Packer machine and wrapping method to manufacture a packet of tobacco articles containing two distinct groups of tobacco articles

A wrapping method to manufacture a packet (1) of tobacco articles containing two distinct groups (4) of tobacco articles;

• the wrapping method comprises the steps of:
• moving a first coupling pocket (17) of a coupling wheel (11) which rotates with a continuous motion around a rotation axis (12) into a first feeding station (S1);
• feeding, in the first feeding station (S1), a first group (4) of tobacco articles to the first coupling pocket (17);
• moving the first coupling pocket (17) out from the first feeding station (S1);
• moving a second coupling pocket (17), which is independent of and separate from the first coupling pocket (17), of the coupling wheel (11) into the first feeding station (S1);
• subsequently feeding, in the feeding station (S1), a second group (4) of tobacco articles to the second coupling pocket (17);
• moving the second coupling pocket (17) out from the first feeding station (S1);
• bringing, downstream of the feeding station (S1), the two first and second coupling pockets (17) closer to each other, until the two first and second coupling pockets (17) are side by side;
• and
• extracting, in a releasing station (S3), the two groups (4) of tobacco articles together from both the first and second coupling pockets (17) arranged side by side, so that the two groups (4) of tobacco articles are side by side when they come out together of the first and second coupling pockets (17).

A packer machine (6) to manufacture a packet (1) of tobacco articles containing two distinct groups (4) of tobacco articles;

• the packer machine (6) comprises:
• a coupling wheel (11) which rotates with a continuous motion around a first rotation axis (12) and supports a pair of coupling pockets (17), each designed to contain a group (4) of tobacco articles;
• a feeding station (S1) in which a first group (4) of tobacco articles is fed to a first coupling pocket (17) and, subsequently, a second group (4) of tobacco articles is fed to a second coupling pocket (17);
• an actuating device which brings, downstream of the first feeding station (S1), the two first and second coupling pockets (17) closer to each other, until the two first and second coupling pockets (17) are side by side;
• and
• a releasing station (S3), in which the two groups (4) of tobacco articles are extracted together from both the first and second coupling pockets (17) arranged side by side, so that the two groups (4) of tobacco articles are side by side when they come together out of the first and second coupling pockets (17),
• wherein the coupling wheel (11) comprises a support body (13), which supports the two coupling pockets (17) and is hinged to the coupling wheel (11) so as to rotate relative to the coupling wheel (11) around a second rotation axis (14) which is parallel to the first rotation axis (12).

A packer machine (6) to manufacture a packet (1) of tobacco articles containing two distinct groups (4) of tobacco articles;

• the packer machine (6) comprises:
• a coupling wheel (11) which rotates with a continuous motion around a first rotation axis (12) and supports a pair of coupling pockets (17), each designed to contain a group (4) of tobacco articles;
• a feeding station (S1) in which a first group (4) of tobacco articles is fed to a first coupling pocket (17) and, subsequently, a second group (4) of tobacco articles is fed to a second coupling pocket (17);
• an actuating device which brings, downstream of the first feeding station (S1), the two first and second coupling pockets (17) closer to each other, until the two first and second coupling pockets (17) are side by side;
• and
• a releasing station (S3), in which the two groups (4) of tobacco articles are extracted together from both the first and second coupling pockets (17) arranged side by side, so that the two groups (4) of tobacco articles are side by side when they come together out of the first and second coupling pockets (17);
• wherein each coupling pocket (17) comprises two lateral walls (27), which are hinged so as to rotate around corresponding second rotation axes (28) parallel to the first rotation axis (12) and to move between an open position, in which the two lateral walls (27) diverge from one another, and a closed position, in which the two lateral walls (27) are parallel to each other.

A packer machine (6) to manufacture a packet (1) of tobacco articles containing two distinct groups (4) of tobacco articles;

• the packer machine (6) comprises:
• a coupling wheel (11) which rotates with a continuous motion around a first rotation axis (12) and supports a pair of coupling pockets (17), each designed to contain a group (4) of tobacco articles;
• a feeding station (S1) in which a first group (4) of tobacco articles is fed to a first coupling pocket (17) and, subsequently, a second group (4) of tobacco articles is fed to a second coupling pocket (17);
• an actuating device which brings, downstream of the first feeding station (S1), the two first and second coupling pockets (17) closer to each other, until the two first and second coupling pockets (17) are side by side;
• a releasing station (S3), in which the two groups (4) of tobacco articles are extracted together from both the first and second coupling pockets (17) arranged side by side, so that the two groups (4) of tobacco articles are side by side when they come together out of the first and second coupling pockets (17);
• and
• a feeding wheel (18), which is arranged next to the coupling wheel (11) in correspondence to the feeding station (S1), rotates with a continuous motion around a second rotation axis (19) parallel to the first rotation axis (12), and supports two feeding pockets (20) suited to house the corresponding groups (4) of tobacco articles and hinged to the first feeding wheel (18) so as to rotate, with respect to the first feeding wheel (18), around corresponding third rotation axes (21) parallel to the second rotation axis (19).

A packer machine (6) to manufacture a packet (1) of tobacco articles containing two distinct groups (4) of tobacco articles;

• the packer machine (6) comprises:
• a coupling wheel (11) which rotates with a continuous motion around a rotation axis (12) and supports a pair of coupling pockets (17), each designed to contain a group (4) of tobacco articles;
• a feeding station (S1) in which a first group (4) of tobacco articles is fed to a first coupling pocket (17) and, subsequently, a second group (4) of tobacco articles is fed to a second coupling pocket (17);
• an actuating device which brings, downstream of the first feeding station (S1), the two first and second coupling pockets (17) closer to each other, until the two first and second coupling pockets (17) are side by side;
• a releasing station (S3), in which the two groups (4) of tobacco articles are extracted together from both the first and second coupling pockets (17) arranged side by side, so that the two groups (4) of tobacco articles are side by side when they come together out of the first and second coupling pockets (17);
• and
• a second feeding station (S2), which is arranged upstream of the first feeding station (S1) relative to the direction of rotation of the coupling wheel (11), and in which a first insert (5) is fed to the first coupling pocket (17) and, subsequently, a second insert (5) is fed to the second coupling pocket (17).

A packer machine (6) to manufacture a packet (1) of tobacco articles containing two distinct groups (4) of tobacco articles;

• the packer machine (6) comprises:
• a coupling wheel (11) which rotates with a continuous motion around a rotation axis (12) and supports a pair of coupling pockets (17), each designed to contain a group (4) of tobacco articles;
• a feeding station (S1) in which a first group (4) of tobacco articles is fed to a first coupling pocket (17) and, subsequently, a second group (4) of tobacco articles is fed to a second coupling pocket (17);
• an actuating device which brings, downstream of the first feeding station (S1), the two first and second coupling pockets (17) closer to each other, until the two first and second coupling pockets (17) are side by side;
• a releasing station (S3), in which the two groups (4) of tobacco articles are extracted together from both the first and second coupling pockets (17) arranged side by side, so that the two groups (4) of tobacco articles are side by side when they come together out of the first and second coupling pockets (17);
• and
• a wrapping unit (10), which is arranged next to the coupling wheel (11), receives the two groups (4) of tobacco articles arranged side by side in the releasing station (S3), and wraps a blank around the two groups (4) of tobacco articles so as to form an outer container (2) of the packet (1) of tobacco articles.