Abstract: The running web of tipping paper in a filter tipping machine of the tobacco processing industry is repeatedly severed by successive knives on a rotary carrier while the leader of the web is attracted to the peripheral surface of a counterknife. The peripheral surface of the counterknife is provided with axially parallel grooves flanked by internal surfaces one of which cooperates with the cutting edge of a knife to progressively sever the web in a direction from one marginal portion toward the other marginal portion. The cutting edges of the knives are inclined with reference to the axis of rotation of the carrier in the radial direction as well as in the circumferential direction of the carrier. A rotary eccentric is provided to shorten and lengthen the path of movement of the web toward the counterknife in order to establish gaps between successively separated uniting bands and the leader of the web.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically transferring successive fresh bobbins from a magazine wherein the bobbins are stacked in horizontal planes to one of two reciprocable horizontal spindles which are carried by a pivotable holder has annular tongs with claws which are movable into engagement with the periphery of the topmost bobbin in the magazine, and a crank drive which changes the orientation of tongs during transport between the magazine and an unoccupied spindle so that a fresh bobbin which is engaged by the claws in the magazine is moved from its horizontal plane into a vertical plane and its core can receive the unoccupied spindle.

Abstract: Webs of cigarette paper, filter wrapping paper or metallic or plastic foil in cigarette rod making, filter rod making or cigarette packing machines are spliced to each other by uniting bands which are removed from a strip-shaped flexible carrier and delivered to the splicing station by a pivotable lever, either in response to reciprocation of a carriage by hand or by a motor or in response to automatic actuation of a fluid-operated motor so that its piston rod performs forward and return strokes. Each uniting band is adhesive at both sides and the splicing station is located between the path of movement of the running web and the path of movement of a fresh web which latter is accelerated to the speed of the running web prior to start of the splicing operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing and advancing the leader of a cigarette paper web which forms a roll and whose leader adheres to the adjacent convolution has tongs one jaw of which is formed with a scraping edge movable against the periphery of the roll while the roll is rotated in a direction to pay out the web whereby the leader strikes against the edge and is separated from the adjacent convolution. The impact of the leader against the scraping edge releases a catch which normally holds the spring-biased other jaw of the tongs against movement toward engagement with the one jaw whereby the two jaws clamp the leader preparatory to transport directly to a splicing mechanism wherein the leader is attached to the trailing end of the preceding web or to a conveyor which transports the leader to the splicing mechanism.

Abstract: The pneumatic conveyor pipe which connects an article discharging station with an article receiving station in a production line for rod-shaped smokers' products passes through the sealed housing of an article influencing unit which contains friction wheels driven at a peripheral speed which ensures acceleration or deceleration of successive axially moving articles to a selected speed. The thus influenced articles are thereupon accelerated by compressed air so that they are separated from each other by gaps of preselected minimum width to allow for unobstructed changes in the direction of movement of articles which arrive at the receiving station.

Abstract: The gaps which develop at times in a file of cigarette packs moving from a packing machine to a processing machine are filled by spare packs stacked in an upright magazine which is adjacent to the conveyor for the file of packs. The lowermost pack of the stack is transferred into an oncoming gap by a pusher which moves the lowermost pack in as well as transversely of the direction of movement of packs in the file. The last stage of transfer includes gravitational descent of the spare pack into the corresponding gap.

Abstract: Apparatus for splicing a running web to the leader of a fresh web by means of a uniting band both sides of which are coated with adhesive has a holding device which is placed between the running web and the leader of the fresh web while such leader adheres to suction ports of one of two stationary positioning devices. Two hammers are mounted at the opposite sides of the path for the running web and are movable toward each other to press the running web and the leader of the fresh web against opposite sides of the uniting band in the holding device. The hammers carry mobile cutters which cooperate with complementary cutters, and mobile knives which can cooperate with a fixed knife on the holding device.

Abstract: The spacing of cigarettes which are moved sideways in the flutes of two driven drum-shaped conveyors is changed during transfer of successive cigarettes from one of the conveyors whose flutes are spaced apart by a greater distance onto the other conveyor whose flutes are spaced apart by a lesser distance, or vice versa. The speed ratio of the conveyors is proportional to the ratio of the two distances and the configuration of flutes is such that they can bypass each other during travel past a transfer station at which successive flutes of the one conveyor are in temporary register with successive flutes of the other conveyor. The transfer takes place by suction, and the cigarettes are held by suction in those flutes which transport them toward the transfer station as well as in the flutes which transport them away from the transfer station.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for cigarettes or the like has a rotary drum having axially parallel flutes for cigarettes, at least one ring-shaped carrier which is adjacent to one end and is driven at the speed of the drum about an axis which makes a small acute angle with the axis of the drum so that successive increments of the carrier approach the respective end of the drum during travel toward a testing station and move away from the drum during travel beyond the testing station. The carrier supports engaging elements in the form of pins or elastic sleeves which engage the adjacent ends of cigarettes during travel past the testing station. The pins can penetrate into relatively soft fillers of cigarettes and thereby cause a transducer to produce signals which are used for segregation of the respective cigarettes. The sleeves can engage the ends of wrappers of cigarettes during travel past the testing station to admit into the fillers a pressurized testing fluid or to draw a testing fluid through the fillers.