Apparatus for changing the distance between pairs of coaxial cigarettes or the like

摘要

Apparatus for increasing the distance between pairs of coaxial plain cigarettes has a rotary drum-shaped conveyor with a rotor which carries two annuli of axially movable segment-shaped holders provided with peripheral flutes for plain cigarettes. A cam with two endless grooves cooperates with rollers followers which are affixed to shifting rods for the holders to move successive aligned holders nearer to each other during travel toward a first transfer station where the flutes receive plain cigarettes and to thereupon move the holders apart during travel toward a second transfer station where the cigarettes are transferred into the flutes of a rotary assembly conveyor and are spaced apart to an extent which suffices for insertion of filter mouthpieces of double unit length. The holders are guided by tie rods which are reciprocable in a collar of the rotor.