Abstract: An apparatus for loading reels into a packaging machine comprises a loading device that has a post rotating about a vertical axis under the actuation of a drive unit; a lifting element, which is provided with elements for supporting a reel to be loaded and is guided so that it can slide longitudinally with respect to the post and can move under the actuation of an additional drive unit between a lowered position for picking up the reel and a raised position for transferring the reel to the packaging machine; and sensors for controlling respectively the angular rotation of the post and the coordinated longitudinal sliding movement of the lifting element.

Abstract: A method and device whereby a first runout strip, fed at a first speed along a guide by a traction device, is replaced with a new strip by cutting the first strip; activating both a push device, by which the new strip is engaged and fed along the guide at a second speed, and a movable guide device a portion of the guide and which is lowered in relation to the rest of the guide and together with a trailing portion of the first strip on the movable guide device itself; and controlling the second speed as a function of the first speed so that a leading portion of the new strip is superimposed on the trailing portion of the first strip along the movable guide device.

Abstract: A method of fashioning tubular overwrappings with a heat-sealable material, and a device in which single commodities are directed in succession together with respective sheets of heat-sealable material into a set of pockets spaced apart at a constant pitch around the periphery of an indexing wheel rotated through steps of length equal to a submultiple of the pitch of the peripheral pockets. The pockets currently occupied pause after each step in alignment with a relative set of heat-seal stations and are accompanied through the first step, approaching the first heat-seal station, by a moving folder positioned so as to flatten a first longitudinal flap of the relative sheet against the flank of the commodity; a second flap is flattened similarly over the first flap by a fixed folder whereupon the two flaps are held fast in overlapping contact, ready for heat-sealing.

Abstract: Continuous strip materials supplied in rolls are spliced automatically at the moment of use by a series of steps in which the leading end of the strip decoiled from a new roll is arranged first on the locating and striking face of a suction bar capable of movement between an at-rest position and a splicing position, whereupon the trailing end of the depleted strip decoiling from the roll still in use is restrained against a fixed reference surface coinciding with the splicing position, a transverse cut made through the trailing end of the depleted strip, and the leading end of the new strip brought into contact with the area of the trailing end of the depleted strip terminating in the cut, and the joined ends are then secured by heat-sealing or by applying an adhesive or a double-sided sticker.

Abstract: Divisible packs consisting in two wrappers breasted frontally one with another are conveyed broadside, singly and in succession, to the point of being taken up between paired belt loops carrying teeth which are timed to impinge on the two wrappers and bring them into vertical alignment. Thereafter, the pack draws level with an applicator station where labels are affixed to the now perfectly matched end faces of the wrappers, then passes on to a further station at which correct application of the labels is verified by two pneumatic control elements: these consist in suction cups or nozzles connected to respective transducers which, by sensing changes in the pressure levels registering at the end faces of the wrappers, will detect any pack from which either or both of the labels may be missing.

Abstract: A method and device for laterally joining product wrappings, whereby the connection of two overlapping longitudinal portions of a tubular wrapping defined by a sheet of wrapping material wrapped about the product inside a wrapping seat is at least completed as the wrapped product is unloaded from the wrapping seat by a heated counterpusher.

Abstract: A hopper (5) for elongate elements (2), in which an exit (11) of the hopper (5) is defined by a plurality of substantially vertical side-by-side channels (17); each channel (17) is defined by two substantially vertical baffles (18), and is associated with an agitator element (24) of pendulum type having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape and positioned above a respective baffle (18) to oscillate, in synchronism with the other agitator elements (24), about a respective substantially horizontal axis (25).

Abstract: A method of separating two superimposed rows of cigarette packets originally in direct contact with each other, whereby the two superimposed rows are fed into the input station of a separating device in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rows; and are fed in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, to a separating station where they are separated by raising the top row and subsequently inserting, between the separated rows, a separating plate which is maintained between the rows as these are removed from the separating station in a third direction parallel to the first.

Abstract: On a packing line for producing twin packets, collars are fed successively by an oscillating conveyor arm into respective conveyor seats, each for housing two side by side half packets; the conveyor arm presenting two telescopically connected portions in turn presenting respective gripping members cooperating with respective main panels of the collar and the two telescopic portions being movable in relation to each other for folding accordion-fashion a central portion of the collar interposed between the two main panels.

Abstract: A reel (1) of material in tape form (2) wound on a core (3) to form a plurality of turns and provided with an outer end (4) retained on the reel (1) by a retainer, such as a gummed band. The outer end (4) of the material in tape form (2) is weighted relative to the rest of the tape (2), for example by attaching a label (7) to the outer end (4), so that on removing or cutting the retainer (5) the outer end (4) automatically separates from the reel (1) by gravity.

