Abstract: An optoelectronic device for checking the number of cigarettes making up an orderly group of cigarettes to be packed, and/or the regularity of the cigarette ends, includes a box-like cigarette-checking head (1) in which a number of feeler pins (2) are axially slidably mounted, the said feeler pins (2) being pressed against the cigarette ends, and controlling a number of intercepting screens (4) located between light sources (10), such as light emitting diodes, and photosensitive elements (11), such as phototransistors. Air under pressure is fed into the box-like cigarette-checking head (1), and is caused to first sweep the light sources (10) and the photosensitive elements (11). Thus, dust is prevented from settling down on the light sources (10) and on the photosensitive elements (11), and the air under pressure flowing out of the box-like cigarette-checking head (1) through the feeler pin-guiding bores (3, 8), will remove any dust from said bores and guarantee the slidability of the feeler pins (2).

Abstract: A device for wrapping a junction band (T) around the abutting ends of two aligned cigarettes (S) and one double filter (F) interposed therebetween includes a rotary supporting drum (1) having a peripheral assembly of equally spaced wrapping units. Each wrapping unit includes a wrapping member (12) affixed to in the drum and having an active concave surface (212), and an associated wrapping member (11) which is angularly movable with respect to the fixed wrapping member and which has an active convex surface (111). The movable wrapping member is moved cyclically with respect to the fixed wrapping member, starting from an initial angular position (B) where the active surface of the movable wrapping member is exposed and a receiving end portion thereof receives a cigarettes-and-filter assembly, with a junction band being attached thereto by an end margin thereof.

Abstract: The multi-color traffic signal for railways comprises for each one of the three colors a projector unit consisting of a lamp, an optical unit and a chromatic filter. The projector units are connected to an irradiating output optics by means of an optical channel system consisting of a main rectilinear channel presenting at one end the irradiating output optics and at the other end a first projector unit in axial alignment with the main channel. A second and third projector units are housed in transverse channels at 90.degree. with respect to the main channel and open thereinto. A first dichroic mirror is arranged in the main channel with an angle of 45.degree. in correspondence with the outlet of the transverse channel of the second projector unit and a second dichroic mirror is arranged in the main channel with an angle of 45.degree. in correspondence with the outlet of the transverse channel of the third projector unit.

Abstract: A compression drum (1) for orderly groups of cigarettes (G) in automatic cigarette-packing machines has one or more compression pockets (2). Each compression pocket has a substantially rectangular cross-section and includes at least partly, movable sidewalls (3, 3', 4, 4') permitting the cross-section of a pocket to be varied between a maximum expansion condition, wherein an orderly group of cigarettes (G) to be packed is introduced thereinto, and a maximum compression condition, wherein the group of cigarettes (G) received in the pocket (2) is compressed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a feeler pin device for the quality and/or quantity testing, and/or the levelling of cigarettes. The device comprises a plurality of feeler pins which are set in a substantially co-axial relation with the cigarettes to be tested or levelled, and which are moved from a retracted rest position axially toward the respective cigarettes, so as to contact the cigarette ends, whereby they apply thereon an elastic pressure, such as to shift the cigarette or the cigarettes against a suitable abutment for aligning same, and/or they signal the presence or absence of cigarettes, or the degree of filling of the ends thereof, and/or the presence or the absence of the filter tip, by the aid of means responsive to the stroke length of each feeler pin with respect to its support.

Abstract: The device for the formation of orderly groups of cigarettes in cigarette-packaging machines, in which each group of cigarettes is formed in a collecting container (6) which passes intermittently through two or more successive feeding stations (1,2,3) and receives in each of them a layer of cigarettes (S1,S2,S.sub.3) formed below the bottom outlets of corresponding substantially vertical feeding channels (C1,C2,C3), comprises interceptors (11) which are provided at the feeding stations to prevent the cigarettes (S) from exiting out of the bottom outlets of the feeding channels (C1,C2,C3).

Abstract: This invention relates to a cutting device for severing a continuous web into a plurality of individual segments, particularly into bands for connection of filters to cigarettes, by supporting the end portion of the web on a rotating supporting drum and by cutting the segments from the end of the web on the supporting drum by means of a web-cutting blade that is cyclically moved on a plane which is transverse to the web and substantially parallel to the axis of the supporting drum, so as to effect a transverse progressive cut in the web from one longitudinal edge to the opposite longitudinal edge thereof.

