US3579952A

US3579952A - Packing machines

Info

Publication number: US3579952A
Application number: US590153A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert William Davies; Charles Thomas Hall; Dennis Hinchcliffe; Alan Keith Mccombie; Derek Henry Youngman
Original assignee: Molins Machine Co Ltd
Current assignee: Molins Machine Co Ltd
Priority date: 1965-11-01
Filing date: 1966-10-24
Publication date: 1971-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 1988-05-25
Also published as: DE1786594B2; JPS4833400B1; DE1511713C3; DE1786594A1; DE1511713A1; DE1511713B2; DE1786597A1; DE1786594C3; GB1171762A

Abstract

A rotary cigarette packing machine having three layers, namely: a top layer in the form of a hopper which receives a continuous stream of cigarettes and divides them up into bundles; a bottom layer which forms open-ended packets from webs of packet material; and a middle layer which pushes the bundles into the packets, closes them and delivers them in one continuous stream. The machine rotates continuously about a vertical axis past a continuous supply of cigarettes and a continuous supply of each of the packet materials and comprises a number of sets of mechanisms, considered vertically, each of which will perform the complete packing operation so that that operation is being performed a number of times simultaneously.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Robert William Davies;

Charles Thomas Hall; Dennis Hinchcliiie; Alan Keith McCombie, London, England; Derek Henry Youngman, Maitland, Republic of South Africa 1211 Appl. No. 590,153 [22] Filed Oct. 24, 1966v 1451 Patented May 25,1971 [73] Assignee Molins Machines Company Limited London, England [32] Priority Nov. 1, 1965 [33] Great Britain [31] 46143/65 [54] PACKING MACHINES 63 Claims, 50 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 53/37, 53/124, 53/151, 53/170, 53/183, 53/252, 93/441, 198/167, 221/175 [5 1] Int. Cl B65b 19/04, B65b 19/12, 1365b 43/10 [50] Field ofSearch 53/124 (DE), 148--15l, 183, 191, 192, 236, 252, 169, 37, 170

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 688,284 10/1901 Bilgram et a1 53/192X Primary ExaminerTheron E. Condon Assistant Examiner-Neil Abrams AttorneyCraig, Antonelli, Stewart and Hill ABSTRACT: A rotary cigarette packing machine having three layers, namely: a top layer in the form of a hopper which receives a continuous stream of cigarettes and divides them up into bundles; a bottom layer which forms open-ended packets from webs of packet material; and a middle layer which pushes the bundles into the packets, closes them and delivers them in one continuous stream. The machine rotates continuously about a vertical axis past a continuous supply of cigarettes and a continuous supply of each of the packet materials and comprises a number of sets of mechanisms, considered vertically, each of which will perform the complete packing operation so that that operation is being performed a number of times simultaneously.

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Claims

1. Carrier apparatus comprising a hollow column, first- and second-carrier members disposed externally thereof for movement along the column towards and away from each other, power means for effecting such movement, an operating member disposed in the column and connected with said power means, first and second releasable connecting means operated by said operating member for the first and second carrier members respectively to connect them with the operating member for the transmission of power from the power means to effect said movement, and control means for the operating member, wherein operation of said control means to actuate one of said connecting means releases the other of said connecting means.

2. A packing machine for continuously packing batches of compressible rodlike articles, comprising a plurality of batch-forming mechanism arranged to move in a continuous sequence past a supply station for the articles and to form the articles into predetermined batches, a plurality of continuously moving supports for carrying containers in alignment with said batch-forming mechanisms over a predetermined path, and means for progressively pushing the batches into the containers while the batch-forming mechanisms and supports move along said predetermined path, and including a compression box operable to compress each batch of articles laterally prior to insertion into a container, a mouthpiece to guide each batch into the respective container, and means for receiving filled containers, each batch and the corresponding container being aligned longitudinally in relation to the articles and being similarly aligned with means for receiving filled containers, each said pushing means being arranged to push the respective batch of articles into the respective container and then to push further so as to push the container and articles onto the filled container receiving means.

