Abstract: A method for evaluating the extent (D) of the protection area granted by a lightning capturing device (1) based on a leader stroke progression model wherein each leader stroke is modeled by a succession of electrically charged segments (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15). The method includes at least one step for verifying the junction between the downward leader stroke (4) and the upward leader stroke (3) during which the electric field is calculated along an imaginary line joining the downward leader stroke (4) and the upward leader stroke (3), and verifying that the electric field is greater than the minimum electric field necessary for the propagation of the upward leader stroke.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for packing a data bus by moving ports that are associated with assigned time slots from a first set of time slots to a second set of time slots on the data bus. After all the time slots that can be moved are moved, the remaining time slots are shifted on the data bus resulting in larger contiguous groupings of time slots.

Abstract: A reel hub (5), an inside rod (70) of which can slide axially when acted upon by a seizing rod (82), forms part of the transfer apparatus (3). By bringing the transfer apparatus opposite the hub of a rotating reel (21, 20), and by withdrawing the inside rod from the hub, the hub is disengaged from a machine (1), the reel continuing to rotate with its hub fixed to the transfer apparatus. This apparatus can then be moved in directions situated in the plane of rotation of the reel and brought opposite another shaft of the machine in order to reattach the hub there by reversing the foregoing procedure. A rotating reel, especially one paying out a strip of cigarette paper, can thus be moved without subjecting the strip of paper to any torsion. Other operations relating to the automatic operation of the machine are also possible with the aid of the transfer apparatus.

Abstract: The claw (2) is made up of a front part (3), moved vertically by a jack (31) and comprising a horizontal pressing plate (30) and a rear pressing plate (34), and a rear part (4) moved horizontally via another jack (46) and comprising a lower pressing plate (40) suspended by a pivot pin (42) from a stirrup-piece (41), a further jack (47 l) acting upon the rearward end (40A) of the lower pressing plate in order to raise and lower the front end (40B) thereof. When the rear pressing plate is lowered opposite a stack of blanks to be grasped, a slight depression (52) is created, whereby it is then possible to slip the front end of the lower pressing plate under the stack in order grasp it by raising the lower pressing plate and pressing the stack against the upper pressing plate. The claw is intended to be integrated in a depalletizer feeding a packing machine, particularly a machine making packs in the tobacco industry, especially packs of cigarettes.

Abstract: An upper conveyor (4) moves full compartments (9) toward an emptying station (2) so that rods contained in the compartments enter a horizontal conduit (15). Empty compartments are taken over by a lift (7). Another conveyor (5) feeds empty compartments to the entrance of a filling station (3) into which the rods flow from the conduit. The full compartments are recovered on the lift or on still another conveyor (6) which can route them via the lift or via another lift (8) toward a storage position on one of the conveyors.

Abstract: A pallet (4) bearing a load of objects (5) disposed in horizontal layers formed of parallel rows aligned in a certain direction (Y) is raised step by step on a frame (1) by a lift (2, 3). A transfer arrangement (7) provided with claws (31) is mounted on a carriage (8). A control causes the claws to engage under each of the objects of a row so that this row is secured to the transfer arrangement, after which the row is placed on a conveyor (10) which then transfers it to another conveyor (11). This latter conveyor moves in the aforementioned direction and brings each object to the entry station (14) of a machine (15).

Abstract: A pallet (2) is positioned on its edge in the receiver (6) where it is restrained by the dog (9). The action of the jack (12) is such as to fold back the receiver (6) for the guidance of the pallet to the position (2'). The two jacks (14) drive the arms (8), the stops on which (16) restrain the pallet and guide it to the loading position (2"), releasing the receiver (6), which can be raised. The jacks (15) provide the means for putting the rollers (28, 29) into the conveying position.

Abstract: Apparatus for gripping cases of cigarettes from a casing machine and for stacking the cases on a pallet including two fixed and vertical uprights to guide the movements of a bridge which is cantilevered in front of the uprights and which is movable in the vertical direction along these uprights. A suction-cup is rotatable about a vertical axis and is mounted on a carriage movable transversely on a slide which is movable longitudinally on the bridge. The cases of cigarettes are put onto a roller train which moves forward so that each case reaches a presentation position where the suction-cup seizes it. Position sensors detect the presence of a pallet under the bridge and control the movements of the suction-cup so as to distribute the cases in several successive layers on the pallet.