Abstract: A cigarette making machine comprises means for showering tobacco onto two suction bands 610,612 to form tobacco sub-streams of similar width on the respective bands which are then merged to form a cigarette filler stream, and includes rod-forming means for enclosing the cigarette filler stream in a continuous wrapper to form a continuous cigarette rod, and means for forming or feeding onto at least one of the sub-streams, or between the sub-streams as or just before they merge, a layer 628 of core-forming material which is narrower than each of the sub-streams and is centrally located in relation thereto, whereby the core-forming material is surrounded by tobacco in the finished cigarette rod. This invention also encompasses the feeding of additional dense-ending quantities of tobacco instead of a core-forming layer.

Abstract: A device for applying bronze or similar powder, particularly in a cigarette making machine, uses a corona discharge wire (36) or similar conductor maintained at high voltage to establish an electrostatic field which causes powder to be attracted to prepared adhesive patches on a paper web (14). Excess powder carried by the web is removed with the assistance of vibration, which may be produced by passing the web over an ultrasound device (44) or a pulsed air mover (102). Excess powder may also be removed by an air mover (152) directing a stream of air at the surface of the web carrying the powder.

Abstract: A hopper for a cigarette making machine has a carded roller (14;52;54;60) arranged to feed a carpet of tobacco, a generally horizontally extending conveyor band (32) for receiving the tobacco from the carded roller, and means for removing the tobacco from the carded roller, for delivery onto the conveyor band, comprising an air pressure source (26;66) and one or more air passages (22;24;56;58;64;68) extending from the air pressure source for directing one or more jets of air into the tobacco to project the tobacco in a generally horizontal direction as a shower onto and along the conveyor band.

Abstract: In a cigarette making machine, tobacco is arranged to be showered towards two suction bands to form tobacco sub-streams on the respective bands which are then merged to form a single cigarette filler stream which (possibly after trimming) is enclosed in a wrapper web to form a continuous cigarette rod, and the machine includes means for disturbing at least part of the tobacco of at least one of the tobacco sub-streams before the two sub-streams are merged. This disturbance of the sub-streams preferably causes or permits a degree of reorientation of the disturbed tobacco and a degree of interengagement between tobacco particles of the two sub-streams. In one example at least part of this disturbance is caused during the transfer of both sub-streams to a further suction band which carries the merged stream to the wrapper web.