Abstract: An automatic control device for adjusting the suction force exerted by the flutes of a rotary transfer drum for rod-like articles such as cigarettes includes an adjustable control device operatively interposed between the suction ports of the flutes and a source of vacuum. The adjustable control device is actuated by a pilot unit in response to a tachymetric signal which is representative of the speed of production of the cigarette-making machine.

Abstract: A device for detecting the unbalance .DELTA.i between the two fractions of the return traction current flowing in the two rails of a railroad track, in the presence of a signalling current in the respective track circuit, includes a linear combination circuit (3) that receives two signals (i.sub.1 and i.sub.2) which are proportional to the two currents actually present in the two rails and obtains both the difference (i.sub.1 -i.sub.2) and the sum (i.sub.1 +i.sub.2) thereof. A demodulating circuit (4), fed with the difference signal, takes from it the modulating signal of the signalling current and feeds it to a sample generator circuit (5), which generates a sample function M(t). The sample function is supplied to two successive sampling circuits (106 and 206), one of which also receives the difference signal and produces a sampled difference signal M(i.sub.1 -i.sub.2), while the other also receives the sum signal and produces a sampled sum signal M(i.sub.1 +i.sub.2).

Abstract: The invention relates to the reciprocating folders (6) used in packaging machines, packing machines and the like, particularly in cellophane wrapping machines, for folding on one side (103) of an article (3) to be packaged an edge (104) of a sheet (4) or slip of wrapping material, particularly of a material which is not much rigid and/or is easily charged with static electricity. According to the invention, for preventing the folder (6) from dragging along, during its return stroke, the folded edge (104) of the sheet (4) or slip, one or more blowing nozzles (9,109) are provided, and are oriented and arranged in such a manner that an air layer is generated between the folder (6) and the folded edge (104) of the sheet (4) or slip.

Abstract: A quality control device for cigarettes moving through a hopper (1) to a cigarette-packing machine. The hopper has a lower section with a plurality of cigarette-guiding down channels (2) set side by side, with each channel guiding an individual pile of cigarettes (S) downward toward an underlying chamber where a cigarette batch consisting of at least one layer of cigarettes set side by side will be formed and then transferred to the cigarette-packing machine. Near each of the cigarette-guiding channels (2), a cigarette-inspection sensor is provided at one or both ends of the cigarettes to control a cigarette ejection mechanism for discarding any defective cigarette found. In each one of the cigarette-guiding channels (2) there is provided a rotary cigarette-transfer device (3) that separates the respective cigarette-guiding channel (2) into an upper section (12) and a lower section (22).

Abstract: An automatic feeder device for loading full trays over the hopper of machines for packing cigarettes and for discharging empty trays from the hopper, with the aid of a tray-carrying casing which is provided with a gate for closing the tray mouth and with tray-holding arms cooperating with the bottom of the tray. The device includes a path (4) for feeding full trays (2'), this path being directed towards the hopper (1), and a path (6) for discharging empty trays (2"), the discharge path being arranged below the tray-feeding path and being directed away from the hopper. A loading-and-unloading inclined frame (8-8, 9, 10) extends adjacent the paths and has an upper fore end which is disposed adjacent the hopper. The frame is swingably mounted so that it can alternately assume two angular positions: a less inclined position in which its upper fore end is lowered toward the inlet of the hopper, and another more inclined position in which its upper fore end is lifted from the inlet of the hopper.

Abstract: A buffer magazine includes a conveyor belt (3) of reversible type and including a horizontal stretch (103) carrying the cigarettes arranged crosswise thereto in superposed layers, and moving between two vertical side walls (2) on a supporting table (8). The horizontal cigarette-carrying stretch (103) of the conveyor belt (3) has associated therewith a transverse partition wall (7) extending upwardly between the two side walls (2) and moving, through corresponding movements of the conveyor belt (3), alternately away from the inlet of the magazine to increase the capacity of the magazine and store cigarettes, and toward the inlet of said magazine to reduce the capacity of the magazine and return stored cigarettes.

Abstract: A device for transferring rod-like articles, particularly cigarettes, from a rectilinear horizontal path to a rotary fluted drum having its axis of rotation substantially parallel to the rectilinear path. The device has two main rotary elements which rotate on two fixed shafts and which are coupled by at least one pair of main double cranks each having an arm integral with two crank pins to form an articulated parallelogram type rotary system. A crank pin of at least one main double crank extends beyond the respective main rotary element and ends with an eccentric pin to form a pair of parallel orbiting axes which carry respective secondary rotary elements coupled by at least one pair of secondary double cranks to form a second articulated parallelogram type rotary system. The crank pin of at least one second double crank extends beyond the respective secondary rotary element to form an extension on which there is a pneumatic pick-up or a suction head.

