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TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an operating machine, in particular, for processing or treating a product or material for producing smoking articles or packages containing smoking articles.

The present invention relates, in particular, to a machine of the type comprising:

- a work section, wherein at least one operating unit performs an operation of processing and/or treatment and/or conveying and/or support on a product or material, wherein said work section comprises a covering defining an internal workspace wherein the operating unit operates and which is accessible by means of a mobile panel.

In this context, no solution has so far been proposed to guarantee protection for the workers who work on the operating machine against the risk of contagion by pathogens that may be present on the surfaces and parts of the machine, apart from the use of biocidal chemicals, as will be explained below. This problem is mainly due to the fact that the same work environment is shared by several operators, simultaneously and/or who alternate with each other, who are therefore in contact with the same machine parts and with all the surrounding areas (external and internal surfaces of the machine, handles, tools, control platforms, etc.). Added to this is the fact that often in the workplaces in which these machines operate, proper ventilation is not guaranteed by the ventilation systems present, which are essential for contributing to the healthiness of the air in the rooms themselves.

A possible solution to the above problem is the periodic disinfection of the workplace, usually performed with biocidal chemicals. However, disinfection operations take a long time during which operators cannot be present in the workplace and they must be performed frequently.

Furthermore, the use of particularly aggressive biocidal chemicals may be harmful over time both for operators and for some parts of the machine.

Another aspect to consider is the fact that these biocidal chemicals are only effective on surfaces, while they are unable to act to improve air health.

Object and summary of the invention The present invention, on the other hand, proposes solving the aforesaid technical problems by means of an operating machine equipped with a sanitizing system.

In particular, the solution described here relates to an operating machine having the characteristics referred to in claim 1.

Advantageously, the operating machine proposed with the invention avoids (or at least significantly reduces) the disinfection operations of the machine and of the surrounding environment by means of biocidal chemical substances, eliminating (or at least significantly reducing) the damage to the machine itself and risks for operators due to direct and indirect contact with these chemicals. Consequently, the periods of time in which the operators must leave the machine and the surrounding environment to allow this disinfection are canceled (or at least significantly reduced).

Furthermore, with the invention, disinfection is not only limited to the surfaces of the machine, but can also concern the surrounding environment, including the air of the environment where the operators work.

The attached claims form an integral part of the disclosure provided here.

Brief description of the drawings and detailed description of one or more embodiments

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become evident from the description that follows with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

- Figure 1 schematically represents an example of an operating machine according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 schematically represents the internal structure of the operating machine of Figure 1.

In the following description various specific details are illustrated aimed at a thorough understanding of the embodiments. The embodiments may be implemented without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other cases, known structures, materials or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the embodiments.

The references used here are only for convenience and do not therefore define the field of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

As anticipated above, the solution described here relates to an operating machine equipped with a sanitizing system. This solution has been created for applications preferably in the industrial sector of the production and packaging of smoking articles. In any case, the disclosures that will be presented below can also be advantageously applied in other sectors, for example, in the food or pharmaceutical industry, in the industry of sanitary products, etc.

In general, the machine described here comprises:

- a work section, wherein at least one operating unit performs an operation of processing and/or treatment and/or conveying and/or support (or any other auxiliary operation for the purposes of these functions) on a product or material, wherein said work section comprises a covering defining an internal workspace wherein the operating unit operates and which is accessible by means of a mobile panel.

For example, the machine can further comprise at least one operator interface section through which an operator may, for example, set and/or control working parameters of the processing or treatment operation.

The operator interface section may comprise a screen and/or physical buttons and/or controls for imparting direct commands (e.g. electric or pneumatic).

The operator interface section may comprise video panels, touch-screens, physical, electrical and/or pneumatic buttons or potentiometers, etc.

The operator interface section may comprise a remote interface, physically not installed on the machine or in the surrounding environment, for example, a wired command center located elsewhere or a mobile panel connected with a wireless system.

