Abstract: A processing machine for rod-shaped articles includes a base frame including a back plate extending upward from the base frame; and a plurality of function modules each adapted to perform a manufacturing function on a rod-shaped article. Each function module includes a mounting plate adapted to removably attach the function module to the back plate as a unit, and a dedicated drive motor supported on the mounting plate and adapted to move at least a portion of the function module. The plurality of function modules includes at least one of a rod infeed module, a hopper module, a drum module, a knife module, and a gluing module. A method of configuring a modular processing machine for rod-shaped articles is also described.

Abstract: An imaging module takes an image of an area which includes the tipping paper, the filter and the cigarette roll of a smoking article seated on the rolling drum. A processing module processes the image taken by the imaging module. The area of the image taken by the imaging module is divided into a first area in which the tipping paper is positioned and a second area in which the filter is positioned. The processing module determines a defect by detecting the image on the first area and the second area.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing rod-shaped smoking articles which includes a forming section (10) for forming a material layer (K) made up of particles of smoking material and delivering the formed material layer (K); a wrapping section (20) disposed downstream of the forming section (10), for forming a rod (KR) by wrapping the material layer (K) in a web (W); a pair of guide blocks (54) disposed in the terminal end portion of the forming section (10), for guiding the material layer (K); a web shield (56) disposed downstream of the guide blocks (54) as viewed in the direction of delivering the material layer (K), for separating the material layer (K) and the web (W) from each other; a tongue (40) disposed in the start end portion of the wrapping section (20); and injection openings (64, 70, 76) provided to the guide blocks (54), the web shield (56) and the tongue (40), for injecting a liquid flavor additive into the material layer (K).

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for cutting at least one continuously conveyed rod into rod-shaped articles of variable length, in particular cigarettes, filters or the like, including a cutting device, a counter-support and displacing devices for the cutting device and the counter-support for varying the cut length of the articles, which is characterized in that the displacing devices for the cutting device and the counter-support are coupled together to make a functional connection. Furthermore, the invention concerns a corresponding method which is characterized in that, to alter the length of the articles to be cut off the rod, only one component is displaced, namely optionally the cutting device or the counter-support, and the other component is automatically displaced with it as a function of the displaced component.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at various apparatus and methods for forming a sealed hollow core tobacco rod. The methods of the invention at least comprise passing a trimmed tobacco column and paper under a tongue that widens and flattens the column and paper; forming the tobacco and paper into a cylindrical shape; forming an inner hollow core; maintaining the hollow core shape; and outputting the sealed hollow core tobacco rod.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing small quantities of cigarettes provides for such manufacture in a substantially simultaneous fashion while maintaining consistent quality between the cigarettes. The apparatus and method provide for delivering at least one charge of tobacco filler from a supply of tobacco filler onto a predetermined length of wrapping paper in a garniture. The wrapping paper can be formed about the charge of tobacco filler by a forming mechanism in the garniture to form a cigarette rod having a finite length. The formed cigarette rod can then be transferred to a cutting device where, in a separate step, the cigarette rod can be cut into a plurality of individual cigarettes. The cigarettes may have filter elements attached, and may be packaged for a consumer. The filter element and tipping paper can provide for air dilution of the cigarettes.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine includes a web roll (8) from which a web W having bands previously formed is drawn, and a suction brake (14) arranged between the web roll (8) and a garniture tape (2) of a wrapping section (6). When a band (B) for a cigarette (C) is out of a proper region (CR), the suction brake increases the tension to be applied to the web W to elongate the web to thereby bring the location of each band (b) back to within the proper region.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing small quantities of cigarettes provides for such manufacture in a substantially simultaneous fashion while maintaining consistent quality between the cigarettes. The apparatus and method provide for delivering at least one charge of tobacco filler from a supply of tobacco filler onto a predetermined length of wrapping paper in a garniture. The wrapping paper can be formed about the charge of tobacco filler by a forming mechanism in the garniture to form a cigarette rod having a finite length. The formed cigarette rod can then be transferred to a cutting device where, in a separate step, the cigarette rod can be cut into a plurality of individual cigarettes. The cigarettes may have filter elements attached, and may be packaged for a consumer. The filter element and tipping paper can provide for air dilution of the cigarettes.

Abstract: A continuous tobacco rod generated by a machine for making tobacco products is separated into reclaimable lengths by a device that comprises a pair of tension rollers designed to exert a pulling force on the rod, also a pair of brake rollers operating upstream of the tension rollers and serving to offer a measure of resistance to the action of the tension rollers; as a result of the interaction between the tension rollers and the brake rollers, the portion of the continuous rod extending between them is forced to break by tearing apart.

