WO2008131504A1 - Machine for cutting, opening and unpacking flip-top-type cigarette packs and for selecting conforming cigarettes unloaded from the packs - Google Patents

Abstract

The present specification refers to a patent of invention for a machine for cutting, opening and unpacking flip-top-type cigarette packs and selecting conforming cigarettes belonging to the field of equipment used in the cigarette industry comprising: a magazine (10); a feed conveyor (30); and a transfer device (50); a device for longitudinally cutting the pack carton (70); a conveyor for carrying the packs during the process (90); a device for transversely cutting the pack carton (110); a device for extracting the carton cut portion and forming a window to have access to the foil wrap (130); a device for opening the upper and lower smaller faces of the pack (150); a device for opening an top aperture and forming a window for emptying the cigarettes (170); a device for overturning the open pack and unpacking the cigarettes (190); a device for collecting the cigarettes unpacked (210); a device for checking the cigarettes unpacked and selecting conforming cigarettes (230); and a disposal assembly comprising: a device for disposing the pack scraps (250); a device for outputting the conforming cigarettes selected (270); and a device for disposing non-conforming cigarettes (280).

Description

"MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES AFTER UNPACKING"

The present specification refers to a patent of invention for a machine for cutting, opening and unpacking flip- top-type cigarette packs and selecting conforming cigarettes, a machine belonging to the field of equipment used in the cigarette industry, and which has been designed to cut, open and unpack cigarette packs showing any non-conformity, aiming at selecting and reusing conforming cigarettes after unpacking.

Cigarettes are sold in packs such as Flip-Top or Box, comprising essentially: a foil wrap containing twenty cigarettes; a carton box formed by a pocket which receives the wrap containing the cigarettes and a hinge-top lid. During the packaging process, bundles of twenty cigarettes are formed, each of them wrapped by their respective foil wrap, and each wrap containing twenty cigarettes packaged in their respective flip-top-type pack, and this latter may be wrapped with a transparent wrap; twenty Flip-Top packs are gathered together and wrapped thus forming a package or carton and a plurality of such packages is packed inside a case, and so the packaging process is complete. During such process non- conformity(ies) may occur, which is(are) detected by suitable means of the packer machine, which discards non-conforming wrapping or package or pack or carton prior to reaching the next step of the production process. Such disposal of non-conforming packs or cartons results from some problem they may have and not because of the cigarettes themselves. For this reason, it may desirable to reuse the cigarettes packed in such non-conforming packs or cartons. In order to reuse such cigarettes, it's necessary to open up each Flip-top-type pack, check each cigarette, particularly the cigarette tip to see whether it is properly filled with the required amount of tobacco and then reinsert the conforming cigarette into the packaging line. Currently, there is no effective means of opening and unpacking Flip-top-type packs or cartons and checking whether the cigarettes may be reused. Therefore, it's an objective of the present patent of invention to provide a machine capable of overcoming the above inconvenient.

Another objective is to provide a machine which besides overcoming the above inconvenient will not involve high levels of construction or manufacture complexity such that constructing the machine will become unfeasible. Another objective is to provide a machine with suitable purchase, operation and maintenance costs.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problem and in order to overcome it and aiming at meeting the objectives related thereto, the machine for cutting, opening and unpacking Flip-top-type cigarette packs and selecting conforming cigarettes unpacked, object of the present patent of invention comprises essentially: an assembly for feeding cigarette packs to be open consisting of: a magazine; a feed conveyor; and a transfer device; a processing assembly formed essentially by: a cutting device for longitudinally cutting the package carton; a conveyor for conveying the packs during the process; a cutting device for transversely cutting the carton; an extracting device for extracting the cut portion of the carton and forming a window; a device for opening the smaller upper and lower faces of the pack; a device for opening the top and forming a window for taking out the cigarettes; a device for overturning the open pack and unpacking the cigarettes; a device for collecting the cigarettes unpacked; a device for checking the cigarettes unpacked and selecting conforming cigarettes; said machine further featuring a disposal assembly comprising: a device for disposing pack scraps; a device for taking out selected conforming cigarettes; and a device for disposing non- conforming cigarettes.

