CN110740649B

CN110740649B - Method for manufacturing a smoking article product

Info

Publication number: CN110740649B
Application number: CN201880041768.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: M.福尔格; A.潘茨
Original assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau GmbH
Current assignee: Kolber Technology Co ltd
Priority date: 2017-06-21
Filing date: 2018-06-14
Publication date: 2022-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2038-06-14
Also published as: EP3641572B1; EP3641572A1; EP4197351A1; DE102017005787A1; PL3641572T3; CN110740649A; WO2018234146A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a smoking article product (100) from a plurality of article portions (1, 2, 3, 4), a first group of article portions having a plurality of article portions (1, 2, 3) and an end portion XA and an end portion XB opposite to the end portion XA being formed, the first group of article portions (1, 2, 3) being conveyed transversely and being wrapped by a wrapping material strip U1 (10) which overlaps the plurality of article portions (1, 2, 3) of the first group of article portions and ends at a distance AA before the end portion XA and/or at a distance AB before the end portion XB, the wrapped first group of article portions (1, 2, 3) being cut centrally into two subgroups of article portions and the transversely conveyed subgroups of article portions (1, 2, 3) being subsequently reoriented in a posture relative to one another in such a way that the previously outer end portion A, of the wrapped subgroups of article portions (1, 2, 3) before reorientation, The ends B) face each other after reorientation. The invention also relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a smoking article product.

Description

Method for manufacturing a smoking article product

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a smoking article assembly from a respective plurality of article segments, in particular at least three or more than three article segments.

Background

In order to produce multi-segment filters, segments made of different materials are combined in a multi-filter machine to form filters, grouped and shaped into multi-segment filter rods, which are wrapped with a wrapper that wraps and tightens the filter segments assembled into a rod. Subsequently, the multi-segment filter rod is cut to length in multiple use lengths and further processed in a filter tip attachment machine. Known multi-filters are known under the name MULFI-ME or MERLIN from Hauni Maschinenbau GmbH.

Furthermore, EP 1441604B 1 discloses a multi-segment filter production plant for producing multi-segment filters for the tobacco processing industry, which has a device for wrapping groups of filter segments with a wrapping material. In this case, filter segments are correspondingly grouped in groups in a device for combining groups of filter segments, which is subdivided into modular functional units. In this case, for example, soft and hard filter segments are transported in a transverse manner or in a transport of the filter segments or groups of filter segments transverse to their longitudinal extension and are accordingly combined to form a multi-segment filter. The group of filter segments thus assembled is then wrapped or wrapped with a band of wrapping material using a band-rolling section. This also takes place in the direction of transport of the groups of filter segments, which is transverse to their longitudinal axis, i.e. in a transverse manner. The result is a multi-length filter which is transported further and, for example, can be inserted directly between two tobacco rods into a filter tipping machine if they are twice the used length.

Furthermore, a method and a machine for producing a multi-component cigarette are disclosed in WO 2014/064655 a 2. The method known from this suggests a first wrapping step with a wide wrapping strip that extends over the entire length of the modules arranged one above the other over its width, which entails technical and quality drawbacks that make the operation of the machine difficult and lead to relatively high rejects.

Disclosure of Invention

The aim of the invention is to produce rod-shaped smoking articles or smoking articles of the tobacco processing industry consisting of a plurality of segments in a simple and efficient manner, for example also products which are not burnt themselves but are heated for the purpose of releasing aerosols, so-called Heat not Burn products.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1. The invention also provides an apparatus for manufacturing a smoking article product according to claim 16.

The invention is based on the idea that rod-shaped smoking article products have a plurality of rod-shaped article sections, in particular more than three article sections, wherein the article sections, as well as the group of article sections and the subgroup of article sections, are conveyed in a transverse axial direction before and after the reorientation process. In this case, the article portions and the article portion groups and the article portion sub-groups are conveyed laterally on the conveying rollers or the corresponding conveying devices.

By cutting the formed wrapped article segment groups, preferably centrally, after the reorientation, precise, straight edges and/or contact surfaces are produced on the end of the finished smoking article product, so that the two neatly cut outer product ends contribute to an improvement in the product quality in the further processing of the smoking article product.

By providing a wrapping strip U1 which leaves sections without a wrapping strip U1 at the respective longitudinal axial ends of the rod-shaped intermediate product, it is ensured that, even with length tolerances of the individual segments (which can be added up when they abut one another), a flat contact surface is always ensured for further processing of the intermediate product and/or further processing of the product, which contact surface is not affected by irregular excess portions. Possible subsequent processing of the wrapping portion after the first wrapping step, such as trimming and cutting, in which the excess is removed, can be dispensed with.

The spacing AA and/or the spacing AB of the wrapping strip U1 from the respective end-side ends XA, XB of the group to be wrapped may be less than 0.25 mm and should be at least 0.1 mm. If the spacing AA and/or AB is chosen to be greater than 3.5 mm, the material consumption is advantageously kept small. A reliable connection is ensured if the wrapping strip U1 overlaps one or more sections to be connected with a cover length of 2-5 mm. The spacing AA and/or the spacing AB of the wrapping strip U1 from the respective end-side ends XA, XB of the group to be wrapped can also be greater than 3.0 mm, wherein adjoining sections are overlapped by the wrapping strip U1 with a covering of 2-5 mm.

