Abstract: A method for reducing stress of a garniture belt in a tobacco industry machine for manufacturing rods from a continuous rod comprising a garniture belt, guiding bars configured for guiding the garniture belt, a filling material receiving section, a rod diameter setting section, and a rod stabilizing section, the method comprising adjusting a resistance of motion of the garniture belt in at least one of the filling material receiving section or the rod stabilizing section by adjusting a width of the garniture channel by changing positions of the guiding bars in the horizontal direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the garniture channel.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for producing an endless filter rod of the tobacco processing industry. An embodiment of the apparatus includes a transport nozzle loadable with compressed air, a guide tube, an elongated rod, which is arranged in the guide tube, having a rod projection, and an infeed roller, which is non-driven and freely rotatable, positioned immediately at an end of the transport nozzle and at a distance to the rod, and has a bearing surface that defines in sections a conveying path of a filter material web. The apparatus also includes a guide element positioned between the infeed roller and the rod by which a cross-section of the filter material web is reduced between the rod and the guide element in a region of the rod projection.

Abstract: The invention concerns a filter making apparatus comprising: a filter material converging device, a flavor element positioning device comprising a passage element, the passage element comprising a passageway, a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, the first inlet and second inlet being in fluid communication with the passageway, wherein the first inlet is adapted to pass a continuous strand of material into the passage element, wherein the second inlet is adapted to pass fluid into the passage element, and wherein the outlet is positioned at a point downstream from at least a portion of the filter material converging device, wherein the passage element is adapted to pass through the second inlet and into the filter material either the continuous strand of material from the first inlet, or fluid from the second inlet, or the continuous strand of material from the first inlet together with fluid from the second inlet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at various apparatus, systems and methods for forming a sealed concentric or sealed concentric hollow core tobacco rod. The methods of the invention at least comprise passing a trimmed column of metered tobacco and paper between a tongue and garniture to form a concentric shaped tobacco rod or tobacco rod with an inner hollow core; maintaining the concentric shape; and outputting a sealed concentric tobacco rod or a concentric hollow tobacco rod.

Abstract: A shredded tobacco material feeder of a cigarette manufacturing apparatus has a reservoir (2) of shredded tobacco material; a first separation chamber (20) and a second separation path (28) for dividing the shredded tobacco material into normal particles and separation material having larger particle sizes than the normal particles in a process when the shredded tobacco material is fed from the reservoir (2) toward a tobacco band of the apparatus; a sieve conveyor (34) for receiving and transferring the separation material discharged from the second separation path (28), and separating the separation material into large particles having large particle sizes and medium particles having smaller particle sizes than the large particles; and a cyclone (48) for receiving the medium particles from the sieve conveyor (34), the cyclone (48) separating returnable components corresponding to the normal particles from the medium particles, and returning the returnable components to the reservoir (2).

Abstract: A cigarette manufacturing method and machine, whereby a shredded tobacco stream is fed along a channel extending through at least one carding unit and having at least one output portion closed by a suction conveyor belt and for feeding a mat of tobacco onto the suction conveyor belt; and the shredded tobacco stream is cleaned, upstream from the carding unit, to remove relatively heavy parts, such as lumps of tobacco and/or woody tobacco parts and/or any foreign bodies, from the shredded tobacco stream.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at various apparatus and methods for forming a sealed hollow core tobacco rod. The methods of the invention at least comprise passing a trimmed tobacco column and paper under a tongue that widens and flattens the column and paper; forming the tobacco and paper into a cylindrical shape; forming an inner hollow core; maintaining the hollow core shape; and outputting the sealed hollow core tobacco rod.

Abstract: A shredded tobacco supply device for a cigarette manufacturing machine includes a separation throat (20) diverging from a gravity chute (18) through which shredded tobacco is let fall down, and an extension (68) extending from the outlet (20b) of the separation throat (20) and forming an air confluent nozzle (69) in cooperation with the trough bottom (38) of a fluid bed trough (36). The air confluent nozzle (69) produces a transport flow by joining together primary and secondary air jets J1 and J2 used for winnowing the shredded tobacco, and the transport flow causes a shred mixture obtained by the winnowing to be conveyed along a conveyance surface (38) toward a tobacco band.

Abstract: A distributor or hopper is part of a cigarette production machine and serves for dressing the tobacco in the provision of a continuous tobacco strand. An integral part of a distributor is a metering system which prepares the tobacco for the production of the tobacco strand. To separate out undesirable constituents, such as foreign bodies, stalks or ribs, from the tobacco, at least one sifter (15) is provided. The latter precedes the metering system of the distributor in the working direction, in particular is arranged outside the distributor, so that sifted tobacco is introduced into the distributor.

