Abstract: A method for making a hinge-lid pack of cigarettes, which finds particular application in the manufacture of a pack with rounded or beveled vertical edges having retention means to facilitate consistent lid closure, comprises: positioning an inner frame on a bundle of cigarettes; folding a first end of a blank for a hinge-lid cigarette pack over one end of the bundle of cigarettes to at least partially form the lid of the pack; and moving the inner frame relative to the blank in the direction of the at least partially formed lid. Apparatus for making a hinge-lid pack of cigarettes by folding a blank for a hinge-lid cigarette pack about a bundle of cigarettes having an inner frame thereon, includes means for forming a portion of the blank into the lid of the pack, the apparatus further comprises means for moving the inner frame relative to the blank towards the at least partially formed lid.

Abstract: A method of producing a sealed bundle containing consumer articles such as smoking articles comprises the steps of wrapping a sealable material around an outer surface of the sleeve; at least partially sealing the sealable material while being wrapped around the sleeve at its bottom and along its length; pushing the group of smoking articles through the sleeve to remove the partially sealed sealable material from the sleeve; and sealing the partially sealed sealable material at the top so as to form the sealed bundle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a hinged lid side-by-side vertically hinged cigarette pack (10) having a first bundle (22) and a second bundle (23) of cigarettes is described. The machinery includes a first machine (30) to form a first foil wrapped bundle surrounded by a first inner frame, a second machine (31) for forming a second foil wrapped bundle surrounded by a second inner frame and a third machine (32) for combining the first and second foil wrapped bundle into a single hinged lid side-by-side vertically hinged pack.

Abstract: A method relates to a production line where cigarettes are arranged in horizontal layers within approximately vertical channel (3) of packing machine feeding system, the width of which is slightly bigger then the cigarette diameter. The cigarettes are moved gravitationally toward the bottom plate (6) tram which they are transferred to the packing machine, whereas faulty cigarettes are detected with sensors (9, 11) defining their defects, and the faulty cigarettes are rejected by a rejecting device (14).

Abstract: A sleeve is wrapped around a package and enveloped within a film. The sleeve can be removed from the interior of the film and used independently of the package and film. The sleeve can include printed information for use by consumers such as product identifier information. The interior of the sleeve can be printed with information such as coupon or prize information.

Abstract: A method of making a brand change, on an automatic production system for processing tobacco articles and which produces a first product from first materials; the method has the steps of: stopping the automatic production system once production of the first product is completed; feeding second materials onto the automatic production system; restarting the automatic production system to commence production of a second product from the second materials; checking all the second products in a first lot to ensure each second product in the first lot conforms with production specifications; externally marking each second product in the first lot conforming with production specifications; and generating a pass signal when a given number of consecutive second products conforming with production specifications is produced.

Abstract: A method of packing pairs of wrapped groups of cigarettes in wallet packets with a hinged lid, whereby a blank—having a first portion defining a body, and a second portion defining a hinged lid of a relative wallet packet—is fed into a respective pocket—having a respective pair of adjacent seats—of a packing wheel to define, with the relative first portion, two adjacent receptacles separated from each other by a central rib; the two receptacles are fed through a loading station to successively receive respective wrapped groups of cigarettes having respective collars, and one receptacle is then turned over onto the other to define the body of the relative wallet packet.

Abstract: A device and method for loading cigarettes from a cartridge into a package. The device provides for transferring cigarettes from a cartridge supporting them to a package.

Abstract: The invention specifies a production and/or packaging installation containing a performance-limiting means, and also specifies the method of operating the same, with the result that this installation can be sold to a purchaser with a certain performance capability guaranteed and only the guaranteed performance level can be retrieved, measures for reducing the performance level of the installation being taken or initiated in the event of manipulation for increasing the performance level or for bypassing the performance-limiting means.

