DE2549512

Apparatus for converting a file of coaxial cigarettes into one or more rows of parallel cigarettes has a fixed sun gear which is coaxial with a driven rotary planet carrier for several equidistant groups of coaxial first and second pinions. The sun gear meshes with a first intermediate gear which is rotatable in the carrier and further meshes with the internal teeth of a ring gear which is coaxial with and rotatable relative to the carrier. The ring gear has first and second annuli of external teeth which respectively mesh with the first and second pinions. The first pinions are rigid with inclined crank arms for turnable cigarette holders which are coupled to the respective second pinions by universal joints. Successive holders receive successive cigarettes or pairs cigarettes of the file at a first station where the holders are nearest to the axis of the carrier and move at a maximum tangential speed. The transfer of cigarettes into successive flutes of a rotary drum takes place at a second station where the holders are located at a maximum distance from the axis of the carrier and travel at a minimum tangential speed. The second pinions and the respective universal joints insure that the orientation of holders remains unchanged during transport of cigarettes from the first to the second station.