A transport device for transferring rod-like articles, the device comprising: a first conveyor configured to transfer the rod-like articles as a multilayer stream in a first transferring direction; a second conveyor configured to transfer the rod-like articles as the multilayer stream in a second transferring direction opposite to the first transferring direction; wherein the first conveyor is located at least partially above the second conveyor; a transferring channel for transferring the rod-like articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor in a third transferring direction, the transferring channel being formed by a first wall located at the end of the first conveyor and a second wall distanced from the first wall by a distance equal to a width of the multilayer stream of the rod-like articles, wherein the second wall is located above the second conveyor; wherein at least the first conveyor and the transferring channel are movable in a first conveyor displacing direction corresponding to the first transferring direction or to the second transferring direction. The first wall forms a cover of the first conveyor; and the first wall is shaped such that there is a variable distance between the first wall and the second wall in a transverse direction that is transverse with respect to the third transferring direction of the rod-like articles in the transferring channel.

A transport device for transferring rod-like articles, the device comprising: a first conveyor configured to transfer the rod-like articles as a multilayer stream in a first transferring direction; a second conveyor configured to transfer the rod-like articles as the multilayer stream in a second transferring direction opposite to the first transferring direction; wherein the first conveyor is located at least partially above the second conveyor; a transferring channel for transferring the rod-like articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor in a third transferring direction, the transferring channel being formed by a first wall located at the end of the first conveyor and a second wall distanced from the first wall by a distance equal to a width of the multilayer stream of the rod-like articles, wherein the second wall is located above the second conveyor; wherein at least the first conveyor and the transferring channel are movable in a first conveyor displacing direction corresponding to the first transferring direction or to the second transferring direction. The first wall forms a cover of the first conveyor; and the first wall is shaped such that there is a variable distance between the first wall and the second wall in a transverse direction that is transverse with respect to the third transferring direction of the rod-like articles in the transferring channel.

A method for assembling a cigarette involves placing a cigarette starter cone in an internal cavity of a holding fixture carried on a translatable carriage at a first station, moving the carriage to a second station, loading a quantity of content into the cone at the second station by a content loading mechanism, moving the carriage to a third station, packing the loaded content in the cigarette starter cone at the third station by a packing mechanism flowing pressurized gas, moving the carriage to a fourth station, exposing the open end of the cigarette starter cone at the fourth station, clamping an exposed portion of the paper cone at the open end by a twister mechanism, activating the twister mechanism, rotating the twister mechanism at least one full turn, twisting the open end closed, and releasing the paper cone, and opening the holding fixture, releasing the packed and twisted-closed cigarette.

A method for assembling a cigarette involves placing a cigarette starter cone in an internal cavity of a holding fixture carried on a translatable carriage at a first station, moving the carriage to a second station, loading a quantity of content into the cone at the second station by a content loading mechanism, moving the carriage to a third station, packing the loaded content in the cigarette starter cone at the third station by a packing mechanism flowing pressurized gas, moving the carriage to a fourth station, exposing the open end of the cigarette starter cone at the fourth station, clamping an exposed portion of the paper cone at the open end by a twister mechanism, activating the twister mechanism, rotating the twister mechanism at least one full turn, twisting the open end closed, and releasing the paper cone, and opening the holding fixture, releasing the packed and twisted-closed cigarette.

Variable-capacity store for cylindrical articles of the tobacco processing industry; the store comprises a conveying assembly comprising a first conveyor having a substantially helical shape; a second conveyor having a substantially helical shape and arranged above the first conveyor; and a linear transfer conveyor, which is adapted to convey the articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, having a variable length and, by extending and shortening, changes the area of the first conveyor from which it picks up the articles and the area of the second conveyor to which it feeds the articles, thus varying the capacity of the store.

Variable-capacity store for cylindrical articles of the tobacco processing industry; the store comprises a conveying assembly comprising a first conveyor having a substantially helical shape; a second conveyor having a substantially helical shape and arranged above the first conveyor; and a linear transfer conveyor, which is adapted to convey the articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, having a variable length and, by extending and shortening, changes the area of the first conveyor from which it picks up the articles and the area of the second conveyor to which it feeds the articles, thus varying the capacity of the store.

A method of forming groups of smoking articles so that each group forms an individual bundle of smoking articles for receipt in a respective smoking article pack is disclosed. The method includes supplying a receptacle of an apparatus for forming groups of smoking articles with different types of smoking articles such that they mix in the receptacle and each group is formed from the mixture of different types of smoking articles by said apparatus. An apparatus for forming groups of smoking articles and a multipack comprising a plurality of smoking article packs is also disclosed.

A method of forming groups of smoking articles so that each group forms an individual bundle of smoking articles for receipt in a respective smoking article pack is disclosed. The method includes supplying a receptacle of an apparatus for forming groups of smoking articles with different types of smoking articles such that they mix in the receptacle and each group is formed from the mixture of different types of smoking articles by said apparatus. An apparatus for forming groups of smoking articles and a multipack comprising a plurality of smoking article packs is also disclosed.

An apparatus for mass producing smokable products filled with cannabis, hemp, and/or other smokable materials includes a cone loading station that separates individual paper cones from stacks of cones, a cone weighing and filling station for dispensing precisely weighed amounts of powdered biomass into the cones, and a cone twisting station for twisting ends of the cones to complete the smokable products. A transport mechanism is provided to transfer the cones between stations and hold the cones during filling and twisting. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing smokable products that enables production steps to be performed simultaneously while also providing for capacity expansion within a limited production facility footprint.

The method and device for checking quality of rod-like products (R, R) for the tobacco industry, wherein the steps are performed of moving rod-like products (R, R) placed in a transport socket (4) of a conveyor (2) along an audit trail (P), checking the quality of a rod-like products (R, R) with a scanning device (5) placed on the audit trail (P), characterized further by rotating the rod-like product (R, R) placed in the transport socket (4), during the step of checking the quality of rod-like products (R, R), using at least one track (7) interacting with a lateral surface (6) of the rod-like products (R, R).