Abstract: A device for applying glue to wrapper sheets, especially cold glue, in cigarette packaging machines or the like, includes a device (7) for conveying a succession of wrapper sheets (1) through a glue application station in which devices (10) are provided for picking up the glue from a box (9) and applying it to at least certain predetermined areas (201, 301) of the wrapper sheets (1). The glue pick-up/applicator means (10) are brought (14, 15) into contact with the wrapper sheet (1), that is with the corresponding predetermined areas (201, 301) in a punching or touching movement and can move (14, 15), transversely to the surface of the wrapper sheet (1), between an active position of glue application in which the devices (10') are in contact with the predetermined application area (201, 301) of the wrapper sheet (1) and an inactive position in which the pick-up/applicator devices (10) are withdrawn a predetermined distance from it.

Abstract: A conveyor device with a circular path, particularly for groups of fragile cylindrical objects and for use in cigarette packing machines, includes a wheel (1, 1') made to rotate about its axis and preferably in steps of predetermined angular size. The wheel is provided with a plurality of peripheral cells (101) which are open or openable at one end at least, in particular on one and/or both sides and/or at the outer perimeter of the wheel, to house groups of cylindrical objects. The wheel is divided into two parts (1, 1') physically separated along an intermediate plane perpendicular to the axis of the wheel, the two parts (1, 1') being mounted rotatably coaxially with each other and being driven in phase and in synchronization with each other.

Abstract: A device for making cuts in the direction of the advance of pieces of thin material, for example in slips of paper along the path on which they are fed, includes a cutter carrying drum (1) and a cutting bed drum (2) rotating in opposite directions to each other. The drum (1) carries at least one peripheral cutter (3, 3', 3") whose cutting edge (103) is orientated in the direction of advance of the pieces of material and is curved coaxially with the drum (1), projecting radially beyond it. The cutter (3, 3', 3") is fixed on the cutter carrying drum (1) by a removable (5, 7) base (4, 4', 4") which has an intrinsic elasticity provided by slits such that it provides a certain spring support of the cutter (3, 3', 3") alternatively and in combination in the radial direction and in the direction of oscillation about an axis transverse to the cutting edge (103) of the cutter (3, 3', 3"), in particular substantially parallel to the axis of the drum (1).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for making packets from packaging sheets, especially for cigarettes or the like, which method involves folding or wrapping a preshaped packaging sheet (1), for example of paper or carton board, the packaging sheet (1) having parts (101, 101', 201, 201') for laying over each other, to at least one of which contact surfaces the adhesive is applied in order to fix the parts to each other. In order to fix the parts (101, 101', 201, 201') to each other a cold adhesive is used, that is an adhesive which is fluid at ambient temperature, whereas in order to hold said parts (101, 101', 201, 201') laid over each other in the formed condition of the packet, while the cold adhesive is drying, at least one spot of adhesive consisting of a hotmelt adhesive is applied to at least one of the opposing surfaces of at least one of the associated parts (101, 101', 201, 201') and in an area (17) not coinciding with the area (16) to which the cold adhesive is applied.

Abstract: A package for cylindrical products, particularly cigarettes or similar, this package consisting of a wrapping sheet (2) in which the cigarettes are wrapped. The wrapping sheet consists of heat-weldable plastic material and is sealed, when wrapped around a group of cigarettes (S), by the welding of parts, flaps or wings (102, 202, 402, 502, 602, 702) overlapping each other on one or more sides of the group of cigarettes (S). A vacuum or low pressure may advantageously be created inside the sealed wrapping sheet (2). A process and device for the fabrication of the package, according to which the phase of wrapping, in other words that of folding the wrapping slip (2), is executed completely in only one station to which the group of cigarettes (S) and the wrapping slip (2) are fed and in only one subsequent folding station (P), while the welding is executed in intermediate phases or in a final phase.

