Abstract: A cigarette checking apparatus having a selector mechanism for selectively withdrawing cigarettes from a first transportation roller, transporting the cigarettes to a conveyor; and a second conveyor for transporting the selected cigarettes to a number of checking devices, each checking device checking a specific characteristic of the selected cigarette; the checking devices having independent inlets facing the second conveyor, and at least one of the checking devices having an outlet opening towards the first conveyor.

Abstract: A device for receiving and transferring cylindrical filter rods one at a time from a mass flow of filters. The receiving and transferring device is used to remove filter rods from the mass flow of filter rods to conduct, for example, quality control checks on the filter rods without interrupting production of the filter rods.

Abstract: Containers for rod-like articles are provided with a device, e.g. a transponder, capable of carrying variable coded information. Read and write devices are provided at appropriate positions, e.g. tray fillers and unloaders, to ensure that only containers of the correct type and contents are passed for further processing. The coded information may also relate to time of manufacture or loading, particularly where the articles are filter rods, to ensure unloading of only those containers in which the rods have received adequate curing time. A buffer reservoir system having a tray filler, tray unloader, and a tray handling system includes a transfer member capable of transferring trays between different positions of the tray handling system and a static trolley. The transfer member may comprise a robotic or other programmable member.

Abstract: Annular guide grooves and rotating ratchet wheels are provided, and feed claws formed in said ratchet wheels moves along said annular guide groove in a circumferential direction. Also, first and second supply conveyers are provided, articles are arranged in the same direction and transferred on these supply conveyers, and sent into said annular guide grooves by supply mechanisms. Said first supply conveyer is arranged to be directed in a direction of a contact line of said annular guide grooves and in the same direction as the moving direction of said feed claws. Said second supply conveyer is arranged to be directed in a direction of a contact line of said annular guide grooves and in the opposite direction to the moving direction of said feed claws. The back portions of said articles sent from said first supply conveyer are pressed by said feed claws, and the front portions thereof are moved toward the advancing direction.

Abstract: An apparatus according to the present invention, which is used to form a large number of fine pores in the peripheral surface of each of cylindrical articles, such as cigarettes, by means of a laser beam, comprises first and second perforating disks. A plurality of retaining arms are arranged on the respective peripheral edges of these perforating disks. The cylindrical articles are held by means of these arms, and are caused to move around the disks and rotate around their own axes. The cylindrical articles are alternately supplied half and half to the two perforating disks by means of two intermediate supply rollers. Beamsplitters are located individually in the respective central portions of the perforating disks. The laser beam emitted from a laser source is split into two beam halves by means of a pre-beamsplitter, and these beam halves are delivered individually to the beamsplitters. The beam halves delivered to these beamsplitters are radially split over a range of about 180.degree.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for inserting a component comprising an elongate cartridge containing an aerosol forming material, at one end of which there is a fuel element, within a jacket component comprising a rod, a sleeve of insulating material, or a combination thereof, the apparatus preferably providing for forming a passage in the jacket component and inserting the elongate cartridge therein. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a plurality of movably mounted stations for high speed manufacture of smoking articles.

Abstract: This invention relates to the machines for manufacturing filter-tip cigarettes by forming successive groups (S+2F+S) each formed by two aligned cigarettes (S) and one interposed double filter (2F), and by wrapping and glueing a covering strip (T) around the double filter (2F) and adjacent ends of the two cigarettes (S). The formation of the groups (S+2F+S) is carried out on a composition drum (1) whereon the double filters (2F) and the pairs of cigarettes (S) are held by suction. The application of the strip (T) may be carried out either on said composition drum (1) or on a successive assembling drum (6), and the strips are fed by a strip-carrying drum (7) whereon they are held by suction. In the absence of a component, e.g. a double filter (2F), in a group (S+2F+S), all the other components of the same group, i.e. the two cigarettes (S) and covering strip (T), are discarded automatically by affecting for this purpose only the suction exerted on the components to be discarded.

