Method and apparatus for bringing articles together in a packaging machine

A method for introducing packages (12) into a circular track of revolution of continuously revolving pockets (21) of a conveyor turret (19) characterized by:

• initially feeding the packages at a speed lower than that of the conveyor turret, accelerating the packages along a track leading to the turret until they reach the speed of the turret, and individually transferring the packages to the turret pockets while the package and pocket speeds are momentarily identical.

An apparatus for inserting slides (12) into sleeves (11) in a packaging machine, particularly for forming cigarette packs, comprising:

• two coaxially mounted equal diameter turrets (19, 20) revolving continuously and at the same speed, a plurality of radially disposed and circumferentially spaced slide receiving pockets (21) on one of said turrets, and a plurality of radially disposed and circumferentially spaced sleeve receiving holders (22) on the other one of said turrets, and a plurality of axially oriented conveying rams (23) for individually axially shifting each slide towards an associated and adjacent sleeve to effect its insertion therein during the rotation of said turrets.

An apparatus for feeding individually and discontinuously conveyed slides (12) to pockets (21) of a continuously revolving conveyor turret (19), comprising:

• a rotary transfer apparatus (13) axially parallel to the turret and including an arcuate conveyor track (80) tangentially leading to the outer periphery of the turret, means for accelerating the slides along the track up to the speed of revolution of the turret, and means for individually transferring each slide to a turret pocket while the speeds of the slides and pockets are momentarily identical.