CN108497549B

CN108497549B - Machine for the tobacco processing industry for feeding cigarette bundle machines and method for operating the same

Info

Publication number: CN108497549B
Application number: CN201810161907.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: H.福斯; P.戈尔茨; H-H.米勒
Original assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau GmbH
Current assignee: Kolber Technology Co ltd
Priority date: 2017-02-27
Filing date: 2018-02-27
Publication date: 2022-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-27
Also published as: DE102017104011A1; EP3366148A1; KR20180099530A; KR102607135B1; PL3366148T3; CN108497549A; EP3366148B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine (2) for feeding cigarette bundle machines and a method for operating the same in the tobacco processing industry. The machine (2) of the tobacco processing industry for feeding cigarette bundle machines is characterized in that, the machine comprises a storage (6) as an input device for tobacco material to be processed, the storage is used for flaky flat and readjusted tobacco material (8), wherein a comminution device (10) is provided, which is arranged downstream of the reservoir (6) and is provided for processing the reconditioned tobacco material (8) supplied by the input device into tobacco pieces (12) in a comminution process, and wherein the machine (2) further comprises a conveying device (14) arranged downstream of the comminution device (10) and provided for conveying the tobacco pieces (12) to a suction strand conveyor (4) of the cigarette strand machine.

Description

Machine for the tobacco processing industry for feeding cigarette bundle machines and method for operating the same

Technical Field

The invention relates to a machine for feeding cigarette bundle machines of the tobacco processing industry and to a method for operating a machine for feeding cigarette bundle machines of the tobacco processing industry.

Background

In the case of the production of cigarettes in the tobacco processing industry, the dispensing device is arranged upstream of the cigarette bundle machine. The dispensing device serves to dose, sieve (sichten) the tobacco stream, which is usually supplied via an air stream, and to form one or more tobacco strands from the sieved tobacco material, which are supplied to a downstream cigarette strand machine. Tobacco strands, which are usually composed of a mixture of tobacco of different tobacco components or varieties, are processed into cigarettes or the like. In the known method, the product flows required for producing cigarettes are collected (zusammengestellt) and mixed before entering the dispensing device. The tobacco stream is fed to the dispensing device via an input device, which is usually constituted by a feeding gate. In addition, the tobacco is sieved in a distribution device, separated and then fed via a containment shaft (Stauschacht) to a suction conveyor (saugstangf) for forming one or more strands of tobacco. The part of the product flow that is suitable for further processing is separated from undesired constituents (for example, tobacco ribs or foreign bodies) in the sifter. Dispensing devices are known, for example, from EP 1285592 a 2.

The tobacco that is reconditioned a plurality of times is added to the raw material used for making tobacco products (Rauchwaren). Such tobacco products are manufactured in a process similar to paper making or in a suspension process (Slurry-process). During the processing of tobacco, the processed material (e.g., dust, tobacco-rib, and the like) accumulates as a by-product in conventional processes. The reconditioned tobacco is manufactured in the form of a flat sheet and is shredded for further processing, for example as a mixture of cigarette tobacco. The granules thus obtained (Teilchen) are mixed in a predetermined mixing ratio, for example, in the preliminary stage of tobacco mixing. In this way, the tobacco to be reconditioned is also subjected to strand forming (strangforming) together with the tobacco material obtained from the tobacco leaf.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a novel machine for feeding cigarette bundles in the tobacco processing industry and a novel method for operating such a machine.

The object is achieved by a machine for feeding cigarette bundle machines of the tobacco processing industry, which is improved in the following manner: the machine comprises a reservoir as an input device for tobacco material to be processed, for sheet-like, flat, reconditioned tobacco material, wherein a comminution device is provided, which is arranged downstream of the reservoir and is provided for: -processing the reconditioned tobacco material provided by the input device into tobacco pieces (Tabak-Kleinteilen) in a comminution process, and wherein the machine further comprises a conveyor device arranged downstream of the comminution device and configured for: conveying the tobacco pieces to a suction strand conveyor of the cigarette strand machine.

