Abstract: A filter attaching apparatus comprises a drum 20 for conveying an intermediate product of a filter cigarette and a receiving drum 36 for feeding a tip paper piece, and winds the tip paper piece around the intermediate product while rotating these drums with the tip paper piece adhered to the intermediate product. Suction chambers 48 and 50 are disposed in the vicinity of the drum 20 that conveys the intermediate product, and suction openings of the suction chambers extend in a conveying direction of the intermediate product along an outer periphery of the drum 20. Fine particles of shredded tobacco and the like that are scattered by rotation of the drum 20 are sucked through the suction openings into the suction chambers 48 and 50 and the like, so that the intermediate product is completely isolated from an atmosphere of the fine particles of the shredded tobacco and the like.

Abstract: A unit and method for transferring cigarette portions whereby the cigarette portions are transferred from a manufacturing machine to a filter assembly machine by means of a first conveyor having first seats movable along a first annular path to pick up respective cigarette portions at a pickup point, and by means of a second conveyor having second seats movable along a respective second annular path; the cigarette portions are transferred from a first seat to a second seat at a transfer point along the first path, and the speed of the second seats is corrected at the transfer point to substantially reach or approximate the speed of the first seats at the transfer point.

Abstract: A filter attaching device comprises a receiving drum for forming a tip-paper piece, and a rolling plate which cooperates with the peripheral surface of the receiving drum to define a rolling passage. The rolling plate has a pair of receding portions 54 arranged on the left and right sides of the upper surface thereof. Due to the receding portions 54, contact resistance produced between the rolling surface and an intermediate product rolling on in the rolling passage, or more specifically, cigarettes included in the intermediate product is reduced.

Abstract: A filter assembly machine wherein a succession of tobacco articles, each defined by at least one cigarette portion aligned with a respective filter, and a succession of respective gummed strips are fed by a conveyor drum to a first and a second rolling wheel rotating about respective axes and having a number of peripheral axial cavities, each of which houses a respective roller defining, with the cavity, a rolling channel; the tobacco articles, once rolled to connect the cigarette portions and filters by means of respective strips, are transferred from the first and second rolling wheel to an output drum by means of conveyors having seats on the end of respective ribs engageable between pairs of adjacent rollers.

Abstract: A unit for rolling tobacco items, wherein a conveyor device presents a number of peripheral suction seats, each for receiving and feeding an item, formed of at least one cigarette portion and a respective filter, in a direction crosswise to the longitudinal axis of the item; each seat being defined by a pair of rollers for rotating each item about its longitudinal axis to connect the cigarette portion and respective filter integral with each other by means of a respective adhesive strip and so form a respective cigarette.

Abstract: A device for laterally and axially transferring an orderly succession of smoking items, whereby each item is picked up at a first position by a gripping head on a carousel conveyor, and is fed by the carousel conveyor along a curved path into a respective seat on an intermediate roller shifted laterally by a given distance in relation to the first position, and which feeds the item to a second position substantially coaxial with, and shifted said given distance in relation to, the first position.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and forming tubular members useful for positioning heat sources inside a smoking article is disclosed. The tubular members are carried by a plurality of fluted drums from one operation to the next. The tubular members are cut to the desired size by a plurality of rotating circular knives. The ends of the tubular members are then formed by one or more dies that are caused to move into contact with the ends of the tubular members.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting a cigarette having a variable smoking characteristic to a preselected level of that characteristic is provided. A cigarette having a rotatable element for controlling a smoking characteristic, and assembled with a first level of that characteristic, is adjusted to a preselected second level by a drum and cooperating belt which engage the rotatable element and which move relatively faster and slower, or slower and faster, respectively, than a drum and belt holding the remainder of the cigarette.

Abstract: Oval filter cigarettes are made by forming rod groups each comprising at least one cigarette portion and at least one filter portion in axial alignment; placing each rod group on a wrapping member rotatably carried by a conveyor having a succession of such wrapping members, each group being provided with a portion of uniting paper overlapping the members of the group; and rotating each wrapping member with respect to the conveyor about an axis parallel to that of the rods so as to wrap the uniting paper of least partly around the corresponding rod group.During rotation of each wrapping member the uniting paper may be gripped by suction ports to provide a tight wrap.

Abstract: A device for wrapping a glued junction band (T) around an axially arranged pair of cigarettes (S) with a double filter interposed therebetween, wherein the cigarettes and filters are aligned by terns on a rotary drum (1) comprising rolling sectors defined between peripheral gabled ridges (2) on the periphery of the drum.

Abstract: Filter-tipped cigarettes, cigars and similar smoking products which employ self-supporting non-wrapped fibrous filters are disclosed wherein the tobacco-containing portions are attached to the fibrous filters by tipping paper that is coated in a specified manner with a hot-melt adhesive.

Abstract: The air dilution filter of the cigarette is provided with an annular zone in the plug wrap paper which enables air to pass directly into the fibrous body of the filter material after passing through apertures in the tipping paper.The annular zone can be comprised of a groove which is fabricated by a pair of rotating knives and a rotatable spacer with radial cutting edges which rout out material from each filter plug during conveyance of the plug on an alignment drum of a cigarette making machine. Alternatively, a plurality of closely spaced rotating knives which cut through the plug wrap paper only may be used to form a series of closely spaced annular grooves or slits in the filter periphery.

Abstract: A continuous strand consisting of loose filamentary and/or fibrous material is brought into engagement with a conveying and forming belt in at least approximately tension-free condition by means of at least one continuously moving conveying element which extends into the strand-gripping zone of the conveying and forming belt and which engages the interior of the strand. Next the strand is enveloped and brought to the desired cross-section by said belt. After achieving the desired cross-sectional form of the strand, the strand material is interfixed. The thus formed form-stable rod is then divided into rod-shaped portions by a cutting-device.