Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting the diameter of an elongated rod, said method comprising: providing an elongated rod having a preliminary diameter; selecting a desired final diameter of the elongated rod; providing a diameter adjusting device including a first tubular element having an inlet and an outlet and a channel connecting the inlet and the outlet; adjusting the diameter of the outlet as a function of the desired final diameter of the elongated rod, wherein the diameter of the inlet is bigger than the diameter of the outlet when adjusted; and inserting the elongated rod in the diameter adjusting device from the inlet and outputting it from the outlet so that said elongated rod is compressed to the desired final diameter when outputted from the outlet of the first tubular element.

Abstract: An apparatus for the formation of machine-made tobacco rods for use in the production of smoking articles, such as cigars, from tobacco comprising a tacky material. The apparatus includes a pair of transfer and compression belts for receiving and compressing the stream of tobacco, the transfer and compression; a pair of squeeze bars for compressing the tobacco in a direction perpendicular to the pair of transfer and compression belts, the pair of squeeze bars produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone); a tongue for receiving the compressed tobacco, the tongue produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone); and a folder for folding a wrapper material around the compressed tobacco so as to form a continuous rod of tobacco, the wrapper material provided from a source of wrapper material, the folder produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone).

Abstract: A cigarette-making machine of the tobacco-injecting type is provided that includes a tamper-holding mechanism. In one aspect, the tamper-holding mechanism provides for positively holding the tamper in its fully-retracted position. The tamper-holding mechanism includes a tamper-engaging member with a tamper-engaging portion and a bias. The side of the tamper includes a shoulder or projection that releasably interference couples with the tamper-engaging portion. In a first embodiment, the tamper-holding mechanism includes a tamper-engaging portion with a generally triangular-shaped body having a vertex that is urged against the side to releasably interference couple with the shoulder or projection on the side of the tamper. In another embodiment, the tamper-holding mechanism includes a tamper-engaging portion with a generally pentagonal-shaped body which is retained by a generally square U-shaped or C-shaped retaining portion that biases a vertex of the tamper-engaging portion to contact the side of the tamper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a do-it-yourself cigarette maker and its component assemblies, such as, a conveying device for cigarettes or tubes fitted with a lifting device, a device for shaping a tobacco rod fitted with a plucking roller, a tobacco rod conveyor fitted with a spring tappet, and a tube-aligning device with a narrowable slit for introducing the tube.