Abstract: A drive shaft (1) rotatably journalled in a stationary block (2) has keyed thereto a driving member (5), while a driven member (6) is rotatably mounted on the shaft. The driving member imparts to the shaft a positive intermittent rotation, for example by steps of one revolution or an integer fraction of one revolution. Co-axially mounted on the shaft is a disc (8) having a periphery with at least one keyway (108) if the intermittent rotation of the shaft is by one-revolution steps. The keyway-recessed disc cooperates with a latch (9) which is slidably but not rotatably mounted on the driven member and which is parallel to the axis of the shaft. The latch has a pronged end (109) which, in the dwell position of the intermittent motion of the shaft, is aligned with the head (110) of a rod (10) that is slidably mounted in the stationary block parallel to the shaft and that is driven by a pneumatic cylinder (12).

Abstract: A device for sequentially transferring cigarettes or cigarette pairs from a rectilinear, preferably horizontal path, so-called "longitudinal", along which the cigarettes are moved forward in a file in which they are axially aligned, to a rotary fluted drum with its axis of rotation being parallel to the rectilinear horizontal path, the transferred cigarettes being successively deposited, parallelly arranged side by side, onto the drum in a row, which is transverse with respect to the cigarette file moving along the longitudinal path. The transferring device includes a rotary drum positively driven at a constant speed, onto which there is mounted a number of swinging arms star-like arranged at an equal distance therebetween and carrying each one a suction head for picking up and transferring the cigarettes.

Abstract: A discarding device (1) for discarding cigarette packs (PS) not provided with a label or duty stamp (T) comprises an operational endless conveyor (4) driven step by step and carrying a plurality of open containers (5) each adapted to receive one cigarette pack (P).Loading means are provided to load sequentially into said containers (5) the packs (P) not yet provided with labels; and, spaced with respect to one another according to the feed steps of the intermittent conveyor (4), there are provided: a labelling station (S1) where the labels (T) are applied to the packs (P) in the containers (5), a checking station (S2) to detect the presence of the label on a pack, a discard conveyor (2) to discharge the unlabelled packs (PS), and a transfer conveyor (3) to convey the regular (i.e. labelled) packs (P) from a operational conveyor (4) to a further delivery conveyor (22, 23, 24).

Abstract: A method and a device for feeding rod-like articles, particularly cigarettes, carried by trays, to the feed hopper of handling machines, particularly cigarette-packing machines. In order to assure a broad time period to replace an emptied tray and to practically avoid the sudden drop of the cigarettes from the tray into the hopper, two trays in discharge position and aligned to each other in the direction of the hopper length, are arranged over the inlet opening of the hopper. The descent of the cigarettes into the hopper is permitted alternately only from one of the trays until it is emptied, while the other previously emptied tray is replaced with a stand-by full tray.

Abstract: The wrapper sheet (1) for forming the outer wrapping in cigarette packs of the so-called "soft or american" type, has the outline of a rectangle with a bevel angle (101) and, in correspondence of the angle adjacent to the bevel angle, with an appendix (201) projecting out of the ideal contour of the rectangle and being exactly alike to the triangle cut out from the bevel angle. Upon folding of the outer wrapper (1) around the tinfoil-wrapped cigarette pack, the two bottom flaps result to be both shaped as isosceles trapeziums, while the appendix comes to be concealed under one of said flaps.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic control device adapted to regulate, without interruptions, cigarette-making process and in a substantially continuous way, the cut tobacco being re-circulated back to the distributor, as trimmed excess tobacco (S) from the uniform tobacco rod, formed in the pneumatic suction belt forming assembly (N) of a continuous cigarette-making machine. Said device substantially comprises a detector suction head (1), through which all of said trimmed excess tobacco (S) is passed pneumatically, in its path of suction re-circulation, from trimmer (R) of the belt (N) the distributor of the cut tobacco for the formation of the rod. Said detector suction head (1) is associated with a photo-cell sensor (4, 5) whose light beam is liable to be attenuated by the total flow of trimmed cut tobacco (S) sucked through said head.