Abstract: Apparatus for transferring bobbins containing packaging material to, and/or removing the cores of empty bobbins from, a receiving device of a cigarette packaging machine includes a transfer station having a chassis, an axle mounted on the chassis for rotation about an axis angularly oriented with respect to the axes of incoming full bobbins, at least a first arm affixed to and angularly extending from the axle and a gripping device movably supported on each arm. Full and empty bobbins are transported to and from the transfer station with their axes of rotation oriented generally transverse to a movable support plate which may be positioned for cooperation with the gripping devices.

Abstract: A conveyor for compressing cigarette blocks to an appropriate size for packaging having a plurality of open cell bodies, each body defining an open cell therein, for receiving cigarette blocks in a configuration corresponding to that of cigarettes in a cigarette pack. Each cell body is comprised of a single piece of sheet metal which has been bent into a generally U-shape and each cell body has first and second longitudinal walls, spaced at a distance corresponding to the height of the cigarette block to be received therein, and an end wall therebetween such that said longitudinal walls and said end wall cooperate to form the generally U-shaped body. The conveyor further including a plurality of closure elements, for selectively opening and closing the open end of the cell bodies.

Abstract: An apparatus for splicing webs with little or no reduction in the operating speed. The apparatus includes a first pivoting member and a fixed opposing element, a second pivoting member which pivots about the same axis as the first pivoting member, a pair of nipping rollers mounted on the pivoting circle of an outer surface of the second pivoting member, a splicing device for the webs, a device for guiding the second web between the second pivoting member and the opposing element, and a cutting device for excess web material. The apparatus first guides the second web between the second pivoting member and the opposing element. Thereafter the second pivoting member and the opposing element converge to clamp the second web therebetween and an adhesive is applied to the second web. Next the first pivoting member pivots such that the second pivoting member, the opposing element, and the second web work in cooperation to contact the first web to the second web for splicing.

Abstract: Relatively fragile articles, such as cigarettes, are formed into blocks consisting of three rows with a middle row containing one cigarette less than the outer rows. The cigarettes in the middle row are also laterally offset by approximately one-half the diameter of a cigarette from the cigarettes in the outer rows as a result of forming the blocks in a linear array of feed shafts which, from a lower support surface, extend upwardly at an angle other than perpendicular. A shaft disposed at one end of the array is closed at the level of the lower two rows and a multi-armed block slide is provided for pushing the cigarettes which define the block from an extraction zone, located at the bottom of the shafts, into a receiver.

Abstract: A multi-tier storage unit is defined by vertical array of rotary conveyors. Independently operable transfer devices for transferring devices to be stored onto selected conveyors and retreiving stored products from the conveyors are positioned at a pair of spaced points along the sides of the storage unit. The retrieval apparatus includes one or more distributors in the form of trolley systems which operate at preselected vertical levels.

Abstract: During the packaging of articles in cartons, preparatory to shipment to consumers, the cartons are removed from filling/closing apparatus and stacked on pallets. The removal apparatus includes transporting the cartons singly to a stacking plane, orienting the cartons and then employing a robotic gripping device to move the oriented cartons to the proper stacking positions.

Abstract: Web-shaped packaging material, which is to be cut into strips for integration into a package, is fed through a web-changing device which has knives and two conveying sections, the conveying sections converging upstream of the strip-cutting station. In order to be able to perform a web change-over, the web-changing device comprises a fixed knife arranged between the two conveying sections and movable knives which cooperate with the fixed knife for severing the respective webs of packaging material to produce leading and trailing edges which correspond to the shape of the front and rear edge of the strips. A deflecting device for the severed front end of a new web of packaging material is provided in each conveying section.

Abstract: Cigarette blocks comprising an even number of individual cigarettes arranged in an odd number of rows are formed through the use of a hopper having a linear array of parallel shafts with one of the shafts being permanently occupied by a blocking member at the level of an intermediate row. Cigarettes are delivered singly to the blocked shaft beneath the blocking member in synchronism with the transfer, in a direction transverse to the feed direction, of all of the cigarettes comprising the block to downstream apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting packaging material supply reels from a storage location to a consumption station which includes a gripping mechanism for engaging the core tube of the supply reel and a support for the gripping mechanism, the support permitting the gripping mechanism to be moved in three mutually perpendicular directions. The support includes a pair of angularly arranged, pivotal contact arms which define an angle, the axis of the gripping means lying in a plane which bisects the angle between the contact arms. Deflection of both arms to preselected angular positions against a resiliant bias will be indicative of establishment of a coaxial relationship between the gripping mechanism and the core of the supply reel whereupon the gripping mechanism may be inserted into the core for engagement therewith and subsequent reel transfer.

