Abstract: An apparatus for batching articles from a continuous stream of articles has a conduit comprising an entry duct (2) in which the articles are accelerated by suction. The suction air is drawn from the exit end of the duct, close to a pair of counter-rotating sealing rollers (20) which have resiliently yielding peripheral faces between which the articles pass. At the exit end of the conduit a pair of closure members (24) on opposite sides of the conduit are rotatable in 90° steps in order to collect the articles in batches. The closure members counter-rotate so that in each step they move in the general direction of movement of the articles. In this way it is possible to batch relatively delicate articles at high rates of throughflow.

Abstract: The formation of a tubular web in a form-fill process is achieved by drawing the web along a tapering guide (6) and then along a forming tube (20) the axis of which is at a small angle to the guide plate and intersects the guide. The web is drawn along the guide and tube by opposed drive rollers (24) at a station along the length of the forming tube, the rollers gripping the edges of the web together. The side margins of the web are folded over from a central portion when the web travels along the guide plate but the side edges are brought together only after they reach the forming tube. The drive rollers (24) or sealing rollers (26) further along the forming tube seal the edges together to form a closed tube.

Abstract: A valve (16) reciprocates with a constant stroke in the former tube (2) of a form-fill apparatus to dispense doses of filling material from the tube by ejecting the material through an outlet nozzle (8). The size of the doses is adjustable, in one form of the invention, by feeding the material is fed through an adjustable dosing opening immediately adjacent the valve. In another form of the invention, the valve (16) is adjustably positionable relative to the former tube (2) to vary the mean position of reciprocation of the valve relative to the tube. In a further form of the invention, an adjustably controllable head of material is maintained in the former tube to determine the rate at which it is fed to the valve (16).

Abstract: Variable speed conveying apparatus includes a conveyor (16) having a plurality of conveying surfaces (18) for engaging a stream (10) of articles along a path, and elements for progressively changing the speed of the surfaces as they progress along the path. The conveyor may include a series of pivotally interconnected links (18), the angular disposition of the links being controlled as they move along the path. Typically the conveyor may be used for changing the height of a multi-layer stream of rod-like articles such as cigarettes. Similar conveyor arrangements may be used to convey articles or people by providing slats (322,324) carried by conveyor links (318) or by providing independently-controllable carrier members (218) movable on an endless track (236).