Closing device and method for automatically closing a smoking article

Abstract

A closure device (10) and method for automatically closing a plurality of smoking articles (100), each having a casing (101) with at least one rear zone (Z3) to be closed. The device (10) comprises folding means (11) and moving means (12, 22) for closing the rear zone (Z3) of each casing (101) by folding an open end portion of the rear zone (Z3).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a closure device and method for automatically closing a number of smoking articles, such as cigarettes, each having a casing having a front mouthpiece zone, optionally provided with a filter, a central zone filled with smokable products or incoherent material such as tobacco, and an empty rear zone which is selectively closed, in particular where closure of the rear zone of the casing is effected by folding the rear zone. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known that in the automated production of smoking articles, such as cigarettes, especially using machines with high productivity, one of the important aspects to consider and one of the resulting technical problems to be solved relates to the last step of packaging the smoking article, i.e. the closure of the receiving material into which the smoking material, e.g. loose material such as tobacco, other smokable substance, or a combination thereof, has been inserted.

[0003] Since said containers usually consist of very thin, lightweight paper or other suitable materials, possibly with or without a filter in the front mouthpiece zone, it is difficult to process such containers in an automated manner, which is particularly problematic when the aim is to achieve high productivity, whereby all individual operations have to be carried out within a very short time.

[0004] The packaging step is usually performed after a filling or dosing step in which the receiving material is filled or inserted with the smoking material. Downstream of the packaging step, which is performed by special equipment, there is usually a station for dispensing the finished smoking articles and possibly a station for packing the said finished smoking articles.

[0005] Examples of machines for automatic packaging of smoking articles are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2021 / 0022388 and 2021 / 0022389.

[0006] With regard to the technical problem in the packaging step of closing the smoking articles, i.e. in the closing operation of the rear zone of each casing made from the containment material as described above, it is known to use a closing device which, after placing the smoking material in the central zone of the casing, is able to automatically twist the rear zone to form a "twist" type closure, as is known to those skilled in the art.

[0007] Alternatively, it is also known to form another type of closure, the so-called "Dutch crown", also known to those skilled in the art, which closes by folding the rear zone of each casing, but in the majority of known devices the final closing mode is not automated but is performed manually or in any case with the assistance of an operator.

[0008] The applicant is not aware of any device and / or method for automatically and quickly closing a smoking article by folding the rear zone of each casing.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a closure device and complete a closure method which allows automatic and rapid closure of a smoking article, in particular by folding back the open rear zone free of smoking material.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple and reliable closure device and method for automatically closing a smoking article.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a closure device and method for automatically closing smoking articles, which can achieve high productivity, for example an hourly productivity of about 7,000 smoking articles.

[0012] Applicant has conceived, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and to achieve these and other objectives and advantages. Summary of the Invention

[0013] The invention is defined in the independent claims, which set out the particular features thereof.The dependent claims set out further features of the invention or variants of the main idea of ​​the invention.

[0014] In view of the above objectives, the closure device of the present invention for automatically closing a plurality of smoking articles, each having a casing with at least one rear zone to be closed, comprises folding means configured to close the rear zone of each casing by folding it, and moving means for moving at least one of the smoking article or the folding means to move the smoking article and the folding means closer to or further away from each other, so that the rear zone of each casing can selectively interact with the folding means.

[0015] In another aspect of the invention, the folding means comprises both a folding member having a folding seating configured to temporarily receive at least one end portion of the rear zone, and an abutment element, the abutment element being slidably arranged in a channel communicating with the folding seating so as to abut against the rear zone when the at least one portion of the rear zone is inserted into the folding seating. The channel is formed as an axial through hole opening into the receiving portion from above.

[0016] In another aspect of the invention, the folding receiving portion has a cavity that is dome-shaped, frusto-conical, or a combination thereof, so that at least one flap of the rear zone of each casing that enters the folding receiving portion can be at least partially folded. In another aspect of the invention, the folding members are arranged along a vertical axis, and the cavity is coaxial with the vertical axis.

[0017] In another aspect of the invention, the abutment element is preferably coaxial with the vertical axis and is adapted to move towards and away from the receiving portion so as to crush the rear zone of each casing in one or more controlled strikes.

