Method and device for feeding groups of cigarettes to a continuous wrapping line of a packing machine

A method of feeding a group of cigarettes to a wrapping line operated continuously of a cigarette packing machine, the method comprising a transfer step to transfer the group (2) from a pocket (14) integral with a conveyor (5) to a first seat (60) carried by an input wheel (7) of the wrapping line (4) and movable with respect to the input wheel (7), said transfer step comprising:

• continuously feeding said group (2) along a given endless path (P) by means of the pocket (14) carried by the conveyor (5);
• continuously feeding a second seat (28) carried by an intermediate wheel (6) along a portion of said path (P) in time with said pocket (14), the second seat (28) being movable with respect to the intermediate wheel (6);
• axially transferring the group (2) from the pocket (14) to the second seat (28);
• feeding the first seat (60) through an input station (73) of said wrapping line (4) by continuously rotating the input wheel (7) about a respective first axis (54a);
• feeding the second seat (28) through the input station (73) in time with the first seat (60) by rotating the intermediate wheel (6) about a respective second axis (11) parallel to the first axis (54a);
• orienting at least one of the first and second seats (60, 28) with respect to the respective wheel (7, 6), so that one of the first and second seats (60, 28) penetrates the other for a given time at the input station (73);
• transferring the group (2) from the second seat (28) to the first seat (60) when one of the first and second seats (60, 28) penetrates the other at the input station (73);
• and
• supplying a collar (74) to the first seat (60) upstream from the input station (73), in order to apply the collar (74) to the group (2) when the group is transferred from the second seat (28) to the first seat (60).

A method of feeding a group of cigarettes to a wrapping line operated continuously of a cigarette packing machine, the method comprising a transfer step to transfer the group (2) from a pocket (14) integral with a conveyor (5) to a first seat (60) carried by an input wheel (7) of the wrapping line (4) and movable with respect to the input wheel (7), said transfer step comprising:

• continuously feeding said group (2) along a given endless path (P) by means of the pocket (14) carried by the conveyor (5);
• continuously feeding a second seat (28) carried by an intermediate wheel (6) along a portion of said path (P) in time with said pocket (14), the second seat (28) being movable with respect to the intermediate wheel (6);
• axially transferring the group (2) from the pocket (14) to the second seat (28);
• feeding the first seat (60) through an input station (73) of said wrapping line (4) by continuously rotating the input wheel (7) about a respective first axis (54a);
• feeding the second seat (28) through the input station (73) in time with the first seat (60) by rotating the intermediate wheel (6) about a respective second axis (11) parallel to the first axis (54a);
• orienting at least one of the first and second seats (60, 28) with respect to the respective wheel (7, 6), so that one of the first and second seats (60, 28) penetrates the other for a given time at the input station (73);
• transferring the group (2) from the second seat (28) to the first seat (60) when one of the first and second seats (60, 28) penetrates the other at the input station (73);
• and
• applying an inner sheet of wrapping material (44) to the group (2) upstream from the input station (73), said inner sheet of wrapping material (44) being applied to the second seat (28) upstream from the input station (73).