Method of and apparatus for superimposing discrete rows of packets of

Abstract

First and second conveyors transport discrete rows of cigarette packets to one or more elevators which lift successive packets of the two rows into an assembling plane wherein the packets are caused to form a succession of arrays each containing a first group of packets from one of the conveyors and a second group of packets from the other conveyor. The first groups of successive arrays are lifted to a first additional plane above, and the second groups of successive arrays are lowered into a second additional plane below the assembling plane. The thus lifted and lowered first and second groups of successive arrays are shifted in their respective additional planes onto a third conveyor between the first and second conveyors so that the first groups overlap but are spaced apart from the respective second groups, and the third conveyor transports the first and second groups of successive arrays in such a way that the first groups descend onto the respective second groups. The thus modified arrays are ready for introduction into cartons. A fresh array is formed in the assembling plane while the groups of the preceding array are being manipulated in the respective additional planes.