Abstract: The carding at the periphery of a driven wheel in the distributor of a cigarette rod making machine receives tobacco particles from the lower portion of a substantially upright duct the upper portion of which can receive tobacco particles from a magazine by way of an elevator conveyor. At least the lower portion of the duct is vibrated (e.g., at an amplitude of approximately 6 mm and at a frequency of 15-25 Hertz) in directions at right angles to the horizontal rotational axis of the wheel to thus enhance the homogeneousness of the carpet of particles being transported by the carding beyond the discharge end of the lower portion of the duct.

Abstract: The density of a wrapped rod-like filler of tobacco or filter material for tobacco smoke is ascertained by causing successive increments of the filler to traverse beams of X-rays which, after having penetrated through small portions of the filler, impinge upon detectors forming a linear array and serving to generate (first) signals denoting the intensities of the respective beams. Such intensities are affected by the densities of the respective portions of the filler. The first signals are processed in a circuit together with one or more additional signals denoting the intensity or intensities of one or more beams which bypass the filler, and with one or more further signals furnished by one or more detectors which are shielded from the source of X-rays. The thus obtained (second) signal denotes the densities of successive increments of the filler and is used to correct the density of the filler, if and when necessary.

Abstract: The density of successive increments of two neighboring rod-like flows of tobacco particles in a cigarette rod making machine is determined by an apparatus which employs a source serving to emit a divergent beam of X-rays across the paths for the two flows so that the radiation which has penetrated through and issues from the two flows is indicative of the density of the respective flows. Such intensity is ascertained by discrete X-ray detectors which transmit corresponding signals to an evaluating circuit. The latter compares such signals with a reference signal denoting the intensity of a portion of radiation which has bypassed the flows, and the evaluating circuit can further compensate for the difference, if any, between the distances of the two paths from the radiation source.

Abstract: The reliability of mechanical testing of the hardness of cigarettes with one or more pivotable weights is enhanced by modifying the results of such testing on the basis of signals which are obtained by optically scanning the diameters of successive cigarettes prior to mechanically induced deformation. Optical scanning is carried out by triangulation with a fixedly mounted measuring head. The signals which are obtained with mechanical testing can be further influenced by taking into consideration the moisture content and/or the temperature of tobacco in tested cigarettes.

Abstract: The diameters of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry are ascertained while the articles are transported past a measuring station in the flutes of a drum-shaped conveyor moving along a range finder which measures the distance of each article of a series of articles from a reference point and transmits appropriate signals to an evaluating circuit wherein the diameters of successive articles are determined on the basis of comparison with a fixed reference distance of the bottoms of the flutes from the reference point. The beam of radiation which is emitted by the radiation source of the range finder is reflected by successive articles, and the intensity of reflected radiation is used to generate second signals which are processed into signals denoting a second diameter of each article. A third diameter of each article can be ascertained downstream of the range finder by an optoelectronic detector.