Abstract: A unit for forming a continuous mat of tobacco with denser portions, wherein the mat of tobacco is formed on a suction conveyor belt looped about a return pulley and extending through two successive shredded tobacco feed stations; and wherein the return pulley, located at one of the two feed stations, has a number of radial suction seats, each for retaining a localized quantity of tobacco on the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having paper wrapping materials having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive materials, which can have the forms of liquid or paste formulations, are applied to a continuous paper web on the cigarette making apparatus. The formulation is applied to the paper web using application apparatus possessing rollers, and one of those rollers has a series of pockets in its roll face to receive additive formulation from a reservoir and to define the pattern of the formulation on the paper. A modified figure rail assembly and garniture entrance cone provide air flow toward the paper web being advanced through the garniture region of the cigarette making apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for making one or more rod-like fillers of shredded tobacco for use in the making of cigarettes or the like employs one or two pneumatic conveyors having endless foraminous belts trained over pulleys and including elongated stretches below communicating parts of a common suction chamber. A shower of intermixed tobacco shreds and smaller particles including tobacco dust and coarser particles is directed against the under sides of the elongated stretches. The shreds are attracted to and advance with the respective belts to form streams which are ready to be trimmed and thereupon draped into cigarette paper or the like. At least some smaller particles penetrate through the respective belts into the corresponding parts of the suction chamber. The contents of the suction chamber are evacuated by suction and are returned to the undersides of the elongated stretches of the belts for classification.

Abstract: The distributor of a cigarette rod making machine employs a zig-zag sifter which receives a mixture of tobacco ribs and shreds from a reservoir by way of a duct or an elevator conveyor. The shreds leave the uppermost stage of the sifter and are conveyed, by a Coanda separator, into an upright gathering duct which discharges shreds for delivery onto the concave surface(s) of one or more guides serving to direct one or more streams of shreds against the underside(s) of one or more foraminous belt conveyors which advance the stream(s) past one or more trimming devices serving to remove the surplus and to thus convert each stream into a rod-like filler which is ready to be draped into a web of cigarette paper. The removed surplus is returned into the reservoir or directly into the zig-zag sifter.

Abstract: The filler of a cigarette rod has a tubular portion made of shredded tobacco and surrounding at least one row of spherical inserts made of aromatic material or aerosol. The tubular portion is made by feeding tobacco shreds against the underside of the horizontal lower reach of a foraminous conveyor belt advancing beneath a suction chamber to accumulate a first layer of shreds. The inserts are delivered to the underside of the first layer and are attracted thereto by suction. A second layer of shredded tobacco is assembled by showering shreds against the underside of the first layer where the second layer underlies the spherical inserts. The thus obtained filler is draped into a web of wrapping material to form a cigarette rod ready to be subdivided into sections of unit or multiple unit length. The spherical inserts are expelled from a revolving receptacle under the action of centrifugal force to form a row which is conveyed toward the underside of and advances with the first layer.

Abstract: Apparatus for making one or more rod-like fillers of shredded tobacco for use in the making of cigarettes or the like employs one or two pneumatic conveyors having endless foraminous belts trained over pulleys and including elongated stretches below communicating parts of a common suction chamber. A shower of intermixed tobacco shreds and smaller particles including tobacco dust and coarser particles is directed against the under-sides of the elongated stretches. The shreds are attracted to and advance with the respective belts to form streams which are ready to be trimmed and thereupon draped into cigarette paper or the like. At least some smaller particles penetrate through the respective belts into the corresponding parts of the suction chamber. The contents of the suction chamber are evacuated by suction and are returned to the undersides of the elongated stretches of the belts for classification.

Abstract: A shredded tobacco feeding apparatus includes an optical sensor (40) for detecting stagnation of shreds in a secondary separator (20). The optical sensor (40) senses the interior of the secondary separator (20) in the width direction thereof, by transmitting and receiving detection light propagated through a stagnation-prone region of the secondary separator which is lower in level than an air locker (18). If the detection light is blocked by stagnant shreds, a controller (58) detects the stagnation based on a detection signal from the optical sensor and operates an alarm device (60). Also, the controller (58) actuates an air vibrator (62) to remove the stagnation of shreds.

Abstract: A method and unit for forming a tobacco bead, whereby a forming conveyor conveying the tobacco bead cooperates with a pressing device for compacting portions of the tobacco bead equally spaced with a given spacing, and cooperates with a shaving device; and whereby a distance between the pressing device and the forming conveyor is regulated independently of a distance between the shaving device and the forming conveyor, and as a function of a linear travelling speed of the forming conveyor or a physical quantity related to it.

