Abstract: Uncoated filter plugs of double unit length which are about to be attached to pairs of plain cigarettes of unit length in a filter tipping machine are treated by a narrow heated smooth surface of a stationary smoothing device which is adjacent to the path of sidewise movement of successive filter plugs and contacts successive increments of a narrow strip-shaped portion of the peripheral surface of each of a series of filter plugs while the filter plugs move sideways with the respective pairs of plain cigarettes. The heated surface is in frictional engagement with and bears against the peripheral surfaces of adjacent filter plugs to smoothen the strip-shaped portions of such peripheral surfaces. The smoothed strip-shaped portions are thereupon contacted by marginal portions of adhesive-coated uniting bands which are convoluted around the respective filter plugs and around the adjacent inner end portions of the respective plain cigarettes to form therewith filter cigarettes of double unit length.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for manufacturing a filtered large cigar which includes the steps of simultaneously introducing onto the rolling table of a cigar rolling machine preformed cigar filters and a charge of tobacco filler material for spiral wrapping within a sheet of cigar binder material which has simultaneously been introduced onto the rolling table. A reinforcement strip including layers of reinforcing tape and a nonflammable foil is also introduced onto the rolling table. In this manner, during the subsequent rolling operation, the reinforcement strip becomes circumferentially wrapped about and bonded to the binder over the interface between the filter and filter material. Depending on the relative placement on the table of the reinforcement strip and binder, the reinforcement strip will be positioned either over or under the binder.

Abstract: One side of a running web of wrapping material which is to be converted into discrete uniting bands in a filter tipping machine is provided with one or more patterns of adhesive strips by a roller which dips into a supply of adhesive and directly or indirectly transfers adhesive to one side of the running web. The roller has peripheral grooves including grooves of greater depth and grooves of lesser depth so that the adhesive which forms the pattern includes thicker and thinner fields. The thicker fields have discrete strips which are adjacent to but spaced apart from the marginal portions of the web. When the web is subdivided into uniting bands, each edge of each uniting band is adjacent to adhesive and the strips of the thicker field adhere to the wrappers of plain cigarettes. Portions of thinner fields extend in the axial direction of a filter cigarette of unit length or double unit length.

Abstract: A filter tipping machine for the production of filter cigarettes has an apparatus which convolutes adhesive-coated uniting bands around groups of coaxial filter plugs and plain cigarettes while the groups move sideways through a gap which is defined by the convex peripheral surface of a drum-shaped first rolling device and the concave surface of a normally stationary second rolling device. If the surfaces of the rolling devices are contaminated or are likely to be contaminated by adhesive which is removed from the uniting bands during their conversion into tubes while the respective groups advance through the gap, the second rolling device is moved away from the first rolling device and a brush is caused to sweep along the two surfaces to remove the accumulations of adhesive.

Abstract: A filter cigarette making machine wherein two plain cigarettes of unit length are connected to a coaxial filter plug of double unit length therebetween by an adhesive-coated uniting band which is convoluted around the filter plug and the inner ends of the plain cigarettes. The machine has a rotary drum-shaped draping conveyor and a heated stationary block-shaped rolling device adjacent to the peripheral surface of the conveyor to normally define therewith a gap of a width slightly less than the diameter of a group consisting of two coaxial plain cigarettes and a filter plug therebetween. Successive groups, each of which carries a non-convoluted uniting band, are fed into the gap by moving sideways whereby the groups roll about their own axes and the uniting bands are converted into tubular envelopes.

Abstract: In a method of uniting axially aligned rod-like articles by wrapping a wrapper section around the junction between the articles, an air flow is used to move the articles into abutment and to axially align them relative to the wrapper section. Principally for use in making filter cigarettes, suction may be applied to the ends of the flutes of an aligning drum which feeds filter portions and tobacco sections onto the rolling plate. The suction preferably moves the filter portion against a stop in its flute, and acts through the filter portion to close up the tobacco section.

Abstract: In the assembly of groups of component filter portions for forming into composite filter rods, predetermined leading components moving on a conveyor are retarded for a predetermined period while following components are consecutively conveyed into abutment. The assembly is improved by subjecting the components to an air stream along their direction of movement in the vicinity of the retarding means so that any gaps which may be present are closed up. A similar air stream can also be useful for closing up gaps in the production of a continuous rod from component filter portions.

Abstract: A filter is formed by placing increments of glue in spaced apart relation on a moving stream of plug wrap paper and thereafter depositing alternating fibrous filter sections on the glue increments. Particulate marterial is then deposited between the fibrous filter sections and the plug wrap paper wrapped about the filter sections to form an endless rod. Two-filter filter plugs are severed from the rod by cutting through the unglued fibrous filter section and thereafter the charges of particulate filter material are compacted by moving the unglued outer filter sections of each plug inwardly. Each plug is then joined to two tobacco columns and cut in half. The resultant filters each have a fibrous filter section at the exposed end glued to the plug wrap paper, a compacted particulate section and an unglued fibrous filter section at the tobacco end.

