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).

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.

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.

A smoking article package inspection system configured to inspect a smoking article package is provided. The system includes imaging devices configured to capture images of the smoking article package and an analysis unit configured to analyze the images captured by the imaging devices and determine whether the smoking article package is defective. The imaging devices may be positioned and configured to capture images of the smoking article package at least one of: before and after enclosing a plurality of smoking articles in the smoking article package, before and after printing an identifier on the smoking article package, and before and after wrapping the smoking article package with an outer wrapper. A related method is also provided.

A smoking article package inspection system configured to inspect a smoking article package is provided. The system includes imaging devices configured to capture images of the smoking article package and an analysis unit configured to analyze the images captured by the imaging devices and determine whether the smoking article package is defective. The imaging devices may be positioned and configured to capture images of the smoking article package at least one of: before and after enclosing a plurality of smoking articles in the smoking article package, before and after printing an identifier on the smoking article package, and before and after wrapping the smoking article package with an outer wrapper. A related method is also provided.

The invention concerns a device (1) for producing portion packets (2) of a smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff product, comprising a forming arrangement (3) configured to form portion packets of the product from a supply of product material, a packaging arrangement (4) configured to fold and seal a packaging material (5) around the portion packets and comprising a unit for transversal sealing (11), a sensor member (12, 13) configured to generate information useful for identifying defect portion packets during operation of the device, a rejection system (7) configured to reject selected portion packets during operation of the device, and a control system (8) configured to receive the information generated by the sensor member and to control the rejection system. The sensor member is capable of generating data of at least a part of an individual portion packet during operation of the device, and the control system is configured to i) carry out a comparison between a) the data received from the sensor member and b) reference data and to ii) control the rejection system depending on a result of the comparison. The sensor member is arranged in association with the unit for transversal sealing, such as to be capable of generating data of portion packets that have been folded into the longitudinally folded strip of packaging material. The control system is provided with information on where on the strip of packaging material transversal seals (9) generated by the transversal sealing unit will be or have been placed. The invention also concerns a method for producing portion packets of a smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff product.

The invention concerns a device (1) for producing portion packets (2) of a smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff product, comprising a forming arrangement (3) configured to form portion packets of the product from a supply of product material, a packaging arrangement (4) configured to fold and seal a packaging material (5) around the portion packets and comprising a unit for transversal sealing (11), a sensor member (12, 13) configured to generate information useful for identifying defect portion packets during operation of the device, a rejection system (7) configured to reject selected portion packets during operation of the device, and a control system (8) configured to receive the information generated by the sensor member and to control the rejection system. The sensor member is capable of generating data of at least a part of an individual portion packet during operation of the device, and the control system is configured to i) carry out a comparison between a) the data received from the sensor member and b) reference data and to ii) control the rejection system depending on a result of the comparison. The sensor member is arranged in association with the unit for transversal sealing, such as to be capable of generating data of portion packets that have been folded into the longitudinally folded strip of packaging material. The control system is provided with information on where on the strip of packaging material transversal seals (9) generated by the transversal sealing unit will be or have been placed. The invention also concerns a method for producing portion packets of a smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff product.

An assistance method for execution of a format change in an automatic machine can include dividing the format change into an orderly succession of operations for the removal of components designed for the old format and installation of components designed for the new format; communicating the orderly succession of removal and installation operations to an operator; electronically and automatically detecting the actual presence or absence of a component designed for the old or new format before communicating to the operator the operation for removal or installation of the component; electronically and automatically detecting the actual absence or presence of a component designed for the old or new format after having communicated to the operator; and communicating to the operator the operation following an operation for the removal or installation of a component only after having electronically and automatically checked for the actual absence or presence of the component.

An assistance method for execution of a format change in an automatic machine can include dividing the format change into an orderly succession of operations for the removal of components designed for the old format and installation of components designed for the new format; communicating the orderly succession of removal and installation operations to an operator; electronically and automatically detecting the actual presence or absence of a component designed for the old or new format before communicating to the operator the operation for removal or installation of the component; electronically and automatically detecting the actual absence or presence of a component designed for the old or new format after having communicated to the operator; and communicating to the operator the operation following an operation for the removal or installation of a component only after having electronically and automatically checked for the actual absence or presence of the component.

A method and device for examining rod-shaped products of the cigarette industry, having a cylindrical lateral surface and two end faces formed by two filter elements arranged at opposite ends, the product having smokable material between the two end faces, by: a) irradiating the lateral surface using examination light whereby the examination light penetrates through the lateral surface at least partially into the product and at least partially exits again through one end face, the beams of which are incident on the lateral surface at an angle of at least 30 in relation to the longitudinal extension of the product; b) acquiring the examination light exiting the end face of the product using an electro-optical receiver, the main viewing direction of which is directed onto the end face; and c) evaluating the brightness or light intensity of the examination light exiting the end face and acquired by the electro-optical receiver.