Abstract: The invention relates to a sonotrode for the ultrasonic welding of plastic components of an electronic cigarette. The sonotrode comprises: a body comprising a first end which can be connected to an ultrasound generator, and a second end; a cavity that develops from the second end towards the first end, for receiving at least partially a plastic component of an electronic cigarette to be welded. The cavity defines an opening at the second end of the body, communicating with the outside of the sonotrode. In particular, at the opening, the cross section of the cavity has an outline comprising: a first portion that has the shape of a first arc of a reference circumference, which comprises a first end and a second end, opposite each other; and a second portion, that has the shape of a second arc of said reference circumference, which comprises a first end and a second end, opposite each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sonotrode for the ultrasonic welding of plastic components of an electronic cigarette. The sonotrode comprises: a body comprising a first end which can be connected to an ultrasound generator, and a second end; a cavity that develops from the second end towards the first end, for receiving at least partially a plastic component of an electronic cigarette to be welded. The cavity defines an opening at the second end of the body, communicating with the outside of the sonotrode. In particular, at the opening, the cross section of the cavity has an outline comprising: a first portion that has the shape of a first arc of a reference circumference, which comprises a first end and a second end, opposite each other; and a second portion, that has the shape of a second arc of said reference circumference, which comprises a first end and a second end, opposite each other.

Abstract: A method of producing filter tips for cigarettes, each of which comprises two portions of filter material arranged on opposite ends of a portion of granular material; the first portion of filter material is wrapped in a sheet so as to obtain an intermediate element having a substantially tubular shape and an open end; the granular material and the second portion of filter material are then inserted through the open end, while the intermediate element is kept vertical with the open end facing upwards; in this way it is possible to obtain high quality filter tips at high speed.

Abstract: A feeder device of products with reduced longitudinal dimensions in machines for the tobacco industry comprises a main feeder roller which rotates continuously and which has a plurality of active peripheral flutes acting to hold a respective product; the main roller is designed to pass the products on to respective flutes on corresponding handling rollers of a main line of feed of the products in the machine the device is associated with; the device comprises means for continuously filling the peripheral flutes of the main roller, the filling means comprising a plurality of feeding and passing-on means, in particular at least first means and second means for feeding and passing on corresponding groups of the products to corresponding groups of flutes located one after the other on the main roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling trays with rod-shaped smokers articles comprises a station for filling the trays, a conveying apparatus for directing the smokers' articles in bulk to the filling station, a first conveyor assembly for directing the empty trays in succession to the filling station, and a second conveyor assembly for removing the full trays in succession from the filling station; the conveying apparatus has an outlet in communication with the filling station, and the apparatus comprises a delivery device for delivering the smokers' articles, in communication with the outlet and insertable into each tray to be filled, and a movement device for reciprocally moving the delivery device and each tray while the tray is being filled.

Abstract: Machine and method for producing substantially cylindrical articles of the tobacco processing industry; a material with cavities is fed, along a given path, through an insertion station, where powder material is inserted into the cavities, so as to obtain a strand, and through a wrapping station, in the area of which a strip is wrapped around the strand; the powder material is inserted into each cavity by a relative insertion unit, which moves in a synchronous manner along a coupling portion of the given path.

Abstract: A method for making smokers' articles by subdividing a semifinished item which includes least five sticks aligned with each other along a main axis, at least two of the sticks are of a type different from the others; the method includes a step of forming the semifinished item by aligning the five sticks in a predetermined succession along the main axis and a step of subdividing a single rod into at least three sticks, followed by a step of aligning along the main axis each of the three sticks obtained from the rod alternating them with each of the sticks of different type, so as to form the semifinished item.

Abstract: A coupling unit and method for inserting a support fitted with a hygroscopic pad in a base during the manufacture of a disposable cartridge for an electronic cigarette; are provided: a first seat that accepts the support fitted with the hygroscopic pad; a second seat that accepts the base and can be axially aligned with the first seat; a transfer device that inserts the support fitted with the hygroscopic pad in the base by applying a relative axial movement between the support fitted with the hygroscopic pad and the base; and a suction device, which is coupled to a first end of the base opposite to a second end of the base through which the support fitted with the hygroscopic pad enters, and causes suction that acts inside the base.