In order to ensure a reliable connection, the wrapping strip U1 is provided with glue over the entire surface, or at least one larger, in particular major surface, preferably more than 30%, particularly preferably more than 50%, of the wrapping strip U1 is provided with glue. The wrapping strip U1 may also have glue-free areas and/or perforations.

Within the scope of the invention, rod-shaped smoking article products are constructed, for example, as multi-segment filters or as multi-filters. In addition, it is also possible in one embodiment within the scope of the invention for the smoking article products to each have a plurality of, in particular different, filter segments and additionally a segment with a substance that is consumable to the smoker, for example a flavoring agent. The smoking article product may be designed as a heat non-combustible product.

In particular, in the production method according to the invention, a first group of at least three article portions is provided, wherein the central article portion is cut centrally after the wrapping of the first group of article portions. Furthermore, it is conceivable within the scope of the invention for the first group of articles to have an even number of article portions, wherein the article portions are arranged symmetrically before the wrapping. In particular, at least two article sections of the group of article sections and of the subgroup of article sections and of the second group of article sections are different.

The smoking article product as a whole is manufactured with a plurality of different article segments.

Furthermore, in one embodiment of the method, it is provided that the second group of article segments is cut, preferably centrally, into two or more smoking article products.

For this purpose, it is also provided that the article sections of the first article section group are arranged symmetrically, in particular symmetrically with respect to a vertical center plane, before cutting, preferably abutting against one another or at a predetermined distance between two adjacent article sections. The central plane is understood to be a vertical plane relative to the longitudinal axis of the first formed article segment group, the length of the article segment group being centered in this vertical plane.

In addition, in the method, it is advantageously provided that the first group of article portions has an even number of article portions, in particular before cutting. The article sections are arranged symmetrically with respect to a center plane, wherein the cut through the first group of article sections is made in a vertical center plane.

In a further embodiment, the first group of article portions has an odd number of article portions, in particular before cutting. In this case, the article sections of the first article section group are likewise arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical center plane, wherein, after the wrapping of the first article section group, a central cut is made through the article section of the article section group arranged in the middle, preferably double long.

In one embodiment of the method, it is provided that, for forming or providing the first group of article portions, a plurality of article portions are preferably conveyed in a continuous sequence transversely and arranged next to one another, so that the first group of article portions is formed after the article portions have been arranged next to one another. In this case, the article sections of the first type are preferably conveyed so that the article sections of the first type are subsequently fed with article sections of the second type, wherein the article sections of the second type are arranged next to the article sections of the first type. In this case, the article portions of the first type and of the second type are conveyed and combined transversely to the axial direction on the respective conveying drum or conveying device.

Within the scope of the invention, it is possible for the article sections for the first article section group to be cut by cutting multiple lengths of article pieces into article sections before they are fed to the first article section group to be formed and then to be fed or conveyed to the first article section group to be formed.

In one embodiment of the method, for forming the first group of article portions, a plurality of article portions are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction and then one further or a plurality of, in particular two, article portions are arranged between the article portions spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. In this case, for example, the article sections are divided centrally into two or four or even number of article sections, so that the groups of article sections formed are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal axial direction, wherein the groups of article sections have the same number.

In a development of the method, provision is made in one embodiment for one or more article sections to be arranged at a preferably outer and/or free end of an article section or for one or more article sections to be arranged at ends of groups of article sections facing away from one another. The article sections forming the first article section group then rest, for example, on the ends of one article section or of a group of article sections facing away from one another, so that the article sections forming the first article section group are arranged symmetrically.

The method is further characterized in that the partial group of article segments formed from the first group of article segments is conveyed transversely, for example on a conveying drum or another conveying device, transversely after being redirected, for example in the form of a turn.

It is particularly advantageous if the subgroups of article segments are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal axial direction after or during the reorientation of the subgroups of article segments and then one or more article segments are introduced between the longitudinally axially spaced subgroups of article segments. Subsequently, the article sections can be pushed together against one another or oriented and positioned at a predetermined distance from one another, if necessary with a respectively individualized distance between two article sections adjacent to one another.

Within the scope of the invention, it is provided that only one or only two article portions are introduced between the subgroups of article portions spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis.

Furthermore, the method is characterized in one design in that the smoking article products formed from the second article segment groups are arranged in a row behind one another in a further method step in the transverse axial direction after the second article segment groups have been cut. The smoking article product is thus transported further, for example, for further processing on a filter tip attachment machine, wherein, for example, the device for producing the smoking article product (on which the method according to the invention is carried out) is connected to the filter tip attachment machine, so that the smoking article product is preferably transported further to the filter tip attachment machine in a transverse axial direction. In particular, the orientation of smoking article products arranged in a row one behind the other is the same.

In addition, an advantageous method step is characterized in that the article segments of the smoking article product are configured as filter segments, or the smoking article product has at least one or more filter segments as article segments and at least one article segment with consumable, in particular aromatic and/or tobacco-based products, respectively. The article can comprise a crimped tobacco film, a strip of tobacco film and/or tobacco fibers.

In general, a smoking article product having at least three article segments is provided by the method according to the invention, wherein a sub-group of article segments formed from a first group of article segments has at least two article segments.

Furthermore, it is possible within the scope of the invention to provide that the smoking article product being manufactured has four or more than four article segments, wherein the sub-group of article segments formed by the first group of article segments differs from the smoking article by one article segment.