3. A packing machine for continuously packing batches of goods in containers, comprising a plurality of continuously circulating batch-forming mechanisms arranged to move in a continuous sequence past a supply station for goods and to form the goods into predetermined batches, a plurality of packet-making mechanisms to make containers in the form of packets from sheet packet material supplied at packet material supply stations past which said packet-making mechanisms are arranged to circulate continuously whereby each packet-making mechanism in turn receives packet material, and a plurality of filling mechanisms to insert into the said packets batches of goods received from said batch-forming mechanisms, each packet-making mechanism comprising a rotatable block having a plurality of shaping portions spaced apart around its axis of rotation, each capable of holding sheet packet material, supply means to supply sheet packet material to each of said shaping portions, and a packet former arranged to mate with said shaping portions in succession, wherein rotation of the block brings each said shaping portion in succession into a position to receive sheet packet material and then into a position at which said former can mate with it to shape the material between the shaping portion and the former, and wherein material can be supplied to one shaping portion while material is being shaped on another shaping portion.

4. A machine according to claim 3, including a container support and a plunger to remove a packet from the former and to insert it into the container support, the former and the container support being arranged to cooperate with the plunger for said removal and insertion.

5. A packing machine for continuously packing batches of goods in containers, comprisinG a plurality of sets of mechanisms arranged to move in a continuous sequence past a supply station for the goods, said sets of mechanisms being arranged in three layers one above the other, comprising an upper layer including batch-forming mechanisms to receive goods from the supply station, a lower layer including container-handling means, and an intermediate layer including filling mechanisms to insert into the containers batches of goods received from the batch-forming mechanisms, and including means to support the three layers comprising a column extending through the layers so that the sets of mechanisms are disposed around the column, the upper and lower layers being slidably mounted on the column whereby the three layers can be moved apart from one another to allow access to the interior of the machine.

6. A machine according to claim 5 comprising an operating member disposed in the column for vertical and rotational movement, means to connect each layer with the operating member for movement therewith, said connecting means being selectively operable according to the rotation of the operating member, power means for raising and lowering the operating member and control means operable to rotate the operating member.

7. A machine according to claim 3 wherein each shaping portion comprises a recess to receive the former.

8. A machine according to claim 7 wherein a sidewall of one of the recesses is formed by a member pivotable about an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of the block.

9. A machine according to claim 7 wherein the packet former comprises a forming piece of substantially rectangular cross section about which an open-ended packet can be formed by folding material.

10. A machine according to claim 9 wherein the packet former comprises a plunger which is extendable through the forming piece to remove an open-ended packet and retractable into the forming piece.

11. A machine according to claim 7 comprising a movable clamping member to clamp material against one side of the packet former and a resilient back plate in the recess to engage the material and clamp it against the other side of the packet former.

12. A machine according to claim 3 wherein the packet former is mounted for reciprocatory movement along a line perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the block.

13. A machine according to claim 3 wherein the rotatable block is provided with means to support packet material by suction.

14. A machine according to claim 3 wherein the packet former is provided with means to support packet material by suction.

15. A machine according to claim 3 further comprising a rotary table on which the packet-forming mechanisms are carried, being disposed at regular intervals around the table.

16. A machine according to claim 15 wherein each packet-forming mechanism includes cam-operated means reciprocably to rotate the blocks to present the shaping portions alternately to the material supply means and to the packet former, and wherein block-rotating cams are provided in juxtaposition with the rotary table to operate the block-rotating means as the table rotates.

17. A machine according to claim 16 wherein the cam-operated block-rotating means includes a pinion rotatable with the block, and a pivoted drive lever, one end of which is provided with a follower to engage the block-rotating cams, and the other end of which has a toothed portion meshing with said pinion to rotate the block as the drive lever pivots, and means to lock the block in position.

18. A machine according to claim 17 wherein the locking means comprises a pivoted locking arm engageable with the block to lock it against rotation and carrying a cam-operated follower, the block-rotating cams including cams to actuate said follower.

19. A machine according to claim 15 wherein said packet material supply means comprises a rotary drum, a reel store of material and means to cut strips of material from the reel and feed the strips on the drum.

20. A machiNe according to claim 19 wherein the surface of each rotary block in the regions of the shaping portions is cylindrically curved about the axis of rotation and is engageable with a strip of material on the material supply drum surface to remove it therefrom.

21. A machine according to claim 20 wherein the rotatable block is provided with means to support packet material by suction, and the material supply drum is provided with suction ports in its surface for securing the strip by suction, means being provided for disconnecting said ports from suction and for applying suction to the block to transfer a strip of material from the supply drum to the block at the time of engagement of each block with the supply drum, the speeds of rotation of the block and the drum being synchronized.