[0018] In another aspect of the present invention, the moving means includes both one or more gripping members configured to grip each smoking article to displace each smoking article toward the folding device, and a moving device configured to simultaneously lower and raise the one or more gripping members.

[0019] In another aspect of the invention, the one or more gripping members have at least two jaws having semi-cylindrical or frusto-conical recesses that face each other and are mirror images of each other so as to define a gripping seating of the smoking article when clamped together.

[0020] In another aspect of the invention, each jaw comprises at least one guide element and at least one aperture for receiving and cooperating with the guide element of the other jaw. In particular, the guide element of one jaw and the guide element of the other jaw cooperate to prevent or reduce vibration or tilting of the smoking article by clamping the smoking article in the gripping receptacle. This advantageous configuration of jaws and gripping elements allows the smoking article to self-center within the gripping receptacle and significantly reduces or completely prevents possible tilting or vibration of the smoking article relative to the vertical axis of the smoking article.

[0021] In another aspect of the invention, the closure device further comprises a transport member configured to support each of the smoking articles in a transport seating and advance them along a working path.

[0022] In another aspect of the invention, the transport member slides on a fixed guide disposed below the moving means.

[0023] In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises one or more lifting means configured to selectively lift each of the smoking articles from the transport member.

[0024] In another aspect of the invention, the one or more lifting means include corresponding pistons disposed below the transport member, the pistons being configured to be inserted into passages formed in the transport receptacle.

[0025] In another aspect of the present invention, a closure method for automatically closing a plurality of smoking articles, each having a casing with at least one rear zone to be closed, using an apparatus comprising folding means configured to close the rear zone of each casing by folding it, and moving means configured to move at least one of the smoking article or the folding means to bring the smoking article and the folding means closer to or farther away from each other, the closure method having both a moving step in which the moving means moves the smoking article or at least one of the folding means to bring the smoking article and the folding means closer to or farther away from each other so that the rear zone of each casing can interact with the folding means, and a closing step in which the rear zone of each casing is closed by the folding means.

[0026] In another aspect of the present invention, in the closing step, at least a portion of the rear zone is temporarily accommodated in a folding receiving portion belonging to the folding means, and while the at least a portion is temporarily accommodated in the folding receiving portion, an abutment element belonging to the folding means is selectively driven to strike and crush the portion of the rear zone.

[0027] In another aspect of the invention, the moving step includes a gripping step in which one or more gripping members grip each of the smoking articles and displace them towards the folding means.

[0028] In another aspect of the invention, in the closing step, after each of the gripping members has gripped one of the smoking articles, the gripping members are raised to carry an open end of the portion of the rear zone into the folding receiving portion of the folding means, so that at least one flap of the rear zone facing an inner surface of the folding receiving portion is at least partially folded, in particular so that the flap folds itself towards the center of the folding receiving portion.

[0029] In another aspect of the invention, after the at least one flap of the rear zone is folded in the closing step, the abutment element is selectively actuated to strike and crush the at least partially folded at least one flap one or more times to complete and strengthen the folding of the at least one flap.

[0030] In another aspect of the invention, during the moving step, the smoking articles are lifted, preferably simultaneously, and one or more lifting means are optionally driven so that each gripping member cooperates with a central zone of each smoking article to grip said central zone.

[0031] These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description of one embodiment, given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of an apparatus for automatically closing a smoking article of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the device of FIG. 1 in a simplified form. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a machine equipped with the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a smoking article in a receptacle of a transport member prior to closure by the device of FIG. 1; [Figure 7] 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a smoking article being lifted by a lifting device from the receiving portion of the transport member of FIG. 6 prior to being closed by the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 8] 2A-2C are side views of a detail of the apparatus of the present invention, illustrating the sequence of five operating states of the closing operation of the smoking article by the folding device. [Figure 9] 8D is an enlarged view of a detail of the closing sequence of the smoking article of FIG. 8C. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] It should be noted that the words and terminology used in the specification and claims of this application, such as "horizontal," "vertical," "front," "rear," "high," "low," "inside," and "outside," including their deviation ranges, are merely intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention by referring to the drawings, and should in no way be used to limit the scope of the present invention or the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

[0034] In addition, those skilled in the art may recognize that certain dimensions or features in the drawings may be non-conventional or scaled or drawn differently from the actual scale to provide an easily understandable version of the invention. Where dimensions and / or values ​​are specified in the following description, the dimensions and / or values ​​are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the invention unless such dimensions and / or values ​​are stated in the appended claims.

