Method for filling a package with packs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023034591-A1
Application number	US-202117791294-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 13, 2021
Priority date	Jan 15, 2020
Publication date	Feb 2, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for filling a package with a group of pairs of packs, comprising supplying a group of pairs of packs simultaneously from a transport device to a package, vertically spacing the two packs of each pair of packs of the group of pairs of packs from each other in the package, and horizontally spacing each pair of packs from each other in the package. The method further comprises maintaining a horizontal spacing between each pair of packs of the group of pairs of packs while supplying the group of pairs of packs to the package by guiding the pairs of packs of the group of pairs of packs along space bars provided in the transport device.

First claim

1 - 15 . (canceled)

16 . Method for filling a package with a group of pairs of packs, comprising:
supplying a group of pairs of packs simultaneously from a transport device to a package, vertically spacing the two packs of each pair of packs of the group of pairs of packs from each other in the package, horizontally spacing each pair of packs from each other in the package, maintaining a horizontal spacing between each pair of packs of the group of pairs of packs while supplying the group of pairs of packs to the package by guiding the pairs of packs of the group of pairs of packs along space bars provided in the transport device, supplying a blank of sheet material and manufacturing a pack spacer and pair spacers from the blank of sheet material, the pack spacer is provided in the package for the vertical spacing between packs of pairs of packs and the pair spacers are provided in the package for the horizontal spacing between pairs of packs, therein providing a strip former and pushing the strip former into the package at locations of pre-cut strips in the blank of sheet material, thereby forming the pair spacers, and supplying the group of pairs of packs simultaneously into the package before forming the pair spacers.

17 . Method according to claim 16 , comprising pushing the pre-cut strips of the blank of sheet material from opposite sides into the interior of the package.

18 . Method according to claim 16 , comprising forming several pair spacers simultaneously.

19 . Method according to claim 16 , wherein the strip former comprises two counter-rotating levers.

20 . Method according to claim 16 , wherein the strip former comprises a series of pusher heads arranged in parallel and distanced to each other.

21 . Method according to claim 16 , wherein the package forms an insert for a carton, and wherein the insert comprises all pair spacers and the pack spacer in the carton.

22 . Method according to claim 16 , wherein the pack spacer is manufactured by a horizontally arranged fold of the blank of sheet material, the horizontally arranged fold extending into a receiving direction of the group of pairs of packs.

23 . Method according to claim 16 , wherein the transport device is a horizontal transport device, and wherein a vertical spacing between the two packs of each pair of packs in the horizontal transport device and a horizontal spacing between each pair of packs in the horizontal transport device is kept constant while the group of pairs of packs is supplied to the package from the horizontal transport device.

24 . Method according to claim 23 , further comprising
arranging a first pair of packs on the horizontal transport device, transporting the first pair of packs in a horizontal direction; arranging a second pair of packs on the horizontal transport device; therein, for each of the first pair of packs and the second pair of packs spacing a first pack of the pair of packs and a second pack of the pair of packs vertically from each other and further spacing the first pair of packs and the second pair of packs horizontally from each other in the horizontal transport device.

25 . Method according to claim 24 further comprising:
providing a supply of individual packs;
arranging the first pack in a vertical transport device;
arranging the second pack in the vertical transport device, thereby arranging the second pack vertically spaced from the first pack in the vertical transport device;
vertically transporting the first pack and the second pack in the vertical transport device; then
simultaneously pushing the first pack and the second pack as a pair of packs out of the vertical transport device and into the horizontal transport device, wherein the first pack and the second pack are transferred in a vertically spaced manner as the pair of packs to the horizontal transport device.

26 . Use of the method according to claim 16 an application process of tax stamps.

Assignees

• Philip Morris Products Sa

Inventors

• Draghetti Fiorenzo
• Minoccari Stefano

Classifications

• B65G47/086

  cubiform articles · CPC title

• B65B35/30

  Arranging and feeding articles in groups · CPC title

• B65B19/228 Primary

  Preparing and feeding blanks · CPC title

• B65B61/26

  for marking or coding completed packages · CPC title

• B65B19/02 Primary

  Packaging cigarettes · CPC title