Abstract: A tobacco discharge unit for the hopper of a continuous-rod cigarette making machine which is arranged to prevent excessive packing of the tobacco at the end opposite the inlet of the unit. This is achieved by means of movable shutters on the filter screen separating the upper and lower compartments of the unit so as to modify the air flow pattern in the unit, or by means of a specially shaped "stepped" screen or by means of deflector baffles in the lower compartment.

Abstract: A cutting head for a filter attachment machine comprises a drum carrying a number of knives, each of which is urged radially outwards by at least one spring against an adjustable retaining device by which the normal distance of the cutting edge from the axis of the drum can be adjusted.

Abstract: Production of cigarette filter rod is controlled by monitoring the tow (12) or rod (18) to provide signals indicative of tow consumption rate and varying the composition of the rod in accordance with the signals, e.g. to maintain a constant proportion by weight in the rod of tow and a plasticizer applied to the tow by an applicator device (18). The tow feed rate or the plasticizer supply rate may be varied in accordance with the signals. The monitoring device may comprise a tow bale weight sensor (48), a rod scanning head (54), or a weight band (33,57).

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a cutting head for a cigarette filter attachment machine, for cutting a filter attachment web at regular intervals in cooperation with a cutting drum, comprising a rotary member which carries one or more knives, an arrangement for urging the rotary member towards the cutting drum with a predetermined force, and a damping member arranged to resist movement of the rotary member towards the cutting drum, at least along part of the range of such movement. Each end of the rotary member is preferably supported by a separately movable carrier member, each carrier member having its own urging arrangement and its own damping member. The or each damping member may comprise a dashpot or a rubber pad or sleeve.

Abstract: Conveyor control circuit for use at a junction of conveyors at which articles move from one conveyor to another or between a number of conveyors. Speed signals from conveyors whose speeds are dictated by conditions elsewhere in the system are summed to produce a "net flow signal" which is preferably corrected by the addition of a signal from a sensor at the junction, whose sensitivity may be adjusted in accordance with the net flow signal so that the correction is greater when the net flow towards or away from the junction is greater. The controlled conveyor may be used to move articles to or from a reservoir device. Additional speed correction may be applied if the sensor signal is outside a range which varies in size with the net flow signal.

Abstract: A web splicing device for a cigarette making machine, includes a reservoir in which web is accumulated prior to splicing, and a suction brake acting on the web after it leaves the reservoir so as to tension the web, characterized in that there is an auxiliary suction brake, upstream of the first-mentioned suction brake, having a guide which during normal operation holds the web away from the auxiliary suction brake in view of the tension in the web, but allows the web to engage the auxiliary suction brake when the tension falls as a result of web being accumulated in the reservoir in preparation for splicing or for any other reason.

Abstract: A conveyor system for cigarettes and other rod-like articles includes a reservoir consisting of a conveyor which is preferably laterally flexible and moves along a helical path so that a long thin stack of articles can be taken into the reservoir and can be delivered from the reservoir when necessary. The conveyor may consist of a plastic surface member which has a flexible zig-zag shape and is driven by a chain. The conveyor system may be overhead and may receive the articles from an elevator consisting of two parallel bands moving upwards along a sinuous path so as to grip the articles between them.

Abstract: Ventilated cigarettes are made by perforating the wrapper of each filter over an area which lies within pre-formed perforations in the uniting band joining the filter to the tobacco rod. The filter wrappers may be perforated by pins on a rolling plate and fluted drum between which filter portions cut from longer filter rods are rolled to stagger the portions so that they can then be pushed into a single row.

Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying cigarettes or similar rod-like articles includes means for delivering cigarettes into a junction, and a reservoir including a reversible conveyor for delivering cigarettes to or from the junction to accommodate differences between the rates of supply and demand at the junction, characterized in that the reservoir is formed by a plurality of conveyors defining a zig-zag path extending substantially in a constant plane normal to the axis of the cigarettes and comprising at least two substantially horizontal runs with one or more connecting portions through which cigarettes pass from one run to another.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine includes an air-pervious band which carries a cigarette filler stream by means of suction onto a continuous wrapper web in which the filler stream is enclosed to form a cigarette rod, characterized by a second air-pervious band (30; 66) which runs within the first band (14; 56) and contacts and supports the first band at least along part of the run of the first band along which the filler stream (10; 54) is carried.

Abstract: In a method of uniting axially aligned rod-like articles by wrapping a wrapper section around the junction between the articles, an air flow is used to move the articles into abutment and to axially align them relative to the wrapper section. Principally for use in making filter cigarettes, suction may be applied to the ends of the flutes of an aligning drum which feeds filter portions and tobacco sections onto the rolling plate. The suction preferably moves the filter portion against a stop in its flute, and acts through the filter portion to close up the tobacco section.

Abstract: A feed system for trays for rod-like articles such as cigarettes in which trays are removed from a conveyor (such as a trolley) at one level, moved to another level at which they are advanced to a loading (or unloading) position, and moved back to the first level (after loading or unloading) before being returned to the conveyor. Trays may be loaded or unloaded while moving stepwise between levels and may be removed from and returned to the conveyor along separate parallel paths.

Abstract: Batches of rod-like articles, such as cigarettes, conveyed transverse to the lengths of the articles are transferred, in another direction transverse to the lengths of the articles, to a second conveyor which has a path intersecting that of the first conveyor. The first conveyor may be a band conveyor and may include dividers for forming the batches. The second conveyor may be constituted by a pair of opposed bands having parallel rails for supporting batches. The second conveyor may form or lead to a store for batches. Both conveyors are preferably reversible under the action of a sensor so that batches may be supplied to or withdrawn from the store according to demand in an associated system, e.g. a conveyor system linking a cigarette maker to a cigarette packer.

Abstract: A device for feeding cigarette filters or similar rod-like articles comprises a fluted drum and a conveyor for feeding a stack-like stream of filters towards the drum and including a conveyor band which is arranged to engage one side of the stack-like stream of filters while moving between two longitudinally spaced guides between which the conveyor is capable of deflecting outwards, in response to the pressure of the filters and against a restraining force, to accommodate a variable quantity of filters in the region of the conveyor band.