Advantageously, the machine of the tobacco processing industry processes the raw material immediately upstream of the cigarette bundle machine without the need for additional, preliminary processing steps of the raw material. This eliminates the tobacco preparation (Aufbereiten) of the tobacco at the preliminary stage and the transport of the cut tobacco to the machine. The reconditioned tobacco material processed in the machine has a high density, so that transport and storage costs are low.

The machines of the tobacco processing industry for feeding cigarette bundle machines are much simpler to construct than conventional dispensers. For example, the pneumatic feed of the dispenser, the respectively necessary sluice, the sifter and the dosing unit (e.g. rotary sluice: Zellradschleuse) are advantageously dispensed with.

Furthermore, unlike conventional dispensers used in tobacco processing for feeding cigarette bundle machines, no further material discharge occurs, such as rib discharge (rippenhaustrag) from rib screening (rippennsichgung). The physical properties of the tobacco material being reconditioned are very stable and well controllable. Thus, the efficiency in the manufacture of cigarettes is very high, e.g. the defective rate is very low.

It is furthermore possible to determine the taste orientation or blend (Blends) directly in the production of the tobacco material to be reconditioned, so that a very stable production of, for example, a specific cigarette type is possible. Advantageously, the operator does not need tobacco-specific knowledge to operate the machine of the tobacco processing industry for feeding cigarette bundle machines, since no tobacco-specific fine adjustments have to be performed. This is particularly advantageous for discrete (non-centralised) cigarette production.

The tobacco material to be reconditioned is preferably a tobacco sheet manufactured in a paper sheeting process (Papierverfahren). Blending of tobacco-raw materials has been performed in liquid form (Blending), for example, by mixing different tobacco varieties. If necessary, the undesired active ingredient or constituents are extracted directly from the liquid mash in order to optimize the composition of the tobacco smoke in this way. Thus, the reconditioned tobacco material is also a finished mix that is fed directly to the strand forming.

In order to avoid a loss of quality of the reconstituted tobacco material during transport, it is preferably provided that the reconstituted tobacco material is encapsulated during transport and storage, for example by wrapping in a plastic wrap. Advantageously, the air conditioning in terms of temperature and air humidity required by conventional tobacco can be eliminated.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the machine of the tobacco processing industry is improved by: the reservoir includes a bobbin on which the flat, reconditioned tobacco material is rolled up.

In particular, it is provided that the machine comprises a bobbin changing device. Furthermore, the bobbin changing device is provided in particular for: the end of the readjusted tobacco material wound up on the first bobbin is connected to the start end of the readjusted tobacco material wound up on the second bobbin. In other words, the change between the first bobbin tube and the second bobbin tube is accomplished by means of a bobbin changing device, wherein such a change does not result in an interruption of production. Advantageously, the continuously reconditioned tobacco material can be fed to the comminution device. For example, EP 1798174B 1 describes a bobbin changing device. The automation unit disclosed in this document is provided, for example, upstream of the comminution station, for the automated handling of the bobbins. In particular, it is provided here that this automation unit is part of a machine of the tobacco processing industry according to one exemplary embodiment.

In particular, it is provided that the bobbin changing device is provided for replacing a first bobbin with a second bobbin, on which a flat, reconditioned tobacco material of a first type is wound up and on which a flat, reconditioned tobacco material of a second type is wound up, so that optionally the first type or the second type of the reconditioned tobacco material can be fed to the comminution device. In this way, particularly simple and effective variety replacement is possible.

In this connection, according to a further embodiment, it is provided that the machine of the tobacco processing industry is equipped with a processing unit, for example a microprocessor, a correspondingly provided computer server or the like, and that a signal relating to the processing speed of the cigarette bundle machine is received at this processing unit. According to this embodiment, the speed of rolling of the bobbin tube (i.e. the speed with which the readjusted tobacco material is fed to the punching device) is controlled or adjusted in dependence on this signal.

For example, in terms of handling, processing and storage, it is advantageous to provide the tobacco material readjusted on the bobbin, i.e. as a material rolled up or wound up on a roller.

Furthermore, the machines of the tobacco processing industry are improved by: the comminution device is a punching device, in particular a roller press (walzenstanzze), which comprises a punching roller (Stanzwalze) and a counter roller (Gegenwalze) cooperating with this punching roller.

