Abstract: Various arrangements are disclosed for perforation by laser of cigarettes carried on a fluted drum without rolling. In one arrangement (FIGS. 1-3) rings of reflectors (8, 14) movable with the drum (12) intercept and direct a continuous laser beam (18). In another arrangement (FIGS. 4,5) cigarettes (28) are perforated while being conveyed past a fixed focus pulsed beam (32) which has a selected profile and is redirected between passing cigarettes to perforate cigarette at other positions. Other arrangements include using a rotating disc (FIGS. 6-8) or rotary stepped reflector (FIGS. 9, 13, 14) to share a beam between different cigarettes or produce two rows of perforations on a cigarette, using a continuous reflective surface (FIGS. 10, 11) to reflect a rotating beam at passing cigarettes, and causing a beam to partially track a moving cigarette (FIG. 12).

Abstract: A wrapping machine, particularly for wrapping cigarette packets in wrapper film, includes a series of endless band conveyors (148, 152, 156, 166, 170) carrying pushers (150, 154, 158, 172) for moving successive packets (191) along a straight wrapping line. One of the pushers (158) is heated to seal a wrapper seam. Opposed heated band conveyors (166) simultaneously seal end folds of the wrapper. Packets are gripped between opposed conveyors (145, 148) immediately after intercepting a wrapper (100). Partially-wrapped packets are arranged to slide relative to surfaces (149, 153, 157, 180) to attain wrap tightness. Successive conveyors (e.g. 156, 170) are independently driven to allow phasing of the conveyors to vary the position at which packets are transferred between them.

Abstract: In a cigarette making machine, each of a number of quality parameters of the product (individual cigarettes and/or packaged cigarettes) is monitored and a quality value for each parameter is continuously calculated in accordance with predetermined criteira; certain machine operating trends (including causes of stoppages) are monitored; and control devices are automatically operated under the control of a programmable control unit (computer) responsive to all these inputs so as optimize the total of the quality parameters and also the machine operating characteristics.

Abstract: Single cigarette rejection, particularly in a passage (10) between vanes (12) in a cigarette packing machine hopper, is performed by axial ejection of faulty cigarettes using suction generated by exhausting high pressure air adjacent an ejection aperture (22) in an end wall (16) of the passage. A short cylindrical casing (24) is located around the aperture (22) and defines a duct (28) through which the cigarette is ejected. The casing (24) includes an annular pressure chamber (32) and venturi orifice (34) for generating suction in the duct (28).

Abstract: Moving cigarettes are inspected, particularly in the passages (10, 30) between the vanes (12, 32) in a cigarette packing machine hopper, by an optical ends inspector (74, 76) which is switched by a position detector (84, 86) responding to passage of individual cigarettes. Faulty cigarettes are arrested by a suction aperture (26) or an arrestor are (122, 222) and subsequently rejected from the passage, either in an axial direction or sideways through an opening (116, 244) in the vane. The position detector (84, 86) may activate the suction or arm for arresting the faulty cigarette.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying adhesive foam or other liquid-based ingredients to the ends of cigarettes includes a source of suction, a device for carrying and moving a series of flexible tubular sealing members 50 each of which is aligned with a respective cigarette in a treatment station, and an arrangement for moving each sealing member into engagement with a respective cigarette and for connecting each sealing member to the source of suction, characterised in that each sealing member is so shaped that an end portion 54 thereof can engage around the end portion of the corresponding cigarette, and that suction transmitted through the sealing member causes the end portion of the sealing member to contract and thus grip the cigarette. A pressure air source may also be included to expand each sealing member as it moves over the end of the corresponding cigarette.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting open longitudinal seams in the continuous wrapper of cigarette or cigarette filter rod produced by a continuous rod-making machine relies on detection by a microphone (54) of disturbance caused by the defective seam to an air stream. The air stream is generated from a narrow slot (44) and normally follows a fixed, preferably flat, surface (40) closely adjacent to the longitudinal path of a rod (12). The surface (40) is part of a body (22) which contains the microphone (54) and connecting leads (56, 58), together with a passage (36) allowing sound to reach the microphone. Air is bled through a small bore (52) and through a further bore (30) containing a sound-insulating filter (66) to provide a purging air flow in the passage (36).

Abstract: A transport system particularly for flat articles, e.g. cards, includes guides which allow alternate articles to be conveyed in different orientations through the same duct (122) so that the risk of jamming or shingling during conveyance is eliminated. In a preferred arrangement the system includes a crossed-axes pneumatic duct (122) and driven rollers (144) for introducing cards (12) into the duct in different orientations. The system also includes intermediate air supply stations (138), a card inspection unit (134), and a receiving station (139) including a device (145) for turning cards so that they are all received in the same orientation.

Abstract: A web handling device through which a web is arranged to pass along a tortuous path extending around a number of rollers includes means for threading the web pneumatically comprising, in association with at least one of the rollers, a guide member having a guide surface which extends around part of the periphery of the roller in a spaced relationship so as to define a passage for the web, means for directing the web approximately tangentially towards the guide surface, and an air mover mounted on or adjacent to the upstream end of the guide surface, and arranged to pass a moving film of air along the guide surface while the web is being threaded through the apparatus, so as to entrain the web and convey it around the roller.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying measured quantities of foamed adhesive to the ends of cigarettes comprises a drum 10 arranged to having apertures 14A aligned with the respective cigarettes 12 and arranged to recieve foam from a source 18 adjacent to the plate, characterized by means 24,26 for pneumatically transferring foam progressively from each aperture to the end of the corresponding cigarette, i.e. during a significant arc of rotation of the drum.

Abstract: Groups of cigarettes are formed by axially extracting cigarettes from the bases of two hoppers (10, 12), each having vertical columns (14, 20) spaced apart by a cigarette diameter. The columns of the hoppers are staggered so that a cigarette extracted from the rear hopper (12) enters the gap between adjacent cigarettes of the front hopper (10, FIG. 3). The base plate (22) of the front hopper is initially higher than the base plate (18) of the rear hopper to allow clearance during intercalation of the cigarettes.