GB467333A - Improvements in or relating to machines for making cigarettes - Google Patents

Abstract

467,333. Cigarette-making machines. LUBBOCK, I. Nov. 15, 1935, No. 28437. [Class 130] In 'the manufacture of cigarettes having a filter tip or other mouthpiece stub united. thereto by an encircling band or wrapper applied by rolling the assembled and aligned cigarettes and stubs by contact between relatively movable members one of which acts as a conveyer, so that during the rolling operation the rotating assemblage moves continuously in a lateral-direction, the assemblage is positively located in alignment during the rolling operation. In the form shown, cigarettes 1 are fed in pairs from duplicate hoppers 2 on to a conveyer 3 and double-length stubs are fed from an intermediate hopper between the pairs of cigarettes, which are held in alignment by side guides. The conveyer 3 is provided with groups of rollers 4, 4a, 4b by which the assembled cigarettes and stubs are positively located in alignment while being freely rotatable. The uniting bands 6 are applied to the assemblages by a rotary drum 5, which is preferably driven so as to feed the bands 6 at a greater speed than that of the assemblage, which is thus rotated. The drum may, however, be driven at a slower peripheral speed than the conveyer 3 or in the opposite direction. To maintain the spacing of the rollers 4 and the drum 5 during rolling, the rollers 4 are carried by radial members 4c carrying rollers 4d travelling on a stationary cam rack 7. The cork, paper, &c. for the uniting bands 6 is fed from a spool 8 through a guide 9 to a cam-actuated cutter 11 and a feed roller 13, and is held to the drum 5 by suction while carried past a pasting roller 14. In a modification, the conveyer consists of a chain and the roller assemblies are carried by substantially triangular end plates pivoted on the link pins of the chain ; these plates also carry rollers running in stationary cam tracks corresponding to the track 7. In a further modification, one or more drums are carried in an orbital.path by a larger drum or other conveyer so that the uniting band is pressed against the assembled cigarettes and stub during a certain amount of travel in the orbital path. The drums are rotated by the engagement of a gear wheel on the drum with a fixed gear segment or rack, so that a spring within the drum is wound up and then released to effect a rapid rotation of the drum to effect the wrapping operation. In further modifications, (1) the uniting bands are brought into contact with the assemblages by means independent of the drum ; (2) the drum is replaced by an endless chain, band, or other conveyer ; (3) the rotation of the assemblage is effected by driving one or more of the positioning rollers, or takes place between the drum and a roller carried by the conveyer ; (4) the aligned cigarettes and stubs are located in slots or by fixed members instead of the rollers 4a, 4b; (5) the conveyer or the apparatus as a whole is arranged at such an angle that the assembled lengths on the conveyer abut one another under gravity.