Machine and method for producing hermetic wrappings

Abstract

A machine and a method are described for producing a hermetic wrapping (100) comprising a wrapping sheet (101) wrapped around a structured assembly (AS), which is a precursor of said wrapping (100) and comprises an organized group of smoking articles (200) and a stiffening element (103), wherein the machine (10) comprises a first operating portion (10A) for attaching a tearing element (102) to the wrapping sheet (101), and a second operating portion (10B) for forming the structured assembly (AS), as well as for folding and welding the wrapping sheet (101), so as to form a tubular arrangement (120) of the wrapping sheet (101) wrapped around the structured assembly (AS) and open at the its opposite ends.

Description

[0001] MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING HERMETIC WRAPPINGS

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention concerns a machine and a method for producing a hermetic wrapping. In particular, the machine and method pertain to the sector of packets of smoking articles, being suitable - for example - to produce a “fin seal” hermetic wrapping with welded lateral fins.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Smoking articles are traditionally packaged in rigid, or semi-rigid, packets, inside which said smoking articles are wrapped in an internal wrapping, generally made of foil.

[0006] Normally, there is a stiffening element in cooperation with the internal wrapping. This type of wrapping is a solution that represents a compromise between production costs and the need to keep the aromatic characteristics of the tobacco present in the smoking articles unchanged.

[0007] In order to better preserve the quality of the smoking articles, there is an increasingly felt need to produce an internal wrapping that is hermetically sealed, that is, obtained with a sheet of material that does not let air pass, suitably sealed around the group of smoking articles contained therein. This hermetically sealed internal wrapping prevents the smoking articles from losing their aroma due to prolonged contact with air before they are to be consumed by users.

[0008] The present invention is linked to technical solutions and operating methods that have been the subject of patent protection. This patent protection covers solutions that, structurally and functionally, are not able to define a result suitable for the intended purpose, and in the required terms.

[0009] In particular, international patent applications WO-A-2016 / 166141, W0-A1- 2018 / 154611 and WO-A1-2019 / 123497, describe machines and methods capable of producing a hermetic wrapping around a group of smoking articles.

[0010] To try to reduce environmental pollution, many countries have the objective of limiting, if not even eliminating, where possible, the use of non-recyclable materials, such as the foil used to produce said internal wrapping for example, therefore there is currently a great need to return to using packaging materials consisting of products of natural origin.

[0011] There is therefore the need to perfect a machine and method for producing internal wrappings that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art, while solving the technical problem of making an ecological wrapping that is free of plastic or non-recyclable materials able to be produced in an automated maimer, with speeds such as to allow for high hourly productivity, for example of the order of several tens of thousands of packets.

[0012] In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide an automated packaging machine, and a corresponding method, for producing an internal wrapping hermetically sealed around smoking articles, which is capable of producing a completely ecological and recyclable wrapping, simply and economically.

[0013] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an automated packaging machine, and a corresponding method, for producing an internal wrapping which can be easily opened by a user, thanks to the presence of a tearing element which triggers it to tear, which is also preferably made with ecological and recyclable material.

[0014] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an automated packaging machine, and a corresponding method, which allow to achieve good quality wrappings, thanks to processes carried out with high reliability.

[0015] It is also a purpose of the present invention to provide an automated packaging machine having an optimized layout which allows to simplify the method according to the present invention, which corresponds to the operation of the machine, and optimize its overall dimensions.

[0016] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

[0017] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other features / aspects of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0019] In accordance with the above purposes and to resolve the technical problem disclosed above in a new and original way, also achieving considerable advantages compared to the state of the prior art, a machine is provided for producing a hermetic wrapping comprising a wrapping sheet associated with an organized group of smoking articles.

[0020] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the machine comprises a first operating portion configured at least to stably and permanently attach a tearing element on the wrapping sheet, and a second operating portion configured to form and seal the wrapping.

[0021] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the second operating portion comprises a forming device for forming a structured assembly configured to form a structured assembly by coupling a stiffening element with the organized group of smoking articles, and a folding and welding device configured to fold the wrapping sheet around the structured assembly in a tubular maimer forming a tubular arrangement of said wrapping sheet and weld the tubular arrangement so as to form the hermetic wrapping.

[0022] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the machine further comprises a transfer device configured to transfer said structured assembly from the forming device to the folding and welding device, said wrapping sheet being associated to the structured assembly during the transfer performed by the transfer device.

[0023] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the forming device and the folding and welding device are configured as rotatable wheels rotating respectively about a first and a second rotation axis, parallel to each other, and wherein the wheels are placed adjacent to each other so that the structured assembly exiting from the forming device can be transferred, together with a respective wrapping sheet, into the folding and welding device.

[0024] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the forming device and the folding and welding device each comprise a plurality of conveyor members, configured as seatings sized and arranged to receive, respectively, one of the structured assemblies and one of the tubular arrangement.

[0025] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the folding and welding device comprise a receiving counter-pusher configured to contact the wrapping sheet and accompany it, together with the structured assembly, in the transfer toward the folding and welding device, wherein the receiving counter-pusher is mobile in a coordinated maimer with said transfer device and cooperate with the latter to transfer the wrapping sheet and the structured assembly from the forming device to the folding and welding device.

