Abstract: A method and system of feeding groups of products to a processing unit includes: a tray with a plurality of housings to receive one single product; a conveyor to move the tray along a feeding path; a transfer device to transfer a group of products from respective housings to the processing unit; and an organizing device upstream of the transfer device. The organizing device has: a detection member to detect the presence and position of empty housings and/or housings containing defective products; a gripping member to pick up from or release product into any housing; and a control unit to control the gripping member, based on data received from the detection member, to move one or more products from the respective housings so that defective or missing products are in the housings having the same composition as a group of products to form a group of defective or missing products.

Abstract: Disposable electronic-cigarette cartridge; the electronic-cigarette cartridge having: a hygroscopic plug; a liquid substance which impregnates the hygroscopic plug and is vaporized in use; and a surface covering, which is located on the outside of the hygroscopic plug, completely covers the hygroscopic plug itself, is impermeable to liquids, and is permeable to gas.

Abstract: An inspection group is proposed for inspecting cylinder-shaped elongated elements for smoking articles, in which a working plane is selected passing through a longitudinal axis of a first elongated element and there are considered a first half space and a second half space arranged on opposite parts with respect to the working plane.

Abstract: A method is proposed for inspecting cylinder-shaped elongated elements for smoking articles that provides projecting from a first half-space a first stripe of light onto an external face of a first elongated element and projecting from a second half-space onto the first elongated element a second stripe of light. The method reconstructs, by means of a first identified curved line and a second identified curved line respectively in a first acquired view and in a second acquired view of the first elongated element, a first closed curved section profile of the first elongated element and identifies possible deformations of the reconstructed first closed curved profile with respect to an ideal section profile.

Abstract: A method is proposed for inspecting cylinder-shaped elongated elements for smoking articles that provides projecting from a first half-space a first stripe of light onto an external face of a first elongated element and projecting from a second half-space onto the first elongated element a second stripe of light. The method reconstructs, by means of a first identified curved line and a second identified curved line respectively in a first acquired view and in a second acquired view of the first elongated element, a first closed curved section profile of the first elongated element and identifies possible deformations of the reconstructed first closed curved profile with respect to an ideal section profile.

Abstract: An inspection group is proposed for inspecting cylinder-shaped elongated elements for smoking articles, in which a working plane is selected passing through a longitudinal axis of a first elongated element and there are considered a first half space and a second half space arranged on opposite parts with respect to the working plane.

Abstract: Disposable electronic-cigarette cartridge; the electronic-cigarette cartridge having: a hygroscopic plug; a liquid substance which impregnates the hygroscopic plug and is vapourized in use; and a surface covering, which is located on the outside of the hygroscopic plug, completely covers the hygroscopic plug itself, is impermeable to liquids, and is permeable to gas.

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: In a cigarette packer, groups of single cigarettes are first assembled by a formation unit and placed in trays carried by a conveyor, then directed in succession along a set feed path, advancing sideways-on, toward a wrapping unit by which each one is enveloped in a transparent or at least partly transparent wrapper; during the transfer from the formation unit to the wrapping unit, the trays are directed past a print unit stationed along the feed path, by which at least one graphic element such as lettering or a logo is impressed on at least one cigarette making up each group.

Abstract: Adhesive labels are applied to a continuous strip by a unit fed with a first continuous strip of wrapping material advancing along a first path, and a second continuous strip of backing material presenting a succession of labels and advancing along a second path. The labels are detached singly from the second strip by a diverter blade placed along the second path and presenting a sharp edge over which the backing strip is routed through an acute angle to induce the separation of the labels.

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: Adhesive labels are applied to a continuous strip by a unit fed with a first continuous strip of wrapping material advancing along a first path, and a second continuous strip of backing material presenting a succession of labels and advancing along a second path. The labels are detached singly from the second strip by a diverter blade placed along the second path and presenting a sharp edge over which the backing strip is routed through an acute angle to induce the separation of the labels.