The machine with the above construction provides an efficient way to open and unpack Flip-Top-type packs and select conforming unpacked cigarettes.

Another advantage of the present machine refers to the relatively low complexity of its construction and manufacture and relatively low purchase, operation and maintenance costs, which advantage makes the machine suitable for the application it is intended.

The attached drawings refer to the machine for cutting, opening and unpacking Flip-Top-type cigarette packs, and selecting conforming cigarettes unpacked object of the present patent, in which: Figure 1 shows a typical Flip-Top cigarette package processed by the machine;

Figure 2 shows an overview of the machine;

Figure 3 shows a detail of the machine processing line; Figure 4 shows a detail of the magazine which receives and feeds the packs to be processed; Figure 5 shows a detail of the feed conveyor which receives the packs from the magazine; a transfer device which works at the conveyor output end; and a first cutting device, which cuts longitudinally the larger face of the carton turned upwards during transfer and Figure 5A shows a schematic view of how such longitudinal cuts are made;

Figure 6 shows a detail of the conveyor for conveying packs during the process and a second cutting device for transversely cutting the larger face of the carton turned upwards; Figure 7 shows a detail of the device for extracting a longitudinally and transversely cut portion of the larger upper face turned upwards for opening a window; and a device for opening the upper and lower faces of the pack; Figures 7A and 7B show schematic views of how the cut portion of the larger face turned upwards is taken out, and Figures 7C and 7D show schematic views of the aperture made in the pack smaller upper and lower faces;

Figure 8 shows a detail of the device for opening the remaining portion of the pack larger face turned upwards and foil wrap aperture for forming a window for taking out the cigarettes; and the figure also shows the guide entry of an overturning device, which keeps the pack open and holds the cigarettes inside the open pack while the pack is overturned and Figures 8A and 8B show schematic views of the aperture of the remaining portion of the pack larger face turned upwards and the foil wrap; Figure 9 shows a detail of the device for overturning the pack, collecting the unpacked cigarettes, checking and selecting the cigarettes, and Figure 9 A shows a schematic detail of the inlet of such device; and

Figure 10 shows a detail similar to the previous one, but according to which means of disposing the scraps of the open pack and the output of conforming cigarettes are seen.

According to what is shown in the above- mentioned Figures, the machine object of the present patent of invention is intended to cut, open and unpack Flip-Top or Box cigarette packs 1-2 and select conforming cigarettes 9 unpacked.

Each pack comprises essentially (fig. 1): an inner foil wrap 1 containing twenty cigarettes 9 grouped in a rectangular prismatic bundle; and a rectangular prismatic carton 2 formed by a pocket, which receives the wrap containing the bundle of cigarettes and a hinge-top lid.

Pack 2 is formed by front 3 and rear 3' larger faces, side faces 4, 4' and upper 5 and lower 6 smaller faces forming edges with each other. Side faces 4, 4' have respective end pawls 4", which are folded inside and pressed in the end apertures formed by larger faces 3, 3' and side faces 4, 4'. Said pack further provides a cross section 7, which forms the pocket and the lid formed by an intermediate horizontal and transversal section above the front larger face 3 and oblique end sections made on the side faces 4, 4'.

The foil wrap 1 is folded around the bundle of cigarettes 9 and their vertical overlapping ends are arranged to the left of the pack, such that the vertical end of the wrap forming the edge with the area arranged subsequently to the pack overlaps the other vertical end and upper and lower ends of such wrap are folded and pressed over the cigarette tips.

Therefore, said machine comprises essentially (figs. 2 and 3): an assembly for feeding packs to be open consisting of: a magazine 10; a feed conveyor 30; and a transfer device 50.

A processing assembly formed essentially by: a device for longitudinally cutting the carton 70; a conveyor for conveying the packs during the process 90; a device for transversely cutting the carton 110; a device for extracting the carton cut portion and forming a window 130; a device for opening the upper and lower smaller faces of the pack 150; a device for opening the pack top and forming the window for taking out the cigarettes 170; a device for overturning the open pack and unpacking the cigarettes 190; a device for collecting the unpacked cigarettes 210; a device for checking the unpacked cigarettes and selecting conforming cigarettes 230; said machine further featuring a disposal assembly comprising: a device for disposing the pack scraps 250; a device through which conforming selected cigarettes come out 270; and a device for disposing non-conforming cigarettes 280.

