Patent ID: 7287529

Claim:
A cigarette maker comprising: a descent channel, presenting a first portion and a second portion distinct one from the other and serving respectively to admit shredded tobacco and reclaimed tobacco; a carding unit by which shredded tobacco is fed into the descent channel; conveyor means by which reclaimed tobacco is fed into the descent channel; a toothed take-up unit comprising a first section and a second section by which the shredded tobacco and the reclaimed tobacco are taken up from the respective outlet ends of the first and second portions of the descent channel and directed toward an ascent channel through which the tobacco is carried as a flow of distinct particles; an aspirating belt positioned at the outlet of the ascent channel, on which the flow of particles is formed into a stream and advanced toward a trimming station, thence to the entry point of a station at which the stream is formed into a continuous cigarette rod, wherein the toothed take-up unit comprises take-up means and impeller means operating in conjunction one with another, of which at least the take-up means incorporate a first toothed roller and second toothed roller embodied independently of one another, aligned on a common axis and positioned to coincide with the first section and the second section.