Abstract: Described is a packet for tobacco products, substantially in the shape of a parallelepiped and extending about a respective main direction, having a front wall, a rear wall facing the front wall, a pair of side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall; the bottom wall and the top wall have a same perimeter extension; the packet also has at least a first and a second corner wall, each of which is interposed between a side wall and the respective front wall or rear wall and has a transversal dimension variable along the main direction; the first corner wall has a geometry complementary to that of the second corner wall in such a way as to keep substantially constant the perimeter extension of each section of the packet transversal to the main direction.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing tobacco products whereby, a number (Pn) that represents a nominal production target for products of a given brand, and a number (Cmax) representing the maximum output capacity of the system, or in practice the maximum quantity of products in process that the system is able to handle, are programmed into master control unit (33). A tally (P) of products is kept, and, at a given moment (t1) following the completion of a number (Pr) of products that matches the target (Pn=Pr+Cmax), a first flash check is run on the quantity (C1) of the product actually turned out by the system; should it emerge from this first flash check that the actual quantity (C1) is equal to the maximum output capacity (Cmax), then a brand changeover procedure will be initiated by the master control unit (33).

Abstract: The outfeed unit of a cigarette maker establishes a feed path along which at least one cigarette rod is caused to advance in a predetermined direction from the outfeed end of a beam, on which the rod is formed, toward a cutter device by which the rod is divided into sticks constituting single cigarettes; the unit is equipped with a cut-off device located in close proximity to the outfeed of the forming beam, by which the rod is severed and diverted from the feed path, and, at a given point downstream of the cut-off device, with pinch rollers by which a portion of the rod separated through the action of the cut-off device is removed from a final stretch of the feed path between the cut-off device and the cutter device.

Abstract: In a cigar-making machine, the cigars advance continuously in orderly succession occupying a plurality of respective pockets transported by a conveyor along a predetermined feed path toward a piercing station where they are engaged by a plurality of needles fitted to respective movable heads; the heads are caused to advance parallel to the predetermined feed path followed by the cigars, proceeding continuously and synchronously with the pockets in such a manner that each of the single cigars can be pierced by a corresponding needle with a relative hole, aligned substantially on a longitudinal axis of the cigar.

Abstract: Packets (2) transferred from a packing machine to an overwrapping machine pass through an in-line storage unit (1) of variable capacity internally of which they are directed along a path (P) between a loading station (3) and an unloading station (4); the unit (1) includes a succession of conveying members (19) each describing a closed loop path (P1) and set in motion by a corresponding motor (30), and chutes (44) by which the conveying members (19) are linked in series.

Abstract: A rigid container for tobacco products is prismatic in shape, substantially rectangular or triangular in section, and presents a plurality of side faces each presenting a flat central portion and two longitudinally oriented lateral bands of curved profile of which the concave surface is directed toward the inside of the container; the contiguous lateral bands of each two adjacent side faces are joined one to the other along a sharp longitudinal corner edge.

Abstract: Cigarette sticks are carried through a filter tip attachment on a train of rollers, each comprising a fixed first tubular body rigidly associated with a vertical bulkhead and a rotatable second-tubular body placed coaxially over the fixed tubular body and centered on an axis common to both bodies. Each roller incorporates a stator rigidly associated with the first tubular body and a rotor rigidly associated with the second tubular body, coinciding respectively with the primary and the secondary of an electric motor of which the winding is connected to a power source governed by a master controller; the controller receives signals from individual transducers capable at any given moment of sensing the angular position and velocity of the single rollers, in such a way as to select a predetermined timing for each roller relative to the others of the train, which is maintained throughout each operating cycle.

Abstract: A gumming applicator (1) rotatable about a central axis (A) is cleaned by a device (4) comprising a nozzle (13) connected to a source (11) of pressurized fluid (50) and calibrated so as to deliver an atomized jet (14) which is directed at the gumming applicator (1) to the end of removing residues (60) of the gumming adhesive (2) from the applicator (1); the nozzle (13) is also capable of movement in a direction (D) parallel with the axis (A) of rotation of the applicator (1).

