Abstract: A method and device for forming groups of products, whereby a substantially continuous input succession of products is fed to an input of an endless conveyor, which has a conveying branch and a return branch extending between the input and an output, and which has a variable speed drive member operated to impart a variable speed to the conveyor at the input, and to generate, along the conveying branch, a succession of equally spaced on-line gaps defining a succession of groups of products; the conveying and return branches are both engaged by a powered compensating device for varying the lengths of the conveying and return branches in complementary manner, so as to maintain a constant speed of the conveyor at the output and compensate for any gaps in the input succession. (FIG.

Abstract: A device for splicing strips has a first drum rotating about a first axis and having a first outer face for selectively retaining and guiding a first strip; and a second drum rotating about a second axis and having a second outer face for selectively guiding and retaining a second strip; the first and second outer face are so shaped as to form a gap for passage of the strips, and to press the first and second strip and a sticker together as a function of the indexing angles of the first and second drum.

Abstract: A method and machine for packing a tampon, whereby the tampon is inserted inside a tubular folding spindle of constant cross section; a sheet of packing material is then wrapped about the folding spindle and stabilized longitudinally to form a tubular wrapping; the folding spindle and the tubular wrapping, together with the tampon, are then parted; and the two ends of the tubular wrapping are closed transversely about the relative tampon.

Abstract: A device for splicing strips has a first drum rotating about a first axis and having a first outer face for selectively retaining and guiding a first strip; and a second drum rotating about a second axis and having a second outer face for selectively guiding and retaining a second strip; the first and second outer face are so shaped as to form a gap for passage of the strips, and to press the first and second strip and a sticker together as a function of the indexing angles of the first and second drum.

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: A method and device for forming groups of products, whereby a substantially continuous input succession of products is fed to an input of an endless conveyor, which has a conveying branch and a return branch extending between the input and an output, and which has a variable speed drive member operated to impart a variable speed to the conveyor at the input, and to generate, along the conveying branch, a succession of equally spaced on-line gaps defining a succession of groups of products; the conveying and return branches are both engaged by a powered compensating device for varying the lengths of the conveying and return branches in complementary manner, so as to maintain a constant speed of the conveyor at the output and compensate for any gaps in the input succession.

Abstract: A method of feeding cigars to a hopper of a wrapping machine, wherein the cigars are housed in bulk and in orderly manner inside containers; each container has a top opening by which to receive and unload the cigars in the aforementioned orderly manner; a full container of cigars is picked up and inverted at the hopper by means of a manipulating device so that the opening faces downwards; and the full container is rested on a supporting surface having a passage smaller than the opening, so as to partly close the opening and provide for controlled unloading of the cigars.

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: A unit for combing wrapped chocolates, wherein a combing drum, rotating continuously about a respective axis, has a number of combing devices, each of which has a gripping device rotating, crosswise to the aforementioned axis, between a radial gripping position to grip a chocolate, and an axial release position located along an axial path parallel to the aforementioned axis and along which travel a pusher and a counter-pusher; the path extending through an annular combing element.