Abstract: A multipurpose packing machine having an input portion and an output portion, and wherein the input portion has a first packing module for forming a succession of rigid first packages about respective packed groups of cigarettes, to produce a succession of first packets; and the output portion has at least a further packing module similar to the first packing module and for forming a succession of rigid further packages, each housing at least one respective first packet.

Abstract: A machine for packing a product in at least one sheet of packing material has a number of conveyors, each of which has a number of pockets, each for receiving and conveying a respective product; the products are transferred from each conveyor to the next conveyor at a transfer station defined between the two conveyors; the pockets on each conveyor are divided into a first number of groups, each containing an equal second number, greater than one, of pockets; and, at each transfer station, a second number of products are transferred simultaneously from the pockets in a group of pockets on the releasing conveyor to the pockets in a group of pockets on the receiving conveyor.

Abstract: A multipurpose packing machine having an input portion and an output portion, and wherein the input portion has a first packing module for forming a succession of rigid first packages about respective packed groups of cigarettes, to produce a succession of first packets; and the output portion has at least a further packing module similar to the first packing module and for forming a succession of rigid further packages, each housing at least one respective first packet.

Abstract: A machine for packing a product in at least one sheet of packing material has a number of conveyors, each of which has a number of pockets, each for receiving and conveying a respective product; the products are transferred from each conveyor to the next conveyor at a transfer station defined between the two conveyors; the pockets on each conveyor are divided into a first number of groups, each containing an equal second number, greater than one, of pockets; and, at each transfer station, a second number of products are transferred simultaneously from the pockets in a group of pockets on the releasing conveyor to the pockets in a group of pockets on the receiving conveyor.

Abstract: A variable-capacity store (1) for objects (2), wherein an endless conveyor (8) defines a conveying branch (11) for conveying a mass of elongated elements (2), and a return branch (14), the conveying branch and the return branch respectively forming a first and at least a second coil (51, 57), each extending about two respective guide drums (26, 27) (43, 44) movable transversely with respect to each other to adjust the length of the respective coil (51) (57); and wherein the conveying surface (10) positioned on edge with respect to the guide drums (26, 27) of the first coil (51), and positioned flat against the guide drums (43, 44) of the second coil (57).

Abstract: A variable-capacity store (1) for objects (2), wherein an endless conveyor (8) defines a conveying branch (11) for conveying a mass of elongated elements (2), and a return branch (14), the conveying branch and the return branch respectively forming a first and at least a second coil (51, 57), each extending about two respective guide drums (26, 27) (43, 44) movable transversely with respect to each other to adjust the length of the respective coil (51) (57); and wherein the conveying surface (10) positioned on edge with respect to the guide drums (26, 27) of the first coil (51), and positioned flat against the guide drums (43, 44) of the second coil (57).

Abstract: A conveying assembly for conveying products, and having a conveying wheel for feeding a number of pockets in steps along a path extending through a loading and an unloading station having, respectively, a loading device and an unloading device, which in turn have respective push elements movable through the pockets and operated in push-pull manner with respect to each other, so as to perform a work stroke when the wheel is arrested, and a return stroke when the wheel is moving.

Abstract: A unit for supplying blanks on a packing machine, wherein a wheel, rotating about a respective axis, continuously feeds a blank pickup head along an endless path through a loading station where the pickup head, oscillating with respect to the wheel about an axis parallel to the axis of the wheel, engages a bottom opening of a blank store to withdraw a blank, and then through an unloading station where the pickup head, rotating together with the wheel, feeds the blank onto a conveyor roller.

Abstract: An output unit for a continuous wrapping machine, wherein packets, substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepipedon and laid flat on respective seats of a continuous conveyor wheel, are fed by the wheel crosswise to a small lateral surface of the packets, and are transferred onto an intermediate conveyor, which receives each packet from the respective seat, feeds the packet parallel to itself along a substantially 90.degree. conveying arc, and unloads the packet onto an output conveyor tangent to the output end of the conveying arc and traveling continuously in a direction crosswise to a large surface of the packet.

Abstract: A variable-capacity store for products, the store presenting an endless conveyor belt extending along a given annular path; an input station and an output station, both movable along the path and defining, between them, a transportation portion of the conveyor belt, the transportation portion transporting the products substantially continuously and at adjustable speed from the input station to the output station; and an actuating device for moving the input station and the output station along the path to vary the length of the transportation portion and, hence, the capacity of the store.

Abstract: A method and unit for folding packing blanks along preformed bend lines defining, on each blank, a central panel, and two lateral panels located on either side of the central panel and each having at least one foldable tab; a clamping device and a folding device being provided, and cooperating with each other to fold the lateral panels and the respective tab while maintaining the respective blank clamped in a folding position in which the central panel of the blank is clamped rigidly between a plate of the clamping device and a large lateral surface of a product to be packed by means of the blank.

