Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a mass flow of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry from a first station to a remote second station has two coaxial upright helical tracks one of which extends from the first station and the other of which extends from and is at least close to the second station. One or more endless chain or belt conveyors are provided to advance the articles of the mass flow along an elongated path which is defined in part by the first and in part by the second track. The apparatus can be used as a variable-capacity first-in first-out reservoir for rod-shaped articles due to the provision of one or two bridges. If the apparatus employs a single bridge and first and second conveyors, the bridge carries a first conveying device which receives articles from the first conveyor serving to accept articles at the first station, and a second conveying device which receives articles from the first conveying device and transfers the thus received articles onto the second conveyor.

Abstract: A chain conveyor for the transport of mass flows of cigarettes or other rod-shaped commodities has a series of identical links which are articulately connected to each other by alternating vertical and horizontal chain pins. The upper portions of the vertical pins carry platforms having supporting surfaces for the commodities, and each vertical pin further carries roller followers serving to track vertically spaced-apart portions of a guide surface which can have one or more non-linear portions, such as convex portions. The leading and trailing portions of successive platforms are interdigitated in such a way that the supporting surfaces of neighboring platforms can be inclined relative to each other as well as that the supporting surfaces of neighboring platforms can turn relative to each other about the axes of the respective vertical pins. Portions of the horizontal pins can extend into a channel between the vertically spaced-apart portions of the guide surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a mass flow of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry from a first station to a remote second station has two coaxial upright helical tracks one of which extends from the first station and the other of which extends from and is at least close to the second station. One or more endless chain or belt conveyors are provided to advance the articles of the mass flow along an elongated path which is defined in part by the first and in part by the second track. The apparatus can be used as a variable-capacity first-in first-out reservoir for rod-shaped articles due to the provision of one or two bridges. If the apparatus employs a single bridge and first and second conveyors, the bridge carries a first conveying device which receives articles from the first conveyor serving to accept articles at the first station, and a second conveying device which receives articles from the first conveying device and transfers the thus received articles onto the second conveyor.