Abstract: A transfer device in which the bar-shaped articles, in particular cigarettes, are transferred transversely to their axis by three rollers, of which one is disposed in an intermediate position between the other two and is tangential thereto at two separate points defining between them a transfer arc, and are made to advance along said transfer arc supported by respective cradles associated with a rotation device arranged to rotate the cradles about their axis at a constant angular speed equal to a whole multiple of the angular speed of the intermediate roller.

Abstract: A machine for boxing items in groups, in particular sticks of sweets or similar, on which the sticks are fed in successive layers into a compartment for forming the aforementioned groups, which compartment is open vertically and designed to move, along a supporting surface, between a loading position and a bending position; in which bending position, each group is placed on the center portion of a respective blank which is bent about the group by a box-shaped bending assembly; the aforementioned bending operation being performed in two stages, during the first of which, the aforementioned bending assembly moves in relation to the blank and the group which are stationary, and during the second of which, the group and the blank are moved through the bending assembly by virtue of two opposed pushers.

Abstract: Method of spacing and turning over two coaxial cigarette lengths on a filter assembling machine, the said method providing for stages consisting in feeding the said lengths crosswise in relation to their axes along a conveyor provided, for each length, with a recess mounted so as to turn on the said conveyor round an axis essentially crosswise in relation to the direction of the said conveyor, and in turning the said recesses through 180.degree. in relation to the said conveyor so as to set the former opposite ends of the said two lengths facing each other at a distance equal to at least the length of a double filter.

Abstract: A device for feeding and cutting a strip of labels, on which strip the labels are joined integral with one another along lines at least a center portion of which consists of a slit. The labels are fed successively in two stages towards a cutting position; in the first of which stages, the label, is fed forward by means of a feeding device 051570752which, positively engaging the rear edge of the label, brings it into the vicinity of the cutting position; and in the second of which stages, the cutting position of the label is regulated by means of a conveyor roller which engages the uncut label by means of suction and feeds it forward so as to cause the front edge of the following label to be brought into "gentle" impact with stop elements on a fixed cutting blade.

Abstract: A device for feeding cigarettes to the wrapping line of a packeting machine comprises a hopper for feeding cigarettes to the machine. The hopper is divided at its lower end into outlet channels having a width substantially equal to the diameter of a cigarette, and through which the cigarettes disposed in piles descend. Along each channel there is provided, in order from the top downwards, sensor device for checking the cigarettes in succession, and at an expulsion position a device for expelling the defective cigarettes from the hopper. Along each channel there is provided cyclically operated retention mechanism for the cigarettes. This mechanism extends upstream and downstream of the expulsion position, and has two halt positions for the cigarettes. The mechanism includes two arcuate recesses in the channel which are connected via bores to a source of suction and a source of compressed air.

Abstract: A piercing device for piercing holes in cigarettes or similar smoking commodities, in which a laser beam emitted by a continuous laser source is directed, by a mobile reflecting and focusing unit, mounted in a rotary manner around an axis. A fixed reflecting member is arranged on the axis and the beam is reflected, on to each cigarette for piercing, the latter being arranged essentially coaxial with the axis and being carried crosswise in relation to it on a rotary drum. The mobile unit receives the laser beam in a direction coaxial with the axis and diverts it first outwards and then inwards to a fixed point on the axis. The focused beam is diverted on to each cigarette by the fixed reflecting member which is provided with two rings of fixed mirrors.

Abstract: A device for feeding revenue stamps on a cigarette packing machine, whereby each packet coming off a wrapping unit is fed along an unloading route extending through a fork grip; between two arms of which grip there is stretched a revenue stamp withdrawn by the grip from a respective pocket integral with the periphery of a roller having its axis perpendicular to the unloading route and tangent with a conveyor roller having its axis parallel with the unloading route and having projections, each of which projections is designed to retain a revenue stamp and to feed it into a respective pocket along a route tangent with a gumming roller.

Abstract: A method for producing two continuous streams of cigarettes in which a continuous paper web is cut longitudinally to form two strips which are fed through a tobacco loading device and along respective guides for forming respective continuous rods and then to a transverse cutting device by respective conveyor belts, the drive rollers of which are driven by a single motor by way of a differential unit controlled by devices for sensing the positions which graphical signs reproduced on the paper strips have reached on each operation of the transverse cutting device.

Abstract: In a cigarette production machine, a device for feeding at least one paper web along one or other of two paths, the first of which extends through a station for loading a continuous stream of shredded tobacco onto said web, and the second of which is a discard path; that portion of the web extending along said second path being cut and removed by a selectively operable removal device.

Abstract: A method by which bar-shaped articles, in particular cigarettes, are transferred transversely to their axis by three rollers, of which one is disposed in an intermediate position between the other two and is tangential to these latter at two separate points defining a perforation arc therebetween, and are advanced along said perforation arc supported by respective cradles which are rotated about their axes relative to said intermediate roller at a constant angular speed equal to a whole multiple of the angular speed of said intermediate roller; a pulsed laser beam rotatable about the axis of the intermediate roller being used to form at least one ring of perforations in each article during the time used by said article to traverse said perforation arc.