[0026] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, each of the conveyor members of the folding and welding device comprises an assembly of walls rigidly constrained to the folding and welding device and two mobile walls, each supported by a support arm hinged to the folding and welding device, and acting from opposite sides with respect to the seating in which the tubular arrangement is accommodated.

[0027] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the two mobile walls alternately assume a closed position, in which they cooperate with the assembly of walls to delimit the respective seating in which the tubular arrangement is accommodated, and an open position, in which they are moved away from the assembly of walls to allow the access of the structured assembly and of the wrapping sheet inside the respective conveyor member.

[0028] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the two mobile walls are sized and arranged in such a way that, in the closed position, they define a slit configured so that a longitudinal fin of the wrapping passes through it, the longitudinal fin being formed by the nearing of the two different flaps of the wrapping sheet folded against the structured assembly and being configured to protrude outside the conveyor member.

[0029] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the folding and welding device comprises a folding unit for folding the opposite ends of the tubular arrangement and a plurality of welding units configured to weld both a longitudinal fin and also two transverse fins, placed at said opposite ends, of the wrapping.

[0030] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the first operating portion comprises:

[0031] - a first, a second and a third feed unit for respectively feeding the wrapping sheet, the tearing element and the stiffening element, each unfolded in the form of a strip from a respective reel,

[0032] - a coupling unit, in which the tearing element is associated with the wrapping sheet in a stable and permanent manner,

[0033] - an incision unit comprising incision members to incise the wrapping sheet and form one or more weakening lines, at or immediately adjacent to the tearing element.

[0034] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the machine comprises a first conveyor unit and a second conveyor unit for conveying, respectively, the wrapping sheet, with which the tearing element has been associated, and the stiffening elements from the first operating portion to the second operating portion. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the machine comprises a cutting unit placed at the entry of the second operating portion, upstream of the forming device and of the folding and welding device, for cutting to size a single wrapping sheet, and possibly creating a gripping tab made in one piece with the tearing element.

[0035] According to another aspect, a method is provided for producing a hermetic wrapping comprising a wrapping sheet associated with an organized group of smoking articles, which comprises the steps of:

[0036] - attaching a tearing element on the wrapping sheet in a stable and permanent maimer,

[0037] - arranging the stiffening element around the organized group of smoking articles to form a structured assembly in a forming device,

[0038] - folding the wrapping sheet around the structured assembly in a tubular manner forming a tubular arrangement of said wrapping sheet open at its opposite ends,

[0039] - welding the tubular arrangement so as to form the hermetic wrapping in a folding and welding device.

[0040] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the wrapping sheet is associated to the structured assembly during a transferring step performed by a transfer device configured to transfer said structured assembly from the forming device to the folding and welding device.

[0041] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, during the transferring step it is provided to contact the wrapping sheet with a receiving counter-pusher of the folding and welding device, and move the receiving counter-pusher in a manner coordinated with the transfer device to accompany the transfer of the structured assembly, with the wrapping sheet, from the forming device to the folding and welding device.

[0042] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, during the transferring step it is provided to take two mobile walls comprised in each conveyor member of the folding and welding device into an open position, in which the mobile walls are moved away from an assembly of walls of the conveyor member to allow the access of the structured assembly and of the wrapping sheet inside the conveyor member.

[0043] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, during the folding and welding step it is provided to take the two mobile walls into a closed position, in which they cooperate with the assembly of walls to delimit the respective seating in which the tubular arrangement is accommodated and to retain the latter during the movement of the conveyor member.

[0044] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, during the passage from the open position to the closed position each of the two mobile walls contacts a respective flap of the wrapping sheet to fold it against the structured assembly so as to form the tubular arrangement.

[0045] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the transition of the two mobile walls from the open position to the closed position occurs simultaneously, so as to near the respective flaps and form a longitudinal fin of the wrapping which protrudes outside of the conveyor member through a slit.

[0046] Thanks to the embodiments described here, an automated packaging machine with an optimized layout allowing to simplify the method for producing a hermetic wrapping is advantageously made available.

[0047] Another advantage of the method according to the embodiments described here is that it allows to simplify the operations of manipulating the structured assembly, the tubular arrangement and the hermetic wrapping obtained starting therefrom. Advantageously, the method and the machine for producing a hermetic wrapping according to the embodiments described here allow to carry out processing with great reliability and achieve high productivity.

[0048] The method and the machine for producing a hermetic wrapping according to the embodiments described here allow to obtain a hermetic wrapping that is completely recyclable, since it is made with ecological materials, such as paper, paperboard, cardboard.

[0049] These advantages allow to reduce processing waste and cycle time. By way of a non-limiting example, the machine according to the present invention allows to produce several hundred hermetic wrappings per minute, for example up to five hundred wrappings per minute.

[0050] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0052] - fig. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional view of the flow of advance of the components which are able to form a hermetic wrapping during the processes carried out by an automated packaging machine according to the present invention;

[0053] - fig. 2 is a partial and schematic three-dimensional view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the advance flow of fig. 1;

[0054] - fig. 3 is a front and schematic view of a first operating portion of an automated packaging machine according to the present invention, in which it is provided to associate a tearing element with a wrapping sheet;

[0055] - fig. 4 is a front and schematic view of a second operating portion of the automated packaging machine according to the present invention, in which it is provided to first form the wrapping around an organized group of smoking articles, and subsequently to seal it hermetically;

[0056] - fig. 5 is a schematic three-dimensional view, on an enlarged scale, of a detail of the portion of the machine shown in fig. 4;

[0057] - figs, from 6 to 8 are front, schematic views of an operating sequence for transferring a structured assembly formed by a forming wheel to a closing wheel, which are comprised in the automated packaging machine according to the present invention;

[0058] - fig. 9 is an exploded and schematic three-dimensional view of a hermetic wrapping obtainable using the machine and the method according to the present invention;

[0059] - fig. 10 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a hermetic wrapping produced using the machine and the method according to the present invention.