Reorientation in the form of "steering

A preferred form of the reorientation step allows a simple apparatus construction with a turning device and is characterized in that the subgroups of article segments are reoriented in their posture relative to one another by means of a turning device which turns the subgroups of article segments, preferably by 180 degrees each, preferably two subgroups of article segments lying opposite one another simultaneously or successively, in particular in the case of forming a spacing between one subgroup of article segments and the subgroup of article segments lying opposite the subgroup of article segments, for the insertion of further article segments.

Reorientation in the form of "alignment/movement

Another preferred form of the reorientation step allows a simple construction of the apparatus with moving/aligning means and is characterized in that the sub-groups of article segments are reoriented in their relative posture to each other by means of the moving means, the shifting device first shifts two subgroups of article segments lying opposite one another in the longitudinal direction in relation to one another in the circumferential direction, preferably in the form of an arrangement step, preferably by one pitch on an arrangement grooved drum unit having a predetermined groove pitch, and one or both of the staggered sub-groups of article segments are moved longitudinally axially a path length greater than or equal to the length of the sub-group of article segments, the moving device is preferably followed by a further step of displacing the moved partial groups of article segments in a manner aligned in a circumferential direction, in particular by means of a step for displacing the moved partial groups of article segments in a manner aligned in a circumferential direction.

In this form, a specifiable insertion gap for the further article portions can be achieved by a correspondingly coordinated and adjusted path length (beyond the length of the subgroup of article portions) of the displacement in a reliable and simple manner.

Reorientation in the form of "removal/displacement

Another preferred form of the reorientation step allows a simple construction of the apparatus with conveying/moving means and is characterized in that the sub-groups of article segments are reoriented in their relative posture to each other by means of the conveying means, the conveyor removes, by means of a second grooved roller, preferably configured as a moving roller, the subgroups of article segments received by the first grooved roller, which are two mutually longitudinally opposite, the longitudinal axial movement on said second grooved roller is a path length greater than or equal to double the length of a subgroup of article segments, and the article segment subgroup initially lying opposite the longitudinal axis on the first drum in the circumferential direction is placed again on the first grooved drum, in particular offset in accordance with the indexing of the first and/or second grooved drum, preferably adjacent to the article segment subgroup remaining on the first drum after removal of the article segment subgroup to be moved.

In this form, a specifiable insertion gap for the further article portions can be achieved by a correspondingly coordinated and adjusted (more than twice the length of the subgroup of article portions) path length of the displacement in a reliable and simple manner.

The spacing AA of wrap strip U1 from end XA of the first group of article segments and the spacing AB of wrap strip U1 from end XB of the first group of article segments may be the same or different. The wrapping strip U1 is preferably positioned relative to the first group of article segments such that the spacings AA and AB are approximately the same as one another, particularly within a range of +/-10-20% of one another. The first group of article segments may also be oriented, either supplementally or individually, prior to wrapping with the wrapping strip U1 for proper positioning.

Further features of the invention can be taken from the description of embodiments according to the invention in conjunction with the claims and the drawings. Individual features or combinations of features may be realized according to embodiments of the present invention.

Drawings

Without limiting the general inventive concept, the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of example, wherein reference is explicitly made to the accompanying drawings with regard to all the details according to the invention which are not described in detail in the text. Wherein:

figures 1a to 1d each schematically illustrate a process flow for making a multi-segment filter and,

figures 2a to 2d each schematically show the method steps for making a multi-segment filter,

fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a machine for carrying out the method.

In the figures, identical or similar elements and/or components are provided with the same reference symbols, respectively, so that a repeated description is not provided accordingly.

Detailed Description

The spacing AA of wrapping strip U1 from end XA of the first group of article segments and the spacing AB of wrapping strip U1 before end XB of the first group of article segments are diagrammatically emphasized and indicated in fig. 1a, while the aforementioned spacing is not further shown in other figures. In the embodiment according to fig. 1a, the distances AA and AB are approximately equal.

The method steps for producing a multi-segment filter 100 are each schematically illustrated in fig. 1a to 1 c.

According to the exemplary embodiment in fig. 1a, two filter segments 1 arranged next to one another are provided in method step a and are conveyed further in a transverse axial direction. On its further transport, the filter segments 1 are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction, so that a gap is created and in method step B two filter segments 2 arranged next to one another are inserted into the gap between the longitudinally axially spaced filter segments 1. The

filter segments

1 and 2 are each transported on a transport drum or a corresponding transport device in a transverse axial direction, i.e. transversely to their central longitudinal axis.

Immediately before method step C, the symmetrically arranged structure of

filter segments

1 and 2 from method step B is divided centrally and the two halves of

filter segments

1, 2 are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal axial direction, so that two filter segments 3 arranged next to one another are then added to the intermediate space between the symmetrical groups of

filter segments

1 and 2 in order to add to the intermediate space between the two segments, thereby producing a first article segment group.

The groups of filter segments combined in method step C are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the center plane of the groups of combined filter segments. The

filter segments

1, 2, 3 combined in method step C are then transferred to a further transport cylinder, so that the filter segment arrangement composed of three filter segments is subsequently wrapped as a first group of article segments by the wrapping strip U110 in method step D. The wrapping strip U110 has a spacing AA from the end XA of the first group of article portions and a spacing AB from the end XB of the first group of article portions.

The first group of article sections has an end XA and an end XB opposite the end XA.