Said machine further comprises a mechanic driving assembly; a pneumatic assembly; an electric and electronic driving, supervision and control assembly; and a bearing structure where the machine assemblies and panel 290 for the interface with the operator are mounted.

In detail, magazine 10 (fig. 4) comprises essentially: a prismatic vertical structure 11 containing a plurality of packs 1-2 to be open having no external transparent wrap; a lower side output window 12 which opens on the feed conveyor 30, and where pack sets 1-2 arrive by gravity; and a device 13 for transferring a set of packs from the window to the conveyor formed by a receiving plate for the packs and a pneumatic cylinder locking the plate; said structure 11 is suitable to contain vertically and horizontally aligned packs 1-2, such that side faces 4, 4' of said packs having the same horizontal alignment are overlapping and arranged at vertical plans transversal to the feed conveyor 30 and the front 3 and rear 3' larger faces turned downwards and upwards, respectively, are arranged horizontally and juxtaposed to immediately corresponding lower and upper horizontally aligned rear and front faces of the packs.

The feed conveyor 30 (fig. 5) features: a typical conveyor 31; end cylinders 32; an electric driving motor 33, and receives packs 1-2 from the magazine 10 in a position according to which the longer sides of the packs are arranged transversely to the conveyor, and the front larger face 3 is supported thereon, and the free larger rear face 3' is turned upwards, said packs being juxtaposed laterally to each other and their left side faces, and the overlapping ends of the foil wrap 1 are turned ahead towards the conveyor movement. The transfer device 50 (fig. 5) is arranged transversely at the output end of the feed conveyor 30 and comprises essentially: a track 51 arranged transversely to the conveyor end 30 where the rear larger face 3' of the pack 1-2 to be transferred is supported, and whose longer sides are arranged longitudinally to the track; a supporting surface 52 is provided in the track side 51 opposite to the side where the conveyor output 30 is arranged; a hopper 53 is provided at the front end of the track 51 formed by a seat which leans against the lower smaller face 6 of the pack 1-2 to be transferred and a pneumatic cylinder which locks the seat; said track 51 receives a pack 1- 2 from the conveyor output 30 and the hopper 53 slides the pack 1-2 towards a transversal direction thereto until it is fed into the processing conveyor 90.

The device for longitudinally cutting the carton

70 (fig. 5) is arranged in the track side 51 opposite to the side where the feed conveyor output 30 is located and comprises essentially: first 71 and second 72 parallel, spaced apart, rotating cutting discs arranged above the track 51, which make two longitudinal cuts in the rear larger face 3' turned upwards of the carton 2 containing the pack 1-2 which is being transferred; and an electric motor 73 which turns the discs. The first disc

71 makes a longitudinal cut 300 (fig. 5A) along the edge between the rear larger face 3' turned upwards and the left side face 4 of the carton 2 without cutting the foil 1. The second disc 72 makes an eccentric cut 301 along the length of the rear larger face 3 ' turned upwards of the carton 2 without cutting the foil 1.

During the process 90 (fig. 6) the conveyor for conveying the packs lays parallel to the feed conveyor 30, the output end of said feed conveyor 30 is aligned transversely to the output end of said conveyor and the transfer device 50 is located between both; said conveyor for conveying the packs during the process 90 is formed by: a conveyor 91; end wheels 92; a driving motor 93; and beds 94 transversely mounted at regular spaces on the conveyor 91, said beds intended to house a pack 1-2 during the process; each bed is formed by a rectangular bottom overlapping the conveyor 91 and two lateral, opposite walls extending from the bottom, arranged transversely to the conveyor 91, the ends and bottom end of such bed being located laterally to the conveyor 91 turned to the side of the transfer device 50 forming the bed 94 input, which receives a pack 1-2 with the rear larger face 3' turned upwards and already longitudinally cut with cuts 300, 301 and whose left side face is turned ahead towards the conveyor movement.