[0060] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications. DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a nonlimiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

[0061] With reference to fig. 1, this shows a flow of advance of the components required to assemble a hermetically sealed internal wrapping, indicated as a whole with the reference number 100, obtainable using embodiments of a packaging machine 10 according to the present invention.

[0062] In order to better understand the packaging machine 10 we will initially describe, with reference to figs. 9 and 10, a wrapping 100 obtainable with a machine 10 according to the present invention, and subsequently, with reference to fig. 1, the various operating units of the machine 10.

[0063] The wrapping 100, which does not fall within the scope of protection of the present invention, is made starting from a wrapping sheet 101, configured to be wrapped around an organized group of smoking articles 200.

[0064] By way of a non-limiting example, the wrapping 100 can be of any known type whatsoever, for example such as those described in patent applications W0-A1- 2009 / 148037 and WO-A1-2023 / 217907.

[0065] Preferably, but not only, the wrapping sheet 101 is made of a cellulose-based material, such as, for example, paper, cardboard, or similar materials.

[0066] The wrapping 100 also comprises a tearing element 102 configured to facilitate the user at the time of the first opening, when the wrapping 100 that hermetically wraps the smoking articles has to be removed. In the examples described here, the tearing element 102 is configured as a ribbon, or a strip, preferably made of natural and recyclable materials, for example cellulose-based materials, such as paper, cardboard, or suchlike. In some embodiments, the tearing element 102 can integrate a gripping tab, not shown and placed in such a position as to protrude with respect to the wrapping 100, in order to be grasped more easily by the user. The wrapping 100 also comprises a stiffening element 103, configured to increase the mechanical resistance to impacts of the wrapping 100, which is thus reinforced, so as to protect the integrity of the smoking articles.

[0067] The stiffening element 103, typically made of cardboard, comprises a central panel 104, with a greater extension, and two lateral panels 105, configured to be folded in such a way as to be placed perpendicular with respect to the central panel 104 along respective folding lines 106. The stiffening element 103 comprises a window 107, configured as a recessed portion made at an edge of the central panel 104, so that the presence of the stiffening element 103 does not hinder the user when picking up the smoking articles 200.

[0068] Once the wrapping 100 has been folded and welded, in the maimer that will be explained in more detail below, the wrapping 100 substantially takes the form of a rectangular-based parallelepiped.

[0069] The wrapping 100 therefore comprises two larger lateral walls 108, opposing each other, and two smaller lateral walls 109, opposing each other. The arrangement of the lateral walls is alternated, in such a way that the two smaller lateral walls 109 are contiguous to each larger lateral wall 108 on opposite sides, and the two larger lateral walls 108 are contiguous to each of the smaller lateral walls 109 on opposite sides.

[0070] The wrapping 100 comprises a longitudinal fin 110 which extends parallel to a longitudinal axis X of the wrapping 100, that is, parallel to the direction in which the smoking articles 200 lie.

[0071] In the example given here, the position of the longitudinal fin 110 is preferably about halfway along one of the two larger lateral walls 108, in proximity to an axis of longitudinal symmetry of the larger lateral wall.

[0072] The wrapping 100 also comprises two transverse fins 111, 112, placed at two opposite ends of the wrapping itself.

[0073] The two transverse fins 111, 112 close the wrapping 100 at the lower and upper parts, respectively defining upper and lower closing walls, and are connected both to the larger lateral walls 108 and also to the smaller lateral walls 109.

[0074] It is understood that the machine 10 and the method according to the present invention can be configured to also make wrappings 100 which differ both from the one described above with reference to figs. 9 and 10, and also from those described in the aforementioned international patent applications. For example, the position and conformation of some components of the wrapping 100, such as the tearing element 102 or the longitudinal fin 110 for example, may differ with respect to these wrappings. In this case, the person of skill will be able to perform the necessary adaptations to the machine 10 and method according to the present invention in order to make the wrapping based on the project specifications.

[0075] The machine 10 comprises a first operating portion 10A, for preparing the wrapping sheet, and a second operating portion 10B, in which it is provided to form, fold and seal the wrapping 100.

[0076] The first operating portion 10 A, better visible in fig. 3, is configured to carry out the preliminary operations on the wrapping sheet, in particular to associate the tearing element 102 with the wrapping sheet 101 and to make weakening incisions on the sheet itself, in order to facilitate its tearing when it is first opened.

[0077] The second operating portion 10B, better visible in the enlargement of fig. 2, as well as in fig. 4, is configured to first form a structured assembly AS by associating an organized group of smoking articles 200 with a stiffening element 103, and subsequently to make a tubular arrangement 120, having its opposite ends open, in which a wrapping sheet 101 is wrapped around the structured assembly AS. Finally, the second operating portion 10B is configured to make the folds and welds on the tubular arrangement 120 which are necessary to close and seal the hermetic wrapping 100.

