CN107734980B

CN107734980B - Improved filter rod making machine for processing rigid wrapper web material

Info

Publication number: CN107734980B
Application number: CN201680040136.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: C·卡萨利; F·昂格里尼; L·蒂多米尼克
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2015-07-31
Filing date: 2016-08-01
Publication date: 2020-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-01
Also published as: BR112017028513B1; KR20180034345A; JP6976927B2; RU2017146616A; EP3328221B1; PL3328221T3; CN107734980A; WO2017021347A1; RU2017146616A3; EP3328221A1; RU2703105C2; BR112017028513A2; JP2018521660A

Abstract

A filter rod maker comprises an operating station for forming wrapped filter rods; a cutting blade for cutting the wrapped filter rod into rod segments (104); and a conveying device comprising a drum (100) having a plurality of spaced apart grooves (102) on an outer surface of the drum for receiving the strip segments (104) as the drum rotates. The cartridge includes a stop means (106) at one end of each of the grooves with which the filter rod abuts when received into the groove. The stop device (106) includes a pin (108) having a main cylinder with a first diameter (D1) and extending along an axis (F) of the groove (102) between a first end at which the pin is attached to a frame and a second end. The pin (108) comprises an abutment portion (118) extending from the second end of the main cylinder along the axis (F), the abutment portion (118) having a second diameter (D2) smaller than the first diameter (D1) and presenting a substantially flat surface for abutting an end of the elongate filter rod.

Description

Improved filter rod making machine for processing rigid wrapper web material

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing filter rods for use in the manufacture of smoking articles such as filter cigarettes.

Background

Filter cigarettes typically comprise a tobacco cut filler rod surrounded by a paper wrapper and a cylindrical filter aligned in end-to-end relationship with the wrapped tobacco rod and attached thereto by tipping paper. The filter is typically composed of one or more mouthpieces of fibrous filter material. One suitable fibrous filter material is cellulose acetate tow, typically treated with a plasticizer similar to triacetin. The mouthpiece or mouthpieces are surrounded by a paper material commonly referred to as a "mouthpiece wrapper".

Making filter rods from continuous fiber filter tow includes moving the filter tow in a generally longitudinal direction through successive processing steps to align tow fibers; the plasticizer and/or other additives are applied to the fibers before the tow is collected, compressed, and formed into a predetermined shape, such as a substantially cylindrical rod. In addition, the manufacturing process includes wrapping the tow rod with a mouthpiece wrap to produce a wrapped filter rod.

To this end, the filter rod maker comprises a wrapping station for receiving the strip-like fiber tow from the forming station and wrapping the strip-like fiber tow with filter paper to form a continuous filter rod. The packaging station includes an endless belt conveyor (e.g., provided as an accessory strip) configured to advance in a predetermined direction along an endless path; and a feed device for supplying a strip of filter paper onto the belt conveyor in the first portion of the path. Furthermore, the packaging station comprises guide elements for gradually switching the conveyor into a tube located in the second part of the path downstream of the first path part by moving the side edges of the conveyor belts towards each other. A filter rod maker of this type is described, for example, in US 4768526.

In more detail, the conveyor typically comprises a conveyor belt that is looped around two return idlers. One branch of the conveyor belt runs slidably along a longitudinal groove provided in the guide element or appendage. The channel has a cross-section that varies continuously between the inlet and outlet ends of the guide, and the cross-section is substantially cylindrical at the outlet end. The conveyor belt sliding in the grooves constitutes an attachment strip through which the filter paper band advancing from the first path section is guided and packed around the fiber tow band in the second path section. Thus, in the wrapping station, the filter paper strip is wound around the strip-like fiber tow so that the edges of the filter paper strip partially overlap.

Furthermore, the filter rod maker comprises gluing means for applying a suitable adhesive to one or both side edges of the filter paper band so that they are bonded to each other when the side edges overlap. The adhesive may be applied to the packaging web material in the applicator area along the packaging attachment or, as an alternative, to the packaging web material upstream from the attachment of the packaging web material into the packaging station.

