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

A method for managing a supply of at least one of wrapping, additional or auxiliary material(s) in a system for manufacturing tobacco products, including at least one production machine, comprising:

• programming a nominal target number of products to be manufactured, by way of a master control unit;
• programming a critical number representing a given percentage value of the nominal target number, by way of the master control unit;
• counting a number of products emerging from the production machine and relaying a corresponding input to the master control unit;
• comparing the number of products emerging from the machine with the critical number;
• presenting inputs to the master control unit at least when a condition of parity is established between the number of products emerging from the machine and the critical number, indicating a consumption of each type of wrapping, additional or auxiliary material(s);
• processing an output message indicating at least a requirement for a given type of the wrapping, additional or auxiliary material(s) to be supplied in order to reach the nominal target number of products;
• sending the processed message to an operator entrusted with the task of replacing a depleted quantity of said wrapping, additional or auxiliary material(s);
• removing the wrapping, additional or auxiliary material(s) as appropriate for changeover to another brand of product;
• labeling the removed material(s) with information indicating a residual quantity, in anticipation of their subsequent utilization.

A device for managing a supply of at least one of wrapping, additional or auxiliary material(s) in a system for manufacturing tobacco products, including at least one production machine, comprising 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 a relative production run, connected on an output side to an input side of the master control unit, a counter registering a number of products emerging from the production machine, connected on an output side to the input side of the master control unit, also sensor means monitoring a consumption of each type of wrapping, additional or auxiliary material(s) used by the production machine, connected on an output side to the input side of the master control unit;

• the master control unit being able to produce an output message processed at least on a basis of the received input data and indicating at least a requirement for at least one given type of wrapping, additional or auxiliary material(s) to be supplied, and the master control unit being connected on an output side to an input of means by which information is passed to an operator entrusted with the task of replacing a depleted quantity of said wrapping, additional or auxiliary material(s);
• the device further comprising;
• means for removing the wrapping, additional or auxiliary material(s) as appropriate for changeover to another brand of product;
• means for labeling the removed material(s) with information indicating a residual quantity, in anticipation of their subsequent utilization.