Abstract: A vertical feed apparatus for conveying a continuous stack of cigarettes upwards and/or downwards includes one or two bands which convey the stack around a rotatable member, from a horizontal conveyor to a pair of vertical conveyors, the bands being laterally offset from the horizontal and vertical conveyors.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating filter material, particularly a filter tow for forming into a cigarette filter rod, includes an applicator chamber containing a rotatable brush for spraying a fluid additive such as a plasticizer towards the tow. A pressure manifold having a permeable surface adjacent the path of the tow produces an air flow which redirects towards the tow of plasticizer not captured initially by the tow. Air supplied to the manifold passes through an air ionization region, to reduce static electricity in the chamber. Air is withdrawn from the chamber by a pump to prevent a pressure build-up which could cause loss of uncaptured plasticizer. A separator is provided for collecting any plasticizer entrained with the extracted air and for returning it to a supply tank.

Abstract: A pusher conveyor has an endless chain or belt carried on two or more sprockets or other rotary members with parallel axes of rotation, pushers being secured to the chain or belt at regular intervals. The attachment of the pushers to the chain or belt is such that when each pusher is travelling along a straight working run of the chain or belt, a free end of the pusher projects through the plane containing the axes of the two rotary members at the ends of the working run, so that when a portion of the band carrying a pusher commences to move around the rotary member at the downstream end of the working run, the free end of the associated pusher reverses its movement to enter a complementary arcuate path.

Abstract: A stack of sheets, in particular hinged-lid blanks B for cigarette packets, are disposed in a vertical stack S from the top of which successive sheets are lifted by a suction member and removed by mechanical means, e.g. by a pair of conveyors 21 provided with pushers 23.The suction member may be a gang of sleeves 14 to which suction is continuously supplied, so that when a sheet B is engaged by the sleeves they are lifted automatically by suction in readiness for the pushers 23 to remove the raised sheet B, after which the sleeves again drop by gravity. The stack S may be inched around a J-shaped stack, or lifted by a pair of divergent conveyors 30 to which replenishing groups of blanks G are fed from underneath.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine has a suction tape 10 for carrying the cigarette filler stream 18 onto a wrapper web 22, the tape being supported by a single cable 32 which extends above the edge portions of the operative lower run of the tape and crosses over (at 34 in FIG. 2) beneath the non-operative upper run of the tape. The cable is tensioned sufficiently to provide an adequate frictional drive from one of the pulleys (12) around which the tape and cable pass. The tape needs only slight tension, being driven partly by frictional contact with the cable.

Abstract: A reservoir, particularly for cigarette packets, stores rectangular arrays of packets on vertically-spaced platforms. The reservoir is filled or emptied by moving successive batches of packets transversely off (or onto) a conveyor on which packets are moved in line, e.g. from a cigarette packing machine to a cigarette wrapping machine. When a platform is completely full it is indexed upwards and another platform moved from a store to take its place. The spacing between adjacent platforms in the empty platform store is less than that between platforms in use for supporting packets; this is achieved by supporting the platforms by tapes, similar to those of a venetian blind.

Abstract: A hinged lid packet has an integral inner frame comprising a recessed panel extending upwardly from the front wall of the body of the packet, and a pair of side flaps extending backwards from the sides of the recessed panel. A cut-away part is formed at the top of each side flap to provide access for securing each outer flap of the lid of the packet to the respective inner flap. Each inner flap may be of a shape corresponding to the cut-away part, so that with the lid closed the inner flap and the respective side flap are substantially contiguous.

Abstract: A bobbin changer, for use in producing a continuous supply of web by joining the webs from a succession of reels, comprises a splicing device for joining the leading end of the web on each new reel to the web on the expiring reel; at least two cradles for receiving and supporting reels of web during use, each having means for locating the end of the web of a new reel in readiness for splicing; and means for movably supporting each of the cradles whereby each cradle in turn can be moved from a standby position to a position aligned with the splicing device in preparation for a splicing operation.

Abstract: A packing machine for cigarettes, in particular for soft packs, with a plurality of pack-forming assemblies 1-16, has at least one operating member 21-23 in each assembly which is movable, e.g. to clamp a sheet of foil 300 or a paper lable 400 against a packet mandrel 20. The assemblies are each indexed past a number of stations at each of which a drive shaft 33 (FIG. 3) engages a coupling shaft 35 connected to the respective operating member. The shafts lie perpendicular to the direction of movement of the assemblies and they engage with one another through a tongue 34 and fork 36 coupling.The coupling shaft 35 may be connected to the operating member through an eccentric 52 or, where the operating member has to be moved linearly, through a rack and pinion 61.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for making ventilated cigarettes. Either the cigarettes are perforated after assembly or the tipping paper is perforated before assembly. The position of the perforations as a group relative to the mouth end of the cigarette is adjustable to select a required degree of ventilation of the assembled cigarette. Automatic selection is effected by measuring the dilution of the assembled cigarettes and causing the perforator to be controlled accordingly. Perforation may be effected by pins mechanically, by spark discharge by laser or by electron beam.

