Abstract: Apparatus for conveying rods of the cigarette industry, comprising a fluted drum for carrying rods in the flutes thereof, and means for feeding rods into the flutes of the drum, comprising movable conveyor means disposed in proximity to said drum for conveying a stack-like stream of the rods directly onto the drum whereby motion of the conveyor means towards the drum urges the stream of rods towards the drum and into contact therewith, thus ensuring that the flutes of the drum are filled with rods after passing the stack-like stream. Control means are preferably included for controlling movement of the conveyor means towards the drum whereby the said motion is sufficient to convey said stream of rods towards the drum at a rate just sufficient to fill the flutes of the drum.

Abstract: A conveyor system for rod-like articles, particularly cigarettes, includes a transfer conveyor comprising twisting endless bands arranged to convey a multiple-layer stream of articles in a direction transverse to the lengths of the articles and to twist the stream about an axis generally parallel to the conveyance direction. Also disclosed is a conveyor system in which at least one stream of substantially horizontal rod-like articles is twisted and conveyed to a junction beyond which a mutltiple-layer stream of substantially vertical articles is conveyed. The conveyor systems are particularly useful for "tip turning" filter cigarettes so that a stream on a first conveyor may be combined with a parallel stream on a second conveyor after being twisted and laterally displaced by the transfer conveyor so that the filter tip ends of both streams are on the same side.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying fluid additive to a stream of fibrous material such as a filter tow. The apparatus provides structure for blowing air into the filter tow during or immediately after the application of the fluid additive, a plasticiser; this foams and distributes the plasticiser in the tow. Air may be delivered from a porous plate closely adjacent to the path of the tow or from nozzles in an air injecting unit. Alternatively air may be used to foam plasticiser at a location remote from the tow and foamed plasticiser subsequently conveyed to and into the tow by a roller.

Abstract: Rod-like articles, such as cigarettes, moving in a transverse stream are decelerated by directing air at the stream from adjustable vanes before the articles reach a slower moving stream formed in a transfer region. The arrangement may be used in a stack former in which a single-layer stream of articles is converted into a multi-layer stream.

Abstract: Filler material, particularly for cigarette filters, is produced by feeding a stream of substantially continuous fibres of filter material onto a pin roller having a surface carrying sharp projections in the form of pins and the pin roller is driven at a speed such that the fibres are rapidly accelerated so as to be broken by the pins into irregular lengths and are projected from the roller in random orientations. The broken fibres may be collected as a stream for delivery to a rod-making unit by showering onto a conveyor band, by continuously rolling the fibres between cooperating rollers, or pneumatically. More than one stream could be supplied to the pin roller, so that the broken fibres can comprise a mixture of fibres of different filter materials. The broken fibres may be received on a substantially continuous carrier stream, comprising similar or different filtering material, before the fibres and carrier stream are formed into filter rod.

Abstract: Plasticizer or other fluid additive is applied to a moving filter tow in an applicator chamber by means of a rotary brush. Uncaptured plasticizer is collected in a container and returned to the chamber for reapplication. The rate of initial application is controlled by a pump and that of reapplication by a restrictor valve; the rates are independently variable. The supplied and collected plasticizer may be applied to different parts of the tow, e.g. to different sides.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying rod-like articles, especially cigarettes, includes parallel opposed conveyors for delivering articles to a downwardly-extending junction provided with an arrangement for priming the junction such as a pivoted plate or retractable conveyor bands. The stream on one of the opposed conveyors may be delivered from a further conveyor by a rotary disc transfer conveyor which turns articles through 180.degree. for delivery to the one conveyor. The further conveyor may be parallel to the opposed conveyors or may be mounted at an adjustable small angle to them. The apparatus is particularly useful for tip-turning of cigarettes at the exit of a filter cigarettes assembling machine.

Abstract: Packet handling apparatus, particularly for use between a cigarette packing machine and a cigarette packet wrapping machine, includes a main conveyor for moving packets towards a receiving station, and a reservoir for temporarily storing packets when the receiving station cannot accept the full supply from the conveyor. Packets are diverted from the main conveyor onto a secondary conveyor on which transfer to or from the reservoir occurs. The orientation of the packets is changed before loading into the reservoir so that the latter can receive batches of stacked packets. Packets are returned to the main conveyor at a position downstream of the position at which they were diverted, and returned packets have the same orientation as other packets on the main conveyor.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with the manufacture of double cigarette units each consisting of a double-length tobacco rod having filters secured to its opposite ends. Cutting in half of such double cigarette units to form separate filter cigarettes may be delayed until just prior to packing of the cigarettes, until which time the filters at the ends of the double cigarette units seal in the tobacco. The manufacture of double cigarette units according to this invention is an in-line process in which double tobacco rods and intervening double filters are joined by portions of tipping paper while moving axially so as to form a continuous rod which is then cut through the middle of the double filters to produce the desired double cigarette units.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring cigarettes or the like at a transfer station between a mass flow conveyor system including a reversible transfer conveyor and a movable trolley having vertical compartments for holding batches of cigarettes, comprises structure for separating articles in the trolley from articles on the transfer conveyor including movable bands defining spaced outlets and an apertured plate, which bands and plate are sequentially moved to close or open the outlets. Two compartments are normally filled or emptied simultaneously. The cigarettes are supported in the compartments by movable captive platforms which are operated on by a hoist associated with the transfer station.