Abstract: Arrangement and process for assembling at least two tobacco rods in a cigarette rod maker. The arrangement includes at least two flow surfaces and feed devices structured and arranged to convey tobacco on the at least two flow surfaces. Each of the at least two flow surfaces are structured and arranged to guide the tobacco from the feed devices to at least one suction rod conveyor, respectively, and the feed devices include at least two ducts arranged one behind the other crosswise to a conveying direction of the suction rod conveyor. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A shower of tobacco particles is fed into the upper end of a downwardly sloping and downwardly tapering funnel-shaped part of a conveyor wherein the particles gather into a flow of interlaced particles. Successive increments of the flow are acted upon by one or more jets of air issuing from at least one nozzle which loosens successive foremost increments of the flow prior to admission into a tobacco filler rod forming unit in a cigarette rod making machine.

Abstract: A suction band, for use in a cigarette making machine for conveying a cigarette filler stream, comprising a tape of heat-softenable plastics material wound so as to produce a multi-layer endless band and having perforations of which the edges of the adjacent perforations in adjacent tape layers are welded or fused together so as to join together the tape layers to form a cohesive perforated band.

Abstract: The distributor of a cigarette rod making machine employs a zig-zag sifter which receives a mixture of tobacco ribs and shreds from a reservoir by way of a duct or an elevator conveyor. The shreds leave the uppermost stage of the sifter and are conveyed, by a Coanda separator, into an upright gathering duct which discharges shreds for delivery onto the concave surface(s) of one or more guides serving to direct one or more streams of shreds against the underside(s) of one or more foraminous belt conveyors which advance the stream(s) past one or more trimming devices serving to remove the surplus and to thus convert each stream into a rod-like filler which is ready to be draped into a web of cigarette paper. The removed surplus is returned into the reservoir or directly into the zig-zag sifter.

Abstract: The filler of a cigarette rod has a tubular portion made of shredded tobacco and surrounding at least one row of spherical inserts made of aromatic material or aerosol. The tubular portion is made by feeding tobacco shreds against the underside of the horizontal lower reach of a foraminous conveyor belt advancing beneath a suction chamber to accumulate a first layer of shreds. The inserts are delivered to the underside of the first layer and are attracted thereto by suction. A second layer of shredded tobacco is assembled by showering shreds against the underside of the first layer where the second layer underlies the spherical inserts. The thus obtained filler is draped into a web of wrapping material to form a cigarette rod ready to be subdivided into sections of unit or multiple unit length. The spherical inserts are expelled from a revolving receptacle under the action of centrifugal force to form a row which is conveyed toward the underside of and advances with the first layer.

Abstract: A belt-type compression molding apparatus for a tobacco stream includes a compression belt integral with a tobacco band for forming the tobacco stream, and the compression belt extends from the tobacco band toward a wrapping section of a cigarette manufacturing machine. The compression belt defines a compression molding passage for the tobacco stream in cooperation with a molding groove of a molding bed for guiding wrapping paper. The compression belt travels at the same speed as the tobacco band and serves as a movable ceiling wall of the compression molding passage.

Abstract: A device for creating a spread-out stream of tobacco fibers includes a concave-curved guide track along which the fiber stream of tobacco fibers are conveyed. The guide track has a generatrix based on a uniform generating curve. At least one air jet has an air flow opening interrupting the guide track so that air exiting the air flow jet acts in a conveyance direction of the fiber stream for spreading out the tobacco fibers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming a cigarette rod containing an additive material in a cigarette making machine, in which a continuous tobacco rod is fed along a vacuum conveyor and particles of the additive material are fed to and incorporated along the axis of the cigarette rod by a distributor which comprises a conveyor having a hollow drum with a cylindrical side wall on which there is a plurality of seats designed to house the particles; the drum rotating within a ring-shaped structure and the seats, during rotation of the drum, passing through an ejector unit designed to eject the particles from the seats and incorporate them in the tobacco rod through a feed pipe, so as to control the distribution of the particles of the additive material along the tobacco rod, obtaining a preset positioning of the particles in each cigarette length.

Abstract: A continuous rod with a composite filler having a core constituting a small-diameter cigarette rod and a tube surrounding the core and being confined within a converted web of cigarette paper has axially spaced-apart densified sections in the core as well as in the tube. When the continuous rod is converted into a series of discrete cigarettes, it is severed simultaneously across the densified sections of the core as well as across the densified sections of the tube. If the densified sections of the core are not confined within the densified sections of the tube, a trimming device of the maker of the core is adjusted to shift the locations of the thereafter formed densified sections of the core until such densified sections register with those of the tube.

