Abstract: A reservoir for use in a conveyor system for cigarettes or similar rod-like articles comprises a laterally flexible conveyor (12) and a number of curved guide members (preferably wheels 14 to 17) having at least two different diameters and arranged to guide the conveyor along a spiral path, in a substantially constant plane, including a loop or partial loop lying within a wider loop or partial loop.

Abstract: A device for staggering and aligning filter portions cut from multiple-length filter rods includes a first fluted drum which conveys the filter rods (already cut) to a second fluted drum with a rolling plate for rolling at least one portion of each filter rod into a staggered position with respect to another portion of the same rod, at least one stationary finger being arranged to hold adjacent filter portions out of the flutes until they have been rolled to their staggered positions at least some of the filter portions along the flutes of the second drum are then displaced to align all the filter portions.

Abstract: Spaced groups of component filter portions for forming into composite filter rods are assembled by retarding selected portions of the stream by means of transversely-applied suction. The suction means may include a rotary valve operable periodically to connect a suction manifold to a suction outlet adjacent the path of the stream. The stream may be formed and conveyed at an endless band which receives the portions indirectly from a hopper via a fluted drum. The hopper may incorporate an additional feed band which agitates the rods in the hopper to ensure that each flute of the fluted drum receives a rod.

Abstract: Improvements relating to composite filter rods, for producing composite filters for attachment to cigarettes, are obtained by partially enclosing a stream of spaced filter portions in a continuous wrapper so that pockets between the filter portions for receiving granular filter material are particularly well-defined. The material is introduced into the pockets through a relatively narrow opening defined on one side by the free edge of one side of the wrapper and on the other side by a longitudinal fold line in the wrapper. After filling, the part of the wrapper beyond the fold line is sealed over to complete the rod.

Abstract: Successive groups of axially aligned component filter portions are separately united by one or more wrapper portions while moving axially. The composite filter rods formed from the groups are separate, so that there is no need for a continuous rod cut-off. Composite filters, for attachment to cigarette lengths, are subsequently obtained from the rods by cutting at appropriate positions.

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: Cigarette testing system for cigarettes having perforations 6 in the filter in which the cigarette 2 is surrounded by a suction chamber 8 and the tobacco end is connected to a source of pressurized air. The pressure at the tobacco end is regulated in accordance with the average signal from a transducer 10 at the filter end so as to maintain zero average pressure at the filter end, i.e. so that the air flow into the cigarette from the tobacco end exactly balances the outflow through the perforations. The tobacco end pressure is monitored as a measure of the average dilution level of the cigarettes and the deviations from zero pressure at the filter end can be used as individual cigarette test signals.

Abstract: A bobbin changer includes a storage arrangement for storing a number of reels, a reel unwinding station arranged to receive successive reels from the storage arrangement, means for initially rotating each new reel at the unwinding station in a reverse direction (i.e. opposite to the direction of rotation during unwinding), a suction head which is mounted adjacent to the reel and is arranged to pull the leading end portion of the web away from the reel as it approaches the suction head, and means responsive to the movement of the leading end portion of the web and arranged to discontinue the reverse drive on the reel and to initiate a splicing operation.

Abstract: A trimming device for trimming the cigarette filler stream in a cigarette making machine comprises a first fixed blade and a first rotating brush member which cooperate to remove from the tobacco stream tobacco lying further than a first predetermined distance from the tobacco conveyor; a second fixed blade and a second rotating brush member which are situated upstream or downstream of the first blade and brush member and cooperate to remove tobacco at regular spaced intervals corresponding to portions of the stream forming intermediate sections of the filler for each finished cigarette, the second blade being set at a second predetermined distance from the tobacco conveyor which is smaller than the first predetermined distance.

Abstract: Packet handling apparatus includes a conveyor for moving packets in line from a delivery station and a reversible accumulator for receiving batches of packets from or returning batches to the conveyor according to whether supply exceeds demand or vice versa. Gates for supplying movement of packets on the conveyor are provided at the exit from and entry to the accumulator. The conveyor section adjacent the accumulator is separately drivable so that it may be temporarily stopped to create a gap between packets for insertion of the exit gate prior to transferring a batch of packets to the accumulator. Guides may be provided upstream and downstream of the accumulator for moving packets from a flat to an upright condition and vice versa, respectively.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying rod-like articles transverse to their lengths includes a first conveyor for moving a stack of articles from an inlet to an outlet and a reversible second conveyor connected to the first conveyor at a junction. The first and second conveyors each comprise interconnected horizontal path sections, which respectively lie alongside one another. The stack passing through the inlet may be delivered from a filter rod producing machine, and that passing through outlet may be delivered to a filter cigarette making machine. In this case the first conveyor constitutes a delay line to allow curing of the filter rods, and the second conveyor forms a reversible reservoir to adjust the net flow at the junction under control of a sensor.