During the process the device for transversely cutting the carton 110 (fig. 6) is arranged above the pack conveyor 90 and comprises essentially: first 111 and second 112 parallel, spaced apart, rotating cutting discs arranged above conveyor 90, said cutting discs intended to make two transversal cuts in the rear larger face 3' of the carton 2 turned upwards; and an electric driving motor 113 for driving the discs. Discs 111 and 112 make respective transversal cuts 302 and 303 in the opposite edges between the rear larger face 3' turned upwards and upper 5 and lower 6 smaller faces of the carton 2 without cutting the foil wrap 1; said transversal cuts 302, 303 intercept the longitudinal cuts 300 and 301, thereby forming a removable rectangular area 304 in the rear larger face 3' turned upwards.

The device for extracting the carton cut portion and forming the window 130 (fig. 7) is located next to the conveyor for carrying the packs during the process 90, subsequently to the device for transversely cutting the pack 110; said device extracts the removable rectangular area 304, thereby opening a window 305 in the rear larger face 3' turned upwards; said device 130 comprises essentially a suction nozzle 131; and a device 132 which moves said suction nozzle 131 between a position above the conveyor 90, where it sucks and takes out the removable rectangular area 304 of a pack 1-2, thereby forming a window 305 (fig. 7A) and a position outside the surface of the conveyor 90, where it drops the rectangular area 304 such that said portion falls by gravity (fig. 7B) and is disposed by the device for disposing the pack scraps 250.

The device for opening the upper and lower faces of the pack 150 (fig. 7) is arranged above the conveyor 90, immediately following the device for extracting the carton cut portion and forming the window 130, said device 150 presses outwards the upper 5 and lower 6 smaller faces of the pack 1-2 moved by bed 94 and comprises essentially: two equal symmetric aperture wedges 151 arranged adjacent to the respective sides of the conveyor 90, and between which beds 94 containing packs 1-2 pass snug; two upper rollers 152 arranged immediately above the front ends of the respective wedges 151, which cooperate with such wedges; and two lower guides 153 arranged next to the lower face of the respective wedges, which keep upper 5 and lower 6 faces at the open position. Each wedge 151 is formed by the respective front cutting edge 154 turned towards a direction opposite to the conveyor 90 advance direction and aligned with the interstice formed between upper 5 or lower 6 face and the respective inner pawls 4" of side faces 4, 4' of the pack 1-2; intermediate section 155 which extends from the cutting edge 154 and is formed by a lateral oblique face turned externally, the lower oblique face, the opposite side face coplanar with the cutting edge and horizontal upper face; and a prismatic rear section 156 opposite to the cutting edge 154, whose external, lower side faces, opposite, side and upper faces are flat and keep continuous and concordant with the respective intermediate section faces 155. Each upper roller 152 is tangent to the inner, upper edge of the respective wedge 151. Each guide 153 is substantially continuous to the lower face of the rear section 156 of the respective wedge 151. Therefore, (fig. 7C) the interstices between the upper 5 and lower 6 faces and the inner pawls 4" of the pack 1-2 driven by the bed 94, receive the cutting edges 154 of the wedges 151 and as the movement continues, said interstices move ahead progressively towards the wider sections of the wedges 151 (fig. 7D) forcing the upper 5 and lower 6 faces to be pushed outside up to reaching positions substantially coplanar with the front larger face 3 arranged in the bottom, and as the movement continues, said upper 5 and lower 6 faces are placed under the guides 153, thus keeping at their open positions (fig. 7E).

The device for opening the pack top and forming the window for dropping the cigarettes 170 (fig. 8) is located above the conveyor 90, next to the device for opening the upper and lower faces of the pack 150, and is intended to open the remaining portion 3" of the pack rear larger face turned upwards and corresponding face of the foil wrap 1 in order to form a window 306 through which the cigarettes 9 will be taken out and comprising essentially: a suction nozzle 171 which is attached to the remaining portion 3' of the carton larger face turned upwards 2 and corresponding face of the foil wrap 1; and driving means 172 for moving the nozzle between a lower position (fig. 8A) in which it sucks and holds the remaining portion 3 ' and the foil wrap 1 and a higher position (fig. 8B) in which said remaining portion 3' and the foil wrap 1 are arranged at an open position, where the emptying window 306 is formed and the cigarettes 9 are uncovered.