Abstract: For the production of cigarette groups (11) having a formation comprising a plurality of vertical rows of cigarettes (10) arranged one beside the other, after pushing a corresponding number of cigarettes (10) out of shafts (13) of a cigarette magazine (12), a transverse displacement of the cigarettes (10) is required in order to arrange same in a tightly packed or saddle configuration. At least marginal push rods (18) for pushing the cigarettes (10) out of the shafts (13) of the cigarette magazine (12) can be displaced transversely together with the cigarettes.

Abstract: A method of packing packets (2) of cigarettes, in particular an orderly group (1) of packets (2) of cigarettes, wherein the orderly group (1) is packed solely in a sheet (11) of transparent heat-seal plastic packing material, which is folded about the orderly group (1) to form a tubular wrapping having two tubular portions (21) projecting with respect to the orderly group (1), each tubular portion (21) being defined by four flaps (18b, 18c, 18d, 18f) facing in pairs; the flaps (18b, 18c, 18d, 18f) are folded squarely onto the orderly group (1) in a given sequence, so as to at least partly superimpose the flaps (18b, 18c, 18d, 18f); and the superimposed flaps (18b, 18c, 18d, 18f) are then sealed.

Abstract: A method of forming groups of cigarettes on a packing machine, whereby a conveyor feeds a succession of pockets in steps past a number of group-forming stations, where the pockets receive respective groups of cigarettes fed axially to the relative pockets by means of independent pushers, which are operated in a normal cyclic operating sequence to move selectively through respective group-forming stations; and whereby the formation of a gap along the conveyor, caused by non-supply of a faulty group to a relative pocket, is prevented by replacing the normal cyclic operating sequence with a different cyclic sequence capable of ensuring all the pockets are filled as of the fully operative group-forming stations only.

Abstract: A method of producing a wallet packet with a hinged lid, whereby a blank, having a first portion defining a body and a second portion defining a hinged lid of a relative wallet packet, is fed into a respective pocket, having a respective pair of side by side seats, of a packing wheel, so that the relative first portion defines two adjacent receptacles separated by a central rib; and wherein the pocket is fed through a loading station, where the two receptacles simultaneously receive respective wrapped groups of cigarettes; one of the two receptacles then being turned over onto the other to define the body of the relative wallet packet.

Abstract: A method of packing a glass base material (10, 20, 30), which is a base material of an optical fiber comprising packing the glass base material (10, 20, 30) into a cylindrical container (16, 26, 36). The packing has: putting the glass base material (10, 20, 30) into a plastic bag (12, 22, 32); and packing the glass base material (10, 20, 30), which is put into the plastic bag (12, 22, 32), into the cylindrical container (16, 26, 36). The packing further has: wrapping the glass base material (10, 20, 30), which is put into the plastic bag (12, 22, 32), with air packing material (14, 24, 34), which contains air inside; and packing the glass base material (10, 20, 30) wrapped with the air packing material (14, 24, 34) into the cylindrical container (16, 26, 36).

Abstract: A method of transferring wrappings, wherein each wrapping is defined by a sheet of wrapping material and has at least one flat wall, provides for feeding a wrapping along a curved path by means of a pocket of a conveyor; for guiding the wrapping along the curved path by means of a guide contacting the wrapping; and for moving a plate of the guide with respect to the pocket, so that a flat face of the plate is maintained contacting the entire flat wall of the wrapping along a portion of the curved path.

Abstract: A series of cigarette-type articles contained in a retail package, each comprising a tobacco-filled cylinder having a filter tip attached to each of its opposite ends, whereby each such article can provide two filter tip cigarettes by the user breaking or severing the tobacco-filled cylinder between the two filter tips. The breakage or severing can occur at variable locations between said filter tips to produce cigarettes of varying length. The tobacco-filled cylinder of each said article has a length of between 2 inches and 3½ inches. The invention also includes a process for producing such cigarette-type articles and a procedure for preparing them for smoking.

