Abstract: Apparatus for distributing empty and filled trays in a production line wherein the output of a cigarette maker is normally processed by a packing machine has a tray filling unit which withdraws the surplus of cigarettes from the transporting unit between the maker and the packing machine, a tray evacuating unit which admits stored cigarettes from trays into the transporting unit when the requirements of the packing machine exceed the output of the maker, at least one mobile magazine for empty and filled trays, and a transferring device which can advance filled and empty trays directly between the two units or between either of the two units and the magazine. The transferring device has an inclined holder for a filled or an empty tray and motors which can move the holder up or down as well as about a vertical axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distributor in a rod making machine for the production of smokers' articles. It includes an accelerating drum adapted to propel tobacco into a rod conveyor in order to build the tobacco filler. Blown air is utilized to transport the tobacco, particularly to sift the tobacco being sucked up through the air suction bores in the shell of the accelerating drum and through its hollow core which constitutes a suction chamber.

Abstract: A filter rod making machine discharges several parallel filter rods which move lengthwise and are severed at regular intervals to yield files of axially aligned filter rod sections. Such sections are transported axially to a first transfer station where they enter discrete flutes in the concave upper side of one of several rotary platforms which orbit about the axis of a rotary carrier and are rotated relative to the carrier by crank drives so that the orientation of their flutes remains unchanged. The flutes of a platform which arrives at the first station receive discrete filter rod sections from each of the files so that each platform accumulates a group of parallel sections which are transported to a second station for transfer into successive peripheral flutes of a rotary drum-shaped removing conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for simultaneously severing plural parallel filter rods which issue from an extruder and move axially at the same speed has a knife mounted on a holder which is rotatable about an axis extending in parallelism with the axes of the rods. The knife holder moves along a circular path in a plane which is parallel to the axes of the rods. The knife holder and suitable guides for the rods are mounted on cranks whose crankshafts rotate about axes making a right angle to the direction of movement of the rods and causing the knife and the guides to move back and forth in and counter to the direction of axial movement of the rods. The shaft for the knife holder is rotated at twice the speed of the crankshafts and the cutting edge of the knife severs all of the rods in immediate proximity of the guides during each second revolution of the holder.

Abstract: A holder which is turnable about a horizontal axis supports two carriers for filled or empty trays. The holder moves one carrier with a filled tray therein from a first station to a second station where the carrier deposits the filled tray, in inverted position, on top of the magazine of a packing machine, while the other carrier moves back from the second to the first station. The carriers are pivotable relative to the holder so that a carrier with a filled tray therein can descend on top of the magazine during the last stage of movement to the second station and that the carrier with an empty tray therein is lifted above the magazine during the initial stage of its movement from the second station. This is achieved by connecting the carriers to links which are pivoted directly to the holder or to a lever which is rotatable by a shaft eccentrically mounted in the interior of a hollow cylinder serving to turn the holder.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating biscuits which are discharged from an oven in the form of several rows has a discrete conveyor system for each row of biscuits. The biscuits of each row are converted into blocks each consisting of several arrayed biscuits, and such blocks are confined in wrapping material on their way to variable-output packing machines, one at the discharge end of each conveyor system, and each provided with turrets which convert blanks into containers for one or more wrapped blocks of biscuits and fill the containers. If a packing machine breaks down, the blocks on or in the respective conveyor system are transferred onto or into the other conveyor systems, and the output of packing machines at the discharge ends of the other conveyor systems is increased. Facilities are provided for temporary storage of blocks when the rate at which one or more conveyor systems deliver blocks to the respective packing machines exceeds the capacity of such machines.

Abstract: Hinged-lid packs are assembled on a turret-shaped conveyor with equidistant hollow mandrels which receive relatively soft first blanks at a first transfer station, blocks of cigarettes at a second transfer station, relatively stiff U-shaped second blanks at a third transfer station, and relatively stiff third blanks at a fourth transfer station. The first blanks are draped around the mandrels to form inner envelopes of packs, the second blanks are draped around the inner envelopes to form the so-called collars of packs, and the third blanks are draped around the inner envelopes and collars to form partially completed outer envelopes of packs. Each interruption of transport of blocks or improper transport of blocks to the conveyor entails an interruption of transport of first, second and/or third blanks, and each interruption of transport or improper transport of first, second or third blanks to the conveyor results in an interruption of transport of blocks and/or other blanks.

Abstract: Successive filter cigarettes of two rows of parallel cigarettes are admitted into pairs of parallel aligned flutes on a rotating drum. The first flute of each pair is rotated through 180.degree. and is moved radially outwardly about an axis which is normal to and crosses in space with the drum axis. The second flute of each pair is thereupon moved radially outwardly between the neighboring inverted flutes by a pivot member which is parallel to the drum axis whereby the cigarettes in the first and second flutes form a single row and can be transferred seriatim directly into successive flutes of a rotary testing drum.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling blocks of parallel cigarettes in formations ready for packing has a magazine for a supply of parallel cigarettes and three groups of downwardly extending ducts whose upper ends communicate with the magazine to admit parallel cigarettes and whose lower end portions are located at a block building station. The end portions of the two outer groups of ducts are located in horizontal planes, one above the other, and the end portion of each duct of one outer group registers with the end portion of a duct of the other outer group. The end portions of the median group of ducts are vertical or nearly vertical and are located between the end portions of the two outer groups of ducts. The rows of parallel cigarettes which accumulate in the end portions of the ducts are expelled simultaneously by a pusher whereby the expelled cigarettes pass through a mouthpiece which completes their conversion into a block.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing composite filter plugs for cigarettes or other smokers' products has two sets of conveyors which feed filter rod sections of different types to the flutes of a rotary assembly conveyor. The latter assembles the sections into groups each having a section of first and second type and moves the groups to an auxiliary conveyor which transports the groups sideways to successive pneumatic holders of a transfer conveyor. The transfer conveyor has two carriers which rotate about parallel axes and are coupled to each other by linkages, one for each holder. The linkages cause the holders to rotate relative to that carrier which supports the holders so that the orientation of holders remains unchanged during travel through 90.degree. or 270.degree. when the groups are taken over by successive increments of a web which is moved lengthwise and is draped around the resulting rod-like filler to form therewith a rod.

Abstract: Blanks for the making of inner envelopes of hinged-lid cigarette packs are obtained by withdrawing from a bobbin a web of metallic foil or thin paper which is coated with metallic foil, severing the web lengthwise to form two strips of unequal width, severing the strips crosswise to form two rows of rectangular sections, and moving each section of one row sideways toward the adjacent section of the other row so that the two sections partially overlap each other and form a composite blank which is transported sideways to be draped around a mandrel on a turret-shaped assembly conveyor.