The wrapped filter segment arrangement is then transferred from method step D to a cutting drum, so that the wrapped filter segment groups are cut centrally on the cutting drum by means of a cutting knife 20 or a corresponding cutting device. This results in two filter segment groups which are each transferred as a subset of article segments to a redirecting device in the form of a deflecting device.

In method step F, the transferred filter segment groups are each rotated by 180 ° by means of a turning device, so that the filter segments 3 located inside in method step E are located outside after the turning process has been carried out in method step F. In this case, according to method step F, the groups of filter segments formed next to one another are each simultaneously turned through 180 ° by means of the respective turning device.

After the turning in method step F, the simultaneously turned groups of filter segments are transferred as subgroups of article segments to the transport drum, so that the groups of filter segments continue to be transported in the transverse axial direction. The filter segment groups are here spaced apart from one another transversely to the axial direction, wherein the first outwardly pointing ends XA and XB (see method step E) of the filter segments face one another after the turning.

Two filter segments 4 are then inserted into the central gap between the filter segment groups in method step G and subsequently wrapped in method step H by a second wrapping band U230, thereby producing a wrapped second group of segments. The material strip 30 is wrapped here around the centrally inserted filter segment 4 and around the already wrapped part of the adjacent filter segment 1 of the outer filter segment group.

Subsequently, the double length filter segment groups from method step H are conveyed axially transversely to the conveying drum, so that the double length filter segment groups as second product segment groups are subsequently cut centrally by means of the cutting knives 40 or corresponding cutting devices, so that two multi-segment filters 100 arranged symmetrically to one another are produced in method step I.

Subsequently, in a further method step, the multi-segment filters 100 arranged next to one another are passed through corresponding method steps and devices to form a row of multi-segment filters 100 arranged axially behind one another in the transverse direction in method step K.

Within the scope of the invention, it is conceivable to additionally space two reoriented, in particular turned and wrapped filter segment groups as article segment subgroups from each other in the longitudinal axial direction between method steps F and G. Furthermore, it is also possible within the scope of the invention to cut the individually provided

filter segments

1, 2, 3, 4 before forming a corresponding group or subgroup of multiple-length filter segment rods or multiple-length rods made of tobacco rod material, wherein a corresponding conveying process (alignment, movement, etc.) is provided for providing two filter segments or tobacco rod segments of the same type.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 1b, method steps a to F correspond to the method steps in fig. 1 a. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment in fig. 1a, a double length filter segment rod 400 is inserted in method step G between the filter segment groups with

filter segments

1, 2, 3 and is subsequently connected in method step H to the outer filter segment group by wrapping with a wrapping band U230, so that a second product segment group is produced. Subsequently, in method step E, the double-length filter segment rod 400 is cut into the single-length filter segments 4 by means of the cutting knife 40, wherein two multi-segment filters 100 are produced as smoking article products by means of a central cut.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 1C, in contrast to the exemplary embodiment in fig. 1a, in method step C, a double-length filter segment rod 300 is arranged in the intermediate spaces between the groups of

filter segments

1 and 2 arranged symmetrically to one another, so that subsequently in method step D, the double-length segment rod 300 together with the

outer filter segments

1 and 2 is wrapped by a wrapping band U110 into a first group of article segments and subsequently in method step E is cut into filter segments 3 by means of a cutting knife 20. The further method steps F to K correspond to the method steps shown in fig. 1 a.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 1D, in comparison with the other exemplary embodiments, in particular with fig. 1a, double

length filter segments

300 and 400 are inserted between the formed filter segment groups in method steps D and G (see method step C in fig. 1C and method step G in exemplary embodiment fig. 1 b).

Other process diagrams for making a multi-segment filter 100 are shown schematically in other embodiments 2a to 2 d.

According to the method step illustrated in fig. 2a, two separate filter segments 1 arranged next to one another are provided in method step a and are transported in the transverse axial direction. In method step B, two longitudinally axially spaced filter segments 2 are arranged in abutment with the outer free ends of the two filter segments 1 and are transported further, so that in method step C one filter segment 3 in each case abuts on the outer free end of a filter segment 2. In method step D, the group of filter segments combined in method step C is wrapped by a wrapping strip U110, so that a first wrapped group of article segments is produced, and subsequently in method step E the wrapped group of filter segments is formed into two identical subgroups of article segments arranged symmetrically to each other by means of a cutting knife 20 or the like.

Subsequently, the two subgroups of article segments are diverted in method step F by means of a redirecting device designed as a diverting device, so that the ends XA and XB of the filter segments 3 pointing outwards in method step E point inwards and are arranged opposite one another in method step G. Subsequently, in method step G, two filter segments 4 arranged next to one another are inserted between the rotated subgroups of article segments spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal axial direction, so that in method step H, the filter segments 4 are subsequently connected to the already wrapped article segments by means of the wrapping strip U230 to form a wrapped second group of article segments.

The entire second product segment group is subsequently cut centrally in method step I, so that two multi-segment filters 100 with four different segments are produced. In method step K, a row of multi-segment filters 100 of the same orientation is then formed, which are provided for further processing, for example, at a filter tip attachment machine.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 2b, the method steps a to F shown correspond to the method steps a to F in fig. 2 a. After the formation of two article segment subgroups each having three filter segments (see method step E), a double-length segment rod 400 is arranged in method step G between the article segment subgroups of

filter segments

1, 2, 3 spaced apart in the longitudinal axis direction and arranged symmetrically to one another, which is subsequently connected in method step H to two outer article groups by means of a wrapping band U230 to form a second article segment group.