The device for overturning the pack 190 (figs. 8,

9, 10) is located next to device 170 and turns the open pack 1-2 from a position at which the emptying window 306 is turned upwards up to a position at which it is turned downwards and the cigarettes 9 are dropped and fall by gravity into the cigarette collecting device 210; said device for overturning the pack 190 is formed by: a larger diameter end 191 of the processing conveyor 90; and two pairs of substantially semi-circumferential guide rods concentric to the larger diameter end, arranged above the conveyor 91 and extending substantially from the upper to the lower intersection point between the rectilinear and curved sections of the conveyor 91, i.e.: the pair of upper guide rods 192, whose rods are connected by crossbars and a pair of lower guide rods 193 at whose rods upper rods are seated and whose rods seat at the respective ends of the conveyor 91.

The upper guide rods 192 have free ends against which the remaining portion 3' of carton 2 front face and the corresponding face of the foil wrap 1 fall upon at the beginning of the pack 1-2 overturning course (fig. 9A), in order to complete the pack aperture and forming the emptying window 306; during the course, the bodies of said upper guide rods 192 hold the cigarettes 9 inside the open pack and also hold the remaining portion 3' and the corresponding face of the foil wrap 1 at an open position; said upper guide rods 192 have free lower extremities which end before the device for collecting cigarettes 210. The lower guide rods 193 are substantially continuous with the lower guides 153 of the device for opening the upper and lower brims of the pack 150, and during the overturning course, they hold the upper 5 and lower 6 faces of the pack at open position; said rods 193 extend beyond the device for collecting cigarettes 210 and end above the device for disposing the pack scraps 250, the sections of said rods 193 between devices 210 and 250 hold the empty pack 1-2 in the bed 94 and said pack is released at the free ends of such rods 193 (fig. 9) and falls by gravity into the device for disposing the pack scraps 250. The device for collecting cigarettes 210 (fig.

9) is located under the device for overturning the pack 190 and comprises substantially: a funnel 211, located under the output of the pair of upper guide rods 192; a lower rotating toothed wheel 212 located under the output of the funnel and housings are formed between the teeth of said wheel, each housing receiving a respective cigarette 9; and an electric motor 213 for turning the wheel 212 so that the wheel moves the cigarettes 9 between the funnel and the device for outputting conforming cigarettes previously selected 270 (fig. 10) formed by a conveyor whose entry is located under the toothed wheel. The device for checking the cigarette tips and selecting conforming cigarettes 230 is formed by: a sensor 231 adjacent to the toothed wheel 212 which detects the amount of tobacco existing in the tips of the cigarette 9 arranged in the wheel housing; and a device driven by a sensor 231 for removing non-conforming cigarettes 232, which may be a blower nozzle located adjacent to the point where the wheel housing containing cigarettes is located and may set up so that when actuated, it will blow and expel a non-conforming cigarette from the respective housing.

The device for disposing the pack scraps 250 is formed substantially by a sloping chute 251 located under the release position of the device for extracting the cut portion of the pack 130 and under the output ends of the pair of lower guide rods 193.

The machine bearing structure may be of any suitable kind, such as an enclosure in the external face of the front wall where the machine active devices are mounted. Motors and other driving means of the active devices are mounted at the opposite face and inside the enclosure; the end of said enclosure containing the device for overturning the pack 190, an enclosure housing electric and electronic parts, pneumatic circuitry, and other parts responsible for feeding and logic operation of the machine. A panel 290 for the interface with the operator is provided at the front face of said enclosure.

The present machine works substantially as follows: cigarette packs 1-2 to be open and having no external transparent wrap are housed in the magazine 10, which transfers the sets of packs 1-2 to a feed conveyor 30 and the transfer device 50 transfers the packs from the feed conveyor 30 to the processing conveyor 90.

During such transfer, the rear larger face 3' turned upwards of carton 2 containing pack 1-2 receives two longitudinal, parallel cuts 300 and 301 made by the longitudinal cutting device 70.

