Abstract: A shock absorber with a variable damping characteristic has a piston which is reciprocable in a cylinder to divide the oil-filled internal space of the cylinder into two chambers. The chambers are connectable to each other by one or more passages so that oil can flow between the chambers in response to movement of the piston relative to the cylinder and/or vice versa. The piston has several bypasses each of which is controlled by an adjustable electrically operated regulating valve. In order to enhance the accuracy of regulation of flow of oil between the chambers by way of the bypasses, the piston is formed with channels which supply oil between the mobile valving elements and the seats of the valves to thus reduce or eliminate friction between such parts.

Abstract: The hardness of cigarettes which move in a direction at right angles to their axes is measured with one or more pivotable levers which rest on the moving cigarettes to elastically deform the adjacent portions of the cigarettes. The extent of elastic deformation is measured and the results of the measurements are used to regulate the operation of a cigarette rod making or filter tipping machine so as to ensure that the hardness of cigarettes will match an optimum value.

Abstract: The diameters of successive rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry are ascertained while the articles advance in the flutes of a conveyor, first along a rolling unit which turns successive articles at random through different angles and thereupon past a photoelectronic detector wherein a radiation source emits a narrow beam of radiation which impinges upon successive articles for intervals of time which are dependent upon the diameters of the articles. The transducer of the detector generates signals which are indicative of the monitored diameters, and such signals are transmitted to an evaluating circuit which controls an ejector for unsatisfactory articles and/or displays the monitored diameters on a screen. The articles are partially lifted off the conveyor by cushions of compressed air during transport past the rolling unit.

Abstract: Cigarettes are produced by gathering shredded tobacco into a stream which is moved longitudinally and is draped into a web of cigarette paper to form a rod which is subdivided into cigarettes of desired length. In order to impart to the cigarettes predictable characteristics, particularly hardness, draw resistance, number of puffs per cigarette, nicotine content, carbon monoxide content and tar content, the operation of the trimming device which removes the surplus from the stream prior to draping is regulated as a function of third signals which are generated on the basis of first signals denoting the monitored density of the stream, second signals denoting the monitored or calculated filling power of tobacco, and a number of functional equations which denote predetermined regular relationships between the parameters denoted by the first and second signals and the aforementioned characteristics of cigarettes.

Abstract: The lower ends of several ducts which dispense layers of parallel cigarettes are located at different levels adjacent the path of movement of a stepwise advancing chain with receptacles for multi-layer arrays of cigarettes which are to be draped into blanks for conversion into cigarette packs. A discrete endless conveyor is installed between the lower end of each duct and the receptacle which registers with such duct, and each conveyor has one or more pushers serving to transfer layers of cigarettes into the registering receptacles. Each conveyor is driven by a discrete motor, and the conveyors can be started and arrested in a predetermined sequence to ensure that each receptacle which registers with a duct is empty when the apparatus is idle, and that each receptacle which advances beyond the last duct contains a full array of cigarettes.

Abstract: The sharpness profile of the working surface of a grinding wheel is determined in the course of a dressing operation by controlling the velocity of movement of the point of contact between the dressing tool and the grinding wheel. The velocity of such movement can be varied by changing the velocity of movement of the grinding wheel in a direction at right angles to its axis and/or by changing the velocity of movement of the dressing tool in a direction which is parallel to the axis of the grinding wheel. The velocity of the point of contact is varied as a function of changes of the inclination of various sections of the working surface relative to the axis of the grinding wheel. This influences the depth of notches or grooves which are formed by a rounded portion of the dressing tool in the working surface of the grinding wheel. The depth of such notches determines the sharpness of the corresponding sections of the working surface.

Abstract: The density of a tobacco stream which is advanced by a foraminous conveyor toward the surplus removing station of a cigarette rod making machine is measured by one or more detectors each having one or more sources of infrared light and one or more photoelectric transducers. In order to avoid the generation of distorted signals in response to impingement of high-intensity radiation upon the transducer or transducers, each transducer is out of line with the path of direct propagation of radiation from the respective source or sources toward successive increments of the tobacco stream. The transducer or transducers receive infrared light which is scattered in and/or reflected by tobacco particles in the stream. Signals from the transducer or transducers are used to regulate the quantity of surplus which is removed from the stream.

Abstract: The lower-quality leader of a filter rod or cigarette rod is deflected from the path leading from the rod making station to the subdividing station before the rod is severed behind the leader so that the next-following high-quality portion of the rod is free to advance to the subdividing station. The apparatus for separating the leader has a rotary knife which rotates within a guard. The guard carries a U-shaped deflecting unit for the leader and is pivotable with the motor for the knife to and from an operative position in which the leader is deflected and the knife can sever the rod behind the deflected leader. The apparatus further employs a back support which is pivoted against the rod opposite the guard to prop the rod during separation of the leader.

Abstract: Uncured tobacco leaves are heated by microwaves or in an electric high-frequency field prior to subdivision into ribs and strips. The strips are separated from the ribs, preferably with a stream of conditioned air, and are thereupon heated again and condensed, and the condensed strips are dried and cooled in vacuo prior to packing. The separated ribs are heated and are thereupon introduced into containers. The containers are then admitted into a vacuum chamber for cooling and drying of the ribs therein prior to packing.