According to an important characteristic, the machine described here comprises at least one biocidal (i.e. biocidal effect) light emission unit to illuminate externally and/or internally at least one part of the operating section and, if present, possibly of the operator interface section.

By "biocidal" light we mean a light beam which, due to its physical characteristics, is able to destroy, render harmless, inactivate or at least significantly reduce the number of microorganisms, in particular, pathogenic microorganisms, such as, for example, viruses and bacteria (that is, it has a biocidal effect) in such a way as to reduce its dangerousness. The biocidal effect, therefore, comprises in its significance a disinfection, sanitation and sanitation effect. Some examples of bacteria sensitive to such biocidal light are: Staphylococcus aureus, Helicobacter pylori, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella [Acinetobacter baumannii]; some viruses susceptible to this light are herpes simplex, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and some coronaviruses. In preferred applications, biocidal light is a visible light that is not harmful to humans, which has wavelengths comprised (preferably peaks of wavelengths comprised) between 400 and 430 nm, even more preferably 405 nm.

The effectiveness of the biocidal action is a function of the energy that actually reaches the microorganisms: it therefore depends directly on the radiant energy of the light source and the exposure time, and inversely on the distance between the light source and microorganisms.

Preferably, the biocidal light emission unit is an LED source with continuous or pulsed emission.

In view of the above, the machine described here uses one or more biocidal light sources of the visible type that are not harmful to humans to sanitize the machine and - in particular - the areas and parts of it in which the operator is called to work.

In this way, total safety for the operator is guaranteed against the risk of contagion from pathogens.

Preferably, the operating machine further comprises at least one ultraviolet radiation emission unit for irradiating with UV radiation the workspace in which the operating unit operates. Furthermore, the covering of the operating machine that encloses this working space inside it comprises a plurality of reflecting surfaces and/or absorbing surfaces arranged in such a way that the UV radiations emitted by the ultraviolet radiation emission unit remain inside of the workspace and cannot escape from it (i.e. they cannot escape outside the operating machine itself).

Furthermore, inside the machine there may also be walls or parts with reflective surfaces, fixed or mobile, placed in order to illuminate areas that would otherwise be in the shade.

Furthermore, inside the machine there may also be walls or parts with absorbent surfaces, fixed or mobile, placed in order to completely or partially shield the light.

In the latter case, the covering may be made of transparent material (e.g. glass), while some internal areas, irradiated by UV rays, may be enclosed and isolated by such walls or parts with absorbent surfaces (e.g. metal). It remains clear that this application of reflective and/or absorbent surfaces is not limited to the case wherein the sources are of the UV type, but also in the case of biocidal light of the type defined above.

UV radiation is able to destroy, render harmless, inactivate or at least significantly reduce the number of microorganisms, in particular pathogenic microorganisms, such as, for example, viruses and bacteria (i.e. it has a biocidal effect) in such a way as to reduce their danger similarly to non-harmful visible biocidal light to humans indicated above.

Preferably, the UV radiation has wavelengths comprised between 200 and 265 nm, even more preferably between 215 and 255 rnn. The machine described here uses UV radiation to sanitize the workspace of the operating unit.

This action allows the workspace to be kept sanitized, both to protect the operator from possible contagions during his interventions within this space and to prevent possible contamination of the product or the processed or treated material.

The emission units indicated above, of biocidal light of the non-harmful visible type and of UV radiation, may be of a known type. With reference now to Figure 1, this illustrates an embodiment of the operating machine described here. The example illustrated specifically relates to a cigarette making machine. As already indicated, the type of application is only an example. Other examples not illustrated may include tobacco leaf processing machines, cigarette packaging machines, filter making machines, packaging machines, overwrapping machines, machines for producing and/or assembling smokeless articles ("HNB" products), etc. In a maimer known per se, the operating machine - indicated as a whole by the reference number 10 - comprises a first and a second working section 20, 22. The first section 20 processes the tobacco to form a continuous cord of tobacco wrapped in foil and then divides it into individual pieces. The second section 22, on the other hand, works to couple the individual tobacco pieces with groups of filter pieces and thus produces the finished cigarettes.

