Packing method and machine for producing packets of cigarettes

A packing method for selectively producing, on a single packing machine, packets (19;

• 56) of cigarettes of different types, the method comprising the steps of:
• selecting a type of packet of cigarettes to be produced from a first type or a second type different from the first type:
• feeding, by means of a forming conveyor (2), a number of forming pockets (3), for forming groups (6) of cigarettes relative to the selected type of packet (19;
• 56), along a forming path (PF) extending in front of a cigarette hopper (5);
• expelling the cigarettes from the hopper (5) to form the groups (6) of cigarettes relative to the selected type of packet (19;
• 56) inside the forming pockets (3) of the forming conveyor (2);
• transferring the groups (6) of cigarettes from the forming path (PF) to a first packing path (P1);
• feeding the groups (6) of cigarettes, by means of a first packing conveyor (8), along the first packing path (P1), along which an inner sheet (10) of packing material is folded about each group (6) of cigarettes;
• transferring the groups (6) of cigarettes from the first packing path (P1) to a second packing path (P2);
• and
• feeding the groups (6) of cigarettes, by means of a second packing conveyor (40;
• 70), along the second packing path (P2), along which at least a collar (12;
• 12′) is folded about each group (6) of cigarettes and on top of the inner sheet (10) of packing material;
• the method further comprising, depending on the type of packet (19;
• 56) selected, the further steps of:
• when the first type of packet (19) of cigarettes is selected, forming the first type of packet of cigarettes including the steps of:
• transferring the groups (6) of cigarettes from the second packing path (P2) to a third packing path (P3) of the packing machine (1);
• and feeding the groups (6) of cigarettes, by means of a third packing conveyor (14), along the third packing path (P3), along which folding of a first outer blank (15) about each group (6) of cigarettes is completed to form a packet (19) of cigarettes of the first type;
• or
• when the second type of packet (56) of cigarettes is selected, forming the second type of packet of cigarettes including the steps of:
• transferring the groups (6) of cigarettes from the second packing path (P2) to a fourth packing path (P4) of said packing machine (1), the fourth packing path (P4) being different from the third packing path (P3) of said packing machine (1);
• and feeding the groups (6) of cigarettes, by means of a fourth packing conveyor (18), along the fourth packing path (P4), along which folding of a second outer blank (16) about each group (6) of cigarettes is completed to form a packet (56) of cigarettes of the second type;
• wherein the first outer blank (15) has first main panels that are aligned along a first axis parallel to axes of the cigarettes, and the second outer blank (16) has second main panels that are aligned along a second axis transverse to the axes of the cigarettes;
• wherein the forming of the first type of packet (19) of cigarettes further includes the steps of:
• folding a first collar (12) about each group (6) of cigarettes along the second packing path (P2);
• and folding a first outer blank (15) about each group (6) of cigarettes and on top of the first collar (12) along the third packing path (P3);
• wherein the second packing conveyor (40) comprises a first packing wheel (40) for folding the first collar (12) about each group (6) of cigarettes;
• and the third packing conveyor (14) comprises a second packing wheel (14) for folding the first outer blank (15) about each group (6) of cigarettes;
• and
• wherein the forming of the second type of packet (56) of cigarettes further includes the steps of:
• feeding a second collar (12′) and a second outer blank (16) onto a relative tubular spindle (73), which is movable alone the second packing path (P2), so that the second outer blank (16) is superimposed on the second collar (12′):
• feeding the relative group (6) of cigarettes into the relative tubular spindle (73);
• folding the second collar (12′) and the second outer blank (16) together about the tubular spindle (73) to form, on the tubular spindle (73), a cup-shaped package (79), an end wall (78) of which closes an outlet (77) of the tubular spindle (73).