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EP-4387475-B1 - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FEEDING AND FORMING ORGANIZED GROUPS OF SMOKING ARTICLES

EP4387475B1EP 4387475 B1EP4387475 B1EP 4387475B1EP-4387475-B1

Inventors

  • DRAGHETTI, FIORENZO

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220810

Claims (11)

  1. Apparatus (10) for feeding and forming organized groups of smoking articles (20) comprising a containing compartment (11) configured to contain a plurality of said smoking articles (20), one or more conveying channels (30) disposed below said containing compartment (11) and communicating therewith, and a conveying device (40) comprising a support structure (41) on which there are mounted two or more conveying members (42) with an elongated shape, parallel to each other and configured to facilitate the descent of said smoking articles (20) from said containing compartment (11) toward said conveying channels (30), wherein said conveying members (42) each comprise both a first element (60) rotatably mounted on said support structure (41) so that it can rotate around its own longitudinal axis (X), and also a second element (62) coupled to said first element (60) so that it can rotate together with the latter, characterized in that said first element (60) comprises a first coupling end (64) and said second element (62) comprises a second coupling end (63), said first and second coupling ends (64, 63) being configured to produce a stable, mechanical type coupling between them, without the aid of auxiliary attachment means, and to produce a magnetic coupling between them.
  2. Apparatus (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said mechanical coupling is produced in such a way that it constrains the integral rotation of the first and of the second element (60, 62) around the longitudinal axis (X).
  3. Apparatus (10) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said mechanical coupling is of the morse cone type.
  4. Apparatus (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said first coupling end (64) comprises a magnetic member (69) and said second coupling end (63) is made of magnetic or ferromagnetic material.
  5. Apparatus (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said first coupling end (64) comprises a seating (61) and said second coupling end (63) comprises an appendix configured to be inserted into said seating (61).
  6. Apparatus (10) as in claim 5, characterized in that said first coupling end (64) comprises an inlet mouth (70) for entry into the seating (61), with a cross-section different from that of said seating (61) and configured to produce a same-shape coupling with said second element (62).
  7. Apparatus (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that both said first element (60) and also said first coupling end (64) substantially have a cylindrical shape, and in that said first coupling end (64) has an external diameter greater than the remaining part of said first element (60), and in that between said first coupling end (64) and the remaining part of said first element (60) there is an abutment surface (67) which is transverse with respect to said longitudinal axis (X).
  8. Apparatus (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said containing compartment (11) comprises a rear wall (13) in which there is a plurality of through holes (19), each one coaxial to a corresponding longitudinal axis (X) of a first element (60), and in that the coupling end (64) of each first element (60) of a conveying member (42) is rotatably inserted in a respective one of said through holes (19), while each corresponding second element (62) protrudes within said containing compartment (11).
  9. Method for feeding and forming organized groups of smoking articles (20), comprising a first step in which an apparatus (10) is made available, which has a containing compartment (11) configured to contain a plurality of said smoking articles (20), one or more conveying channels (30) disposed below said containing compartment (11) and communicating therewith, and a conveying device (40) comprising a support structure (41) on which there are mounted two or more conveying members (42) with an elongated shape, parallel to each other and configured to facilitate the descent of said smoking articles (20) from said containing compartment (11) toward said conveying channels (30), and a second step in which it is provided to manufacture said conveying members (42) so that each of them comprises both a first element (60) rotatably mounted on said support structure (41) so that it can rotate around its own longitudinal axis (X), and also a second element (62) coupled to said first element (60) so that it can rotate together with the latter, said method being characterized in that it provides to produce a stable, mechanical type coupling, without the aid of auxiliary attachment means, between a first coupling end (64) of said first element (60) and a second coupling end (63) of said second element (62), wherein said first and second coupling ends (64, 63) are configured to produce a magnetic coupling between them.
  10. Method as in claim 9, characterized in that it also comprises a third step in which said second element (62) is extracted from said first element (60) while the latter remains rotatably mounted on said support structure (41).
