Abstract: A food products packaging automatic plant, comprising: at least a first food products conveying line, comprising in turn a plurality of first connection areas. The plant further comprises a plurality of operative units, each comprising: a movable base, that is able to move at the first connecting areas of the first food products conveying line; processing means, placed on the movable base and connectable to the first conveying line at the first connection areas; the processing means being provided for processing the food products conveyed on the first conveying line; a plurality of sensors; wireless communication means. The plant further comprises: a maintenance station of the operative units; a preparation station of the operative units; and a control and managing central unit, comprising: wireless communication means, for sending and receiving information to and from the operative units; and an internal memory, wherein predetermined information is stored.

Abstract: There is provided herein a valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine comprising a rocker arm and a valve bridge. There is also described herein a valve bridge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to multimicrolamellar membranes of collagen of several types and structures (e.g. collagen type I, type II, type III, etc.), of only one type or two types in association, but more particularly of type I and type II collagen and/or of their mixture. The multimolecular arrangement is obtained by preparing the membrane in several steps involving the sequential addition of collagen gel layers. Membranes look thin, with a variable rough surface depending on the type of collagen used. Such membranes show a parallel horizontal lamellar microstructure and they can be soaked with different fluids, act as three-dimensional scaffold for cultured cells and are apt to be infiltrated and colonized by cells in vivo, therefore working as support suitable for direct, guided tissue regeneration. Moreover, the present invention relates to the preparation of said membranes from collagen gels and to the optimization of the preparation of collagen gel from tissues.

Abstract: Packets of cigarettes are conveyed singly and in succession to a first inlet of a propulsion chamber also having an outlet, connected to a duct, and at least one other inlet through which compressed air is directed into the enclosure; as one packet is carried forward by the force of inertia to the point of occupying the outlet, another packet takes its place at the inlet, the effect of which being to enclose the chamber completely and occasion a rise in pressure sufficient to generate a force by which the packet occupying the outlet is "fired" along the duct.

Abstract: A method of feeding a continuous packing machine with groups of tobacco items, in particular cigarettes, composed of at least one layer of items, whereby a continuously-moving conveyor with pockets for respective groups is supplied successively with the groups, each of which is expelled from a feedbox in a substantially transverse direction in relation to the items by arresting the items inside the feedbox and over the expelled items.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing products, particularly tobacco items, on a production line wherein at least a first product manufacturing machine and at least a second product grouping machine, for forming the products into groups containing a given number of products, are connected rigidly and in time with each other by way of a transfer device; the method comprising stages wherein, by way of the transfer device, a first orderly succession of products from the first machine and containing vacancies is manipulated and converted into a second succession for supply to the second machine and containing a succession of gaps and full portions, wherein each gap and each full portion is composed of a number of products which is a multiple of the number of products in each group, and is in time with the second machine.

Abstract: A device for feeding tobacco items, particularly cigarettes, to a grouping machine particularly a packing machine, for forming the items into groups of "n" items each; the device presenting a conveyor with seats for a succession of items featuring gaps defined by the absence of a number of consecutive items equal to "n" or a multiple thereof; a sensor for detecting a first and second incomplete group in time with the grouping machine and located respectively at the upstream end and downstream end of each gap; and a timing roller for transferring the items housed in the first group of seats into a corresponding position in the second group of seats.