By way of example, a heat-activatable adhesive may be applied to one or both side edges of the filter paper strip, and the filter rod maker further comprises a heat source for activating the adhesive, the heat source being disposed at a location along the attachment.

In addition, filter rod making machines typically further include means for cooling the adhesive to rapidly solidify the adhesive. In particular, filter rod making machines are known which comprise a cooling rod operatively connected to an endless belt conveyor at a certain position along the path of the wrapper web material downstream of the heat source. One such cooling bar is typically configured to be at a temperature of from about-5 ℃ to about 6 ℃ during use. As the wrapping strip travels along the cooling rod, the adhesive solidifies and forms a sealed longitudinal seam.

The wrapped filter rod thus manufactured may then be cut into segments of predetermined length to obtain a filter mouthpiece element. In particular, the filter-forming machine comprises a cutting assembly located at a position downstream of the cooling rod for cutting the continuous wrapped filter rod exiting the wrapping station into filter rod portions having a length corresponding to a number of filter mouthpiece elements. These filter rod portions may then be conveyed to a filter assembly or tipping machine for attachment to a tobacco rod. To this end, the outlet station of the filter rod maker comprises a transfer drum comprising a plurality of grooves suitable for receiving the filter rod portions exiting the wrapping station and for transferring the filter rod portions to another operating unit.

For some applications it may be preferable to use a thicker wrapper web material which is rigid in order to impart greater rigidity to the filter. However, this may make it difficult to form filter rods with low ovality. Furthermore, as the friction between the rigid wrapper web material and the parts of the filter rod maker along the path of the wrapper web material increases, more heat is generated and therefore the sealing effect of the cooling rod may be affected.

At the same time, a greater amount of adhesive is required to properly seal the overlapping side edges of the wrapper web material around which the strip-like fibre tows are wound, due to the increased inherent tendency of the stiff, thicker wrapper web material to elastically return to its original flat condition. However, this may have the following undesirable effects: excess mastic accumulates on the surface of the transfer drum that receives the wrapped filter rod portions as they exit the wrapping station. For this reason, the filter rod maker may have to be stopped often, and machine downtime is thus undesirably increased.

There is therefore a need to provide an apparatus for manufacturing filter rods for use in the manufacture of smoking articles, which makes it possible to effectively address the above-mentioned disadvantages. In particular, it is desirable to provide such a device, so that machine downtime can be significantly reduced, while at the same time ensuring that the filter rods obtained by the device meet the required production requirements, for example in terms of sealing quality, ovality, visual effect, etc.

Disclosure of Invention

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing filter rods for use in the manufacture of smoking articles. The apparatus comprises a station for receiving the filter mouthpiece material and the wrapper web material and for forming wrapped filter rods from the filter mouthpiece material and the wrapper web material. The apparatus further comprises at least one cutting blade for cutting the wrapped filter rod into elongate rod segments. Further, the apparatus includes a conveying device including a drum having a plurality of spaced apart grooves on an outer surface of the drum, the grooves being constructed and arranged to receive the elongated strip segments as the drum rotates. The cartridge further comprises a stop means at one end of each of the grooves against which the elongate filter rod rests when received into the groove. The stop means comprises a pin having a main cylinder with a first diameter (D1) and extending along an axis (F) of the groove between a first end, at which the pin is attached to the cartridge frame, and a second end opposite the first end. Furthermore, the pin comprises an abutment portion extending from the second end of the main cylinder along the axis (F), said abutment portion having a second diameter (D2) smaller than the first diameter (D1) and presenting a substantially flat surface for abutting the end of the elongate filter rod.