Abstract: A filter attachment machine includes a fluted drum which is arranged to receive double filters and double cigarettes. A knife cuts the double cigarettes through the middle to form separate cigarette portions and, with the aid of a further drum, the two cigarette portions associated with each double filter are swopped in position so as to lie at opposite ends of the double filter, displacement of one of the cigarette portions being achieved preferably by displacing the associated double filter which in turn pushes the cigarette portion. The double cigarettes may be delivered axially into the flutes of the first drum from a cigarette making machine, preferably after delivery of the double filters which can then serve as resilient buffers for the incoming double cigarettes.

Abstract: Air is conveyed pneumatically to and through a tobacco feed chute by continuously extracting air from a region in the feed chute and continuously applying air upstream of that region in the direction of movement of the tobacco. The feed chute may include a seal or valve comprising at least one roller defining a throat in the feed chute, the or each roller being rotatable such that in the throat the or each roller surface moves in the same direction as the tobacco, a plurality of vanes mounted on and displaceable radially with respect to the or each roller, a cam arrangement for controlling the radial displacement of the vanes such that they change from being extended in a region away from the throat to being fully retracted in the throat so as to draw air from downstream of the seal, between the vanes, to upstream of the seal, and a flow restricting arrangement for the or each roller for accelerating the drawn air into the throat from an upstream position.

Abstract: Conveyor belt for cigarettes or other delicate articles which has flights which extend across its width and are formed with rounded ends so as not to present any sharp edges to damage the articles. The belt is formed from three thicknesses of polyester web, i.e. a middle layer which is flat, and two outer layers, one of which is impressed with rounded shapes forming the flights and the other of which is impressed with angular shapes forming drive teeth. The forming may be carried out by pressing each layer between suitable heated rollers. The layer having the conveyor flights is preferably so formed that the flights do not extend to the extreme edges but leave a narrow edge margin which can be continuously bonded to the assembly comprising the other two layers.

Abstract: A cigarette or filter making machine has a cut-off device (19) which is driven directly by its own motor (21), pick-up device (22) for monitoring the rotational speed and timing of the cut-off device, and at least one other independent motor (especially a motor 24 driving the garniture tape 15 and/or a motor driving the filter attachment machine) which is driven in synchronization with the cut-off device under the control of the monitoring pick-up device.

Abstract: Cigarettes are made by forming a basic filler stream comprising particles of tobacco or artificial tobacco or a combination of both, folding around the basic filler stream a web of reconstituted tobacco, and enclosing the resulting combination in a continuous paper wrapper to form a continuous cigarette rod which is then cut into predetermined lengths.The web may be continuous or may be in an expanded form as described in British Patent Specification No. 1531463.

Abstract: A gummer for a filter attachment machine comprises two rollers (10, 12), one of which is arranged to contact the web and the other of which is pressed against the first roller to limit the quantity of gum which is transmitted to the web from a pool of gum formed in the nip between the rollers. Gum is fed continuously into the pool at a position between the ends of the rollers at a rate in excess of the rate at which gum is applied to the web, from which position the gum flows towards the ends of the rollers. Means (15, 16, 50) are provided for collecting excess gum at the ends of the rollers and for returning it to a source (19) of the gum.

Abstract: A control and monitoring system for cigarette packaging machines comprises a control station (1) connected in cascade to each of a plurality of remote stations (2 and 3) in turn, in a ring. The control station 1 supplies an interrogation signal to a D-type latch (20, 30) of the first remote station, which changes state on the next clock pulse edge and applies an interrogation signal to the D-type latch of the second remote station so that the stations are sequentially interrogated in essentially non-overlapping time periods. An interrogated station communicates with the control center (1) via an information line (16) either to receive machine control signals to be passed on to a machine or machine part with which the remote station is associated, or to send machine fault signals indicating a fault in the associated machine or machine part.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying cigarettes by means of one or more fluted drums has a frame including spaced front and back walls defining between them a suction manifold; a fluted drum in front of the frame; a tubular drum-carrying member which extends through an opening in the front wall of the frame, engages and seals in or around an aperture in the rear wall of the frame, and has a flange by which it is secured to the front wall of the frame, the drum being rotatable around the tubular member; and a drive shaft which extends axially through the tubular member, is secured to the front end of the drum, is supported by bearings carried by the tubular member, and carries at its rear end behind the rear wall of the frame a gear or other means by which it is driven; suction being transmitted to ports in the flutes of the drum from the manifold via a passage contained within the thickness of the wall of the tubular member in the region where it extends through the front wall of the frame.

Abstract: A variable capacity reservoir for cigarettes or similar rod-like articles, in which an helical support surface is reversibly drivable from a storage position, in which it is compactly stored with adjacent helical turns closely spaced, to an operative position, in which adjacent helical turns are spaced apart to allow a stack of the articles to be conveyed. Pairs of pinch rollers engaging the inner edge of the strip are provided for moving the strip. The strip may be made up of a series of substantially annular sections, each of which has been severed along a substantially radial line, and with adjacent sections joined to each other in stacked formation.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring cigarettes or the like at a transfer station between a mass flow conveyor system including a reversible transfer conveyor and a movable trolley having vertical compartments for holding batches of cigarettes, comprises means for separating articles in the trolley from articles on the transfer conveyor including movable bands defining spaced outlets and an apertured plate, which bands and plate are sequentially moved to close or open the outlets. Two compartments are normally filled or emptied simultaneously. The cigarettes are supported in the compartments by movable captive platforms which are operated on by hoist means associated with the transfer station.