IT201900007599A1 - Device for grouping blanks of wrapping articles for smoking - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the industrial invention entitled:

"Device for grouping blanks of wrapping articles for smoking"

TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a device for grouping blanks of wrapping articles for smoking coming in succession from a unit for processing said blanks.

It is known in the art to subject ordered groups of blanks, for example bundles or stacks of blanks, to a treatment process in which the group of blanks is broken down, the individual blanks are fed to a treatment unit which performs a given operation (for example, a printing or labeling operation), and finally the individual blanks are again grouped into an ordered group.

Patent IT1340565 of the same Applicant describes a treatment process of this type to generate, outside the packaging line of smoking items, a reserve of treated blanks to be used for the supply of the same packaging line.

This patent describes a device for grouping the blanks into an ordered group, after they have been subjected to treatment. This known device comprises a rotatable drum provided with a plurality of radial hoppers which can be moved, through the rotation of the drum, between a position for receiving the individual blanks and a position for delivering the group of reconstituted blanks.

Upstream of the aforesaid drum, the known device in question also comprises an inclined plane designed to overturn the individual blanks directed towards one of the hoppers of the drum so that they are arranged parallel to the bottom of the hopper and are deposited one on top the other to make up a pile of blanks.

The present invention aims to provide an improved grouping device with respect to the known device indicated, in particular from the point of view of the operating mode and the speed of formation of the stack of blanks.

This object is achieved by a device having the characteristics referred to in claim 1. The solution described here also relates to a method according to claim 13 and to a treatment machine according to claim 15.

The claims form an integral part of the technical teaching provided herein in relation to the invention.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become evident from the following description with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:

Figure 1 shows a blanks treatment machine in which a grouping device is used according to an embodiment of the solution described here;

figure 2 represents the machine of figure 1 in which the grouping device is in a different operating phase;

figure 3 represents a side view of the grouping device of figure 1;

Figure 4 represents a front view of the grouping device illustrated in Figure 1;

Figures 5A and 5B represent in a simplified manner the grouping device of Figure 1 in two different operating conditions, respectively;

Figures 6A to 6F show successive phases of the operation of the grouping device of Figure 1;

Figure 7 illustrates an example of a blank for wrapping smoking articles.

The following description illustrates various specific details aimed at an in-depth understanding of the embodiments. The embodiments can be made without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components or materials etc. In other cases, known structures, materials or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the embodiment.

The references used here are for convenience only and therefore do not define the scope of protection or the scope of the forms of implementation.

As mentioned above, the device described here performs the function of grouping blanks of wrapping articles for smoking that come in succession from a unit for processing such blanks.

To better illustrate the type of application for which the device described here is intended, Figure 1 illustrates an example of a machine for processing blanks W, which, in particular, carries out a labeling process.

The illustrated machine, indicated as a whole with reference 100, comprises a unit 102 for feeding the blanks W, a labeling unit 104 and a device 10 made according to the teachings provided herein.

The machine 100 also comprises drums 101, 103 and 105 for transporting the blanks from the feeding unit 102 to the labeling unit 104, and from this to the grouping device 10.

The feeding unit 102 is designed to receive an ordered group of blanks and feed them in succession to the drum 101.

Each blank W consists of a sheet, usually of paper or cardboard, which is in a completely extended condition, so as to have a planar conformation.

The blanks that are received by the unit 102 are arranged in an orderly manner so as to form a bundle or stack of blanks. In other words, they are in mutual contact at their respective opposite faces, and have the same orientation with respect to an axis orthogonal to their plane of lying.

Figure 7 illustrates, by way of example, a blank W of a packet of cigarettes, which must be subjected to the labeling process carried out by the machine 100 of Figure 1.

This blank has a given outline and predefined fold lines, so that it can be formed in the final envelope simply by folding its various portions and connecting them to each other (usually by glue). In this figure, an adhesive label T is shown, which is applied to the blank by the labeling unit 104, to form a sealing label for the packet of cigarettes.

The drum 101 is arranged to pick up one blank at a time in succession from the feeding unit 102 and transfer it to the drum 103. In turn, the drum 103 receives the blank from the drum 101 and first carries it to the unit 104 for application of the label T and, subsequently, to the drum 105. Finally, the drum 105 picks up the blank from the drum 103 and delivers it to the device 10.