Abstract: In a cigarette packer, groups of single cigarettes are first assembled by a formation unit and placed in trays carried by a conveyor, then directed in succession along a set feed path, advancing sideways-on, toward a wrapping unit by which each one is enveloped in a transparent or at least partly transparent wrapper; during the transfer from the formation unit to the wrapping unit, the trays are directed past a print unit stationed along the feed path, by which at least one graphic element such as lettering or a logo is impressed on at least one cigarette making up each group.

Abstract: A strip of wrapping material is fed and cut into leaves by a unit comprising first and second contrarotating rollers equipped with respective first and second blades of which the first blades operate as a pair to cut the strip transversely into leaves, and the second blades operate as a pair to impress a transverse line on each leaf, this line combining with a longitudinal line, impressed by a further disc cutter, to create a “pull” portion removable from the leaf by tearing. The timing of the second blades can be controlled, so as to adjust the position of the transverse tear-off line on the leaf, by components interacting with the strip along a predetermined feed path extending between two decoiling rollers and a cutting zone that coincides with the line of substantially tangential proximity between the two cutter rollers.

Abstract: A method of forming groups of cigarettes on a packing machine, whereby a conveyor feeds a succession of pockets in steps past a number of group-forming stations, where the pockets receive respective groups of cigarettes fed axially to the relative pockets by means of independent pushers, which are operated in a normal cyclic operating sequence to move selectively through respective group-forming stations; and whereby the formation of a gap along the conveyor, caused by non-supply of a faulty group to a relative pocket, is prevented by replacing the normal cyclic operating sequence with a different cyclic sequence capable of ensuring all the pockets are filled as of the fully operative group-forming stations only.

Abstract: A device and method for stabilizing packets, each having two portions connected to each other by glue, the device having a conveyor for feeding the packets successively along a path; a number of heating members located along the path to heat and dry the glue to stabilize the packets; and a central control unit for selectively regulating the temperature of each heating member so that the heat transferred to the glue varies along the path.

Abstract: Inner wrappers for packets of cigarettes are fashioned from a continuous strip of metal foil paper directed along a feed path internally of a cigarette packer, advancing through an embossing unit by which the metallic surface is textured, then through a rotary cutter such as will divide the material into leaves of specified length. The embossing unit is equipped with an assembly comprising a pair of rollers, also with a stabilizing mechanism that utilizes an aspirating roller to induce a controlled plastic deformation in the strip, canceling out the random deformations induced by the embossing action, and, with each revolution of the cutter, simultaneously advancing a portion of the embossed strip equivalent to the length of one leaf.

Abstract: An embossing unit, wherein sheet material is fed between a first and a second embossing roller counter-rotating respectively about a first and a second axis of rotation defining a plane, one of the embossing rollers being subjected, in use, to a compression force towards the other embossing roller; and wherein at least one of the axes of rotation oscillates about a virtual hinge or instantaneous centre of rotation, which is movable, in the plane defined by the axes of rotation, in response to displacement, along a pitch line of tangency between the embossing rollers, of a point of application of a reaction force.

Abstract: A strip of wrapping material is fed and cut into leaves by a unit comprising first and second contrarotating rollers equipped with respective first and second blades of which the first blades operate as a pair to cut the strip transversely into leaves, and the second blades operate as a pair to impress a transverse line on each leaf, this line combining with a longitudinal line, impressed by a further disc cutter, to create a “pull” portion removable from the leaf by tearing. The timing of the second blades can be controlled, so as to adjust the position of the transverse tear-off line on the leaf, by components interacting with the strip along a predetermined feed path extending between two decoiling rollers and a cutting zone that coincides with the line of substantially tangential proximity between the two cutter rollers.

Abstract: A method of forming groups of cigarettes on a packing machine, whereby a conveyor feeds a succession of pockets in steps past a number of group-forming stations, where the pockets receive respective groups of cigarettes fed axially to the relative pockets by means of independent pushers, which are operated in a normal cyclic operating sequence to move selectively through respective group-forming stations; and whereby the formation of a gap along the conveyor, caused by non-supply of a faulty group to a relative pocket, is prevented by replacing the normal cyclic operating sequence with a different cyclic sequence capable of ensuring all the pockets are filled as of the fully operative group-forming stations only.