Abstract: An apparatus for the formation of cigarettes into groups each consisting in at least one layer of single cigarettes lying parallel with and side by side one another. The cigarettes exit from the bottom of a plurality of channels, arranged side by side and forming part of the outlet of an infeed hopper, and come to rest side by side on a shelf, forming one layer. Pushers provided on either side of the layer effect a sideways compaction of the cigarettes, and a suction-generating seat incorporated into the shelf retains one cigarette at the middle of the layer so as to disallow its moving sideways during operation of the pushers.

Abstract: A unit for sampling cigarettes on a filter assembly machine, which unit is designed to cooperate with a conveyor for feeding the cigarettes through the filter assembly machine, and features a sampling conveyor tangent to the feed conveyor and having an even number of peripheral seats for the cigarettes; the aforementioned seats being arranged along the sampling conveyor, and each having a respective suction device; and a selecting device being provided for selectively activating the suction devices and so withdrawing given cigarettes off the feed conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for the production and packaging of cigarettes. In the production and packaging of cigarettes, the capacities of, where appropriate, several cigarette-producing machines (10, 11, 12) have to be coordinated with the productive capacities of, where appropriate, several packaging machines (13, 14). The cigarettes (15) are conveyed directly from the cigarette-producing machines to the packaging machines by means of cigarette conveyors. A cigarette store (16) for compensating differences in output is located in the region of the conveying zone. The cigarette store (16) makes it possible to achieve closer matching to the productive capacity of the coupled machines by avoiding the use of the conventional blind-end store.

Abstract: A filter-manufacturing apparatus comprises a cutting drum, which has transporting grooves and adapted to receive filter rods having a prescribed length. An annular slit is formed in the circumference of the cutting drum. A circular cutting blade extends into the annular slit in a rotatable manner. A rod-shaped stopper is movably arranged in each transporting groove, and the distance between each stopper and the annular slit is adjustable such that it corresponds to the length of a filter plug to be cut from a filter rod. The cutting drum comprises a pushing mechanism for moving the filter rod along the transporting groove against the stopper by jetting air, whereby the filter rod is cut by the cutting blade, with its one and abutting against the stopper. A receiving drum with receiving grooves is in rolling contact with the cutting drum. The receiving drum rotates such that the receiving grooves come into alignment with the transporting grooves of the cutting drum.

Abstract: For the testing of cigarettes (11, 11a, 11b) within a cigarette magazine (10), there is a test unit (21) which is arranged at a distance above magazine shafts (17) or a cigarette store (14) for these. In the test unit (21), the cigarettes run in vertical cigarette rows (24) through a number of test shafts (22) arranged next to one another. Within these, individual cigarettes (11a) are fixed by clamping in the region of a clamping plane (37) temporarily, in particular at least for the duration of a test cycle. The cigarettes are tested in the region of a test plane (28) at a distance above the clamping plane (37). The cigarette row (24) is temporarily supported at the bottom, on the outlet side of the test unit (21) by carrying webs (39) or carring fingers (46). During the clamping of cigarettes (11a) in the region of the clamping plane (37), the test shafts (22) are opened at the bottom, so that the tested cigarettes can be fed to the cigarette store (14) as a result of their own weight.

Abstract: Apparatus for manipulating plain cigarettes between the cutoff of a cigarette making machine and the next-following machine, such as a filter tipping machine, has an elongated guide with a prismatic channel for advancement of successive plain cigarettes along a path which is open from above. In order to prevent the cigarettes from rising in the guide, a stabilizing element in the form of an inverted channel-shaped member is placed in front of the guide at a level above the path of cigarettes and downstream of the last tube of the cutoff.

Abstract: A device for axially displacing cigarettes arranged side by side in two substantially parallel rows traveling routes substantially perpendicularly in relation to the cigarette axes; which device includes an input roller and an output roller arranged parallel with each other and designed to feed the cigarettes along routes which are separated by a given distance in a direction parallel with the axes of the cigarettes and, for at least one of the aformentioned rows, comprises a roller mounted for rotation about an axis inclined in relation to the axes of the input and output rollers; at least one of the rollers being an adapted roller having seats for cigarettes, each of whose seats is formed on a support designed to swing in a radial plane of the adapter roller and about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the adapter roller.

