Abstract: In order to make filter length change quickly in PROTOS2-2 cigarette maker, the tobacco rod separating drum was modified while keeping the structure of the maker unchanged. Instead of the cam mechanism, the slide blocks were driven by the swing plates symmetrically installed inside the separating drum, and the separating stroke could be adjusted rapidly without changing parts. The modified separating drum was tested on a ZJ116A filter cigarette maker, the results showed that the maximum separating stroke reached 83.6 mm. At the production speed of 14 000 cigarette/min, the modified separating drum ran stably, and no wrinkled or squeezed cigarette was found. This method provides a technical support for promoting the intellectualization of cigarette makers.