Manufacture of cigarette assemblies having a pre-formed tubular band and a pre-formed tobacco rod

A method for assembling a preformed tubular band of filter cover material onto a preformed tobacco bearing component forming a smoking product which comprises a filter fixed end-to-end with a tobacco rod, the latter being enclosed in a tube of cigarette paper, the peripheral surface of the filter being porous thus rendering the product unsmokable, said tubular band being sized to provide a close sliding fit with the exterior of said tobacco rod, said method comprising:

• arranging said tubular band and said tobacco-bearing component in axial alignment, and effecting relative axial movement towards one another of said tubular band and said tobacco-bearing component to bring these into engagement while effecting a slight compression of said tobacco rod to ease entry thereof into the interior of the tubular band to a desired location in the length of said tobacco rod;
• wherein said tobacco rod is inserted into said tubular band by being passed through a sizing disc positioned adjacent said tubular band and that has a bore which tapers towards said tubular band, said sizing disc adjacent said tubular band having a diameter that is slightly less than said tubular band, passage of said tobacco rod through said sizing disc effecting a slight localised compression of said tobacco rod thus easing its entry into said tubular band.

A method for assembling a preformed tubular band of filter cover material onto a preformed tobacco bearing component which comprises a filter fixed end-to-end with a tobacco rod, the latter being enclosed in a tube of cigarette paper, the peripheral surface of the filter being porous thus rendering the product unsmokable, said tubular band being sized to provide a close sliding fit with the exterior of said tobacco rod, said method comprising:

• arranging said tubular band and said tobacco-bearing component in axial alignment, and effecting relative axial movement towards one another of said tubular band and said tobacco-bearing component to bring these into engagement while effecting a slight compression of said tobacco rod to ease entry thereof into the interior of the tubular band to a desired location in the length of said tobacco rod;
• wherein relative axial movement of said tubular band and said tobacco rod is effected by an arrangement of cam-operated rods.

A method for assembling a preformed tubular band of filter cover material onto a preformed tobacco bearing component which comprises a filter fixed end-to-end with a tobacco rod, the latter being enclosed in a tube of cigarette paper, the peripheral surface of the filter being porous thus rendering the product unsmokable, said tubular band being sized to provide a close sliding fit with the exterior of said tobacco rod, said method comprising:

• arranging said tubular band and said tobacco-bearing component in axial alignment, and effecting relative axial movement towards one another of said tubular band and said tobacco-bearing component to bring these into engagement while effecting a slight compression of said tobacco rod to ease entry thereof into the interior of the tubular band to a desired location in the length of said tobacco rod;
• wherein during assembly the end of said tubular band that is initially closest to the tobacco rod is subjected to an expanding action to maximize the interior diameter of the band at that end.