Abstract: A package of tobacco articles, having an inner container containing a group of tobacco articles; an outer container which houses the inner container in such a manner as to allow the inner container to slide, with respect to the outer container, between a closed position, in which the inner container is inserted inside the outer container, and an open position, in which the inner container is partly extracted from the outer container; and at least one lock member which, in releasable manner by user action from the outside, prevents the inner container in the closed position from sliding with respect to the outer container.

Abstract: A method of folding a rectangular sheet of packing material about a parallelepiped-shaped article; the method providing for: bringing an end wall of the article into contact with the flat sheet of packing material, so that major transverse edges of the article are parallel to the short sides of the sheet of packing material, and minor transverse edges of the article are parallel to the long sides of the sheet of packing material; folding the sheet of packing material into a U about the major transverse edges of the end wall, so that the sheet of packing material completely covers both the major lateral walls of the article; and folding the sheet of packing material about longitudinal edges of a major lateral wall and onto minor lateral walls of the article, before folding the sheet of packing material about minor transverse edges of the end wall.

Abstract: A method and machine for folding sheets of packing material about respective groups of cigarettes to form respective packages, and wherein a web of packing material is first fed through a control station for detecting the position of a reference mark made on the web at a work station upstream from the control station, and is then fed through a cutting station where the web is cut into sheets of packing material, each of which is fed to a packing station where each sheet of packing material is folded about the respective group of cigarettes.

Abstract: A transfer or feed drum for filter or cigarette portions, the drum having: a central body mounted to rotate about a first axis of rotation; a number of movable assemblies, each of which is fitted to the central body to rotate, with respect to the central body, about a respective second axis of rotation parallel to the first axis of rotation, and supports a pickup or feed head having at least one seat with a U-shaped cross section and for engaging at least one filter or cigarette portion; and an actuating system, which controls the angular position of each movable assembly about the respective second axis of rotation as a function of the angular position of the central body about the first axis of rotation.

Abstract: A package of cigarettes, having: a group of cigarettes; an inner package enclosing the group of cigarettes and made from a sheet of wrapping folded about the group of cigarettes; and a U-shaped stiffener made of rigid material and located inside the inner package, contacting the group of cigarettes; the sheet of wrapping has two flaps which are superimposed and heat sealed to each other at a rear wall or front wall of the group of cigarettes defined by the cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes.

Abstract: A packing method and unit for folding a sheet of packing material about a parallelepiped-shaped article, the packing unit having: a conveyor for feeding the article along a path; a feed device for feeding the sheet of packing material perpendicularly to the path and in front of the article, so the article, as it moves forward, intercepts and gradually folds the sheet of packing material into a “U”; two lead-in devices mounted to move parallel to the path and positioned on opposite sides of the article, so the article is enclosed between the two lead-in devices; and an actuating device for feeding the two lead-in devices parallel to the path and together with the article, so the sheet of packing material is also intercepted by the lead-in devices.

Abstract: A packet (1) of cigarettes having: an inner package (2) defined by a group (30) of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet (29) of wrapping material having at least one tear line (32) defining a tear-off top portion (31); an inner container (4) housing the inner package (2) and having an extraction opening (10) for access to the tear-off top portion (31); an outer container (5) housing the inner container (4) in sliding manner, to allow the inner container (4) to slide, with respect to the out container (5), between a closed position, in which the inner container (4) is inserted inside the outer container (5), and an open position, in which the inner container (4) is extracted partly from the outer container (5); and a tear-off lid (45) connected to the inner container (4) by at least one tear line (48), and covering at least part of the extraction opening (10).

Abstract: A laser marking unit for marking packets, having: a marking conveyor for feeding the packets successively along a marking path; and a marking station located along the marking conveyor, and having a laser marking device for marking a code on the outer surface of each packet conveyed on the marking conveyor. The laser marking device has a laser beam generator which emits a laser beam by means of an emitter; and a deflection box which deflects the laser beam onto the packet at the marking station by directing the laser beam along a focusing path that starts at the emitter and terminates on the outer surface of the packet.

Abstract: A method and unit (11) for folding a sheet (5) of wrapping material about a group (2) of cigarettes, the method including the steps of: feeding the group (2) of cigarettes and the sheet (5) of wrapping material into a pocket (14) of a wrapping conveyor (12), so the sheet (5) of wrapping material folds into a U inside the pocket (14) and has an outer portion (8) projecting from the pocket (14), and an inner portion (9) resting on a lateral wall (?a) of the group (2) of cigarettes; folding the inner portion (9) 90° with respect to the lateral wall (6a) of the group (2) of cigarettes, so the inner portion (9) is perpendicular to the lateral wall (6a); folding the outer portion (8) into an L inside the pocket (14), onto the lateral wall (6a) of the group (2) of cigarettes and onto the inner portion (9) perpendicular to the lateral wall (6a), so as to superimpose the outer portion (8) and the inner portion (9) and impart a tubular shape to the sheet (5) of wrapping material; and heat sealing the outer portion (8)

Abstract: A packing method and machine for producing a package, the method including the steps of feeding the content of the package into a first pocket of a first packing conveyor; transferring the content of the package from the first pocket of the first packing conveyor to a second pocket of a second packing conveyor at a first transfer station; feeding a first blank to the second pocket by means of a first feed device; and folding the first blank, in the second pocket, about the content of the package to form a container with a lid.

