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.

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.

A transferring and inspection unit for transferring and inspecting a group of elongated elements that are rod-shaped for smoking articles that includes a forming pocket, having a longitudinal axis, which is provided with a hollow housing suitable for housing a group of elongated elements to be inspected; a transporting conveyor of the forming pocket which is configured to advance the pocket along an advancing path through a first inspection position; a first tridimensional inspecting optical assembly configured to perform in respective successive scanning instants a plurality of first tridimensional optical scans by projecting a first light blade over a first head face of the group, during advancing of the forming pocket through the first inspection position; a processing device configured to obtain, for each first tridimensional scan, a respective first scanning line associated with the respective scanning instant and to reconstruct a first tridimensional profile of the first head face on the basis of the plurality of the first scanning lines, positioned in respective first reference positions. The forming pocket includes a first front face that in turn includes a first shaped surface be the first optical assembly is configured to perform simultaneously with each first tridimensional scan of the first head face also a respective first tridimensional scan of the first shaped surface to obtain a respective further scanning line; the processing device is in addition configured to calculate the reference position of each first scanning line analyzing the respective further scanning line.

A process for detecting oil or lubricant contamination in a manufactured product, the process comprising adding a fluorescent taggant to oils or lubricants contained in processing machinery for the product, irradiating the product with radiation, such as infrared or ultraviolet radiation, and detecting radiation emitted from the irradiated product.

A process for detecting oil or lubricant contamination in a manufactured product, the process comprising adding a fluorescent taggant to oils or lubricants contained in processing machinery for the product, irradiating the product with radiation, such as infrared or ultraviolet radiation, and detecting radiation emitted from the irradiated product.

A transferring and inspection unit for transferring and inspecting a group of elongated elements that are rod-shaped for smoking articles that includes a forming pocket, having a longitudinal axis, which is provided with a hollow housing suitable for housing a group of elongated elements to be inspected; a transporting conveyor of the forming pocket which is configured to advance the pocket along an advancing path through a first inspection position; a first tridimensional inspecting optical assembly configured to perform in respective successive scanning instants a plurality of first tridimensional optical scans by projecting a first light blade over a first head face of the group, during advancing of the forming pocket through the first inspection position; a processing device configured to obtain, for each first tridimensional scan, a respective first scanning line associated with the respective scanning instant and to reconstruct a first tridimensional profile of the first head face on the basis of the plurality of the first scanning lines, positioned in respective first reference positions. The forming pocket includes a first front face that in turn includes a first shaped surface be the first optical assembly is configured to perform simultaneously with each first tridimensional scan of the first head face also a respective first tridimensional scan of the first shaped surface to obtain a respective further scanning line; the processing device is in addition configured to calculate the reference position of each first scanning line analyzing the respective further scanning line.

An apparatus of the tobacco industry for the rejection of defective rod-like articles from a mass flow of rod-like articles, comprising a monitoring unit (100) adapted to optically determine geometrical parameters of rod-like articles (R), and at least one rejecting unit (200) adapted to remove a rod-like article from the mass flow (M) of rod-like articles (R), wherein the mass flow (M) being transported on the conveyor (10), such unit (200) being situated behind the monitoring unit (100) with reference to the direction (T) of the mass flow (M) of rod-like articles (R). The apparatus is characterised in that the monitoring unit (100) has optical recorders (101) recording images of opposite side surfaces of the mass flow (M) of rod-like articles (R) on a conveyor (10) wherein said side surfaces are formed by front surfaces or rod-like articles (R). The apparatus comprises the controller (300) which basing on the recorded images, using the criteria concerning geometrical parameters of the opposite front surfaces of rod-like articles (R), identifies defective rod-like articles (Rd) in the mass flow (M), and determines the position of the defective rod-like articles (Rd) in the mass flow (M), and the rejecting unit (200) comprises at least one rejecting element (201, 203, 204, 205, 205) adapted to reject the defective rod-like article (Rd), the rejection unit (200) being mounted in such a way that it moves along together with the mass flow (M) in a position enabling it to reject the defective rod-like article (Rd).

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).