Abstract: A package comprises two or more toothbrushes which are dated to indicate a service period such as by designating a starting date and/or an ending date, or some other date in the service period. The service periods are sequential and add up, ideally, to one complete year so that a package, purchased at any time during a year, provides toothbrushes that can be used for twelve sequential months. Providing sequentially dated toothbrushes provides an indication to the user to discard used toothbrushes at the ends of the service periods thereby promoting dental health as recommended by dentists and toothbrush manufacturers. The service period indicator may be numbers, letters, words, symbols, colors, figures or any combination that suggests a period of service of a particular toothbrush and may be placed at any suitable location on each toothbrush. Suitable instructions, placed on and/or in the package or separate from the package, are preferably provided to inform potential users of the meanings of the indicators.

Abstract: Process for forming article groups in a packing device from a predetermined number of articles of the tobacco industry. The process includes transporting the articles from a production device to the packing device, and detecting at least one feature for each article. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: In the production and packaging of cigarettes, the procedure for carrying out a product changeover is such that the entire production and packaging installation is largely emptied. In the region of a film packer (16) and of a following multipacker (17), subassemblies for producing web connections (splice) are controlled such that a last cigarette pack of the old configuration is assigned to a last cigarette multipack (24) and this is then separated out.

Abstract: Manufacturers of extruded profiles have two major problems with the present packaging material, i.e. a too low stability and the fact that the profiles are not separated in the package. Extruded profiles are often manufactured in short series, which puts high demands on short turnaround times, also when packaging the profiles. Another demand is that the products should be packed so as to take up the smallest volume possible. The present invention solves this problem by folding a sheet to form partition walls (B) on which a second insert is resting, so that each profile is completely separated from the others and each layer is only carrying its own weight. The sheet may be folded so that the compartments assume different height and width, both within a layer and between different layers. The stability is obtained by attaching, preferably by gluing, the partition walls, or, alternatively, the folded sheet, on a base plate (A) which may consist of the same material as the partition walls.

Abstract: Packs of rod-shaped smokers' products comprise containers of a material which permits monitoring of their contents by a suitable detector serving to generate signals which indicate the presence of characteristic indicia on one or more packed smokers' products. Such signals are encoded and the encoded information is applied to the respective containers. The information can be decoded and compared with signals furnished by the detector in order to ascertain whether or not the smokers' products are genuine, i.e., made by the manufacurer whose trademark(s) and/or other identifying information appear or appears on the containers.

Abstract: A method and device for forming groups of products, whereby a substantially continuous input succession of products is fed to an input of an endless conveyor, which has a conveying branch and a return branch extending between the input and an output, and which has a variable speed drive member operated to impart a variable speed to the conveyor at the input, and to generate, along the conveying branch, a succession of equally spaced on-line gaps defining a succession of groups of products; the conveying and return branches are both engaged by a powered compensating device for varying the lengths of the conveying and return branches in complementary manner, so as to maintain a constant speed of the conveyor at the output and compensate for any gaps in the input succession.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for converting a continuous structure into discrete, spaced apart elements by means of an expandable support web. First, the continuous structure is combined with a support web comprising longitudinal expansion means. Then, after separation of the continuous structure into discrete elements, the discrete elements are spaced apart by expanding the support web. The process of the present invention is particularly well suited for the industrial manufacture of articles comprising fragile discrete elements supplied to the production process in continuous form.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of merchandising cigarettes, both in factory-made form and in the form of loose tobacco of the same blend and other related products bearing the same brand.

Abstract: A method and machine for producing a rigid packet of cigarettes from a flat, substantially rectangular blank; the blank has two main longitudinal crease lines, and a number of transverse crease lines defining, between the two main longitudinal crease lines, central panels having respective lateral wings; the flat blank is fed to a prefolding station where the lateral wings of at least one of the central panels are folded about the respective main longitudinal crease lines; and the blank is subsequently restored to the flat configuration before being fed to a follow-up folding station.