  11. Use of a conveying member (42) in an apparatus (10) for feeding and forming organized groups of smoking articles (20) as in any claim from 1 to 8, characterized in that said conveying member (42) comprises both a first element (60) configured to be rotatably mounted on a support structure (41) of said apparatus (10) so as to rotate around its own longitudinal axis (X), and also a second element coupled to said first element in order to rotate together with the latter around the longitudinal axis, and configured to interact with the smoking articles (20), so as to facilitate their flow toward at least one containing compartment (11) of said apparatus (10).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns an apparatus and a method for feeding and forming organized groups of smoking articles, such as for example cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or suchlike, for making packets of smoking articles. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Feeding apparatuses are known, for feeding smoking articles and for forming organized groups with them, to be transferred to one or more packing machines. Known feeding apparatuses comprise a compartment to contain the articles, usually configured as a hopper, which defines an upper chamber into which the smoking articles can be inserted and then subdivided into organized groups, to then be packaged. The hopper is provided with at least one lower aperture, in communication with a plurality of channels for conveying the articles. Between the lower aperture of the hopper and the plurality of conveying channels a conveying device is disposed, comprising a support structure on which a plurality of conveying members with an elongated shape are mounted, parallel to each other and positioned in correspondence with the upper aperture of the conveying channels. The conveying members are configured as a plurality of rods which are oriented parallel to the smoking articles which are present in the upper chamber. The rods are able to rotate alternately in opposite directions, each around its own longitudinal axis, in order to facilitate the conveying of the smoking articles toward the conveying channels below. More specifically, the conveying rods are mounted two by two in proximity to the entrances of the respective channels, on both sides of the upper aperture thereof, so as to convey the smoking articles one by one toward the channels below. For this purpose, the conveying members have a sector intended to interfere with the smoking articles, with an elongated shape, typically with a hexagonal cross-section, which is made in a single piece with a cylindrical sector, inserted in the support structure of the conveying device, so as to rotate alternately in both directions around its longitudinal axis. Some solutions known in the state of the art provide that, depending on the size of the smoking articles to be packaged, and the number of them in each packet to be made, it is possible to disassemble the rods in order to replace them with other rods of suitable size, or to remove them if the respective channel is not to be used. Another solution known in the state of the art is described by the German document DE69205797T2 which describes a solution in which each rod comprises at least one tapered end portion. During the rotation of the rod, the tapered end portion facilitates the advance of smoking articles that have accidentally been disposed crosswise, thus obstructing the descent of the other smoking articles toward the channel below. One disadvantage of known apparatuses is that the operations to disassemble the rods are complicated, since it is necessary to access inside the apparatus in order to reach the rear ends and thus disassemble the rods from the support structure on which they are mounted. The solution described by DE69205797T2 is also affected by this disadvantage since the rods are all fixed, in correspondence with their rear end, to the drive device which makes them rotate. This is a long and laborious operation, which entails a machine downtime of several hours, with a consequent decrease in productivity and an increase in fixed maintenance costs and re-setting of the apparatus. Another disadvantage of known apparatuses is that the disassembly of the rods requires the intervention of a specialized technician, as well as the use of suitable tools. This can be particularly problematic if the specialized technician is not available, which can lead to a prolongation of machine downtimes. There is therefore a need to perfect an apparatus for feeding and forming organized groups of smoking articles that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art. In order to do this, it is necessary to solve the technical problem of simplifying the disassembly and replacement of the conveying members. In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and to perfect a method for feeding and forming organized groups of smoking articles in which the conveying members of the articles can be disassembled simply, reliably and quickly. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and to perfect a method for feeding and forming organized groups of smoking articles in which the disassembly of the conveying members can be performed by even non-specialized personnel, without requiring special equipment or specific training. The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is set forth and characterized in the indepe