Method of Transferring Groups of Cigarettes in a Cigarette Packing Machine

Abstract

A method of transferring groups of cigarettes on a packing machine, whereby a group of cigarettes, as it travels along a first path, is arrested in a pickup position inside a transfer station, in which a gripper device, after being closed about the group of cigarettes, is moved in a given transfer direction to transfer the group of cigarettes from the pickup position to a release position along a second path, and is opened to release the group of cigarettes in the release position.

1 ) A method of transferring groups ( 3 ) of cigarettes, on a cigarette packing machine ( 2 ), from a first (P 1 ) to a second (P 2 ) path at a transfer station ( 5 ), the method comprising the steps of: 
 feeding a group ( 3 ) of cigarettes along the first path (P 1 ) to the transfer station ( 5 );    positioning the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes in a pickup position inside the transfer station ( 5 );    moving the jaws ( 47 ,  48 ) of a gripper device ( 46 ) so as to close the gripper device ( 46 ) about the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes in the pickup position along the first path (P 1 ); the gripper device ( 46 ) being closed by moving the jaws ( 47 ,  48 ) from respective rest positions, in which the jaws ( 47 ,  48 ) are located on the same side of one of the paths (P 1 , P 2 );    moving the gripper device ( 46 ) inside the transfer station ( 5 ) and in a given transfer direction ( 50 ) to transfer the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes from the pickup position to a release position along the second path (P 2 ); and    opening the gripper device ( 46 ) to release the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes in the release position.    
   
   
       2 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gripper device ( 46 ) is closed by moving a first ( 47 ) of the jaws ( 47 ,  48 ) of the gripper device ( 46 ) between the first and second path (P 1 , P 2 ) in a travel direction ( 49 ) crosswise to the first path (P 1 ) and to the transfer direction ( 50 ) to position the first jaw ( 47 ) facing a second ( 48 ) of the jaws ( 47 ,  48 ) in the transfer direction ( 50 ); and then moving the second jaw ( 48 ) towards the first jaw ( 47 ) in the transfer direction ( 50 ).  
   
   
       3 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes is arrested along the first path (P 1 ) and inside the transfer station ( 5 ) in an initial position, and is then moved into the pickup position in a travel direction ( 49 ) crosswise to the first path (P 1 ) and to the transfer direction ( 50 ).  
   
   
       4 ) A method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes is moved in the travel direction ( 49 ) by the gripper device ( 46 ).  
   
   
       5 ) A method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes is moved in the travel direction ( 49 ) by the gripper device ( 46 ) and before the gripper device ( 46 ) is closed about the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes.  
   
   
       6 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step of closing the gripper device ( 46 ) about the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes comprises the substeps of: 
 moving a first ( 47 ) of the jaws ( 47 ,  48 ) of the gripper device ( 46 ) in a travel direction ( 49 ) crosswise to the first path (P 1 ) and to the transfer direction ( 50 ) to engage the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes arrested inside the transfer station ( 5 ) in an initial stop position along the first path (P 1 ), and moving the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes in the travel direction ( 49 ) into the pickup position; and    moving a second ( 48 ) of the jaws ( 47 ,  48 ) of the gripper device ( 46 ) in the transfer direction ( 50 ) and towards the first jaw ( 47 ) to grip the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes in the pickup position between the first and second jaw ( 47 ,  48 ).    
   
   
       7 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the steps of closing the gripper device ( 46 ) about a group ( 3 ) of cigarettes and moving the gripper device ( 46 ) and the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes in the transfer direction ( 50 ) are performed by moving a first ( 47 ) of the jaws ( 47 ,  48 ) of the gripper device ( 46 ) along an annular path (P 3 ) comprising a first portion ( 63 ) crosswise to the first path (P 1 ) and to the transfer direction ( 50 ), and a second portion ( 64 ) parallel to the transfer direction ( 50 ), and by imparting to a second ( 48 ) of the jaws ( 47 ,  48 ) of the gripper device ( 46 ) a back and forth movement parallel to the transfer direction ( 50 ) and across only one of the two paths (P 1 , P 2 ).  
   
   
       8 ) A method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the path crossed by the second jaw ( 48 ) is the first path (P 1 ).  
   
   
       9 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes is moved along the first path (P 1 ) inside a first pocket ( 4 ) defining a first seat ( 36 ) for a respective group ( 3 ) of cigarettes positioned crosswise to the first path (P 1 ); the first seat ( 36 ) being arrested inside the transfer station ( 5 ) to position the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes in an initial position offset laterally, with respect to the pickup position, in a travel direction ( 49 ) crosswise to the first path (P 1 ) and to the transfer direction ( 50 ); and the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes then being moved longitudinally from the initial position to the pickup position in the travel direction ( 49 ).  
   
   
       10 ) A method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes is moved between the initial position and the pickup position by moving the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes along the first pocket ( 4 ).  
   
   
       11 ) A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each first pocket ( 4 ) comprises a tubular portion ( 34 ), and a C-shaped portion ( 35 ) with its concavity facing the second path (P 2 ) in the transfer station ( 5 ); the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes being moved in the travel direction ( 49 ) between the initial position and the pickup position by releasing the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes from the tubular portion ( 34 ).  
   
   
       12 ) A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the step of closing the gripper device ( 46 ) about the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes comprises the substeps of: 
 moving a first ( 47 ) of the jaws ( 47 ,  48 ) of the gripper device ( 46 ) in the travel direction ( 49 ) and through the tubular portion ( 34 ) of the first pocket ( 4 ) to engage the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes arrested in the transfer station ( 5 ) in the initial position, and to move the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes in the travel direction ( 49 ) along the first pocket ( 4 ) into the pickup position; and    moving a second ( 48 ) of the jaws ( 47 ,  48 ) of the gripper device ( 46 ) in the transfer direction ( 50 ), through an opening ( 30 ) in a bottom wall ( 29 ) of the first pocket ( 4 ) and towards the first jaw ( 47 ) to grip the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes in the pickup position between the first and second jaw ( 47 ,  48 ).    
   
   
       13 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes is released, in the release position, inside a second seat ( 25 ) movable along the second path (P 2 ); the method comprising the further step of squeezing the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes transversely as the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes moves in the transfer direction ( 50 ).  
   
   
       14 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes is released, in the release position, inside a second seat ( 25 ) movable along the second path (P 2 ); the method comprising the further steps of feeding the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes, as it moves in the transfer direction ( 50 ), into a tubular spindle ( 39 ) movable back and forth in the transfer direction ( 50 ) inside the transfer station ( 5 ); feeding the tubular spindle ( 39 ), and the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes housed inside it, in the transfer direction ( 50 ), so that the tubular spindle ( 39 ) engages the second seat ( 25 ), and the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes is positioned in the release position; and withdrawing the tubular spindle ( 39 ) from the second seat ( 25 ) in the transfer direction ( 50 ), leaving the group ( 3 ) of cigarettes stationary in the release position.  
   
   
       15 ) A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the second seat ( 25 ) is defined by a sheet ( 8 ) of packing material folded partly inside a second pocket ( 6 ) movable along the second path (P 2 ).