Abstract: The invention proposes measures for controlling a production and packaging system for cigarettes such that a certain number of cigarettes (batch) of a certain brand or design are produced and the system is then switched off. This is based on a quantity which is to be produced, that is to say a specified quantity. Taking account of the actually occurring defective production at individual production units and subassemblies, the overall production requirement is determined and produced accordingly and packaging material is made available to the individual production units.

Abstract: A method and system for bundling elongated material surrounded with a plurality of binding frames, each binding frame having vertical and horizontal members attached so as to form a rectangular shaped frame. The vertical and horizontal members are connected using corner jigs, each corner jig having a horizontal base adapted to receive a horizontal member and a vertical sleeve adapted to receive a vertical member. Each binding frame is then surrounded with a binding band adapted to hold the corner jigs and frames in place so as to maintain the elongated material in the bundle.

Abstract: Cigarettes are formed into groups by a device comprising a hopper through which to direct a flow of cigarettes, a conveyor with pockets moving intermittently past a discharge outlet of the hopper, and a reciprocating pusher located on the side of the hopper opposite from the conveyor by which a portion of the flow corresponding to one group is directed with each forward stroke into a respective pocket. To avoid damage of the kind often associated with sliding contact and axial compression, the cigarettes adjacent to those ejected by the pusher are restrained when their cylindrical surfaces are attracted by suction generated through ports located inside the hopper.

Abstract: On a packing machine for packing cigarettes, whereby a group of cigarettes is formed by withdrawing the cigarettes from one or more outlets of a hopper, interception, in response to a control signal, of the stream of cigarettes from any one outlet results in simultaneous interception of the respective streams from all of any other outlets participating, with the intercepted outlet, in the formation of the group, but not in simultaneous stoppage of the packing machine as a whole.

Abstract: To pack a group of cigarettes in a rigid packet, a collar, a respective inner sheet of wrapping material and a respective group of cigarettes are fed successively into a same conveying seat in which the collar and the inner sheet are at least partly folded together about the group of cigarettes as of respective flat initial configurations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of merchandising cigarettes, both in factory-made form and in the form of loose tobacco of the same blend and other related products bearing the same brand.

Abstract: In the production and packaging of cigarettes, the procedure for carrying out a product changeover is such that the entire production and packaging installation is largely emptied. In the region of a film packer (16) and of a following multipacker (17), subassemblies for producing web connections (splice) are controlled such that a last cigarette pack of the old configuration is assigned to a last cigarette multipack (24) and this is then separated out.

Abstract: Blocks of plain or filter cigarettes are accumulated in at least two group building assemblies each of which comprises at least two block forming units receiving cigarettes by gravity flow by way of upright ducts. The assemblies are adjacent the path of a series of successive receptacles which serve to transport discrete blocks stepwise to a multiple-track packing machine. The units accumulate blocks of cigarettes during intervals which include the duration of at least one stepwise movement of the receptacles and that of at least one period of standstill of the receptacles. Such intervals suffice to ensure satisfactory gathering of cigarettes into blocks of required size and shape at a frequency which is required for full-speed operation of the multiple-track packing machine.

Abstract: Blocks of plain or filter cigarettes are accumulated in at least two group building assemblies each of which comprises at least two block forming units receiving cigarettes by gravity flow by way of upright ducts. The assemblies are adjacent the path of a series of successive receptacles which serve to transport discrete blocks stepwise to a multiple-track packing machine. The units accumulate blocks of cigarettes during intervals which include the duration of at least one stepwise movement of the receptacles and that of at least one period of standstill of the receptacles. Such intervals suffice to ensure satisfactory gathering of cigarettes into blocks of required size and shape at a frequency which is required for full-speed operation of the multiple-track packing machine.