[0078] In the example given here, the first operating portion 10A comprises (fig. 1):

[0079] - a first feed unit 11 for feeding the wrapping sheet 101,

[0080] - a second feed unit 12 for feeding the tearing element 102,

[0081] - a third feed unit 13 for feeding the stiffening element 103.

[0082] In each of the feed units 11, 12, 13, both the wrapping sheet 101 and also the opening and stiffening elements, 102 and 103 respectively, are unwound from respective reels, generically indicated with reference number 115.

[0083] According to an embodiment not shown, the machine comprises at least two reels in each of the feed units 11, 12, 13. In this case, the machine 10 can operate continuously because of the quick-change system of the reels, known in the art, due to which when one reel is going to finish, the same material coming from the other reel is joined to the strip of material coming to the exhaust reel so as to allow a continuous operation of the machine.

[0084] The machine 10 also comprises a coupling unit 14, in which the tearing element 102 is associated with the wrapping sheet 101, preferably using techniques well known to the person of skill in the art, for example by gluing. The coupling unit 14 is also configured to cut to size the tearing element 102 according to a predefined sequence, whereby it is provided to alternate small segments, of a reduced length, without a tearing element 102, with longer segments equipped with a tearing element 102. The size of these segments will be such that each wrapping sheet 101, once it has been singularized - that is, separated from the continuous strip - comprises both a segment equipped with a tearing element 102 and also a segment without one. This alternating frequency arrangement of the tearing element 102 is advantageous, because it makes the adhesion of the tearing element 102 to the wrapping sheet 101 more effective.

[0085] The machine 10 comprises an incision unit 15, at which suitable incision members, described in more detail below with reference to fig. 3, create one or more weakening lines 113 on the wrapping sheet 101. The incision unit 15 can be alternatively placed upstream or downstream of the coupling unit 14, for example in the points indicated with a dashed line in fig. 1.

[0086] The weakening line 113 is for example formed by a continuous linear incision which partly affects the thickness of the wrapping sheet 101. This incision is made at the position in which the tearing element 102 is placed, or immediately adjacent. In this way, the wrapping sheet 101 is weakened and the tearing action triggered by the tearing element 102 is facilitated and guided by the weakening line 113, given that the tear propagates along the latter.

[0087] In other embodiments, not shown, the weakening line 113 can be make up by a scoring line formed by a succession of linear incisions alternating with non-incised segments.

[0088] In another embodiment, not shown, in which it is provided to associate a layer of barrier material with the wrapping 100, which isolates its contents from the outside, the weakening line 113 can also be formed, as continuous or discontinuous incisions, which affect only part of the entire thickness of the wrapping sheet 101. In any case, preferred embodiments of the invention avoid the weakening lines passing through the wrapping sheet.

[0089] Downstream of the incision unit 15 the machine 10 comprises an inspection system 15C, e.g., a profilometer, to check the quality of the weakening lines 113, such as the deepness, the wideness, the profile symmetric / asymmetric, etc.

[0090] The inspection system 15C allows to online check the quality of the incisions before producing the package to make sure at the same time that the layer of barrier material is intact. The online check made by the inspection system 15C avoid the destruction of the packages. A first conveyor unit 16 is provided downstream of the inspection system 15C which advances the continuous wrapping sheet 101, to which the tearing element 102 has already been joined, toward the second operating portion 10B of the machine 10.

[0091] At the entrance of the second operating portion 10B there is provided a cutting unit 17, in which it is provided to cut to size the single wrapping sheets 101, separating them from the continuous strip advancing along the first conveyor unit 16.

[0092] In parallel, downstream of the third feed unit 13 there is provided a second conveyor unit 18 of the stiffening elements 103, configured to advance the stiffening elements 103, already singularized, toward the second operating portion 10B.

[0093] Preferably, the second conveyor unit 18 comprises a conveyor belt 19, for example toothed, placed immediately downstream of the cutting members, also of a known type and not shown, which cut to size each stiffening element 103, giving it the expected outline and separating it from the continuous strip unwound from the respective reel 115, starting from which they are formed.

[0094] The second operating portion 10B comprises a device 20 for forming a structured assembly AS, which is configured to associate an organized group of smoking articles 200 with a single stiffening element 103, thus forming the structured assembly AS. In the context of the present description, the expression “structured assembly” indicates the association between the stiffening element 103 and the organized group of smoking articles 200, before the wrapping sheet 101 is associated with them.

[0095] In the example described here, the forming device 20 is configured as a forming wheel 21, rotatable about a first rotation axis Rl.

[0096] The machine 10 also comprises a folding and welding device 22 configured to form and weld the longitudinal fin 110 and perform the necessary folding operations of the opposite ends of the tubular arrangement 120 in order to first form, and subsequently weld, the transverse fins 111, 112.

[0097] In the example described here, the folding and welding device 22 is configured as a closing wheel 23, rotatable about a respective second rotation axis R2, parallel to the first rotation axis Rl.

[0098] The closing wheel 23 is placed downstream of the forming wheel 21, with reference to the flow of advance of the products, and arranged so as to be adjacent to the latter so that the structured assembly AS exiting from the forming wheel 21 is transferred, together with a respective wrapping sheet 101, to the closing wheel 23.

