Abstract: There is provided a method of loading a container with a defined quantity of product comprising closing off a perforation in a perforated plate; directing powder into the closed-off perforation by the sweeping action of a first director blade spaced from said perforated plate; and transferring the contents of the perforation to said container. The method is characterized by relative rotary motion of the perforated plate and said first director blade. Suitable apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an infusion package 10 comprising a porous-walled container 12 for an infusible substance and a support for the container by means of which the container can be mounted on a rim of a drinking vessel. The method comprises (i) making cuts in at least one web of a semi-rigid material in a direction transverse to the web length to define a plurality of support members 14, each cut defining a first end 16 of one support member and a second end 20 of an adjacent support member such that the first end includes a projection 18 and the second end includes a recess 22 the cutting of which recess produces the projection; (ii) bringing two such support members into opposed relationship with the first end of one of the support members disposed opposite the second end of the other of the support members; (iii) positioning an end region of the container between the opposed support members; and (iv) securing that end region to the support members.

Abstract: In a wrapping apparatus, particularly for enclosing articles consisting of or containing groups of cigarettes in wrapper material, the articles are received in a pocketed drum in which at least one overlapped region of the wrapper material is heat scaled. Preferably opposed side seams and an end flap of the wrapper are sealed, so as substantially to complete the enclosure of the article while on the drum. Side seal heaters carried by the drum may be mounted on respective annular carriers which are rotatably displaceable to remove the heaters from contact with the articles if the drum is stopped for an extended period. End seal heaters may be pivotally mounted on the drum and operated by a cam arrangement to fold an end flap of the wrapper into an overlapped position.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing packaging blanks includes an applying device, a first conveyor, and a second conveyor. The first conveyor conveys the blanks at a first velocity arranged to permit the application of an adhesive to the blanks by means of the device. The second conveyor is arranged to receive the blanks from the first conveyor and convey them at a second velocity which is greater than the first velocity resulting in a change in the pitch of the stream of blanks conveyed by the conveyors. Alternatively the applying means may apply an adhering element such as a coupon or hologram such that it adheres to the blank. The adhering element may adhere to the blank by virtue of an adhesive carried on a rear surface of the element or by means of an adhesive carried by the blank.

Abstract: A package (10) can support separate groups of cigarettes (12, 13) by an inner frame (14) which has a central fold or pleat (28) to locate the groups. A common single barrier layer wrapper (16) surrounds the groups. The package (10) may be contained in a sleeve-like shell (240) to form a packet similar to a slide and shell packet. Also disclosed is a package 410 which has a disposable cover (424) for an access aperture, the cover having a lower edge (424B) which is inclined, curved or otherwise non-alignment to make minor differences in position of the edge lens noticeable.

Abstract: Article wrapping apparatus for wrapping or folding a wrapper blank around an article which may comprise or contain a group of rod-like articles such as cigarettes, includes a wrapper blank former which simultaneously folds sides and ends of a blank (60) by plunging the former (64) around an article holder (58) and subsequently plunging the article from the holder into the former. The apparatus also includes a housing (24) for supporting a partially-wrapped article which is pivoted relative to an abutment (32) so that a flap is swept into a closed position; and pivoted holders (24, 54) which are used to transfer articles between axially-spaced process positions on a process drum (6). Folding operations may be performed during transfer to or from a pivotable holder (24, 54), particularly in a radial direction of the drum (6).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an infusion package 10 comprising a porous-walled container 12 for an infusible substance and a support for the container by means of which the container can be mounted on a rim of a drinking vessel. The method comprises (i) making cuts in at least one web of a semi-rigid material in a direction transverse to the web length to define a plurality of support members 14, each cut defining a first end 16 of one support member and a second end 20 of an adjacent support member such that the first end includes a projection 18 and the second end includes a recess 22 the cutting of which recess produces the projection; (ii) bringing two such support members into opposed relationship with the first end of one of the support members disposed opposite the second end of the other of the support members; (iii) positioning an end region of the container between the opposed support members; and (iv) securing that end region to the support members.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying foil to a stock, including means for moving the stock and foil and foil supporting carrier to a printing position where pressure is applied to transfer a predetermined shape of foil which is adhered to the stock and wherein the means for moving includes a first means for moving the carrier at the speed of the stock during the printing operation and second means for moving the carrier at a slower speed between printing operation and the method of using the apparatus.

Abstract: A packing machine comprising a rotary assembly (2) which is adapted to receive articles (4) travelling along a path which is adjacent one region of the periphery of the assembly, and means (26) for receiving foil (14) or other wrapping material, at a different peripheral region, the foil then being oriented in a tangential plane; the assembly further comprising means for reorienting the foil into a plane which is perpendicular to said tangential plane (20) at a subsequent rotary position, where it is suitably aligned with a cooperating article wrapping means (40, 32).