Instead of a roller press, a travelling cutter (karrenbalkenstanzze) or the like can also be used. The advantage of a roller press is that it casts out tobacco pieces in a continuous process. The roller press is also simply called a rolling press (Rollenstanze).

The processing of the reconditioned tobacco material into tobacco pieces in a punching process (i.e. by means of a punching device) is particularly advantageous, since less secondary material (e.g. small tobacco particles, dust or the like) is deposited during punching. Furthermore, the raw material (in this case the reconditioned tobacco material) is treated very gently. Advantageously, the punching process allows for free shaping of the tobacco pieces. Possible shapes are, for example, polygonal, for example rectangular strips. L-shaped particles or the like. Furthermore, advantageously, the punching is a continuous process.

According to an advantageous further development, it is provided that the stamping roller and the counter roller cooperate along a stamping line which is not flat transversely to a feed plane in which the sheet-like flat, reconditioned tobacco material can be fed to the stamping device.

The press line is for example wave-shaped. Such a bipolar rolling (Walzung) of the reconstituted tobacco material enlarges the volume of the tobacco portions produced.

Preferably, the comminution of the tobacco pieces is carried out by means of a punching device. However, it is also possible to use a comminution device instead of a punching device, which comprises, for example, longitudinal and transverse cutters.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the machine is improved by: the reconditioned tobacco material comprises two joined single layers made of a flat, sheet-like reconditioned tobacco material, wherein the two single layers have different temperature expansion coefficients.

The different temperature expansion coefficients of the individual layers are achieved, for example, by using different binders (Binder) which are used for producing the individual layers. Possible examples are guar gum (Guarkernmehl) or guar gum (Guargummi) for the first monolayer and xanthan gum as binder for the second monolayer. The tobacco bits are bent under the effect of heat by an effect known, for example, from bimetallic, so that the volume of the tobacco bits as a whole increases in the tobacco rod. Advantageously, tobacco material can be saved and the filling capacity (filklraft) can be increased. To increase the effect, for example, heating of the tobacco material can be provided.

According to a further embodiment, the machine is improved by: the conveying device comprises a feed channel, which is free of internals and along which the punched tobacco pieces can be conveyed to the suction strand conveyor of the cigarette strand machine.

For example, a curved feed channel, which firstly has a free-fall path, wherein subsequently the transport of the tobacco portions takes place in the strand-forming direction, for example, by means of suction air. In particular, the conveying device does not comprise a sluice, a thinning device (vereinzengsvorrichtung) and a choke shaft, as it is known from conventional distributors. This considerably simplifies the construction of the machine.

According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the machine is configured to feed the cigarette bundle machine with only tobacco bits that have been punched out of the reconditioned tobacco material.

For example, a bobbin is adapted to the width normally used for dispensers, on which bobbin the readjusted tobacco material is wound up. Instead of feeding the strand completely with tobacco pieces (from the tobacco material to be reconstituted, so-called tobacco shreds), it is provided that the tobacco pieces are fed directly into a distributor or a choke shaft of a conventional machine for cigarette strand production. EP 1442666 a1 describes: the tobacco material to be reconditioned is for example added directly to the dispenser of the machine.

If the bundle of cigarettes consists only of tobacco pieces, which are punched out of the tobacco material to be reconditioned, an extremely uniform bundle of tobacco is obtained. This favorably affects head drop (Kopfausfall), weight, hardness, burnout value (abrauchwert), taste, and the like.

The object is also achieved by a method for operating a machine for feeding cigarette bundles in the tobacco processing industry, wherein the method is improved by: the machine comprises a reservoir as an input for tobacco material to be processed, a comminution device arranged downstream of the reservoir, and a conveying device arranged downstream of the comminution device, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing a sheet-like, flat, reconditioned tobacco material in the reservoir, feeding the reconditioned tobacco material from the reservoir into the comminution device, comminuting the reconditioned tobacco material into tobacco pieces, and conveying the tobacco pieces in the conveying device to a suction strand conveyor of the cigarette strand machine.

The same or similar advantages apply to the method, as already mentioned in connection with the machines of the tobacco processing industry.