[0035] Before describing the embodiments of the present invention, it should be made clear that the present invention is not limited to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings, and in fact the present invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various equivalent manners.

[0036] For ease of understanding, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to refer to identical common elements throughout the drawings, and it is understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be readily combined or incorporated into other embodiments without the need for detailed description.

[0037] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the device 10 of the present invention can be used to automatically close a smoking article 100, in particular by folding an open rear zone Z3 of the smoking article 100, as will be described in more detail below.

[0038] The device 10 may also be part of or be associated with a packaging station 203 of a machine 200 for producing smoking articles 100, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5. By way of example only, and in order to outline the device 10 in a broader context, the machine 200 may comprise a supply station 201 and a filling station 202 arranged upstream of the packaging station 203, i.e. upstream of the device 10, in that order, and a distribution station 204 capable of delivering said finished smoking articles 100, for example, to a packing station 205, which may possibly be arranged outside the machine 200, arranged downstream of the device 10. The machine 200 is also provided with a suitable transport device 206 capable of transporting the smoking articles 100 along the entire work line, for example in a work direction X, preferably linearly and horizontally, from the supply station 201 to the packing station 205.

[0039] The supply station 201, the filling station 202, the packaging station 203, the dispensing station 204, the packing station 205 and the transport device 206 may be of any type or of a type developed in the future, for example, as described in related patent applications for industrial inventions filed by or assigned to the same applicant as the present patent application, instead of those listed above.

[0040] For example, the transport device 206 (FIG. 5) comprises a transport member 207 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7) having the shape and function of a shuttle, which is arranged to slide on fixed guides 209 in a substantially horizontal working direction X. In this example, the transport member 207 has four seatings 210 of hollow and through-shaped, each seating 210 being frusto-conical and having dimensions to fit with the dimensions of the smoking article 100 or at least the dimensions of the lower part of the smoking article 100. In this example, the dimensions of each seating 210 are such that when each smoking article 100 is inserted into the seating 210, the smoking article 100 not only protrudes a few mm from the upper surface of the transport member 207 but also protrudes a few mm from the lower surface of the transport member 207 (FIG. 6).

[0041] It is clear that the number of receivers 210 can be other than four and that the number of receivers 210 affects the time productivity of the machine 200. In fact, if a given cycle time TC in seconds is required to perform a work cycle at each of the various work stations 201, 202, 203, 204 and 205 and the device 10, or at a slower speed, the time productivity of the machine 200 is equal to 3,600 seconds divided by the cycle time TC multiplied by the number of receivers 210 of each transport element 207. In practice, the work is performed in parallel at the four receivers 210.

[0042] Each receiving portion 210 is substantially symmetrical about a vertical axis Y and is configured to accommodate a smoking article 100, which can be inserted from the top downwards with the rear zone Z3 facing upwards.

[0043] The distance D (FIG. 1) between two adjacent receivers 210 is determined during the design phase of the machine 200, which is suitable for processing a plurality of smoking articles 100, as will be explained in detail below.

[0044] As a non-limiting example, the machine 200 is capable of producing each smoking article 100 in a very short time, i.e. with a cycle time TC of about 2 seconds, which results in an hourly productivity of the machine 200 of exactly about 7,000 smoking articles 100, since four smoking articles 100 are processed simultaneously at each work station 201, 202, 203, 204 and 205 of the machine 200 and at the apparatus 10.

[0045] Before describing in detail the device 10 for automatically closing a smoking article 100 and the corresponding method, a smoking article 100 (Figures 6 and 7) will now be generally described as a non-limiting example to facilitate a better understanding of the invention.

