Abstract: A support for transporting containers in a microwave inspection device, including a supporting body which can be moved along a feed path and at least two receiving seats connected to the top of the supporting body to be moved along said feed path, wherein said supporting body has two or more supporting portions (S1, S2) which are at least partly separated from each other by one or more openings and each carrying at least one respective receiving seat, said supporting portions (S1, S2) being connected or integral with each other in a lower region of the supporting body.

Abstract: A method for performing operations on items (A) transported along a manufacturing line including feeding a sequence of items (A) with respective resting portions along a first feed path onto a first transport surface, arranging a gripping assembly having a first gripping head and a second gripping head, picking up a first item (A) from the first feed path using the first gripping head, rotating the first item (A) around a first rotation axis (R1), performing at least one operation on the item (A) during the rotation thereof around the first rotation axis (R1), swapping the positions of the first gripping head and the second gripping head, resting the first item (A) on a second transport surface and releasing the first item (A), and picking up a further item (A) from the first feed path using the second gripping head.

Abstract: A method for performing operations on items (A) transported along a manufacturing line including feeding a sequence of items (A) with respective resting portions along a first feed path onto a first transport surface, arranging a gripping assembly having a first gripping head and a second gripping head, picking up a first item (A) from the first feed path using the first gripping head, rotating the first item (A) around a first rotation axis (R1), performing at least one operation on the item (A) during the rotation thereof around the first rotation axis (R1), swapping the positions of the first gripping head and the second gripping head, resting the first item (A) on a second transport surface and releasing the first item (A), and picking up a further item (A) from the first feed path using the second gripping head.

Abstract: An inspection device for inspecting containers (100) comprises a rotary conveyor (2), provided with a plurality of receiving cavities (5), and a measuring station (400) configured to inspect each container (100) while the container (100) is being supported and moved by the conveyor (2), wherein the conveyor (2) has continuous motion and the measuring station (400) comprises a microwave detector provided with a measuring zone (410) through which each container (100) passes in order to generate an information item relating to at least one of the following: weight of the container (100) as a whole or of the dose of product contained therein, type of product inside the container (100), presence of foreign bodies in the container (100).

Abstract: A machine for making capsules of the type including a container and a dose of product inside the container, includes a feed system for feeding at least a first container along a feed path in a direction of feed; at least one filling station for supplying a dose of said product into said first container, at least one detecting station positioned along said feed path downstream of said filling station in the direction of feed and comprising a detecting sensor operating at said first seat configured to detect the moisture of the product supplied into the first container.

Abstract: A food products packaging automatic plant can have at least a first food products packaging conveying line having a plurality of first connection areas. The plant further comprises a plurality of operative units. Each operative unit has a movable base able to move at the connecting areas; a processing device placed on the movable base and connectable to the conveying line at the connection areas; a plurality of sensors; and a wireless communication device. The plant further includes a maintenance station of the operative units; a preparation station of the operative units; and a control and managing central unit. The control and managing central unit commands the operative units so that they move from and towards the first food products packaging conveying line and from and towards the operative units maintenance and preparation stations.

Abstract: A machine for making capsules of the type including a container and a dose of product inside the container, includes a feed system for feeding at least a first container along a feed path in a direction of feed; at least one filling station for supplying a dose of said product into said first container, at least one detecting station positioned along said feed path downstream of said filling station in the direction of feed and comprising a detecting sensor operating at said first seat configured to detect the moisture of the product supplied into the first container.

Abstract: A machine for making capsules of the type including a container and a dose of product inside the container, including a feed system for feeding at least a first container along a feed path in a direction of feed; at least one filling station for supplying a dose of said product into said first container, at least one detecting station positioned along said feed path downstream of said filling station in the direction of feed and including a detecting sensor operating at said first seat configured to detect the moisture of the product supplied into the first container.

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: A machine for making capsules of the type including comprising a container and a dose of product inside the container, including comprises a feed system for feeding at least a first container along a feed path in a direction of feed; at least one filling station for supplying a dose of said product into said first container, at least one detecting station positioned along said feed path downstream of said filling station in the direction of feed and including comprising a detecting sensor operating at said first seat configured to detect the moisture of the product supplied into the first container.

