Abstract: A cigarette rod making machine wherein a garniture tape transports a web of cigarette paper and a stream of tobacco particles through a wrapping mechanism has a device which monitors the position of the tape in the wrapping mechanism and adjusts a pulley for the tape when the position of the tape relative to the adhesive applicator is unsatisfactory. The applicator delivers a film of adhesive against one marginal portion of the web on the tape before the web is converted into a tube which confines the particles of tobacco. The adjustments of the pulley are carried out with a view to move the tape sideways so as to maintain a predetermined part of the one marginal portion of the web in a position to receive the adhesive.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a narrow tobacco stream ready for trimming or immediate wrapping into a web of cigarette paper has a distributor from which a wide first belt or a plate transports a thin carpet of tobacco particles to a first transfer station where the carpet is transferred by suction and preferably also by compressed air onto a narrower foraminous second belt forming part of an intermediate conveyor with an independent drive. The second belt is inclined with respect to and narrower than the first belt or plate and accumulates a layer of tobacco particles which are attracted to the second belt by a suction chamber extending from the first transfer station to a second transfer station where the layer is transferred onto a foraminous third belt to form thereon a narrow stream.

Abstract: The distributor of a cigarette rod making machine has an upright duct the upper end of which receives particles of tobacco from a magazine and the lower end of which has an outlet of variable cross-sectional area. The outlet is adjacent to the carding of a drum which withdraws from the duct a continuous layer of particles, and such particles travel toward a transversely extending barrier which is reciprocated in parallelism with the axis of the drum. The barrier has a grooved first surface which engages the exposed side of and homogenizes the layer, and a second surface which faces counter to the direction of movement of the drum and intercepts the surplus of particles whereby the intercepted particles pile up in front of the barrier. The pressure of piled-up particles is monitored by a sensor which causes a mechanical adjusting device to change the cross-sectional area of the outlet so that the area decreases when the pressure of piled-up particles increases, and vice versa.

Abstract: Relatively small tobacco particles (including short tobacco and larger particles of tobacco dust) are extracted by suction from the tobacco filler stream in a cigarette making machine and are separated from the suction air stream or streams for immediate introduction into the magazine of the distributor or into the tobacco stream building zone of the machine. The separated particles are sprinkled by gravity onto the supply of tobacco in the magazine or are conveyed in a stream of compressed air which is admitted into the lower portion of the magazine or discharges the particles into the stream building zone so that the thus admitted particles form an intermediate layer of the filler stream.

Abstract: An apparatus which forms and transfers thin films of a viscous or freely flowable liquid has a housing which supports or includes a vessel for a supply of liquid, a fountain roll which is rotatable in the housing and a median portion of which extends transversely of an outlet of the vessel so that liquid which flows into the outlet forms a layer on the periphery of the median portion, and a cylindrical doctor having at one end a diametrically extending blade which defines with the periphery of the median portion of the fountain roll a narrow clearance through which a film of liquid passes toward a station where the film is transferred onto a ductor roll. The doctor is adjustable radially of the fountain roll and the latter is surrounded by two O-rings which prevent the liquid layer from spreading from the median portion to the end faces of the fountain roll. A further O-ring is mounted in the housing to sealingly engage and to prevent leakage of liquid along the periphery of the doctor.