Abstract: Apparatus for handling rod-like articles incorporates a buffer reservoir system using trolleys having vertical compartments for storing the articles in stack formation. The compartments receive the articles from outlets in a first conveyor and may return articles to a second conveyor through inlets. The first conveyor may form part of a conveyor system linking one or more cigarette making machines to one or more cigarette packing machines. The outlets are closable by a gate and a platform is moved through each compartment to lower articles from the outlet. The bottoms of the compartments are provided with removable slats. A particular form of closure suitable for separating a stack of rod-like articles and apparatus for loading and unloading containers with rod-like articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: Cigarettes, as they are grouped in batches to be packed, have their ends detected for firmness or for missing filter tips, by having an array of individually actuated plungers (9) applied to their ends. Each plunger is actuated by air pressure acting on a piston (13) integral with the plunger. If a cigarette (C) is faulty a protuberance (21) on the plunger engages a common impingement plate (20), whose oscillation causes a piezoelectric transducer (22) to emit a fault signal, enabling that cigarette group subsequently to be rejected.

Abstract: A device for feeding cigarette filters or similar rod-like articles comprises a fluted drum and a conveyor for feeding a stack-like stream of filters towards the drum and including a conveyor band which is arranged to engage one side of the stack-like stream of filters while moving between two longitudinally spaced guides between which the conveyor is capable of deflecting outwards, in response to the pressure of the filters and against a restraining force, to accommodate a variable quantity of filters in the region of the conveyor band.

Abstract: A cigarette elevator for conveying upwards a stack-like stream of cigarettes comprises substantially parallel upwardly-extending conveyors of which at least one has transversely extending ribs on its operative face for engaging the cigarettes, a first pulley around which the ribbed conveyor passes at the upper end of the elevator, and a second pulley which is adjacent to the first pulley and has an axis of rotation which is parallel to (but slightly offset from) the axis of rotation of the first pulley, and including a substantially horizontal conveyor which passes around the second pulley, the arrangement being such that the ribs on the ribbed conveyor disappear progressively below the upper surface of the horizontal conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the flow of a stack of cigarettes in a conveyor system using a television camera tube or light-sensitive detectors positioned adjacent the ends of the cigarettes, preferably in an array or row covering the whole height of the stack, to monitor the formation of the stack and to produce pulse signals representing the articles present. The sensors are scanned by control circuitry which produces control signals in response to the number or speed of articles detected.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying rod-like articles, especially cigarettes, includes parallel conveyors for streams of articles and two transfer conveyors which together re-orientate articles in one stream for combination with articles in the other stream. The transfer conveyors each convey articles on a curved path having a substantially vertical axis and include guide means for elevating the outer ends of the articles on the path. In another arrangement parallel opposed conveyors deliver articles to a downwardly-extending junction provided with retractable conveyor bands which may initially extend across the junction to aid filling. The stream on one of the opposed conveyors may be delivered from a further parallel conveyor by a rotary disc transfer conveyor which turns articles through 180 degrees for delivery to the one conveyor. The apparatus is particularly useful for tip-turning of cigarettes at the exit on a filter cigarette assembling machine.

Abstract: A non-intermittent cigarette bundle forming device comprises three hoppers, one for each cigarette row. An oscillating ladder (23) at the bottom of each hopper provides an escapement mechanism for a row to form in front of a gate (6). On release of the gate (6, and 7A to 7C), a cigarette row rolls down a passageway into a continuously moving container (9), in which the three-row bundle is formed.

Abstract: A mobile reservoir system for rod-like articles such as cigarettes in which trays are moved in trolleys and each tray is capable of receiving articles in stack formation from an overhead mass flow outlet at a combined loading/unloading station. The mass flow outlet is closable by a rolling gate closure device. Each tray has parallel compartments for simultaneously receiving batches from streams passing from a producing machine and contains captive platforms movable by drive means at the loading/unloading station to progressively lower the articles into each compartment. Articles may be returned through the mass flow outlet by reversal of the drive means and upward movement of the platform; side bands may engage the articles through slots in the trays to aid this upward movement.

Abstract: A packing machine has a main rotor (104) carrying hollow mandrels (141) to which foil and paper blanks are fed by respective feed units (160, 170) and folding/tucking devices to produce a packet with one end closed on each mandrel successively. Groups of cigarettes are fed to the mandrels from a twin-delivery hopper (110, 111, 112) the two deliveries (111, 112) of the hopper serving alternate pockets (121) of a single conveyor drum (102) which carries the groups towards the main rotor (104), a transfer drum (103) taking adjacent groups two at a time from the conveyor drum (102) to the rotor (104) and compressing each group during transfer. Each packet is removed from its mandrel (by pushing the cigarettes against the closed end of the packet) into a further drum (105) on which the second end of the packet is closed and adhesive securing folds of the packet completes its drying. The packet is then discharged through a stamper unit (106).

Abstract: A hopper for a cigarette making machine includes an elevator, conveying means for conveying a carpet of tobacco towards the elevator, whereby the elevator carries upwards a stream of tobacco from the carpet, and a photoelectric or other position-sensing device mounted near the elevator at a position such that it detects upward movement of tobacco from the carpet in a vicinity adjacent to the elevator indicative of the start of rolling; and including means for temporarily stopping or reducing the speed of conveyance of the tobacco carpet towards the elevator to obviate the rolling condition.