Abstract: For shaping a component of a smoke filter, a rod of the material to be shaped and a heated former are relatively moved in contact with each other, in an arcuate path, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rod, whereby an impression, for example an annular or helical groove, is produced in the rod by the former. For the said relative movement, the rod may be supported at the periphery of a rotor, while the former comprises a heated arcuate stator element or elements projecting inwardly towards the rotor. The rod may be turned about its axis during the relative movement, for example by a pair of rollers by which it is supported at the periphery of the rotor. A surface or surfaces bounding the impression, for example the bottom surface of a groove, may be sealed, during the shaping operation, so as to be smoke-impervious.

Abstract: A multi-sectional filter tip assembly is initially made with two charcoal filter sections and alternate sections of cellulose acetate fibrous material with a fibrous section at each end. The filter tip assembly is then compacted by a pin compactor which punches a recess into each fibrous end of the filter tip assembly while at the same time forcing the displaced acetate fibrous material into the charcoal sections to compact the charcoal. Upon removal of the pins of the pin compactor, a recess is formed in each end of the filter tip assembly.

Abstract: A cigarette filter attachment machine comprises means for joining filter portions to cigarette portions by rolling adhesive-coated paper around adjacent parts of corresponding filter and cigarette portions, a conveyor for conveying the completed assemblies at regular intervals, a stationary pressure chamber adjacent to the conveyor and arranged to communicate successively with ports in the conveyor which are closed by the completed assemblies, a source of pressure connected to the pressure chamber, and a detector for monitoring the pressure in the chamber to detect the absence of any assembly.

Abstract: A filter-attachment machine comprises a drum and a cooperating rolling plate between which assemblies of cigarette and filter portions are rolled in order to wrap connecting sheets around them to join the cigarette portions to the associated filter portions, including means for monitoring the regular passage of assemblies through the rolling area between the drum and the plate and for producing a fault signal when assemblies stop passing a given point in the rolling area at regular predetermined intervals.

Abstract: Filter cigarettes are produced by delivering individual filter portions to corresponding ends of each of two rows of staggered tobacco sections as delivered by the catcher drum of a cigarette making machine. The tobacco sections and filter portions of each row are preferably rolled separately (e.g. by parallel ring tipping operations) and subsequently the rows are combined, without any tip turner or final cut. The filter portions may be delivered to take up their staggered formation by feeding pneumatically in an axial direction, or, in a process especially suitable for Russian cigarettes having filter portions consisting of tubular mouthpieces, by transverse movement and alignment.

Abstract: In apparatus for causing rod-like articles to roll through a channel defined by opposed surfaces in which rolling is caused by relative movement of the surfaces, the channel is provided with a region of reduced width at the point of entry of the articles into the channel so that there is a positive start to rolling. A particular application is in a filter cigarette assembly machine in which axially aligned filter and tobacco portions are joined by wrapping them in a "cork" section while they are rolled through a channel between a rolling drum and a rolling plate.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for applying uniting bands around a group of co-axial rod-shaped articles including a rolling drum with raised pockets, a second rolling surface to engage the articles and cause them to be rolled between the raised pockets, and a vacuum system to hold the articles as they are placed on the rolling drum.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling the initiation or termination of at least one function in timed relationship to the occurrence of an event. The invention is particularly useful in conjunction with the operation of a cigarette making machine, for example, where it is desired that the supply of cork-tipped paper and filter plugs, for example, be held off after the machine has started until such time as they are in fact required to be introduced in order to make the finished cigarette. A clock pulse generator provides a train of clock pulses which occur one after the other in sequential, spaced apart relationship. The clock pulse generator is activated in response to the occurrence of an event.

Abstract: A device for attaching filter tips to cigarettes is disclosed. The device comprises a rotatable grooved drum provided with a plurality of peripheral recesses each adapted to hold an assembly consisting of a double length tip component and two axially aligned cigarettes disposed to abut against respective end surfaces of the tip component, a feeder to feed successive connecting sheets each provided with an adhesive coating on one surface to overlie the respective recesses in the grooved drum. The sheets each extend asymetrically of the center of the respective recess with the coated surface facing outwardly of the drum. Such assemblies are successively urged into respective recesses as the grooved drum rotates and the respective connecting sheets are thereby partially wrapped around the peripheries of the respective assemblies.

Abstract: Filter mouthpieces with one or more thin filter disks of first filter material and one or more filter plugs of second filter material are produced by inserting filter disks between groups of axially aligned tobacco rod sections and filter plugs and thereupon wrapping adhesive-coated uniting bands therearound.

Abstract: Using a hot melt adhesive on the strip of material uniting a mouthpiece to a cigarette, and hardening the adhesive while the strip is rolled around the assemblage by heat lost to a surface along which the assemblage is rolled. The rolling takes place between a rolling plate and a drum which is heated to reactivate the adhesive prior to rolling.