When the pack 1-2 is moved in the processing conveyor 90 after receiving the longitudinal cuts 300, 301, the first carton 2 of packs 1-2 receives two transversal cuts 302,

303, made by the transversal cutting device 110, which intercept the longitudinal cuts thus forming a removable rectangular area 304 in the rear larger face 3' turned upwards.

Next, the extracting device 130 takes out the removable area 304 and let it fall by gravity in the device for disposing pack scraps 250, which discards said removable area 304, thus forming a window 305 in the rear larger face 3' turned upwards 305 giving access to the foil wrap 1.

Next, upper 5 and lower 6 smaller faces are open and pressed by the opening device 150 and held at an open position under guides 153.

Afterwards, the remaining portion 3" of the larger face turned upwards and the foil wrap 1 are open by the opening device 170, thus forming an emptying window 360 in the part of the pack which is turned upwards. Then, verturning device 190 guides 192 and

193 keep the pack 1-2 open, which is then turned upside down by such device; the cigarettes fall from the pack by gravity, get into the collection device 210 and when such empty pack reaches the end of the guide 193, it falls by gravity into the device for collecting pack scraps 250, which in its turn discards the pack.

Next, the cigarettes are checked by the device for checking cigarette tips 230 featured by the collection device 210 to check whether their tips are properly full of tobacco or not. Cigarettes found in conformity are transferred to the output device 270, which takes them to be re-fed into the packaging process. Non- conforming cigarettes are disposed by the disposing device 280.

According to the basic construction of the invention as described above, the machine object of the present patent may be subject to changes relating to materials, dimensions, constructive details and/or function and/or ornamental configuration without departing from the scope of protection requested.

Claims

Claims

I)- "MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES AFTER UNP ACKING", said packs comprising essentially: an inner foil wrap (1) containing twenty cigarettes (9) grouped in a rectangular prismatic bundle; and a rectangular prismatic carton (2) formed by a pocket, which receives the wrap containing cigarettes and a hinge-top lid, characterized by an assembly for feeding the packs to be open consisting of: a magazine (10); a feed conveyor (30); and a transfer device (50); a processing assembly formed essentially by: a device for longitudinally cutting the pack carton (70); a conveyor for carrying the packs during the process (90); a device for transversely cutting the pack carton (110); a device for extracting the carton cut portion and forming a window to have access to the foil wrap (130); a device for opening the upper and lower smaller faces of the pack (150); a device for opening an top aperture and forming a window for unpacking the cigarettes (170); a device for overturning the open pack and unpacking the cigarettes (190); a device for collecting the unpacked cigarettes (210); a device for checking the cigarettes unpacked and selecting conforming cigarettes (230); and a disposal assembly comprising: a device for disposing the pack scraps (250); a device for outputting selected conforming cigarettes (270); and a device for disposing non-conforming cigarettes (280). 2)-" "MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES AFTER UNPACKING", as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that magazine (10) comprises essentially: a prismatic vertical structure (11) containing a plurality of packs (l)-(2) to be open having no external transparent wrap; a lower, lateral output window (12), which opens on the feed conveyor (30) and at which the sets of packs (l)-(2) reach by gravity; a pneumatic device for transferring a set of packs from the window to the conveyor.

3)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNPACKED", as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the magazine (10) contains vertically and horizontally aligned packs (l)-(2) such that their side faces (4), (4)' having the same horizontal alignment are juxtaposed and arranged at vertical plans transversal to the feed conveyor (30) and their left side faces (4) are turned ahead following the conveyor movement (30); the rear larger faces (3') of said packs are arranged horizontally and turned upwards and the lower smaller face (6) of the packs is frontally turned to the magazine side (10) featuring the transfer device (13). 4)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING₅ OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the feed conveyor (30) receives the packs (l)-(2) from the magazine (10) at a position in which their longer side is arranged transversely to the conveyor, and their front larger face (3) is supported thereon, their rear face (3)' is free and turned upwards, and side faces (4), (4)' are juxtaposed and the left sides (4) where the overlapping ends of the foil wraps (1) are located internally turned ahead following the conveyor movement. 5)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the transfer device (50) is arranged transversely at the output end of the feed conveyor (30) and comprises essentially: a track (51) arranged transversely at the conveyor end (30) and over which the rear larger face (3)' of the pack l-(2) to be transferred is supported with its longer side placed in the longitudinal direction of said track; a supporting surface (52) provided in the track side (51) opposite to the side where the conveyor output (30) is located; and a pneumatic hopper (53) provided at the front end of the track (51), which pushes a pack l-(2) between the feeding (30) and processing conveyors (90).