In the context of the present description, the term "comminution" is understood to mean a process by which individual tobacco portions are cut or punched out of a sheet-like, flat, reconstituted tobacco material, for example. The "tobacco shreds" (or rather the individual tobacco pieces) produced in this way always have a spatially limited size. Tobacco pieces are not particularly continuous fibers or strips. Accordingly, the comminution process is not, in particular, a longitudinal cutting of the sheet-like, flat, reconditioned tobacco material, which has the purpose: producing a continuous fiber or ribbon.

According to an advantageous further development, it is provided that the flat, readjusted tobacco material wound up on a bobbin is provided and is fed from the bobbin to the comminution device by rolling, wherein in particular the bobbin controls or adjusts the rolling speed of the readjusted tobacco material as a function of the production speed of the cigarette bundle machine.

Further advantages are: by controlling and/or regulating the speed of rotation of the bobbin, the quantity of discharged tobacco portions produced from the reconstituted tobacco material can be determined or regulated or metered very precisely. This has the advantage that: trimming of the tobacco can be abandoned during strand forming. In other words, it does not have to be processed with an excess of tobacco as is conventionally done. This significantly improves the efficiency of the machine and the method.

By adapting the rolling speed to the production speed of the cigarette machine, a particularly efficient production can be ensured. In this connection, the method may also comprise a step in which, for example, a corresponding signal or data packet is received at a machine of the tobacco processing industry, the value of which is a function of the production speed of the cigarette maker. The rolling speed of the bobbin is controlled according to this value.

Furthermore, the method is improved, inter alia, by: the machine comprises a bobbin changing device and with which the ending end of the readjusted tobacco material wound up on the first bobbin is connected with the starting end of the readjusted tobacco material wound up on the second bobbin, so that a continuous readjusted tobacco material is fed to the comminution device.

Advantageously, no interruptions occur in the production process.

Furthermore, according to a further embodiment, it is provided that, during the change of the type of cigarettes produced by the cigarette bundle machine, the first bobbin is replaced by a second bobbin by means of a bobbin changing device, on which first bobbin the flat, readjusted tobacco material of the first type is wound up and on which second bobbin the flat, readjusted tobacco material of the second type is wound up, so that optionally the first type or the second type of readjusted tobacco material is fed to the comminution device.

According to this embodiment, a particularly simple and rapid change from one cigarette type to the next is possible. In addition, defective products inevitably occurring during replacement are minimized.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the tobacco portions are comminuted in a continuous process, in particular using a stamping device, and in particular using a roller press which comprises a stamping roller and a counter roller which interacts with this stamping roller.

Advantageously, only very few by-products, such as tobacco dust, are produced in a continuous stamping process.

Furthermore, the method is preferably improved by: the sheet-like flat, reconditioned tobacco material is comminuted in a roller press, the reconditioned tobacco material is fed to the roller press in a feed plane, and a punching process is carried out along a punching line which is uneven transversely to the feed plane, so that uneven or curved tobacco pieces are punched out.

In this way, it is possible to increase the volume of the tobacco bits punched out.

The comminution of the reconditioned tobacco material is preferably performed in a stamping process. However, it is also possible to comminute the tobacco material being reconditioned by longitudinal and transverse cutting.

Furthermore, it is provided in particular that the reconditioned tobacco material is fed to the punching device, which reconditioned tobacco material comprises two joined individual layers made of flat, sheet-like, reconditioned tobacco material, wherein the two individual layers have different temperature expansion coefficients. In this connection, it can also be provided that the tobacco material to be reconditioned is heated in order to improve or optimize the bending, twisting, etc. of the punched tobacco portions in an additive manner.

Furthermore, according to a further embodiment, it is provided that the tobacco portions are fed from the comminution device for processing in the cigarette bundle machine without further process steps. In this context, it is provided, in particular, that no further process steps (for example, locking of tobacco pieces (Schleusen), metering, blocking (Aufstauen) or subdivision thereof (Vereinzelung)) are carried out.

Further features of the invention will be apparent from the description of an embodiment according to the invention, taken together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments according to the invention can implement a single feature or a combination of features.

Drawings

The invention will be described without limiting the general inventive concept by reference to the embodiments, to which reference is made explicitly for details according to the invention, all of which are not set forth in detail in the text. The figures show:

figure 1 shows a machine of the tobacco processing industry for feeding cigarette bundle machines in a schematically simplified cross-sectional view,

FIG. 2 shows a stamping roll and a counter roll of a roll-stamping device, and

figure 3 shows a reconstituted tobacco material constructed from two single layers and tobacco pieces made therefrom.