To perform the double function indicated, of picking up and transferring the blanks, the two drums 101 and 105 are each set up with gripping members (not shown) which are operated by a cam system and are also connected to a system air intake.

The succession of steps described above is carried out on all the blanks that have been loaded on unit 102.

The device 10 operates to group the blanks provided with the label coming from the labeling unit 104, reconstituting an ordered group of blanks.

As will be seen below, this group of blanks can be directly used for the supply of a packaging machine (not shown) arranged in line with machine 100.

With reference now to Figures 3 and 4, in various preferred embodiments, as well as in the one illustrated, the device 10 comprises a structure 12, which defines an inlet 12A for the blanks, a space S for receiving and accumulating the blanks. blanks, and an outlet 12B for extracting the group of blanks formed therefrom from the device.

The storage space S extends along a reference axis J of the structure 12, and the inlet 12A and the outlet 12B are positioned on opposite sides of the space S, along the reference axis J.

This space constitutes the place of the device 10, in which the individual blanks W coming from the labeling unit 104 are received and in which the group of blanks being formed is housed.

According to an important characteristic of the device described here, the structure 12 is arranged with at least one support - see supports 15I, 15II, 15III and 15IV of the preferred embodiment shown - which is adapted to keep the blank or blanks received in the space of accumulation S, near the inlet 12A and according to an orientation whereby the plane where the blanks lie is transversal to the reference axis J.

This at least one support - 15I, 15II, 15III and 15IV - is movable along the reference axis J to move the blank or blanks already received away from the inlet 12A, and allow the housing of a new blank in the accumulation space S .

The new blank is maintained in the aforementioned orientation transverse to the J axis, by the same blank or by the same blanks already received in the S space.

Preferably, this at least one support - 15I, 15II, 15III and 15IV - is moved continuously and at constant speed along the reference axis J.

Thanks to the characteristics indicated, the device described here is able to control the formation of the group of blanks inside the space S, ensuring, on the one hand, the correct positioning of the blanks at the entrance, and on the other hand, that the blanks are keep in contact with each other and mutually aligned.

In various preferred embodiments, as well as in the one illustrated, the structure 12 comprises two planar frame modules 14, 16, which are vertically oriented and are arranged opposite each other, at a given distance, to define between of them the storage space S indicated above.

The two frame modules 14, 16 extend parallel to each other, along the reference direction J.

A group of belt supports 15I, 15II, 15III and 15IV is mounted on the two modules 14 and 16, each of which constitutes a movable support as discussed above. In particular, the two supports 15I and 15II are mounted on the frame module 14, and the two supports 15III and 15IV on the frame module 16.

These belt supports are mounted on respective pulleys, so as to extend, each, along a closed loop path having at least one section oriented along the reference axis J and of such length as to connect the inlet 12A and the output 12B.

The respective portions 15'I, 15'II, 15'III and 15'IV of these supports, which extend along this section, cooperate together to support the blanks W received in the space S in the aforementioned orientation transverse to the J axis (Figure 4 ).

The two portions 15'II and 15'IV are aligned and horizontally spaced to engage opposite end regions of the lower edge of each blank W received in space S.

On the other hand, the portions 15'I, 15'III are arranged in a corresponding manner near the upper edge of each blank W received in the space S.

The belt supports 15I, 15II, 15III and 15IV have respective abutment portions 15IB, 15IIB, 15IIIB, 15IVB, which protrude in a transverse plane to the longitudinal direction of the support, and are designed to be positioned in correspondence with the portions 15'I, 15'II, 15'III and 15'IV to each engage the front face - with reference to the direction of advancement - of the blank which, in a given operating cycle, is first received inside the S space.

With reference to Figure 6A, when a new cycle is started, the abutment portions 15IB, 15IIB, 15IIIB, 15IVB are all arranged at the inlet 12A and aligned with each other in the same plane Q transversal to the reference axis J.

The first blank W1 which is received in the space S places its lower edge resting on the two supports 15II and 15IV, and its front face abuts against the abutment portions 15IB, 15IIB, 15IIIB and 15IVB (Figure 6B). The blank W1 is therefore arranged parallel to the Q plane identified by the abutment portions 15IB, 15IIB, 15IIIB and 15IVB.