Abstract: Packets of cigarettes are delivered from a packing machine to a cartoner in the form of arrays each of which contains a predetermined number of packets. The packing machine discharges discrete packets which are advanced to a gathering station where the packets are assembled into arrays in successive compartments of a stepwise operated first endless conveyor. The first conveyor delivers freshly accumulated arrays into the pockets of a stepwise operated second endless conveyor which delivers a series of arrays to a second station adjacent the cartoner. The second conveyor is set in motion during a first stage of each cycle of the cartoner, and a pusher transfers successive arrays from the respective pockets of the second conveyor during second stages of certain cycles of the cartoner. The frequency of cycles of the cartoner at least equals but normally exceeds of the frequency at which arrays of packets are assembled in the compartments of the first conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for puffing, drying or moisturizing tobacco has a conveyor defining an elongated channel with an inlet and an outlet for particles of tobacco. The conveyor is vibrated so that the particles advance toward the outlet, and the bottom wall of the conveyor has orifices which serve to discharge jets of hot air or steam into the channel in such orientation that the jets of admitted fluid medium are inclined to each other, to the direction of advancement of tobacco particles and/or to the vertical. The orifices receive fluid from a chamber which is provided beneath the bottom wall and is connected to a source of steam or hot air.

Abstract: Discrete cigarette packets which are supplied by a packing machine are assembled into arrays in successive compartments of a first endless conveyor at a first station, and the pockets of a second conveyor accept arrays from successive filled compartments for stepwise transport to a second station where the arrays are draped into blanks in a wrapping machine to form cartons. The second conveyor is moved stepwise during successive intervals of idleness of the first conveyor, and the first conveyor is normally moved stepwise when the second conveyor is idle. The two conveyors cross each other at the first station. The arrays in the compartments extend transversely of the first conveyor, and the arrays in the pockets extend longitudinally of the second conveyor.

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 stream of tobacco fibers is formed in a channel by showering the fibers against the underside of the lower reach of a foraminous belt conveyor which cooperates with a suction chamber to attract the fibers and to advance the stream past a trimming station where the surplus of fibers is removed by an adjustable equalizing device. The density of the stream is monitored upstream of the trimming station, and the thus obtained signals which are indicative of the density of successive increments of the stream are used to adjust the equalizing device so that the density of the trimmed stream is maintained within a desired range. Monitoring of density upstream of the trimming station ensures that the position of the equalizing device is properly adjusted not later than when the monitored increments of the stream reach the trimming station.

Abstract: A continuous filter tow is advanced through a combined wrapping and condensing station by an endless belt, and the thickness of the belt decreases as a result of wear. The resistance which the condensed tow offers to the flow of air is measured by a pneumatic detector at the aforementioned station, and the accuracy of such measurement is affected by decreasing thickness of the belt as a result of increasing rate of escape of testing fluid along the belt. Therefore, the thickness of the belt is monitored and signals which are generated to denote the thickness of the belt are used to correct signals which are generated to denote the resistance to the flow of air. The correction involves modifying the signals denoting the resistance to the flow of air to denote a more pronounced resistance proportionally with decreasing thickness of the belt.

Abstract: Belt conveyors which advance two or more discrete streams of fibrous material past discrete surplus removing equalizing devices are guided in such a way that the portions of streams which are in the process of being trimmed are spaced apart from each other stream. This renders it possible to employ reliable equalizing devices having pairs of coplanar rotary trimming discs. The conveyors are guided by pulleys and/or their marginal portions extend into grooves which are provided in the sidewalls of channels for the streams of fibrous material. The equalizing devices are staggered with respect to each other in the direction of transport of the streams.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting a file of coaxial filter rod sections into one or more rows of such sections has two identical disc cams adjacent to the path of successive foremost sections of the file and being driven in synchronism so that their lobes simultaneously shift the adjacent foremost section sideways along a smooth supporting surface and thereby accelerate such section to the speed of sections in the row or rows while the section continues to move axially toward the oncoming flute of a drum-shaped conveyor which forms and advances the rows of sections into a filter tipping machine. The lobes and the adjacent portions of the peripheral surfaces of the disc cams are formed with suction ports which attract the foremost sections of the file during lateral shifting to thus ensure highly predictable and gentle changes in the direction of travel of successive foremost sections on their way into the respective flutes of the drum-shaped conveyor.

Abstract: Plain or filter cigarettes are tested at a first station by two or more testing devices each of which monitors the cigarettes for the presence or absence of a particular defect. The testing devices generate defect signals which are delayed by shift registers so as to ensure that the delayed defect signals are transmitted to a segregating mechanism which removes defective cigarettes from a path that is common to the satisfactory and defective cigarettes and delivers defective cigarettes to selected receptacles which are installed at a second station and each of which gathers only cigarettes exhibiting a particular defect. Actuation of a switch entails the removal of a selected number of samples from the common path for satisfactory and defective cigarettes, and such samples are gathered in an additional receptacle at the second station.

Abstract: The leader of a web of cigarette paper in a cigarette rod making machine is threaded through the nip or nips one or more advancing rollers, a web bronzing device and one or more imprinting mechanisms by an apparatus employing an endless toothed belt conveyor or a chain conveyor having a stretch which is adjacent to the path of movement of the web. The conveyor carries a pin, a tongs or another suitable entraining member which is connected to the leader of the web before the conveyor is set in motion to advance the web along the path. One roller of each pair of advancing rollers is automatically retracted to allow for the passage of the leader of the web as well as of the entraining member through the nip or nips. The obstructions in the imprinting mechanism(s) and in the bronzing device are treated in the same way, i.e., one component of the pair of components which define a obstruction is retracted to permit passage of the entraining member.

Abstract: Uncured tobacco leaves are heated by microwaves or in an electric high-frequency field prior to subdivision into ribs and strips. The strips are separated from the ribs, preferably with a stream of conditioned air, and are thereupon heated again and condensed, and the condensed strips are dried and cooled in vacuo prior to packing. The separated ribs are heated and are thereupon introduced into containers. The containers are then admitted into a vacuum chamber for cooling and drying of the ribs therein prior to packing.