Abstract: Pileups of tobacco particles at or between the inlet of the draping mechanism and the stream forming station in a cigarette maker are ascertained by a device which monitors the density of successive increments of the cigarette stream prior or subsequent to trimming or the extent of deformation of the finger which compresses the trimmed stream in the garniture of the cigarette maker. The monitoring device generates signals which are utilized to automatically interrupt the admission of tobacco particles into the stream forming channel.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively transferring cigarettes, uniting bands or other discrete articles from a first onto a second conveyor has a first suction generating device which communicates with suction ports in the periphery of the cylindrical rotor of the first conveyor while such ports advance along a first portion of a first endless path, and a discrete second suction generating device which can be activated to draw air from the ports in a second portion of the first path adjacent to a portion of a second endless path defined by the second conveyor. When the second suction generating device is activated, the articles which reach the second portion of the first path are not transferred onto the second conveyor. The second suction generating device can constitute an injector which can be activated or deactivated by a valve within a few milliseconds.

Abstract: A cigarette testing apparatus wherein a rotary drum-shaped conveyor has axially parallel peripheral flutes for cigarettes and is flanked by two swash plates which rotate therewith and carry annuli of elastically deformable sealing elements for the respective ends of cigarettes on the conveyor. Each sealing element has a socket facing the adjacent end of the cigarette in the corresponding flutes of the conveyor when the cigarette is inserted into the flutes. The swash plates thereupon move the sealing elements nearer to the ends of the cigarettes therebetween whereby the ends of the cigarettes enter the corresponding sockets and displace transversely extending partitions of the sealing elements with attendant radial contraction of those tubular sections of the sealing elements which surround the respective sockets.

Abstract: A method of monitoring filters and sections in a filter tipping machine wherein pairs of coaxial plain cigarettes are united with filter plugs of double unit legnth by adhesive-coated bands. When a filter plug is missing, a mechanical or a photosensitive filter plug detector transmits a signal to a valve which admits compressed air to two nozzles to cause the plain cigarettes which are not separated by a filter plug to move toward each other so that a uniting band which is applied around the adjacent inner end portions of the thus shifted plain cigarettes can adequately connect the plain cigarettes to each other during further transport to a station where the united plain cigarettes can be readily segregated from satisfactory products.

Abstract: A solenoid operated shutoff valve for compressed air has a tubular ferromagnetic core which is surrounded by an excitable coil and confines a reciprocable ferromagnetic plunger movable into and from sealing engagement with a fixedly mounted valve seat. The seat is installed in one of two coaxial tubular sections of the core and the other section has an axial opening for admission of compressed air to one end face of the plunger so that the other end face of the plunger normally bears against and seals the fluid evacuating opening in the seat. The periphery of the plunger is formed with straight and/or helical grooves defining discrete paths for the flow of compressed gas from the other section of the core into the opening of the seat when the coil is energized to propel the plunger away from the seat. The plunger may be formed with an axial bore which establishes a further path for the flow of compressed air into the opening of the seat.

Abstract: A filter tipping machine wherein pairs of coaxial plain cigarettes are united with filter plugs of double unit length by adhesive-coated bands. When a filter plug is missing, a mechanical or a photosensitive filter plug detector transmits a signal to a valve which admits compressed air to two nozzles to cause the plain cigarettes which are not separated by a filter plug to move toward each other so that a uniting band which is applied around the adjacent inner end portions of the thus shifted plain cigarettes can adequately connect the plain cigarettes to each other during further transport to a station where the united plain cigarettes can be readily segregated from satisfactory products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a work stool used for a higher than normal seating position as required when working at a drafting table or the like. Features of the invention include a light weight frame that folds for storage, a wide base that does not interfere with the user's feet, and a vertically adjustable seat having a textured surface for ventilation.

Abstract: Tobacco particles which escape from plain cigarettes and/or filter cigarettes in machines for the making of plain and filter cigarettes are partially separated from streams of suction air before such streams reach the main separator. This relieves the main separator so that the latter necessitates less frequent cleaning and/or replacement of filters. In a filter cigarette making machine with or without a main separator, one or more separators for reusable tobacco particles can be installed to collect reusable particles which escape at one, two or more stations where the escape of tobacco is likely and pronounced. Such separators employ suction fans, vessels below the respective units, and pipes which convey the contents of vessels to a tobacco removing device upstream of the fans.