To receive a new blank W2, the supports 15I, 15II, 15III and 15IV are moved in such a way as to move the relative abutment portions away from the input 12A, and with them the previously received blank W1.

The magnitude of this displacement is such as to make room to accommodate the new blank W2 (Figure 6C), and, at the same time, keep the blank W1 sufficiently close to inlet 12A for the new blank W2 to directly abut against the blank W1, as soon as you pass the entrance 12A.

The new blank W2 therefore places its lower edge resting on the two belt supports 15II and 15IV, and brings its front face abutment against the previously received blank W1 (Figures 6D and 6E).

Thanks to the positioning of the W1 blank, the new W2 blank is also substantially parallel to the Q plane.

This sequence is repeated for all the blanks that are received in the S space.

Preferably, the movement of the supports 15I, 15II, 15III and 15IV is continuous and at a constant speed, and is adjusted so as to keep the blanks already received, grouped against each other and close to the entrance 12A.

This movement is generally coordinated with the device placed upstream of the device 10 which is able to deliver the various blanks.

With reference to the application example illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, this movement is coordinated with the drum 102 and is carried out until a given group of blanks is formed within the space S (for example, this group could have the same number of blanks as the assembly that was loaded on the feed unit 102 or not) (Figure 6F).

Incidentally, it will be understood that at the end of the operating cycle, the abutment portions 15IB, 15IIB, 15IIIB, 15IVB will be found at a distance from the inlet 12A substantially corresponding to the length of the group of reconstituted blanks.

Preferably, the supports 15I, 15II, 15III and 15IV are equipped with further abutment portions - see the portions 15IIIC and 15IVC illustrated in figure 3 - arranged to be positioned in correspondence with the inlet 12A - in the same configuration shown in figure 6A for the abutment portions 15IIIB and 15IVB - when the abutment portions 15IB, 15IIB, 15IIIB, 15IVB have now come out of the active sections 15'I, 15'II, 15'III and 15'IV of the supports, to allow you to immediately start a new loading cycle of blanks.

With reference to Figure 4, the structure 12 can also be arranged with fixed guides 13, opposite each other, carried by the two frame modules 14 and 16, to retain the blanks laterally.

The movable supports 15I, 15II, 15III and 15IV must in turn be synchronized with each other.

In various preferred embodiments, as well as in the one illustrated, these supports are controlled by a single actuator 18, which is connected to the different supports 15I, 15II, 15III and 15IV by means of a motion transmission system, with belt or drive members. equivalent type (e.g. chains). In alternative embodiments, on the other hand, two or more actuators could be provided, for example, an actuator for each belt support.

With reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the motion transmission system comprises shafts 22I, 22II, 22III and 22IV, rotatably mounted on the frame modules 14 and 16, which carry pulleys 23I on the inner side of the two modules , 23II, 23III and 23IV, and on the external side, pulleys 21I, 21II, 21III and 21IV. The shaft 22II has a connection portion through which it connects to the actuator 18.

A further shaft 23 extends between the two frame modules 14, 16, and is rotatably mounted on both modules. The shaft 23 has opposite ends which are positioned on the two outer sides of the frame modules 14 and 16, and on which two further pulleys 24 and 25 are carried.

The belt supports 15I, 15II, 15III and 15IV, respectively, are mounted on the pulleys 23I, 23II, 23III and 23IV.

A first belt member 26 is coupled, mutually connecting them in rotation, to the pulleys 21I, 21II and 24, which are all located on the same external side - the left side, with reference to the figure - of the two frame modules 14 and 16.

Similarly, a second belt member 27 is coupled to the pulleys 21III, 21IV and 25, which are instead all located on the opposite external side of the two frame modules 14 and 16 - the right side, with reference to the figure.

In various preferred embodiments, as well as in the one illustrated, a pressure roller 29 is associated with each of the pulleys 23I, 23II, 24 and 25, which is able to press the relative belt member against it, to ensure correct coupling. between organ and pulley.

It will be noted that the two members 26 and 27 are in turn connected in rotation through the shaft 23.

The actuator 18 is designed to control the rotation of the shaft 22II.

This rotation, on the one hand, controls the movement of the support 15II. On the other hand, it sets in motion the first organ 26, which in turn moves the support 15I.

The movement of the first member 26 is transmitted to the second member 27, on the opposite side of the structure 12, through the shaft 23.