Abstract: Tobacco products (2), typically cigarettes, are manufactured on a line (1) including a cigarette maker (3) and a filter tip attachment machine (4), both equipped with a number of production devices and units connected to respective master control units (82, 83) and visual display units (84). Key characteristics of sample tobacco products (2) are tested by an auxiliary inspection unit (45) forming part of a monitoring and control system associated with the manufacturing line (1), and connected up to a common interface network (48) so that signals reflecting the monitored characteristics can be fed back to a number of control units (81) associated respectively with the devices and the units of the line (1) on which the characteristics in question depend, and programmed to pilot corrective actions in response to the feedback signal.

Abstract: A laser marking unit for marking packets, having: a marking conveyor for feeding the packets successively along a marking path; and a marking station located along the marking conveyor, and having a laser marking device for marking a code on the outer surface of each packet conveyed on the marking conveyor. The laser marking device has a laser beam generator which emits a laser beam by means of an emitter; and a deflection box which deflects the laser beam onto the packet at the marking station by directing the laser beam along a focusing path that starts at the emitter and terminates on the outer surface of the packet.

Abstract: A laser marking unit for marking packets, having: a marking conveyor for feeding the packets successively along a marking path; and a marking station located along the marking conveyor, and having a laser marking device for marking a code on the outer surface of each packet conveyed on the marking conveyor. The laser marking device has a laser beam generator which emits a laser beam by means of an emitter; and a deflection box which deflects the laser beam onto the packet at the marking station by directing the laser beam along a focusing path that starts at the emitter and terminates on the outer surface of the packet.

Abstract: A cigarette manufacturing and packing system having a connecting unit connected to a data-gathering computer; a sensor device for detecting a code identifying a work material; and a signalling device for emitting a signal relative to an instant the work material starts to be used; the connecting unit acts as a server to make available to the data-gathering computer, for a given length of time, the data received from the sensor device and the signalling device.

Abstract: A method and device for quality controlling packets of cigarettes, whereby, as a packet is fed, in use, through a quality control station, an optical detecting unit acquires data relative to given portions of the packet, which portions are coated with material optically detectable at wavelengths outside the visible range; the data detected by the optical detecting unit is compared with reference data, and the outcome of the comparison is used to determine acceptance or rejection of the packet; in this way, the condition of the packet can be determined regardless of the graphics on the packet.

Abstract: Tobacco products (2), typically cigarettes, are manufactured on a line (1) including a cigarette maker (3) and a filter tip attachment machine (4), both equipped with a number of production devices and units connected to respective master control units (82, 83) and visual display units (84). Key characteristics of sample tobacco products (2) are tested by an auxiliary inspection unit (45) forming part of a monitoring and control system associated with the manufacturing line (1), and connected up to a common interface network (48) so that signals reflecting the monitored characteristics can be fed back to a number of control units (81) associated respectively with the devices and the units of the line (1) on which the characteristics in question depend, and programmed to pilot corrective actions in response to the feedback signal.

Abstract: A method and device for producing a cigarette packet having an inner wrapping, which is defined by a sheet of heat-seal material folded about a group of cigarettes, and has an opening closed by an adhesive patch; the correct position of the patch is determined after the patch is applied to the sheet of heat-seal material.

Abstract: A method and device for controlling tips of cigarettes fed in groups along a feed path through a control station; the device has a number of sensors, each of which induces a stationary microwave field to determine correct fill of the tips of cigarettes travelling through the stationary microwave field.

Abstract: In a method of detecting and eliminating foreign bodies in tobacco, a flow of tobacco advances first through a preparation zone where it is gathered into a continuous ribbon of tobacco filler, then through a forming station at which the filler is used to fashion a continuous cigarette rod, and finally through a cutter device that divides the rod into cigarette sticks; the advancing flow is directed at a given point through a detection device and exposed to electromagnetic radiation of microwave frequency emitted and received in such a way as to generate output signals reflecting any variations in moisture content along the flow of tobacco, caused by the inclusion of foreign bodies and associated with given portions of the flow each coinciding with a singly identifiable cigarette stick.

Abstract: Cigarette packets are assembled by a method that involves dabbing or spraying a cold-setting adhesive onto selected areas of a blank fed along the wrapping line of a packaging machine, whereupon the blank is folded to form a packet; should there be a break in operation of the machine following the application of the adhesive, persisting for a certain length of time, the method includes a heat-reactivation step whereby the adhesive applied previously to the blank is warmed to a given temperature so as to restore its bonding properties and guarantee the ultimate stability of the assembled packet.