Patent ID: 7314049

Claim:
A unit for transferring cigarette sticks from a cigarette maker to a filter tip attachment, comprising: conveyor means, capable of movement in a first feed direction, furnished with channels extending in a second direction and made to advance in the first direction, each channel proportioned to accommodate a respective cigarette stick and including at least two longitudinal areas of progressive contact with corresponding longitudinal areas of the stick in such a way as to create at least one chamber between the cigarette stick and a portion of the channel compassed between the longitudinal areas of progressive contact; an entry station at which a single cigarette stick is admitted to each channel as the channels are directed through the station by the conveyor means; transfer means facing the entry station, by which the cigarette sticks are advanced along the second direction and into the channels; first connection means by which the chamber is connected to suction means; each channel including a third longitudinal area, extending along at least a portion of its length and capable of engaging in contact with a corresponding third longitudinal area of the cigarette stick admitted by way of the entry station to form a third longitudinal area of contact, the third longitudinal area of the channel positioned on an opposite side of the cigarette stick from, and substantially facing, one of the at least two longitudinal areas of progressive contact of the channel; the third longitudinal area of the channel being created by at least one movable wall capable of motion, induced by pneumatic actuator means, between respective limit positions of 1) engagement with the cigarette stick along the third longitudinal area of the channel and 2) disengagement from the cigarette stick, the third longitudinal area of the channel being distanced from the cigarette stick.