Abstract: A processing unit for processing at least one filter tow strip to produce filters for rod-shaped smoking articles includes at least one tow guidance section along which the filter tow strip is moved in a direction of a longitudinal extension of the filter tow strip. The tow guidance section includes processing devices used for processing the filter tow strip. The processing devices are arranged in a sequence essentially one above the other, so that at least a segment of the tow guidance section that is located in a region of the processing devices is oriented at an angle to a horizontal line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying an additive to a moving web of filter material of the tobacco-processing industry are provided. An adjustable window defines an opening, and additive is applied through the window opening onto the web.

Abstract: A novel and improved method of applying adhesive to one side of a running web of wrapping material for a rod-like filler of filter material for tobacco smoke includes directing toward the one side of the web a stream of adhesive which issues from an open-and-shut orifice of a nozzle, and employing one or more jets of compressed air to vary the direction of flow of the stream so that the adhesive coats one marginal portion as well as the adjacent portion of the major central part of the one side and forms at least one non-linear layer. Once the thus treated web is draped around the filler, the adhesive bonds the two marginal portions of the converted web to each other and simultaneously bonds the central part of the web to the filler.

Abstract: Adhesive-coated bands of paper, tipping paper or plastic foil are convoluted around discrete one-piece or composite rod-shaped articles, such as coaxial plain cigarettes and filter mouthpieces, during travel through a rolling zone bounded by a pair of surfaces at least one of which moves relative to the other. The inlet of the rolling zone receives articles, each of which carries a non-convoluted band, from a conveyor which forms part of a pressing device operative immediately ahead of the inlet of the rolling zone and serving to press successively delivered bands against the respective articles and to effect an at least slight flattening of the articles immediately prior to entry into the rolling zone. The width of the path for the articles increases at the outlet of the rolling zone or immediately downstream of such outlet.

Abstract: Particles of non-smokable material are segregated from a flow of a mixture of smokable and non-smokable materials by subjecting the flow to a first segregating treatment which divides the flow into a first stream consisting practically exclusively of smokable material, and a second stream constituting a relatively small percentage of the flow and containing substantially all of the non-smokable material and the remnant of smokable material. The second stream is treated for a second time, preferably at the discharge end of a pneumatic conveyor system including at least one conduit, to segregate the non-smokable material from the remnant of smokable material which latter can be admitted to the first stream. The segregating device which divides the flow into the first and second streams is or can be utilized to treat the second stream, i.e., to segregate smokable material of the second stream from the non-smokable material of the second stream.

Abstract: An method for increasing the permeability of tubular wrappers of a succession of cigarettes by at least one pulsed beam of coherent radiation issuing from a laser has a hollow drum-shaped conveyor cooperating with a rolling member to define an arcuate channel wherein successive cigarettes roll while advancing sideways past a perforating station. Each beam of coherent radiation is generated in or is caused to enter the interior of the conveyor prior to being influenced by one or more deflecting and/or focussing elements to be propagated substantially radially and through an opening of the hollow conveyor and to impinge upon the wrapper of a cigarette rolling at the perforating station.

Abstract: Plain cigarettes or other rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry are finished and/or converted into filter cigarettes, and/or the envelopes of plain and/or filter cigarettes, cigarillos and/or filter mouthpieces are perforated and/or such rod-shaped articles are otherwise treated in or with an apparatus wherein at least one drum-shaped and/or at least one chain-shaped, endless belt-shaped and/or at least one other transfer conveyor receives articles from a maker, e.g., a plain or filter cigarette or cigarillo making machine. The transfer conveyor(s) delivers or deliver portions of or entire articles to one or more processing conveyors wherein or whereon the articles and/or their portions are treated (such as perforated, densified and/or otherwise manipulated) while in motion. The thus at least partly finished articles are returned onto the transfer conveyor(s).

Abstract: Tobacco dust which develops in a machine or production line for the making of smokers' products is put to use in that it is gathered and agglomerated into particles having or exceeding a required size. Metered quantities of such particles are admitted into a stream of fragmentized tobacco leaves before the stream is draped into a web of cigarette paper or the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus which embodies an optical measuring assembly serving to ascertain the transverse dimensions (such as diameters) of at least substantially cylindrical rod-shaped articles, preferably cigarettes or other rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, and includes a radiation source employing at least one first preferably circular array of light emitting diodes or the like, an evaluating unit employing at least one preferably circular array of signal generating charge coupled devices or the like, and a control unit which regulates the operation of batches of neighboring diodes and receives preferably short-lasting signals from the charge coupled devices located in the shadow produced by the article which is coaxial with and is spacedly surrounded by the two arrays. The article can be stationary or it can move (such as axially) relative to the coaxial arrays.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to a machine for splicing the trailing end of a running expiring web (e.g., a web of cigarette paper) to the leading end of a fresh web while the ends of the webs travel next to each other, in the same direction and at an at least substantially identical speed between a rotary knurling surface and a complementary second rotary surface which may but need not be a knurling surface. The rolls which constitute or mount the carriers for the two surfaces are driven in such a way that each n-th (e.g., each tenth) revolution results in the making of a splice between the leading and trailing ends of the webs. The forwardly and/or rearwardly extending remnants of the fresh and expiring webs are torn off the spliced-together webs at the respective ends of the splice.

