Packer machine and wrapping method to produce a pack of smoking articles provided with two rigid containers inside one another

A packer machine (32) to produce a pack (1) of smoking articles;

• the pack (1) of smoking articles comprises:
• a group (23) of smoking articles;
• a rigid inner container (14), which is formed by folding a first blank (25), has a parallelepiped shape, encloses the group (23) of smoking articles on all six sides, and has a front wall (15), two side walls (16), a rear wall (17), an upper wall (18) and a lower wall (19);
• and an outer container (2), which is formed by folding a second blank (24), is provided with a hinged lid (4), and encloses the inner container (14);
• the packer machine (32) comprises:
• a first wrapping drum (44), which supports at least a first wrapping pocket (46), which is adapted to receive the first blank (25) and subsequently the group (23) of smoking articles;
• a first feeding station (S3), in which the first blank (25) is inserted into the first wrapping pocket (46);
• a first transfer station (S2), which is arranged downstream of the first feeding station (S3) and in which the group (23) of smoking articles is inserted into the first wrapping pocket (46) already containing the first blank (25);
• a second wrapping drum (50), which supports at least a second wrapping pocket (52), which is adapted to receive the second blank (24) and subsequently the inner container (14);
• a second feeding station (S6), in which the second blank (24) is inserted into the second wrapping pocket (52);
• a second transfer station (S5), which is arranged downstream of the second feeding station (S6) and in which the inner container (14) is inserted into the second wrapping pocket (52) already containing the second blank (24);
• and
• a third wrapping drum (47), which supports at least a third wrapping pocket (49), which is adapted to directly receive the inner container (14) from the first wrapping pocket (46) in a third transfer station (S4), which is arranged between the first wrapping drum (44) and the third wrapping drum (47), and is adapted to directly release the inner container (14) to the second wrapping pocket (52) in the second transfer station (S5) which is arranged between the third wrapping drum (47) and the second wrapping drum (50);
• wherein the first blank (25) comprises two longitudinal folding lines (26) and a plurality of transverse folding lines (27), which define, between the two longitudinal folding lines (26), a first panel (15′;
• 17′), which makes up an upper part of the front or rear wall (15;
• 17) of the inner container (14), a second panel (18′), which makes up the upper wall (18) of the inner container (14), a third panel (17′ 15′), which makes up the rear or front wall (17;
• 15) of the inner container (14), a fourth panel (19′), which makes up the lower wall (19) of the inner container (14), and a fifth panel (15″;
• 17″), which makes up a lower part of the front or rear wall (15;
• 17) of the inner container (14);
• wherein the first blank (25) comprises a pair of first wings (16′), which are arranged on opposite sides of the first panel (15′;
• 17′), are connected to the first panel (15′;
• 17′) along the two longitudinal folding lines (26), and make up part of the side walls (16) of the inner container (14);
• wherein the first blank (25) comprises a pair of second wings (16″), which are arranged on opposite sides of the fifth panel (15″;
• 17″), are connected to the fifth panel (15″;
• 17″) along the two longitudinal folding lines (26), and make up part of the side walls (16) of the inner container (14);
• wherein the first blank (25) comprises a pair of third wings (16″′), which are arranged on opposite sides of the third panel (17′;
• 15′), are connected to the third panel (17′;
• 15′) along the two longitudinal folding lines (26), and make up part of the side walls (16) of the inner container (14);
• in the first transfer station (S2) the group (23) of cigarettes is laid on the third panel (17′;
• 15′) of the first blank (25);
• and
• wherein the first wrapping pocket (46) comprises first folding devices, which fold the two third wings (16″′) by 90° relative to the third panel (17′;
• 15′) at the first transfer station (S2).

