Abstract: A machine which simultaneously produces several rods of fibrous material has discrete conveyors which are closely adjacent each other and transport the streams from stream building stations to discrete surplus removing apparatus each of which employs a pair of coplanar trimming discs. The trimming discs of discrete surplus removing apparatus are disposed in different planes which are inclined relative to each other and can be inclined relative to or parallel with the planes of the respective conveyors. The orientation of the planes of the trimming discs ensures that the removal of surplus is not impeded by neighboring apparatus and/or by the channels for the streams of fibrous material.

Abstract: Apparatus for distributing empty and filled trays in a production line wherein the output of a cigarette maker is normally processed by a packing machine has a tray filling unit which withdraws the surplus of cigarettes from the transporting unit between the maker and the packing machine, a tray evacuating unit which admits stored cigarettes from trays into the transporting unit when the requirements of the packing machine exceed the output of the maker, at least one mobile magazine for empty and filled trays, and a transferring device which can advance filled and empty trays directly between the two units or between either of the two units and the magazine. The transferring device has an inclined holder for a filled or an empty tray and motors which can move the holder up or down as well as about a vertical axis.

Abstract: A stream which advances along the underside of the elongated lower reach of an endless air-permeable belt conveyor carries a surplus of fibrous material and is relieved of the surplus by a trimming device which is mounted downstream of one or more nozzles serving to direct compressed air at a variable rate against successive increments of the stream and to thus loosen the stream to a greater or lesser extent, at least in a region immediately adjacent the underside of the lower reach of the conveyor. The upper side of the lower reach of the conveyor is adjacent a suction chamber which attracts the stream to the conveyor. The action of suction upon the stream in the region of the nozzle. or nozzles can be weakened or elminated by the nozzle or nozzles or by a discrete barrier.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring arrays of cigarettes from the pockets of at least one intermittently driven first conveyor into the pockets of a continuously driven second conveyor wherein the transfer takes place by means of at least one pair of arms which have pockets for arrays of cigarettes and are indexible about a common axis to define for their pockets a path a first portion of which overlaps a portion of the path for the pockets of the first conveyor and a second portion of which registers with a portion of the path which is defined for its pockets by the second conveyor. The pockets of the arms receive arrays from the pockets of the first conveyor while the arms are at a standstill, and the pockets of the arms are in positions for transfer of their contents into the pockets of the second conveyor while the arms move at the speed of the second conveyor.

Abstract: A first stream of tobacco particles is subdivided into several narrower streams at a diverting station where the lowermost portions of several upwardly sloping panels are inclined with reference to each other and with reference to a foremost panel which guides the first stream. First nozzles which discharge compressed air are used to compel the particles of the first stream to advance along the concave upper side of the foremost panel, and additional nozzles are used to discharge compressed air which compels the second streams to advance along the concave upper sides of the respective panels.

Abstract: Apparatus for making perforations in a running web of wrapping material for tobacco or filter rods or in the wrappers of discrete cigarettes has a carbon dioxide laser with two parallel resonators which are mechanically coupled to each other to define a U-shaped resonance chamber and the free ends of which carry partially transmitting mirrors for the passage of discrete active beams of coherent radiation. The two active beams are thereupon split into pairs of split beams and the split beams are focused upon the running web of wrapping material or upon the wrappers of successive rod-shaped articles to simultaneously form four rows of perforations.

Abstract: The degree of ventilation of ventilation zones in the wrappers of filter cigarettes is ascertained by confining the ventilation zones of successive cigarettes in a chamber during travel through a testing station and by increasing the pressure in the chamber above or by reducing the pressure in the chamber below atmospheric pressure. The pressure at that end of each cigarette which is adjacent the ventilation zone is monitored at the testing station, and the resulting signal is indicative of the degree of ventilation. Such signal can be divided by a signal denoting the pressure in the chamber during testing, and the resulting signal can be multiplied by 100 to obtain a signal which is indicative of the degree of ventilation in percent.

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 machine tool, particularly a grinding machine, wherein one or more machine elements (such as a wheelhead, a table or a saddle) are movable along guideways in or on the machine frame. Each of the guideways is overlapped or shielded by a guard, and each guard is movable by a discrete prime mover in synchronism with the respective machine element so that the width of clearances (if any) between the guards and the respective machine elements remains constant. The provision of discrete prime movers for the guards ensures that the machine tool can treat workpieces with a higher degree of accuracy because the prime movers for the machine elements are not affected by the weight, inertia and/or other parameters of the guards.

Abstract: The tobacco stream which is formed at the underside of a foraminous conveyor and carries a surplus of tobacco particles is transported past a trimming device which removes the surplus to convert the stream into a filler which is thereupon wrapped into a web of cigarette paper. The mass flow of tobacco particles in the untrimmed stream is monitored by a detector which utilizes infrared light, and the signals from such detector are used to change the position of the conveyor relative to the trimming device so as to ensure that the mass flow of tobacco particles in the filler remains within a desired range. One or more additional detectors monitor the mass of flow tobacco particles in the filler upstream and/or downstream of the wrapping station, and the signals from such second detector or detectors are used to correct the position of the conveyor relative to the trimming device and/or to change the position of the trimming device relative to the conveyor.

Abstract: A cigarette rod making machine wherein the distributor forms a continuous stream of tobacco particles including freshly admitted tobacco particles and surplus which is removed from the stream by a trimming device. Fresh tobacco particles are drawn from a duct and are converted into a shower which is classified prior to admission of the surplus. The surplus is admitted across the full width of the shower of fresh tobacco in such quantities that the combined mass of the surplus and fresh tobacco in the trimmed stream is substantially constant. This is achieved by monitoring the quantity of surplus which is removed from the stream and regulating the rate of admission of fresh tobacco in accordance with the characteristics of signals denoting the monitored quantities of the surplus.