Subsequently, in method step I, the double length rod 400 is cut into two filter segments 4 by means of the cutting knife 40, so that two multi-segment filters 100 having four different segments are formed by the cutting process. Next, the multi-segment filter 100 formed is positioned in a row of filter segments arranged one behind the other in method step K.

In the process schematic for producing a multi-segment filter 100 shown in fig. 2c, a double-length filter segment rod 110 is provided in process step a, so that subsequently in process step B two filter segments 2, the longitudinal axes of which are spaced apart from one another, are placed on the outer end of the filter segment rod 110 at said outer end. Filter segment 3 is then arranged in method step C on the outer free end of filter segment 2. In method step D, the group of articles formed in method step C is wrapped with a wrapping strip U110, so that subsequently after wrapping in method step E a wrapped first group of article segments is formed by cutting the segment rod 110 centrally into two filter segments 1, and two subgroups of article segments, each consisting of three

different filter segments

1, 2, 3, are formed by cutting by means of a cutting knife 20.

The further method steps F to K correspond to the method steps F to K according to fig. 2 a.

In the process diagram according to fig. 2d, process steps a to F correspond to the process steps in the exemplary embodiment of fig. 2 c. After the formation of two subgroups of article segments from three

different filter segments

1, 2, 3 and the turning thereof in method step F, a double-long segment rod 400 is placed centrally between the turned subgroups of article segments, which is then connected with the subgroups of article segments in method step H by means of wrapping strip U230, thereby producing a second group of wrapped article segments.

Subsequently, the double length segment rod 400 is divided in method step I into two filter segments 4, so that two multi-segment filters 100 are produced from the second product segment group, which are then arranged one behind the other and in the same orientation in a row (see method step K).

One embodiment of an apparatus for carrying out the method or for manufacturing a mass of smoking article products 100 is schematically illustrated in figure 3.

The apparatus for carrying out the method or for manufacturing a mass of smoking article products 100 comprises a combined apparatus consisting of a plurality of stations, preferably of the same or different construction, preferably arranged in succession to each other. One or each station is provided with a storage bin for receiving article segment types in the form of multi-length rods and a roller flow of the following rollers connected one behind the other: a drum for taking out the rod (take-out drum); a drum for cutting the rod into article pieces of multiple or single use length (a separate cutting drum, or a take-off drum with a cutting function); rollers for aligning (aligning rollers) and moving (moving rollers) the article pieces of multiple or single use length; and a combining drum for combining the article sections. For the purpose of combining with further article portions, a transfer drum can be connected downstream of the combining drum of a station, which is likewise received in the station of the combining drum. The combination drum is in operative connection with the drum flow for receiving the first article portions to be processed further and with the transfer drum of the upstream or downstream station, in particular with an intermediate joining drum.

A wrapping station operating in a transverse direction is connected behind the assembly, the wrapping station being provided with: the wrapping paper machine preferably comprises a wrapping paper supply device, especially according to the type of the paper covering machine; gluing station; a cutting station for cutting the wrapping strip U1; and a rolling station for joining groups of article segments. The wrapping station optionally has a cutting station for dividing the wrapped multiple-long, in particular two-long, group of article segments consisting of more than three segments into two or more sub-groups of article segments. The cutting station is preferably arranged at or adjacent to the outlet, in particular at the delivery drum of the wrapping station.

Downstream of the wrapping station there is provided a unit UEH for reorienting the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments arranged longitudinally axially opposite each other. The unit UEH for reorienting may be provided with a cutting station on the inlet side, which is arranged and configured for grouping a multiple, in particular double, length of wrapped groups of article segments consisting of more than three segments into two or more sub-groups of article segments.

The unit UEH for reorienting has a turning device which turns the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments by 180 degrees, respectively.

The deflecting device is designed and arranged for receiving two opposite sub-groups (1, 2, 3) of article segments and deflecting them simultaneously or in succession, in particular forming a distance between one sub-group (1, 2, 3) of article segments and the sub-group (1, 2, 3) of article segments opposite the sub-group (1, 2, 3) of article segments, for inserting a further article segment (4).

Downstream of the unit UEH for reorientation, there is connected an article segment adding and connecting station, in particular in the form of a filter tip tipping machine, comprising an adding station with a magazine for receiving article segment varieties in the form of multiple-length rods, a roller flow with the following rollers connected one behind the other: a drum for taking out the rod (take-out drum); a drum for cutting the rod into article pieces of multiple or single use length (a separate cutting drum, or a take-off drum with a cutting function); rollers for aligning (aligning rollers) and moving (moving rollers) the article pieces of multiple or single use length; a combining drum for combining article segments directed from a stream of drums of an article segment adding and connecting station with a redirected subgroup of article segments (1, 2, 3). The combined rollers of the segment adding and connecting station are configured and arranged to receive the article segments directed from the roller stream of the segment adding and connecting station between two spaced apart, reoriented subgroups of article segments. The combination drum of the product portion adding and connecting station is in operative connection with the deflecting drum, in particular directly or with the transfer drum in between.

