Abstract: A processing machine, particularly a packing machine for cigarettes or similar, includes a plurality of operating units which execute various steps of processing which are synchronized with each other and follow a predetermined system of operation. The machine has a modular unit construction, consisting of a table or bed (1) which forms a horizontal, or substantially horizontal, plane (101) acting as an upper support for the various operating units (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) and lower housings (201, 301) for further operating units (20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28), all the operating units being made in prefabricated form.

Abstract: A machine of the type capable of using strips of material wound in reels, for example wrapping, packaging and cellophane wrapping machines for cigarettes, or similar, the machine comprising at least one unwinding spindle of a reel of a strip of material which is supported in or which may be brought into a predetermined unwinding operating position; a store for at least one further reel to replace the empty reel on the spindle; means of transferring one replacement reel at a time from the store to the unwinding spindle in the operating position. The unwinding spindle is integrated with the store and forms its end on the output side. Advantageously, the store consists of a supporting bar on which the cores of the reels are threaded and whose front free end carries the spindle coaxially.

Abstract: An angular conveyor for fragile cylindrical objects, particularly in cigarette packing machines, comprises a wheel (1) provided preferably with a plurality of peripheral cells (101) to house the cigarettes (G), these cells (101) being open at least at the perimeter of the wheel (1), and devices (12) for the at least partial closing of the open perimetrical ends of the cells (101), these devices consisting in particular of pairs of fingers mounted on finger-carrying elements (10) which can be moved alternately between a position of at least partial closure and one of opening of the said ends in synchronization with the steps of advance of the wheel (1), the oscillation of these elements being caused by annular cams (15) substantially coaxial with the wheel (1), these cams (15) being provided on both sides of the wheel (1) and being independent of the rotary motion of the wheel (1). According to the invention, the cams consist of what are known as three-dimensional cams (15).

Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer tool which is activated by a rectilinear guide, i.e. by a mechanism made such that a point of attachment of the transfer tool describes a rectilinear trajectory when the guide is activated. A drive element for activating the guide is provided with non-rectilinear motion, and in particular with angular motion. Preferably, the rectilinear guide consists of an articulated oscillating linkage. The transfer device is used in a packaging machine for cigarettes or the like, in which, whenever possible, for each transfer of product into the processing path of the machine, rectilinear transfer units for the products are used, which transfer units are actuated by transfer devices activated by articulated oscillating linkages.

Abstract: In a method for forming a hard packet with a flip-up lid (2), in particular for cigarettes or the like, the package is produced by folding a preformed blank around an ordered group of cigarettes (12). During the formation of the packet a collar (3) and a message-bearing coupon (4, 4') are also fed in. The collar (3) is placed between the front face (101) of the box part (1), partly projecting beyond it, on the open side facing the lid (2). The coupon (4, 4') is removably inserted between the collar (3) and the group of cigarettes (12). In the method, the coupon (4, 4') is coupled to the collar (3) and both are then coupled, held together in the correct reciprocal position by use of suction, to the group of cigarettes (12) before the packet-forming stage, at least one aperture (503) being made in a part (403) of the collar which is inside the box part (1), the coupon (4, 4') being additionally held by use of suction via this aperture (503).

Abstract: A manufacturing machine designed to use reels of web material, in particular a packaging machine for packaging cigarettes, or the like, in which the processing units are located at least in part on one side of the machine, termed the front side. On the opposite side from the front side, i.e. from that provided at least in part with the processing units which use the web material, is a device for supplying new web reels to and removing the empty cores of the reels from a device for transferring the reels and cores. The transfer means are supported in such a way that they can be moved automatically from the rear side to the front side and vice versa, through at least one corresponding passage approximately perpendicular to the sides of the manufacturing machine.

Abstract: A packaging machine for delicate rod-shaped objects, especially cigarettes or the like, is provided with at least one wheel (1, 5) for carrying, along a path between many operating units, a series of ordered groups of cigarettes. The wheel (1, 5) is provided with one or more peripheral sockets (105), each designed to accommodate one ordered group of cigarettes (S) and each being open on the peripheral side of the wheel and/or on at least one face (101, 201) of the wheel (1, 5). The wheel or wheels (1, 5) consist of a central hub part (1) and annular rims (5, 305) attached removably (4) to the periphery of the central hub (1). The rims (5, 305) are separated axially by a lesser distance than the axial dimension of the ordered groups of cigarettes (S) and form the accommodating sockets by means of supporting cradles (105) coinciding axially with each other and shaped to correspond with those parts of the ordered groups of cigarettes that coincide with the annular rims (5).