Abstract: In order to separate out defective cigarettes (29) in an economical way, cigarettes are tested in the region of magazine shafts (11a, 11b, etc.; 12a, 12b, etc.) of a cigarette magazine (10). The defective cigarettes (29) identified are conveyed beyond a lower main pushing-out plane (22) and are separated out below this. For this purpose, supporting members (carrying webs 32) for the cigarettes are movable up and down at the bottom end of the magazine shafts.

Abstract: A cigarette conveying system for connecting several makers, packers and reservoirs is arranged with cross linking conveyors (22) which allow sub-division of the system into sub-systems which can be operated independently and can therefore handle different brands. Sub-systems may be defined by activating or de-activating selected conveyors and/or closing and opening gates provided at junctions between conveyors. In a preferred arrangement the system comprises a main loop and the cross linking conveyors sub-divide the main loop into sub-loops.

Abstract: Plain cigarettes of unit length are fed into successive axially parallel peripheral flutes of a rotary drum-shaped first conveyor in such a way that each cigarette enters a first end portion of the respective flute. The second end portions of the flutes have suction ports which attract the cigarettes in alternate flutes so that such cigarettes move axially and provide room for introduction of additional cigarettes whereby each second flute contains a pair of coaxial cigarettes which define a gap for a filter rod section of double unit length. Pairs of coaxial cigarettes in alternate flutes are released for transfer into the axially parallel peripheral flutes of a second drum-shaped conveyor by a system of valving elements composed of a stationary valving element in the interior of the first conveyor and a rotary valving element which connects at intervals two axially parallel bores of the stationary valving element with a suction generating device.

Abstract: A perforating apparatus according to the invention has a hollow shaft having two open ends, a disc mounted on the hollow shaft and rotated together therewith, a shaft, a plurality of holding arms, a rotating mechanism for rotating each holding arm about the axis of a filter cigarette, a laser generating source, and an optical system. The holding arms are arranged on the periphery of the disc, in the circumferential direction thereof, and hold filter cigarettes such that the filters project from the holding arm. The laser generating source emits a laser beam into the hollow shaft, toward one of its open ends and at a predetermined pulse separation. The optical system has a reflecting mirror which rotates together with the hollow shaft. The reflecting mirror has reflecting surfaces which correspond to the holding arms and reflect the laser beam toward the outer periphery filter. The optical system additionally has a focusing lens for focusing the laser beam on the outer periphery of the filter.

Abstract: The testing of cigarettes before their packaging is appropriately carried out in the region of magazine shafts (13, 14) of a cigarette magazine (10). To bring a layer (38) of cigarettes of a cigarette group (16) into an exact position for carrying out testing, they are temporarily received in a transverse slide (29) which causes the cigarettes to be aligned as a result of a transverse movement.

Abstract: Filter tipped cigarettes are turned end for end by a narrow flexible belt (10) which is twisted in a figure of eight about pulleys (13, 14). The belt (10) has flutes (8) which engage only the tipped ends (T). A tensioned thin flexible strip (22) covers the open sides of the flutes (8) to retain the cigarettes while being turned, and endwise movement of the cigarettes is prevented by a fixed guide (26).In a modification, a belt (34) has flutes (32) formed in opposite sides and extends between pulleys (36,38), with a single 180 degree twist in the upper run. After being tip-turned, the cigarettes are removed from the inner side of the belt by suction in flutes 50 and moved endwise by a cam (60) away from belt (34) for transfer to a drum 62. Belt (34) may have flutes in only one side, in which case a second 180 degree twist is formed in the lower run.

Abstract: Groups of cigarettes are formed by axially extracting cigarettes from the bases of two hoppers (10, 12), each having vertical columns (14, 20) spaced apart by a cigarette diameter. The columns of the hoppers are staggered so that a cigarette extracted from the rear hopper (12) enters the gap between adjacent cigarettes of the front hopper (10, FIG. 3). The base plate (22) of the front hopper is initially higher than the base plate (18) of the rear hopper to allow clearance during intercalation of the cigarettes.