22. A machine according to claim 15 comprising a plurality of slides movable radially of the table under the control of cam means, each packet former being carried on one of said slides.

23. A machine according to claim 22 wherein each packet former comprises a forming piece of substantially rectangular cross section about which an open-ended packet can be formed by folding material and a plunger which is extendable through the forming piece to remove an open-ended packet and retractable into the forming piece, each plunger being carried on a slide, and cam means for controlling movement of each plunger.

24. A machine according to claim 8 comprising a folder piece for each block mounted for radial and tangential movement, a cam operatively connected to said folding piece to fold material against the packet former when the packet former is engaged in said one recess, and the pivotable member is pivoted away from its normal, recess-defining position.

25. A machine according to claim 3 including an adhesive applicator past which each packet-forming mechanism moves for applying adhesive to packet material carried by the mechanisms.

26. A machine according to claim 3 comprising tucking devices past which each packet-forming mechanism moves and which act to fold the material against the packet former to form a packet end.

27. A machine according to claim 26 wherein the tucking devices comprise a rotatable tucker to fold a flap of material and a plough to hold the so folded flap in position, the tucker and the plough being formed to intermesh so that the flap is continuously constrained in passing from the tucker to the plough.

28. A machine according to claim 15 comprising a ring main extending around the rotary table and communicating with a suction source, wherein each packet-forming mechanism includes means connecting its suction ports with the ring main.

29. A machine according to claim 28 comprising a bearing valve having a first bearing member rotating with the rotary table of the machine about the same axis, and a second bearing member stationary relative to the first, wherein each member is apertured for continuous transmission of suction through the bearing, the rotary bearing member communicating with the suction ring main and the stationary member communicating with the suction source and wherein the bearing members are spaced apart sufficiently to allow convenient relative rotation without undue suction leakage.

30. A machine according to claim 28 wherein the suction-connecting means includes a cam-operated suction control valve.

31. A machine according to claim 30 wherein each suction-control valve comprises a valve passage communicating with the ring main provided with a valve member, movable to close the passage, for and communicating with each set of suction ports which is to be operated independently and a pair of movable cam-engaging wings for and connected one pair to each valve member, and wherein operation of one wing by engagement with a cam opens the valve and resets the other wing and operation of the other wing closes the valve and resets the one wing.

32. A machine according to claim 30 comprising a set of cams for the operatioN of all the suction valves, disposed for engagement therewith as the table carrying the packet-forming mechanisms rotates, and arranged to time the suction control according to the operation of the packet-forming mechanisms.

33. A machine according to claim 31 including a material detector, and a cam movable to an operative position in response to operation of the detector, wherein the detector operates to sense the absence of material supported over suction ports when, in the normal running of the machine, such material should be present, and the cam acts in its operative position to cause suction to be cut off from the relative suction ports.

34. A packing machine for continuously packing batches of cylindrical rodlike articles in containers, comprising a plurality of batch-forming mechanisms arranged to move in a continuous sequence past a supply station for the articles and to form predetermined batches from the articles received from the supply station, a plurality of filling mechanisms to insert into the containers batches of articles received from the batch-forming mechanisms, and supply means to feed the articles at the supply station in alignment in rows moving transversely to their lengths and at a speed substantially equal to the speed of movement of the batch-forming mechanisms past the supply station, said machine further comprising means to feed articles along a flow path to the supply station and including at least two regions along said flow path means for accelerating the articles whereby a substantial number of rows of articles in a slow moving stream is reduced and the speed of said stream is increased as it approaches said supply station, said flow path including throughout its length means to align the articles.

35. A packing machine comprising a plurality of mechanisms for inserting batches of rodlike articles into packets each having a closed end and an open end to receive the articles longitudinally, each said mechanism comprising batch support means and packet support means to hold the batch and packet respectively against lateral movement while allowing longitudinal movement, a mouthpiece to guide the batch into the packet, a holder for the filled packet, said batch support means, packet support means and holder being normally disposed in longitudinal alignment, and means to push the batch through the mouthpiece into the packet and thence to push the filled packet into the holder, and means for moving said holder between its aligned position and an out-of-alignment position for handling the filled packet, said machine further comprising means to act on each filled packet in the out-of-alignment position of the holder to close the open end of the packet, said holders being arranged to move successively past said packet closing means.