Abstract: A manipulating device for handling, in particular for orientating, workpieces, tools or the like, includes a workpiece head provided with a device for supporting at least one workpiece, a tool or the like, having at least one characteristic axis and drive device for rotating the workpiece head about a pre-established axis of rotation. The workpiece is supported so that the characteristic axis has a pre-established orientation, in other words a pre-established colatitude and longitude relative to a three-dimensional Cartesian reference frame which is defined by three mutually perpendicular axes, while the workpiece head can rotate about an axis of rotation which is inclined with respect to all three axes of the three-dimensional Cartesian reference frame and has a colatitude and a longitude other than those of the characteristic axis of the workpiece or of the tool.

Abstract: A machine for packaging fragile cylindrical products, particularly cigarettes or similar, has means for feeding ordered groups of cigarettes, means of transferring the ordered groups of cigarettes to a station for joining to a wrapping slip, means of picking up and positioning the slip and means of introducing the groups of cigarettes together with the associated slip into a cell in a folding drum. According to the invention, the means of collecting and positioning the slips consist of pairs of gripping suction fingers which are made to rotate in a circular movement about an axis parallel to the axis of the folding drum. The gripping fingers grip each slip along the lateral surfaces at its corner areas. The means of transferring the groups of cigarettes to the joining station are made in such a way that the transfer movement is at least partially rectilinear.

Abstract: A machine for packaging fragile cylindrical products, particularly cigarettes, comprising a unit for forming and transporting ordered groups of cigarettes, and a station for transferring the groups to a following processing unit by mean synchronized with the forming and transporting unit. Means of checking the correct formation of the ordered groups of cigarettes are provided before the transfer station. Between the checking means and the station there are provided ejection means which are identical to the transfer means and are operated in phase by a single common operating mechanism in the transfer and ejection strokes. The ejection means are always operated in conjunction with the transfer means and they at least are additionally movable, under the control of the checking means, transversely with respect to the ejection stroke to a position where they do not interfere with the groups of cigarettes.

Abstract: Supply hopper for delicate, rod-shaped products, in particular in cigarette packaging machines, which hopper (1) is provided in its lower part with a plurality of separate discharge channels (2), each of which is divided by means of intermediate walls (4) into several ducts (3) which are vertical and parallel to one another, in each of which ducts (3) there is formed at least one substantially vertical row of cigarettes (S) which are superimposed on one another, whereas above the upper end (104) of each intermediate wall (4) there is provided a roller (6) which is horizontal and parallel to the axis of the cigarettes (S) in the hopper (1), and is rotated, preferably with oscillatory motion. According to the invention, in order to prevent to a large extent the formation of bridges of cigarettes which block the ducts (3), the rollers (6) are disposed quincuncially relative to a horizontal plane, i.e. they are alternately offset parallel to one another upwards and downwards.

Abstract: Device for feeding sheets of, for example, foil, especially for use in cigarette packing machines, with a drum (7) having cells (2') in which the sheets (8) are folded around individual groups (3) of cigarettes (S) as each group (3) of cigarettes (S) is transferred from a transfer drum (1) having cells (2) to the folding drum (7) at a transfer point (T) where the cigarette-carrying cells (2, 2') of the two drums (1, 7) coincide face to face and to where the sheet (8) is fed in a predetermined position with respect to the group (3) of cigarettes (S) and between the cells (2, 2') of the two drums (1, 7) by a pick-up/positioning device (14, 114) associated with the transfer drum (1). The sheet (8) pick-up/positioning device consists of a separate pick-up/positioning drum (14, 114) supported coaxially with the transfer drum (1) and rotated (21) independently of it.

Abstract: A device with a packaging wheel, for supplying sheets, in particular in cigarette packaging machines, comprises means (20, 20') for collecting/positioning the packaging sheets (F) in a predetermined position, in a transfer station (T), between a cell (101) of a transfer drum (1) which accomodates a group of cigarettes (S) and an empty cigarette-carrying cell (102) of a folding drum (2) opposite. During transfer into the cell (102) of the folding drum (2), the group of cigarettes (S) draws the sheet (F) which is folded automatically in a U-shape around the cigarettes (S) by the cigarette-carrying cell (102). According to the invention, the collecting/positioning means (20, 20') consist of mechanical gripper means for grasping the packaging sheet (F) which are provided at least on the front side of each cigarette-carrying cell (101) of the transfer drum (1), with reference to the direction of rotation of the drum.