In the figures, identical or similar elements and/or components are provided with the same reference numerals, respectively, and are therefore not described again in each case.

List of reference numerals

2 machine for the tobacco processing industry

4 suction beam conveyer

6 storage device

8 reconditioned tobacco material

10 crushing device

12 tobacco small block

14 conveying device

16 first bobbin

18 conveying device

20 second bobbin

22 stamping roller

24 mating roller

26 stamping line

28 feeding plane

30 first monolayer

32 second monolayer

34 feed channel

36 spray nozzle.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a machine 2 of the tobacco processing industry for feeding cigarette bundle machines (not shown in fig. 1). A suction strand conveyor 4 of a cigarette strand machine, not shown in addition, is indicated. In this suction strand conveyor, for example, a suction belt extends, with which one or more strands are shaped. The machine 2 of the tobacco processing industry, which is shown schematically and simplified in cross section, comprises a reservoir 6 as an input device for tobacco material to be processed, said reservoir serving for a sheet-like, flat, reconditioned tobacco material 8. Furthermore, the machine 2 comprises a shredding device 10 arranged downstream of the reservoir 6. The sheet-like, flat, reconditioned tobacco material 8 is supplied to a comminution device 10 and is processed in a comminution process into tobacco pieces 12, only some of which are provided with reference numerals for the sake of clarity. Furthermore, the machine 2 for feeding cigarette bundle machines of the tobacco processing industry comprises a conveyor 14, which is arranged downstream of the comminution device 10. A conveyor 14 is provided for conveying the tobacco pieces 12 to the suction strand conveyor 4 of the cigarette strand machine.

The machine 2 comprises, for example, a bobbin 16 as the reservoir 6, on which the flat, reconditioned tobacco material 8 is wound up. Preferably, a bobbin changing device 18 is included, as it is described, for example, in EP 1798174B 1. This bobbin changing device 18 is provided for connecting the end of the reconditioned tobacco material 8 wound up on the first bobbin 16 with the start end of the reconditioned tobacco material 8 wound up on the second bobbin 20. It is thus advantageously possible that the continuously readjusted tobacco material 8 can be fed to the comminution device 10. The device for handling bobbins known from EP 1798174B 1 comprises an automation unit 18, which shall be referred to as a bobbin changing device 18, which is arranged, for example, upstream of the comminution apparatus 10. The bobbin changing device 18 is particularly advantageous when a brand change should be performed. The bobbin changing device 18 is therefore provided in particular for optionally arranging the first bobbin 16 or the second bobbin 20 in such a way that the flat, reconditioned tobacco material 8 present on the respective bobbin 16, 20 can be fed to the comminution device 10. The bobbin changing device 18 is suitable, for example, for replacing the first bobbin 16 with a second bobbin 20, on which the flat, reconditioned tobacco material 8 of the first variety is wound up and on which the flat, reconditioned tobacco material 8 of the second variety is wound up. Thus, the first or second variety of reconditioned tobacco material 8 can optionally be fed to the reducing device 10. A very simple and rapid brand change is thus possible by means of the bobbin changing device 18.

The crushing device 10 is, for example, a press device. However, it is also provided that the cutting means 10 (e.g. longitudinal and transverse cutters) are present as comminution means 10. In the embodiment shown, the punching means is a roller punch comprising a punch roller 22 and a counter roller 24 cooperating with this punch roller.

The punching roller 22 comprises a punching knife, for example made of carbon steel, which is designed in such a way that the desired shape of the tobacco portions 12 is punched out of the tobacco material 8 that has been readjusted. With the aid of the punching device, it is possible to set the desired shape and size of the tobacco pieces 12 at will and, therefore, to adapt directly to the extrusion process during cigarette production. For example, a desired size distribution of the tobacco pieces 12 can be adjusted. The tobacco product made from the tobacco pieces 12 is very stable and uniform. The size and quality of the tobacco pieces 12 do not fluctuate in practice because: unlike tobacco leaves, the tobacco material 8 which is reconditioned does not in itself actually have fluctuations in its properties, quality, etc. Furthermore, the punching process is advantageous in that the reconditioned tobacco material 8 is very gently processed and, furthermore, virtually no by-products (e.g., tobacco dust) are produced. Furthermore, it is advantageous that, for example, the change of the punching roller 22 can be carried out very simply and quickly in order to achieve other sizes or size distributions of the punched tobacco portions 12.

