Apparatus for ascertaining the resistance of cigarettes or the like to axial flow of gases therethrough

摘要

Apparatus which ascertains the resistance of filter rod sections or filter cigarettes to axial flow of a gas through their fillers has a drum-shaped conveyor with a row of flutes at one axial end and a row of expandible and contractable hoses at the other axial end. Each hose registers with a flute and receives an article to be tested from the aligned flute during travel past a station where the hose is connected with a suction generating device and/or the flute is connected with a source of compressed air. The hose is thereupon caused to contract so as to sealingly engage at least the major part of the wrapper of the article therewithin, and the article is tested by conveying a stream of testing fluid through its filler. The hose is thereupon caused or allowed to expand, and the tested article is transferred back into the aligned flute. The characteristics of the fluid stream are monitored, and the results of the monitoring operation are used to effect segregation of unsatisfactory articles from satisfactory articles and/or to adjust the perforating unit which makes holes in the wrappers of articles in order to admit atmospheric air into the column of tobacco smoke.