Abstract: A device for transforming a random succession of unit packets into an orderly, regular succession thereof includes a vertical collection/raising unit for supplying a stack of unit packets in a random succession to a horizontal conveyor/transfer unit. The conveyor/transfer unit transfers the stack of unit packets to a vertical discharge/lowering unit. The vertical discharge/lowering unit deposits the unit packets onto a conveyor which outputs the unit packets in an orderly, regular succession, the vertical discharge/lowering unit being actuated synchronously with the output conveyor.

Abstract: An operating device for railroad switches, particularly for high-speed lines. To permit more stable positioning of the blades (A1,A2) and of the frog (C) of the switch, which in high-speed lines are of considerable length, in addition to the switching actuator (1) at the toes of the blades (A1,A2) and to that (3) of the frog (C), there are distributed along the blades (A1,A2) and along the frog (C) one or more further switching actuators (2,3'). The switching actuators (1,2) of the blades (A1,A2) and the switching actuators (3,3') of the frog (C) are of the hydraulic type and are controlled respectively by a hydraulic control unit (4,4').

Abstract: A cigarette-packing machine for packing cigarettes into hinged-lid hard boxes. The machine is fitted with an arbor-carrying drum (1) which is stepwise rotatable around its axis, and has a plurality of tubular matrices or arbors (3) projectingly mounted thereon. Hard cigarette boxes (P) are formed by blanks (F) and neck elements (C) to be folded about arbors (3) in a number of operative steps carried out at successive cigarette box-forming stations (S1 and S12), arranged around the arbor-carrying drum (1). In order to have the neck elements (C) accurately laid on the respective arbor (3), in their correct position relative to a box (P), the machine provides for the neck elements (C) and the blanks (F) to be separately fed.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping cigarette packs (P), or the like, each into a wrapping material sheet (F), which including a stepwise-operatable spoke wheel (1) formed with a plurality of outwardly open radial pockets (4) which are for receiving packs (P) with the relative wrapping material sheet (F) from a feeding station (A), each pocket (4) being provided at the trailing end of its mouth--relative to the direction of rotation of the spoke wheel (1), with the radial teeth (214) for retaining in position the trailing flap (L1) of the wrapping material sheet flaps (L1, L2) which are folded on the respective pack by a folder device (5, 6). The folded flaps (L1, L2) are welded together by welding device (7, 8) which are imparted with a radially directed reciprocating motion between the one and the successive step of the spoke wheel (1), so that any interference is avoided with the retaining teeth (214).

Abstract: A direct current relay is disclosed, which is especially fit for railway type signalling systems. The said relay comprises a core (7) extending horizontally through a coil (8), an iron yoke (6) disposed above the core (7), and fixed to the core fore end, and extending along the coil (8) to the core rear end, an armature (11) pivotally mounted at the free end of yoke (6), in front of the corresponding rear end of core (7), and sets of moving and stationary contact members (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5) carried by moving and stationary, elastically flexible strips (24) which project in superposed and reciprocally spaced relationship from a contact carrier block fixed on the yoke (6).

Abstract: The invention describes a method and apparatus for effecting vital functions notwithstanding the fact that non-vital hardware is employed. A vital processor is implemented using non-vital hardware in the form of a digital computer which may for example be a microprocessor. The vital processor accepts binary input values and, based on a series of logical expressions relating output values to input values, determines the appropriate output values. Rather than employing a single bit to represent the condition of a particular input or output, unique multibit binary values or names are used. Each input or output has assigned to it at least two unique multibit values, each satisfying the code rules of a different code. Thus rather than representing a closed contact as a single 1 bit, and an open contact as a single 0 bit, in accordance with the invention the closed contact is represented by a unique multibit name which satisfies the code rules of a first code.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for sealing the folded over and overlapped end flaps (L1, L2) of the plastics material wrapper for packages (P), particularly for packages of cigaerettes. In this device, the packages (P) to be sealed are passed after each other between the heated sealer bodies (7) of at least a stationary pair of opposite sealer bodies (7--7) the active faces of which engage, in their operative position, the respective ends of the packages (P) with the intermediary of the parallel facing stretches (102) of two endless belts running in the same direction and at the same speed as the packages. According to the invention, the active surface of each sealer body (7) of at least one pair of opposite sealer bodies (7--7) comprises at least two slightly protruding i.e. in-relief zones (8,9; 18,19,20; 108,208,308,109,209,309; 118,119,120,218,219,220) staggered from each other both in the direction (F) of movement of the packages (P) and transversely to said direction.