Abstract: The application of fluid additive to a moving filter tow for production of filter rod for cigarettes, is controlled by a system which provides monitoring of rate of application of the additive by weight. Fluid additive, such as plasticizer, is pumped from a measuring cylinder to an applicator booth, excess additive draining back to the cylinder. Pressure in the cylinder is monitored by a transducer and a control circuit is provided to compare the rate of loss of additive from the cylinder (as measured by change in pressure) with a required value and adjust the supply pump by way of a motor and gearbox accordingly. Fluid additive is periodically supplied to the cylinder from a flask and reservoir.

Abstract: An inspection device for a continuous cigarette rod comprises a plurality of infra-red emitter-detector units circumferentially spaced around the path of a rod. The light from each unit is focussed onto and collected from a specific area of the rod. Two, or more, axially displaced arrays of units are each arranged to inspect areas of the rod which are staggered in relation to the areas inspected by the other array or arrays.Signals from the units are multiplexed and transmitted to processing circuitry. Instantaneous signals are compared with predetermined values derived for each optical unit as a proportion of the running average of the instantaneous signal. If the instantaneous signal falls below this predetermined value a warning device is operated and the cigarette is ejected.Known devices use expensive optical fibres requiring a close fit to the cigarette rod.

Abstract: In a system for making and packing cigarettes, cigarette making and packing machines are arranged in units each including a making machine, a packing machine and a reservoir, each unit being slightly mis-matched as to its making and packing outputs so as to have, on average, a surplus or deficit of cigarettes which is fed away or made up by a transfer conveyor linked to an additional packing or making machine which absorbs the surplus or makes up the deficit of all the units as the case may be.

Abstract: A cutting head for a cigarette filter attachment machine, for cutting a filter attachment web at regular intervals in cooperation with a cutting drum comprising a rotary member which carries one or more knives and is mounted on a movable carrier so as to be movable towards and away from the cutting drum, and including a fluid-powered actuator which is arranged to urge the cutting head towards the cutting drum.

Abstract: Cigarette-rod weight monitoring system in which the signals from a scanner, e.g. a nucleonic device such as Molins "MODIC", are processed and stored in a memory in a digitized form, and the memory contents are used to drive an analog display device. These signals, which represent the individual cigarettes, or short lengths, are accumulated in the memory over a period which is sufficiently long for a statistically significant distribution pattern to be achieved, so that the shape of the distribution curve can be observed to determine whether it is "normal" or whether any skews or other irregularities are present. In addition the accomulated signals can be analyzed in various ways to provide quantitative measurements of overall standard deviation, or effective standard deviation either side of the mean to show whether any "skews" exist. S.D. can be calculated for whole cigarettes or short lengths for different diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: A device for perforating or cutting a moving web of paper by means of pins, especially uniting paper for use in a cigarette filter attachment machine, comprises a roller carrying pins for perforating the paper in cooperation with a backing roller arranged to support the paper while it is being perforated, the backing roller being driven so that its peripheral speed equals that of the perforating roller, and having a deformable surface formed with indentations corresponding to the positions of the pins, the deformable material forming the surface of the backing roller being such that the indentations are formed by the pins when the rollers are first operated. The surface portion or portions of the backing roller aligned with the pins may comprise a thin metal portion in the form of a sleeve which covers recesses in the main body of the backing roller. The sleeve is perforated by the pins when the rollers first operate.

Abstract: A cutting head for a filter attachment machine comprises a drum carrying a number of knives each of which is urged radially outwards by at least one spring against an adjustable retaining device by which the normal distance of the cutting edge from the axis of the drum can be adjusted.

Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of complementary numerically controlled machine tools in which different workpieces are each subjected to appropriate selected machining operations on selected machine tools in a selected order by appropriate delivery of common form pallets loaded with the workpieces. Transporters deliver pallets between the machine tools, a storage rack, and work-setting stations where workpieces, automatically delivered in bins from a bin store, are loaded on pallets. Tool magazines are delivered between a rack and the machine tools by transporter. Transport and machining operations are computer controlled, and monitors feed back signals indicative of location of pallets, tool magazines, and bins in the system.

Abstract: A device for separating a stream of rod-like articles in stack formation by projection in a direction transverse to the lengths of the articles comprises a movable support for guide means around which passes at least one flexible band. As the device is projected through the stream the part of the band in contact with the articles is held stationary thus minimising disturbance of and possible damage to the articles. The device may be used to close off an opening through which a container is loaded or unloaded and may be used to separate a horizontally moving stream into batches.

Abstract: A cutting head for a filter attachment machine comprises a carrier drum carrying at circumferentially spaced positions a number of knife bodies each of which is clamped onto the drum by retaining devices engaging the ends of the knife body, and including an interposed layer of rubber or other resilient material lying at least in the region below the middle of the knife body, each knife body, its retaining devices and its rubber layer being so arranged that when the knife body is secured in position by the retaining devices, it is flexed slightly so that its cutting edge is slightly convex.