6)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device for making a longitudinal cut in the pack boxes (70) is arranged at the track side (51) opposite to the side of the feed conveyor output (30) and comprises essentially: first (71) and second (72) parallel, rotating, cutting discs, spaced from each other, arranged above the track (51) and which make two longitudinal cuts in the rear larger face (3)' turned upwards of the carton (2) of pack l-(2) which is being transferred without cutting the foil wrap (1); and an electric motor (73) which rotates the discs. 7)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the first disc (71) is arranged to make the longitudinal cut (300) along the edge between the rear larger face (3)' turned upwards and the left side face (4) of the carton (2) and the second disc (72) is arranged to make an eccentric cut (301) throughout the length of the rear larger face (3)' turned upwards of the carton (2).

8)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING₅ OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that during the process (90) the pack conveyor remains parallel to the feed conveyor (30), with its entry end transversely aligned with its output end and the transfer device (50) is located between both; said pack conveyor during the process (90) is formed by beds (94) mounted transversely at regular spaces of the conveyor (91), intended to house a pack l-(2) in process; each bed is formed by bottom and two opposite side walls extending at the bottom, arranged transversely to the conveyor (91), the ends of the two opposite side walls and the bottom end turned to the transfer device side (50) form the bed entry (94), which receives a pack l-(2) whose rear larger face (3)' is turned up wards and has already received longitudinal cuts (300), (301) and the left side face is turned ahead considering the conveyor movement. 9)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFQRMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device for transversely cutting the pack carton (110) is arranged above the processing conveyor (90) and comprises essentially: first (111) and second (112) parallel, rotating, cutting discs, which are spaced from each other, arranged above the conveyor (90) and which make two transversal cuts in the rear larger face (3)' turned upwards of the carton (2); and an electric motor (113) for driving the discs.

10)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the discs (111) e (112) make the respective transversal cuts (302) and (303) in the opposite edges between the rear larger face (3)' turned upwards and the upper (5) and lower (6) smaller faces of the box (2) without cutting the foil wrap (1); said transversal cuts (302), (303) intersect the longitudinal cuts (300) and (301), thereby forming a removable rectangular area (304) in the rear larger face (3)' turned upwards.

11)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the extracting device for extracting the carton cut portion and forming a window (130) is located next to the processing conveyor (90), subsequently to the device for transversely cutting the pack (110) and comprises essentially: a suction nozzle (131); and a device (132) which moves such suction nozzle (131) between a position above the conveyor (90), where it sucks and takes out the removable rectangular area (304) of a pack l-(2), thus forming a window (305) to give access to the foil wrap (1) and a position outside the conveyor surface (90), where the rectangular area (304) is dropped so that it falls by gravity and is disposed by the device for disposing the pack scraps (250). 12)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device for opening the upper and lower faces of the pack (150) is arranged above the conveyor (90), immediately after the extractor device for extracting the carton cut portion and forming the window (130) and comprising essentially: two equal aperture wedges (151) arranged adjacent the respective sides of the conveyor, symmetric to each other and between which beds (94) containing packs (l)-(2) pass snug; two upper rollers (152) arranged immediately above the front ends of the respective wedges (151), and which cooperate with said wedges; two lower guides (153) arranged next to the lower face of the respective wedges and maintenance of the upper (5) and lower (6) faces at the open position; each wedge (151) is defined by a respective front cutting edge (154) turned to a direction opposite to the advance of the conveyor (90) and aligned with the interstice defined between the upper (5) or lower (6) face and the respective inner pawls (4)" of the side faces (4), (4)' of pack l-(2); an intermediate section (155) which lengthens from the cutting edge (154); and a prismatic rear section (156) opposite to the cutting edge (154); each upper roller (152) is tangent to the upper inner edge of the respective wedge (151); each guide (153) is substantially in continuity to the lower face of the rear section (156) of the respective wedge (151).