The article segment adding and connecting station comprises a connecting station working in a transverse method, provided with: the wrapping paper machine, especially according to the type of the paper covering machine, preferably comprises a wrapping paper supply device; gluing station; a cutting station for cutting the wrapping strip U2; and a rolling station for joining groups of article segments. The group of article segments includes two reoriented subgroups of article segments and an article segment inserted between the reoriented subgroups of article segments. The wrapping station of the article segment adding and connecting station optionally has a cutting station for grouping wrapped multiple-length, in particular two-length, article segments consisting of more than three, preferably four segments into two or more smoking article products. The cutting station is preferably arranged at or adjacent the outlet, in particular at the delivery drum of the article segment adding and connecting station.

The device shown in fig. 3 is a variant of the machine disclosed by WO 2014/064655 a2 according to fig. 2 there. Details of the various parts of the machine or apparatus involved in such variations for carrying out the method or for manufacturing a large number of smoking article products 100, possible designs of the assembly device (the "CU" therein), the first wrapping station connected downstream of the assembly device (the "WU 1" therein), the segment adding and connecting station (the "WU 2" therein) refer to the description made with respect to fig. 2 therein, see page 5, line 13 to page 7, line 21, page 9, line 12 to page 17, line 10 of the description therein.

In order to avoid possible confusion of the reference numerals of the invention with those of fig. 3, the reference numerals of the invention in fig. 3 (cf. the description in WO 2014/064655 a 2) are preceded by a "z". For further details regarding the reference numerals denoted "z", reference is made to the above-mentioned references, as well as to information regarding the design of "CU", "WU 1", "WU 2" therein.

Fig. 3 is used for the purpose of simplifying the schematic overview, in addition to and/or in addition to the above description of one possible embodiment of the device, for a person skilled in the art.

In contrast to the device disclosed in WO 2014/064655 a2 according to fig. 2 and in a variant of this device, with respect to the first wrapping station for wrapping connected downstream of the assembly device, a unit UEH for redirecting subgroups of article segments is connected downstream thereof, and an article segment adding and connecting station is connected upstream thereof. In fig. 3, the unit UEH for reorienting is connected between the first wrapping device WU1 and the second wrapping device WU2 and is marked with "UEH" as a block.

In order to connect the unit UEH for reorientation to the preceding and following means, the unit UEH for reorientation can be assigned upstream and/or downstream conveying means which enable a continuous feed and discharge of the subgroup of article segments to be reoriented, in particular establish corresponding operative connections and are not shown in detail. This aspect is particularly important for retrofitting and reassembly.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, a cutting station z33 is arranged in the first wrapping device WU 1. The cutting station z33 divides the first wrapped group of article segments (1, 2, 3) into two sub-groups of article segments, each having the same number of article segments (1, 2, 3). The subgroup of article segments is then conveyed into unit UEH for reorientation and reorientation as described above. The insertion of a further article section 4 takes place in the second wrapping device WU 2. The correspondingly formed article portion groups are then connected by means of the wrapping material strips U230.

Further processing can then be carried out as described in WO 2014/064655A 2.

In contrast to the device and method disclosed in WO 2014/064655 a2, in the embodiment of the device according to fig. 3, positioning and/or guiding means are provided for the subgroups of article sections and/or the wrapping material strip U110, which positioning and/or guiding means are provided and designed to achieve and ensure the spacing AA at the ends XA and the spacing AB at the ends XB of the first group of article sections. The positioning means and/or the guiding means are preferably arranged in a first wrapping station ("WU 1" fig. 3) connected downstream of the assembly device ("CU" fig. 3).

The means for redirecting UEH may include a diverting roller as a diverting means that changes the attitude of the sub-groups of article segments relative to each other and has turning mechanisms each arranged to be rotatable 180 degrees. In this case, two opposite partial groups of article segments can be diverted simultaneously or successively, in particular with formation of a distance between a partial group of article segments and the partial group of article segments opposite it, for the insertion of further article segments.

The means for reorienting UEH may include a shifting/aligning device having an aligning roller that is associated with the shifting roller and having another aligning roller that is associated with the shifting roller. In this way, the subgroup of article segments can be reoriented in their posture relative to each other by means of the aligning/moving/aligning unit, the aligning/moving/aligning unit first shifts two subgroups of article portions lying opposite one another in the longitudinal direction in the circumferential direction by an index distance, preferably in a stepped manner, preferably on an aligning/grooved drum unit having a predetermined groove index distance, and moving one or both of the staggered sub-sets of article segments longitudinally axially a path length greater than or equal to the length of the sub-set of article segments, the arrangement/displacement/arrangement unit is preferably arranged next to the subgroup of article segments to be displaced in a longitudinally axially opposite manner to one another, in particular by means of a further step for indexing the displaced subgroup of article segments in the circumferential direction in a uniformly staggered manner.

In this form, a specifiable insertion gap for the further article portions 4 can be achieved reliably and in a simple manner by a correspondingly coordinated and adjusted path length (beyond the length of the subgroup of article portions) of the displacement.

The means for redirecting UEH may include a transfer/moving device having a first grooved roller and a second grooved roller, the grooved rollers having axially acting lifting chutes arranged and configured and cooperating such that the subgroups of article segments are redirected in their mutual relative position by means of the transfer/moving device. In this case, a subgroup of article segments is removed from the two subgroups of article segments lying opposite one another in the longitudinal direction and received by the first grooved drum by means of a second grooved drum, which is preferably designed as a displacement drum, is displaced on the second grooved drum by means of the lifting chute in the longitudinal direction by a path length which is greater than or equal to twice the length of the subgroup of article segments and is placed again on the first grooved drum in the circumferential direction offset relative to the subgroup of article segments initially lying opposite one another in the longitudinal direction on the first drum, in particular offset in accordance with the indexing of the first and/or second grooved drum, preferably adjacent to the subgroup of article segments remaining on the first drum after removal of the subgroup of article segments to be displaced.

