Abstract: A cigarette elevator for conveying upwards a stack-like stream of cigarettes comprises substantially parallel upwardly-extending conveyors of which at least one has transversely extending ribs on its operative face for engaging the cigarettes, a first pulley around which the ribbed conveyor passes at the upper end of the elevator, and a second pulley which is adjacent to the first pulley and has an axis of rotation which is parallel to (but slightly offset from) the axis of rotation of the first pulley, and including a substantially horizontal conveyor which passes around the second pulley, the arrangement being such that the ribs on the ribbed conveyor disappear progressively below the upper surface of the horizontal conveyor.

Abstract: A buffer reservoir system includes trolleys having vertical compartments for receiving and storing rod-like articles such as cigarettes in stack formation. A stationary conveyor system is arranged with spaced outlets and inlets so that compartments can be in simultaneous registration for loading or unloading at a common station. The outlets are closable by a rolling closure device. The station also includes means for indexing the trolley, for lowering or raising the stack in each compartment on platforms, and for removing and replacing slats at the lower ends of the compartments. A modified arrangement is disclosed having spaced loading and unloading stations so that trolleys can constitute a delay line for articles conveyed by the system.

Abstract: Trays containing parallel rod-like articles are unloaded by rotation until the trays are at least partially inverted, the rotation being about an axis parallel to the articles. In one arrangement a pair of tray carriers is rotatable to successively invert a full tray over delivery conveyors and to return an empty tray. One of the conveyors is also rotatable about the same axis. A removable slat retains the articles in the full tray until it is completely inverted. In another arrangement a full tray is received in a bracket in which it is moved to a tilted position for unloading. A pivoted closure member is provided for the open top of the tray and this also serves as a barrier for the unloading articles.

Abstract: In a system for making and packing cigarettes, cigarette making and packing machines are arranged in units each including a making machine, a packing machine and a reservoir, each unit being slightly mis-matched as to its making and packing outputs so as to have, on average, a surplus or deficit of cigarettes which is fed away or made up by a transfer conveyor linked to an additional packing or making machine which absorbs the surplus or makes up the deficit of all the units as the case may be.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying rod-like articles transverse to their lengths includes a first conveyor for moving a stack of articles from an inlet to an outlet and a reversible second conveyor connected to the first conveyor at a junction. The first and second conveyors each comprise interconnected horizontal path sections, which respectively lie alongside one another. The stack passing through the inlet may be delivered from a filter rod producing machine, and that passing through outlet may be delivered to a filter cigarette making machine. In this case the first conveyor constitutes a delay line to allow curing of the filter rods, and the second conveyor forms a reversible reservoir to adjust the net flow at the junction under control of a sensor.

Abstract: A conveyor system for rod-like articles such as cigarettes uses compartmented trays adapted for insertion into a holder. Successive compartments of the tray are filled longitudinally with multi-layer batches of the articles delivered on a separator conveyor. Filled compartments are intermittently transversely moved into the holder. Holders containing full trays firmly retain the articles in the trays so that handling of the tray/holder combination is facilitated. The system is reversible so that trays may be unloaded by delivery of batches onto the conveyor between the separators.

Abstract: Rod-like articles such as cigarettes are conveyed in a pneumatic carrier tube in a capsule in order to prevent degradation during conveyance. The capsule may include a support portion having an opening through which the cigarette is received, and a guide portion in the form of a flange. The carrier tube may lead to remote test equipment for the cigarettes. The capsule is preferably pneumatically shuttled between a delivery station and the test equipment in order to convey successive cigarettes randomly selected from a stream of cigarettes passing, for example, from a filter cigarette making machine.

Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying cigarettes or similar rod-like articles includes means for delivering cigarettes into a junction, and a reservoir including a reversible conveyor for delivering cigarettes to or from the junction to accommodate differences between the rates of supply and demand at the junction, characterized in that the reservoir is formed by a plurality of conveyors defining a zig-zag path extending substantially in a constant plane normal to the axis of the cigarettes and comprising at least two substantially horizontal runs with one or more connecting portions through which cigarettes pass from one run to another.

