Suction rod conveyors for cigarette makers

A suction rod conveyor for a cigarette maker, comprising:

• a conveying path for a suction tape;
• a convey section configured to convey filler material;
• a transfer section configured to transfer the filler material to a garniture;
• a compacting disk;
• a first source of pressurized air configured to blow pressurized air on the compacting disk during use;
• a suction channel;
• a plurality of first slide bushes configured to support the suction tape along the suction channel during use;
• a trimmer channel comprising at least one pair of plain trimmer disks;
• a plurality of second slide bushes configured to support the suction tape along the trimmer channel during use;
• a second source of pressurized air configured to blow pressurized air on the suction tape during use, before the suction tape enters the suction channel;
• a plurality of rollers;
• a plurality of scrapers, each scraper of the plurality of scrapers being disposed proximate to a roller of the plurality of rollers;
• and
• at least one brush configured to clean the suction tape during use,
• wherein the compacting disk comprises a plurality of standard areas and a plurality of flat areas disposed on an outer circumferential surface thereof,
• wherein an outermost portion of each flat area is closer to a central axis of the compacting disk than is an outermost portion of each standard area,
• wherein the compacting disk further comprises a side face having a plurality of holes disposed around the central axis of the compacting disk,
• wherein the compacting disk is configured to assist in providing drive from the suction tape during use, and
• wherein the suction rod conveyor does not have a dedicated drive for the compacting disk,
• wherein the holes are circumferentially equally spaced on the side face of the compacting disk,
• wherein the compacting disk further comprises a plurality of first slots disposed around a first edge of the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk,
• wherein the compacting disk further comprises a plurality of second slots disposed around a second edge of the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk, the second edge being opposite from the first edge,
• wherein the first slots are circumferentially equally spaced around the first edge,
• wherein the second slots are circumferentially equally spaced around the second edge,
• wherein the first slots are disposed to correspond to the second slots, such that each first slot is disposed on a standard area of the plurality of standard areas having a second slot disposed thereon,
• wherein the compacting disk further comprises a tapered face disposed between the side face of the compacting disk and the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk,
• wherein the standard areas of the plurality of standard areas are disposed alternatingly with the flat areas of the plurality of flat areas around the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk,
• wherein a width of the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk is no more than 7 millimeters (mm),
• wherein each first slide bush has a width of at least 7.2 mm,
• wherein each second slide bush has a width of at least 7.2 mm,
• wherein each first slide bush comprises a first step protruding from its face and into a first channel in a first curved portion of a first wall of the suction channel,
• wherein each second slide bush comprises a second step protruding from its face and into a second channel in a second curved portion of a second wall of the trimmer channel,
• wherein a height of the suction channel is no more than 34 mm,
• wherein a height of the trimmer channel is no more than 29.5 mm,
• wherein each scraper of the plurality of scrapers comprises a serrated edge that is configured to come into contact with the roller to which the respective scraper is disposed proximate during use,
• wherein the filler material comprises at least one of tobacco, hemp, marijuana, and a sticky plant-based material.