Patent ID: 6799577
Filing Date: 2004-10-05
Classification: B65B,G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
An automatic machine (1) for processing cigarettes (4) and comprising:a frame (8); a plurality of work stations (9) supported by the frame (8) and arranged in succession for defining a working path of the automatic machine (1) along the frame (8), the working path being bounded by an input conveyor (11) and an output conveyor (28); each work station (9) including a number of operating devices (10) for processing the cigarettes (4) and at least one operating device (10) in each work station (9) being a conveyor device (12, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28) for feeding along said working path the cigarettes (4) or material (5, 6, 7) used for processing the cigarettes (4); a main electric motor (30) for powering some of the conveyor devices (16, 21, 17, 23, 15, 26); a number of secondary electric motors (31) for powering the other conveyor devices (12, 20, 25, 27, 28); a control unit (32) comprising a plurality of first controllers (34a-33f) and at least one second controller (33g); wherein each first controller (33a-33f) is directly connected to a respective work station (9) and controls all and only the operating devices (10) at the respective work station (9) with the exception of the conveyor devices (16, 21, 17, 23, 15, 26) powered by the main electric motor (30); wherein the second controller (33g) controls the main electric motor (30) and coordinates starting and stopping of the machine (1); wherein the main electric motor (30) supplies secondary electric motors (31) with a sync signal so that the main electric motor (30) therefore acts as a master, while secondary electric motors (31) are controlled by main electric motor (30) as slaves; and wherein the control unit (32) comprising a BUS connection (34) for connecting said controllers (33) to one another so as each controller (33) is in communication with at least one other controller (33).