Abstract: The leading end of a running fresh web of cigarette paper or the like is spliced to the trailing end of a running expiring web while the ends travel at the same speed, in the same direction and next to each other. The splicing unit includes a rotatable roll at one side of the path for the advancing ends, and a rotary carrier at the other side of such path opposite the roll. The carrier is provided with a segment having a convex knurling surface which cooperates with the peripheral surface of the roll to provide the webs with a splice while the segment engages the adjacent web. Prior to splicing, the carrier is rotated in a first direction to move the segment away from the path for the webs, and such movement is followed by rotation of the carrier in a second direction to accelerate the knurling surface at least close (a) to the common speed of the webs and (b) at least close to the speed of the peripheral surface of the roll.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to a machine for splicing the trailing end of a running expiring web (e.g., a web of cigarette paper) to the leading end of a fresh web while the ends of the webs travel next to each other, in the same direction and at an at least substantially identical speed between a rotary knurling surface and a complementary second rotary surface which may but need not be a knurling surface. The rolls which constitute or mount the carriers for the two surfaces are driven in such a way that each n-th (e.g., each tenth) revolution results in the making of a splice between the leading and trailing ends of the webs. The forwardly and/or rearwardly extending remnants of the fresh and expiring webs are torn off the spliced-together webs at the respective ends of the splice.

Abstract: The leading end of a running fresh web of cigarette paper or the like is spliced to the trailing end of a running expiring web while the ends travel at the same speed, in the same direction and next to each other. The splicing unit includes a rotatable roll at one side of the path for the advancing ends, and a rotary carrier at the other side of such path opposite the roll. The carrier is provided with a segment having a convex knurling surface which cooperates with the peripheral surface of the roll to provide the webs with a splice while the segment engages the adjacent web. Prior to splicing, the carrier is rotated in a first direction to move the segment away from the path for the webs, and such movement is followed by rotation of the carrier in a second direction to accelerate the knurling surface at least close (a) to the common speed of the webs and (b) at least close to the speed of the peripheral surface of the roll.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to a machine for splicing the trailing end of a running expiring web (e.g., a web of cigarette paper) to the leading end of a fresh web while the ends of the webs travel next to each other, in the same direction and at an at least substantially identical speed between a rotary knurling surface and a complementary second rotary surface which may but need not be a knurling surface. The rolls which constitute or mount the carriers for the two surfaces are driven in such a way that each n-th (e.g., each tenth) revolution results in the making of a splice between the leading and trailing ends of the webs. The forwardly and/or rearwardly extending remnants of the fresh and expiring webs are torn off the spliced-together webs at the respective ends of the splice.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for manipulating trays for groups of rod-shaped articles which constitute or form part of smokers' products. The apparatus has a tray filling unit, a tray emptying unit including a magazine for filled trays, a source of empty trays, a predetermined storage facility for filled trays, a first conveyor, a second conveyor, and a device for transporting filled trays from the predetermined storage facility to the emptying unit. The first conveyor feeds a succession of empty trays from the source to the filling unit. The second conveyor feeds successive filled trays from the filling unit to the predetermined storage facility.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving empty and filled trays for groups of rod-shaped smokers' products to an emptying station and from a filling station has first and second sources of empty trays, a receiver for emptied trays, first, second and third storage facilities for filled trays, a magazine which supplies filled trays to the emptying station, and an elevator which can transport empty, filled and emptied trays between the different levels of the sources, receiver, storage facilities and magazine. A control unit causes the elevator to deliver empty trays from one of the sources to the filling station and to move filled trays from one of the storage facilities to the magazine in a sequence such that each filled tray leaving the magazine for the emptying station remains in the apparatus at least for a predetermined minimum period of time which is necessary to ensure that the products can be evacuated from the respective filled trays without affecting their appearance and/or other desirable characteristics.