The second organ 27 operates the other two supports 15III and 15IV.

The above described motion transfer system is only one of the possible embodiments.

Returning to Figures 1 and 2, the structure 12 is carried by a positioning unit 30, which is adapted to move the structure 12 between a position P1, preferably raised, for loading the blanks (illustrated in Figure 1), and a position P2 , preferably lowered, for delivery of the same (illustrated in Figure 2).

With reference to Figure 1, in the loading position P1 the structure 12 has the inlet 12A directly facing and immediately adjacent to the drum 105. At the same time, the structure 12 is oriented so as to arrange the reference axis J slightly inclined upwards, so as to facilitate the passage of the blanks from the drum 105 to the accumulation space S.

In various preferred embodiments, as well as in the one illustrated, the structure 12 further comprises two retaining elements 17, which are positioned at the inlet 12A and are opposite each other (Figure 3). These elements are equipped with respective teeth 17I between which the entry passage of the blanks W into the accumulation space S.

These teeth are sized so that the passage defined by them is slightly smaller than the corresponding dimension of the blanks, so as to allow the insertion of the blanks, through a small deformation of the same along the respective upper and lower edges, and instead retain the blanks already received, preventing the risk of spillage. Alternatively, the teeth 17I could define a passage slightly larger than the size of the blanks; in this case the blank is released by first inserting the blank behind the upper tooth and then behind the lower tooth.

As a further alternative, these teeth could be tilting and engage the entrance 12A of the structure only after the positioning of a blank in the storage space S.

With reference to Figure 2, in the delivery position P2 the structure 12 is arranged in correspondence with an underlying transport line, on which the group of blanks is released.

In the illustrated example, this transport line comprises a trolley 111, which is inserted between the two frame modules 14 and 16 and the relative supports 15II and 15IV when the structure 12 is lowered into the delivery position P2, engaging with a support surface 111A the group of blanks contained within the accumulation space S.

Preferably, the delivery position P2 is selected so that the blanks resting on the support plane 111A are slightly raised with respect to the supports 15II and 15IV.

After the group of blanks has been placed on the carriage 111, the supports 15I, 15II, 15III and 15IV are moved so that the respective abutment portions 15IB, 15IIB, 15IIIB and 15IVB are removed from their respective sections 15'I, 15 ' II, 15'III and 15'IV for the engagement of the blanks, thus freeing the group of blanks from the front.

The carriage 111 can at this point extract the group of blanks through the outlet. With reference now to figures 5A and 5B, these illustrate the positioning unit 30 indicated above, according to a preferred embodiment of the device 10 described here.

According to this embodiment, the unit 30 comprises two pivoting supports 32, 34, which are hinged around two horizontal, fixed axes of rotation, I1, I2, respectively. The two axes I1 and I2 are mutually parallel and transverse to the reference axis J of the structure 12.

The distal ends of these supports 32, 34 are in turn hinged to the two frame modules 14 and 16, around two movable rotation axes I3, I4, parallel to the axes I1 and I2, and mutually spaced along the reference axis J.

The two pivoting supports 32 and 34 are both controlled by an actuator 35, which is connected to them by means of a motion transmission system (not shown), for example a belt.

With reference to Figures 5A and 5B, the two supports 32 and 34 are movable between a lying position, in which they arrange the structure 12 in the aforementioned delivery position P2, and a vertical or slightly inclined position with respect to the vertical, in which they arrange the structure 12 in the aforementioned loading position P1.

Clearly, the device 10 will also comprise a control unit U (schematically illustrated in Figure 1) to govern the operations of the described means.

The above described positioning unit 30 (corresponding to the embodiment illustrated) causes a roto-translation of the structure 12 in order to move it between the loading position P1 and the delivery position P2. Alternatively, the device 10 could comprise a positioning unit 30 such as to cause only a translation of the structure 12 in order to move it between the loading position P1 and the delivery position P2.

As a further alternative, the structure 12 may not be movable between the two loading and delivery positions; in this case, an element for extracting the stack of blanks from the accumulation space S could be inserted into said accumulation space S.

Returning to the application example illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a complete operating cycle of the illustrated machine 100 develops as follows.

An ordered group of unlabeled W blanks is loaded onto the feed unit 102.

The individual blanks of this group are, in succession, picked up from the drum 101, carried to the labeling unit 104 from the drum 103, and finally released to the device 10 from the drum 105.