[0099] As will be described in greater detail below with reference to figs. 4, 5 and to the operating sequence shown in figs. 6-8, the tubular arrangement 120 formation starts by associating the wrapping sheet 101 with the structured assembly AS during the transfer from the forming wheel 21 to the closing wheel 23.

[0100] The wrappings 100 exiting from the closing wheel 23 have therefore been hermetically sealed around an organized group of smoking articles 200.

[0101] Downstream of the closing wheel 23 there is provided an exit unit 24, comprising for example one or more additional conveyor belts 19 (fig. 4) intended to receive, resting on them, the wrappings 100 made by the machine 10, in order to convey them toward any subsequent processing, such as a station for packaging inside rigid packets and / or for additional packaging, for example inside boxes containing a plurality of packets.

[0102] The exit unit 24 can optionally comprise an orientation unit 25, in which an orientation member is provided, for example configured as a wheel, capable of modifying the orientation of the wrappings 100. In the example shown, in the orientation unit 25 it is provided to overturn the wrappings 100 so that the larger lateral wall 108 in which the longitudinal fin 110 is made, which at the exit of the closing wheel 23 is arranged downward, after passing through the orientation unit 25 - in which the wrapping 100 is overturned by 180° - is arranged upward.

[0103] It is understood that in fig. 1 the paths of the various components are indicative. As the person of skill in the art will easily understand, the drive members for driving the advance of the components, or the actuation of the operating members for performing the operations of gluing, incision and cutting in the units described above, are drive members of a type known in the art, which have not been shown but which the person of skill in the art will be able to easily select and place according to the circumstances and the layout of the machine.

[0104] With reference to fig. 3, the first operating portion 10A of the machine 10 is described in greater detail.

[0105] The wrapping sheet 101, the tearing element 102 and the sheet from which the stiffening elements 103 will be obtained are unwound from the respective reels 115 and advance along respective paths guided by return rollers 26, for example idle.

[0106] Special grooves on guiding elements 26 can be used to compensate the thickness of already applied tearing element 102 in order to provide stable wrapping sheet 101 behavior without vibrations or deviations and insure the inspection system 15C is making correct online measurements of the parameters of weakening line 113. Tearing element 102 due to nature of the product is normally produced from sustainable materials leading to high thickness more than 50 pm. While passing through online inspection system 15C the thickness of the tearing element 102 is impacting on the accuracy of the online measurements. The special grooves on the guiding elements 26 are compensating this excessive thickness and allow the wrapping sheet 101 be stable and flat during measurement by the inspection system 15C.

[0107] In a first embodiment, the incision unit 15 is placed upstream of the coupling unit 14 to incise the wrapping sheet 101 before the tearing element 102 is associated with it. In this embodiment, the incision unit 15 comprises a pair of incision rollers 15 A, of a type known in the art, provided with suitable cutting members (not shown) to mechanically make the incisions on the wrapping sheet 101 which form the weakening line 113.

[0108] In a second embodiment, alternative to the previous one, the incision unit 15 is placed downstream of the coupling unit 14 so as to incise the wrapping sheet 101 after the tearing element 102 has been associated with it. In this case, the incision unit 15 comprises a laser device 15B of a type known in the art. In the example shown, in which the laser device 15B is shown with a dashed line because it is an alternative to the presence of the pair of incision rollers 15 A, the laser device 15B comprises two laser emission heads operating in a coordinated maimer to create the weakening line 113.

[0109] We must clarify that the operating members of the incision unit 15, be they the pair of incision rollers 15 A or the laser device 15B, are preferably placed with respect to the wrapping sheet 101 in a position such as to create the incisions on the face of the sheet which is opposite with respect to that on which the tearing element 102 is applied.

[0110] In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the inspection system 15C is placed downstream of the incision unit 15, either of this unit is embodied as the incision rollers 15 A or the laser device 15B.

[0111] With reference to fig. 4, the second operating portion 10B of the machine 10 is described in greater detail.

[0112] The forming wheel 21 comprises a plurality of first conveyor members 27, also called “forming pockets” in the technical sector of reference. In the example shown, twelve first conveyor members 27 are provided, homogeneously distributed along a perimeter edge of the forming wheel 21, angularly distanced from each other by 30°.

[0113] The closing wheel 23 comprises a plurality of second conveyor members 28, also called “forming pockets” in the technical sector of reference. In the example shown, twelve second conveyor members 28 are provided, homogeneously distributed along a perimeter edge of the closing wheel 23, angularly distanced from each other by 30°.

[0114] The first and second conveyor members 27, 28 are substantially the same in structure and therefore the following description refers to each of the first and second conveyor members 27, 28.

[0115] Each conveyor member comprises an assembly of walls 29, 30 which are rigidly constrained to the wheel. By the expression “rigidly constrained” we mean that these walls are taken into rotation with the wheel about the respective first or second rotation axis Rl, R2, but are also “fixed”, since they cannot move with respect to the wheel.

[0116] Specifically, each conveyor member 27, 28 comprises a rear wall 29 and two lateral walls 30, opposing each other with reference to the rear wall 29.

[0117] The closing wheel 23 also comprises a pair of mobile walls 32 associated with each of the second conveyor members 28. Each mobile wall 32 is supported by a respective support arm 33, pivoted to the closing wheel 23 at a respective fulcrum point F.