Abstract: Apparatus for changing the direction of transport of cigarettes and analogous rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry has a horizontal guide rail which guides parallel first and second moving files of coaxial articles into the range of a first conveyor having a series of arms which orbit about a fixed axis and simultaneously rotate about discrete axes. Each arm has first and second flute-like conveying elements each serving to remove a discrete article from the respective file and to hold the received article against a change of orientation during orbital movement toward a transfer station where the articles are transferred from the first and second conveying elements of successive arms into the peripheral flutes of first and second rotary drum-shaped conveyors serve to transport two rows of articles at right angles to the axes of the articles.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing samples from a single-layer stream of cigarettes which move sideways in the peripheral flutes of hollow rotary first and second drum-shaped conveyors has two valving elements which are disposed in the interior of the respective conveyors and establish or terminate connections between certain suction ports of the two conveyors and a suction generating device in such a way that a desired number of samples can remain on the first conveyor and advance therewith beyond a transfer zone between the two conveyors when the operator depresses a pushbutton, or at regular intervals. In normal operation, all of the cigarettes which are supplied to the flutes of the first conveyor upstream of the transfer zone are delivered to the flutes of the second conveyor.

Abstract: A mass-producing filter tipping machine wherein two coaxial plain cigarettes of unit length are simultaneously severed to yield pairs of coaxial plain cigarettes of unit length which are moved apart to provide spaces for filter mouthpieces of double unit length. The filter mouthpieces are connected with the respective pairs of cigarettes of unit length by adhesive-coated uniting bands, and the resulting filter cigarettes of double unit length are subdivided into a series of formations of four coaxial filter cigarettes of unit length each wherein first and second outer filter cigarettes are respectively adjacent first and second inner filter cigarettes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bar-like article supplying apparatus in a hopper, and more specifically to an apparatus for supplying bar-like articles such as cigarettes or filter plugs to the hopper, wherein a bottom lid comprises a plurality of small bottom lids obtained by dividing the bottom lid in a radial direction of bar-like articles, whereby these small bottom lids are rotated in a radial direction of the bar-like articles to make the moving stroke of the bottom lid small to miniaturize the entire apparatus and bar-like articles are supplied preferentially from a depressed portion in the upper surface of the bar-like articles within the hopper, thus eliminating a disturbance of the bar-like articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for withdrawing and singling rod-like articles, particularly filter plugs for cigarettes, or the like, contained in a feeding hopper. The bottom of the hopper is at least in part formed by a rotary, possibly suction, fluted drum receiving one rod-like article in each one of its flutes and carrying the thus collected rod-like articles out of the feeding hopper. The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that within the feeding hopper an either stationary or movable, flat or arcuate guiding device is provided over the ascending sector of the fluted drum. The guiding device extends in an inclined direction, substantially tangential to drum, at a distance therefrom that corresponds to a multiple of the diameter of the rod-like articles. With the fluted drum, the guiding device forms a duct having at least one convergently shaped inlet end.

Abstract: A cigarette transfer apparatus is used for transporting the cigarettes to a packaging machine when the cigarettes are supplied periodically, especially in trestles (11), and this apparatus consists of an intermediate container (13) with several conveyors driven at increasing speed in the conveying direction, namely a receiving conveyor (22), an intermediate conveyor (24) and a discharge conveyor (23). A continuous cigarette stream (26) is formed within the intermediate container (13), and reductions (valley 39) in the cross-section of this cigarette stream as a result of an interrupted supply of cigarettes are compensated by a controlled drive of the conveyors, while ensuring continuous delivery to the packaging machine. The cigarette stream (26) is loaded at the top by a closely matching cigarette cover (40) consisting of individual rollers (41).

Abstract: In a conveyor system for filter cigarettes in stack formation a boundary wall member for the stack is movable in a direction to compensate for tip build-up. In a preferred arrangement in the hopper of tray filler the member includes a flexible membrane (20) partially supported at one side, corresponding to the tobacco ends of the cigarettes, by a rigid backing member (28).