The punching roller 22 and the counter roller 24 cooperate along a punching line 26 which is not flat transversely to a feed plane 28 in which the flat, reconditioned tobacco material 8 can be fed to the punching device.

Fig. 2 shows a stamping roller 22 and a counter roller 24, which can be rotated, for example, about rotational axes, which are each shown in the form of a dashed line. The roller pair is viewed in the direction of the feed plane 28, which is indicated by a dash-and-dot line. In this view, the punch line 26 extends in the plane of the paper and between or above the plane of the punch roller 22 and the counter roller 24. The direction of extension transverse to the feed plane 28, in which the punch lines 26 are uneven (undulated in the example shown), is also in the plane of the paper.

The outer sides of the

rollers

22, 24 are profiled (kontourier) in such a way that during the punching process the readjusted tobacco material 8 is deformed, which is guided along the feed plane 28 between the

rollers

22, 24. The resulting tobacco pieces 12 are bent, which increases the volume of the tobacco product made from the tobacco pieces 12.

The tobacco material 8 to be reconditioned is for example composed of two joined single layers. Fig. 3 shows such a reconditioned tobacco material 8 in a schematically simplified cross section.

The first monolayer 30, for example, has a first temperature coefficient of expansion, and the second monolayer 32 has a second temperature coefficient of expansion. If the second monolayer 32 has a greater temperature expansion coefficient, then, in the case of tobacco tablets 12 punched out of this reconditioned tobacco material 8, a deformation or bending of the tobacco tablet 12 takes place as a result of the heat treatment, which is indicated schematically by means of arrows, as is shown in fig. 3. This bending also results in an increase in the volume of the tobacco product that is made from the tobacco bits 12.

The conveyor 14 of the machine 2 for feeding cigarette bundles to a machine in the tobacco processing industry, which is shown in fig. 1, comprises a feed channel 34, which is free of internals. The tobacco pieces 12 can be conveyed through a feed channel 34 to a suction strand conveyor 4 of a cigarette strand machine (not shown). In particular, no gates, metering units, thinning devices, choking shafts or the like are present in the conveying device 14 or in the feed channel 34. The tobacco portions 12 fall along a free-fall path into a lower, curved region of the feed channel 34 and are transported pneumatically, for example by means of nozzles 36, in the direction of the suction strand conveyor 4.

The machine of the tobacco processing industry 2 is provided in particular for feeding cigarette bundle machines with only tobacco portions 12 produced from the tobacco material 8 to be reconditioned. In other words, the tobacco strand, which is produced by the cigarette strand machine, consists only of, for example, punched tobacco bits 12.

The speed of rotation of the bobbin 16, on which the readjusted tobacco material 8 is wound up, is adapted, for example, to the production speed of the cigarette bundle machine. The same applies to the processing speed of the comminution apparatus 10. It is thus possible that the cigarette rod machine is continuously provided to obtain the required amount of tobacco pieces 12 and to ensure an optimal rod shaping.

All the mentioned features, including those which can be taken from the drawings only and individual features which are disclosed in combination with other features, are also considered essential to the invention, either individually or in combination. Embodiments according to the invention can be realized by means of individual features or a plurality of specific combinations. Within the framework of the invention, features which are characterized by "in particular" or "preferably" are to be understood as optional features.

Claims

1. Machine (2) of the tobacco processing industry for feeding cigarette bundle machines, characterized in that the machine (2) comprises a reservoir (6) as an input device for tobacco material to be processed, for sheet-like, flat, reconditioned tobacco material (8), wherein a comminution device (10) is further comprised, which is arranged downstream of the reservoir (6) and is provided for processing the reconditioned tobacco material (8) provided by the input device into tobacco pieces (12) in a comminution process, wherein the machine (2) further comprises a conveying device (14), which is arranged downstream of the comminution device (10) and is provided for conveying the tobacco pieces (12) to a bundle conveyor (4) of the cigarette bundle machine, wherein the conveying device (14) comprises a feed channel (34) without internals, wherein the tobacco pieces (12) can be conveyed along the feed channel to the suction strand conveyor (4) of the cigarette strand machine, and wherein the machine (2) is provided for feeding the cigarette strand machine with only tobacco pieces (12) produced from the reconditioned tobacco material (8).