Abstract: A feeder device of products with reduced longitudinal dimensions in machines for the tobacco industry comprises a main feeder roller which rotates continuously and which has a plurality of active peripheral flutes acting to hold a respective product; the main roller is designed to pass the products on to respective flutes on corresponding handling rollers of a main line of feed of the products in the machine the device is associated with; the device comprises means for continuously filling the peripheral flutes of the main roller, the filling means comprising a plurality of feeding and passing-on means, in particular at least first means and second means for feeding and passing on corresponding groups of the products to corresponding groups of flutes located one after the other on the main roller.

Abstract: A tray for containing products with reduced longitudinal dimensions, including a plurality of accumulation chambers, each of which is delimited by a rear wall, a base wall and two side walls for containing a layer of a plurality of the products stored according to an ordered orientation and covering an entire surface of the rear wall The accumulation chambers define modules whose respective rear walls are parallel to each other and a distance between two rear walls of two adjacent modules is substantially the same as reduced longitudinal dimensions of the products contained therein. Each tray includes a plurality of stackable modules which can be closed in a pack to define the thickness of the tray itself. A connecting and disconnecting mechanism is provided between each module and another so that the tray may be composed of a variable number of modules.

Abstract: A method and assembly machine for producing multicomponent cigarettes, each having a number of portions. The assembly machine has a combining unit for forming groups of portions, each having at least two different first portions which are fed perpendicularly to their central axis; a first wrapping unit, which receives a succession of groups of portions from the combining unit, feeds them perpendicularly to their central axis, and winds a first sheet of wrapping material around each group of portions; and a second wrapping unit, which receives a succession of groups of portions from the first wrapping unit, feeds them perpendicularly to their central axis, and winds a second sheet of wrapping material around each group of portions.

Abstract: A method and assembly machine for producing multicomponent cigarettes, each having a number of portions, which have a central axis, and of which at least one portion is defined by a filtering element, and at least one portion is defined by an aromatic element; the assembly machine has a combining unit for forming groups of portions travelling perpendicularly to their central axis; a first wrapping unit, which receives a succession of groups of portions from the combining unit and feeds them parallel to their central axis; and a second wrapping unit, which receives a succession of groups of portions from the first wrapping unit, feeds them perpendicularly to their central axis, and winds a sheet of wrapping material about each group of portions.

Abstract: A transfer or feed drum for filter or cigarette portions, the drum having: a central body mounted to rotate about a first axis of rotation; a number of movable assemblies, each of which is fitted to the central body to rotate, with respect to the central body, about a respective second axis of rotation parallel to the first axis of rotation, and supports a pickup or feed head having at least one seat with a U-shaped cross section and for engaging at least one filter or cigarette portion; and an actuating system, which controls the angular position of each movable assembly about the respective second axis of rotation as a function of the angular position of the central body about the first axis of rotation.

Abstract: In a machine and a method for manufacturing composite filters (F1, F2) for cigarettes or the like, a feed conveyor (S) supplies filter groups (G1, G2) in pairs to two respective feed lines (L1, L2) of a station (16) for forming two continuous filter rods (B1, B2); the machine (100) comprises at least one transfer device (DT) by which the filter groups (G1, G2) are taken up from the feed conveyor (S) and directed along the feed lines (L1, L2), and at least one release device (R), operating along the two feed lines (L1, L2), by which the two filter groups (G1, G2) are taken up from the transfer device (DT) and released in phase one with another along the selfsame feed lines (L1, L2); the rate at which the filter groups (G1, G2) are released by the release device (R) is governed according to the phase value of at least one of the continuous filter rods (B1, B2) relative to the cyclic cutting operation whereby the two filter rods (B1, B2) are cut transversally to make the composite filters (F1, F2).

Abstract: An apparatus for filling trays with rod-shaped smokers articles comprises a station for filling the trays, a conveying apparatus for directing the smokers' articles in bulk to the filling station, a first conveyor assembly for directing the empty trays in succession to the filling station, and a second conveyor assembly for removing the full trays in succession from the filling station; the conveying apparatus has an outlet in communication with the filling station, and the apparatus comprises a delivery device for delivering the smokers' articles, in communication with the outlet and insertable into each tray to be filled, and a movement device for reciprocally moving the delivery device and each tray while the tray is being filled.

