Patent ID: 7171796

Claim:
A method of forming groups ( 2 ) of cigarettes ( 3 ) on a packing machine ( 4 ), the method comprising the stages of feeding a succession of pockets ( 6 ), in a first constant sequence (S 1 ) of travelling steps ( 7 ), past a number of group-forming stations ( 17 ); and feeding the groups ( 2 ) at the relative group-forming stations ( 17 ) axially into respective pockets ( 6 ) by means of independent pushers ( 21 ), which are operated in a second cyclic operating sequence (S 2 ) to move selectively through the respective group-forming stations ( 17 ) to fill all the pockets ( 6 ) as the pockets ( 6 ) are fed past the group-forming stations ( 17 ); the method being characterized by comprising the further stages of preventing supply of a faulty group to a relative pocket ( 6 ) by disabling the relative group-forming station ( 17 ); and preventing formation of a gap, caused by non-supply of the faulty group, by replacing the second cyclic operating sequence (S 2 ) with a third cyclic sequence (S 3 ) ensuring all the pockets ( 6 ) are filled as of the fully operative group-forming stations ( 17 ) only.