The term "ovality" is used in this specification to describe the shape of the transverse portion of the filter rod and, in particular, its angle of departure from a standard circle. In the case of the present invention, ovality can be expressed as length and its mathematical definition given as follows:

to determine the ovality of a section of the filter rod, one end is viewed along the longitudinal direction of the filter rod. For example, the filter rod may be positioned on its end on a transparent table, so that an image of the end of the filter rod is recorded by a suitable imaging device located below the table. Dimension "a" is considered to be the smallest outer diameter of the segment at its downstream end, while dimension "b" is considered to be the largest outer diameter of the segment at its downstream end. The process was repeated for a total of ten filter rods of the same design and the numerical average of the ten ovality measurements was recorded as the ovality of the design for the filter rod.

In contrast to the known apparatuses, a filter rod maker is provided which is equipped with an improved conveyor for transferring newly formed filter rod segments. The conveyor includes a drum having a plurality of grooves spaced on an outer surface of the drum, wherein the grooves are constructed and arranged to receive the elongated strip segments as the drum rotates. The cartridge includes a stop means at one end of each of the grooves, the elongate filter rod abutting the stop means when received into the groove. The stop means comprises a pin presenting a substantially flat surface to abut the end of the elongate filter rod. The pin includes a portion at the end which, in use, contacts the elongate filter rod, the portion having a reduced diameter compared to the main cylinder of the pin.

By providing one such stop means that presents a reduced surface area for direct contact with the newly formed filter rod segment, the likelihood of adhesive accumulating on the stop means is advantageously significantly reduced. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is understood that the abutting ends of the pins contact the radially central portion of the filter rod segment, where generally no adhesive is expected to be present. At the same time, a small gap is left between the stop means and the peripheral portion of the filter rod segment, i.e. the portion of the filter rod segment where adhesive is most likely to be present, since said portion has been used to form a seal between the overlapping longitudinal side edges of the wrapper web material.

Thus, the number and frequency of stops of the filter rod maker are significantly reduced, and thus the machine downtime as a whole is advantageously reduced. The filter rod maker according to the invention is therefore particularly suitable for making filter rods comprising a rigid, thicker wrapper, or any time a greater amount of adhesive is required for reliably and securely sealing the wrapper web material around the filter mouthpiece material. It will be apparent from the following description that, by some preferred embodiments, further advantageous improvements relating to the characteristics of the filter rod, such as seal quality, ovality and visual effect, can be obtained.

The apparatus according to the invention comprises a station for receiving the filter mouthpiece material and the wrapper web material and for forming wrapped filter rods from the filter mouthpiece material and the wrapper web material. In addition, the apparatus comprises at least one cutting blade for cutting the wrapped filter rod into elongate rod segments. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a transfer device for transferring the newly formed elongated strip section. The transfer device includes a drum having a plurality of spaced apart grooves on an outer surface of the drum, the grooves being constructed and arranged to receive the elongated strip segments as the drum rotates. The cartridge further comprises a stop means at one end of each of the grooves against which the elongate filter rod rests when received into the groove. The stop means comprises a pin having a main cylinder with a first diameter (D1) and extending along an axis (F) of the groove between a first end, at which the pin is attached to the cartridge frame, and a second end opposite the first end. Furthermore, the pin comprises an abutment portion extending from the second end of the main cylinder along the axis (F), said abutment portion having a second diameter (D2) smaller than the first diameter (D1) and presenting a substantially flat surface for abutting the end of the elongate filter rod. Preferably, the abutment portion has a cylindrical shape.

The second diameter (D2) is preferably less than about 80% of the first diameter (D1). Additionally or alternatively, the second diameter is at least about 50% of the first diameter (D1). These values are advantageous because there is a sufficiently wide annular region at the outer circumference of the filter rod segment that does not abut the flat surface of the stop means, thereby minimizing the likelihood that glue can be picked up by the cartridge. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the second diameter (D2) is about 75% of the first diameter. By way of example, the first diameter (D1) may be 8mm and the second diameter (D2) may be 6 mm.

