Abstract: Method and device for producing a filter rod. The method includes melting at least one first type of filter material, pressing the at least one first type of filter material through at least one nozzle, depositing the at least one first type of filter material on a conveying element, and shaping the filter rod on the conveying element. 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: Sifting arrangement for sifting a product stream. The sifting arrangement includes a zigzag sifter having at least one access opening and a sifting chamber that is divided into at least two compartments. The zigzag sifter is substantially vertically oriented. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting foreign bodies within a continuously guided product stream. The method includes forming a fan-shaped light beam from collimated irradiation light, irradiating the product stream across its width with the fan-shaped light beam, and detecting at least a portion of detection light emanating from the product stream. The irradiating and detecting take place at least partially along a same optical beam path. 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: Apparatus for making rod-shaped tobacco products with a filter that includes a tobacco stick delivery device, a filter delivery device, a covering paper delivery device, a cigarette making device, a cigarette testing device, and a cigarette dispensing device. All the devices, in which each device includes at least one drum, are arranged to form a drum course. A drive element is structured and arranged to drive at least some of the drums of the drum course in positional synchronization with the transport of the rod-shaped tobacco products, and a drum unit is composed of at least one drum, which is not one of the at least some drums, and a bearing and control flange. At least one separate additional drive element is structured and arranged to drive the at least one drum, and a drive unit is composed of the separate drive element and the drum unit. 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: The invention relates to a method for processing filter material for use in the manufacture of tobacco industry filters wherein a mass of finite fibers is feed to a separating device wherein finite fibers are separated into essentially individual separated fibers and then transported to a continuous rod machine.

Abstract: Machine for making tobacco-processing industry products includes a plurality of lamps arranged on components of the machine. Each lamp includes at least one visible light-emitting power semiconductor light source. An electronic mode control unit is electrically connected to and controlling the lamps. The electronic mode control unit is structured and arranged to control the lamps so as to provide uniform continuous light for illuminating at least one of the components and the tobacco-processing industry products, and is structured and arranged to control the lamps so as to provide periodically interrupted light for illuminating at least one of the components and the tobacco-processing industry products. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: Method and device for longitudinally axial transfer of rod-shaped articles from a transmitting station to a receiving station via a connecting conduit. The method includes separating the articles in the connecting conduit, and discharging the articles from the connecting conduit by a discharge device. 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 filter-attachment machine in the tobacco-processing industry is provided. The machine has a plurality of conveying devices for products in the tobacco-processing industry, and at least one main drive that drives the plurality of conveying devices. The machine also has a pull-off device for pulling a cover tape ribbon from a cover tape supply, a cover-tape cutting device for cutting the cover tape ribbon into sections of a predetermined length, and at least one secondary drive that drives the pull-off device and the cover-tape cutting device. The cover tape ribbon is conveyed from the pull-off device to the cover-tape cutting device, and the sections of cover tape ribbon are transferred to the products on one of the plurality of conveying devices.

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: Process and device for applying print marks to an article that includes conveying the article along a transport direction at a predetermined conveyor speed, during a printing procedure, reducing a relative speed between a printing element and the article conveyed along the transport direction, and applying print marks to the article by the printing element. 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: Process and device for operating a machine of the tobacco processing industry that includes a wrapping material strip supply and a garniture device, in which a conveyor path is defined between the wrapping material strip supply and the garniture device. The process includes suctioning at least one wrapping material strip that is provided for wrapping a material into a suction channel that branches off from the conveyor path, fixing the at least one wrapping material strip in at least one predetermined position along the conveyor path, and conveying the at least one wrapping material strip along the conveyor path from the at least one predetermined position. 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: Machine and method of the tobacco-processing industry. The machine includes a processing unit and a paper delivery unit structured and arranged to deliver paper to the processing unit. The processing unit is provided for wrapping a rod-shaped product with the paper. A gluing unit is structured and arranged for gluing the paper in a gluing position of paper travel, and a moistening device, structured and arranged for moistening the paper, is arranged before the gluing position in a direction of paper travel. 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 method and machine produces a continuous filter rod. At least one type of finite, essentially completely separated fibers is transported with transport air to a conveyor. A fiber nonwoven is formed on one surface of the conveyor to result in the fibers at least partially contacting one another. The fiber nonwoven is deposited onto a wrapping material web. The fiber nonwoven is then wrapped a material web.

Abstract: Storage device with variable storage capacity. The storage device includes an input area, an output area, a continuous conveying element connecting the input area to the output area. The continuous conveying element is guided by guide elements in a looping manner from the input area to the output area, whereby the continuous conveying element defines a multi-layered storage area adapted to store products and a multi-layered return area adapted to be free of products. The multi-layered storage and return areas are arranged side by side and change in length depending on a state of fullness of the storage device while an overall length of the continuous conveying element remains generally constant. At least one storage layer of the multi-layered storage area and at least one storage layer of the multi-layered return area is arranged on a common horizontal plane. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

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: A method for producing a nonwoven for the manufacture of filter rods in the tobacco industry includes separating fibers of at least one type of filter material in at least one separating device having at least one separating element rotating about a rotational axis. The separated fibers are fed to a conveyor moving in a conveying direction such that the separated fibers form the nonwoven.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a nonwoven fiber composite for the manufacture of filters in the tobacco industry, wherein the method feeds separated fiber materials to a fluidized bed and the separated filter material inside the fluidized bed are transported to a rod-forming device, essentially by a transport air flow flowing in the direction of the rod-forming device and the filter material is compiled on the rod-forming device prior to forming the compacted fiber filter elements.

Abstract: Apparatus for replacing spent and/or damaged knives with fresh knives in a machine wherein semifinished rod-shaped smokers' products are converted into cigarettes, filter mouthpieces or the like employs a knife holder, a locking device which can releasably clamp a knife in the holder, a preferably automated system for temporarily deactivating the locking device in order to allow for removal of a spent knife, and a conveyor system for introduction of a fresh knife into the holder subsequent to removal of the spent knife and prior to renewed activation of the locking device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method of and to an improved apparatus for detecting and correcting unsatisfactory patterns of adhesive which is applied to a running web of paper or the like in a tobacco processing machine by a cyclically operated paster. A linear scanning camera is employed to take pictures of groups of at least some of the patterns which are applied during successive cycles of the paster, and such pictures are displayed and compared with a reference image of satisfactory patterns and preferably also with additional reference images. The results of comparison are relied upon for the making of corrections, e.g., by changing the operation of the paster and/or by changing the direction of advancement of the web between the paster and the camera.

Abstract: Method and machine for joining article components. The method include feeding articles of a first and second group to a first tipping apparatus, transferring a uniting band to the articles of the first group from the first tipping apparatus, feeding the articles of the first and second groups to a second tipping apparatus, transferring a uniting band to the articles of the second group from the second tipping apparatus, and wrapping the uniting bands around the articles of the first and second group in a rolling device. 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.