Abstract: A forming device applied to a cigarette manufacturing machine causes a garniture tape 10 to travel through a wrapping section 8, and meanwhile wraps a shredded tobacco layer T in wrapping paper P to form continuously a cigarette rod R. The tape 10 is guided to travel by a forming guide 18 in the wrapping section 8, and is simultaneously bent to have a cross section of an arc that is downward convex. On the other hand, the travel of the tape 10 is guided by a pair of guide rollers 24 in upstream and downstream sides of the wrapping section 8, and the tape 10 is bent to have a cross section of an arc that is upward convex by guide surfaces of the rollers 24. Thus, difference of travel length, that is generated between both side edges and the central part of the tape 10 in the wrapping section 8, is offset by the guide rollers 24.

Abstract: A manufacturing machine for rod-shaped articles comprises a wrapping section (4) for forming a rod-shaped article by wrapping a filler material in a wrapper. The wrapping section has a forming bed (6) for guiding a garniture tape (10), which is used to form the rod-shaped article, in travel. The manufacturing machine further comprises a cooling system for cooling the forming bed (10). The cooling system is provided with cooling passages (43, 45, 47, 49, 143, 145, 149) formed in portions 6A to 6D of the forming bed (6) and a circuit for supplying a coolant to the cooling passages.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for operating a machine of the tobacco processing industry. The process includes guiding at least one wrapper strip along a conveyor path from a wrapping strip supply to a garniture device, and fixing the at least one wrapper strip in at least one preset position along the conveyor path The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A cigarette with burn rate modification is described. The cigarette has a partial double wrap design and incorporates an inner wrap material which extends partially around the interior portion of the outer wrapper of a cigarette. The inner wrap can be a single element or can be a plurality of strips which extend coaxially along the tobacco column and which affect the burn rate of the cigarette. The partial inner wrap material exhibits a low porosity and forms zones of high diffusion and low diffusion along the length of the tobacco rod. These zones may be singular or may be alternating and are coaxial. The low diffusion zones are aligned with the inner wrap material.

Abstract: Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having paper wrapping materials having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive material can be applied as a coating formulation in an off-line manner to a continuous paper sheet web that is later used for cigarette manufacture. The additive material can be applied as a coating formulation in an on-line manner to continuous paper web moving through an operating cigarette making machine. The coating formulation is applied to the paper web using roll applicator techniques, ink jet printing techniques or electrostatic precipitation techniques. Liquid coating formulation are curable, and are virtually absent of solvent or liquid carrier. Radiation, such as ultraviolet or electron beam radiation, is used to solidify and fix polymerizable liquid components of the coating formulation that have been applied to the paper web.

Abstract: The present invention provides a smoking article having a reduced ignition propensity by reason of one or more cross-directional bands of an adhesive applied to the paper wrapper of the smoking article. The adhesive may be one of a cigarette seam adhesive, a filter plug wrap adhesive or a tipping paper adhesive conventionally used in the manufacture of cigarettes. A cigarette maker is modified to include the adhesive applicator apparatus of the invention which applies the adhesive bands to the paper wrapper in an in line process.

Abstract: Process and device for operating a machine of the tobacco processing industry that includes a wrapping material strip supply and a garniture device, in which a conveyor path is defined between the wrapping material strip supply and the garniture device. The process includes suctioning at least one wrapping material strip that is provided for wrapping a material into a suction channel that branches off from the conveyor path, fixing the at least one wrapping material strip in at least one predetermined position along the conveyor path, and conveying the at least one wrapping material strip along the conveyor path from the at least one predetermined position. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having paper wrapping materials having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive material can be applied as a coating formulation in an off-line manner to a continuous paper sheet web that is later used for cigarette manufacture. The additive material can be applied as a coating formulation in an on-line manner to continuous paper web moving through an operating cigarette making machine. The coating formulation is applied to the paper web using roll applicator techniques, ink jet printing techniques or electrostatic precipitation techniques. Liquid coating formulation are curable, and are virtually absent of solvent or liquid carrier. Radiation, such as ultraviolet or electron beam radiation, is used to solidify and fix polymerizable liquid components of the coating formulation that have been applied to the paper web.

