Cigarette packing machine for producing a rigid, hinged-lid packet

A method of producing a rigid, hinged-lid packet, the method comprising:

• folding a first blank (23) about a group (46) of cigarettes to form an container (2) with a hinged lid (5);
• and
• folding a second blank (31) about the container (2) to form an outer tubular slide (14) surrounding the container (2) to slide axially with respect to the container (2);
• the outer tubular slide (14) having a transmission member (19), in turn having a first end (21) integral with the lid (5), a second end (20) opposite the first end (21) and integral with the slide (14), and a deformable intermediate portion (22) having a U-shaped fold between the container (2) and the slide (14),
• wherein the second blank (31) has two transverse fold lines (32), and a number of longitudinal fold lines (33) defining, between the two transverse fold lines (32), a first panel (17′) forming a portion of a first lateral wall (17) of the slide (14);
• a second panel (16′) forming a rear wall (16) of the slide (14);
• a third panel (17″) forming a second lateral wall (17) of the slide (14);
• a fourth panel (15′) forming a front wall (15) of the slide (14);
• and a fifth panel (17″′) forming another portion of the first lateral wall (17) of the slide (14),
• wherein the second panel (16′) of the second blank (31) supports the transmission member (19), which is separated from the second panel (16′) by a transverse fold line (32), and
• wherein the fourth panel (15′) has at least two second tabs (35, 36) located at opposite ends of the fourth panel (15′) and separated from the fourth panel (15′) by the two transverse fold lines (32);
• and
• wherein the tabs (34, 35, 36) of the second blank (31) are folded 180° onto respective panels (15′, 16′) of the second blank (31) before folding the second blank (31) about the container (2).

A cigarette packing machine for producing a rigid packet (1) with a hinged lid (5);

• the packing machine (44) comprising:
• a first packing unit (45) which folds a first blank (23) about a group (46) of cigarettes to form an container (2) with a hinged lid (5);
• a second packing unit (48) which folds a second blank (31) about the container (2) to form an outer tubular slide (14) surrounding the container (2) to slide axially with respect to the container (2), the outer tubular slide (14) having a transmission member (19), in turn having a first end (21) integral with the lid (5), a second end (20) opposite the first end (21) and integral with the slide (14), and a deformable intermediate portion (22) having a U-shaped fold between the container (2) and the slide (14);
• at least one first pocket (88);
• a first feed unit (89) which feeds the second blank (31) to the first pocket (88);
• a first transfer station (85) which transfers the container (2) to the first pocket (88);
• a folding device (94) which folds the second blank (31) about the container (2);
• and
• a second transfer station (92) which transfers the container (2), together with the second blank (31), from the first pocket (88),
• wherein the second blank (31) supports the transmission member (19) and the feed unit (89) folds into a U and folds 180° the transmission member (19) onto a respective panel (16′) of the second blank (31), and
• wherein the second blank (31) comprises tabs (34, 35, 36, 39) and the feed unit (89) folds 180° the tabs (34, 35, 36, 39) onto respective panels (15′, 16′, 17′) of the second blank (31).

A cigarette packing machine for producing a rigid packet (1) with a hinged lid (5);

• the packing machine (44) comprising:
• a first packing unit (45) which folds a first blank (23) about a group (46) of cigarettes to form an container (2);
• and
• a second packing unit (48) which folds a second blank (31) about the container (2) to form an outer tubular slide (14) surrounding the container (2) to slide axially with respect to the container (2);
• wherein the second packing unit (48) comprises:
• a first packing wheel (86) having at least one first pocket (88);
• a first feed unit (89) which feeds the second blank (31) to the first pocket (88) of the first packing wheel (86);
• a first transfer station (85) which transfers the container (2) to the first pocket (88) of the first packing wheel (86);
• a folding device (94) which folds the second blank (31) about the container (2);
• and
• a second transfer station (92) which transfers the container (2), together with the second blank (31), from the first pocket (88) of the first packing wheel (86);
• and
• wherein the first feed unit (89) receives the second blank (31) flat and gums and folds the second blank (31) before feeding the second blank (31) to the first pocket (88) of the first packing wheel (86).

A cigarette packing machine for producing a rigid packet (1) with a hinged lid (5);

• the packing machine (44) comprising:
• a first packing unit (45) which folds a first blank (23) about a group (46) of cigarettes to form an container (2) with a hinged lid (5);
• and
• a second packing unit (48) which folds a second blank (31) about the container (2) to form an outer tubular slide (14) surrounding the container (2) to slide axially with respect to the container (2);
• wherein the outer tubular slide (14) has a transmission member (19), in turn having a first end (21) integral with the lid (5), a second end (20) opposite the first end (21) and integral with the slide (14), and a deformable intermediate portion (22) having a U-shaped fold between the container (2) and the slide (14);
• wherein the second packing unit (48) comprises:
• a first packing wheel (86);
• at least one first pocket (88) provided in the first packing wheel (86);
• a first feed unit (89) which feeds the second blank (31) to the first pocket (88) of the first packing wheel (86);
• a first transfer station (85) which transfers the container (2) to the first pocket (88);
• a folding device (94) which folds the second blank (31) about the container (2);
• and
• a second transfer station (92) which transfers the container (2), together with the second blank (31), from the first pocket (88);
• and
• wherein the second blank (31) is gummed and folded into a substantially parallelepiped shape before being inserted into the first pocket (88) of the first packing wheel (86).