Again in a per se known manner, each work section, 20 or 22, preferably comprises a covering 102, which defines an internal workspace 104, wherein one or more operating units operate (as said with one or more of the following operations: processing, treatment, conveying support or any auxiliary operation for the purpose of this function). The operating units preferably operate in an automatic or semi-automatic manner.

The panel 106 preferably comprises transparent areas to make the working space 104 visible from the outside even when the panel 106 is in the closed position.

The operating units of the work sections 20, 22 are constituted by the means known in the art for the above-mentioned processes.

The machine 100 also comprises a plurality of sections 24, 26, 27 and 28 of a known type for loading the materials necessary for producing cigarettes. In particular, the section 24 comprises a hopper into which the tobacco to be fed to the working section 20 is loaded. In particular, the section 24 comprises a hopper into which the tobacco to be fed to the working section 20 is loaded. The section 28 comprises an assembly of hoppers into which the filter sections to be fed to the working section 22 are loaded. The section 26 comprises one or more seats for housing reels of sheet material for wrapping the tobacco cord. Finally, the section 27 includes one or more seats for housing reels of sheet material for wrapping the filter pieces.

In a per se known maimer, the machine 100 may comprise an operator interface section 32 through which an operator can, for example, set and/or control the working parameters of the operations performed in the two working sections 20, 22. As mentioned above, the operator interface section 32 may comprise a screen and/or buttons and/or commands for giving direct commands (for example, electric or pneumatic), more particularly video panels, touch-screens, physical, electrical and/or pneumatic buttons or potentiometers etc.

The operator interface section 32 may comprise a remote interface, physically not installed on the machine or in the surrounding environment, for example, a wired command center located elsewhere or a mobile panel connected with a wireless system.

The operating machine 100 preferably comprises a plurality of biocidal light emission units 202 to illuminate the work sections 20, 22 externally and/or internally and, if present, optionally, the operator interface section 32 and/or the loading sections 24, 26, 27 and 28.

In general, the emission units 202 are arranged to illuminate those parts of the sections on which the operator is required to intervene during the operation of the machine or in the programmed or accidental machine downtime phases.

Preferably, the emission units 202 are arranged to also illuminate the parts of the sections 20, 22, 24, 26, 27 and 28 for which there is a non-negligible probability that the worker will come into contact with them even accidentally.

The term "illuminate" here means to irradiate the surfaces, parts, components, etc. of the indicated sections and, in general, also the areas surrounding the machine, with the light beam emitted by the 202 units. As will be seen below, this action may only have the indicated sanitizing function or, at the same time, also a real lighting function (i.e. to make the machine and its sections clearly visible). In this second case, the units 202 may possibly be set up (by number and by light intensity) on the basis of the lighting requirements regulations in force in the various countries. In the illustrated example, a unit 202A is arranged on the operator interface section 32 to illuminate a control panel 34 provided in the same section.

At each working section 20, 22, the machine 100 comprises one or more units 202B to illuminate the external side of the mobile panel 106 and, in addition, the underlying region in which the movable panels 108 are located, through which it is possible to access the internal areas of the work sections where the actuating devices and the various systems are located.

Additional units 202C are provided to illuminate the loading sections 24, 26, 27, 28.

Furthermore, preferably, one or more units 202D are provided inside each work section 20, 22 to illuminate the workspace 104 and/or the aforesaid internal areas (Figure 2).

Preferably, the units 202A, 202B, 202C, 202D are arranged to illuminate overall parts of the relative sections both for the sanitizing function and for the actual lighting function.

In addition or alternatively, it is possible to provide emission units 202 of biocidal light of the non-harmful type, which are preferably arranged to illuminate limited parts of the machine, for example handles, buttons, keyboards, panels, structural components, devices, system components, mechanical parts, etc.