Abstract: A reservoir system for cigarettes and other similar rod-shaped articles comprises a delivery conveyor arranged to convey the articles horizontally towards an inlet to the reservoir; a reservoir conveyor which lies below the delivery conveyor and is arranged to receive a stack of the articles delivered through the inlet and to run, when necessary, in a direction opposite to that of the delivery conveyor; a horizontally movable carriage carrying a movable end wall defining an end of the stack of articles on the reservoir conveyor adjacent to the inlet, and carrying also a sensor adjacent to the inlet which controls the direction (and possibly also the speed) of movement of the carriage; and an outlet for articles at the end of the reservoir conveyor towards which the latter moves.

Abstract: A mobile reservoir for rod-like articles is adapted for connection into a static conveyor system, e.g. through a reversible elevator, and includes conveyor means for moving the articles within the reservoir. The conveyor means may be arranged to move and store the articles in the reservoir as a continuous stream. In a preferred arrangement the conveyor means includes a number of conveyors defining at least one zig-zag path extending substantially in a constant plane normal to the axes of the articles. In another arrangement the articles are stored and moved in batches: in this case the articles are also delivered to the reservoir in batches, e.g. by a conveyor provided with divider plates.

Abstract: A feed system for trays for rod-like articles such as cigarettes in which trays are removed from a conveyor (such as a trolley) at one level, moved to another level at which they are advanced to a loading (or unloading) position, and moved back to the first level (after loading or unloading) before being returned to the conveyor. Trays may be loaded or unloaded while moving stepwise between levels and may be removed from and returned to the conveyor along separate parallel paths.

Abstract: Batches of rod-like articles, such as cigarettes, conveyed transverse to the lengths of the articles are transferred, in another direction transverse to the lengths of the articles, to a second conveyor which has a path intersecting that of the first conveyor. The first conveyor may be a band conveyor and may include dividers for forming the batches. The second conveyor may be constituted by a pair of opposed bands having parallel rails for supporting batches. The second conveyor may form or lead to a store for batches. Both conveyors are preferably reversible under the action of a sensor so that batches may be supplied to or withdrawn from the store according to demand in an associated system, e.g. a conveyor system linking a cigarette maker to a cigarette packer.

Abstract: The invention involves the transfer of rod-like articles to or from an endless belt conveyor which has protrusions at regular intervals on its operative face by a pulley having a middle part around which the conveyor passes and two coaxial outer parts on opposite sides of the middle part which are of a larger diameter than the middle part for guiding the rod-like articles.

Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying cigarettes or similar rod-like articles includes machinery for delivering cigarettes into a junction, and a reservoir including a reversible conveyor for delivering cigarettes to or from the junction to accommodate differences between the rates of supply and demand at the junction, characterized in that the reservoir is formed by a plurality of conveyors defining a zig-zag path extending substantially in a constant plane normal to the axis of the cigarettes and comprising at least two substantially horizontal runs with one or more connecting portions through which cigarettes pass from one run to another.

Abstract: A tray filling unit in which batches of cigarettes, for plunging into a tray, are formed on a conveyor by inserting divider plates into a stream of cigarettes while it is conveyed down an inclined path leading to the conveyor. Successive batches formed on the conveyor are moved transversely off the conveyor onto a movable transfer plate which supports the batch while it is pushed into a tray by the plunger. Trays are moved stepwise downwards to receive successive batches. The basic unit is capable of use in reverse as a tray unloader.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying filter-tipped cigarettes, comprises means for receiving two streams of such cigarettes with the filters of the two streams facing in opposite directions, means for conveying the two streams side by side while twisting the streams in opposite directions about longitudinal axes of the streams so that the cigarettes of the two respective streams are then parallel, with the filters all facing in the same direction, and means for merging the two streams.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding cigarettes downwards transversely to their lengths, between vertical side walls, comprises two feed conveyors extending towards and moving towards one another from below the respective side walls, leaving a space between the inner ends of the conveyor, and delivery means (preferably a conveyor) extending from below the space between the two feed conveyors to carry the cigarettes away. The feed conveyors are preferably porous bands and suction is applied below them so as to grip the cigarettes adjacent to the feed conveyors.