Machine for simultaneously producing two continuous cigarette rods

Claim 1

A manufacturing machine for simultaneously producing two continuous cigarette rods comprising a paper feed device (2) arranged to feed paper in web form (7) along a first determined path, and a device (3) for forming a substantially uniform layer (57) of shredded tobacco and for feeding said layer along a second determined path, said first and second paths intersecting at a station (56) for loading said layer of tobacco (57) on to said paper in web form (7), characterised in that said paper feed device comprises, in combination, a cutting unit (33) disposed in said first path in order to cut said web (7) along the longitudinal axis thereof into two equal strips (36); printing means (13-26) disposed in said first path upstream of said cutting unit (33) for marking equal graphical signs on said web (7) on each side of said longitudinal axis; feed means (40-9) for feeding said web (7) to said cutting unit (33) by way of said printing means (13-26) and for feeding said strips (36) separately through said loading position (56); and said layer of tobacco comprises two substantially uniform equal fillers (57) of shredded tobacco, said forming and feed device (3) comprising, in combination, an inlet hopper (68) for the shredded tobacco, two suction conveyor belts (58-59), each of which is arranged to support a respective one of said fillers (57) and to feed it on to the relative said strip (36) at said loading station (56), and distributor means (69-79) for withdrawing the shredded tobacco from said hopper (68), dividing it into two equal streams and continuously feeding said two streams each to below the respective said suction conveyor belt (58-59); trimmer means (64) being disposed below each of said suction conveyor belts in order to control the thickness of said fillers.