Abstract: A mass flow of cigarettes is reduced in width as it passes downwardly through chutes into a passage in which the cigarettes are formed as a stream two rows deep. The cigarettes are fed onto a fluted drum and accelerated to form gaps between them, the cigarettes in one row being held by suction in the flutes and those in the other row resting on top of them and being kept in place by suction. From the fluted drum the cigarettes are transferred to a further fluted drum as a single row, by being fed between a stripper and a fixed plate which are positioned so that only one cigarette, from each row alternately, can pass into a flute on the further drum. The cigarettes may then be collated into groups ready for packing.

Abstract: Filter cigarettes which are transported sideways at the periphery of a rotating drum-shaped conveyor are engaged by successive rolling surfaces of a pair of coaxial rotary rolling members which rotate at the peripheral speed of the conveyor but in the opposite direction so that the cigarettes are caused to roll about their respective axes and cease to advance with the conveyor. The periphery of the conveyor is formed with flutes which receive the freshly rolled cigarettes, and the rolling of cigarettes is abruptly terminated by arresting members which orbit adjacent the path of movement of the cigarettes at the peripheral speed of the conveyor and in the same direction. A laser is used to make holes in successive cigarettes while the cigarettes roll about their respective axes.

Abstract: A feeding device for withdrawing from a feeding hopper (1) rod-like articles, particularly filter plugs in the manufacture of filter-tipped cigarettes, and for singling these articles. The device comprises a rotary fluted drum (2) forming at least part of the bottom of hopper (1), and a repelling roller (13) that is arranged between the wall (9) of the hopper (1) and the drum (2), in the vicinity of the end from which the drum comes out of the hopper, and that is rotated in a controlled manner in the same direction as the drum. The repelling roller (13) is so mounted that its axis is movable substantially parallel to the peripheral surface of drum (2) and, more particularly, it is carried by a lever (10) that is swingable about a shaft (4) which is concentric or close to the shaft (6) for the rotation of the drum.

Abstract: A filter rod feed comprises a fluted drum (10), a hopper (14) from which filter rods are arranged to be fed into the flutes of the drum, means (16, 18) for delivering pneumatically-fed filter rods into the hopper, an agitator (20, 22) comprising a substantially horizontal row of laterally spaced bars (20) in the hopper, the bars being parallel to the filter rods and being at or above the level at which pneumatically-fed filter rods are delivered into the hopper, and the arrangement being such that movement of the bars promotes a substantially even flow of filter rods between the bars in both upward and downward directions.

Abstract: A device for feeding cigarettes to the wrapping line of a packaging machine, comprising an inlet hopper the lower portion of which contains the cigarettes in the form of piles which move stepwise along respective exit channels from the hopper sensor for checking in succession the cigarettes in the channels at each feed step of the piles, and at least one cigarette expulsion device controlled by the sensor means and disposed along the channels downstream of said sensor means in the feed direction of the piles.The device is provided with retention means arranged to prevent, during each halt stage of the piles of cigarettes, vertical movements of the cigarettes adjacent to those disposed in correspondence with the expulsion device.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating axially-aligned rods of the cigarette industry comprises a first pair of conical drums (14,16) mounted on a first common sleeve (32) and arranged to receive respectively the two rods (10) of each pair to be separated, the axes of rotation (22, 24) of the drums being inclined so as to separate the rods carried by the respective drums; a second pair of conical drums (25,26) mounted on a second common sleeve and arranged to receive the cigarettes from the first pair of conical drums, the second pair of conical drums having axes inclined so as to space the rods further apart while returning the rods to axially-aligned orientations; and device (28) for receiving the spaced-apart rods from the second pair of conical drums.

Abstract: Apparatus for temporary storage of cigarettes has a collecting vessel with a lateral inlet for a mass flow of parallel cigarettes and with a vertical duct at the bottom for evacuation of a mass flow of cigarettes. The top portion of the vessel carries two pivotable flaps whose lower portions are connected with spaced-apart portions of a flexible membrane in the form of a wire mesh which rests on the supply of cigarettes in the vessel. That flap which is adjacent the inlet of the vessel is heavier than the other flap and carries the mobile portion of a level monitoring device serving to regulate the rate of admission and/or evacuation of cigarettes and/or to arrest the machine which makes the cigartettes.

