A pack for cigarettes having an outer pack and an inner pack with a blank that surrounds a cigarette group, the inner pack having a removal opening for accessing the pack contents, and the inner pack having a closure flap fastened to it by a releasable adhesive bond and being removable for access to the removal opening or pack contents. For forming the removal opening, the blank has an opening that is closable by the closure means, the closure means having a coverage region that, with the closure means in the closed position, circumferentially surrounds the opening and is adhesively connectable to a region of the blank that surrounds the opening, and a separate blank is adhesively fastened on the closure means on the side facing the inner pack, the separate blank, with the closure means in the closed position, covering the opening and overlapping the opening on all sides.

A method of producing a pack of smoking articles includes providing a pre-assembled pack of smoking articles comprising an inner pack having a flexible sheet in which a group of smoking articles is wrapped or enclosed and a re-closable flap movable between a closed position preventing access to the smoking articles and an open position for accessing the smoking articles, and an outer pack comprising a container which holds and substantially encompasses the inner pack, the outer pack having a lid in a closed position preventing access to the inner pack; creating a space or gap between the lid of the outer pack and the inner pack; and attaching the re-closable flap of the inner pack to the lid of the outer pack via and/or through the space or gap. An apparatus for producing a pack of smoking articles per the above method is also provided.

A method of producing a pack of smoking articles includes providing a pre-assembled pack of smoking articles comprising an inner pack having a flexible sheet in which a group of smoking articles is wrapped or enclosed and a re-closable flap movable between a closed position preventing access to the smoking articles and an open position for accessing the smoking articles, and an outer pack comprising a container which holds and substantially encompasses the inner pack, the outer pack having a lid in a closed position preventing access to the inner pack; creating a space or gap between the lid of the outer pack and the inner pack; and attaching the re-closable flap of the inner pack to the lid of the outer pack via and/or through the space or gap. An apparatus for producing a pack of smoking articles per the above method is also provided.

Method to feed and form organized groups of smoking articles, providing to feed a plurality of pockets of a transfer conveyor with pockets moved step-wise, thrusting said organized groups of smoking articles, by means of thrusters actuated independently from each other, in a direction of transfer and through respective forming drawers, into said pockets on the basis of a predefined production rhythm. The method provides, in the event of obstruction, stoppage or blockage of a forming drawer, to vary the operating speed of the thrusters associated with the other forming drawers in coordination and in synchrony with the step-wise feed speed of said transfer conveyor with pockets, in order to obtain an effective production rhythm equal or near to said predefined production rhythm.

Transfer device configured to transfer smoking articles in a direction of transfer from a feed store to a transfer conveyor with pockets of an apparatus to feed and form organized groups of smoking articles. The transfer device includes a forming drawer comprising an upper wall and a bottom wall. The upper wall is disposed fixed in a position opposite the bottom wall and the bottom wall is configured automatically mobile with respect to the fixed upper wall between a closed position and an open position.

Transfer device configured to transfer smoking articles in a direction of transfer from a feed store to a transfer conveyor with pockets of an apparatus to feed and form organized groups of smoking articles. The transfer device includes a forming drawer comprising an upper wall and a bottom wall. The upper wall is disposed fixed in a position opposite the bottom wall and the bottom wall is configured automatically mobile with respect to the fixed upper wall between a closed position and an open position.

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.

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.

A system for printing on a printable portion of a liner for a package to receive smoking articles includes a package assembler configured to receive an outer blank and fold the outer blank around the liner to create the package. The liner comprises a material configured to absorb ink and a front surface, the front surface configured to be seen by a user when the package is open. The liner also includes a printable portion positioned on the front surface, the printable portion configured to receive ink. The system further comprises a printer coupled to the package assembler, the printer configured to dispense the ink on the printable portion when the package is in an at least partially assembled state.

A system for printing on a printable portion of a liner for a package to receive smoking articles includes a package assembler configured to receive an outer blank and fold the outer blank around the liner to create the package. The liner comprises a material configured to absorb ink and a front surface, the front surface configured to be seen by a user when the package is open. The liner also includes a printable portion positioned on the front surface, the printable portion configured to receive ink. The system further comprises a printer coupled to the package assembler, the printer configured to dispense the ink on the printable portion when the package is in an at least partially assembled state.