Abstract: An automatic machine wherein an operating wheel rotating about a central axis supports a number of work stations, which all communicate with a fixed control unit by means of a single cordless communication unit having a movable communication device carried by the wheel, and a fixed communication device located on the machine; the fixed and movable communication devices are coaxial with the axis of the wheel so as to substantially face each other at all times as the wheel rotates.

Abstract: The end folds of cellophane wrappings applied to products advancing along a given feed direction are heat-sealed by a device appearing substantially as a feed channel. The channel coincides with the feed direction and is compassed at least on one side by a conveyor belt extending parallel with a fixed path followed by the products and equipped with a succession of heated pads positioned to enter into contact with selected portions of the end folds; during their passage along the path, only the pads occupying one or more limited sections of the feed channel will be heated, according to the amount of thermal energy that needs effectively to be transferred to the pads in order to seal the folds.

Abstract: A method of checking cigarettes, whereby cigarettes are fed in steps along a gravity channel in the outlet of a hopper, and are successively arrested substantially at a checking station where a checking device determines the density of the open ends of the cigarettes and emits at least one control signal indicating the density; and the control signal is optimized by determining the position of the cigarette in the checking station with respect to the checking device.

Abstract: A method of detecting and rejecting poorly filled cigarettes, whereby cigarettes, arranged along a gravity channel forming part of an outlet of a feedbox, are fed successively past a detecting device facing one end of the cigarettes; the detecting device, as the cigarettes file past, emits a continuous signal having a succession of minimum values indicating the passage past the detecting device of a succession of gaps, and a succession of maximum values indicating the passage past the detecting device of respective cigarettes; and a receiving central control unit emits a reject signal on receiving a maximum value below a given threshold value.

Abstract: A method of overwrapping a product having an outer wrapping of dielectric material; the method providing for feeding a sheet of dielectric overwrapping material past an opening of a passage for the product; feeding the product into engagement with the sheet and subsequently, together with the sheet, through the passage to fold the sheet into a U about the product; and stabilizing the sheet so folded by feeding the sheet and the product through an electric field.

Abstract: A wrapping method and machine for producing wrappings for products, whereby a sheet of wrapping material is folded about a respective product so that at least a first and a second portion of the sheet of wrapping material are superimposed one on top of the other, with the first portion outside the second; and the two portions are sealed to each other by compressing the two portions onto each other, and sweeping at least one laser beam along a sealing portion of the first portion.

Abstract: A method of bulk conveying cigarettes, whereby a mass of cigarettes is fed along a path by a reversible conveying line defined by a first and second conveyor for masses of cigarettes; the first conveyor defining a closed-top channel for a stream of cigarettes; the second conveyor being an open-top conveyor, and being operated at a speed at most equal to the speed of the first conveyor when the cigarettes are transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor; and the second conveyor being operated at a speed at least equal to the speed of the first conveyor when the cigarettes are transferred from the second conveyor to the first conveyor.

Abstract: In a device for compacting stacks of die-cuts and correcting their position on a conveyor-feeder with at least one belt, the single stacks are supported and elevated by a structure operating directly adjacent to the belt and affording a surface which ensures stable support to the stack while offering minimal resistance to the movements occasioned in positioning; the compacting action is produced by pairs of moving plates which flank the supporting and elevating station on all sides and impinge on the vertical faces of the stack in directions coinciding with the transverse and longitudinal axes of the belt.

Abstract: Stacks of blanks arranged in substantially orderly manner on a supporting surface are picked up successively by a powered pickup head for supply to a user machine; the pickup head presenting a pair of intercepting sensors for simultaneously intercepting a given reference edge of the stack when the head is set to the correct pickup position in relation to the stack; and the pickup head being set to the correct pickup position by means of a series of successive rotary and translational movements in the event only one of the sensors intercepts the reference edge of the stack.

Abstract: The apparatus for feeding packaging machines with stacks of sheet material has a unit for the removal and transfer of stacks of sheet material which are arranged mutually side by side on supports and are individually wrapped by respective bands. The removal and transfer unit has a head which is vertically and horizontally movable and has grip elements for removing individual stacks from the supports and for transferring them to a feeding station of the packaging machine. A station for cutting the band is arranged ahead of the feeding station.

Abstract: Trolley for loading rolls in a device for feeding a packaging machine, which comprises a device for supporting a row of rolls arranged mutually side by side, a conveyor for transferring the row of rolls along a direction which is axial with respect to the rolls themselves, and centering and locking longitudinal rods which are suitable to be coupled, during loading, to complementarily shaped seats which are correspondingly rigidly coupled to the feeder device.

Abstract: The device serves to convey products singly and in succession to a work station. For example rolls of strip material can be conveyed to a wrapping machine, or containers of cigarettes can be conveyed to a packaging unit. The device comprises a conveyor system by which products loaded into a magazine are supported and caused to advance from an infeed end of the magazine toward a mechanism, positioned at an outfeed end, which the transfers each product to a position within the work station. The movement of the conveyor system is reversible, and with a transfer mechanism installed at both the infeed and the outfeed end of the magazine, the contents can be emptied from either end without manual or machine assistance.

Abstract: The device for automatically feeding stacks of cutouts to a user machine comprises an inclined supporting surface which is suitable to receive in succession the stacks and supports a guide on which a trolley can slide; the trolley is provided with a supporting element for a stack to be fed to the machine; an unloading station is defined on the supporting surface and is provided with a stop device which is suitable to be crossed by the trolley; a loading device is provided with a lifting element which can move between a lowered position, at a station for the removal of a stack, and a raised position, at an output station, in which the lifting element is engaged by the supporting element of the trolley so as to cause the extraction of the stack from the lifting element.

Abstract: The apparatus for feeding packaging machines with stacks of sheet material has a unit for the removal and transfer of stacks of sheet material which are arranged mutually side by side on supports and are individually wrapped by respective bands. The removal and transfer unit has a head which is vertically and horizontally movable and has grip elements for removing individual stacks from the supports and for transferring them to a feeding station of the packaging machine. A station for cutting the band is arranged ahead of the feeding station.

Abstract: A device for forming perforations in rod shaped items, particularly cigaretts, comprising a transfer roller for transferring the items from a loading position to an unloading position on the periphery of the roller, the items being arranged parallel to the axis of the roller and housed in rotary bodies on the same; rotary means coaxial with the roller and designed to emit a radial coherent light (laser) beam on to a portion of the items; and an electronic control circuit for regulating the speed of the rotary means in relation to that of the transfer roller and so regulate the number of perforations formed in the aforementioned portions of the items.

Abstract: The device for checking the feed conditions of a strip of wrapping material comprises a photodiode and a phototransistor arranged on opposite sides of the strip. A circuit block including a negative feedback is connected between the phototransistor and the photodiode to cause the phototransistor to work in a linear manner. The circuit block comprises an amplifier for amplifying the output signal of phototransistor to feed a check signal to the photodiode and to obtain from said photodiode a signal indicating anomaly conditions in the feed of the strip.