Abstract: Checking system for the scanner station of the nucleonic rod-weight control system of a continuous rod cigarette making machine, in which a stable voltage reference is switched into the circuit in place of the usual ionization chamber balance unit and a measurement is made of the difference between the reference voltage and the scanner station radiation reading while no cigarette rod is present, to determine whether the scanner station is free of debris etc. The system opens the internal shutter of the radiation source to enable the measurement to be made and closes the entrance to the scanner unit to prevent escape of B-particles. The reading circuit includes a sample-and-hold facility which enables the reading to be stored so that it can be subsequently read out by an operator or supplied to a centralized computer control system.

Abstract: A conveyor system for distributing packets from two packing machines among the two tracks of a wrapping machine includes an indexing conveyor and a rotary pusher for each track. Packets are fed from the packing machines along respective conveyors and delivered by plungers on to the conveyor at every second stoppage period thereof. The rotary pushers operate in phased relationship, so that an equal number of packets reaches each track.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine comprises an air previous band, a channel through which tobacco is showered towards the band with the aid of an air stream to form a cigarette filler stream on the band, the air stream being induced at least partly by suction acting through the band to hold the tobacco against the band, whereby there is also suction pressure in the channel at the end adjacent to the band, characterized by a partly-tubular casing which covers the cigarette filler stream as it leaves the shower channel, and inclined air inlets which are arranged to introduce air streams into the part-tubular casing direction having components in the direction of the cigarette filler stream.

Abstract: A conveyor system for rod-like articles such as cigarettes uses compartmented trays adapted for insertion into a holder. Successive compartments of the tray are filled longitudinally with multi-layer batches of the articles delivered on a separator conveyor. Filled compartments are intermittently transversely moved into the holder. Holders containing full trays firmly retain the articles in the trays so that handling of the tray/holder combination is facilitated. The system is reversible so that trays may be unloaded by delivery of batches onto the conveyor between the separators.

Abstract: A machine for making cigarette filters from filter tow includes a tow fluffing unit for blowing air into the tow before it is compressed; a suction wheel which compresses the tow while extracting air therefrom; and a tongue which further compresses and shapes the tow and includes longitudinally spaced pressure tappings by which the pressure drop through the tow is detected. The tow feed rate is adjusted automatically to maintain a constant pressure drop. Also, the consumption of tow is monitored and the amount of tow stretching is adjusted automatically to minimize the consumption.

Abstract: Rod-like articles such as cigarettes are conveyed in a pneumatic carrier tube in a capsule in order to prevent degradation during conveyance. The capsule may include a support portion having an opening through which the cigarette is received, and a guide portion in the form of a flange. The carrier tube may lead to remote test equipment for the cigarettes. The capsule is preferably pneumatically shuttled between a delivery station and the test equipment in order to convey successive cigarettes randomly selected from a stream of cigarettes passing, for example, from a filter cigarette making machine.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying rod-like articles includes a conveyor particularly adapted for moving a stream of articles in stack formation around a curved path of small radius. The conveyor includes an endless conveyor carrying cantilevered slats and guided around a double curved path on the upper run of which the outer ends of the slats are elevated by a guide. On the curved path the outer side of the stream is elevated and moved at an increased speed by the slats. The conveyor may be used to turn articles in the stream through 180.degree. prior to merging with another stream and is, therefore, usable in a "tip turner38 for attachment to a filter cigarette making machine.

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: Monitoring system for an emergency stop circuit controlling a number of machines in a factory, to determine the location of an actuated stop button. The stop circuit consists of a supply line to a self-latching contactor and there is an emergency stop button in the circuit at each machine. A monitoring line runs parallel to the supply line and is connected to each section between adjacent stop buttons by high value resistors. When a voltage is applied to the supply line a current appears in the monitoring line whose magnitude depends upon the position of the actuated stop button and thus is connected to a voltage which is applied to a series of comparators driving light emitting diodes. Each comparator is provided with a different reference voltage from a resistive chain and since the L.E.D.'s are connected between the outputs of successive comparators along the chain, only the L.E.D. whose position represents the position of the actuated button is illuminated.