Preferably, the length (L) of the abutment portion, measured along the axis (F) of the groove, is at least about 0.5 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the length (L) of the abutment portion, measured along the axis (F) of the groove, is less than about 2 mm. These values are advantageous because a sufficiently wide axial gap is thus left between the peripheral region of the filter rod segment and the flat surface of the stop means. This also helps to minimize the likelihood that adhesive can be picked up by the cartridge. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the length (L) of the abutment portion, measured along the axis (F) of the groove, is about 1 mm.

The station of the apparatus typically comprises an accessory operatively connected to the endless belt conveyor and configured to receive the filter tipping material and the wrapper web material, and to wrap the wrapper web material around the filter tipping material such that the first and second longitudinal edges of the wrapper web material overlap to form wrapped filter rods. In addition, the station comprises an applicator for supplying a heat-activatable adhesive to seal the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the wrapper web material. The heat-activatable adhesive may be applied to one or both longitudinal side edges of the wrapper web material.

The console further includes a heat source for activating the adhesive, the heat source being disposed at a location along the attachment. In more detail, the attachment is preferably operatively connected to a heating bar adapted to supply heat to the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the wrapper web material while supporting the longitudinal side edges of the endless belt conveyor slidably advancing within the attachment. The heating rod preferably comprises a channel having an arcuate profile for at least partially receiving the sealed wrapped filter rod.

Even more preferably, the heating rod comprises a pair of heating rod ridges, each delimiting a heating rod groove on one side and presenting a support surface on the other side, such that the support surfaces of the ridges are adapted to support the longitudinal side edges of the endless belt conveyor in a V-shaped arrangement (as seen in cross-section) when the conveyor belt is slidably advanced along the accessory.

In practice, the heating bars are arranged with their grooves facing the upper surface of the conveyor belt advancing within the grooves of the accessories. As the conveyor belt advances along the appendage, the longitudinal side edges of the conveyor belt slide against the (outer) support surfaces of the heating rod ridges, and the sealed wrapped filter rods are substantially enclosed in the volume constituted between the upper surface of the conveyor belt and the surfaces of the heating rod grooves. This is advantageous because it prevents the conveyor belt from moving out of the correct centered position within the accessory. Furthermore, this facilitates the formation of filters with low ovality.

Preferably, the heating rod ridges have a substantially triangular cross-section and the support surfaces are inclined such that the longitudinal side edges of the conveyor belt form an angle of at least about 30 degrees therebetween (between the V-shaped arrangements). More preferably, the support surfaces are inclined such that the longitudinal side edges of the conveyor belt form an angle of at least about 45 degrees therebetween. In some preferred embodiments, the support surface is inclined such that the longitudinal side edges of the conveyor belt form an angle of about 60 degrees.

Further, the station preferably includes a cooling bar operatively thermally connected to the attachment and the endless belt conveyor for cooling and causing curing of the adhesive. The cooling rod is arranged downstream of the heat source. In a preferred embodiment, the cooling bar is arranged immediately downstream of the heating bar and may be mounted on the same carriage.

The cooling rod includes a longitudinal channel extending between a cooling rod inlet and a cooling rod outlet and arranged with the longitudinal channel facing the upper surface of the conveyor belt advancing within the channel of the attachment, such that the channel is adapted to at least partially receive a wrapped filter rod. Preferably, the cross-section of the channel at the cooling rod inlet is substantially semi-circular.

In practice, the cooling bars are arranged at a distance from the accessory so that a passage for the conveyor belt is defined between the accessory and the cooling bars. The channel is preferably delimited laterally by lateral ridges presenting respective external abutment surfaces suitable for cooperating with the longitudinal lateral edges of the conveyor belt advancing between the cooling bars and the accessories, and the surface area of the cross section of the channel preferably decreases between the cooling bar inlet and the cooling bar outlet.