In general, the units 202 and/or 204 may be carried by the structure of the machine itself or it is possible to provide structures of various types for supporting these units, which are placed around and/or above the machine. These structures may be fixed or mobile. In the case of mobile structures, advantageously, it is possible to reduce the total number of emission units.

With reference to Figure 2, preferably, inside each working section 20, 22 at least one ultraviolet radiation emission unit 204 is also provided to irradiate the working space 104 with UV radiation, but they could be provided in combination or as an alternative to one or more emission units 202 of biocidal light of the non- harmful visible type.

The covering 102 may comprise an arrangement of reflective surfaces and/or absorbing surfaces 102’ in such way so that the UV radiations emitted by the emission unit 204 remain within the workspace 104 and cannot escape therefrom. In the case of reflective surfaces, the UV radiation can advantageously reach even machine areas which usually remain in the shade.

In general, the emission unit 204 is designed to irradiate surfaces and/or parts and/or components inside the workspace 104 with UV radiation in order to ensure sanitization of these parts, both with a view to protecting the operator from possible contagions during his interventions inside this space and to prevent possible contamination of the product or of the processed or treated material.

In some embodiments, the surfaces and/or parts and/or components of the machine that are most exposed to the presence of pathogens have a coating of photo-catalytic material, which can be activated through biocidal light of the type not harmful to humans or through UV radiation. The combined action of the photocatalytic material and biocidal light that is not harmful to humans, or UV radiation, is able to perform a highly effective biocidal function. The photocatalytic material may comprise, for example, titanium dioxide, optionally supplemented with silver and other elements, or tungsten trioxide.

It should be noted that the number and positioning of the emission units 202, 204 shown in the figures are only examples and, in general, these will be determined case by case according to the requirements of the specific applications. Furthermore, in some applications, the emission units 202 may be arranged to illuminate only some of the sections of the machine, in particular only the work section and/or the operator interface section, if present.

The machine 10 further comprises a control unit 110 for controlling the emission units 202 and/or 204.

In general, these emission units may be controlled on the basis of an ignition time and an emission duration time. For example, the control unit 110 may comprise a timer module for turning on the units at predetermined times and for predetermined durations. The power-on cycles may be more or less long and more or less close together according to the needs of the specific applications. In some embodiments, the power-on times and the emission duration times can vary according to the operating state of the machine. It is also possible to envisage that the emission units are constantly on. In any case, the machine may still have one or more manual switches for turning the units on and off.

With particular reference to the UV ray emission units, preferably the control unit 110 is configured to turn off these units on the basis of a signal indicative of the opening of the mobile panel 106. This prevents any risk of operator exposure to UV emissions from the units 204. For example, the control unit may comprise an electrical switch operatively associated with the mobile panel 106 and designed to open the power supply circuit of the emission unit 204 due to the opening of the panel 106. This opening of the power supply circuit, resulting in the ignition of the emission unit 204, could be delayed with respect to the closure of the panel 106 and/or subject to the actual start-up condition of the machine. The control unit 110 may be made up of a single module, as in the example of Figure 1, or it can be made up of a plurality of separate control modules, each to implement a respective function among those indicated above.

Preferably, the emission units 202, 204 and the control unit 110 are served by a separate and independent electrical power supply system from that of the other devices and systems of the machine. Therefore, the emission units 202, 204 are able to work even when the machine is off, so that at start-up the machine is already sanitized. Finally, for what has been said above, it will be understood that the machine described here may also be set up with a traditional lighting system, for example, with white light, which is placed side by side with the biocidal light emission units of the non-harmful type and/or sources of UV rays described above. In certain embodiments, the traditional white light source and/or the biocidal light emission unit that is not harmful to humans and/or the UV radiation emission unit can be integrated into a single lighting body.

As mentioned above, the disclosures presented above have a general value and are not limited to the type of machine and application described. Furthermore, it is understood that the described invention is applicable to a line that includes more than one operating machine.

Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to those illustrated here, purely by way of non-limiting example, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the attached claims.