Abstract: A receiving/delivering apparatus for rod-shaped objects, according to the present invention, comprises a transport trough having a guide groove for guiding the objects by transported by an air current, a driving pulley located over the groove, first and second driven pulley located over the guide groove, respectively, on the upper-course side of the driving pulley with respect to the transportation direction of the objects, an endless rubber belt stretched between the driving pulley and the first driven pulley, the belt including a belt portion between the driving pulley and the first driven pulley, and running in the same direction as the transportation direction, the belt portion having a parallel portion between the first and second driven pulleys, and adapted to be in contact with the objects in the guide groove, and a slanting portion inclined at a predetermined angle, so as to be more distant from the guide groove than from the second driven pulley, and a pair of acceleration rollers positioned beside t

Abstract: The object of the invention is a device for withdrawing rod-like articles (B) from a feeding hopper (1). More particularly, the invention provides a device for withdrawing filter plugs for the manufacture of filter-tipped cigarettes.A portion of the hopper bottom is formed by a fluted drum (2) for receiving one rod-like article (B) into each one of its flutes (3) at the time of its passing by the feeding hopper (1). A portion of the hopper bottom, which is adjacent to the fluted drum (2), is formed by at least one endless conveyor belt (7) having a width which is sensibly smaller than the length of the rod-like articles (B) and the length of the fluted drum (2). The upper branch of the conveyor belt (7) entrains articles to the drum flutes and gets into and through a respective peripheral annular groove (6) in the fluted drum (2), at least as far as to substantially reach the path of the bottoms of the drum flutes (3) situated at both sides of the groove.

Abstract: A transfer device in which the bar-shaped articles, in particular cigarettes, are transferred transversely to their axis by three rollers, of which one is disposed in an intermediate position between the other two and is tangential thereto at two separate points defining between them a transfer arc, and are made to advance along said transfer arc supported by respective cradles associated with a rotation device arranged to rotate the cradles about their axis at a constant angular speed equal to a whole multiple of the angular speed of the intermediate roller.

Abstract: The device for feeding cigarettes (S), or the like, is particularly adapted for use in a machine for filling the trays (1) intended for supplying a cigarette-packing machine. The device comprises at least one upstanding or inclined cigarette-guiding channel (3), which at both sides is delimited by at least one small belt (5, 6), and along which the cigarettes coming, for example, from an overlying cigarette mass contained in a cigarette-feeding hopper (2) descend in a horizontal disposition, and as a mass flow.

Abstract: A turn around device that is designed for changing two side-by-side parallel rows of filter tipped cigarettes, which are formed by a succession of parallel pairs of co-axial cigarettes (S1, S2) with their filters in facing relation, into only one row of parallel cigarettes (S1, S2') with their filters being oriented in the same direction, comprises two fluted, conical, suction, turn around drums (5, 6), of which one takes the cigarettes (S2) forming one of the two cigarette rows, and lays them in a turned around position, i.e., rotated by 180.degree. about a transverse axis thereof, between the cigarettes (S1) of the other cigarette row.

Abstract: A method of forming a row of filter-tip cigarettes at a high speed with a simple device.

Abstract: In the case of high-performance cigarette packaging machines, to achieve high outputs and, at the same time, a careful treatment of the cigarettes it is important to maintain continuous movements as uninterrupted as possible. For this purpose, cigarettes (10) are extracted from a magazine (15) and are then conveyed in a single-layer sequence. Cigarette groups (11) are then formed from these likewise in a continuous operation, with an arrangement and number of cigarettes 10 corresponding to a cigarette pack.

Abstract: Cigarettes are fed from the rod line into a laterally moving fluted drum (1) by a rotating snail cam having a cigarette contacting surface (5) of constant radius over part of its length (arc A) and of increasing radius over a further part (arc B). The cigarettes are accelerated lengthwise over arc (A) with suction being applied to grip the cigarettes, and afterwards sideways acceleration is imparted to the cigarettes over arc (B) while the leading end of each cigarette is being displaced sideways at the same speed by the trailing wall 2b of the flute (2) receiving the cigarette.In an alternative construction in which the cigarettes are deflected by a wheel having helical grooves formed in its peripheral surface, a straight portion is provided at the start of each groove to impart only linear acceleration to the cigarettes.