Thus, as the conveyor belt advances along the appendage, the distance between the opposing surfaces of the longitudinal side edges of the conveyor belt increases as the conveyor belt reaches the cooling bar entrance, and the longitudinal side edges of the conveyor belt contact the side ridges of the cooling bar groove. This is advantageous because the conveyor belt is thus prevented from subsequently sliding against the rest of the cooling bar, and therefore the cooling bar does not heat up due to friction of the conveyor belt against the cooling bar. At the same time, wrapped filter rods with heat activated adhesive sealing the overlapping side edges of the wrapper web material are held between the upper surface of the belt and the surface of the cooling rod channels and advanced between the upper surface of the belt and the surface of the cooling rod channels. Thus, the adhesive provided between the overlapping longitudinal side edges of the wrapper web material and previously heated by the heat source is cooled and a rapid curing of the adhesive can be achieved.

In some preferred embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a compression device operatively connected to the appendage, said compression device being arranged at the downstream end of the appendage and being adapted to cooperate with the wrapped filter rod at a position along the overlapped first and second longitudinal edges of the wrapper web material. The compression device is configured and arranged to apply a compressive load to the wrapped filter rod that is directed substantially along a radial direction of the wrapped filter rod. This is particularly advantageous when using rigid or thicker wrapper web material, since the provision of one such compression means is effective to counteract the inherent tendency of the wrapped wrapper web material to move away from the perfect cylindrical arrangement around the filter mouthpiece material, which is understood to be one of the main causes of ovality.

Preferably, the compression means comprises a co-operating portion having a substantially spherical shape. Advantageously, a substantially smooth cooperation is provided between the compression means and the outer surface of the wrapped filter rod, so that the surface coating of the wrapped filter rod is not significantly affected, while ovality is reduced. Thus, the overall visual impact of the wrapped filter rod is advantageously improved.

Drawings

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a detail of the transfer means of the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a cartridge frame of the transfer device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a stop device of the conveyor of FIG. 1;

figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an attachment of the console and a heating rod of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a cooling rod of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention; and

fig. 6 shows a schematic side view of a compression device according to a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 illustrates details of the transfer means of the apparatus according to the invention. The transfer device includes a drum 100 having a plurality of spaced apart grooves 102 on the outer surface of the drum 100. The groove 102 is configured and arranged to receive the elongate strip segment 104 as the cartridge 100 rotates. The cartridge 100 further comprises a stop means 106 at one end of each of the grooves 102 against which an elongate segment of filter 104 rests when received into the groove 102.

As also illustrated in more detail in fig. 3, the stop 106 comprises a pin 108 having a main cylinder 110 with a first diameter D1 of about 8mm and extending along the axis (F) of the groove between a first end 112 and a second end 114 opposite the first end 112, where the pin is attached to a cartridge frame 116 (see fig. 2) mounted on the cartridge 100. In addition, the pin 108 includes an abutment portion 118 extending from the second end 114 of the main cylinder 110 along the axis (F). The abutment portion 118 has a second diameter D2 of about 6 mm. The abutment portion 118 presents a substantially flat surface 120 for abutting an end of the elongate strip segment 104. In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 1-3, the abutment portion 118 has a cylindrical shape and has a length L measured along an axis (F) of about 1 mm.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an attachment 200 and a heating rod 202 of a console of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention. The attachment 200 is operably connected to an endless belt conveyor 204. Further, the accessory 200 is configured to receive a filter mouthpiece material and a wrapper web material, and to wrap the wrapper web material around the filter mouthpiece material such that the first and second longitudinal edges of the wrapper web material overlap to form a wrapped filter rod. The attachment 200 is furthermore operatively connected to a heating bar 202 which supplies heat to activate the adhesive applied to one or both longitudinal side edges of the wrapper web material at an upstream location. At the same time, the heater bars support the longitudinal side edges of an endless belt conveyor 204 that slidably advances within the attachment 200. The heating rod 202 includes a channel 206 having an arcuate profile for at least partially receiving the heat sealed wrapped filter rod. As illustrated in fig. 4, the heating rod 202 includes a pair of