[0046] When the smoking articles 100 arrive at the machine 10, for example from the filling station 202 (Figure 5), each smoking article 100 comprises a casing 101 (Figure 6), for example made of very thin, lightweight paper or other suitable material. Each casing 101 has a front mouthpiece zone Z1, a central zone Z2 and a rear zone Z3 with an open end, the mouthpiece zone Z1 possibly being provided with a filter 102, such that when the smoking articles 100 arrive at the machine 10, the central zone Z2 is already filled with loose material M, for example tobacco, other smokable substance or a combination thereof, and the rear zone Z3 is suitably closed to prevent the loose material M from escaping from the casing 101. Before the rear zone Z3 of the casing 101 is closed, each casing 101 has a predetermined initial length L1, for example between about 60 mm and about 150 mm, whereas the smoking article 100 has a final length upon completion that depends on its configuration, which in turn depends on the amount of loose material M placed in the casing 101.

[0047] Each casing 101 has a shape that allows it to be easily stacked, for example, a truncated cone shape that widens from the front zone Z1 to the rear zone Z3.

[0048] The apparatus 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2) comprises four folders 11, which are similar to one another and each are arranged along a corresponding vertical axis T. The four vertical axes T are spaced apart from one another by a distance D equal to the distance between the receivers 210 of the same transport member 207. In addition, a gripping member 12 is provided between each folder 11 and the fixed guide 209, and the gripping member 12 is also aligned with the corresponding vertical axis T.

[0049] The four folders 11 are mounted on a vertical plate 13 associated with a fixed structure, the folders 11 being actuated, for example, by a first actuator 15 (FIGS. 2 and 4) also mounted on the vertical plate 13.

[0050] Each folding device 11 is configured to fold inwards the flaps of a rear zone Z3 of the casing 101. Advantageously, the length value of the rear zone Z3 is predetermined or can be brought to this predetermined value by means of a suitable cutting device arranged upstream of the device 10, which cutting device can be of any known type, since it is not relevant to the scope of the present invention.

[0051] Each folding device 11 has a folding member 16 (Figures 1, 4, 8 and 9) arranged in a fixed position, the folding member 16 having a folding receiving portion 17 facing the smoking article 100, the folding receiving portion 17 being configured to temporarily receive the rear zone Z3 of the casing 101.

[0052] The folding receiving portion 17 has a cavity, which has a shape which may be substantially dome-shaped, frusto-conical or a combination thereof, such that when in use the casing 101 is lifted from the bottom upwards towards the corresponding folding device 11, the flaps of the rear zone Z3 of each casing 101 which enter the folding receiving portion 17 are partially folded towards the centre of the cavity, i.e. towards the vertical axis T.

[0053] Furthermore, a channel 19 communicating with the folding receiving portion 17 is provided in each folding member 16, the channel 19 being formed as an axial through hole opening into the cavity from above, within which an abutment element 20 is arranged to slide, the abutment element 20 having the function of a low-force hammer which selectively and controllably strikes the partially folded flap of the rear zone Z3 of each casing 101 once or several times, as will be explained in detail below.

[0054] The abutment element 20 is selectively actuated by the first actuator 15 to be displaced axially in both directions from a raised idle position PR (Figures 4, 8A, 8B, 8C and 8E) in which the lower end 21 of the abutment element 20 is at a height substantially equal to the top of the fold-receiving portion 17 to an operating position PO (Figure 8D) in which the abutment element 20 descends and its lower end 21 penetrates the fold-receiving portion 17 to crush the partially folded flap of the rear zone Z3 of each casing 101, and vice versa.

[0055] The four gripping members 12 (FIG. 4) are located on the same horizontal plane in their idle position PH, and are configured to first descend together toward a descending position PA where all four gripping members 12 can simultaneously pick up the four smoking articles 100 stored in the receiving portions 210 of the transporting member 207 temporarily located below the gripping members 12, and then ascend to an ascending position PS that is higher than the idle position PH and where the four picked-up smoking articles 100 are transported to the four folding devices 11. In particular, the ascending position PS varies depending on the shape of the smoking articles 100.

[0056] The simultaneous raising and lowering of the four gripping members 12 is controlled by a moving device 22 having a slider 23 and at least one second actuator 25 of a known type having the function of selectively actuating the slider 23, the slider 23 sliding in the vertical direction relative to the vertical plate 13, the second actuator 25 also being attached to the vertical plate 13.