Abstract: Blanks (10) made of thin cardboard for hinge-lid packets or similar are produced in the region of a packaging machine. To this end, a material web (19) made of thin cardboard and if necessary partially pre-prepared, is led through a blanks device (20) in the region of the packaging machine. The blanks device (20) can if necessary apply printing (29) to the material web (19) as well as embossing, grooves, punched-out lines, until the blanks (10) are completely produced by a transverse severance cut (32).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shipping a bundle containing elongated articles comprises a stretch film wrapping a plurality of elongated articles and at least one lift strap. Looped ends of the lift straps are routed though holes cut in the stretch film. An overhead crane lifts the bundle with or without a spreader bar. Support blocks, attached by adhesive strips to the bottom of the bundle, support the bundle above the load surface to allow insertion of a lift device such as a lift fork below the bundle. Edge protectors may be used with the lift straps at the edges of the bundle.

Abstract: A loading head for loading food articles into packaging includes a transfer conveyor in operable communication with a source of articles to be loaded. The transfer conveyor communicates the articles from an upper receiving position to a lower loading position. A first drive drives the transfer conveyor at a variable speed. A second drive oscillates the transfer conveyor between a first position and a second position. A controller is in operable association with the first and second drives for varying the driving speed of the transfer conveyor as a function of the position of the transfer conveyor. An article holder is disposed at the loading position for receipt of a transferred article.

Abstract: In a device for aligning objects, particularly sausages (1), which are fed for instance to a packaging device (7), at least two elements (14, 15) moving opposite each other are arranged approximately parallel to each other. They leave between them a space (16, 17) through which the objects (1) can drop.

Abstract: A machine and method for packaging smoking articles provides an essentially hermetic enclosure of a barrier material around a charge of such articles in an open (incomplete) frame, by driving on the articles themselves to push them through a temporary wall of the barrier material with the previous imposition on them of the open frame at a framing station. Preferably the driving is by means of an indexing conveyor which is stationary immediately before the collection of the charge from a hopper, during the imposition of the frame and immediately before pushing the frame and charge through the temporary wall.

Abstract: A caddy for packaging and transporting shirred food casings. A caddy according to the present invention comprises a plurality of shirred food casings, each of the shirred food casings being generally cylindrical and of generally equal length and diameter, with the food casings being arranged in a plurality of generally adjacent but offset rows to form a stack. The stack includes a bottom wall, a top wall, and a plurality of sidewalls. The stack is further defined by a pair of outside rows and a plurality of inside rows. At least one of the inside rows is laterally offset relative to its adjacent rows to thereby form a recessed notch adjacent one of the sidewalls. The same row also forms a protruding casing on the side opposite of the notch. A vacuum sealed peripheral retaining film surrounds the stack to thereby retain the food casings in the stack.

Abstract: A method to form bundles (11) of one or more layers (20) of adjacent rolled sections (12). The method comprises discharging the rolled sections (12) from a terminal end (13a) of a transporter to cause the rolled sections (12) to fall from the terminal end (13a) onto discharge rods (14); forming at least one layer (20) of the rolled sections (12), which fall from the terminal end (13a) of the transporter (13) onto the discharge rods (14), the discharge rods (14) being arranged parallel to the transporter (13) and underneath the upper plane where the sections (12) are transported on the transporter (13). The discharge rods (14) are axially displaced with respect to the transporter (13) to define from time to time a lateral discharge space ("s") adjacent the terminal end (13a), for placing the sections (12) on the rods (14), wherein the lateral discharge space ("s") equals a transverse dimension of each rolled section (12).

Abstract: A package comprising tubular food casing strands encased in a plastic film, said film encompassing said strands, said package being provided with a tear strip secured upon the outside surface of the film; weakened areas being provided in the film along parallel edges of said tear strip so that pulling of said strip away from the package causes film between the weakened areas to be removed with the strip thus opening the package and exposing the strands.

