Abstract: Apparatus for making and manipulating sheet-like paper, plastic or metallic blanks in a packing machine has a pivotable conveyor with a gripper which pulls the leader of a running web across the path of successive mandrels or cigarette packs on an indexible turret whereby the gripper overcomes the resistance of a mechanical or pneumatic clamping device which holds the leader of the running web in a position in which the leader can be engaged by the gripper when the conveyor completes a return stroke. The running web is severed by a pair of knives which are installed between the clamping device and the gripper and are caused to cut the web when the gripper reaches an end position in which a sufficient length of the running web is moved across the path of an oncoming mandrel or cigarette pack.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping cigar bunches has a first conveyor consisting of two endless belts having filler-engaging stretches which cross each other in space and move a single file of bunches lengthwise while simultaneously rotating the bunches about their axes. One of the stretches feeds an adhesive-coated web which is convoluted around successive bunches to form a tube consisting of partially overlapping helices. The tensile strength of the tube is reduced between successive wrapped bunches by a row of needles mounted on an endless toothed belt or drum which makes with the path of the tube a first angle equal to the angle between the plane of one belt of the first conveyor and the axis of the tube. The row of needles on the toothed belt or drum makes with the plane of the toothed belt or drum a second angle which equals 90.degree. minus the first angle.