[0057] Each second gripping member 12 has at least two jaws 26 (Figures 1, 2 and 3), the inner portions of which are formed with semi-cylindrical or frusto-conical recesses 27 (Figure 3) which are opposed to and mirror images of each other, such that when the jaws 26 are clamped together, the recesses 27 of the jaws 26 form gripping receptacles suitable for supporting a smoking article 100 without compromising the structural integrity of the casing 101.

[0058] To improve grip and prevent each smoking article 100 from sliding downward when held between the jaws 26, the inner portions of the jaws are lined with a high grip material, such as coarse rubber.

[0059] In one aspect of the invention, each jaw 26 has a pair of guide elements 28a, 28b, each configured to be inserted into and cooperate with a corresponding hole 29a, 29b formed in the other jaw 26, the holes 29a, 29b having a shape that mates with the shape of the guide elements 28a, 28b.

[0060] The guide elements 28a, 28b are configured to clamp each smoking article 100 so that the smoking article 100 is self-centered within the gripping receptacle of the jaw 26 and does not vibrate or tilt when the smoking article 100 is lifted from the corresponding receptacle 210 of the transport member 207.

[0061] In particular, each guide element 28a, 28b has a shaped portion, advantageously with a curved profile, capable of coming into contact with the casing 101 to prevent damage to the casing 101 when the respective smoking article 100 is transported and lifted.

[0062] Furthermore, recesses 30 are provided at the ends of the recesses 27, each formed in an arcuate shape, and when the jaws 26 are clamped together, the recesses 30 form small semicircular channels which essentially enable each smoking article 100 to fit as well as possible into the gripping receiving portion and in particular have the function of preventing structural damage to the casing 101 due to the clamping action of the jaws 26.

[0063] The opening and closing of the jaws 26 of the four gripping members 12 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) is achieved simultaneously by a first substantially horizontal sliding surface 31 and a second sliding surface 32 mounted on the slider 23 so as to slide in the axial direction. The two sliding surfaces 31 and 32 are driven by a command member of known type, for example an electric motor or a pneumatic or hydraulic linear actuator, not shown in the drawings.

[0064] In another aspect of the invention, one or more lifting devices 33 of obvious kind are arranged below the fixed guide 209, configured to lift said four smoking articles 100 simultaneously, in order to accurately close said four smoking articles 100 simultaneously and to enable the four gripping members 12 to cooperate with the corresponding central zones Z2 of the four casings 101. Although in this example four such lifting devices 33 are provided, it is also possible to provide only one lifting device 33, configured to perform the same function.

[0065] The lifting device 33 is arranged on a fixed horizontal plate 35 and is equipped with small pistons 36 which are simultaneously driven by a third actuator 37 which is also arranged on the fixed horizontal plate 35.

[0066] The device 10 further comprises an electronic control unit 39, for example an electronic control unit of a programmable type, which is configured to control the actuators 15, 25 and 37 and thus other mechanical means operatively connected to the actuators 15, 25 and 37.

[0067] The operation of the apparatus 10 as described above corresponds to a method of the present invention and includes the following steps:

[0068] In the initial or idle state, the four gripping members 12 (FIG. 4) are in the idle position PH, the jaws 26 are in the open position and the abutment elements 20 are in the idle position PR.

[0069] Before commencing the operation of closing the rear zone Z3 of the casing 101, the electronic control unit 39 is set according to the configuration of the smoking article 100 to be manufactured so that the actuators 25 and 37 impart coordinated movements to the slider 23 and the piston 36.

[0070] The transport member 207 is then displaced by the transport device 206 until it reaches a stop position PT (FIG. 1) directly below the first closure assembly 11, in which the four vertical axes Y of the receivers 210 coincide with the four vertical axes T of the folding device 11. In this stop position PT, the transport member 207 remains stationary for a period of time equal to the cycle time TC required for the device 10 to perform the simultaneous closure of the four rear zones Z3 of the casings 101 of the four smoking articles 100.

