Method and apparatus for attaching filter plugs to cigarettes or the like

摘要

Uncoated filter plugs of double unit length which are about to be attached to pairs of plain cigarettes of unit length in a filter tipping machine are treated by a narrow heated smooth surface of a stationary smoothing device which is adjacent to the path of sidewise movement of successive filter plugs and contacts successive increments of a narrow strip-shaped portion of the peripheral surface of each of a series of filter plugs while the filter plugs move sideways with the respective pairs of plain cigarettes. The heated surface is in frictional engagement with and bears against the peripheral surfaces of adjacent filter plugs to smoothen the strip-shaped portions of such peripheral surfaces. The smoothed strip-shaped portions are thereupon contacted by marginal portions of adhesive-coated uniting bands which are convoluted around the respective filter plugs and around the adjacent inner end portions of the respective plain cigarettes to form therewith filter cigarettes of double unit length. Smoothing of strip-shaped portions insures reliable adherence of marginal portions of uniting bands thereto.