Abstract: A security system for monitoring a product includes a sensor coupled to the product that is further coupled to a splitter box. The splitter box includes a first shift register for storing data that indicates whether the product is coupled to the sensor. A main controller unit coupled to the splitter box causes the splitter box to transmit the data and then causes the data to be stored in a table. After storing the data, the data is transmitted to a second shift register disposed in the splitter box. A logic circuit disposed in the splitter box compares the data stored in the second shift register to a signal indicating whether the product is still coupled to the sensor and generates an alarm signal if the product is no longer coupled to the sensor. The alarm signal is subsequently transmitted to the main controller unit which responds to the signal by sounding a horn.

Abstract: A pneumatic filter transport system has a gate (18) in a section of conveying duct (2), which gate and is openable in response to signals indicating a filter rod jam in a receiver unit (15) connected to the duct. Once opened, the gate allows remaining filters in the duct to be directed to a dump (30): this reduces the risk of a receiver jam developing into a line jam (which is more difficult to clear). The gate may be provided in a curved section of duct just upstream of the receiver. The duct may incorporate a longitudinally-extending partition (60), which allows removal from the duct of loose material (e.g., carbon granules) which has become separated from the conveyed filters. The duct may have longitudinal slots (68) which allow conveying air to exhaust from the duct upstream of the receiver.

Abstract: In a pneumatic filter rod conveying system a vent (12) is in the line (10) close to the distributor (2). This enables a relatively high pressure gradient to be established, with resultant high filter transfer rates at the distributor, without having excessively high pressures in the distributor and/or higher than necessary line transmission speeds. Also, there may be a selectable pressure switch (40) for reducing air pressure at the distributor when there are fewer than normal filters in the line, e.g., at the end of a run: this also allows avoidance of undesirably high line transmission speeds.

Abstract: In a cigarette filter rod manufacturing plant at least one tow bale (6; 108) is located in a position remote from the corresponding tow opening machine (2; 100) and a conveying system (10; 112) is provided for transporting the tow to the machine. In a preferred arrangement the conveying system comprises a pneumatic duct (10) in which the tow is conveyed with the assistance of air movers (12). Removing the tow bales from the vicinity of the machines, preferably to a common area, allows flexibility in laying out a production floor and provides easy access for replacement of the bales.

Abstract: A receiver unit for a pneumatic distribution system for rod-like articles, particularly cigarette filter rods, includes multiple vertically spaced devices (10) each of which receives axially moving rods and transfers them into a transversely-moving stream, the streams from the devices extending in different directions and being subsequently combined in a common junction zone (38, 46) to form a combined stream of increased height. Each device may cooperate with an adjacent channel (166) forming reservoir for rods and including detectors (168, 170) controlling conveyance of the transversely moving steam.

Abstract: A filter rod feed comprises a fluted drum (10), a hopper (14) from which filter rods are arranged to be fed into the flutes of the drum, means (16, 18) for delivering pneumatically-fed filter rods into the hopper, an agitator (20, 22) comprising a substantially horizontal row of laterally spaced bars (20) in the hopper, the bars being parallel to the filter rods and being at or above the level at which pneumatically-fed filter rods are delivered into the hopper, and the arrangement being such that movement of the bars promotes a substantially even flow of filter rods between the bars in both upward and downward directions.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with 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, an arrangement for urging the rotary member towards the cutting drum with a predetermined force, and a damping member arranged to resist movement of the rotary member towards the cutting drum, at least along part of the range of such movement. Each end of the rotary member is preferably supported by a separately movable carrier member, each carrier member having its own urging arrangement and its own damping member. The or each damping member may comprise a dashpot or a rubber pad or sleeve.