heating rod ridges

208, 210, each

heating rod ridge

208, 210 bounding a heating rod groove 206 on one side and presenting a

support surface

212, 214 on the other side. The support surfaces 212, 214 of the

heating rod ridges

208, 210 are adapted to support the longitudinal side edges of the conveyor belt in a V-shaped arrangement as the conveyor belt is slidably advanced along the appendage 200. The volume defined by the upper surface of the endless belt conveyor 204 and the surface of the heater rod groove 206 substantially surrounds the sealed wrapped filter rod. This advantageously prevents the endless belt conveyor 204 from moving out of the correct centered position during use and facilitates the formation of wrapped filter rods having low ovality. In the embodiment of fig. 4, the

heating rod ridges

208, 210 have a substantially triangular cross-section, and the support surfaces 212, 214 are inclined such that the longitudinal side edges of the conveyor belt form an angle a of about 60 degrees therebetween.

The station of the apparatus according to the invention preferably further comprises a cooling bar operatively thermally connected to the attachment and the endless belt conveyor to cool and cause curing of the adhesive supplied to the longitudinal side edges of the wrapper web material to seal the wrapper web material around the filter mouthpiece material. The cooling rod is arranged immediately downstream of the heating rod. Details of one such cooling bar 300 are illustrated in fig. 5. The cooling rod 300 includes a longitudinal cooling rod channel 302 extending between a cooling rod inlet 304 and a cooling rod outlet. The cooling rod channels 302 are adapted to at least partially receive wrapped filter rods. In use, the cooling bar 300 is arranged with the longitudinal cooling bar groove 302 facing the upper surface of the conveyor belt advancing within the groove of the accessory and at a distance from the accessory (not shown) such that a passage for the conveyor belt is defined between the accessory and the cooling bar. At cooling rod inlet 304, cooling rod channel 302 is substantially semi-circular in cross-section. The cooling bar channel 302 is laterally delimited by

lateral ridges

306, 308 presenting respective external abutment surfaces adapted to cooperate with the longitudinal lateral edges of the conveyor belt advancing between the cooling bar 300 and the accessory. The surface area of the cross-section of cooling rod channel 302 decreases between cooling rod inlet 304 and cooling rod outlet. Thus, as the conveyor belt advances along the appendage, the distance between the opposing surfaces of the longitudinal side edges of the conveyor belt increases as the conveyor belt reaches the cooling bar entrance 304, and the longitudinal side edges of the conveyor belt come into contact with the

side ridges

306, 308 of the cooling bar 300. Thus, it is advantageously avoided that the conveyor belt slides relative to the rest of the cooling rod 300 downstream of the cooling rod inlet 304, or at least that the cooperation between the conveyor belt and the cooling rod 300 is significantly limited. Advantageously, the cooling bar 300 does not heat up significantly due to friction between the conveyor belt and the cooling bar 300. At the same time, the wrapped filter rod advances between the conveyor belt and the surface of the cooling rod groove, so that the adhesive activated by the heating rod becomes thermally connected to the cooling rod and a rapid curing of the adhesive can be achieved.

A compression device 400 used in a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention is illustrated in fig. 6. The compression device 400 is operatively connected to the appendage and is arranged at the downstream end thereof and is adapted to cooperate with the wrapped filter rod at a position along the overlapped first and second longitudinal edges of the wrapper web material. In more detail, the compression device 400 is configured and arranged to apply a compression load directed substantially along the radial direction of the wrapped filter rod. In the embodiment of fig. 5, the compression device 400 comprises a cooperating portion 402 having a substantially spherical shape.