Abstract: A method and machine for packing products, whereby packets completed as they travel along a wrapping path are fed successively to a distributing device and selectively fed to an input of one of at least two drying conveyors parallel to each other; and the packets are fed by the drying conveyors at a frequency (F2) lower than the frequency (F1) at which the packets are fed along the wrapping path.

Abstract: A method and machine whereby two rigid packets, traveling in a first direction parallel to the longer longitudinal axes of the packets, are transferred to the inputs of respective conveyors, one of the two packets being rotated 180.degree. about its longitudinal axis, and the other packet being rotated 180.degree. about an axis crosswise to its longitudinal axis; and the two packets are fed along the respective conveyors in a second direction crosswise to the respective longer longitudinal axes and to the crosswise axis into a position wherein the two packets present a common longitudinal axis, are oppositely oriented along the common longitudinal axis, are rotated 180.degree. in relation to each other about the common longitudinal axis, and are connectable to form a twin packet.

Abstract: A method of fashioning tubular overwrappings with a heat-sealable material, and a device in which single commodities are directed in succession together with respective sheets of heat-sealable material into a set of pockets spaced apart at a constant pitch around the periphery of an indexing wheel rotated through steps of length equal to a submultiple of the pitch of the peripheral pockets. The pockets currently occupied pause after each step in alignment with a relative set of heat-seal stations and are accompanied through the first step, approaching the first heat-seal station, by a moving folder positioned so as to flatten a first longitudinal flap of the relative sheet against the flank of the commodity; a second flap is flattened similarly over the first flap by a fixed folder whereupon the two flaps are held fast in overlap contact, ready for heat-sealing.

Abstract: A method of fashioning tubular overwrappings with a heat-sealable material, and a device in which single commodities are directed in succession together with respective sheets of heat-sealable material into a set of pockets spaced apart at a constant pitch around the periphery of an indexing wheel rotated through steps of length equal to a submultiple of the pitch of the peripheral pockets. The pockets currently occupied pause after each step in alignment with a relative set of heat-seal stations and are accompanied through the first step, approaching the first heat-seal station, by a moving folder positioned so as to flatten a first longitudinal flap of the relative sheet against the flank of the commodity; a second flap is flattened similarly over the first flap by a fixed folder whereupon the two flaps are held fast in overlapping contact, ready for heat-sealing.

Abstract: A wrapping and sealing method for a cellophaning machine,whereby a first conveying device, defined by two spaced parallel disks and having pockets,provides for forming tubular wrappings about packets by feeding the packets and respective sheets of wrapping material in steps through at least one sealing station, and is engaged by a loop conveyor extending partially between the two disks, and which successively extracts the partially wrapped packets from the pockets on the first conveying device and, after folding the ends of each tubular wrapping on to the respective packet, feeds the packets into respective pockets on a second conveying device having end sealing devices.

Abstract: A rigid, hinged-lid packet, particularly for cigarettes, wherein a cu-shaped container is closed by a hinged lid and houses a substantially rigid reinforcing structure having a number of seats engaged by respective cigarettes; the reinforcing structure being defined by a number of independent, substantially rigid sleeves, each having a seat for a respective cigarette; and the sleeves contacting one another, and being made integral with one another and with the container.

Abstract: A rigid, hinged-lid packet, particularly for cigarettes, presenting an intermediate portion closed at opposite ends by two hinged lids and housing two opposite orderly groups of cigarettes, each accessible by opening a respective lid; the intermediate portion housing at least one substantially rigid reinforcing structure having a number of seats engaged by respective cigarettes.

Abstract: A method and machine whereby a first and second rigid packet are fed in a first direction parallel to the longer longitudinal axes of the packets; are transferred to the input of respective feed channels, the second packet being rotated 180.degree. in relation to the first; are fed at different speeds along the respective channels, in a second direction perpendicular to their longer longitudinal axes, until they are positioned coaxial but axially spaced in relation to each other; the end wall of one of the two packets is gummed; and the packets are brought together so that the end walls adhere to each other, thus forming a double packet.

Abstract: A device for sealing wrappers around products comprising an infeed mechanism for conveying products enveloped by sealable wrappers and a first drive mechanism for driving the infeed mechanism to convey the products with a first predetermined velocity. A sealing channel into which the products are directed by the infeed mechanism includes a feed mechanism for moving the products along the sealing channel and a sealing mechanism for compressively sealing at least one face of the sealable wrappers. A second drive mechanism drives the feed mechanism to move the products along the sealing channel with a second predetermined velocity corresponding to at least one physical characteristic of the sealable wrappers, the second drive mechanism being independent from the first drive mechanism so that the second predetermined velocity and the first predetermined velocity can be independently determined.