Abstract: A device for the electropneumatical testing of the air permeability wherein each cigarette is subjected to at least one test consisting of applying pneumatic pressure to one end of the cigarette and determining the resistance or the pressure drop at the input to the cigarette. The measured pneumatic pressure is transformed into electric measurement signals which are compared with electric reference or threshold signals. According to the invention, the electric measurement signals are compared with the electric reference signals which are shaped as saw-tooth signals and are generated in synchronism with the cigarette tests, that is with the measurement signals. The ascending portions of the saw-tooth reference signals have a rate of increasing magnitude which corresponds approximately to the rate of increase of the electric measurement signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a continuous cut tobacco braid in a cigarette making machine. A transfer duct transfers the cut tobacco in an air stream from the cut tobacco feeder to an endless braid-forming suction tape, and a pneumatic collecting duct which receives the greater and heavier tobacco particles and conveys them into a collecting box. A second pneumatic collecting duct receives the excess tobacco trimmed from the tobacco braid being formed and conveys it into a feeding hopper. A deflector valve between the two pneumatic ducts is switchable between two positions, in one of which the tobacco ribs are conveyed through the first-mentioned duct into the collecting box and the trimmed excess tobacco is conveyed through the second duct to the feeding hopper. In the second position, the deflector valve causes the cut tobacco, including the tobacco ribs, to be returned into the feeding hopper.

Abstract: A device for feeding sheets of wrapping material from a roll formed of wrapping material web to a packaging machine which discontinuously operates at consecutive cycles. The device includes a transversal cutter provided with cutter blades for cutting single sheets of wrapping material from the web which has a new leading edge after each cut, and at least one intermittent motion feeding group for feeding the web to the cutter. A first independent electric stepping motor drives the feeding group and is controlled by a programmable electronic control circuit which controls the stepping motor to drive the feeding group in accordance with a predetermined sequence of motions in synchronism with the cycles the packaging machine, including momentarily driving the feeding group backwards to withdraw and detach the leading edge of the web from the cutter blades.

Abstract: The rod-breaking device comprises a deflecting guide movable alternately across the normal straight path of a cigarette rod issuing from a rod-forming mechanism and entering the inlet of a rod-processing unit. The movement of the deflecting guide into active position serves to break the rod by cooperating with a fixed abutment, whereafter the deflecting guide stops in said active position to deflect the following rod out of the normal path. The movement of the deflecting guide into the opposite inactive position serves to break the rod and to bring the said deflecting guide to an inactive position out of the normal path of the rod. A transverse blade is secured on the deflecting guide in such a manner as to move, across the normal path of the cigarette rod, close to the inlet of the processing unit.