US 2003/0178037 A1 · Method and a device for managing the supply of wrapping and/or additional and/or auxiliary materials in a system for the manufacture of tobacco products

Abstract

The supply of consumables and other materials to production machines in a system for the manufacture of tobacco products is managed using a method whereby, once a nominal target number of products has been programmed at a master control unit, a tally is kept of the number of products emerging from the machine located farthest downstream, and a corresponding signal relayed back to the master control unit, together with a signal indicating the consumption of the various types of material. On the basis of the information received, the master control unit will process an output message indicating the requirement for at least one given type of consumable or wrapping or other auxiliary material to be supplied, whereupon the message is sent to an operator entrusted with the task of replacing the depleted material.

Claims20

Dependent claims

1) a method for managing the supply of wrapping and/or additional and/or auxiliary materials in a system for the manufacture of tobacco products including at least one production machine, comprising the steps of:

programming a nominal target number of products to be turned out by the machine during the course of the relative production run, by way of a master control unit;
counting the number of products emerging from the production machine and relaying a corresponding input to the master control unit;
presenting inputs to the master control unit indicating the consumption of each type of wrapping and/or additional and/or auxiliary material;
processing an output message based at least on the three inputs received and indicating at least the requirement for at least one predetermined type of wrapping and/or additional and/or auxiliary material to be supplied;
sending the processed message to an operator entrusted with the task of replacing the depleted material.

2 more elements

16) A device for managing the supply of wrapping and/or additional or auxiliary materials in a system for the manufacture of tobacco products including at least one production machine, characterized in that it comprises a master control unit, a terminal by way of which to preset a nominal target number of products to be turned out by the machine during the course of the relative production run, connected on the output side to the input side of the master control unit, a counter registering the number of products emerging from the production machine, connected on the output side to the input side of the master control unit, also sensor means monitoring the consumption of each type of wrapping and/or additional and/or auxiliary material used by the production machine, connected on the output side to the input side of the master control unit;

in that the master control unit is able to produce an output message processed at least on the basis of the received input data and indicating at least the requirement for at least one given type of wrapping and/or additional and/or auxiliary material to be supplied, and in that the selfsame master control unit is connected on the output side to the input of means by which information is passed to an operator entrusted with the task of replacing the depleted material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and a device for managing the supply of wrapping and/or additional and/or auxiliary materials in a system for the manufacture of tobacco products

Life of this patent

Method and a device for managing the supply of wrapping and/or additional and/or auxiliary materials in a system for the manufacture of tobacco products

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20