Abstract: A measuring device determines the outer circumferential length of a rod-like item at its wind-up section. The wind-up section includes a roll paper supply part that provides continuous roll paper to a constituent part of the rod-like item and a wind-up part that wraps the constituent part with the supplied roll paper to form the rod-like item. The roll paper supply part consists of a first measuring part that assesses the paper width in the width direction crossing the roll paper's longitudinal direction, a second measuring part that measures the overlap width of the part overlapped by the roll paper around the rod-like item, and a calculating part that computes the outer circumferential length based on the differential width obtained by subtracting the overlap width from the paper width.

Abstract: This measurement device calculates the outer circumferential length of a rod-shaped article in a transportation section using a camera and an image processing unit. The camera captures the end surface of the rod-shaped article, and the image processing unit processes the image to determine the length. The unit identifies the outer circumferential edge in the image, constructs an imaginary circle based on this edge, and draws straight lines through the circle's center. It identifies intersections where the lines meet the edge, measures distances between adjacent intersections, and sums these distances along the full circumference to calculate the outer circumferential length.

Abstract: A measuring device is provided for determining the outer circumference length of a rod-shaped article in a conveyance section. The device includes a camera that captures an image of the article's end surface and an image processing unit that processes the image to calculate the circumference. The unit identifies the outer edge of the end surface, generates a virtual circle based on the edge, and draws n straight lines through the circle's center. It identifies intersection points where each line intersects the outer edge and measures distances (d1, d2, . . . , dn) between intersections along each line. The virtual diameter is obtained by averaging these distances, and the outer circumference length is calculated by multiplying the virtual diameter by ?.

Abstract: An automatic splicing system is provided that includes a motor (20a) for rotating an active roll (R1) while a web (P1) is drawn from the roll (R1) toward a cigarette rod-manufacturing machine, a motor (20b) for rotating a standby roll (R2) when a residual of the roll (R1) reaches a predetermined amount or less so that a web (P2) is fed from the roll (R2), a splicing section (70) splicing the webs (P1; P2) and changing over the feeding of web from the roll (R1) to the roll (R2) when feed speeds of the webs match each other, and suction casings (42) disposed on feed paths of the webs, respectively, the suction casings drawing the webs thereinto temporarily. The rotational speeds of the motors (20a and 20b) are controlled so as to maintain drawn amounts of the webs in the respective suction casings (42) within a predetermined range.

Abstract: There is provided an automatic splicing system comprising a motor (20a) for rotating an active roll (R1) while a web (P1) is drawn from the roll (R1) toward a cigarette rod-manufacturing machine, a motor (20b) for rotating a standby roll (R2) when a residual of the roll (R1) reaches a predetermined amount or less so that a web (P2) is fed from the roll (R2), a splicing section (70) splicing the webs (P1; P2) and changing over the feeding of web from the roll (R1) to the roll (R2) when feed speeds of the webs match each other, and suction casings (42) disposed on feed paths of the webs, respectively, the suction casings drawing the webs thereinto temporarily; wherein rotational speeds of the motors (20a and 20b) are controlled so as to maintain drawn amounts of the webs in the respective suction casings (42) within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An apparatus for sticking a double-sided adhesive tape in a predetermined position on a web, including an adhesive tape roll holding mechanism for tape roll, an adhesive tape delivery mechanism for delivering an adhesive tape laminate from the tape roll, and a pressing member for pressing the adhesive tape laminate against the web. The delivered adhesive tape laminate is held under pressure between the pressing member and the web, whereupon each of tape pieces on a seal of the laminate is stuck on the web.

Abstract: A device for connecting a trailing end of a previously drawn-out web from a first web roll to a leading end portion of a newly drawn-out web from a second web roll has a vertical guide unit, a drawing-out unit, a feeding unit, an adhesive tape supplying unit and cutting members. The previously drawn-out web which is running vertically downward is guided by the vertical guide unit. The leading end portion of a web is drawn out from a new web roll by the drawing-out unit and moved vertically downward by the feeding unit in the vicinity of and along the previously drawn-out web. An adhesive tape is attached to the leading end portion of the newly drawn-out web by the adhesive tape supplying unit. The leading end of the newly drawn-out web is connected to the trailing end of the previously drawn-out web by the adhesive tape. After the previously and newly drawn-out webs have been connected together, the excess portions of both webs are removed by the cutting members.

Abstract: An apparatus for drawing out the leading end portion of the web from a web roll is provided with hubs rotatable in a vertical plane, and a drawing-out arm provided under the web roll, rotatable in a vertical plane and having a distal end portion abutting against the lowest portion of the web on the web roll. On the distal end portion of the drawing-out arm are provided a sucking unit for sucking the lowest portion of the web on the web roll, a leading end portion detector for detecting the leading end portion of the web and a chuck for holding the leading end portion of the web. The leading end portion of the web is separated under its own weight and a negative pressure from the body of the portion of the web, detected by the leading end portion detector and held by the chuck so as to be pulled out.

Abstract: An automatic web roll changing device is adapted to automatically and continuously supply web rolls to a web supply-connection apparatus on which are replaceably mounted two web rolls from which webs are alternately and continuously drawn out and which connects the trailing end portion of the preceding web to the leading end portion of the following web. This device includes a rotary arm pivoted to the web supply-connection apparatus having, at both ends, hubs carrying the above-mentioned two web rolls, and a web roll storage-mounting unit provided opposite to the web supply-connection apparatus. The web supply-connection apparatus has a rotary head which is rotatable about a vertical axis. From the rotary head horizontally extend a plurality of web roll storing shafts for holding a plurality of web rolls so as to be slidable axially of the shafts. The web rolls on the storing shafts are moved toward the distal ends of the web roll storing shaft by driving units so as to be mounted on the hubs.