Abstract: Apparatus for draping blanks around blocks of parallel cigarettes has a continuously driven turret with radially inwardly extending pockets in its peripheral surface. Successive pockets of the turret receive blocks of cigarettes from successive pockets of a first endless belt or chain conveyor which partially overlies the peripheral surface of the turret and carries pushers which transfer the blocks into the pockets of the turret in the region of overlap. First blanks are caused to overlie the pockets of the turret ahead of the region of overlap so that the blocks deform the blanks during transfer into the pockets of the turret. The blanks are provided with flaps and tucks during travel with the turret, and the latter is further overlapped by a portion of a second endless belt or chain conveyor whose pockets receive blocks and the at least partially draped first blanks from the pockets of the turret in the region where the second conveyor overlaps the peripheral surface of the turret.

Abstract: One or more streams of tobacco in a rod making machine are tested by several density monitoring units one of which employs a source of nuclear radiation and at least one other of which employs a source of optical radiation. The resulting density signals are evaluated and converted into signals which are devoid of the influence of changes of color and/or blend of fibrous material in the stream or streams and are used for segregation of defective rod-shaped articles and/or for controlled removal of surplus from the stream or streams.

Abstract: The density of a stream of tobacco particles at the underside of a foraminous belt conveyor is monitored by an array of X-ray detectors to generate signals each denoting the density of a different thin layer in successive increments of the stream. Such signals are processed into signals denoting the density of the entire stream, the filling power of tobacco, and the quantity of the surplus in the stream. The processed signals are used to adjust the trimmer which removes the surplus, to adjust the distributor which feeds the particles to the stream, to regulate the hardness of cigarettes and to adjust the quantity of the surplus.

Abstract: A shower of fibrous material is directed against the underside of the lower reach of a foraminous endless belt conveyor so that the fibrous material gathers into a continuous stream which is attracted to the conveyor by suction and is moved longitudinally past a trimming device which removes the surplus. The density of the stream is monitored upstream and downstream of the trimming device, and the corresponding signals are processed in an evaluating circuit into additional signals which are indicative of the quantity of the removed surplus. The removed surplus is weighed and the weighing device generates signals also denoting the quantity of the surplus. Such signals are compared with the additional signals and further signals, which denote the differences between the intensities of the compared signals, are used to modify signals denoting the density of the stream downstream of the trimming device. The thus modified signals are used to adjust the trimming device.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing the running web of tipping paper in a filter tipping machine has a rotary drum-shaped counterknife which cooperates with equidistant knives at the periphery of a rotary knife carrier to sever the leader of the running web at regular intervals. The knives are individually adjustable with reference to the counterknife so that their cutting edges merely contact the peripheral surface of the counterknife when they assume severing positions in planes including the axis of rotation of the counterknife, and each knife is unyieldingly held against any movement relative to the carrier when the apparatus is in actual use so that the adjusting mechanisms for the knives need not take up any of the stresses which develop when the knives cooperate with the counterknife to sever the running web.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting discrete block-shaped arrays of parallel cigarettes into a continuous mass flow of cigarettes has an elevator which receives discrete arrays from individual trays while in a raised position and which thereupon deposits a freshly received array on the mobile bottom wall in the compartment of a magazine having upright front and rear walls which are movable independently of each other. The compartment receives one array at a time. A conveyor adjacent the front wall of the magazine carries the trailing end of the mass flow, and the array in the compartment can be added to the trailing end of the mass flow in response to movement of the front wall transversely of the direction of transport of the mass flow. At such time, the bottom wall and the rear wall of the magazine are moved forwardly to expel the array from the magazine. The front wall is then returned to its normal position and the rear wall is retracted to provide room for delivery of a fresh array into the magazine.

Abstract: The moisture content of the fillers of cigarettes is maintained at a preselected value by feeding to the stream building zone of the cigarette rod maker a flow of tobacco particles whose moisture content exceeds the desired value and with a surplus which is removed by an adjustable trimmer to convert the flow into a trimmed stream which is ready for draping into a web of cigarette paper to form a cigarette rod which is subdivided into cigarettes of desired length. The removed surplus is heated by a drying device and the heated surplus with its reduced moisture content is returned into the distributor of the cigarette rod maker to be admixed to the already advancing flow of fresh tobacco particles whose moisture content is excessive. The heating action is regulated as a function of signals generated by one or more moisture detectors which can monitor the moisture content of fibrous material in the surplus prior or subsequent to drying and/or the moisture content of the filler or trimmed stream.

Abstract: A machine wherein a mobile partition divides a flow of tobacco particles into several streams each of which carries a surplus of tobacco particles. The surplus is removed from the streams by discrete trimming devices to convert the streams into fillers which are draped into webs of cigarette paper. The removed surplus is measured independently for each stream and the signals which are generated to denote the quantities of removed surplus are used to change the position of the partition in a sense to ensure that each stream contains a predetermined quantity of surplus. A device which monitors the density of at least one filler generates signals serving to adjust the trimming devices in a sense to ensure that the density of all fillers matches a preselected density.

Abstract: Longitudinally spaced-apart portions of a tobacco stream in a cigarette maker are densified and the stream is then draped into a web of cigarette paper prior to being severed across the densified portions to yield a succession of plain cigarettes each having two dense ends. The characteristics of both ends of some or all of the cigarettes are monitored independently of each other and the resulting signals are totalized and thereupon compared to indicate the extent of deviation of the quality of one dense end from the other dense end. If the deviation exceeds a selected threshold value, the densifying station is shifted nearer to or further away from the severing station so as to eliminate or reduce the differences.