Abstract: A linear actuator has reversible electric motors driving a screw-threaded shaft engaging a roller nut. A tubular housing attached to the nut has at its remote end an internal seating member and load securing lugs. An hydraulic shock absorber unit, providing linear deceleration, is normally held in its most relaxed condition between the seating member and an end of a spacer tube butting against the nut. When the nut is within the shock absorber stroke distance of the driven end of the shaft, the free end of the shaft compresses the shock absorber unit against the seating. When the nut is within shock absorber stroke distance of the free end of the shaft, a ring engages a stop collar, thereby holding the shock absorber body at a fixed distance from the free end of the shaft, and the spacer tube compresses the shock absorber unit. A centrifugal brake is provided on a drive coupling pulley, and restrains rotation of the shaft above a predetermined rate.

Abstract: A device for separating a stream of rod-like articles in stack formation by projection in a direction transverse to the lengths of the articles comprises a movable support for guide means around which passes at least one flexible band. As the device is projected through the stream the part of the band in contact with the articles is held stationary thus minimizing disturbance of and possible damage to the articles. The device may be used to close off an opening through which a container is loaded or unloaded and may also by used to separate a horizontally moving stream into batches.

Abstract: A device for separating a stream of rod-like articles in stack formation by projection in a direction transverse to the lengths of the articles comprises a movable support for guide means around which passes at least one flexible band. As the device is projected through the stream the part of the band in contact with the articles is held stationary thus minimising disturbance of and possible damage to the articles. The device may be used to close off an opening through which a container is loaded or unloaded and may be used to separate a horizontally moving stream into batches.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying rod-like articles transverse to their lengths includes a first conveyor for moving a stack of articles from an inlet to an outlet and a reversible second conveyor connected to the first conveyor at a junction. The first and second conveyors each comprise interconnected horizontal path sections, which respectively lie alongside one another. The stack passing through the inlet may be delivered from a filter rod producing machine, and that passing through outlet may be delivered to a filter cigarette making machine. In this case the first conveyor constitutes a delay line to allow curing of the filter rods, and the second conveyor forms a reversible reservoir to adjust the net flow at the junction under control of a sensor.

Abstract: Rod-like articles such as cigarettes are conveyed in a pneumatic carrier tube in a capsule in order to prevent degradation during conveyance. The capsule may include a support portion having an opening through which the cigarette is received, and a guide portion in the form of a flange. The carrier tube may lead to remote test equipment for the cigarettes. The capsule is preferably pneumatically shuttled between a delivery station and the test equipment in order to convey successive cigarettes randomly selected from a stream of cigarettes passing, for example, from a filter cigarette making machine.