Abstract: A product filler head system having an input conveyor with a first drive motor for delivering product items, an index pusher for receiving the product items from the input conveyor, accumulating the product items into groups of a selected size and releasing the groups onto a staging area, the index pusher including a second drive motor, an index lug chain for receiving selected numbers of the groups of product items from the index pusher and displacing the selected number of groups of product along the staging area, the index lug chain including a third drive motor, a ram for displacing the groups of product items from the staging area into a receptacle, the ram including a fourth drive motor, and a selectively programmable computer control for individually actuating the first, second, third and fourth motors such that speeds of the conveyor, index pusher and lug chain are synchronized with respect to each other and with sequencing of the ram, so that changes in the size of the groups of product items and cha

Abstract: A unit for forming groups of cigarettes, wherein a transfer device transfers the cigarettes from a fixed withdrawal station, defined by an open bottom end of a hopper for cigarettes, on to a release surface traveling continuously along a given first path; the transfer device having an extracting device associated with the bottom end of the hopper to successively extract layers of cigarettes from the bottom end and feed the layers along a second path extending crosswise to the first path, and a rotary-platform device in turn having a number of suction type gripping heads movable between the first and second paths to feed the layers of cigarettes on to the release surface.

Abstract: A device for the orderly supply of cigarettes; the device presenting at least one channel defined by two lateral walls and for feeding a respective column of cigarettes at a given dropdown speed and in a given traveling direction to the bottom opening of the channel; and an ordering device being provided upstream from the bottom opening in the traveling direction, and presenting at least two engaging elements located at either end of one of the two lateral walls and movable inside the channel to accompany the cigarettes along a given portion of the channel and so feed the cigarettes in orderly manner to the bottom end.

Abstract: A method and unit for forming and wrapping groups of cigarettes, whereby cigarettes are fed, crosswise to their respective axes, onto a supporting surface to form, on the supporting surface, a multilayer group located between two opposite retaining heads of a pocket for conveying the group; the two retaining heads leave a lateral surface of the group substantially free, and feed the group along the supporting surface, and crosswise to the respective axes of the cigarettes, through a supply line for supplying sheets of wrapping material.

Abstract: A method and machine for wrapping groups of products, whereby, by means of a U-shaped shuttle with its concavity facing upwards, groups of products are fed successively to the loading station of a wrapping conveyor coplanar with the shuttle and traveling in a direction crosswise to the traveling direction of the shuttle; and a U-shaped folding spindle with its concavity facing the shuttle is brought into contact with the central panel of a blank fed into the loading station by the wrapping conveyor, and receives a group from the shuttle prior to the blank being folded about the spindle to form a tray, and prior to the spindle being withdrawn from the tray.

Abstract: A packaging for a grouping of casing sticks of artificial tripe or wrappers in an overlapping alignment having a quincuncial arrangement forming a parallelepiped block has a transparent cover which is adapted to surround the parallelepiped block. The packaging has a tubular configuration where two ends of the packaging overlap on the block. The overlapping two ends define a sealing line which is located upon the middle line of one of the larger surfaces of the block. The ends of the tubular element are folded so as to fit over the ends of the sheaths. Flaps at the open sides of the packaging are folded down onto the same surface of the block on which the sealing line is located, and specifically upon the end areas of the sealing line. The transparent packaging cover is stabilized by an adhesive tape strip which is placed covering the sealing line and the folded flaps. The adhesive tape may have an adhesive free section arranged to form a manual grab tab for allowing the package to be easily opened.

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 method and device for forming and transferring groups of cigarettes on a packing machine with multiple wrapping lines, whereby each group is fed into a respective pocket of a conveyor, and presents a number of superimposed layers fed successively into the respective pocket by push elements for successively expelling the layers from the bottom of respective outlets of a feedbox; the outlets are equal in number to the number of layers forming each group multiplied by a whole number greater than one, and the conveyor is moved intermittently in steps of a length equal to the spacing between two consecutive pockets multiplied by the whole number; at each stop of the conveyor, respective layers are expelled from the outlets of the feedbox and fed into respective pockets; and respective groups are expelled from a number of pockets equal to the whole number, and are fed to an operating unit of the packing machine.