[0118] The pair of mobile walls 32 can alternatively assume an open position A, in which they allow the transfer of the structured assembly AS, and of the corresponding wrapping sheet, from the forming wheel 21 to the closing wheel 23, and a closed position C, in which in cooperation with the walls 29, 30 they contribute to delimiting the seating inside which the tubular arrangement 120 is received. When the mobile walls 32 are arranged in the closed position C, a slit 34 is defined between them, configured so that the longitudinal fin 110 passes through it.

[0119] The forming wheel 21 comprises a transfer pusher 35 for making the structured assembly exit from the first conveyor member 27 and move it toward a respective second conveyor member 28 of the closing wheel 23.

[0120] The closing wheel 23 comprises a receiving counter-pusher 36 that contacts the wrapping sheet 101 and moves with a movement that is coordinated with respect to the transfer pusher 35, in order to accompany the structured assembly AS and the wrapping sheet 101 inside the second conveyor member 28 of the closing wheel 23.

[0121] The transfer pusher 35 is normally placed in a backward position behind the first conveyor member 27 which, on each occasion, is positioned in a station T for transferring the structured assembly AS form the forming wheel 21 to the closing wheel 23. Similarly, the receiving counter-pusher 36 is also normally placed in a backward position behind the second conveyor member 28 which, on each occasion, is positioned in the transfer station T. In particular, the transfer pusher 35 and the receiving counter-pusher 36 are placed behind the rear wall 29. The latter comprises a passage aperture 37, sized so as to allow the pusher and the counter-pusher to move according to the intended trajectory, as will be described in greater detail below, with reference to the operating sequence shown in figs. 6- 8.

[0122] The closing wheel 23 comprises a first welding unit 40 configured to weld the longitudinal fin 110. The first welding unit 40 can be placed in two successive welding stations placed at two successive positions assumed by the second conveyor members 28. By way of example, the first welding unit 40 can comprise two pairs of welding bars, each pair being placed in a respective welding station. The welding bars can be heated welding bars of a type known in the art, placed parallel to the longitudinal fin 110 to be welded. The welding bars are mounted on a jaw mechanism that alternately takes them into contact with, or away from, the longitudinal fin 110, from opposite sides with respect to the latter. The closing wheel 23 further comprises a folding unit 42. The folding unit comprises a plurality of folding members, not shown, organized into specialized pairs, each pair suitable to perform a specific folding of the wrapping sheet 101 around the structured assembly AS, so as to close the tubular arrangement 120. The folding unit 42, by way of a non-limiting example, can be substantially similar to that described in patent application WO-A1-2018 / 154611. In particular, this folding unit 42 can comprise the same components shown and described in the above mentioned patent application, to which an additional folding member (not shown) is added, configured to fold, in particular by approximately 90°, the longitudinal fin 110 in order to take it from an initial configuration, in which it is substantially perpendicular to the larger lateral wall 108, to a final configuration, in which it lies parallel to the latter.

[0123] The closing wheel 23 further comprises a second welding unit 44 provided with welding members, not shown, for welding the transverse fins 111, 112. The second welding unit 44 can be placed in two successive welding stations, which are placed at two successive positions assumed by the second conveyor members 28.

[0124] The first welding unit 40, the folding unit 42 and the second welding unit 44 are arranged in succession so that a tubular arrangement 120 contained in a second conveyor member 28, during the rotation of the latter about the rotation axis R2, meets the aforementioned operating units in sequence, which perform the respective processes on the wrapping sheet 101.

[0125] In one embodiment, it can be provided that the folding unit 42 and the second welding unit 44 partly overlap in a same operating station in which, immediately after having made some folds on the wrapping sheet 101, it is provided to perform one or more welds by means of suitable welding members in order to fix the flaps just folded by the folding members in position.

[0126] The forming wheel 21 can comprise a discard station R, at which a discard pusher 45 makes a structured assembly AS that does not comply with the expected quality requirements exit from one of the first conveyor members 27, for example because one of the elements is damaged, missing, or placed in a different position than expected.

[0127] In some embodiments, the closing wheel 23 can also comprise a station similar to the discard station R, not shown, and configured to discard the pre-wrappings (i.e. the tubular arrangement of the wrapping sheet) or wrappings 100 that do not conform to quality requirements. It has to be noted that in the present description, the term “pre-wrapping” is also used to indicate the assembly formed by the wrapping sheet and by the structured assembly, wherein the first is wrapped around the second to form a tubular wrapping open at opposite ends, without yet being closed and welded. In other words, the pre-wrapping corresponds to a tubular arrangement of the wrapping sheet around the structured assembly.

[0128] We will now describe the operation of the machine 10, which corresponds to the method for producing a hermetic wrapping 100 according to the present invention. The machine 10, and therefore the corresponding method, is designed for an alternating operation, in which its mobile components move with stepwise indexed movements. It is evident that the person of skill in the art will know how to make the necessary modifications and appropriate adaptations to the machine 10 in order to make it operate continuously, the latter also falling within the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

[0129] In the first operating portion 10A of the machine 10, the tearing element 102 is associated with the wrapping sheet 101 by means of the coupling unit 14. Upstream or downstream of the latter, the incision unit 15 performs the incisions on the wrapping sheet 101 to form the weakening line 113. The inspection system 15C then online check the quality of the incisions to make sure that the barrier layer is intact. Subsequently, the first conveyor unit 16 leads the wrapping sheet 101 toward the second operating portion 10B of the machine 10. In particular, the wrapping sheet 101 arrives between the forming wheel 21 and the closing wheel 23, after passing through the cutting unit 17, which cuts to size the single wrapping sheets, separating them from the continuous strip, starting from which they are formed.