In this form, a specifiable insertion gap for the further article portion can be achieved by a correspondingly adapted and adjusted (over twice the length of the subgroup of article portions) path length of the displacement in a reliable and simple manner.

All the mentioned features, including the features which can be seen only from the drawings, and also the individual features which are disclosed in combination with other features, are considered to be essential features of the invention both individually and in combination. Embodiments according to the present invention may be realized by any combination of individual features or a plurality of features. Features which are characterized by "in particular" or "preferably" are understood within the scope of the invention as optional features.

List of reference numerals

1 Filter segment

2 filter tip section

3 Filter tip segment

4 Filter segment

10 wrap strip U1

20 cutting knife

30 wrap strip U2

40 cutter

100 multi-segment filter

110 filter segment rod

300 filter tip segment rod

400 filter segment rod

A. B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K method step

XA end

XB end

AA spacing (end XA)

AB spacing (end XB).

Claims

1. Method for producing a smoking article product (100) from a plurality of article segments (1, 2, 3, 4), wherein a first group of article segments having more than three article segments (1, 2, 3) and having an end portion XA and an end portion XB opposite the end portion XA is formed or provided in a combined device having a plurality of stations arranged next to one another,

wherein, every station is equipped with:

a magazine for receiving article segment categories in the form of multiple length sticks,

a roller flow of rollers connected one behind the other, which rollers are constructed and arranged for taking out the rods, for cutting the rods into article pieces of multiple or single use length, for arranging and moving the article pieces of multiple or single use length,

and a combining drum for combining the article sections,

wherein the first group of article portions (1, 2, 3) is conveyed in a transverse axial direction and is wrapped by a wrapping material strip U1 (10) in a wrapping station connected downstream of the combining device for wrapping in a transverse method, which wrapping station is operated with the wrapping material strip U1, which wrapping material strip overlaps a plurality of article portions (1, 2, 3) of the first group of article portions and ends before an end XA of the first group of article portions at a distance AA and/or ends before an end XB of the first group of article portions at a distance AB, wherein the wrapped first group of article portions (1, 2, 3) is cut centrally and two subgroups of article portions each having the same number of article portions (1, 2, 3) are formed, and the subgroups of article portions (1, 2, 3) conveyed in a transverse axial direction are subsequently reoriented in a relative position to one another, so that the previously outer ends a, B of the partial groups (1, 2, 3) of the articles which were wrapped before the reorientation face each other after the reorientation, wherein at least one further article segment (4) is inserted between the ends a, B of the partial groups (1, 2, 3) which lie opposite each other after the reorientation and the at least one further article segment (4) is connected to the two side-adjacent partial groups (1, 2, 3) by wrapping with a wrapping material strip U2 (30) to form a second article segment group, and wherein at least one smoking article product (100) is formed from the second article segment group.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second group of article segments is cut into two or more smoking article products (100).

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the second group of article segments is cut centrally into two or more smoking article products (100).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the article segments of the first article segment group are symmetrically arranged prior to cutting.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the article segments of the first article segment group are arranged symmetrically about a vertical central plane prior to cutting.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the article segments of the first group of article segments are symmetrically arranged prior to being wrapped with a strip of wrapping material U1 (10) prior to cutting.

7. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the article sections of the first article section group are arranged symmetrically, respectively or partly against each other or spaced apart from each other before cutting.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first group of article segments has an even number of article segments.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first group of article segments has an even number of article segments prior to cutting.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first group of article segments has an odd number of article segments.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first group of article segments has an odd number of article segments prior to cutting.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of article sections are conveyed in a transverse axial direction and arranged side by side in order to form the first group of article sections.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of article segments are conveyed in a sequential order transversely axially and arranged side by side in order to form the first group of article segments.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of article sections are spaced longitudinally axially from one another and one further or more article sections are subsequently arranged between the longitudinally axially spaced article sections.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of article segments are longitudinally axially spaced from one another, and then two article segments are disposed between the longitudinally axially spaced article segments.

16. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that one or more article sections are arranged on the end of an article section or one or more article sections are arranged on the ends of groups of article sections facing away from each other.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of article segments is conveyed laterally after the diverting.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the sub-groups of article segments are spaced from each other in a longitudinal axial direction after the sub-groups of article segments are diverted and then one or more article segments are introduced between the sub-groups of article segments that are longitudinally spaced from each other.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the smoking article products (100) are arranged in a row behind each other in a transverse axial direction.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the article segments of the smoking article product (100) are configured as filter segments, or the smoking article product (100) has at least one or more filter segments as article segments and at least one article segment with a consumable product, respectively.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the article segments of the smoking article product (100) are configured as filter segments, or wherein the smoking article product (100) has at least one or more filter segments as article segments and at least one article segment with an aromatic and/or tobacco-based product, respectively.

22. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments are reoriented in their relative posture to each other by means of a turning device.

23. Method according to claim 22, characterized in that the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments are reoriented in their mutual relative posture by means of a turning device which turns the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments through 180 degrees, respectively.

24. Method according to claim 22, characterized in that the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments are reoriented in their mutual relative posture by means of a turning device, two subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments lying opposite each other being turned simultaneously or sequentially.

