Abstract: A reusable device for rolling a cigarette from a generally rectangular cigarette paper and for holding the rolled cigarette during consumption thereof includes a rigid elongated member disposed along a longitudinal edge of the paper, and a crimping member for engaging a transverse edge of the paper. The elongated member provides a rolling guide for the cigarette, longitudinally strengthens the cigarette after rolling, and also provides a holder for the cigarette as the elongated member is exposed as the cigarette is consumed by smoking. The crimping member is adjacent the elongated member and prevents movement thereof during the rolling and the smoking of the cigarette. The elongated and crimping members may be integrally formed of a thin, rigid, and elongated wire of low heat conductivity having a hook at one end.

Abstract: The process comprises the step of determining the coordinates of each wrapper to be cut out, allocating a cut-out tool to each wrapper, displacing each of the tools individually to bring them all into similar relative starting positions, and simultaneously displacing the tools along identical paths. Each tool is fixed to a lever pivotally mounted on a rotary shaft perpendicular to respective wrappers, a connecting rod being pivotally mounted on the shaft and the lever.

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: Various conveyors and/or other components of one or more machines for the production and/or processing of cigarettes or other smokers' products are indirectly monitored to allow for automatic pinpointing of that component which affects the quality of products. The products are tested to generate test signals, and such signals are thereupon evaluated to ascertain the presence or absence of various constituents each of which is characteristic of the influence of a different component upon the quality of products. Once the presence or absence of a constituent is ascertained, the corresponding component is automatically pinpointed in response to a signal from the evaluating device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the firmness of cigarettes utilizing high energy gas waves for reorienting tobacco in a cigarette rod during manufacture. The apparatus includes a housing having means therein directing a cigarette rod therethrough and an opening therein in flow communication with high energy gas means.

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.