular pockets of said band conveyor and said tubular carriers of said batch-handling devices are aligned when said tubular carriers are in said unloading position.

Claim 12

A machine for packing rod-like articles comprising in combination a plurality of packet-making devices arranged to make open-ended packets, each device comprising means for receiving packet blanks in succession and means for subjecting each blank in turn to a sequence of folding and sealing operations; blank feeding means for feeding blanks along separate paths from a common source to all said packet-making devices; said blank feeding means being adapted to cause blanks to be conveyed along each of said paths in rotation; a plurality of batch-forming devices arranged to form batches of rod-like articles for insertion into packets; a plurality of packet-filling devices, one associated with each batch-forming device, for inserting batches into packets; a single conveyor means defining a path having a first part which passes adjacent said packet-making devices and a second part which passes adjacent said packet-filling devices; and a plurality of packet-transferring devices, one associated with each packet-making device, for transferring packets from said packet-making devices to said conveyor means, whereby packets are conveyed by said conveyor means from said first part of said path to said second part of said path to receive batches of rodlike articles from said packet-filling devices.

Claim 13

A machine for packing rod-like articles comprising in combination a plurality of packet-making devices arranged to make open-ended packets, each device comprising means for receiving packet blanks in succession and means for subjecting each blank in turn to a sequence of folding and sealing operations; blank feeding means for feeding blanks along separate paths from a common source to all said packet-making devices; said blank feeding means being adapted to cause blanks to be conveyed along each of said paths in rotation; a plurality of batch-forming devices arranged to form batches of rod-like articles for insertion into packets; a plurality of packet-filling devices, one associated with each batch-forming device, for inserting batches into packets; a single conveyor means defining a path having a first part which passes adjacent said packet-making devices and a second part which passes adjacent said packet-filling devices; and a plurality of packet-transferring devices, one associated with each packet-making device, for transferring packets from said packet-making devices to said conveyor means, whereby packets are conveyed by said conveyor means from said first part of said path to said second part of said path to receive batches of rodlike articles from said packet-filling devices.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which said blank feeding means comprises means for advancing a continuous web of packet material and means for cutting a succession of packet blanks from said web.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which each of said packet-making devices includes an intermittently rotatable wheel, a plurality of formers carried by said wheel, first feeding means for feeding an inner layer of packet material to each of said formers in succession at a first angular position relative to said wheel, second feeding Means for feeding an outer layer of packet material to each of said formers in succession at a second angular position relative to said wheel, and folding means for wrapping said inner layer around said formers and said outer layers around said inner layers on said formers.