Abstract: Filter elements made up of least two axially aligned plugs are advanced in succession by a feed unit along a first path and in a first direction, with the plugs oriented along a second direction transverse to the first direction, toward a garniture section extending along a second horizontal path and in a third direction, on which they are formed into at least one continuous rod which is then divided up by a rotary cutter into single composite filters. A transfer unit linking the feed unit and the garniture section comprises a conveyor, rotatable about a first axis parallel to the second direction, equipped with carriers each presenting at least one slot designed to admit one filter element; the single carriers are pivotable independently relative to the conveyor about a second axis parallel to the first axis, and about a third axis transverse to the first axis, alternating between positions in which the slot extends parallel with the second direction and with the third direction.

Abstract: A pack of rigid type with a hinged lid for tobacco products comprises a cupped container (3; 26) presenting a front face (8) and two flank faces (10) of which the free edges (8a, 10a) combine to establish an open end (4) of the container, also a reinforcing frame (15) secured to the container (3; 26), presenting a breast piece (16), two side pieces (17) and a top edge (18) of U profile directed toward the lid (5; 27). The lid (5; 27) likewise is cupped, presenting a front face (11) and two flank faces (13) with respective free edges (11a, 13a), and closes the open end (4) of the container (3; 26). A coupon (19) is included in the pack, between the frame (15) and the tobacco products.

Abstract: A transfer unit for transferring elongated articles, wherein a uniform succession of articles is fed by an input drum to a first transfer station, where the articles are picked up successively by a number of pickup heads of a transfer drum for supply, through a second transfer station, to an output drum in a uniform succession of pairs of side by side articles; some of the pickup heads are fixed, and some oscillate with respect to the transfer drum; the fixed pickup heads alternate with the oscillating pickup heads; and each oscillating pickup head oscillates to and from a position contiguous to one of the two adjacent fixed pickup heads.

Abstract: In an automatic machine for processing tobacco articles, and having a supporting frame having a vertical front wall, at which are located a number of operating devices located along a production line for processing a succession of articles, an inner first casing is provided which can be opened and covers at least some of the operating devices, and an outer second casing is provided which can be opened, is independent of the inner first casing, and covers at least part of the inner first casing in the form of a shell; the outer second casing has a front panel facing the vertical front wall of the frame and movable, with respect to the frame, between a closed or bottom limit position, in which the front panel contacts the floor supporting the frame and is separated from the inner first casing by a distance defining the depth of a soundproofing air chamber, and an open or top limit position, in which the front panel exposes and permits access to the vertical front wall of the frame and the inner first casing.

Abstract: Filter cigarettes are turned out by a combination unit composed of a cigarette maker coinciding with a substantially horizontal first leg, also a filter tip attachment machine coinciding with a second leg, of which the downstream machine is equipped with an infeed roller turning on a horizontal axis lying transverse to the second leg. The first and second legs extend parallel one with another and are linked by a transfer unit rotatable about an essentially vertical center axis and incorporating a plurality of holders, each designed to take up two cigarette sticks from an outfeed end of the upstream machine and direct them through a semi-circular path to an infeed end of the downstream machine.

Abstract: A method of managing a machine for manufacturing tobacco products (2) includes the steps of monitoring the operation of single devices and/or units making up the machine (3; 4), and supplying error signals (48) to a master control unit (46) to indicate faults or malfunctions in any of the devices; on receiving an error signal (48), the control unit (46) responds automatically by stopping the machine (3; 4), activating a step in which obstructions are removed and foreign matter cleared from the faulty or malfunctioning device, and finally, with normal operating conditions restored, restarting the machine (3; 4).

Abstract: A wrapper with a hinged lid for tobacco products presents a front face (7), a rear race (8), two flank faces (9), a top end face (10) and a bottom end face (11), and comprises a container (13), a lid (15) hinged to the container along a crease lid (16), and a reinforcing frame (25). The wrapper (1) is fashioned from a flat diecut blank (37) comprising a central panel (41), two lateral panels (42) flanking the central panel (41) and an end panel (43), all aligned along a first axis (38), also an appendage (45) aligned with the central panel (41) along a second axis (39) perpendicular to the first axis (38), connected to one end of the central panel (41) and destined lo provide the lid (15). The frame (25) is incorporated directly into the blank (37), created by a process of deformation that involves selectively embossing portions (17a, 19a) of the front (17) and the flanks (19) of the container (13).

Abstract: Tobacco products are manufactured by an automatic machine presenting a number of working parts, certain of which consisting in rollers rotatable about mutually parallel axes and carried by a substantially vertical bulkhead of the machine frame, equipped with a protective casing rendered capable of movement by means of a parallelogram linkage between a raised position, clear of the bulkhead, and a lowered position shielding the bulkhead. A horizontal beam associated permanently with the casing carries an upright member serving to support a camera-and-strobe-light assembly; piloted by a master controller, the upright member is traversed along the beam by one motor, and the camera-and-strobe-light assembly along the upright member by another motor, so that the camera can be positioned at any given point on the bulkhead to examine all the working parts.