During this phase, the structure 12 is in the loading position P1 illustrated in figure 1 to accommodate the individual blanks through the inlet 12A.

The belt supports 15I, 15II, 15III, 15IV are operated according to a continuous movement and at a constant speed, to keep the blanks already received, grouped against each other and close to the entrance 12A.

Once the accumulation space S is filled with blanks W with label, the structure 12 is brought to the delivery position P2 illustrated in Figure 2, where the group of blanks is placed on the carriage 111.

The belt supports 15I, 15II, 15III, 15IV are operated once again to free the group of blanks from the engagement of the abutment portions 15IB, 15IIB, 15IIIB, 15IVB.

At this point, the trolley 111 extracts the group of blanks from the structure 12, through the outlet 12B, and transports them directly to the packaging machine mentioned above.

It will be noted that the treatment process carried out by the machine 100 can be carried out in line with the packaging process without the speed of the first influencing the speed of the second, and vice versa, thanks to the device 10, which operates to generate a reserve of blanks directly upstream of the packaging machine.

Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to what is illustrated here purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention. , as defined by the appended claims. For example, alternative embodiments to the one illustrated can provide only the lower belt supports 15II and 15IV or the two lower belt supports 15II and 15IV and a single upper belt support. Moreover, the belt supports described can be replaced by rigid support members, movable with reciprocating motion along the reference axis J.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS 1. Device (10) for grouping blanks (w1, w2) of wrapping articles for smoking successively coming from a machine (104) for processing such blanks, said device (10) comprising a structure (12) for receiving said blanks (w1, w2), which has an inlet (12A) for said blanks coming from said processing machine (104), and a space (S) for accumulation, in communication with said inlet (12A), to receive said blanks and house a group in formation of said blanks (w1, w2), wherein said storage space (S) extends along a reference axis (J) of said structure (12), said device further comprising at least one support (15I, 15II, 15III, 15IV), mounted movably on said structure (12), to keep the blank or blanks already received in said accumulation space, in proximity of said inlet (12A ) and according to an orientation whereby the plane of lying of said blanks is transverse to said reference axis (J), wherein said at least one support (15I, 15II, 15III, 15IV) is movable along said reference axis (J) to move the blank or blanks already received (w1) away from said inlet (12A), and allow the housing of a new blank (w2) in said accumulation space (S). 2. Device according to claim 1, in which the at least one support (15I, 15II, 15III, 15IV) is movable according to a continuous movement and, preferably, at a constant speed. Device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising an actuator (18) for operating said at least one mobile support (15I, 15II, 15III, 15IV) and a control unit (U) configured to control said actuator (18) in so that the movement of said at least one mobile support (15I, 15II, 15III, 15IV) frees the space necessary to accommodate the new blank, and at the same time keeps the blank or blanks already received sufficiently close to said inlet (12A) to they can support said new blank in said orientation transverse to said reference axis (J). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one movable support (15II, 15IV) comprises at least one belt support (15II, 15IV) which is mounted movably along a closed loop path having a section oriented along said axis reference (J), and in which the portion (15'II, 15'IV) of said at least one belt support (15II, 15IV) extending along said portion is arranged to engage a lower side of the assembly forming said blanks received inside said storage space (S). 5. Device according to claim 4, wherein said belt support (15II, 15IV) comprises one or more abutment portions (15IIB, 15IVB) arranged to engage the front face of the blank which, in a given operating cycle of said device , it is first received in said accumulation space (S) and to maintain said blank and the blanks subsequently received in said orientation transverse to said reference axis (J). 6. Device according to claim 5, comprising an actuator (18) to operate said at least one belt support (15II, 15IV) and a control unit (U) configured to control said actuator (18), in which, in an operating cycle of said device, said control unit (U) is configured to control the movement of said at least one belt support (15II, 15IV) to carry said one or more abutment portions (15IIB, 15IVB ) from a first position in proximity of said inlet (12A), to a second position in which said one or more abutment portions (15IIB, 15IVB) are found at a distance from said inlet (12A) substantially equal to the size, along said reference axis (J), of the group of blanks formed in said accumulation space (S). Device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein said at least one belt support (15II, 15IV) comprises a first and a second belt support (15II, 15IV) which are arranged to engage the lower side of said forming group of said blanks received inside said accumulation space (S) and are mutually spaced, along a direction orthogonal to said reference axis (J), by a predetermined distance to allow insertion between said first and second belt support (15II, 15IV) of a device (111) for picking up the group of blanks formed inside said accumulation space (S). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one movable support (15I, 15III) comprises at least one further belt support (15I, 15III) which is arranged on the upper side of said group of blanks being formed and is mounted movable along a closed loop path having a section oriented along said reference axis (J), wherein said further belt support (15I, 15III) comprises one or more abutment portions (15IB, 15IIIB) arranged to engage the front face of the blank (w1) which, in a given operating cycle of said device (10), it is first received in said accumulation space (S) and to maintain said blank (w1) and the blanks (w2, W) subsequently received in said orientation transverse to said reference axis (J). 9. Device according to claims 3 and 8, comprising a motion transmission system (26, 27, 23) arranged to operatively connect said actuator (18) to said first and second belt support (15II, 15IV) and to said further support belt (15I, 15III). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said structure (12) has an outlet (12B), for said group of blanks formed inside said accumulation space (S), which communicates with said accumulation space (S) and is positioned on the side opposite to said inlet (12A) along said reference axis (J). Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said structure (12) is movable between a position (P1) for loading said blanks (w1, w2, W) in which said blanks are received in said accumulation (S) of said structure (12), and a delivery position (P2) in which the group of blanks (w1, w2, W) formed inside said accumulation space (S) is released. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said structure (12) is arranged, at said inlet (12A), with a pair of mutually opposed retaining elements (17) to retain the blanks already received in said space accumulation (S). 13. Process for the grouping of blanks (w1, w2) of wrappers of smoking articles coming in succession from a machine (104) for the treatment of such blanks, comprising the step of feeding in succession, one at a time, said blanks to a device (10) for grouping blanks, wherein said device (10) comprises: a structure (12) for receiving said blanks, which has an inlet (12A) for said blanks coming from said processing machine (104) and an accumulation space (S), in communication with said inlet (12A), for receiving said blanks and housing a group forming said blanks, in which said accumulation space (S) extends along a reference axis (J) of said structure (12), and in which said device comprises at least one support (15I, 15II, 15III, 15IV), mounted movably on said structure , to maintain the blank or blanks already received in said accumulation space (S), in proximity to said inlet (12A) and according to an orientation whereby the lying plane of said blanks is transverse to said reference axis (J) , said procedure, moreover, comprising the steps of: - receiving, through said inlet (12A), a blank (w1) inside said storage space (S), said at least one support (15I, 15II, 15III, 15IV) keeping said blank (w1) in proximity to said inlet (12A) and according to said orientation transverse to said reference axis (J); - moving said at least one support (15I, 15II, 15III, 15IV) along said reference axis (J) to move away said blank (w1) received in said accumulation space (S) from said inlet (12A); - receiving, through said inlet (12A), a new blank (w2) inside said accumulation space (S), said new blank (w2) placing itself against the blank (w1) previously received, according to said orientation transversal to said reference axis (J); - repeat the previous operations until an ordered group of blanks is formed within said accumulation space (S). 14. Process according to claim 13, wherein said movement of said at least one support (15I, 15II, 15III, 15IV) is a continuous movement, preferably at constant speed, which is performed without interruptions during the step in which the individual blanks ( w1, w2) are received inside said accumulation space (S) to form said given ordered group of blanks (w1, w2, W). 15. Machine (100) for processing blanks of wrapping articles for smoking, comprising: - a unit (104) for the treatment of blanks (w1, w2) of wrapping items for smoking; - at least one drum (101, 103) to feed, in succession, one blank at a time, to said treatment unit (104), - a device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, which is arranged downstream of the treatment unit (104), for grouping the processed blanks (w1, w2, W) from said processing unit into an ordered group treatment (104); - a trolley (111) for picking up said ordered group of treated blanks from said device (10) and for transporting said group of treated blanks to a packaging machine. Machine (100) according to claim 15, wherein said structure (12) of said device (10) is movable between a position (P1) for loading said blanks and a position (P2) for delivering said group of blanks formed inside said accumulation space (S), and in which said carriage (111) is arranged to pick up said group of blanks when the structure (12) of said device (10) is in said position (P2) delivery.