[0071] Thereafter, under the control of the electronic control unit 39, a movement step is initiated in which the second actuator 25 (Figure 4) lowers the slider 23 and the four gripping members 12 attached to the slider 23 from the idle position PH to the lowered position PA (Figures 4 and 7), thus initiating the gripping step in which the slide surfaces 31 and 32 are driven to move relative to each other to close the jaws 26 and bring the jaws 26 into contact with the four smoking articles 100 contained in the receiving portion 210 of the transport member 207.

[0072] If necessary, i.e. depending on the configuration of the smoking articles 100, simultaneously with the descent of the slider 23 and thus the four gripping members 12 to the lowered position PA, the third actuator 37 drives the piston 36 (Figure 7) of the lifting device 33 to simultaneously lift the four smoking articles 100, and the jaws 26 grip in the central zone Z2 of each casing 101.

[0073] The second actuator 25 then raises the slider 23 together with the four gripping members 12 so that they are gradually transported from the lowered position PA to the raised position PS. As a result, the four smoking articles 100 are also lifted to perform the step of closing the rear zone Z3 of the casing 101. In fact, the rear zone Z3 is gradually transported towards the four folding devices 11.

[0074] The raised position PS of the gripping member 12 (Figures 8C and 8D) is set so that the flaps of the rear zones Z3 of each of the four casings 101 enter the folding receiving portions 17 and fold towards the center of the cavity, i.e. towards the vertical axis T (Figures 8C and 9).

[0075] In particular, as shown in detail in FIGS. 8A to 8E, the sequence for folding the rear zone Z3 of each casing 101 comprises the following steps: a) each gripping member 12 lifts the smoking article 100 until the open end of the rear zone Z3 is brought to a position a short distance G from the folding receiving portion 17 (FIG. 8A); b) each gripping member 12 further lifts the smoking article 100 until the open end of the rear zone Z3 is brought inside the folding receiving portion 17 (FIG. 8B); c) by further raising each gripping member 12 to the raised position PS, one or more flaps of the rear zone Z3 facing the inner surface of the folding receiving portion 17 are partially folded inwards on themselves (FIGS. 8C and 9); d) the first actuator 15 drives each abutment element 20 several times, for example twice, so as to lower it from the idle position PR to the working position PO, in order to strike and crush the partially folded flap of the rear zone Z3 of each casing 101 and thus complete the folding operation itself (FIG. 8D); e) After the closing operation of the rear zone Z3 of each casing 101 has been performed, the first actuator 15 drives each abutment element 20 back to the idle position PR, while at the same time the second actuator 25 lowers the slider 23, thereby returning the gripping member 12 to a position corresponding to the position of the previous step A) (Figure 8E).

[0076] Then, in a reverse operation to the above, the slider 23 is lowered to return the four closed smoking articles 100 to their initial position, i.e., back into the receiving portions 210 for the smoking articles 100 in the transport member 207, and then the four gripping members 12 are returned to the idle position PH.

[0077] After the above-mentioned closing step by folding is completed, the transport element 207 is displaced from the rest position in the working direction X towards the dispensing station 203 (FIG. 5).

[0078] It will be apparent that modifications and / or additions can be made to the above-described apparatus and method, parts or steps of which may be incorporated without departing from the field and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0079] Furthermore, although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it is clear that a person skilled in the art can certainly achieve many other equivalent forms of devices and methods for automatically closing smoking articles having the features recited in the claims, all of which fall within the scope of protection recited in the claims.

[0080] In the appended claims, the purpose of the parenthetical signs is only to improve readability and should not be considered as limiting the scope of protection recited in a particular claim.

Claims

1. A closing device (10) for automatically closing a plurality of smoking articles (100), each having a casing (101) having at least one rear zone (Z3) that can be closed, comprising: folding means (11) configured to close the rear zone (Z3) of each said casing (101) by folding; moving means (12, 22) for moving at least one of the smoking article (100) or the folding means (11) to bring the smoking article (100) and the folding means (11) close to each other so that the rear zone (Z3) of each said casing (101) can selectively interact with the folding means (11); characterized by comprising: The folding means (11) comprises both a folding member (16) having a folding receiver (17) configured to temporarily accommodate at least a portion of the rear zone (Z3), and an abutting element (20); The abutting element (20) is slidably disposed in a channel (19) communicating with the folding receiver (17) so as to be able to abut against the rear zone (Z3) when at least a portion of the rear zone (Z3) is inserted into the folding receiver (17). A closing device (10) characterized by the above.

