Abstract: Groups of cigarettes are inserted in succession into the peripheral pockets of an indexed wrapping wheel, each together with a relative sheet of heat-sealable wrapping material that incorporates a tear-open strip to facilitate the operation of breaking open the pack; the sheet is folded initially to create a sheath, enveloping the group of cigarettes lengthwise, the overlapping flaps of which are fused together by heat-seal elements that operate each time the wheel pauses; the projecting ends of the sheet are then folded down over the top and bottom of the pack by an assembly of mechanisms, and fused together by further heat-seal elements.

Abstract: The device is of the type comprising a hopper (1), the lower portion of which contains the cigarettes (2) disposed in piles which are mobile stepwise along respective outlet channels (5) of the hopper (1), sensor (13) for checking the individual cigarettes (2) in the channels (5) at each advancement step of the cigarettes (2), a pusher element (8) arranged to remove the cigarettes (2) from the hopper (1), and at least one discarding device (40) for defective cigarettes (2), controlled by the sensor in the direction of advancement of the cigarettes (2); the discarding device (40) being provided with an engaging, retaining and extracting device (41) the defective cigarettes (2) and, at least during each extraction of a defective cigarette (2), being driven in phase with the pusher element (8).

Abstract: A transfer device in which the bar-shaped articles, in particular cigarettes, are transferred transversely to their axis by three rollers, of which one is disposed in an intermediate position between the other two and is tangential thereto at two separate points defining between them a transfer arc, and are made to advance along said transfer arc supported by respective cradles associated with a rotation device arranged to rotate the cradles about their axis at a constant angular speed equal to a whole multiple of the angular speed of the intermediate roller.

Abstract: Method of spacing and turning over two coaxial cigarette lengths on a filter assembling machine, the said method providing for stages consisting in feeding the said lengths crosswise in relation to their axes along a conveyor provided, for each length, with a recess mounted so as to turn on the said conveyor round an axis essentially crosswise in relation to the direction of the said conveyor, and in turning the said recesses through 180.degree. in relation to the said conveyor so as to set the former opposite ends of the said two lengths facing each other at a distance equal to at least the length of a double filter.

Abstract: A device for feeding cigarettes to the wrapping line of a packeting machine comprises a hopper for feeding cigarettes to the machine. The hopper is divided at its lower end into outlet channels having a width substantially equal to the diameter of a cigarette, and through which the cigarettes disposed in piles descend. Along each channel there is provided, in order from the top downwards, sensor device for checking the cigarettes in succession, and at an expulsion position a device for expelling the defective cigarettes from the hopper. Along each channel there is provided cyclically operated retention mechanism for the cigarettes. This mechanism extends upstream and downstream of the expulsion position, and has two halt positions for the cigarettes. The mechanism includes two arcuate recesses in the channel which are connected via bores to a source of suction and a source of compressed air.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for infeeding cigarettes to the wrapping line of a packer, provided with: a hopper, the lower part of which contains the cigarettes in the form of stacks that are movable in steps along corresponding channels outgoing from the hopper; a sensor for checking, in succession, the cigarettes in the channels with each step forward of the stacks; and at least one cigarette expelling device, interlocked to the sensor, placed along the channels downstream of the sensor, in the direction in which the stacks move forward. Provision is also made for a device with which to engage and restrain the faulty cigarettes, able to brake the cigarettes during expulsion and to complete the extraction thereof from the hopper.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising at least one transportation line that connects the exit point of a first machine with the entry point of a second machine, and the exit point of the second machine with the entry point of the first machine, the drive being provided by the said machines either directly or through means connected thereto.The transportation line is so constructed that if the first machine should slow down or come temporarily to a halt, a gradual decrease occurs in the length of the section that runs, filled with products, from the first to the second machine and, contemporaneously, the length of the section of the said line that runs, devoid of products, from the second to the first machine, increases.

Abstract: An axial translation device for partly finished cigarettes disposed alongside one another in such a way as to form two substantially parallel rows, the device being provided with an input conveyor, an output conveyor and a conveyor roller for each said row disposed between the said input conveyor and output conveyor and tangential thereto, the said two conveyor rollers having parallel, but non coincident axes and supporting the partly finished cigarettes of the associated said row in an axially movable manner under the thrust of actuator means.

Abstract: An improved device (1) for forming groups (3) of cigarettes in cigarette packaging machines, in which a group forming wheel (2) comprises, uniformly distributed along its periphery, axial containers (8) each arranged to receive several layers (31, 32, 33) of cigarettes constituting the contents of one packet; said layers (31, 32, 33) being fed in succession into each container (8) during its traversing of a loading station (7), and retention means (34;56) being mobile with said container (8) at least during said traversing, in order to transversely retain the layers (31, 32, 33) in position once inserted, said retention means (34;56) being arranged to oscillate radially relative to the forming wheel (2).

Abstract: A device for forming groups of cigarettes in a cigarette packaging machine, in which an outlet hopper of a cigarette feed apparatus comprises a plurality of adjacent outlet mouths each arranged to deliver successive layers of cigarettes. Pusher means disposed below each outlet mouth insert said layers in superposed relationship into containers uniformly distributed along a conveyor which is mobile stepwise in proximity to the base of the hopper. Each pusher means is operable independently of the others, and can be deactivated on sensing determined irregular situations in the containers or during the starting or stopping stages of the packaging machine.