[0130] The stiffening elements 103 are fed to the forming wheel 21 by the second conveyor unit 18.

[0131] Each stiffening element 103 is pushed inside a respective first conveyor member 27 by means of a suitable pushing member, not shown. When the first conveyor member 27 receives the stiffening element 103 it is empty, and therefore the latter is placed in contact with the rear wall 29 and the lateral walls 30 of the first conveyor member 27. The entry of the stiffening element 103 into the first conveyor member 27 determines its passage from the extended configuration in which it finds itself, to a configuration in which it is folded in a U-shape against the walls 29, 30, in which the central panel 104 rests against the rear wall 29 and the lateral panels 105 rest against the lateral walls 30. In this way, the stiffening element 103 is placed in the position that allows it to be wrapped around the organized group of smoking articles 200 at three sides.

[0132] The rotation of the forming wheel 21 then takes the first conveyor members 27, in which the stiffening element 103 is placed, into a station S for introducing the smoking articles 200, where a pusher, not shown, carrying an organized group of smoking articles 200, takes the latter inside the first conveyor member 27, forming a structured assembly AS. The pusher pushes the organized group of smoking articles 200 according to a directrix of insertion which is parallel to the first rotation axis R.

[0133] In the example described here, the introduction station S provides to insert three groups of smoking articles 200 simultaneously into as many first conveyor members 27, pushed by respective pushers. It is evident that in other embodiments it can be provided to insert one group of smoking articles 200 at a time, or different insertion modes can be provided, among those known in the art.

[0134] Continuing its rotation, the forming wheel 21 takes the structured assembly AS up to a transfer station T. Here, the mobile walls 32 of the second conveyor member 28 which is placed in this same transfer station T are taken into the open position A and the receiving counter-pusher 36 is advanced until it contacts the wrapping sheet 101 (fig. 6), moving as indicated by the arrow Fl.

[0135] Subsequently, the transfer pusher 35 pushes the structured assembly AS so that it exits from the first conveyor member 27, as indicated by the arrow F2. During this movement, the structured assembly AS encounters the wrapping sheet 101. At this point, the receiving counter-pusher 36 also reverses the direction of movement and moves together with the transfer pusher 35 in the direction of the arrow F2. Both the transfer pusher 35 and the receiving counter-pusher 36 move together, in a coordinated maimer, to take the structured assembly AS together with the corresponding wrapping sheet 101 inside the second conveyor member 28 placed in the transfer station T. The entry of the wrapping sheet 101 into the second conveyor member 28 determines its passage from the extended configuration in which it finds itself, to a configuration in which it is folded in a U-shape against the walls 29, 30, as shown in fig. 7.

[0136] Subsequently, the mobile walls 32 move from the open position A to the closed position C, folding the flaps of the wrapping sheet 101 which project outside the second conveyor member 28 against the structured assembly AS (fig. 8) and thus forming the tubular arrangement 120 open at the opposite ends. By doing so, the longitudinal fin 110 is formed, which protrudes outside the second conveyor member 28 through the slot 34.

[0137] Continuing the rotation, the closing wheel 23 takes the tubular arrangement 120 into the welding and folding stations, in which, in order: the first welding unit 40 welds the longitudinal fin 110, the folding unit 42 makes all the folds of the wrapping sheet 101 to close its opposite ends, the second welding unit 44 welds the transverse fins 111, 112.

[0138] Subsequently, the hermetically sealed wrapping 100 is placed on the conveyor belt 19 of the exit unit 24 and overturned by the orientation unit 25.

[0139] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts or steps may be made to the machine and method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0140] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art will be able to achieve other equivalent forms of a machine and method having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

[0141] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Machine (10) for producing a hermetic wrapping (100) comprising a wrapping sheet (101) associated with an organized group of smoking articles (200), said machine (10) comprising a first operating portion (10A) configured at least to stably and permanently attach a tearing element (102) on said wrapping sheet (101), and a second operating portion (10B) comprising a forming device (20) configured to form a structured assembly (AS) by coupling a stiffening element (103) with said organized group of smoking articles (200), and also a folding and welding device (22) configured to fold the wrapping sheet (101) around the structured assembly (AS) in a tubular maimer forming a tubular arrangement (120) of said wrapping sheet (101) and weld said tubular arrangement (120) so as to form said hermetic wrapping (100), wherein said machine further comprises a transfer device (35) configured to transfer said structured assembly (AS) from the forming device (20) to the folding and welding device (22), said wrapping sheet (101) being associated to the structured assembly (AS) during the transfer performed by the transfer device (35).

2. Machine as in claim 1, characterized in that said forming device (20) and said folding and welding device (22) are configured as rotatable wheels (21, 23) rotating respectively about a first and a second rotation axis (Rl, R2), parallel to each other, and wherein said wheels (21, 23) are placed adjacent to each other so that the structured assembly (AS) exiting from said forming device (20) can be transferred, together with a respective wrapping sheet (101), into said folding and welding device (22).