36. A cigarette packing machine comprising a plurality of continuously circulating batch-forming mechanisms arranged to move in succession past a cigarette supply and to form predetermined batches of cigarettes, a plurality of continuously circulating packet-forming mechanisms arranged to move in succession past at least one packet blank supply and to form packets from the blanks, support means for continuously moving the completed packets and the cigarette batches at the same speed and in end-to-end alignment along a predetermined path, and a plurality of continuously circulating plunger means movable longitudinally under the influence of a stationary cam so as to push the cigarette batches smoothly and progressively all the way into the packets as the batches and packets move along said predetermined path.

37. A packing machine according to claim 36 in which said support means moving the packets and batches along said predetermined path comprises a circular rotary member, said predetermined path being arcuate.

38. A packing machine according to claim 37 further comprising a plurality of filled packet holders and in which each plunger means furthermore pushes the respective packet and cigarette batch Smoothly and progressively out of the packet support means and onto said filled packet holder.

39. A packing machine for packing batches of goods in packets, comprising a plurality of similar packing mechanisms arranged along a closed path, means for moving said mechanisms continuously along said closed path, a goods supply station which each mechanism in turn passes while moving along said closed path, and a packet material supply station which each mechanism in turn passes while moving along said closed path, each mechanism including batch-forming means for forming predetermined batches from the goods supplied at the supply station, packet forming means for forming packets from the packet material supplied at the packet material supply station, and means for inserting batches of goods into the packets including plunger means for progressively inserting each batch of goods into a packet formed by the respective packet forming means.

40. A packing machine according to claim 39 further comprising a rotatable drum member, said packing mechanism all being mounted at circumferentially spaced positions around the axis of said rotatable drum member whereby said closed path is circular, and including means for rotating the drum member continuously about its axis.

41. A packing machine according to claim 40 in which the axis of rotation of the drum member is vertical.

42. A packing machine according to claim 41 including an annular gravity feed hopper into which the goods from the goods supply station are delivered, said hopper having a plurality of goods outlets each leading to one of the packing mechanisms.

43. A machine according to claim 42 in which the drum member comprises three layers, the upper layer of which comprises the annular gravity feed hopper, the lowest layer of which comprises the packet-forming means, and the middle layer of which comprises the means for inserting batches of goods into the packets.

44. A cigarette packing machine for packing batches of cigarettes in packets, comprising a plurality of similar packing mechanisms arranged along a closed horizontal path, means for moving said mechanisms continuously along said path, a movable hopper extending all the way along said closed path, means for moving the hopper along said closed path at the same speed as the packing mechanisms, and cigarette supply means for delivering into the hopper cigarettes lying transversely to the direction of movement of the hopper, each mechanism including batch-forming means for forming predetermined batches from cigarettes received from the hopper, packet support means for supporting a packet in alignment with the batch formed by the respective batch-forming means, and plunger means for progressively pushing each batch of cigarettes endwise into the packet as the respective mechanism moves along said closed path.

45. A machine according to claim 44 in which the closed path is circular and in which the hopper is annular, the cigarette supply means being arranged to deliver the cigarettes tangentially into the hopper.

46. A machine according to claim 44 in which the hopper has a plurality of outlets for cigarettes leading to the respective packing mechanisms, each outlet comprising a vertically movable chute having a bottom wall, and operating means comprising means for moving the chute up and down in a repeating cycle, means for moving said plunger means to push a batch of cigarettes horizontally out of the chute while the chute is at its lowest position, said chute being then raised by the operating means while the articles are supported by the plunger means until the chute reaches an upper position in which said bottom wall of the chute supports the remaining cigarettes, and means to withdraw the plunger means to enable the chute to move downwards again to the position in which the next batch of cigarettes can be pushed out by the plunger means.

47. A machine according to claim 46 in which each chute comprises a plurality of vertical vanes defining a pLurality of vertical channels for the discharge of separate rows of cigarettes, and in which the plunger means comprises a plurality of prongs which enter the different channels.

48. A machine according to claim 44 in which the cigarette supply means comprises means for feeding the cigarettes as a stream comprising a plurality of rows moving transversely to the lengths of the cigarettes and at a speed substantially equal to the speed of movement of the hopper past the supply means, and including means for accelerating the cigarette stream in at least two regions whereby the number of rows in the stream is reduced before the stream reaches the hopper.

