Abstract: Cigarette tipping paper is perforated by a laser 31 emitting a beam which is directed onto the tipping paper via an acousto-optical beam deflector 33 and a beam splitter 34 producing two parallel perforation tracks 24 along the tipping paper. Each track may include a number of rows of perforations, the laser beam being deflected for that purpose by the acousto-optical device. The porosity of the tipping paper and/or the dilution of the completed cigarettes can be controlled in various ways, particularly by the use of an acousto-optical device; the latter may be used to vary the perforation pattern, the laser beam being directed onto a heat sink 52 when it is not required to perforate the tipping paper. Control of the perforation pattern, as well as allowing different patterns to be applied, is used to control the dilution factor of the finished cigarettes.

Abstract: A cigarette ends tester includes a conveyor for conveying cigarettes sideways past a source of light arranged to direct light substantially axially into the ends of successive cigarettes in such a way that the paper wrapper around the end of each cigarette is illuminated if there is insufficient tobacco in the end, and a detecting device for monitoring the consequent external illumination of the end of the cigarette. The test signal for each cigarette is evaluated against a reference signal derived from satisfactory cigarettes tested previously during a predetermined time interval, thus compensating for variable factors affecting the test signal, such as ageing or dirt on the light emitting or detecting devices.

Abstract: Filter cigarettes with a predetermined dilution factor are produced by perforating a filter attachment web by means of an adjustable perforating device prior to using portions of the web to join filters to cigarettes; measuring the porosity of the perforated web; measuring the dilution of cigarettes assembled with portions of the web; and controlling the perforating device by immediate response to the measured porosity and by progressive response to the dilution of the assembled cigarettes. The perforating device may comprise spark perforating electrodes, the web being possibly passed twice between the electrodes. In particular, the perforating device includes a number of pairs of electrodes defining spark gaps therebetween and lying along a line inclined to the direction of movement of the web. Individual rod electrodes are located between and spaced from opposed metal plates connected to a power supply to form capacitances in series with the spark gaps.

Abstract: Apparatus for ejecting cigarettes, comprises a conveyor (10) arranged to carry a sideways-moving row of cigarettes (14) through an ejection station at which there is a nozzle (20) arranged, when a cigarette is to be ejected, to direct a jet of air (32, 34) transversely past the cigarette and onto an air-deflecting surface (26) on the conveyor which deflects the air jet onto the cigarette so as to blow the cigarette transversely off the conveyor.

Abstract: An inspection device for a continuous cigarette rod comprises a plurality of infra-red emitter-detector units circumferentially spaced around the path of a rod. The light from each unit is focussed onto and collected from a specific area of the rod. Two, or more, axially displaced arrays of units are each arranged to inspect areas of the rod which are staggered in relation to the areas inspected by the other array or arrays.Signals from the units are multiplexed and transmitted to processing circuitry. Instantaneous signals are compared with predetermined values derived for each optical unit as a proportion of the running average of the instantaneous signal. If the instantaneous signal falls below this predetermined value a warning device is operated and the cigarette is ejected.Known devices use expensive optical fibres requiring a close fit to the cigarette rod.

Abstract: A device for testing filter cigarettes, comprises a drum or equivalent means for conveying cigarettes in succession through a test station at which each cigarette in turn is tested with the aid of a pressure chamber surrounding the wrapper of the cigarette, and a pressure detector connected to the filter end of the cigarette while the tobacco end of the cigarette is open to atmosphere, and including means for measuring the pressure in the pressure chamber and means for comparing that pressure with the pressure detected at the filter end of the cigarette. Preferably there is a second test station at which the pressure chamber extends over the tobacco end of the cigarette, and a second pressure detector is connected to the filter end of the cigarette.

Abstract: A testing device for testing the ends of cigarettes, particularly to detect any tobacco ends which are inadequately filled with tobacco, comprises a light source arranged to direct a beam of light onto the ends of successive cigarettes, and a light detector which responds to a light signal which results from the beam of light and is dependent upon the quantity of tobacco in the ends of successive cigarettes (in the case of tobacco ends) or on the presence of a filter in the case of a test on the filter ends of filter-tipped cigarettes.

Abstract: Cigarette testing system for cigarettes having perforations 6 in the filter in which the cigarette 2 is surrounded by a suction chamber 8 and the tobacco end is connected to a source of pressurized air. The pressure at the tobacco end is regulated in accordance with the average signal from a transducer 10 at the filter end so as to maintain zero average pressure at the filter end, i.e. so that the air flow into the cigarette from the tobacco end exactly balances the outflow through the perforations. The tobacco end pressure is monitored as a measure of the average dilution level of the cigarettes and the deviations from zero pressure at the filter end can be used as individual cigarette test signals.

Abstract: Checking system for the scanner station of the nucleonic rod-weight control system of a continuous rod cigarette making machine, in which a stable voltage reference is switched into the circuit in place of the usual ionization chamber balance unit and a measurement is made of the difference between the reference voltage and the scanner station radiation reading while no cigarette rod is present, to determine whether the scanner station is free of debris etc. The system opens the internal shutter of the radiation source to enable the measurement to be made and closes the entrance to the scanner unit to prevent escape of B-particles. The reading circuit includes a sample-and-hold facility which enables the reading to be stored so that it can be subsequently read out by an operator or supplied to a centralized computer control system.

Abstract: In a ventilated cigarette making system the tipping paper is perforated before assembly of the cigarettes using a spark perforator which is controlled by a feedback arrangement, in response to the resultant air permeability of the finished cigarettes, or the permeability of the tipping paper as monitored before assembly. Preferably the testing of the finished cigarettes is done in a modified Molins "CID 4" cigarette testing device. The averaged test signal is used to control the frequency of power supply to the spark perforator, whose electrodes are loaded with capacitors so that the change in frequency results in a change in the current flow through the electrodes, and thus the size of the holes produced.

Abstract: A cigarette hopper, especially for a packing machine, has a number of flow channels (6) incorporating restraining devices to arrest cigarettes which are faulty, e.g. in size, shape or orientation, thereby preventing the formation of defective cigarette bundles. The lower ends of the channels (22) may be curved to catch non-horizontal cigarettes (C3), and may include photo-cell devices (FIG. 3) which detect and arrest inadequately filled cigarettes and which additionally serve to monitor the flow of cigarettes so that the machine operator can receive a fault warning.