Apparatus for making cigarettes

A hand operated device for applying wrapping paper to a cylindrical smoking article, the device comprising,

• (a) means for supporting the article within the device,
• (b) a forming roller lying axially parallel to and in contact with the article, whereby rotation of the forming roller rotates the article about its longitudinal axis,
• (c) mechanical means for applying a pregummed sheet of wrapping paper to the article as the article is rotated about its axis, and
• (d) mechanical means for synchronising the rotation of the article with the means for applying the wrapping paper,
• characterised in that the forming roller is provided along its length with a pair of circumferential helical grooves of opposite chirality, there being provided a manually operable spigot means adapted to cooperate with said grooves and constrained to travel linearly parallel to the axis of the roller whereby manual movement of the spigot in either linear direction rotates the roller in a constant angular direction.