Abstract: Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having paper wrapping materials having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive materials, which can have the forms of liquid or paste formulations, are applied to a continuous paper web on the cigarette making apparatus. The formulation is applied to the paper web using application apparatus possessing rollers, and one of those rollers has a series of pockets in its roll face to receive additive formulation from a reservoir and to define the pattern of the formulation on the paper. A modified figure rail assembly and garniture entrance cone provide air flow toward the paper web being advanced through the garniture region of the cigarette making apparatus.

Abstract: Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having paper wrapping materials having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive materials, which can have the forms of liquid or paste formulations, are applied to a continuous paper web on the cigarette making apparatus. The formulation is applied to the paper web using application apparatus possessing rollers, and one of those rollers has a series of pockets in its roll face to receive additive formulation from a reservoir and to define the pattern of the formulation on the paper. A modified figure rail assembly and garniture entrance cone provide air flow toward the paper web being advanced through the garniture region of the cigarette making apparatus.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine for manufacturing of a cigarette with burn rate modification is described. The cigarette maker allows for mounting of a special bobbin of material which is different in size and width of a normal wrapper bobbin and feeds both the outer wrap web of material and narrower inner wrap web of material to the garniture. A slitting device may be utilized to cut the inner wrap web of material into a plurality of individual strips which are placed adjacent the outer wrap web of material in the garniture area of the maker. The inner wrap web of material may derive from a transverse wound bobbin in order to store large linear amounts of inner wrap web material.

Abstract: A manufacturing machine for rod-shaped articles comprises a wrapping section (4) for forming a rod-shaped article by wrapping a filler material in a wrapper. The wrapping section has a forming bed (6) for guiding a garniture tape (10), which is used to form the rod-shaped article, in travel. The manufacturing machine further comprises a cooling system for cooling the forming bed (10). The cooling system is provided with cooling passages (43, 45, 47, 49, 143, 145, 149) formed in portions 6A to 6D of the forming bed (6) and a circuit for supplying a coolant to the cooling passages.

Abstract: Filter cigarettes of unit or multiple unit length are produced in a tipping machine wherein successive groups of coaxial plain cigarettes and filter rod sections are caused to roll within a channel bounded by surfaces at least one of which moves relative to the other(s). This results in the conversion of uniting bands, which are carried by successive groups into the inlet of the channel, into tubular sleeves connecting the tubular wrapper(s) of the filter rod section(s) to the plain cigarette(s) of the respective group. The wrappers, and normally also the uniting bands, are perforated in the channel subsequent to, or in part simultaneously with, the conversion of uniting bands into the respective sleeves. Each filter cigarette can be provided with one or more arrays, such as annuli, of perforations, e.g., by mutually inclined laser beams.

Abstract: For the continuous production of the cigarette rod (10), the strip-like outer wrapper (12) and a tobacco strand (11) are provided on a forming belt (15) and conveyed, with the latter, through a rod-forming unit (13). Located within the latter is a forming bed (19) which, during transportation, deforms the forming belt (15) along with the outer wrapper (12) and the tobacco rod (11) so as to produce a cigarette rod (10). A compensating belt (21) is provided in order to avoid or reduce the friction of the forming belt on the forming bed (19), and said compensating belt circulates at reduced speed between the forming belt (15) and forming bed (19) The compensating belt (21) reduces the friction and dissipates (frictional) heat.

Abstract: In a method of feeding wrapper material, typically as utilized by machines for the manufacture of tobacco products, a first and a second strip presenting two longitudinal side edges and of dissimilar transverse dimensions are advanced along respective predetermined first feed lines, positioned one relative to another in a direction transverse to the respective first feed lines in such a way as to bring about their alignment along one longitudinal edge and finally joined face to face before advancing together along a predetermined common feed line toward a machine unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying a paper web or other sheet material pneumatically along a predetermined path comprises two guide plates 20, 22 having outer surfaces defining successive parts of the path and having adjacent edges which are inclined to the outer surfaces and are spaced apart so as to form a slot 28 inclined to the outer surfaces of the plates, and including an air pressure manifold 26 which is secured to both guide plates and from which an air stream is arranged to be emitted through the slot to produce an air stream which will move along one of the plates 22 which is downstream of the other plate with respect to the intended direction of conveyance of the web or other sheet material. When applied to a cigarette making machine, apparatus of this general type may be used at various positions for feeding the paper web through the printer, and also to feed the web automatically all the way into the garniture 12.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a web delivery method is designed so that a web is delivered from a freely rotatable web roll to be supplied to a cigarette manufacturing machine as a pulling roller rotates. This apparatus has a powder brake for applying a braking force to the web roll, a rotary encoder for detecting the number of revolutions of the web roll, a timing sensor for detecting the number of revolutions of the pulling roller, a CPU board for calculating the diameter of the web roll in accordance with detection signals from the rotary encoder and the timing sensor, and a control board for controlling the braking force of the powder brake in accordance with various operation modes of the apparatus and the diameter of the web roll.

