Molins Plc

Brian H Warner

Desmond W Molins

Michael J Cahill

John Dawson

Michael D Simcoe

Anthony W Watson

Alan G Claydon

John D Stanton

Apparatus for applying adhesive foam or other liquid-based ingredients to the ends of cigarettes includes a source of suction, a device for carrying and moving a series of flexible tubular sealing members 50 each of which is aligned with a respective cigarette in a treatment station, and an arrangement for moving each sealing member into engagement with a respective cigarette and for connecting each sealing member to the source of suction, characterised in that each sealing member is so shaped that an end portion 54 thereof can engage around the end portion of the corresponding cigarette, and that suction transmitted through the sealing member causes the end portion of the sealing member to contract and thus grip the cigarette. A pressure air source may also be included to expand each sealing member as it moves over the end of the corresponding cigarette.

Cigarette manufacture

Apparatus for applying measured quantities of foamed adhesive to the ends of cigarettes comprises a drum 10 arranged to having apertures 14A aligned with the respective cigarettes 12 and arranged to recieve foam from a source 18 adjacent to the plate, characterized by means 24,26 for pneumatically transferring foam progressively from each aperture to the end of the corresponding cigarette, i.e. during a significant arc of rotation of the drum.

Composite filters for attachment to cigarettes and containing particulate filtering material are produced by directly accelerating the particulate material, e.g. by means of a rotary impeller (62), to form a continuous stream which converges with a stream of spaced filter portions (6), both streams having approximately the same speed. The stream of particulate material is slightly laterally offset relative to the stream of filter portions, so that particulate material introduced into the spaces between filter portions has a tangential component and follows a helical motion within the space. Excess particulate material is removed by suction assisted scrapers or brushes (80-90). Delivery of particulate material may be regulated by an adjustable screen (65) or by varying the speed of the impeller (62).

Method and apparatus for making composite filter rods

Spaced groups of component filter portions for forming into composite filter rods are assembled by retarding selected portions of the stream by means of transversely-applied suction. The suction means may include a rotary valve operable periodically to connect a suction manifold to a suction outlet adjacent the path of the stream. The stream may be formed and conveyed at an endless band which receives the portions indirectly from a hopper via a fluted drum. The hopper may incorporate an additional feed band which agitates the rods in the hopper to ensure that each flute of the fluted drum receives a rod.

Method and apparatus for assembling rod-like articles

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.

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Bucks, United Kingdom

Brian H Warner