Abstract: A continuous cigarette rod advancing along a set path is directed through an electro-optical scanning station where its entire cylindrical surface is inspected by a unit comprising an illumination device of which the function is to shed light in substantially uniform manner on a given annular area of the surface, a line scan television camera positioned relative to the path in such a way as to enable acquisition of a direct image from a first portion of the annular area, and a reflecting element located on the side of the path opposite to the camera, embodied and oriented in such a way as to reflect two images back toward the camera which combine with the direct image to make up the entire annular area.

Abstract: Cigarettes are formed into groups by a device comprising a hopper through which to direct a flow of cigarettes, a conveyor with pockets moving intermittently past a discharge outlet of the hopper, and a reciprocating pusher located on the side of the hopper opposite from the conveyor by which a portion of the flow corresponding to one group is directed with each forward stroke into a respective pocket. To avoid damage of the kind often associated with sliding contact and axial compression, the cigarettes adjacent to those ejected by the pusher are restrained when their cylindrical surfaces are attracted by suction generated through ports located inside the hopper.

Abstract: In a cigarette packet with an inner wrapping enveloping a group of cigarettes, and an outer wrapping folded around the inner wrapping, the outer wrapping is fashioned from a layered material consisting in a first inner layer of paper material and, bonded to the first layer, a second layer of exposed finish material different to the paper material of the inner layer.

Abstract: A cigarette packet of the rigid type having a hinged lid presents four side faces of which at least one is convexly profiled and associated with the two adjoining side faces along dihedral angles that are effectively obtuse, softening the contours of the packet.

Abstract: The typical rigid cigarette packet consists of a box-like container with one open top end that can be exposed and closed by rotating a lid hinged to a rear edge of the container; the contents of the packet are restrained by a separate "U"-shaped frame element of which a first portion is anchored to the container and a second portion projects through the open top end and into the closed lid. To advantage, a front section of the first portion of the frame element incorporates a set of transverse stiffening ribs near the open top end of the container.

Abstract: An assembly including two lengths of cigarette rod, a double length filter and a band of gummed paper is rolled up along a path describing a limited arc to produce a double length filter tipped cigarette, passing between a cylindrical inner rolling surface and a cylindrical outer conveying surface that revolve in the same direction about respective axes, the inner surface at a greater velocity than the outer surface. The conveying surface is generated by a succession of substantially flat faces, each providing a seat shaped to accommodate a respective assembly and incorporated laterally into one of a series of rockers mounted so as to pivot between a first position, assumed along the rolling arc, in which the flat faces are directed toward the rolling surface, and a second position assumed when passing through successive infeed and outfeed stations, in which the flat faces are directed away from the rolling surface.

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: In a cigarette packet of the type with a hinged lid composed of a rigid box and a soft inner wrapping directly enveloping the cigarettes, the lid end is reinforced internally by a frame lodged between the wrapping and the box, and the packet often assembled with a leaflet or coupon inserted between the frame and the wrapping. To ensure that the coupon does not slip out of place as assembly operations proceed, the frame or the coupon itself is fashioned with at least one slot position to interlock with a corresponding part of the coupon or the frame, accordingly.

Abstract: In a cigarette packet that consists of a single wrapper with an easy opening tear ribbon, applied to the inside surface, the wrapper exhibits break lines coinciding one with each longitudinal edge of the ribbon, and incisions positioned to coincide with the opposite ends of the ribbon; also applied to the inside surface of the wrapper, at least over the areas exhibiting the incisions, are respective ribbon patches able to restore the continuity of the wrapper where broken by the incisions, in such a way that the contents of the packet will remain isolated from the external environment until the ribbon is removed.

Abstract: Seal labels are affixed to containers by means of equipment comprising a system of conveyors serving to direct a succession of the containers along a predetermined path, and a feed device by which gummed labels are supplied to a fixing station occupying a position alongside one part of the selfsame path. The feed device affords a recess located between two points against which the two ends of each label are restrained, and operates in conjunction with a first push rod by which each container in turn is displaced from the conveying path, directed forcibly against a relative label supported by the device and caused to penetrate the recess to a given depth together with the label. Thereafter, the container is ejected from the recess and repositioned on the conveying path by a second push rod.

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.