Abstract: A device for supplying cigarettes (5) to a packaging machine is provided with a rotary head (3) for tipping containers (4) full of cigarettes (5) into a tank (6) whose base is formed by an upper branch (38) of a conveyor (7) for supplying a continuous flow of cigarettes (5) to the packaging machine. After each container (4) has been emptied and while it is being replaced by a new container full of cigarettes (5), the branch (38) of the tank base is raised by a displacement device (47-49) provided with an alternating vertical movement such that the mass of cigarettes (5) is raised towards the mouth of the tank (6) and consequently such that there is a reduction of the jump performed by the cigarettes (5) at the moment of opening of the base of the new container (4) for its discharge into the tank (6).

Abstract: A piercing device for piercing holes in cigarettes or similar smoking commodities, in which a laser beam emitted by a continuous laser source is directed, by a mobile reflecting and focusing unit, mounted in a rotary manner around an axis a fixed reflecting member is arranged on the axis and the beam is reflected on to the cigarettes for piercing, while the latter turn round their own axis and travel crosswise in relation to the axis of the beam.The mobile unit receives the laser beam in a direction coaxial with the axis and diverts it first outwards and then towards the latter. The focused beam is derived on to the cigarettes by a ring of mirrors with which the reflecting member is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for packing at least two independent batches of products, arranged identically one after the other, using two cuttings of wrapping material, namely one per batch, at least one of which provided with at least one external tag or flap that stays projecting with respect to one of the sides of the wrap created with the said cutting, and for producing a complete carton by stably restraining one to the other, the said batches of products wrapped in the said cuttings, using as the element for firmly connecting one to the other, the said tag or flap, this being glued to the facing surface of the wrap resting on the side from which the said tag or flap projects.

Abstract: A device for supplying webs of wrapping material to a cigarette making machine of the two rod type is constituted by a device for cutting a web of wrapping material into a first and a second web of identical width, and by deviation devices associated with each of the webs for the displacement thereof in a direction crosswise to that in which the webs move forward. Connected to the first and second web are detector devices provided for operating, through circuit elements, a motor for each of the three deviation devices in such a way as to cancel, moment by moment, any possible differences in width between the first web and the second web and any deflection thereof with respect to a given sliding position.

Abstract: Cigarette manufacturing machine comprising a distributor on which a duct for conveying shredded tobacco presents an intermediate portion tapered towards the outlet on the duct itself, the intermediate portion being defined by walls at least one of which oscillates crosswise in relation to the travelling direction of the tobacco in the duct.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for wrapping batches of products, in particular candies, and for forming sealed packets, which envisages: a batch of products being supplied to a wrapping wheel; a sheet of heat-sealing material with two lateral downward turned borders being placed above the batch; the said borders being welded one to the other in order to form a tube, the opposite extremities of which are first flattened through the insertion in between them of divarication means; the said extremities then being sealed by welding/pre-folding grippers designed to make, on each welded tubular extremity, weakening lines that aid the subsequent folding of the said extremities.

Abstract: Cigarette manufacturing machine with an auxiliary recirculated tobacco feed unit communicating with a downward duct supplying the machine itself. An input conveyor on the auxiliary unit communicates with a tray located between an output on the conveyor itself and the said downward duct, the tray being located in an essentially horizontal plane and being, in cross section, of essentially constant width.A vibratory unit is connected to the tray for imparting vibration of variable amplitude between points on the same, depending on output signals supplied by means detecting the tobacco level inside the duct.

Abstract: Dual-rod cigarette manufacturing machine on which two streams of tobacco, held by suction on to parallel conveyor belts, are subjected, prior to being wrapped in strip cigarette paper, to the action of respective shaving devices each consisting of two tangent counter-rotating discs with cutting edges. On each shaving device, the disc outside the clearance between the two streams is flat, whereas the disc inside the clearance is truncated-cone-shaped and arranged in such a manner that its generating line through the point of tangency with the flat disc is coplanar with the latter. There can be vertical and horizontal adjustment of each shaving device.

Abstract: Method for separating tobacco particles on cigarette manufacturing machines, whereby particles of shredded, carded tobacco are fed, through a side inlet passage, into a chamber communicating at the top with an upward feed channel, at the bottom with a downward reject channel, on one side with an inlet passage and on the other side with a by-pass channel, one outlet of which communicates with a mid point on the reject channel. The particles reaching the by-pass channel are first slowed down inside the channel, then isolated from the chamber, brought up to room pressure and finally dropped, at essentially zero initial speed, along an outlet portion of the by-pass channel and through at least one air current moving upward in the direction of the reject channel.

Abstract: Cigarette manufacturing machine on which a continuous strip of paper is fed, through a tobacco loading station and along a guide for forming a continuous rod, to a crosswise cutting device by a conveyor belt driven by a drive roller driven, together with the cutting device, by a motor via a differential assembly controlled by a detector which measures the travelling speed of the cigarettes.