Abstract: A cigarette arranging apparatus is disclosed. It has an arranging drum including a plurality of arcuate grooves arranged in its periphery, the grooves being extended in the axial direction and intimately contacted each other in the circumferential direction, and a plurality of cigarette receiving rollers near to the upper outer periphery of the arranging drum. The number of the cigarette receiving rollers corresponds to that of the arcuate grooves. The cigarette receiving rollers are arranged each to receive one piece of cigarette out of the plurality of cigarette pieces. The arranging drum and the cigarette receiving rollers are rotated in the opposite directions each other. The rollers are arranged to send cigarette pieces into the grooves successively from the forward grooves till the backward grooves without changing the motion speed to arrange cigarette groups intimately contacted each other.

Abstract: Filter cigarettes which are produced in a filter tipping machine are transported by a severing conveyor in the form of two rows wherein the filters of cigarettes in one row are adjacent to the filters of cigarettes in the other row. The cigarettes of the one row are thereupon inverted end-for-end by sets of pairwise arranged pivotable levers one of which withdraws a cigarette from the one row during movement along an endless circular path and turns the removed cigarette through 90 degrees about an axis which is normal to the cigarette and is remote from its filter while the one lever travels along an arc of 180 degrees. The thus partially inverted cigarette is taken over by the other lever of the respective pair and is turned through additional 90 degrees while the other lever travels along an arc of 180 degrees.

Abstract: A fluted drum transports filter plugs and pairs of plain cigarettes in successive flutes past two rollers which cause the cigarettes to move inwardly toward the respective plug. In order to ensure the establishment of a cavity between each cigarette and the respective end of the corresponding plug, each flute contains two distancing elements whose width matches the acceptable width of the cavities. The outermost portions of the distancing elements taper in a direction away from the bottom portions of the respective flutes to allow for convenient introduction of filter plugs and cigarettes which are held by suction during transport past the rollers and on to the station where the groups of coaxial and properly spaced-apart filter plugs and cigarettes are removed from their flutes.

Abstract: A combination of production lines for the manufacture of filter cigarettes wherein the filter tipping machines form several groups. The number of groups exceeds by one the number of machines in a group. Each machine receives filter rod sections from one of two different pneumatic senders by way of one of two discrete pneumatic conveyors. Each sender has a hopper for sections and several pneumatic propelling units which deliver sections from the respective hopper into the corresponding conveyors. The possibility of feeding sections to each machine from either one of two discrete senders ensures that the machines need not be shut down in the event of malfunction of a given sender, of one of the two propelling units for a machine or of one of two conveyors for a machine.

Abstract: In the case of high-performance cigarette packaging machines, to achieve high outputs and, at the same time, a careful treatment of the cigarettes it is important to maintain continuous movements as uninterrupted as possible. For this purpose, cigarettes (10) are extracted from a magazine (15) and are then conveyed in a single-layer sequence. Cigarette groups (11) are then formed from these likewise in a continuous operation, with an arrangement and number of cigarettes (10) corresponding to a cigarette pack.

Abstract: An automatic control device for adjusting the suction force exerted by the flutes of a rotary transfer drum for rod-like articles such as cigarettes includes an adjustable control device operatively interposed between the suction ports of the flutes and a source of vacuum. The adjustable control device is actuated by a pilot unit in response to a tachymetric signal which is representative of the speed of production of the cigarette-making machine.

Abstract: In the packaging of (long-fiber) cut tobacco, individual tobacco portions (10) are formed from a strand of tobacco (17). These are underweight. In the region of a tobacco balance, the difference between the actual weight and the nominal weight is determined and a difference portion (25) is added accordingly. The complete tobacco portion (10) has to be transferred to a discharge conveyor (bucket chain 28). For this purpose, a star feeder rotating synchronously with a bucket mechanism is used as a distributor device (26).