Apparatus for making filter tipped smokers' products having a non-circular cross-sectional outline

Abstract

Adherent uniting bands are wound around adjacent end portions of successive groups of plain cigarettes and filter mouthpieces having elliptical cross-sectional outlines while the groups are transported sideways through a passage between a rotary conveyor and a stationary rolling member. The peripheral rolling surface of the conveyor has an undulate profile conforming to the outlines of the articles forming the groups and such surface is provided with axially parallel flutes wherein the groups are received during advancement toward the passage. The rolling member has a second rolling surface confronting the peripheral rolling surface across the passage and having a second undulate profile also conforming to the outlines of the articles forming the groups. Successive groups approaching the inlet of the passage are caused to leave their flutes and to roll between the two surfaces during advancement through the passage to thus convolute the uniting bands around the adjacent end portions of the respecive articles. The rolling surfaces cause the axes of the rolling groups to advance in the passage along an arcuate path having its center of curvature on the axis of rotation of the conveyor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.