25. Method according to claim 22, characterized in that the subgroups of article sections (1, 2, 3) are reoriented in their mutual relative position by means of a turning device, two subgroups of article sections (1, 2, 3) lying opposite one another being turned simultaneously or successively while forming a distance between one subgroup of article sections (1, 2, 3) and the subgroup of article sections (1, 2, 3) lying opposite the subgroup of article sections (1, 2, 3) for placing a further article section (4).

26. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments are reoriented in their mutual relative position by means of a moving device which first of all shifts two subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments lying opposite one another in the longitudinal direction from one another in the circumferential direction and moves one or two shifted subgroups (1, 2, 3) longitudinally axially by a path length which is greater than or equal to the length of a subgroup (1, 2, 3) of article segments, and which moves the shifted subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments lying opposite one another in the longitudinal direction.

27. Method according to claim 26, characterized in that the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments are reoriented in their mutual relative posture by means of a moving device which first shifts two subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments longitudinally opposite each other in a stepwise manner in the circumferential direction.

28. Method according to claim 26, characterized in that the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments are reoriented in their posture relative to one another by means of a displacement device, which first of all causes two subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments lying opposite one another in the longitudinal direction to be arranged offset from one another in the circumferential direction by an index distance on an arrangement-grooved drum unit having a predetermined groove index distance.

29. Method according to claim 26, characterized in that the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments are reoriented in their mutual relative position by means of a moving device which is arranged next to the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments to be moved longitudinally axially opposite each other.

30. Method according to claim 26, characterized in that the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments are reoriented in their mutual relative posture by means of a moving device which arranges the moved subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments longitudinally axially opposite each other by means of a further step for indexing the moved subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments in unison in the circumferential direction.

31. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments are reoriented in their mutual relative position by means of a transfer device which takes out one subgroup (1, 2, 3) of article segments from two subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments lying opposite one another in the longitudinal direction and received by a first grooved roller by means of a second grooved roller, which subgroup of article segments is displaced on the second grooved roller in the longitudinal direction by a path length which is greater than or equal to twice the length of the subgroup (1, 2, 3) of article segments and is placed again on the first grooved roller in the circumferential direction offset with respect to the subgroup (1, 2, 3) of article segments initially lying opposite in the longitudinal direction on the first grooved roller.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the second grooved roller is configured as a moving roller.

33. Method according to claim 31, characterized in that the transfer device takes one subgroup of article segments (1, 2, 3) out of two subgroups of article segments (1, 2, 3) lying opposite one another in longitudinal axial direction and received by a first grooved drum by means of a second grooved drum, moves on the second grooved drum in the longitudinal axial direction over a path length which is greater than or equal to twice the length of the subgroup of article segments (1, 2, 3), and is placed again on the first grooved drum in the circumferential direction offset in relation to the subgroup of article segments (1, 2, 3) lying opposite one another in longitudinal axial direction initially on the first grooved drum in a manner corresponding to the indexing of the first and/or second grooved drum.

34. Method according to claim 31, characterized in that the transfer device takes out a subgroup of article segments (1, 2, 3) from two mutually longitudinally axially opposite subgroups of article segments (1, 2, 3) received by the first grooved roller by means of a second grooved roller, which subgroup of article segments is moved on the second grooved roller longitudinally axially over a path length which is greater than or equal to twice the length of the subgroup of article segments (1, 2, 3) and is placed again on the first grooved roller offset in the circumferential direction with respect to the initially longitudinally axially opposite subgroup of article segments (1, 2, 3) on the first grooved roller, adjacent to the subgroup of article segments (1, 2, 3) remaining on the first grooved roller after taking out the subgroup of article segments (1, 2, 3) to be moved.

35. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is carried out for manufacturing a smoking article product (100) from at least three or more article segments (1, 2, 3, 4).

36. Apparatus for manufacturing a smoking article product (100) from a respective plurality of article segments (1, 2, 3, 4), wherein a first group of article segments is formed or provided, having more than three article segments (1, 2, 3) and having an end XA and an end XB opposite to the end XA, wherein the first group of article segments (1, 2, 3) is conveyed transversely axially and is wrapped by a wrapping material strip U1 (10) which overlaps the plurality of article segments (1, 2, 3) of the first group of article segments and ends with a spacing AA before the end XA of the first group of article segments and/or with a spacing AB before the end XB of the first group of article segments,

the device comprises:

a combined device having a plurality of stations arranged in succession to one another, wherein each station is provided with: a magazine for receiving article segment categories in the form of multiple length rods; a stream of rollers connected one after the other, the rollers being constructed and arranged for taking out the rod, for cutting the rod into article pieces having a multiple or single use length, for arranging and moving the article pieces having a multiple or single use length; and a combining drum for combining the article sections,

the device further comprises:

a wrapping station operating in a transverse direction, connected downstream of the combining device, for wrapping with a wrapping strip U1 while maintaining the spacing AA and AB,

a unit UEH connected downstream of the wrapping station for reorienting the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments arranged longitudinally axially opposite each other, the unit being arranged and configured for reorienting the subgroups (1, 2, 3) of article segments in their relative posture to each other.

37. The device according to claim 36, wherein the device is arranged for manufacturing a smoking article product (100) from at least three or more article sections (1, 2, 3, 4).