Abstract: A process and a device for packaging products, particularly cylindrical products such as cigarettes, or the like, in a wrapping sheet, and involves wrapping an ordered group of cigarettes (S) in a wrapping sheet (2) and forming a first tubular wrapping open at its opposing ends and provided with portions (402, 502, 602, 702) projecting beyond the corresponding sides of the group of cigarettes. The ends of the tubular wrapping are closed by the successive folding of the various flaps or various wings (402, 502, 602, 702) forming the projecting portions against the corresponding side of the group of cigarettes (S). The formation of the tubular wrapping open at its ends is carried out in the feed station (A), while the closing of the open ends is carried out completely in only one of the successive stations (P), the whole being done by means of particular shaping, arrangement and operation of movable folding devices (6, 15, 25, 26) and stationary folding devices (5, 105, 205, 605) and of the forming wheel (1).

Abstract: A processing machine, particularly a packing machine for cigarettes or similar, includes a plurality of operating units which execute various steps of processing which are synchronized with each other and follow a predetermined system of operation. The machine has a modular unit construction, consisting of a table or bed (1) which forms a horizontal, or substantially horizontal, plane (101) acting as an upper support for the various operating units (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) and lower housings (201, 301) for further operating units (20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28), all the operating units being made in prefabricated form.

Abstract: An angular conveyor for fragile cylindrical objects, particularly in cigarette packing machines, comprises a wheel (1) provided preferably with a plurality of peripheral cells (101) to house the cigarettes (G), these cells (101) being open at least at the perimeter of the wheel (1), and devices (12) for the at least partial closing of the open perimetrical ends of the cells (101), these devices consisting in particular of pairs of fingers mounted on finger-carrying elements (10) which can be moved alternately between a position of at least partial closure and one of opening of the said ends in synchronization with the steps of advance of the wheel (1), the oscillation of these elements being caused by annular cams (15) substantially coaxial with the wheel (1), these cams (15) being provided on both sides of the wheel (1) and being independent of the rotary motion of the wheel (1). According to the invention, the cams consist of what are known as three-dimensional cams (15).

Abstract: In a method for forming a hard packet with a flip-up lid (2), in particular for cigarettes or the like, the package is produced by folding a preformed blank around an ordered group of cigarettes (12). During the formation of the packet a collar (3) and a message-bearing coupon (4, 4') are also fed in. The collar (3) is placed between the front face (101) of the box part (1), partly projecting beyond it, on the open side facing the lid (2). The coupon (4, 4') is removably inserted between the collar (3) and the group of cigarettes (12). In the method, the coupon (4, 4') is coupled to the collar (3) and both are then coupled, held together in the correct reciprocal position by use of suction, to the group of cigarettes (12) before the packet-forming stage, at least one aperture (503) being made in a part (403) of the collar which is inside the box part (1), the coupon (4, 4') being additionally held by use of suction via this aperture (503).

Abstract: A packaging machine for delicate rod-shaped objects, especially cigarettes or the like, is provided with at least one wheel (1, 5) for carrying, along a path between many operating units, a series of ordered groups of cigarettes. The wheel (1, 5) is provided with one or more peripheral sockets (105), each designed to accommodate one ordered group of cigarettes (S) and each being open on the peripheral side of the wheel and/or on at least one face (101, 201) of the wheel (1, 5). The wheel or wheels (1, 5) consist of a central hub part (1) and annular rims (5, 305) attached removably (4) to the periphery of the central hub (1). The rims (5, 305) are separated axially by a lesser distance than the axial dimension of the ordered groups of cigarettes (S) and form the accommodating sockets by means of supporting cradles (105) coinciding axially with each other and shaped to correspond with those parts of the ordered groups of cigarettes that coincide with the annular rims (5).

Abstract: A machine for packaging fragile cylindrical products, particularly cigarettes or similar, has means for feeding ordered groups of cigarettes, means of transferring the ordered groups of cigarettes to a station for joining to a wrapping slip, means of picking up and positioning the slip and means of introducing the groups of cigarettes together with the associated slip into a cell in a folding drum. According to the invention, the means of collecting and positioning the slips consist of pairs of gripping suction fingers which are made to rotate in a circular movement about an axis parallel to the axis of the folding drum. The gripping fingers grip each slip along the lateral surfaces at its corner areas. The means of transferring the groups of cigarettes to the joining station are made in such a way that the transfer movement is at least partially rectilinear.