Abstract: A package having a parallelepiped-shaped container, which is cup-shaped and has a bottom wall, an open top end opposite the bottom wall, a front wall and a rear wall opposite and parallel to each other, and two parallel lateral walls interposed between the front wall and the rear wall; and a lid, which rotates between a closed position and an open position respectively closing and opening the open top end of the container, and has a top wall hinged to the rear wall of the container, and a front wall which, in the closed position, is superimposed on the front wall of the container.

Abstract: A method and device for finishing packets having respective overwrappings of heat-shrink material, whereby the overwrappings are sealed about the respective packets and then heated to shrink and adapt to the configuration of the packets; after being heated, the overwrappings are cooled to set and so reduce the risk of damage to the overwrappings at subsequent processing stages.

Abstract: A brand control method for an automatic tobacco article processing machine, the method including the steps of: defining a number of end product brands that can be produced on the automatic machine; creating a number of configurations, each associated with a respective brand and having a set of values of control parameters controlling electrically controlled operating parts to produce the brand; selecting a desired end product brand; loading the configuration corresponding to the desired end product brand onto a control unit to commence production of the desired brand; defining a number of sections, each having a set of control parameters and independent of the other sections; defining a number of recipes by assigning each section at least one respective set of values of the corresponding control parameters, so each recipe corresponds to a respective section and contains the values of the control parameters in that particular section; and defining each configuration by combining a number of compatible recipes,

Abstract: A rigid package having a group of articles; an inner package enclosing the group of articles and having an extraction opening; a reclosable sealing panel, which closes the extraction opening of the inner package, and has an inner surface gummed with non-dry, re-stick adhesive, and a grip tab with none-stick adhesive; and a rigid outer container, which houses the inner package, and has an open end, and a lid hinged to rotate between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the open end respectively; the grip tab being designed to project from the lid when the lid is in the closed position closing the open end.

Abstract: A package of tobacco articles, having: a group of tobacco articles; a cup-shaped outer container (2) having an open top end (6), and a cup-shaped lid (7) hinged to the outer container (2) along a hinge (8) to rotate, with respect to the outer container (2), between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the open top end (6) respectively; and an inner package (3) which is housed inside the outer container (2), encloses the group of tobacco articles, and has a tobacco article extraction opening (4) closed by a cover flap (5); at least a portion of the cover flap (5) is connected permanently and non-removably to the lid (7), so that opening and closing the lid (7) simultaneously also opens and closes the cover flap (5).

Abstract: A wrapping method and unit for producing a package containing a group of cigarettes and having a cigarette extraction opening; a sheet of wrapping material, complete with the cigarette extraction opening, is fed into a pocket of a wrapping wheel so that the sheet of wrapping material folds into a U inside the pocket; then the group of cigarettes is fed into the pocket containing the U-folded sheet of wrapping material.

Abstract: A rigid package having a group of articles; an inner package enclosing the group of articles, and having an extraction opening defined by a U-shaped first incision; a reclosable scaling panel for closing the extraction opening of the inner package; a rigid outer container housing the inner package and having an open end; and a rigid collar, which projects partly from the open end of the outer container, is folded about the inner package to at least partly cover a top portion of the inner package, and is fixed to the inner package. The reclosable sealing panel is positioned over the collar, and has an inner surface gummed with non-dry, re-stick adhesive, and which adheres to the collar when the reclosable scaling panel is in a closed position.

Abstract: A package (1) of tobacco articles, having a group (2) of tobacco articles; a collar (16) surrounding the group (2) of tobacco articles and having a number of lateral walls (17, 18, 19, 20); and an outer package (3) surrounding the group (2) of tobacco articles and the collar (16), and having a top wall (12), a bottom wall (13) parallel to the top wall (12), and a number of lateral walls (8, 9, 10, 11) which are perpendicular to the top and bottom walls (12, 13), and are parallel to and rest on respective lateral walls (17, 18, 19, 20) of the collar (16). A lateral joining wall (8; 10) of the outer package (3) is defined by two panels (8?, 8?; 10?, 10?), which are separate, coplanar, and side by side with no overlap, and are both glued to an underlying lateral joining wall (17; 19) of the collar (16).

Abstract: A method of folding a sheet (2) of packing material about a group (3) of cigarettes; the method includes the steps of: bringing a first end wall (8a) of the group (3) of cigarettes into contact with the flat sheet (2) of packing material, so that the major transverse edges (10) of the group (3) of cigarettes are parallel to the long sides of the sheet (2) of packing material; folding the sheet (2) of packing material into a U about the major transverse edges (10) of the first end wall (8a), so that the sheet (2) of packing material partly covers both the major lateral walls (6) of the group (3) of cigarettes; folding the sheet (2) of packing material about the minor transverse edges (10) of the first end wall (8a), so that the sheet (2) of packing material completely covers both the major lateral walls (6) and the minor lateral walls (7), and forms a tubular package having one open end at a second end wall (8b); and folding the sheet (2) of packing material onto the second end wall (8b) to complete the foldin

Abstract: A package of cigarettes having a group (4) of cigarettes; an inner package (3) which encloses the group (4) of cigarettes, is defined by a sheet (22) of transparent, heat-seal plastic packing material folded directly about the group (4) of cigarettes and in direct contact with the cigarettes, and is stabilized by heat sealing; and a U-shaped stiffener (23) of rigid material located inside the inner package (3) and contacting the group (4) of cigarettes.