Abstract: The packaging of articles grouped to form generally cuboid shaped package contents of variable dimensions includes the erection of carton blanks to form open-ended tubular receivers, insertion of the grouped articles into such an erected carton and folding and glueing end flaps to close the carton about the article group. The filling of the cartons with the article groups and the closing of the cartons takes place on a turret having cells which are adjustable in size to match the incoming erected carton.

Abstract: Apparatus for the automatic filling of magazines which receive a stack of package forming blanks, the magazine having an essentially vertical shaft and the blanks being extracted from the lower end of the shaft, the apparatus having a conveyor which may be energized in response to the sensing of the top of a stack of blanks located in the magazine. The conveyor, when energized, delivers a further stack into an extension of the magazine where the further stack is temporarily supported on movable support plates before being released to fall onto the stack already in the magazine.

Abstract: In apparatus for the packaging of cigarettes, a collar defining member is positioned relative to a block of cigarettes, which has previously been wrapped in an inner paper, during the transfer of the wrapped block from a carrier cell of a first conveyor into a receiving cell of a second conveyor. The collar defining members are automatically fed into a transfer station, defined by a space between the conveyors where a carrier cell and a receiving cell are in an aligned confronting relationship, and the collar defining member is folded about the wrapped block of cigarettes as it is pushed from a carrying cell into a receiver cell.

Abstract: The splicing of webs of packaging material delivered via a pair of individual feed zones into a common feed zone is accomplished through the use of a pair of cooperating change-over rollers located at the start of the common feed zone. A clamping device is provided for each web and the change-over rollers are provided with projections which cause the leading end of one web to be pinched against the other web to cause the two webs to be spliced together, the other web being subsequently severed at a point immediately upstream of the splice. The clamping devices, change-over rollers and severing devices may all be caused to operate automatically in the proper sequence.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming cigarettes groups consisting of a plurality of cigarette layers to be received by a pack, employs a group-forming turret and cells equipped with a tamping device adjustable relative to the cell floor via a control cam. Layers of cigarettes are transferred to the cells from exit orifices of a funnel. To prevent a change of position of the cigarettes in the cells as a result of the forces occurring during the movement of the turret, the control cam for the tamping devices possesses, for each exit orifice, a step opening the respective cell at least by the amount of the height of a cigarette layer, and movable cam portions serving to temperarily bridge the steps.

Abstract: A belt conveyor for packaging apparatus includes an endless belt which supports a plurality of spaced article receiving cells, the belt being passed about a pair of direction-changing wheels. Variations in the loading of the endless belt are minimized by coupling the drive shaft, by which power is delivered to a first of the wheels, to a drive shaft for the other wheel via at least one rotationally fixed cardan connection.

Abstract: In the formation of cigarette packages, glued and folded packages are delivered via a pair parallel conveyors to a transfer device which includes a pair rotatable transfer turrets. The axes of rotation of the transfer turrets are offset both vertically and horizontally such that a pair of packages simultaneously received from the two conveyors may subsequently be simultaneously transferred into a pair of adjacent receiving spaces in a double cell of a drying turret.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting tear-off strips from a strip of material having a width equal to the length of the tear-off strip and for applying the tear-off strip to a conveyed web of packaging material is disclosed. The apparatus has one movable and one stationary straight knife for the progressive cutting of the strip, a device to which suction can be applied for transferring the cut strip along its longitudinal axis to a suction roll, the suction roll being partially covered by the continuously conveyed packaging material. The strip is conveyed to the roll and the combination passes through a welding device for welding the tear-off strip to the web of packaging material.

Abstract: The packaging of cigarettes, particularly in a bottom-folding packer, is expedited by utilizing two separate packaging lines to feed a common drying turret. The drying turret has a pair of cell supporting rotors with the first of these rotors receiving, at a pair of diametrically opposed locations, formed packages from the two lines. The packages, in the course of drying, are transferred in pairs between the first and second rotors of the drying turret and, during such transfer, sealing stamps are affixed thereto.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for wrapping cigarette packages in transparent film, in which the transparent film is expanded as a result of heating before being wound around the cigarette package and bonded to itself. A tear-open strip is mated with and subsequently bonded to the film during the heating thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for the packaging of cigarettes by successively folding inner and outer wrappers about a hollow open-ended mandrel, plural of the mandrels being supported from a rotary turret which is moved in step-wise fashion, which enables the use of a metalized foil as the inner wrapper. The apparatus establishes communication between a low pressure source and the interior of the mandrel during at least a portion of the wrapper folding procedure with the resulting suction being applied to the inner wrapper via an open end of the mandrel and through an array of holes provided in the side of the mandrel where opposite free ends of the inner wrapper are positioned after folding.