13)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the cutting edges (154) of the wedges (151) enter into the interstices between the upper (5) and lower (6) faces and the inner pawls (4)" of pack 1 -(2) moved by the bed (94); as the movement continues, said interstices advance progressively to the widest sections of the wedges (151) forcing the upper (5) and lower (6) faces to be pressed outwards up to reaching positions substantially coplanar with the front larger face (3) arranged below, said upper (5) and lower (6) faces, with the continuity of the advance movement, are arranged under the guides (153), thus keeping at the open positions.

14)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device for opening the top aperture and forming the window for emptying the cigarettes (170) is located above the processing conveyor (90), next to the device for opening the upper and lower faces of the pack (150) and comprises essentially: a suction nozzle (171) which is fastened to the remaining portion (3)' of the larger face turned upwards of the carton (2) and the corresponding face of the foil wrap (1); and a moving device (172), which moves the nozzle between a lower position where it sucks and holds the remaining section (3)' and the foil wrap (1) and a higher position where said remaining portion is arranged (3)' and the foil wrap (1) at an open position where the emptying window (306) is formed and the cigarettes (9) are uncovered. 15)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device for overturning the pack (190) is located next to device (170) and turns the pack 1- (2) from a position at which the emptying window (306) is turned upwards up to a position at which it is turned downwards and the cigarettes (9) are dumped and fall by gravity in the cigarette collecting device (210); said pack overturning device (190) is formed by: a larger diameter end (191) of the processing conveyor (90); and two pairs of substantially semi-circumferential guide rods concentric to the larger diameter end, arranged above the conveyor (91) and extending substantially from the higher point up to the lower point of intersections between rectilinear and curved sections of the conveyor (91), i.e.: a pair of upper guide rods (192) connected by crossbars and a pair of lower guide rods (193) at whose rods the upper rods are seated and whose rods are seated at the respective laterals of the conveyor (91).

16)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the pairs of upper guide rods (192) have free ends which complete the aperture of the remaining portion (3)' of the carton front face (2) and corresponding face of the foil wrap (1) at the beginning of the overturning operation; said guides keep said remaining portion open (3)' and the foil wrap (1) and keep the cigarettes (9) inside the pack open during overturning; and during overturning the pair of lower guide rods (193) keep the upper (5) and lower (6) faces of the pack at the open position and hold the pack l-(2) now with no cigarettes inside the bed (94) up to the free ends of said guides where the empty pack is dropped and falls by gravity into the device for disposing the pack scraps (250).

17)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device for collecting cigarettes (210) is located under the device for overturning the pack (190) and comprises substantially: a funnel (211) located under the output of the pair of upper guide rods (192); a lower rotating toothed wheel (212) arranged under the output of the funnel and between whose teeth housings are defined, each housing receiving a respective cigarette (9); and an electric motor (213) for turning the wheel (212) so that the wheel carries the cigarettes (9) between the funnel and the device for outputting conforming cigarettes selected (270), said device formed by a conveyor whose entry is located under the toothed wheel.

> 18)-" MACHINE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device for checking the tip of the cigarettes and for selecting conforming cigarettes (230)

) is formed by: a sensor (231) adjacent to the toothed wheel (212), which senses the amount of tobacco included in the tips of the cigarettes (9) arranged in the wheel housings; and a sensor (231) driven device for removing non-conforming cigarettes (232), which may be a blowing nozzle adjacent to the point through which the wheel i housings containing cigarettes pass and set to blow and expel a non- conforming cigarette out of the respective housing. 19)-"MACFHNE FOR CUTTING, OPENING AND UNPACKING FLIP- TOP-TYPE CIGARETTE PACKS AND FOR SELECTING CONFORMING CIGARETTES UNLOADED FROM THE PACKS", as i claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device for disposing the pack scraps (250) is substantially formed by a sloped chute (251) located under the release position of the scraps (304) from the device for extracting the package (130) cut portion and under the output ends of the pair of lower guide rods (193).