Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting cigarettes between a making machine and a packing machine includes a mass flow conveyor (204) for transporting cigarettes directly and a reservoir system (212) in which successive batches of cigarettes comprising portions of the stream on an input conveyor (204) are diverted when required into compartmented containers (224). Transfer to the containers is made by way of a plunger (232) and shuttle (234) arrangement which allows the stream to move continuously during transfer of a batch. Unloading containers to reform a continuous stream may involve use of a similar plunger and shuttle arrangement so that the reformed stream can move continuously on an output conveyor (218). The input and output conveyors (204, 218) may be provided with retractable spaced partitions to bound the ends of batches of cigarettes transferred from or to the respective conveyor.

Abstract: A reservoir system for rod-like articles such as cigarettes has a first-in, first out buffer conveyor with a variable capacity. The capacity of the reservoir is varied by moving a pair of guidestoward or away from each other. The guides support the conveyor belt in a spiral fashion from a lower input level to a higher output level to compensate for temporary fiddefences in flow rates.

Abstract: A reservoir system for rod-like articles such as cigarettes includes a control system which operates to monitor the maximum time any articles can have remained in the reservoir, and initiates a reservoir emptying cycle when necessary so as to avoid occupation in the reservoir by any articles in excess of a predetermined maximum time. The reservoir may take the form of a reversible conveyor for a stream of articles in multi-layer stack formation, or a module for storing articles in containers including a container loading, unloading and transporting unit. A first-in first-out buffer reservoir may be associated with the main reservoir, and may be provided by a variable length portion of a delivery conveyor leading to the reservoir.

Abstract: A linear variable capacity reservoir, particularly for rod-like articles of the tobacco industry, includes a boundary device (18;76) movable between an entrance (22;78) at one end and an exit (48;81) at the other end to vary the capacity of a main reservoir storage area (24;66). The boundary device (18;76) carries an end pulley (30;90) for a variable length extendible conveyor (32;88) which conveys a stream of articles from the main storage area to the exit. In another version the reservoir includes a movable end wall (216) movable towards and away from a stationary end wall (217) to vary the capacity of the reservoir storage area (220), and a variable length conveyor (218) extendible into the storage area from the stationary wall. When the storage area is empty a direct vertical path (212) for articles exists between the stationary and movable end walls. The extendible conveyors (32;88;218) are supportable by spaced retractable horizontal rollers (46) carried by vertical spindles (48).

Abstract: A cutting head for a cigarette filter attachment machine, for cutting a filter attachment web at regular intervals in cooperation with a cutting drum comprising a rotary member which carries one or more knives and is mounted on a movable carrier so as to be movable towards and away from the cutting drum, and including a fluid-powered actuator which is arranged to urge the cutting head towards the cutting drum.