Abstract: A packing machine comprising a rotary assembly (2) which is adapted to receive articles (4) travelling along a path which is adjacent one region of the periphery of the assembly, and means (26) for receiving foil (14) or other wrapping material, at a different peripheral region, the foil then being oriented in a tangential plane; the assembly further comprising means for reorienting the foil into a plane which is perpendicular to said tangential plane (20) at a subsequent rotary position, where it is suitably aligned with a cooperating article wrapping means (40, 32).

Abstract: Holders (20) for articles such as newly-formed packets or groups of cigarettes are used to constrain and protect the articles while being conveyed by handling apparatus (22), e.g. in a packing machine (10). Holders (20) of similar external shape, adapted to interface with the handling apparatus, may be provided with differing internal features (28), adapted for receiving different articles, so that the articles may be readily conveyed by the same apparatus. The apparatus may be employed at the exit end of a cigarette packing machine to maintain the shape of newly-formed packets in a packet stabilising region. This region may comprise a reservoir including a series of compartmented drums (24,26) in which each compartment receives a line of abutting holders which is indexed in an axial direction during rotation of the drums.

Abstract: Blank feeding apparatus, particularly in a hinged-lid cigarette packing machine, includes rotary blank pick-up means (36-42), and support means (44-50), rotatable with the pick-up means, for engaging and supporting the base of a blank stack in a magazine (2) between each pick-up operation. The pick-up means (36-42) may each comprise a pivotable arm (20-24), movable as it rotates by means of a pivoted follower member (60,62) engaging a fixed cam track (54). The blanks may be retained in the stack in the magazine (2) by pivotally-mounted support fingers (4,6) which are successively retracted to release a blank as the pick-up means (36-42) passes.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring rod-like articles such as cigarettes comprising a series of hoppers (2, 4, 6) which deliver rows of cigarettes to fluted planetary wheels (8, 10, 12) which are mounted on a rotating carrier and driven around a central drum (20), by gearing between the planet wheels and the drum. The drum is provided with pockets (22, 24) etc each of which is three rows deep so as to accommodate the output from three of the planet wheels. In this way the cigarettes are grouped into bundles for subsequent packaging.

Abstract: In a packaging machine, particularly for producing hingedlid packets for cigarettes conveyed on an endless pocket conveyor (16) become partially wrapped in a wrapper section (20) during transfer to a further endless pocketed conveyor (24). In passing to the further conveyor the groups and wrapper sections pass through a forming member carried on an intermediate endless conveyor (22). Transfer of the groups is effected by cam-operated plunger units (26A) carried by a fourth endless conveyor (26). The machine further includes a packet transfer unit at which spaced packets are deposited on a suction belt (50) prior to delivery in abutment to a packet reservoir (54); and a blank feed unit (30) comprising a continuously moving endless feed conveyor (62) provided with reciprocating pulleys, the movement of which causes the conveyor to remain stationary to allow transfer of blanks from a stationary reservoir (60).

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for producing drawstring packets. The packets are produced by forming thread loops (L) with tags (T) attached to their ends and placing the packet web material (W) onto the portions of a the loops further from the tags. After securing the loops in their shaped form temporarily to one face of the web, the tags and the remaining portions of thread are placed on the other face of the web to be attached there releasably. In subsequent processing the secured loop portions lie inside the packets and the tags outside. The process allows relatively precise location of the loops so that packets can be produced with the loops in a peripheral channel (P) sealed from the contents of the packets but able to move to contract the package when the ends of the loop are pulled.

Abstract: A web (W) of sheet material intended to form individual tagged packets has surplus portions of a thread (S) extending along its length removed while the web is being advanced. After severing one end of each unwanted thread portion with a rotary cutter (2), the severed end is lifted by a wiper (10), and the lifted end is held away from the web by suction means (20) while it is detached by shearing means (22). The suction means (20) then remove the detached thread portion.

Abstract: A tagged packet carries a tag which is attached to the main body of the packet by a thread. The thread comprises polypropylene so as to be attachable by heat sealing to the body. The body is made up of layers of sheet material also comprising thermoplastic material to allow the body to be closed by heat seals. The thread is secured to the face of the body at one edge at the same time as that edge is heat sealed and the heating for the thread seal is applied from the opposite face of the body whereas the adjacent regions of edge seal spaced from the thread has the heating applied through the first face. This arrangement gives closer control of the different conditions required for securing the thread and for sealing together only the sheet material of the body.

Abstract: Variable speed conveying apparatus includes a conveyor (16) having a plurality of conveying surfaces (18) for engaging a stream (10) of articles along a path, and elements for progressively changing the speed of the surfaces as they progress along the path. The conveyor may include a series of pivotally interconnected links (18), the angular disposition of the links being controlled as they move along the path. Typically the conveyor may be used for changing the height of a multi-layer stream of rod-like articles such as cigarettes. Similar conveyor arrangements may be used to convey articles or people by providing slats (322,324) carried by conveyor links (318) or by providing independently-controllable carrier members (218) movable on an endless track (236).