Apparatus and method for manufacturing a smoking article pack

Abstract

Apparatus and Method for Manufacturing a Smoking Article Pack An apparatus ( 10 ) for manufacturing a sealed pack ( 20, 34, 36, 37 ) of smoking articles ( 2 ) and modifying an internal atmosphere thereof. The apparatus ( 10 ) comprises a handling mechanism ( 13 ) for conveying a sealed pack ( 20 ) of smoking articles ( 2 ) within the apparatus ( 10 ). The handling mechanism ( 13 ) includes a support plate ( 24 ) against which a pack ( 20 ) abuts during conveyance by the handling mechanism ( 13 ). The support plate ( 24 ) includes a gas port ( 29 ). The apparatus ( 10 ) is configured such that, as a pack ( 20 ) is conveyed by the handling mechanism ( 13 ) in abutment with the support plate ( 24 ), the gas port ( 29 ) may engage a valve ( 4 ) formed in the pack ( 20 ) to enable a gaseous atmosphere within the sealed ( 20 ) pack to be modified. Also, a method of manufacturing a pack ( 37 ) of smoking articles ( 2 ) by means of such an apparatus ( 10 ).

1 . An apparatus for manufacturing a sealed pack of smoking articles and modifying an internal atmosphere thereof, the apparatus comprising a handling mechanism for conveying a sealed pack of smoking articles within the apparatus, the handling mechanism including a support plate against which a pack abuts during conveyance by the handling mechanism, the support plate including a gas port, the apparatus configured such that, as a pack is conveyed by the handling mechanism in abutment with the support plate, the gas port may engage a valve formed in the pack to enable a gaseous atmosphere within the sealed pack to be modified. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the support plate comprises one of a pair of spaced support plates configured to retain a pack between the support plates, wherein at least one of the support plates includes the gas port. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  comprising a plurality of gas ports. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein at least two gas ports are provided on the same support plate. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein each support plate comprises a gas port. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the or at least one gas port includes a sealing element to facilitate formation of an airtight seal between the gas port(s) and the pack. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the or at least one gas port comprises an aperture extending through the support plate. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the or each gas port comprises a suction port connected to a vacuum source to enable air to be evacuated from a pack through the suction port. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the or each gas port comprises a filling port connected to a pressurised gas source to enable a pack to be filled with gas from the pressurised gas source through the filling port. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the or each gas port comprises a suction and filling port selectively connected to a vacuum source and a pressurised gas source to enable air to be evacuated from a pack through the gas port and for a pack to be filled with gas from the pressurised gas source through the gas port. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein a first gas port comprises a suction port connected to a vacuum source to enable air to be evacuated from a pack through the suction port, and a second gas port comprises a filling port connected to a pressurised gas source to enable a pack to be filled with gas from the pressurised gas source through the filling port. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein a control valve is provided between the or each gas port and the source of vacuum and/or pressurised gas supply, and the or each control valve is operable to control communication of the source of vacuum and/or pressurised gas supply with the or each gas port. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the or one of the support plate(s) includes a sensor element configured to detect when a pack is supported in abutment with the support plate, wherein the or each control valve is configured to be actuated when it is detected that a pack is in abutment with the support plate. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  comprising a wrapping station configured to wrap and seal a bundle of smoking articles with a barrier material to form a sealed package and to provide a valve on at least one face of the package, and to provide the sealed package to the handling mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the wrapping station includes a continuous web of barrier material having valves at regularly spaced intervals along the web, each valve disposed over an aperture through the barrier material, and wherein the wrapping station is configured to cut sections of barrier material from the web and to wrap and seal bundles of smoking articles such that the or each valve is consistently positioned on each sealed package. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17  further comprising a packing station configured to form an outer box around the sealed package, wherein the handling mechanism is disposed between the wrapping station and the packing station to convey the sealed package between the wrapping station and the packing station. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 18  further comprising an adhesive applicator configured to apply an adhesive to the sealed package or an interior surface of the outer box, to bond the sealed package to the outer box with the adhesive applied over the or at least one valve of the sealed package. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein the or at least one gas port is configured to sit over the or at least one valve on the wrapped package when engaged therewith, and the or at least one gas port is of a larger dimension than the or at least one valve. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of manufacturing a sealed pack of smoking articles having a modified internal atmosphere using an apparatus comprising a handling mechanism which includes a support plate having a gas port, the method comprising conveying a sealed pack of smoking articles within the apparatus using the handling mechanism with the pack abutting the support plate, engaging the gas port with a valve formed in the pack and modifying the gaseous atmosphere within the sealed pack via the valve through the gas port. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22  comprising conveying the pack held between the support plate and a second support plate whilst modifying the internal atmosphere within the pack. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein the gas port comprises a suction port connected to a vacuum source and the step of modifying the gaseous atmosphere within the sealed pack comprises evacuating air from within the sealed pack through the suction port. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein the gas port comprises a filling port connected to a source of pressurised gas and the step of modifying the gaseous atmosphere within the sealed pack comprises filling the sealed pack with gas from the pressurised gas source through the filling port. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein the gas port comprises a suction and filling port selectively connected to a vacuum source and a pressurised gas source, and the step of modifying the gaseous atmosphere within the sealed pack comprises evacuating air from within the sealed pack through the gas port and filling the sealed pack with gas from the pressurised gas source through the gas port. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein the apparatus comprises a first gas port comprising a suction port connected to a vacuum source and a second gas port comprising a filling port connected to a pressurised gas source, and wherein the step of modifying the gaseous atmosphere within the pack comprises evacuating air from within the sealed pack through the suction port and filling the sealed pack with gas from the pressurised gas source through the filling port. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein the apparatus includes a control valve between the or at least one gas port and the source of vacuum and/or pressurised gas source, the method comprising controlling operation of the at least one control valve to control communication of the source of vacuum and/or pressurised gas source with the or at least one gas port. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the or one of the support plate(s) includes a sensor element, the method comprising the sensor element detecting when a pack is supported in abutment with the support plate(s) and actuating the or at least one control valve to communicate the source of vacuum and/or pressurised gas source with the or at least one gas port when it is detected that a pack is in abutment with the support plate. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 30  further comprising forming an outer box around the sealed package at a packing station and the handling mechanism conveying the sealed package to the packing station. 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 31  further comprising applying an adhesive to the sealed package or to an interior surface of the outer box using an adhesive applicator to bond the sealed package to the outer box with the adhesive applied over the or at least one valve of the sealed package.