Method of and apparatus for manipulating coupons and the like in cigarette packing machines

摘要

Succesive lowermost coupons of a stack in a magazine are withdrawn by suction heads borne by a turnable suction wheel and a pivotable arm to be advanced along one or more arcuate first guides into a second guide which directs the coupons to predetermined positions beneath discrete U-shaped collars of the type forming part of so-called hinged lid packs for confinement of plain or filter cigarettes or other smokers' products. A coupon which has assumed such predetermined position is thereupon expelled from the second guide and is confined, together with the collar and the pack, in an outer envelope of cardboard or the like. An advantage of the method and apparatus is that the collar need not be lifted during advancement of a coupon to its predetermined position to thus reduce the likelihood of misalignment of the collar and the coupon relative to each other preparatory to and during their confinement in the outer envelope of the ultimate product.