The compression means advantageously counteracts the tendency of the rigid or thicker wrapper web material to move away from the perfectly cylindrical arrangement around the filter mouthpiece material in the newly formed wrapped filter rod, which is understood to be the cause of ovality. Furthermore, due to the spherical shape, the compression device 400 provides for a smooth cooperation between the compression device 400 and the outer surface of the wrapped filter rod. Thus, the surface coating of the wrapped filter rod is substantially unaffected, and the overall visual impact of the wrapped filter rod is advantageously improved.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manufacturing filter rods for use in the manufacture of smoking articles, the apparatus comprising:

a station for receiving a filter mouthpiece material and a wrapper web material and for forming wrapped filter rods from the filter mouthpiece material and the wrapper web material;

at least one cutting blade for cutting the wrapped filter rod into elongate rod segments; and

a transfer device comprising a drum having a plurality of spaced apart grooves on an outer surface of the drum, the grooves being constructed and arranged to receive the elongate strip segments as the drum rotates, the drum further comprising a stop device at one end of each of the grooves against which the elongate strip segments seat when received into the grooves;

wherein the stop means comprises a pin having a main cylinder with a first diameter (D1) and extending along the axis (F) of the groove between a first end at which the pin is attached to the cartridge frame and a second end opposite the first end; and is

Wherein the pin comprises an abutment portion extending from the second end of the main cylinder along the axis (F), the abutment portion having a second diameter (D2) smaller than the first diameter (D1) and presenting a substantially flat surface for abutting an end of the elongate strip section.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second diameter (D2) is less than 80% of the first diameter (D1).

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second diameter (D2) is at least 50% of the first diameter (D1).

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the length (L) of the abutment portion, measured along the axis (F) of the groove, is at least 0.5 mm.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the length (L) of the abutment portion, measured along the axis (F) of the groove, is less than 3 mm.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the console comprises:

an accessory operably connected to the endless belt conveyor and configured to receive the filter mouthpiece material and the wrapper web material and to wrap the wrapper web material around the filter mouthpiece material such that the first and second longitudinal edges of the wrapper web material overlap to form the wrapped filter rod; and

an applicator for supplying adhesive to seal the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the wrapper web material.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the attachment is additionally operatively connected to a heating rod for supplying heat to the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the wrapper web material and for supporting a longitudinal side edge of the endless belt conveyor slidably advancing within the attachment, wherein the heating rod comprises a channel having an arcuate profile for at least partially receiving the sealed wrapped filter rods.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the heating rod comprises a pair of heating rod ridges, each delimiting the groove on one side and presenting a support surface on the other side, such that the support surfaces of the heating rod ridges are adapted to support the longitudinal side edges of the endless belt conveyor in a V-shaped arrangement when viewed in cross-section, and the longitudinal side edges of the endless belt conveyor slidably advance outside the groove, the endless belt conveyor thereby remaining in a substantially centered position within the accessory.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the heating rod ridges have a substantially triangular cross-section and the support surfaces are inclined such that an angle of at least 30 degrees is formed between the longitudinal side edges of the endless belt conveyor.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus further comprises a cooling bar operably thermally connected with the attachment to cool the adhesive and cause curing of the adhesive; the cooling rod comprising a longitudinal cooling rod groove extending between a cooling rod inlet and a cooling rod outlet and arranged with the longitudinal cooling rod groove facing an upper surface of the endless belt conveyor advancing within the accessory to define a passageway for the endless belt conveyor such that the longitudinal cooling rod groove is adapted to at least partially receive the wrapped filter rod; wherein the longitudinal cooling bar grooves are laterally delimited by side ridges presenting respective external abutment surfaces adapted to cooperate with the longitudinal side edges of the endless belt conveyor, and the surface area of the cross section of the longitudinal cooling bar grooves decreases between the cooling bar inlet and the cooling bar outlet.

11. Apparatus according to claim 6, comprising a compression device operatively connected to the appendage, arranged at a downstream end thereof and adapted to cooperate with the wrapped filter rod at a position along the overlapped first and second longitudinal edges of the wrapper web material so as to apply to the wrapped filter rod a compression load directed substantially along a radial direction of the wrapped filter rod.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the compression device comprises a cooperating portion having a substantially spherical shape.