A packer machine (32) to produce a pack (1) of smoking articles;

• the pack (1) of smoking articles comprises:
• a group (23) of smoking articles;
• a rigid inner container (14), which is formed by folding a first blank (25), has a parallelepiped shape, encloses the group (23) of smoking articles on all six sides, and has a front wall (15), two side walls (16), a rear wall (17), an upper wall (18) and a lower wall (19);
• and an outer container (2), which is formed by folding a second blank (24), is provided with a hinged lid (4), and encloses the inner container (14);
• the packer machine (32) comprises:
• a first wrapping drum (44), which supports at least a first wrapping pocket (46), which is adapted to receive the first blank (25) and subsequently the group (23) of smoking articles;
• a first feeding station (S3), in which the first blank (25) is inserted into the first wrapping pocket (46);
• a first transfer station (S2), which is arranged downstream of the first feeding station (S3) and in which the group (23) of smoking articles is inserted into the first wrapping pocket (46) already containing the first blank (25);
• a second wrapping drum (50), which supports at least a second wrapping pocket (52), which is adapted to receive the second blank (24) and subsequently the inner container (14);
• a second feeding station (S6), in which the second blank (24) is inserted into the second wrapping pocket (52);
• a second transfer station (S5), which is arranged downstream of the second feeding station (S6) and in which the inner container (14) is inserted into the second wrapping pocket (52) already containing the second blank (24);
• a third wrapping drum (47), which supports at least a third wrapping pocket (49), which is adapted to directly receive the inner container (14) from the first wrapping pocket (46) in a third transfer station (S4), which is arranged between the first wrapping drum (44) and the third wrapping drum (47), and is adapted to directly release the inner container (14) to the second wrapping pocket (52) in the second transfer station (S5) which is arranged between the third wrapping drum (47) and the second wrapping drum (50);
• a first feeding unit (36), which comprises a first feeding drum (54), which is provided with at least a first feeding head (56), which receives the first blank (25) in a first pick-up station (S8) and releases the first blank (25) to the first wrapping pocket (46) in the first feeding station (S3);
• and
• a second feeding unit (37), which comprises a second feeding drum (70), which is provided with at least a second feeding head (72), which receives the second blank (24) in a second pick-up station (S9) and releases the second blank (24) to the second wrapping pocket (52) in the second feeding station (S6).

A packer machine (32) to produce a pack (1) of smoking articles;

• the pack (1) of smoking articles comprises:
• a group (23) of smoking articles;
• a rigid inner container (14), which is formed by folding a first blank (25), has a parallelepiped shape, encloses the group (23) of smoking articles on all six sides, and has a front wall (15), two side walls (16), a rear wall (17), an upper wall (18) and a lower wall (19);
• and an outer container (2), which is formed by folding a second blank (24), is provided with a hinged lid (4), and encloses the inner container (14);
• the packer machine (32) comprises:
• a first wrapping drum (44), which supports at least a first wrapping pocket (46), which is adapted to receive the first blank (25) and subsequently the group (23) of smoking articles;
• a first feeding station (S3), in which the first blank (25) is inserted into the first wrapping pocket (46);
• a first transfer station (S2), which is arranged downstream of the first feeding station (S3) and in which the group (23) of smoking articles is inserted into the first wrapping pocket (46) already containing the first blank (25);
• a second wrapping drum (50), which supports at least a second wrapping pocket (52), which is adapted to receive the second blank (24) and subsequently the inner container (14);
• a second feeding station (S6), in which the second blank (24) is inserted into the second wrapping pocket (52);
• a second transfer station (S5), which is arranged downstream of the second feeding station (S6) and in which the inner container (14) is inserted into the second wrapping pocket (52) already containing the second blank (24);
• a third wrapping drum (47), which supports at least a third wrapping pocket (49), which is adapted to directly receive the inner container (14) from the first wrapping pocket (46) in a third transfer station (S4), which is arranged between the first wrapping drum (44) and the third wrapping drum (47), and is adapted to directly release the inner container (14) to the second wrapping pocket (52) in the second transfer station (S5) which is arranged between the third wrapping drum (47) and the second wrapping drum (50);
• and
• a tab-sticking unit (62), which sticks a closing tab (21) on each first blank (25) at a pull-out opening (20), which is obtained through the front wall (15) of the inner container (14) and through the upper wall (18) of the inner container (14).