Abstract: A method of producing two continuous streams of cigarettes, whereby a continuous paper strip is cut longitudinally into two strips which are fed, through a tobacco loading station and along respective guides for forming respective continuous cigarette rods, to a transverse cutting device by means of respective conveyor belts looped about a number of common pulleys and more specifically about a common drive pulley, and the speed of which is controlled by respective tensioning devices operating at the same pressure.

Abstract: A cigarette maker or a filter rod making machine wherein a continuous rod-like filler is advanced by an endless foraminous belt conveyor toward a wrapping or draping unit and a web of wrapping material is advanced toward the unit to be draped around the filler. In order to ensure that the leader of a fresh web properly enters the wrapping station, the path for the web is monitored and the belt conveyor for the filler is moved toward the path of the web when a monitoring device detects the leader. If the cigarette maker or the filter rod making machine is designed to simultaneously produce and drape two or more discrete fillers, the paths of the webs are monitored independently of each other and portions of the respective belts are moved toward the oncoming leaders of the webs whenever the respective monitoring devices signal the arrival of leaders in preselected portions of the paths.

Abstract: An apparatus for laminating at least two strips of strip material and forming the laminate into lightweight, thin-walled tubular members that may be used in the construction of non-combustion smoking articles.

Abstract: An apparatus for making smokable rods having smokable material contained in first and second wrapping materials, the first wrapping circumscribing the smokable material and the second wrapping material circumscribing and overwrapping the first wrapping material is provided. The apparatus includes a garniture means including a movable belt which travels along a predetermined path; a first bobbin for supplying a first wrapping material onto the movable belt of the garniture so as to travel along the path of the movable belt; and a second bobbin for supplying a second wrapping material onto the first wrapping material on the movable belt so as to travel along the path of the movable belt.

Abstract: The trailing end (5) of a strip of paper (8) which was wound on a first reel (3) is immobilized by means of suction devices (16, 17, 18) relative to a counterplate (19). The trailing end is severed by means of a cutter (29), the rear portion being discarded by blowing. The leading end of the new strip of paper (11) is then positioned between a punch (20) and the counterplate, immobilized by means of a suction device (18), and joined to the trailing end by interpenetration, brought about by the punch, of the material of two superposed joining areas.

Abstract: In a strip guide device for the automatic feed of a strip of paper (8) along a bench (1) for the formation of a continuous cigarette roll, the bench (1) is bounded at the top by a belt (4) which has above it a supply device (9) for a continuous carpet (10) of tobacco, and the sstrip guide device comprises a suction pulley (5) at the upper branch (3) and an idler wheel (22) for the return of the strip of paper (8) above the bench (1). The idler return wheel (22) mounted on a rotational axle (23) which moves along a predetermined path between a position in which it is substantially tangential to the plane in which the bench (1) lies, and a position which is disengaged with respect to this plane and is assumed by the roller (22) in the case of breakage of the strip (8).

Abstract: A tobacco manufacturing machine including a cover which covers the whole of the machine, a plurality of openable doors disposed in positions corresponding to various portions of the machine which require a manual correction by an operator, power sources for opening and closing those doors, a plurality of sensors attached to various portions of the machine for detecting states which require such a correction and a door opening and producing signals, and control means for logically processing the signals provided from those sensors and producing an operating signal for operating the power source corresponding to the door to be opened. Since the whole of the machine is covered, it is possible to greatly reduce noise during high-speed operation. Because the doors corresponding to various portions of the machine are opened automatically, the troublesome work involved in manual operation is eliminated.

Abstract: A reel attaching and detaching device which is to be employed in a cigarette rolling machine is disclosed.

Abstract: In a cigarette production machine, a device for feeding at least one paper web along one or other of two paths, the first of which extends through a station for loading a continuous stream of shredded tobacco onto said web, and the second of which is a discard path; that portion of the web extending along said second path being cut and removed by a selectively operable removal device.

Abstract: A web guide device particularly adapted to be mounted on a cigarette-making machine, in which at least one web is automatically advanced along a substantially U-shaped path. The path includes first and second end parts joined by an intermediate curved section; at least the second part, disposed downstream of the said curved section in the direction of advancement of the web extends at least partially along a web transport device for conveying the said web material. A guide element, movable at the same speed and in the same direction as the conveyor device, defines in combination therewith, upstream of the second end part, a passage for the web material.

