Abstract: A packaging machine (5) for moving a spaced series of groups of containers along a path of travel in a packaging machine line is disclosed. The packaging machine includes a variable pitch lugged conveyor belt assembly (12) having a pair of conveyor chains (61, 62) equally spaced from a longitudinal axis extending along the path of travel, and a pair of generally parallel side guides (17) mounted one each on a pair of accessory rails (14) movably supported on the framework (7) of the packaging machine, and extending along opposite sides of the path of travel. The conveyor chains are constructed to be moved laterally toward and away from each other, and the side guides are constructed to be simultaneously moved laterally toward and away from the conveyors with the accessory rails, respectively, as the conveyor chains are moved.

Abstract: A conveyor tensioning assembly for an article conveyor is mounted to the frame of the article conveyor, and connected to a take-up sprocket. The conveyor tensioning assembly includes a movable rack that is engaged and moved by an advancing gear of an advancing and holding assembly in a first direction, causing the take-up sprocket of the article conveyor to be urged outwardly against the conveyor chain of the article conveyor so as to take-up any slack existing within the conveyor chain and place the conveyor chain under tension. Once the conveyor chain has been tensioned, the rack is engaged by a holding gear mounted on a one-way clutch, which prevents the holding gear from rotating in a counter-clockwise direction. The holding gear retards in any rearward movement of the rack so as to resist slippage and/or backlash of the rack to prevent the chain from losing tension and slack being formed therein to maintain the conveyor chain under a substantially constant tension.

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.