Abstract: Apparatus for making one or more rod-like fillers of shredded tobacco for use in the making of cigarettes or the like employs one or two pneumatic conveyors having endless foraminous belts trained over pulleys and including elongated stretches below communicating parts of a common suction chamber. A shower of intermixed tobacco shreds and smaller particles including tobacco dust and coarser particles is directed against the undersides of the elongated stretches. The shreds are attracted to and advance with the respective belts to form streams which are ready to be trimmed and thereupon draped into cigarette paper or the like. At least some smaller particles penetrate through the respective belts into the corresponding parts of the suction chamber. The contents of the suction chamber are evacuated by suction and are returned to the undersides of the elongated stretches of the belts for classification.

Abstract: The conveyor which converts an ascending shower of tobacco particles into a rod-shaped filler ready to be draped into a running web of cigarette paper in a cigarette rod making machine employs an endless permeable belt having a lower reach disposed beneath a suction chamber and at a level above a channel for advancement of the filler toward the wrapping mechanism. The channel and the marginal portions of the lower reach of the belt are flanked by walls which consist, at least in part, of a wear-resistant ceramic material capable of standing long periods of use due to a minimal wear as a result of sliding contact with tobacco particles, even if the belt is driven at an elevated speed to advance tobacco particles past a trimming device and thereupon into the wrapping mechanism of the cigarette rod making machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a suction strand conveyor of a cigarette strand machine, which is guided around a contact wheel in an inlet area of a shaping arrangement. A plurality of suction air channels connect an inner bearing space of the contact wheel and an outer surface of the contact wheel with a suction chamber of the suction strand conveyor belt and provide a permanent removal of tobacco dust.

Abstract: An elongated channel for the assembly of successive increments of a continuous tobacco stream and for lengthwise transport of the tobacco stream in a cigarette making machine is composed of a foraminous belt having a lower reach overlying the channel and located beneath a suction chamber, and of two additional belts having recessed surfaces which flank the channel. Those tobacco particles which enter the recesses in the surfaces of the additional belts form part of densified sections of rod-like fillers of discrete cigarettes and the recesses further serve to receive the teeth of one or more driven pulleys which are employed to move the additional belts lengthwise.

Abstract: An interchange apparatus for a pneumatic conveying system including a plurality of branch tubes joined together at an acute angle in an interchange chamber to form a main tube and a flap positioned between at least two branch tubes of the plurality of branch tubes at the end of the interchange chamber, the flap faces the branch tubes and is swivelable between a first position and a second position. The flap is held in each position by a holding device such that when the flap is positioned in the first position there is a connection between a first branch tube and the main tube, and when the flap is positioned in a second position there is a connection between a second branch tube and the main tube. In one embodiment the flap is switched from a first position to a second position by the passage of the cylindrical objects through the interchanges.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for applying a liquid medium, more particularly, a flavor or menthol, to tobacco in a cigarette maker equipped with a conduit for feeding the liquid medium, and provided at the end of the conduit with a nozzle orifice, disposed under the suction band of a cigarette former of the maker and, through its nozzle orifice, applies the liquid medium to the tobacco in contact with the tobacco carpet. The nozzle orifice sweeps past the surface of the tobacco and applies a fine continuous jet of the non-foamed liquid medium, or an aerosol jet of the liquid medium, onto the tobacco.

Abstract: A belt-type compression molding apparatus for a tobacco stream includes a compression belt integral with a tobacco band for forming the tobacco stream, and the compression belt extends from the tobacco band toward a wrapping section of a cigarette manufacturing machine. The compression belt defines a compression molding passage for the tobacco stream in cooperation with a molding groove of a molding bed for guiding wrapping paper. The compression belt travels at the same speed as the tobacco band and serves as a movable ceiling wall of the compression molding passage.

Abstract: In a cigarette manufacturing machine, a device for compressing and molding a filler stream includes a tongue, which defines a part of a compression-molding passage. The filler stream passes the compression-molding passage. The device further includes an ultrasonic vibration system for vibrating the tongue. The tongue functions as a horn of the ultrasonic vibration system.

Abstract: A cigarette rod wherein a flexible tubular insert is surrounded by smokable material which, in turn, is surrounded by a wrapper of cigarette paper is formed by advancing the insert from a source at a variable speed toward one or more stations where the running insert is confined between two layers of smokable material. A combined monitoring and regulating system is provided to monitor the extent of sag of the insert between the outlet of the source and the confining station(s), to generate signals denoting the extent of sag, and to regulate the speed of a motor for the insert at the outlet of the source in response to such signals. The purpose of the combined signal generating and regulating system is to maintain the extent of sag of the insert between an upper threshold value and a lower threshold value.