49. A cigarette packing machine for packing batches of cigarettes into packets, comprising a plurality of similar packing mechanisms arranged along a closed path, means for moving said mechanisms continuously along said closed path, a plurality of batch-forming mechanisms, means for moving each batch-forming mechanism in turn past a cigarette supply station for receiving cigarettes to form a predetermined batch, means for continuously conveying packets for enclosing the batches of cigarettes, a plurality of compression boxes for compressing the batches of cigarettes laterally, and a plurality of plunger means for progressively inserting each batch of cigarettes after compression into one of the packets, each said compression box comprising two L-sectioned parts which cooperate to define a box of rectangular section and which are movably connected together by two parallel link members each of which is pivoted to both of said parts so as to constrain the two parts to move to compress cigarettes lying within the box formed by the two parts.

50. A machine according to claim 49 in which the compression box swings progressively about an axis parallel to the pivots of the link members as the two parts of the compression box move together to compress the cigarettes.

51. A packing machine for packing batches of goods in packets comprising inner and outer wrappers, said machine comprising a plurality of similar packing means, a plurality of packet-forming mechanisms, and a plurality of batch holders for conveying batches of goods for insertion into the packets by the packing means, means for continuously circulating said plurality of packing means, packet-forming mechanisms and batch holders along a closed path whereby each packet-forming mechanism in turn is moved past two supply stations respectively for the sheet materials forming the inner and outer wrappers of the packet, each said packet-forming mechanism comprising a rotatable block having two shaping portions spaced apart around its axis, each capable of holding said sheet material, and a packet former arranged to cooperate with said shaping portions in succession, whereby rotation of the block brings each said shaping portion in succession into a position to receive sheet material from one of the supply stations and then into a position at which said former can cooperate with it to shape the material between the shaping portion and the former, with sheet material being supplied to one shaping portion while material is being shaped on the other shaping portion.

52. A packing machine according to claim 51 further comprising a rotatable drum member, said plurality of packing means, packet-forming mechanisms and batch holders being mounted at circumferentially spaced positions around the axis of said drum member whereby said closed path is circular, the two packet material supply stations being mounted at circumferentially spaced positions alongside the drum member.

53. A cigarette packing machine comprising a plurality of batch-forming mechanisms arranged to circulate continuously past a cigarette supply station, each mechanism being arranged to form a batch from the cigarettes supplied at the supply station; a plurality of packet-forming mechanisms arranged to circulate continuously past at least one supply station for packet sheet material and to form packets fRom said sheet material, and means moving the batch-forming mechanisms and packet-forming mechanisms in end-to-end alignment around a fixed axis; and plunger means for progressively pushing each batch from the batch-forming mechanism into the packet formed by the respective packet-forming mechanism.

54. A cigarette packing machine according to claim 53 further comprising a plurality of filled-packet holders, each said plunger means being capable of continuing its movement, after pushing the batch of cigarettes into the respective packet, so as to push the packet with the cigarettes onto said filled-packed holder.

55. A method of packing cigarettes comprising continuously transporting batches of cigarettes along a closed path with the axes of the cigarettes lying transversely to the direction of the movement of the batches, continuously transporting packets along a closed path, bringing the batches and packets into end-to-end alignment while being transported, progressively and smoothly pushing each batch along a straight line extending in the direction of the axes of the cigarettes and into the corresponding aligned packet and continuing the pushing of the batch with the packet further along said straight line to a position where said filled packet is transported along a further path extending transversely to said straight line, with the cigarettes in the packet still extending in the same direction, and closing said filled packets while they move along said further path.

56. A packing machine for continuously packing in containers batches of compressible, cylindrical, rodlike articles such as cigarettes, comprising a plurality of sets of mechanisms arranged to move in continuous sequence past a supply station for the articles, each set comprising a batch-forming mechanism to receive articles from the supply station, and a filling mechanism to insert into the containers batches of articles received from the batch-forming mechanism, said sets being arranged to operate cyclically and in succession, each said filling mechanism comprising means to receive and support a bundle of goods from the batch-forming mechanism, means to support a container to receive the bundle in alignment with said bundle-receiving means, a holder for the filled containers, and means to push the bundle into the container and thence to push the filled container into its holder, said bundle support means, container support means and filled-container holder all being alignable longitudinally of the bundle of goods whereby the bundle can be pushed from the bundle-support means along a straight line into the filled-container holder, and wherein each set of mechanisms comprises a mouthpiece to guide the bundle into the container, and the bundle-support means comprises a compression box operable to compress the bundle laterally.