3. Machine as in claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said forming device (20) and said folding and welding device (22) each comprise a plurality of conveyor members (27, 28) configured as seatings sized and arranged to receive respectively one of said structured assemblies (AS) and one of said tubular arrangement (120).

4. Machine as in claim 3, characterized in that each of said conveyor members (28) of said folding and welding device (22) comprises an assembly of walls (29, 30) rigidly constrained to said folding and welding device (22) and two mobile walls (32), each supported by a support arm (33) hinged to said folding and welding device (22), and acting from opposite sides with respect to the seating in which said tubular arrangement (120) is accommodated, and in that said twomobile walls (32) alternately assume a closed position (C), in which they cooperate with said assembly of walls (29, 30) to delimit the respective seating in which said tubular arrangement (120) is accommodated, and an open position (A), in which they are moved away from said assembly of walls (29, 30) to allow the access of said structured assembly (AS) and said wrapping sheet (101) inside the respective conveyor member (28).

5. Machine as in claim 4, characterized in that said two mobile walls (32) are sized and arranged in such a way that, in said closed position (C), they define a slit (34) configured so that a longitudinal fin (110) of said wrapping (100) passes through it, said longitudinal fin (110) being formed by the nearing of the two different flaps of said wrapping sheet (101) folded against said structured assembly (AS) and being configured to protrude outside said conveyor member (28).

6. Machine as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said folding and welding device (22) comprises a folding unit (42) for folding said opposite ends of said tubular arrangement (120) and a plurality of welding units (40, 44) configured to weld both a longitudinal fin (110) and also two transverse fins (111, 112), placed at said opposite ends, of said hermetic wrapping (100).

7. Machine as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said folding and welding device (22) comprise a receiving counter-pusher (36) configured to contact said wrapping sheet (101) and accompany it, together with said structured assembly (AS), in the transfer toward said folding and welding device (22), wherein said receiving counter-pusher (36) is mobile in a coordinated maimer with said transfer pusher (35) and cooperate with the latter to transfer said wrapping sheet (101) and said structured assembly (AS) from said forming device (20) to said folding and welding device (22).

8. Machine as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said first operating portion (10A) comprises:- a first, a second and a third feed unit (11, 12, 13) for respectively feeding said wrapping sheet (101), said tearing element (102) and said stiffening element (103), each unfolded in the form of a strip from a respective reel (115),- a coupling unit (14), in which said tearing element (102) is associated with said wrapping sheet (101) in a stable and permanent manner,- an incision unit (15) comprising incision members (15 A; 15B) to incise saidwrapping sheet (101) and form one or more scoring / weakening lines (113), at or immediately adjacent to said tearing element (102).

9. Machine as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises a cutting unit (17) placed at the entry of said second operating portion (10B), upstream of said forming device (20) and of said folding and welding device (22), for cutting to size a single wrapping sheet (101), and possibly creating a gripping tab made in one piece with said tearing element (102).

10. Method for producing a hermetic wrapping (100) comprising a wrapping sheet (101) associated with an organized group of smoking articles (200), which comprises the steps of:- attaching a tearing element (102) on said wrapping sheet (101) in a stable and permanent maimer,- arranging a stiffening element (103) around said organized group of smoking articles (200) to form a structured assembly (AS) in a forming device (20),- folding said wrapping sheet (101) around said structured assembly (AS) in a tubular manner forming a tubular arrangement (120) of said wrapping sheet (101) open at its opposite ends,- welding said tubular arrangement (120) so as to form said hermetic wrapping (100) in said folding and welding device (22), wherein said wrapping sheet (101) is associated to the structured assembly (AS) during a transferring step performed by a transfer device (35) configured to transfer said structured assembly (AS) from the forming device (20) to the folding and welding device (22).

11. Method as in claim 10, characterized in that during said transferring step it is provided to contact said wrapping sheet (101) with a receiving counter-pusher (36) of said folding and welding device (22), and move said receiving counterpusher (36) in a manner coordinated with said transfer device (35) to accompany the transfer of said structured assembly (AS), with said wrapping sheet (101), from said forming device (20) to said folding and welding device (22).

12. Method as in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that during said transferring step it is provided to take two mobile walls (32) comprised in each conveyor member (28) of said folding and welding device (22) into an open position (A), in which said mobile walls (32) are moved away from an assembly of walls (29, 30)of said conveyor member (28) to allow the access of said structured assembly (AS) and of said wrapping sheet (101) inside said conveyor member (28).

13. Method as in claim 12, characterized in that during said folding and welding step it is provided to take said two mobile walls (32) into a closed position (C), in which they cooperate with said assembly of walls (29, 30) to delimit the respective seating in which said tubular arrangement (120) is accommodated and to retain the latter during the movement of said conveyor member (28).

14. Method as in claim 12 or 13, characterized in that during the passage from said open position (A) to said closed position (C) each of said two mobile walls (32) contacts a respective flap of said wrapping sheet (101) to fold it against said structured assembly (AS) so as to form said tubular arrangement (120).

15. Method as in claim 14, characterized in that the transition of said two mobile walls (32) from said open position (A) to said closed position (C) occurs simultaneously, so as to near said respective flaps and form a longitudinal fin (110) of said wrapping (100) which protrudes outside of said conveyor member (28) through a slit (34).

Images