Abstract: A belt conveyor device for groups of delicate rod-shaped objects, especially in cigarette packaging machines, which device includes a continuous conveyor belt (3) travelling around pulleys (4, 5), at least one of which is driven, and attached to whose outer face are a plurality of conveyor housings (6) each for one group of delicate rod-shaped objects (S, S', S"), housing (6) are equidistant form each other and carried stepwise in succession from a loading station to an unloading station, these stations being situated near two opposite ends of the conveyor belt (3). The conveyor housings (6) consist of two separate and mutually complementary parts (106, 206) divided at at least one plane transverse to the plane defined by the conveyor belt (3) and transverse to the direction of advance of the conveyor belt (3), each housing part (106) being attached firmly to the conveyor belt (3) independently of the other associated housing part (206).

Abstract: Supply hopper for delicate, rod-shaped products, in particular in cigarette packaging machines, which hopper (1) is provided in its lower part with a plurality of separate discharge channels (2), each of which is divided by means of intermediate walls (4) into several ducts (3) which are vertical and parallel to one another, in each of which ducts (3) there is formed at least one substantially vertical row of cigarettes (S) which are superimposed on one another, whereas above the upper end (104) of each intermediate wall (4) there is provided a roller (6) which is horizontal and parallel to the axis of the cigarettes (S) in the hopper (1), and is rotated, preferably with oscillatory motion. According to the invention, in order to prevent to a large extent the formation of bridges of cigarettes which block the ducts (3), the rollers (6) are disposed quincuncially relative to a horizontal plane, i.e. they are alternately offset parallel to one another upwards and downwards.

Abstract: Device for feeding sheets of, for example, foil, especially for use in cigarette packing machines, with a drum (7) having cells (2') in which the sheets (8) are folded around individual groups (3) of cigarettes (S) as each group (3) of cigarettes (S) is transferred from a transfer drum (1) having cells (2) to the folding drum (7) at a transfer point (T) where the cigarette-carrying cells (2, 2') of the two drums (1, 7) coincide face to face and to where the sheet (8) is fed in a predetermined position with respect to the group (3) of cigarettes (S) and between the cells (2, 2') of the two drums (1, 7) by a pick-up/positioning device (14, 114) associated with the transfer drum (1). The sheet (8) pick-up/positioning device consists of a separate pick-up/positioning drum (14, 114) supported coaxially with the transfer drum (1) and rotated (21) independently of it.

Abstract: A device with a packaging wheel, for supplying sheets, in particular in cigarette packaging machines, comprises means (20, 20') for collecting/positioning the packaging sheets (F) in a predetermined position, in a transfer station (T), between a cell (101) of a transfer drum (1) which accomodates a group of cigarettes (S) and an empty cigarette-carrying cell (102) of a folding drum (2) opposite. During transfer into the cell (102) of the folding drum (2), the group of cigarettes (S) draws the sheet (F) which is folded automatically in a U-shape around the cigarettes (S) by the cigarette-carrying cell (102). According to the invention, the collecting/positioning means (20, 20') consist of mechanical gripper means for grasping the packaging sheet (F) which are provided at least on the front side of each cigarette-carrying cell (101) of the transfer drum (1), with reference to the direction of rotation of the drum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for withdrawing and singling rod-like articles, particularly filter plugs for cigarettes, or the like, contained in a feeding hopper. The bottom of the hopper is at least in part formed by a rotary, possibly suction, fluted drum receiving one rod-like article in each one of its flutes and carrying the thus collected rod-like articles out of the feeding hopper. The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that within the feeding hopper an either stationary or movable, flat or arcuate guiding device is provided over the ascending sector of the fluted drum. The guiding device extends in an inclined direction, substantially tangential to drum, at a distance therefrom that corresponds to a multiple of the diameter of the rod-like articles. With the fluted drum, the guiding device forms a duct having at least one convergently shaped inlet end.

Abstract: A device for dividing a continuous web of wrapping material into successive single sections of the same length, particularly for dividing a web of wrapping material into successive single bands used in the manufacture of filter-tipped cigarettes. The device includes a rotary cutting roller with one or more angularly equispaced peripheral radial blades, the cutting edge of which is parallel to the axis of a shaft for driving in rotation the said cutting roller (1). The blade or blades are each secured to a bridge-shaped blade-carrying member which by elastic deformation is elastically yieldable in the radial direction and can be completely or partly made from the skirt of the cutting roller fastened to the roller or from a block added and secured to the skirt.