Abstract:
A method to set up at least one movable operating member (5, 7) of an automatic machine (1) for manufacturing consumer articles (3) comprising the steps (16, 17) of: defining a first motion profile (FP) of the movable operating member (5, 7), determining possible imperfections in the processing of the articles (3), defining a corresponding second motion profile (SP) of an electric actuator system (8, 9), which, through a motion transmission system (12), is mechanically connected to the movable operating member (5, 7) and moves the movable operating member (5, 7) with the first motion profile (FP), correcting, by means of an interface device (15) of the automatic machine (1) and based on the possible determined imperfections, at least one conversion parameter (50) concerning the processing on the articles (3) performed by the movable operating member (5, 7); processing the first motion profile (FP), thus obtaining a first modified profile (MFP) of the movable operating member (5, 7).
Abstract:
A package coding system for a cigarette manufacturing process is provided. An imprinting device imprints an alphanumeric code on each of a series of cigarette packages. A conveyor device conveys the cigarette packages in a feed direction. An inspection device is operably engaged with the conveyor device and inspects the alphanumeric code imprinted on each cigarette package conveyed by the conveyor device to determine whether any of the cigarette packages includes a defect in the imprinted alphanumeric code, and thus comprises a defective cigarette package. A removal device is operably engaged with the conveyor device and is configured to be in communication with the inspection device. The removal device is configured to remove the defective cigarette package from the series of cigarette packages conveyed by the conveyor device in response to identification thereof by the inspection device. An associated method is also provided.
Abstract:
Cigarettes are stored in one or more reservoirs at a customer location. A computer receives customer orders and transmits them to a dispenser. Upon receipt of a customer order, a pre-selected number of cigarettes is automatically removed from the reservoir(s) by the dispenser and then automatically packed in a container by a packer comprising a collation mandrel which is movable relative to the dispenser. A preferred type of substantially air-tight, self-sealing container has a lid portion, a body portion and a collar, which is mounted within the body portion. The body portion is provided with one or more upwardly extending protrusions on the upper surface of the base thereof. An air and moisture impermeable membrane is sealed about the upper periphery of the collar.
Abstract:
A method and packing machine for combining an insert and a group of cigarettes; the group of cigarettes is fed to a first seat of a pocket, which first seat is designed to house the group of cigarettes; the insert is fed to a second seat of the pocket, which second seat is designed to house the insert and is separate from the first seat; and the group of cigarettes and the insert are expelled together from the pocket by a common ejector device, so as to combine the insert with the group of cigarettes.
Abstract:
A variable-capacity FIFO store having a powered endless conveyor belt defining a conveying branch for transferring a mass of articles from an input station to an output station, and a return branch extending from the output station to the input station; and an adjusting assembly for adjusting the lengths of the conveying and return branches in complementary manner, so as to adjust the storage capacity of the store; an expulsion station is located along an output conveyor, downstream from the output station, to expel a given mass of articles from the output conveyor, and is controlled by a control unit for identifying the location of a mass of articles in the store, and for activating the expulsion station when the previously identified mass of articles travels through the expulsion station.
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:
Packaging machines for cigarettes are conventionally equipped with a (cigarette) magazine (11) which receives a stock of cigarettes (10). The lower region of the magazine (11) consists of a plurality of magazine shafts (12) which are divided off from one another by means of shaft walls (13). The cigarettes (10) are extracted at the lower ends of the magazine shafts (12) in groups each corresponding to the content of a cigarette pack, by being pushed out axially. In order to check the cigarettes for defective construction, especially for any gaps (16) in the tobacco in the region of the ends of the cigarettes (10), optoelectrical sensors, especially receivers (17, 18; 30, 31), are arranged in the shaft walls of appropriate thickness. These sensors are directed towards the side of the cigarettes (10) transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of these. Light entering from the end faces of the cigarettes (10) is received by the receivers (17, 18; 30, 31) and evaluated in terms of any gaps (16) in the tobacco. To generate the light, transmitters (19; 32) can be arranged on the end faces of the cigarettes (10) in the front wall (21) and/or rear wall (22) of the magazine (11). The magazine (11) equipped with test members in this way is suitable, in an especially simple and reliable way, for testing and separating out individual or extremely small groups of defective cigarettes.
Abstract:
In order to separate out defective cigarettes (29) in an economical way, cigarettes are tested in the region of magazine shafts (11a, 11b, etc.; 12a, 12b, etc.) of a cigarette magazine (10). The defective cigarettes (29) identified are conveyed beyond a lower main pushing-out plane (22) and are separated out below this. For this purpose, supporting members (carrying webs 32) for the cigarettes are movable up and down at the bottom end of the magazine shafts.
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. The suction and compressed air sources are selectively connected to the recesses to either retain or expel a cigarette in the recesses.
Abstract:
A device for monitoring the quality of cigarettes in a packing machine, which may be mounted on an input hopper of a packing machine of cyclic type in order to monitor the quality of the cigarettes of a stack moving in steps along each output channel of the hopper and to carry out the removal of defective cigarettes, comprising, with respect to each channel, a sensor element and an associate ejector element, whose respective operating cycles take place, with respect to each cigarette, within a same cycle of this machine.