FORMING METHOD TO FORM A GROUP OF SMOKING ARTICLES AND RESPECTIVE FORMING DEVICE

A forming method to form a group (1) of smoking articles (2) comprising a plurality of rows of smoking articles (2) overlapping one another and wherein at least one row of smoking articles (2) internally has a gap (3) due to the absence of the respective smoking article (2); the forming method comprises the steps of: forming a first sub-group (5; 5I) in a first forming station (7; 7I); moving the first sub-group (5; 5I) from the first forming station (7; 7I) to a second forming station (7; 7II); forming a second sub-group (5; 5II) in the second forming station (7; 7II); wherein at least one of the first and second sub-groups (5; 5I, 5II) is provided with at least one gap (3) in the area of one of its edges; and joining, in the second forming station (7; 7II), the second sub-group (5; 5II) to the first sub-group (5; 5I) to complete the forming of the group (1) of smoking articles (2) and so that the gap (3) is placed inside the group (1) of smoking articles (2).