Method of producing filter-tipped cigarettes

A method of producing and delivering filter-tipped cigarettes into two successions of cigarettes with only one pitch reduction occurring from a feeding stage through a rolling stage through a cutting stage, and through a turnover stage, the method comprising:

• in a first and a second feeding stage, feeding tobacco items along respective consecutive first and second portions of a given path, the tobacco items being fed in orderly successions along said first path portion, and as at least one bulk stream along said second path portion;
• and
• in said first feeding stage, including the steps of advancing an orderly succession of first tobacco items including two cigarette portions and an intermediate double filter, and connecting the two cigarette portions and the intermediate double filter by means of a rolling stage and an outerband, to form an orderly succession of second tobacco items;
• successively feeding the second tobacco items from the rolling stage to a cutting station without reducing the pitch of said second tobacco items;
• cutting the second tobacco items at the cutting station to form a first and second orderly succession of third tobacco items consisting of single, side by side, oppositely-oriented filter-tipped cigarettes;
• advancing the third tobacco items substantially without pitch reductions;
• turning the third items in one of the two successions over by 180.degree. in relation to those in the other succession to form two orderly successions of equioriented third tobacco items substantially without pitch reductions;
• and
• feeding the equioriented third tobacco items to said second path portion;
• said first feeding stage including the step of reducing the pitch of said tobacco items in said first path portion, and thereupon transporting the tobacco items at the reduced pitch, and said pitch reducing being carried out in a single pitch reducing step.

Apparatus for producing and delivering filter-tipped cigarettes, into two successions of cigarettes with only one pitch change occurring from a feeding stage through a rolling stage through a cutting stage, and through a turnover stage, said apparatus comprising:

• a feeding stage, including means for feeding an orderly succession of first tobacco items along a given path substantially equally spaced at a first pitch, P1, each first item comprising two cigarette portions and an intermediate double filter, and feeding an outer band to each first item;
• a rolling stage, including means for connecting, along said path, the two cigarette portions, the intermediate double filter and the outer band, to form an orderly succession of second items substantially equally spaced at a second pitch, P2;
• means for transporting said second items from said rolling stage and maintaining an orderly succession of second items at said second pitch, P2;
• a cutting stage located along said path for receiving said second items, including means for cutting the second items and forming a first and second succession of third items consisting of single, side by side, oppositely-oriented filter-tipped cigarettes maintained at said second pitch, P2;
• means for transporting said third items and maintaining an orderly first and second succession of third items at said second pitch, P2;
• and
• a turnover stage along said path for receiving said third items, including means for turning over by 180.degree. the cigarettes in one of the two successions in relation to those in the other succession to equiorient the cigarettes in the two successions maintained at the second pitch, P2, and to form at least one stream of equioriented cigarettes for supply to a follow-up machine and wherein said pitch of said tobacco items has been changed only once as said items have been produced and delivered between said feeding stage and said follow-up machine.