57. A packing machine for continuously packing batches of goods in containers, comprising a plurality of sets of mechanisms arranged to move in continuous sequence past a supply station for the goods, each set comprising a batch-forming mechanism to receive goods from the supply station, and a filling mechanism to insert into the containers batches of goods received from the batch-forming mechanism, said sets being arranged to operate cyclically and in succession, each set of mechanisms comprising a packet-making apparatus to make containers in the form of packets from at least one source of sheet material past which each set of mechanisms in turn moves, and to supply these packets to the filling mechanism of the respective set, each packet-making apparatus comprising a rotatable block having shaping portions spaced apart around its axis of rotation, each capable of holding sheet packet material, supply means to supply sheet material to said shaping portions, and a packet former arranged to mate with said shaping portions in succession, wherein rotation of the block brings each said shaping portion in succession into a position to receive sheet material and then into a posiTion at which said former can mate with it to shape the material between the shaping portion and the former with sheet material being supplied to the one shaping portion at the same time that material is being shaped on the other shaping portion.

58. A packing machine for packing batches of compressible rodlike articles in containers, comprising a hopper mounted for circulation continuously along a closed horizontal path, said hopper being of a troughlike construction extending along said path, a plurality of batch-receiving mechanisms mounted for continuous circulation and arranged to receive batches of articles from said hopper, a plurality of holders for the containers mounted for continuous circulation, means for moving said hopper, said batch-receiving means and said holders at the same speed, and a plurality of packing mechanisms mounted for continuous circulation and arranged to transfer said batches from the batch-receiving means and into the containers, said hopper having means defining a plurality of outlets through which batches of articles are delivered successively to said batch-receiving means, said packing machine including means for delivering said articles continuously into the hopper as a stream moving in the same direction and at substantially the same speed as the hopper with said articles arranged transversly to the direction of movement of the stream.

59. A cigarette packing machine according to claim 58 in which each of said outlets from the hopper is defined by a plurality of vanes for passing the cigarettes out of the hopper in a plurality of separate rows lying between the vanes.

60. A packing machine for packing batches of goods in packets comprising a plurality of wrappers, said machine comprising a plurality of similar packing means mounted for continuous circulation, a plurality of packet-forming mechanisms mounted for continuous circulation, means for moving each packet-forming mechanism in turn successively past at least two supply stations respectively for the sheet material forming each of the wrappers of the packet, and a plurality of batch holders mounted for continuous circulation for conveying batches of goods for insertion into the packets by the packing means, each said packet-forming mechanism comprising a rotatable block having at least two shaping portions spaced apart around its axis, each capable of holding said sheet material and packet-former means, arranged to cooperate with said shaping portions in succession, whereby rotation of the block brings each said shaping portion in succession into a position to receive sheet material from one of the supply stations and then into a position at which said former means can cooperate with it to shape the material between the shaping portion and the former means with sheet material being supplied to one shaping portion while material is being shaped on another shaping portion.

61. A packing machine as claimed in claim 60 for packing batches of goods in packets comprising an inner and an outer wrapper wherein said means for moving each packet-forming mechanism moves each said mechanism in turn successively past two supply stations respectively for the sheet material forming the inner and outer wrappers of the packet, and each of said rotatable blocks has two shaping portions.

62. A cigarette packing machine according to claim 53 in which the plunger means are carried by a rotating drum around which the batch-forming mechanisms and packet-forming mechanisms move in end-to-end alignment while each batch is being progressively pushed into the corresponding aligned packet.

63. A method for packing cigarettes comprising continuously transporting batches of cigarettes along a closed path comprising at least partly a first arcuate section, continuously transporting packets along a closed path comprising at least partly a second arcuate section coaxial with the first arcuate section, said first and second arcuate sections defining an arcuate plane, bringing the batches and packets into end-to-end alignment while being transported, progressively and smoothly pushing each batch along a straight line extending in the direction of the axes of the cigarettes into the corresponding aligned packet while the batch and packet are moving along said arcuate plane and continuing the pushing of the batch with the packet further along said straight line while the batch and packet still move along said arcuate plane to a position where said filled packet is transported along a further path, and closing said filled packets while they move along said further path.