Abstract: A transfer or feed drum for filter or cigarette portions, the drum having: a central body mounted to rotate about a first axis of rotation; a number of movable assemblies, each of which is fitted to the central body to rotate, with respect to the central body, about a respective second axis of rotation parallel to the first axis of rotation, and supports a pickup or feed head having at least one seat with a U-shaped cross section and for engaging at least one filter or cigarette portion; and an actuating system, which controls the angular position of each movable assembly about the respective second axis of rotation as a function of the angular position of the central body about the first axis of rotation.

Abstract: A machine (100) for making composite filters (FA, FB), that is, filters consisting of at least two filter segments (S1, S2, S3, S4), comprises: a plurality of feed lines (L1, L2, L3, L4) supplying filter plugs (S1, S2, S3, S4; S1A, S1B, S2A, S2B) made of different materials and/or having different filtration properties; a conveying system (6) by which the plugs (S1, S2, S3, S4; S1A, S1B, S2A, S2B) are combined in such a way as to form and release a first succession and a second succession of filter groups (GA, GB) made of different materials and/or having different filtration properties, alternated one with another, each group (GA, GB) comprising a predetermined combination of filter plugs (S1, S2, S3, S4; S1A, S1B, S2A, S2B); a garniture tongue (2) with two channels (CA, CB) along which a first filter rod (BA) and a second filter rod (BB) are formed, the first rod (BA) and the second rod (BB) respectively comprising the first succession and the second succession of filter groups (GA, GB); cutting means (3) b

Abstract: In a machine and a method for manufacturing composite filters (F1, F2) for cigarettes or the like, a feed conveyor (S) supplies filter groups (G1, G2) in pairs to two respective feed lines (L1, L2) of a station (16) for forming two continuous filter rods (B1, B2); the machine (100) comprises at least one transfer device (DT) by which the filter groups (G1, G2) are taken up from the feed conveyor (S) and directed along the feed lines (L1, L2), and at least one release device (R), operating along the two feed lines (L1, L2), by which the two filter groups (G1, G2) are taken up from the transfer device (DT) and released in phase one with another along the selfsame feed lines (L1, L2); the rate at which the filter groups (G1, G2) are released by the release device (R) is governed according to the phase value of at least one of the continuous filter rods (B1, B2) relative to the cyclic cutting operation whereby the two filter rods (B1, B2) are cut transversally to make the composite filters (F1, F2).

Abstract: A method of gumming a web of paper material in a filter tip attachment machine is implemented using a gumming device that comprises a gumming roller and a transfer roller counter-rotating tangentially one to another about horizontal and parallel axes, and creating a trough in which to hold a prescribed quantity of adhesive supplied by a feed circuit, also a drive system by which the rollers are set in rotation on their axes, and a control unit to which both the feed circuit and the drive system are interlocked. The gumming roller revolves tangentially to the web of material at a gumming station, and the method envisages a procedure, triggered in the event of a stoppage affecting the machine, that consists in the steps of suspending delivery of the adhesive, distancing the web of paper material from the gumming roller, and reversing the direction of rotation of the rollers, relative to the direction of rotation during normal operation, in such a way that the trough is emptied gradually of adhesive.

Abstract: A method of gumming a web of paper material in a filter tip attachment machine is implemented using a gumming device that comprises a gumming roller and a transfer roller counter-rotating tangentially one to another about horizontal and parallel axes, and creating a trough in which to hold a prescribed quantity of adhesive supplied by a feed circuit, also a drive system by which the rollers are set in rotation on their axes, and a control unit to which both the feed circuit and the drive system are interlocked. The gumming roller revolves tangentially to the web of material at a gumming station, and the method envisages a procedure, triggered in the event of a stoppage affecting the machine, that consists in the steps of suspending delivery of the adhesive, distancing the web of paper material from the gumming roller, and reversing the direction of rotation of the rollers, relative to the direction of rotation during normal operation, in such a way that the trough is emptied gradually of adhesive.