Abstract: The leading end of a running fresh web of cigarette paper or the like is spliced to the trailing end of a running expiring web while the ends travel at the same speed, in the same direction and next to each other. The splicing unit includes a rotatable roll at one side of the path for the advancing ends, and a rotary carrier at the other side of such path opposite the roll. The carrier is provided with a segment having a convex knurling surface which cooperates with the peripheral surface of the roll to provide the webs with a splice while the segment engages the adjacent web. Prior to splicing, the carrier is rotated in a first direction to move the segment away from the path for the webs, and such movement is followed by rotation of the carrier in a second direction to accelerate the knurling surface at least close (a) to the common speed of the webs and (b) at least close to the speed of the peripheral surface of the roll.

Abstract: A method for conveying a rod-shaped article for a tobacco product comprises transferring the rod-shaped article from a first conveying drum to a second conveying drum and supplying a vacuum to the article at the second conveying drum only after the article is transferred to the second conveying drum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to a machine for splicing the trailing end of a running expiring web (e.g., a web of cigarette paper) to the leading end of a fresh web while the ends of the webs travel next to each other, in the same direction and at an at least substantially identical speed between a rotary knurling surface and a complementary second rotary surface which may but need not be a knurling surface. The rolls which constitute or mount the carriers for the two surfaces are driven in such a way that each n-th (e.g., each tenth) revolution results in the making of a splice between the leading and trailing ends of the webs. The forwardly and/or rearwardly extending remnants of the fresh and expiring webs are torn off the spliced-together webs at the respective ends of the splice.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying rod-shaped articles in the tobacco-processing industry, wherein a holding vacuum is used to hold the articles on a conveying drum. For removal of an article, in a transfer region to a removal drum, the holding vacuum at the conveying drum is stopped for the removal and a holding vacuum is applied to the removal drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying an additive to a moving web of filter material of the tobacco-processing industry are provided. An adjustable window defines an opening, and additive is applied through the window opening onto the web.

Abstract: A series of successive filled and closed containers for filter rod sections or other products of the tobacco processing industry is advanced stepwise along a horizontal path. When the foremost container of the series reaches a given portion of the path, it is moved forwardly and away from the next-following container into the cage of an elevator. The foremost container is opened while in or at the cage, and the cage is thereupon lifted to a level at which the opened container therein can be tilted to dump its contents into a chute, a magazine of the like. The thus emptied container is thereupon tilted back to its original orientation and is transported away to a dump, to a recycling station or to a refilling station. All of the above-enumerated undertakings are carried out automatically. The next-following container, i.e., the foremost container of the remainder of the series, is thereupon manipulated in the same way as the aforementioned foremost container, and so forth.

Abstract: Rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry are advanced lengthwise in a conduit by a first air flow. Blasts of compressed air are admitted into the conduit behind successive articles to promote their advancement in a larger-diameter arcuate section of the conduit, particularly from a lower level to a higher level. The admission of successive blasts of compressed air is carried out by an open-and-shut valve which receives signals from an article detector located downstream of the valve.

Abstract: A horizontal belt conveyor delivers a mass flow of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry at a variable rate to a deflecting station where successive increments of the mass flow are caused to descend into an upright duct. The increments at the deflecting station are overlapped exclusively by two arcuate baffles which deflect the oncoming articles into the duct. The baffles are pivotable relative to each other about parallel axes and include intermeshing tongue-like end portions remote from the respective axes. A linkage couples the baffles to each other in such a way that any pivotal movements of one of the baffles entail predetermined movements of the other baffle.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a multilayer stream of tobacco particles with randomly intermixed foreign particles has a vibratory conveyor which advances the stream toward and discharges successive increments of the stream onto the upper reach of an endless belt or chain serving to advance the increments at a speed exceeding the speed of advancement of the stream by the vibratory conveyor. The endless belt or chain discharges a single layer of tobaco particles and foreign particles, and such single layer is caused to move past a segregating unit which detects and expels foreign particles therefrom.