Molins Plc

Thomas J. Lipton Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.

Thomas J. Lipton Co.,

Lipton, Division of Conopco, Inc.

Thomas J. Lipson Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.

Andrew John Cleall

Geoffrey W Vernon

Thomas William Bailey

James Goodwin

Brian Hill

Robert Howard Taylor

Peter Ernest Willett

David Robert Seaward

Stephen William Bird

Philip Gordon Haddow

Alan Michael Aindow

John David Chandler

Graham Richard James

An apparatus for processing packaging blanks includes an applying device, a first conveyor, and a second conveyor. The first conveyor conveys the blanks at a first velocity arranged to permit the application of an adhesive to the blanks by means of the device. The second conveyor is arranged to receive the blanks from the first conveyor and convey them at a second velocity which is greater than the first velocity resulting in a change in the pitch of the stream of blanks conveyed by the conveyors. Alternatively the applying means may apply an adhering element such as a coupon or hologram such that it adheres to the blank. The adhering element may adhere to the blank by virtue of an adhesive carried on a rear surface of the element or by means of an adhesive carried by the blank.

Processing blanks in the manufacture of packaging

Article wrapping apparatus for wrapping or folding a wrapper blank around an article which may comprise or contain a group of rod-like articles such as cigarettes, includes a wrapper blank former which simultaneously folds sides and ends of a blank ( ) by plunging the former ( ) around an article holder ( ) and subsequently plunging the article from the holder into the former. The apparatus also includes a housing ( ) for supporting a partially-wrapped article which is pivoted relative to an abutment ( ) so that a flap is swept into a closed position; and pivoted holders ( ) which are used to transfer articles between axially-spaced process positions on a process drum ( ). Folding operations may be performed during transfer to or from a pivotable holder ( ), particularly in a radial direction of the drum ( ).

Article wrapping apparatus

A packing machine comprising a rotary assembly ( ) which is adapted to receive articles ( ) travelling along a path which is adjacent one region of the periphery of the assembly, and means ( ) for receiving foil ( ) or other wrapping material, at a different peripheral region, the foil then being oriented in a tangential plane; the assembly further comprising means for reorienting the foil into a plane which is perpendicular to said tangential plane ( ) at a subsequent rotary position, where it is suitably aligned with a cooperating article wrapping means ( ).

Packaging machine with rotary wrapping assembly

Holders ( ) for articles such as newly-formed packets or groups of cigarettes are used to constrain and protect the articles while being conveyed by handling apparatus ( ), e.g. in a packing machine ( ). Holders ( ) of similar external shape, adapted to interface with the handling apparatus, may be provided with differing internal features ( ), adapted for receiving different articles, so that the articles may be readily conveyed by the same apparatus. The apparatus may be employed at the exit end of a cigarette packing machine to maintain the shape of newly-formed packets in a packet stabilising region. This region may comprise a reservoir including a series of compartmented drums ( ) in which each compartment receives a line of abutting holders which is indexed in an axial direction during rotation of the drums.

Article handling apparatus

Blank feeding apparatus, particularly in a hinged-lid cigarette packing machine, includes rotary blank pick-up means (,), and support means (,), rotatable with the pick-up means, for engaging and supporting the base of a blank stack in a magazine (,) between each pick-up operation. The pick-up means (,) may each comprise a pivotable arm (,), movable as it rotates by means of a pivoted follower member (,) engaging a fixed cam track (,). The blanks may be retained in the stack in the magazine (,) by pivotally-mounted support fingers (,) which are successively retracted to release a blank as the pick-up means (,) passes.

Blank handling apparatus

Web cutting apparatus

A tagged packet carries a tag which is attached to the main body of the packet by a thread. The thread comprises polypropylene so as to be attachable by heat sealing to the body. The body is made up of layers of sheet material also comprising thermoplastic material to allow the body to be closed by heat seals. The thread is secured to the face of the body at one edge at the same time as that edge is heat sealed and the heating for the thread seal is applied from the opposite face of the body whereas the adjacent regions of edge seal spaced from the thread has the heating applied through the first face. This arrangement gives closer control of the different conditions required for securing the thread and for sealing together only the sheet material of the body.

Apparatus for heat sealing of a thread to a web

A tagged packet carries a tag which is attached to the main body of the packet by a thread. The thread comprises polypropylene so as to be attachable by heat sealing to the body. The body is made up of layers of sheet material also comprising thermoplastic material to allow the body to be closed by heat seals. The thread is secured to the f ace of the body at one edge at the same time as that edge is heat sealed and the heating for the thread seal is applied from the opposite face of the body whereas the adjacent regions of edge seal spaced from the thread has the heating applied through the first face. This arrangement gives closer control of the different conditions required for securing the thread and for sealing together only the sheet material of the body.

Heat sealing of thread to a web

Shaped articles are cut from a web by correspondingly shaped cutters on a drum cooperating with an anvil drum. The web is engaged by conveyor bands which pass around the cutter and anvil drums and form a continuing conveying path for the web away from the drums. The conveyor bands are clear of the article shapes cut in the web which can thus be positively separated from the web by pusher means to be drawn away from the web by their own conveying means.

Producing shaped articles

A method and apparatus are described for tag and thread assembly for tagged infusion packets. Spaced tags from a strip of tags and a length of thread are laid over each other on the periphery of a first assembly wheel and the thread is drawn out in loops between successive tags. The spaced tags and looped thread are transferred to a second assembly wheel where they are connected to a web of sheet material that is to form the infusion packets. The web is subsequently formed into a series of compartments in which infusion material is contained. The compartments are severed from the web for forming the individual packets and the thread is simultaneously severed between the packets.

Method for the production of tagged articles

Apparatus for the production of tagged articles

Tags and thread are assembled together for the manufacture of tagged articles such as infusion packets in which each tag is attached to the packet by a length of thread. The thread is held in a looped form between the tag and the packet before use. For the assembly of the tags and thread and to increase the length of thread attaching each tag, means are provided for forming a doubled-over loop that can be trapped between the tag and the packet.

Growing community of inventors

Coventry, United Kingdom

Andrew John Cleall