Abstract: A packet of cigarettes having a rigid container in turn having a hinged lid; and a group of cigarettes housed inside the container and enclosed in an inner foil wrapping having a front tear-off portion; a front wall of the container has a transparent window superimposed over the front tear-off portion of the inner foil wrapping (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A cigarette packet (4) with a cross section of flattened oval profile is fashioned from a diecut blank (1) of essentially elongated rectangular outline referable to a longitudinal axis (16) and comprising, aligned along the axis (16), a central panel (17), two intermediate panels (18, 19) and two end panels (20, 21), each intermediate panel (18, 19) displaying a flattened oval outline and joined to the two contiguous panels (17, 20; 17, 21) along respective rectilinear borders (22) extending transversely to the longitudinal axis (16) and interconnected in pairs by way of respective arcuate borders (23) with no break in linear continuity. The central panel (17) and end panels (20, 21) each present a flat central longitudinal area (24) and two lateral longitudinal bands (25) rendered pliable and thus adaptable to the curvature described by the arcuate borders (23), which they are designed to meet when the packet (4) is erected.

Abstract: A package (1) of tobacco items, of which form part a packet (2) of tobacco items, which opens at the top, is substantially parallelepiped-shaped, and houses a group (3) of tobacco items; and a foldable protective member (4), which assumes a closed configuration, in which it is flat and rectangular, and an open configuration, in which it is tubular to house a portion of the packet (2) of tobacco items with no clearance; the protective member (4) being folded into the closed configuration and attached removably to the packet (2) of tobacco items.

Abstract: A rigid pack for tobacco products comprises an outer wrapper (3) furnished with a container (4) presenting an open top (5), surmounted by a lid (6) hinged to the container (4) and rotatable between a position in which the open top (5) is exposed and a position, interacting with a frame (20) anchored to the open top (5), in which the open top is closed, the tobacco products being enveloped by an inner wrapper (19). The pack (1) presents four lateral faces (16, 17, 18) arranged in two parallel pairs, also a top end face (15) and a bottom end face (11) disposed transversely to the lateral faces (16, 17, 18), which define a front, a back and two flanks. At least one of the lateral faces (16, 17, 18) presents a deformation referable to at least one bend line (21), coinciding with a crease line (3) impressed previously on the blank from which the pack is fashioned, and obtained by subjecting the flank faces (18) to compression in such a way that the bend line (21) is forced into relief.

Abstract: A unit for forming a continuous mat of tobacco with denser portions, wherein the mat of tobacco is formed on a suction conveyor belt looped about a return pulley and extending through two successive shredded tobacco feed stations; and wherein the return pulley, located at one of the two feed stations, has a number of radial suction seats, each for retaining a localized quantity of tobacco on the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A rigid carton of packets of cigarettes, having a first container, which houses a group of packets of cigarettes and is in turn housed inside a second container so as to slide, with respect to the second container, between a closed position wherein the first container is fully inserted inside the second container, and an open position wherein part of the first container is extracted from the second container.

Abstract: Filters for tobacco products are manufactured by a device comprising a conveyor drum rotatable about a horizontal axis and furnished with peripheral grooves, each holding a leaf of paper material preassembled with a first filter element. The single groove is flanked by two tubular elements arranged symmetrically on either side of the drum, slidable axially between a first position located externally of the groove and a second position located internally of the groove, also by pushers slidable within the respective tubular elements and serving to direct second and third filter elements into contact with the end faces of the first filter element in such a way that the second filter element, which consists in a measure of powder or granular material deposited in each tubular element by way of a spool valve, remains interposed between the first and the third filter element.

Abstract: A filter for a cigarette has an organic filtering portion defined by granules or fibres of active carbon and housed inside a cylindrical shell of plastic material; the shell is located between a portion of cellulose acetate, which is engaged orally by a user, and a cigarette portion, and has a bottom, contacting the portion of cellulose acetate and hermetically supporting a particulate trap for retaining fine particulate, and an end contacting the cigarette portion and closed by a plug of cellulose acetate.

Abstract: A curling device for a filter tip attachment comprises at least one blade-like element offered to a continuous strip of paper material at a selected contact zone in such a way as to deform the material as it advances, so that single tipping papers separated from the strip by a cutting unit of the attachment are given a curved profile and as a result more easily wrapped around and affixed to the assembled filters and cigarette sticks when these are joined together; the curling device also comprises a delivery system by which the contact zone is flooded with a cushioning fluid designed to favor a smooth sliding contact between the curling element and the running strip, and at the same time equalize the tensions in the strip preceding and following the contact zone.

Abstract: A rigid cigarette packet having a case (1) defined by a cup-shaped container (12) closed by a hinged, lateral-opening lid (11), and wherein the lid (11) incorporates at least part of a top wall (4) of the case (1); and the case (1) is formed from a blank (44) having two panels (4?, 4?) which are superimposed to form the top wall (4) of the case (1), and houses a tubular collar (18) closed at the top by a wall (20; 67; 74) adjacent to the top wall (4) of the case (1) and including a removable panel (27; 71; 80) located at the lid (18).

Abstract: Cigarette sticks are transferred from a cigarette maker to a filter tip attachment by a unit that includes a conveying roller made to rotate in a first feed direction and furnished with channels aligned on a second direction transverse to the first direction. Each channel accommodates a single stick, directed onto the conveying roller by way of an impeller device, and presents two longitudinal areas designed to make contact progressively with corresponding longitudinal areas of the stick as it advances into the channel, the effect being to create a chamber between the stick and the part of the channel lying between the two longitudinal areas of contact, which is connected to a source of negative pressure.

Abstract: A continuous tobacco rod generated by a machine for making tobacco products is separated into reclaimable lengths by a device that comprises a pair of tension rollers designed to exert a pulling force on the rod, also a pair of brake rollers operating upstream of the tension rollers and serving to offer a measure of resistance to the action of the tension rollers; as a result of the interaction between the tension rollers and the brake rollers, the portion of the continuous rod extending between them is forced to break by tearing apart.