Abstract: A strip guiding device particularly suitable for being used with cigarette manufacturing machines for the automatic forward movement of at least a strip along a substantially U-shaped path, the said device comprising a hollow pulley around which a central curved section of the said path extends, at least a chamber disposed along the said path downstream with respect to the said pulley and suction means communicating with the said chamber and with the interior of the said hollow pulley, the walls of this latter which extend along the said path being perforated, and an air-permeable belt conveyor extending at least along the perforated wall of the said chamber.

Abstract: A machine for simultaneously producing two continuous cigarette rods, in which two different units cooperate with each other to form the above two cigarette rods, the first of said units forming two equal strips of paper starting from a single continuous web, and the second of said units forming two substantially uniform and equal fillers of shredded tobacco starting from a single inlet hopper.

Abstract: A method and a device for the manufacture of cigars in which each bunch or filler is enveloped in a tobacco leaf portion, wherein the bunches or fillers are advanced one after the other along a given length, whilst a tobacco leaf portion is applied along at least part of said length of path in a stretched form to each advancing filler and wrapped around the same, due to the fact that the bunches or fillers are not stationary during the wrapping operation, but advanced the capacity of an overrolling unit is significantly raised.

Abstract: Apparatus for perforating a web of wrapping material or tubular wrappers of discrete filter cigarettes of unit length or double unit length in a filter tipping machine has a laser which is energizable at a frequency depending on the speed of the main prime mover of the machine to emit a beam which is reflected by a pivotable reflector to impinge alternately upon different portions of a single optical system or upon several discrete optical systems serving to focus the beam upon the web or upon discrete wrappers whereby the beam forms two or more rows or more complex patterns of perforations in the web or in the wrappers of successive cigarettes. The pivotable reflector can be omitted or is optional if a diffraction grating is placed in front of a single optical system so that the grating splits the beam into several discrete beams each of which is focused upon a different portion of the web or of the wrapper of a cigarette.

Abstract: A method for wrapping cigars or like articles in an outer envelope, or wrapper, made of natural tobacco, which comprises the steps of: at least partially spreading out a non-stripped tobacco leaf, cutting out a first batch of wrappers from one of the half-leaves on one side of the midrib, turning the leaf over onto its other face, spreading out the half-leaf which has not yet been cut out, cutting out a second batch of wrappers from this half-leaf, then rolling cigars or like articles in these two batches of wrappers, reversing the direction of rolling when passing from the wrappers of the first batch to those of the second batch.

Abstract: A portable cigarette making machine which has a horizontal conveyor belt adapted to support a continuous strip of cigarette paper, paper forming means which engage the conveyor belt and cause it to fold the cigarette paper into a concave trough, a conveyor feed adapted to feed tobacco vertically into the cigarette paper trough, a rotary compactor adapted to roll the tobacco into a generally cylindrical rod in said cigarette paper trough, an adhesive applicator engaging one side edge of the cigarette paper, a final paper forming means which engages the conveyor belt and causes it to fold the cigarette paper around the tobacco rod to form a cigarette rod, and cut-off means for cutting the cigarette rod into cigarette lengths.

Abstract: A cigarette filler rod forming apparatus includes a cylindrical vacuum wheel of diameter greater than the width of the chute confining the relatively wide stream rotatable about a horizontal axis, and having a recessed air-permeable and tobacco-impermeable surface on which the filler rod is formed and conveyed. A plurality of substantially arcuately arranged shallow cylindrical disc members is positioned adjacent the end of the chute across the width thereof and adjacent an arcuate length of the periphery of the vacuum wheel for forming a plurality of narrow substreams of tobacco thereon from the tobacco particles of the relatively wide stream and conveying the substreams to the recessed surface of the cylindrical vacuum wheel for formation of the filler rod thereon by gentle intact layering of the narrow substreams one on another.

Abstract: Filter tipped cigarettes are produced by dividing a continuous tobacco stream into alternate sections having respective lengths corresponding to a double cigarette filler and a double filter portion. The double filter portion sections are removed from the stream to leave spaced double filler sections which proceed to a position where double filter portions are inserted in the gaps left by the removed sections. The stream of alternating tobacco sections and filter portions is continuously wrapped and subsequently cut at the middles of the tobacco sections and filter portions to produce individual filter cigarettes. The sections of tobacco removed from the continuous stream may be returned to the stream.