Abstract: A method and device for producing cartons of cigarettes from respective groups of equioriented packets forming a first and second row arranged one on top of and contacting the other, whereby the two rows of packets in each group are parted to enable the first row to be rotated substantially 180.degree. in relation to the second prior to restoring the first row to the superimposed mutually contacting position.

Abstract: A device for sealing wrappers around products comprising an infeed mechanism for conveying products enveloped by sealable wrappers and a first drive mechanism for driving the infeed mechanism to convey the products with a first predetermined velocity. A sealing channel into which the products are directed by the infeed mechanism includes a feed mechanism for moving the products along the sealing channel and a sealing mechanism for compressively sealing at least one face of the sealable wrappers. A second drive mechanism drives the feed mechanism to move the products along the sealing channel with a second predetermined velocity corresponding to at least one physical characteristic of the sealable wrappers, the second drive mechanism being independent from the first drive mechanism so that the second predetermined velocity and the first predetermined velocity can be independently determined.

Abstract: A method of producing cartons of packets of cigarettes, whereby a blank, folded in a U about a respective group of packets so as to leave three exposed surfaces from each of which at least two tabs of the blank project outwards, is finish-folded, over at least one of the exposed surfaces, by a respective single folding head having a folding device for each tab, and which provides for folding the tabs in the course of one linear movement in a direction parallel to the tabs for folding and to the respective exposed surface, and with the blank maintained stationary, together with the respective group of packets, in a folding station.

Abstract: A pocket element for a packing wheel for packing groups of cigarettes in rigid packets with a hinged lid; each packet being formed by folding a precut blank; and the pocket element presenting a seat having a pair of locating elements, each having an oblique surface for supporting respective edges of a respective pair of end tabs of the blank defining a small longitudinal wall of the lid of a respective packet.

Abstract: A method and machine for producing cartons of cigarettes, each consisting of a number of packets of cigarettes housed inside a box formed from a flat blank divided by yield lines into a number of panels; the carton being formed by feeding the blank along a first path to a prefolding station where the blank is folded substantially in a U, and by transferring the prefolded blank to a loading station where a respective group of packets is fed inside the prefolded blank, and is pushed further, along a further path, so as to feed the blank and respective group of packets into a folding channel for closing the box.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing products, particularly tobacco items, on a production line wherein at least a first product manufacturing machine and at least a second product grouping machine, for forming the products into groups containing a given number of products, are connected rigidly and in time with each other by way of a transfer device; the method comprising stages wherein, by way of the transfer device, a first orderly succession of products from the first machine and containing vacancies is manipulated and converted into a second succession for supply to the second machine and containing a succession of gaps and full portions, wherein each gap and each full portion is composed of a number of products which is a multiple of the number of products in each group, and is in time with the second machine.

Abstract: A rigid package, particularly for cigarettes, substantially in the form of a rectangular prism and defined by a cup-shaped body having, at the open end, a collar and a lid hinged to the rear edge of the cup-shaped body; the package being formed from a blank incorporating the collar, and wherein a central panel with lateral tabs defines the front wall of the package, and presents, together with the tabs, a precut line for detaching the front edge and lateral edges of the lid from corresponding edges of the cup-shaped body.

Abstract: A device for feeding tobacco items, particularly cigarettes, to a grouping machine particularly a packing machine, for forming the items into groups of "n" items each; the device presenting a conveyor with seats for a succession of items featuring gaps defined by the absence of a number of consecutive items equal to "n" or a multiple thereof; a sensor for detecting a first and second incomplete group in time with the grouping machine and located respectively at the upstream end and downstream end of each gap; and a timing roller for transferring the items housed in the first group of seats into a corresponding position in the second group of seats.

Abstract: A conveyor device for sheets of wrapping material, whereby the sheets are transferred, from a first conveyor to a second conveyor forming an angle of other than zero, by a conveyor designed to swing between a forward position wherein the sheets are removed off the first conveyor, and a withdrawn position wherein the sheets are transferred to the second conveyor.

Abstract: The packaging machine makes use of a first wheel to supply single groups of cigarettes, in succession, to a work station, where a corrugated paper distance piece is positioned by a feed device on each group, in direct contact with the face uppermost. A second wheel carries the groups of cigarettes away from the work station, together with their distance pieces. The feed device includes a positive drive assembly that feeds a continuous strip of stiff paper toward the work station and corrugates it in the process, a set of blades which cut the corrugated strip into discrete pieces, and an actuator serving to position each of the cut pieces on a corresponding group of cigarettes.