2. The folding receiver (17) has a cavity in the shape of a dome, a truncated cone, or a combination thereof, so that at least one flap of the rear zone (Z3) of each said casing (101) entering the folding receiver (17) can be at least partially folded. The closing device (10) according to Claim 1. The closing device (10) according to Claim 1.

3. The abutting element (20) is configured to be separated from and abutted against the folding receiver (17) so as to strike and crush the rear zone (Z3) of each said casing (101) one or more times under control. The closing device (10) according to Claim 1. The closing device (10) according to Claim 1.

4. The moving means (12, 22) comprises both one or more gripping members (12) configured to grip each said smoking article (100), and a moving device (22) configured to lower and raise the one or more gripping members (12). The closing device (10) according to Claim 1. The closing device (10) according to Claim 1.

5. The one or more gripping members (12) have at least two jaws (26). The joe (26) has semi-cylindrical or frustum-shaped concave portions (27) that face each other and are mirror images of each other so as to define a gripping receiver of the smoking article (100) when clamped together. Each of the joes (26) includes at least one guide element (28a, 28b) and at least one hole (29a, 29b) for receiving the guide element (28a, 28b) of the other joe (26). The guide elements (28a, 28b) facing each other cooperate to prevent or reduce vibration or tilting of the smoking article (100) by clamping each smoking article (100) at the gripping receiver. The closing device (10) according to claim 4.

6. The device further includes a transport member (207) configured to place and support each smoking article (100) in a transport receiver (210) and move it forward along a work path. The closing device (10) according to claim 1.

7. The device includes one or more lifting means (33) configured to selectively lift each smoking article (100) from the transport member (207). The closing device (10) according to claim 6.

8. The one or more lifting means (33) include corresponding pistons (36) disposed below the transport member (207). The piston (36) is configured to be inserted into a passage formed in the transport receiver (210). The closing device (10) according to claim 7.

9. Folding means (11) configured to close by folding a rear zone (Z3) of each casing (101); Moving means (12, 22) configured to move at least one of the smoking article (100) or the folding means (11) to bring the smoking article (100) and the folding means (11) closer to or farther apart from each other; A closing method for automatically closing a plurality of smoking articles (100) each having a casing (101) with at least one rear zone (Z3) to be closed, using a device (10) comprising: A moving step in which the moving means (22) moves at least one of the smoking article (100) or the folding means (11) to bring the smoking article (100) and the folding means (11) closer to each other, enabling the rear zone (Z3) of each casing (101) to interact with the folding means (11). A closing step of closing the rear zone (Z3) of each of the casings (101) by the folding means (11); having In the closing step, at least a part of the rear zone (Z3) is temporarily accommodated in a folding receiving part (17) belonging to the folding means (11), and in a state where the at least a part is temporarily accommodated in the folding receiving part (17), an abutting element (20) belonging to the folding means (11) is selectively driven to strike and crush the part of the rear zone (Z3). A closing method characterized by the above.

10. The moving step has a gripping step in which one or a plurality of gripping members (12) grip each smoking article (100) and displace it toward the folding means (11). The closing method according to claim 9.

11. In the closing step, after each of the gripping members (12) grips one of the smoking articles (100), at least a part of the rear zone (Z3) is carried into the folding receiving part (17) of the folding means (11), and at least one flap of the rear zone (Z3) facing the inner surface of the folding receiving part (17) is at least partially folded. The closing method according to claim 10.

12. After at least one flap of the rear zone (Z3) is folded in the closing step, the abutting element (20) is selectively driven to strike and crush the at least one flap that is at least partially folded one or more times to complete and strengthen the folding of the at least one flap. The closing method according to claim 11.

13. In the moving step, one or a plurality of lifting means (33) are optionally driven so as to lift the smoking article (100) and the gripping members (12) grip the central zone (Z2) of each smoking article (100). The closing method according to claim 10.

14. Use of the closing device (10) according to claim 1 or the closing method according to claim 9.

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