2. Machine (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that said reservoir (6) comprises a first bobbin (16) on which the flat, reconditioned tobacco material (8) is rolled up.

3. Machine (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that, in addition, the machine (2) comprises a bobbin changing device (18), wherein the bobbin changing device (18) is provided for connecting the end of the reconditioned tobacco material (8) wound up on the first bobbin (16) with the start end of the reconditioned tobacco material (8) wound up on the second bobbin (20) such that a continuous reconditioned tobacco material (8) can be fed to the comminution device (10).

4. Machine (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that said shredding means (10) are punching means.

5. Machine (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that said shredding device (10) is a roller press comprising a punching roller (22) and a counter roller (24) cooperating with this punching roller.

6. Machine (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that said punching roller (22) and said counter roller (24) cooperate along a punching line (26) which is not flat transversely to a feeding plane (28) in which said laminar flat, reconditioned tobacco material (8) can be fed to said comminution means.

7. Machine (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that said reconstituted tobacco material (8) comprises two joined single layers (30, 32) made of flat, sheet-like, reconstituted tobacco material (8), wherein the two single layers (30, 32) have different temperature expansion coefficients.

8. Method for operating a machine (2) of the tobacco processing industry for machine feeding cigarette bundles, characterized in that the machine (2) comprises a reservoir (6) as an input for tobacco material to be processed, a comminution device (10) arranged downstream of the reservoir (6) and a conveyor device (14) arranged downstream of the comminution device (10), wherein the conveyor device (14) comprises a feed channel (34) without internals, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

-providing a sheet-like flat, reconditioned tobacco material (8) in the reservoir (6),

-feeding the reconditioned tobacco material (8) from the reservoir (6) into the comminution device (10),

-comminuting the reconditioned tobacco material (8) into tobacco pieces (12), and,

-conveying the tobacco pieces (12) along a feed channel (34) in the conveying device (14) to a suction strand conveyor (4) of the cigarette strand machine, wherein the cigarette strand machine is fed only with tobacco pieces (12) produced from the reconditioned tobacco material (8).

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the flat, reconditioned tobacco material (8) wound up on a first bobbin (16) is provided and fed from the first bobbin (16) to the comminution device (10) by rolling.

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, in addition, the machine (2) comprises a bobbin changing device (18), wherein the end of the reconditioned tobacco material (8) rolled up on the first bobbin (16) is connected with the beginning end of the reconditioned tobacco material (8) rolled up on the second bobbin (20) by means of the bobbin changing device (18) such that a continuous reconditioned tobacco material (8) is fed to the comminution device (10).

11. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the tobacco pieces (12) are comminuted in a continuous process.

12. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the sheet-like flat, reconditioned tobacco material (8) is comminuted in a roller press, the reconditioned tobacco material (8) is fed to the roller press in a feed plane (28), and the pressing process is carried out along a pressing line (26) which is uneven transversely to the feed plane (28) such that uneven or curved tobacco pieces (12) are punched out.

13. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the reconditioned tobacco material (8) is fed to the comminution device (10), said reconditioned tobacco material comprising two joined single layers (30, 32) made of flat, sheet-like, reconditioned tobacco material (8), wherein the two single layers (30, 32) have different temperature expansion coefficients.

14. A method according to claim 8, wherein the tobacco pieces (12) are fed by the comminution device (10) for processing in the cigarette bundle machine without additional process steps.

15. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the first bobbin (16) controls or adjusts the rolling speed of the readjusted tobacco material (8) according to the production speed of the cigarette bundle machine.

16. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the tobacco pieces (12) are comminuted in a continuous process using a stamping device.

17. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the tobacco pieces (12) are comminuted in a continuous process with a roller press, wherein the roller press comprises a press roller (22) and a counter roller (24) cooperating with this press roller.