WRAPPING METHOD AND UNIT FOR FOLDING A SHEET OF WRAPPING MATERIAL ABOUT A GROUP OF CIGARETTES

摘要

A method and unit (11) for folding a sheet (5) of wrapping material about a group (2) of cigarettes, the method including the steps of: feeding the group (2) of cigarettes and the sheet (5) of wrapping material into a pocket (14) of a wrapping conveyor (12), so the sheet (5) of wrapping material folds into a U inside the pocket (14) and has an outer portion (8) projecting from the pocket (14), and an inner portion (9) resting on a lateral wall (&bgr;a) of the group (2) of cigarettes; folding the inner portion (9) 90° with respect to the lateral wall (6a) of the group (2) of cigarettes, so the inner portion (9) is perpendicular to the lateral wall (6a); folding the outer portion (8) into an L inside the pocket (14), onto the lateral wall (6a) of the group (2) of cigarettes and onto the inner portion (9) perpendicular to the lateral wall (6a), so as to superimpose the outer portion (8) and the inner portion (9) and impart a tubular shape to the sheet (5) of wrapping material; and heat sealing the outer portion (8) and inner portion (9) to each other.