Abstract: A tampon is produced rolling up a strip of fiber fleece material to form a cylindrical blank having a cylindrical mantle with mantle sections uniformly distributed over the circumference of the cylindrical blank. Pressing forces are applied to the mantle sections so as to form a preformed blank having a core and longitudinal ribs extending in the longitudinal direction of the preformed blank and distributed adjacent to one another so as to surround the core. The fiber fleece material of the core is compressed more strongly than the fiber fleece material of the longitudinal ribs. The longitudinal ribs are subjected to radial pressure forces for finish-shaping the preformed blank to form the tampon. The core of the tampon has a circular cross-section comprising an annular outer area and a circular central area surrounded by the annular outer area. The fiber fleece material of the circular central area is compressed less than the fiber fleece material of the annular outer area.

Abstract: A device for cutting the paper sleeve of defective filter cigarettes for recycling tobacco has at least one knife roller having a plurality of knife disks spaced from one another at a distance that is smaller than a diameter of the cigarettes. Each knife disk has a circumferential edge with a plurality of teeth. A conveyor belt feeds the cigarettes to the knife roller such that the cigarettes are essentially oriented parallel to the conveying direction. The conveyor belt and the knife roller are synchronized such that a circumferential velocity of the knife disks corresponds to the conveying velocity of the conveyor belt. As an alternative, the knife disks can be provided with a continuous circular dulled circumferential cutting surface. It is then necessary that the conveyor belt and the knife roller are synchronized such that a circumferential velocity of the knife disks is greater than the conveying velocity of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing cigarettes from a package. The apparatus has at least one cutter for cutting open the package with a full cut at right angles to the lengthwise orientation of the cigarettes. The apparatus has a separating station in which the cigarettes are removed from the cut-open package prior to further processing. The separating station has two vertically oriented spaced-apart deformation faces that extend parallel to one another and are rotatable for pivoting the package out of an essentially horizontal position and into an inclined to even vertical position. The distance between the deformation faces is less than the width of the package as measured between its two narrow long sides via which the package rests against the deformation faces during the pivoting process.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading blanks of paper, cardboard, plastic, etc. that are stacked as blocks on a pallet and that are subsequently supplied as blocks of blanks for further processing or temporary storage includes a slightly pivotable insertion tool as well as structural elements for moving those stacks or blocks of blanks, relative to their support, that are disposed on the pallet at the edge thereof. The individual blocks of blanks are successively lifted from their support via an insertion tool, with a pressure foot preventing an undesired shifting and a holding foot securing the position of the respective block of blanks on the insertion tool.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for unloading blanks of paper, cardboard, plastic, etc. that are stacked as blocks on a pallet and that are subsequently supplied as blocks of blanks for further processing or temporary storage. The individual blocks of blanks are successively lifted from their support via an insertion tool, with a pressure foot preventing an undesired shifting and a holding foot securing the position of the respective block of blanks on the insertion tool. The method and apparatus include provision of a slightly pivotable insertion tool as well as structural elements for moving those stacks or blocks of blanks, relative to their support, that are disposed on the pallet at the edge thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering tobacco from imperfect cigarettes that are ejected downstream of a cigarette-producing machine and are supplied to a recovery apparatus for opening the paper casings and separating the tobacco from the paper pieces and any filters that are present. The imperfect cigarettes of a given cigarette-producing machine are continuously supplied to an in-line recovery apparatus, which has a space-saving configuration, is coordinated to the output of the cigarette-producing machine, and is mounted adjacent thereto. Varying quantities of imperfect cigarettes are collected within the recovery apparatus, which is equipped with a rotary conveyer. A uniform stream of the recovered tobacco is returned to the cigarette-producing machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading individual reels from a carrier member on which a plurality of reels are stacked next to one another in several rows, and one on top of the other in several layers. An unloading mechanism is supported on a height-adjustable frame in such a way as to be movable relative to the frame. Linear drives are provided for moving the unloading mechanism, in a plane, in two directions that extend at an angle of 90.degree. relative to one another. Sensors are disposed on the frame for detecting reels in a given layer or plane, and for controlling the height adjustment of the frame. Further sensors are disposed on the unloading mechanism for alignment of the latter relative to a reel that is to be unloaded. With such an apparatus, the reels can be unloaded directly and fully automatically from a conventional transport device, such as a pallet, and can be supplied to a packaging machine, where they are also fully automatically secured and threaded.

Abstract: An apparatus for engaging and loosening the beginning of a sheet of material, such as paper, fabric, thin plastic, and/or metal foil, that is wound onto a core to form a reel, so that the material can be used in a subsequent machine, such as a packaging machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking the quality of rod-shaped, cylindrical objects, especially cigarettes, that are fed from a funnel-shaped storage container to a plurality of essentially parallel chutes, each of which has associated therewith at least one checking device and a subsequently disposed ejection mechanism for axially ejecting a defective object. In order to operate at high speeed with the least possible expense for construction and control, the essentially vertically disposed chutes, each of which has a width that is only slightly greater than the diameter of the rod-shaped objects, have at least their lower portion provided with a zig-zagged course that has at least one bend. A first slide mechanism is disposed below the chutes. This slide mechanism is provided with openings, each designed to receive a respective one of the rod-shaped objects, with the number of such openings corresponding to the number of chutes.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying cigarette-filled trays from at least one tray-filling device to the hopper of at least one cigarette-packaging machine, and for returning the emptied trays to the tray-filling device. In order to deliver the filled tray system fully automatically by a simple transport system without operators, and with the opened top directed downwardly, to the hopper of the packaging machine, the guide rail system of a container-conveying system which is known per se and which has a plurality of the electrically driven travel mechanisms is disposed between a dispatch station which is associated with the tray-filling device, and a receiving station which is associated with the packaging machine. Each of the travel mechanisms carries a receiving container which is designed to receive at least one tray.