Abstract: A device for testing filter cigarettes, comprises a drum or equivalent means for conveying cigarettes in succession through a test station at which each cigarette in turn is tested with the aid of a pressure chamber surrounding the wrapper of the cigarette, and a pressure detector connected to the filter end of the cigarette while the tobacco end of the cigarette is open to atmosphere, and including means for measuring the pressure in the pressure chamber and means for comparing that pressure with the pressure detected at the filter end of the cigarette. Preferably there is a second test station at which the pressure chamber extends over the tobacco end of the cigarette, and a second pressure detector is connected to the filter end of the cigarette.

Abstract: A perforating device and a method for perforating double length filter cigarette assemblies, in which cigarettes are transferred from the drying drum, of a plug assembler onto a first conveyor which conveys them into the space between a straight flight of the first conveyor and a parallel flight of a second conveyor. The speed of the first conveyor is varied cyclically relative to that of the second by means of a speed modulator, so that the cigarettes are rolled in successive steps during their travel through the device so as to present successive different segments of the outer circumferential surface of the central filter portion to a perforator device.

Abstract: A buffer reservoir system includes trolleys having vertical compartments for receiving and storing rod-like articles such as cigarettes in stack formation. A stationary conveyor system is arranged with spaced outlets and inlets so that compartments can be in simultaneous registration for loading or unloading at a common station. The outlets are closable by a rolling closure device. The station also includes means for indexing the trolley, for lowering or raising the stack in each compartment on platforms, and for removing and replacing slats at the lower ends of the compartments. A modified arrangement is disclosed having spaced loading and unloading stations so that trolleys can constitute a delay line for articles conveyed by the system.

Abstract: A receiver unit for a pneumatic plug feed is adapted to feed the rods away transversely as a stack. Each successive leading rod is accelerated towards retarding means and then deflected sideways by means of one or more air jets and possibly also by a conveyor which engages the trailing end of the rod and quickly moves it out of the forward path of the next rod. Conveyor means for the stack may be arranged to move the rods into a magazine underneath a considerable "head" of rods.

Abstract: A testing device for testing the ends of cigarettes, particularly to detect any tobacco ends which are inadequately filled with tobacco, comprises a light source arranged to direct a beam of light onto the ends of successive cigarettes, and a light detector which responds to a light signal which results from the beam of light and is dependent upon the quantity of tobacco in the ends of successive cigarettes (in the case of tobacco ends) or on the presence of a filter in the case of a test on the filter ends of filter-tipped cigarettes.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine includes at least one transfer wheel for transferring the filler stream onto the wrapper web, and air guide vanes extending in approximately tangential directions towards the transfer wheel. As a result, the vanes arrest any particles of tobacco which fly off the wheel, and air streams induced by the suction in the wheel tend to return the particles to the wheel with a forward component of motion.

Abstract: Electrical monitoring and/or control circuit including a high impedance transducer--for example a photo-diode--which is situated remotely from a measuring circuit and linked to it by a balanced twisted pair of wires fed by a power MOSFET forming a "buffer". The arrangement is such that equal pulses of opposite phase are induced in the twin feeder when a pulse output is produced by the transducer, which is substantially noise-immune without the use of coaxial cable and without the necessity for situating all the measuring circuitry at the transducer position. May be used in "difficult" electrical environments, e.g. where there are electric motors such as in tobacco-feeding arrangements.

Abstract: Trays containing parallel rod-like articles are unloaded by rotation until the trays are at least partially inverted, the rotation being about an axis parallel to the articles. In one arrangement a pair of tray carriers is rotatable to successively invert a full tray over delivery conveyors and to return an empty tray. One of the conveyors is also rotatable about the same axis. A removable slat retains the articles in the full tray until it is completely inverted. In another arrangement a full tray is received in a bracket in which it is moved to a tilted position for unloading. A pivoted closure member is provided for the open top of the tray and this also serves as a barrier for the unloading articles.

Abstract: A bistable circuit comprises a light-emitting diode connected in series with a phototransistor and so disposed as to illuminate the latter. When current is flowing--i.e. when the phototransistor conducts--light from the LED keeps the phototransistor conductive, and the circuit can be switched to the non-conductive (OFF) state by interrupting the light path between the LED and the phototransistor. When the circuit is OFF it can be switched to the ON state by external light.A data-storage device embodying such bistable circuits is also disclosed; a rotatable disc carries a plurality of such circuits at regular spacings adjacent its periphery, and several setting devices at different positions are each operable to illuminate one of the circuits passing the setting device to switch that circuit to the ON state.

Abstract: Filter tipped cigarettes are produced by dividing a continuous tobacco stream into alternate sections having respective lengths corresponding to a double cigarette filler and a double filter portion. The double filter portion sections are removed from the stream to leave spaced double filler sections which proceed to a position where double filter portions are inserted in the gaps left by the removed sections. The stream of alternating tobacco sections and filter portions is continuously wrapped and subsequently cut at the middles of the tobacco sections and filter portions to produce individual filter cigarettes. The sections of tobacco removed from the continuous stream may be returned to the stream.