Abstract: A diagnostic method for analysing the operation of an automatic machine which processes products in the tobacco industry includes the following steps: introducing into the machine an endoscopic probe whose shape and size correspond to the shape and size of the products the machine is designed to process and which the machine processes as if it were a real product. During processing in the machine, the probe acquires data through a sensor of its own. The method also includes determining the positions adopted by the probe while it is being processed in the machine and associating them with the data acquired by the probe while it is being processed in the machine.

Abstract: A diagnostic method for analysing the operation of an automatic machine which processes products in the tobacco industry includes the following steps: introducing into the machine an endoscopic probe whose shape and size correspond to the shape and size of the products the machine is designed to process and which the machine processes as if it were a real product. During processing in the machine, the probe acquires data through a sensor of its own. The method also includes determining the positions adopted by the probe while it is being processed in the machine and associating them with the data acquired by the probe while it is being processed in the machine.

Abstract: Method and device for controlling the quantity of liquid contained in a cartridge for an aerosol generating device, wherein the cartridge has a container and a liquid contained in the container and wherein, according to which is measured the quantity of liquid contained in the cartridge; and compared the quantity of liquid with a reference quantity of liquid.

Abstract: A transferring and inspection unit for transferring and inspecting a group of elongated elements that are rod-shaped for smoking articles that includes a forming pocket, having a longitudinal axis, which is provided with a hollow housing suitable for housing a group of elongated elements to be inspected; a transporting conveyor of the forming pocket which is configured to advance the pocket along an advancing path through a first inspection position; a first tridimensional inspecting optical assembly configured to perform in respective successive scanning instants a plurality of first tridimensional optical scans by projecting a first light blade over a first head face of the group, during advancing of the forming pocket through the first inspection position; a processing device configured to obtain, for each first tridimensional scan, a respective first scanning line associated with the respective scanning instant and to reconstruct a first tridimensional profile of the first head face on the basis of the pl

Abstract: Methods for preparing an ingot in an ingot puller apparatus are disclosed. Thermal simulations are performed with the length of the ingot puller apparatus side heater being varied in the thermal simulations. A side heater is selected based on the thermal simulations. An ingot puller apparatus having the selected side heater length is provided. A seed crystal is lowered into a melt within a crucible of the ingot puller apparatus and an ingot is withdrawn from the melt.

Abstract: A diagnostic method for analysing the operation of at least part of a production line in the tobacco industry includes feeding through the line a probe having the shape of a smokers' article and provided with an electronic card configured to acquire one or more parameters; the method includes a step of activating the probe with the possibility of temporally synchronizing the data acquired by the probe with the data acquired by the line at the same time.

Abstract: A transferring and inspection unit for transferring and inspecting a group of elongated elements that are rod-shaped for smoking articles that includes a forming pocket, having a longitudinal axis, which is provided with a hollow housing suitable for housing a group of elongated elements to be inspected; a transporting conveyor of the forming pocket which is configured to advance the pocket along an advancing path through a first inspection position; a first tridimensional inspecting optical assembly configured to perform in respective successive scanning instants a plurality of first tridimensional optical scans by projecting a first light blade over a first head face of the group, during advancing of the forming pocket through the first inspection position; a processing device configured to obtain, for each first tridimensional scan, a respective first scanning line associated with the respective scanning instant and to reconstruct a first tridimensional profile of the first head face on the basis of the pl

Abstract: Method and device for controlling the quantity of liquid contained in a cartridge for an aerosol generating device, wherein the cartridge has a container and a liquid contained in the container and wherein, according to which is measured the quantity of liquid contained in the cartridge; and compared the quantity of liquid with a reference quantity of liquid.

Abstract: A diagnostic method for analysing the operation of an automatic machine which processes products in the tobacco industry includes the following steps: introducing into the machine an endoscopic probe whose shape and size correspond to the shape and size of the products the machine is designed to process and which the machine processes as if it were a real product. During processing in the machine, the probe acquires data through a sensor of its own. The method also includes determining the positions adopted by the probe while it is being processed in the machine and associating them with the data acquired by the probe while it is being processed in the machine.

Abstract: A method is proposed for inspecting cylinder-shaped elongated elements for smoking articles that provides projecting from a first half-space a first stripe of light onto an external face of a first elongated element and projecting from a second half-space onto the first elongated element a second stripe of light. The method reconstructs, by means of a first identified curved line and a second identified curved line respectively in a first acquired view and in a second acquired view of the first elongated element, a first closed curved section profile of the first elongated element and identifies possible deformations of the reconstructed first closed curved profile with respect to an ideal section profile.

Abstract: An inspection group is proposed for inspecting cylinder-shaped elongated elements for smoking articles, in which a working plane is selected passing through a longitudinal axis of a first elongated element and there are considered a first half space and a second half space arranged on opposite parts with respect to the working plane.

Abstract: A diagnostic method for analysing the operation of at least part of a production line in the tobacco industry includes feeding through the line a probe having the shape of a smokers' article and provided with an electronic card configured to acquire one or more parameters; the method includes a step of activating the probe with the possibility of temporally synchronizing the data acquired by the probe with the data acquired by the line at the same time.

Abstract: A method is proposed for inspecting cylinder-shaped elongated elements for smoking articles that provides projecting from a first half-space a first stripe of light onto an external face of a first elongated element and projecting from a second half-space onto the first elongated element a second stripe of light. The method reconstructs, by means of a first identified curved line and a second identified curved line respectively in a first acquired view and in a second acquired view of the first elongated element, a first closed curved section profile of the first elongated element and identifies possible deformations of the reconstructed first closed curved profile with respect to an ideal section profile.

Abstract: An inspection group is proposed for inspecting cylinder-shaped elongated elements for smoking articles, in which a working plane is selected passing through a longitudinal axis of a first elongated element and there are considered a first half space and a second half space arranged on opposite parts with respect to the working plane.

Abstract: Groups of cigarettes approaching a packer are transferred and inspected by a conveyor equipped with receptacles advancing along a set path, and an inspection device such as will verify the presence and the integrity of each cigarette in each receptacle and generate signals to indicate the outcome of the inspection. The conveyor also incorporates emitters in the form of permanent magnets, each associated with a relative receptacle and interacting with a receiver consisting in an array of magnetoresistors ordered along the conveying path; the receiver is capable of emitting signals synchronized with the steps of the inspection procedure and indicating the position of each receptacle relative to a fixed inspection position.

Abstract: Groups of cigarettes approaching a packer are transferred and inspected by a conveyor equipped with receptacles advancing along a set path, and an inspection device such as will verify the presence and the integrity of each cigarette in each receptacle and generate signals to indicate the outcome of the inspection. The conveyor also incorporates emitters in the form of permanent magnets, each associated with a relative receptacle and interacting with a receiver consisting in an array of magnetoresistors ordered along the conveying path; the receiver is capable of emitting signals synchronized with the steps of the inspection procedure and indicating the position of each receptacle relative to a fixed inspection position.