EP1629735B1 - Apparatus for feeding filters - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a supply repository (40) for articles. Two withdrawal units (11, 21) are provided for the articles, where the articles are withdrawn from the supply repository using respective withdrawal units. The supply repository is designed or adaptable for two types of articles. A separate discharge section (L, R) is provided for the articles withdrawn from the repository. An independent claim is also included for a method for feeding a rod shaped article in a tobacco processing industry.

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for feeding rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter pieces, from a storage magazine, wherein the articles from the supply magazine (40, 44) either by means of a removal device (11, 21) can be removed or removed. Moreover, the invention relates to a machine of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter attachment machine or filter manufacturing machine.

In the document GB-A-2 267 021 is a Filteransetzmaschine described in which two magazines each filter rods are removed. After removing a first filter rod, this filter rod is cut in the middle and pushed apart laterally. Subsequently, a second filter rod from the other magazine is inserted centrally between the sections of the first filter rod. This filter rod assembly is subsequently cut, staggered and pushed on drums respectively. This process - cutting, staggering and moving the filter pieces - is repeated and thus executed a total of twice. The resulting combination filter of the two different filter rods is subsequently transferred to a compilation drum with cigarette rods.

In the patent EP-B-0 674 853 (equivalent to U.S. 5,984,851 ) also describes a filter feed in a filter attachment machine. For this purpose, the filters or filter pieces are cut several times in succession on the drums, staggered and moved. By means of the disclosed feeder, the cigarette groups can be delivered with single or dual filters.

Further, this patent describes the optional application of simple or double filters between longitudinally spaced tobacco rod pairs. For this purpose, the filter attachment machine has two storage containers for filter rods and two drum trains for removing, transporting and processing the filter rods. Further, a third drum train is provided, on which the first drum trains open to insert the filter between the tobacco sticks. In addition, an adjustment device is provided to adapt the two first drum trains to double filter or single filter operation. According to the technical teaching, the two first drum trains are always in operation together.

In DE-A-101 46 019 Furthermore, a device for the production of multi-segment filters is described, which consists of different modules or units. In a hard filter unit hard filter elements are removed from a storage container simultaneously via two feed chutes.

Furthermore, in DE-A-101 46 992 a transfer device and a drum for the transfer of hard filter elements described. Further disclosed DE-A-197 48 074 a device for flexible supply of multiple cigarette machines with filter rods, wherein between a filter rod manufacturing machine and a filter feeder a filter reservoir is provided.

Further disclosed CA-A-954 001 a method for the distribution of manufactured filters from a filter memory, wherein fed from a filter memory various filter processing machines with filter rods. For feeding to the filter processing machines, the filter rods are sorted by means of a kind of centrifuge.

Based on this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and variable supply of filter rods from a storage magazine, the effort and the adjustments should be as small as possible in a product change.

The first solution of the problem is in a device for supplying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter pieces, with a storage magazine for the article, wherein at least two removal devices are provided for the article, the articles from the storage magazine either or can be removed in each case by means of a removal device, proposed that in the storage magazine, a lock device for supplying the article to each, a removal device is provided. The fact that there are at least two removal devices on the magazine, which are operated in alternation, it is possible that from the storage magazine two different types of Filter rods can be removed. For example, in a first production run on a filter attachment filter rods are removed from the magazine and cut four times. After a product change, for example, longer filter rods are removed from the supply magazine from the other removal device and cut six times. By means of the device according to the invention, it is thus possible to remove filter rods of different lengths without a format change to the feeder from the same filter magazine. Thus, alternatively or alternately, two different filter formats can be used on the filter feed device.

For a specific feeding of the articles in the supply magazine to a removal device, a lock device for the articles is provided in the supply magazine. By means of the lock device, access to a respective removal device is made possible, while the other removal device is not supplied with articles, since the lock device simultaneously serves as a barrier for this purpose.

According to an advantageous development, the storage magazine is designed or adaptable for at least two types of articles, so that at least two different, predetermined filter formats are received in the filter magazine. For this purpose, for example, the front or rear wall of the storage magazine or filter magazine slidably disposed so that different lengths filter rods can be filled and processed. In particular, the front and the rear wall of the storage magazine are movable or displaceable by means of at least one, preferably motor, drive.

To an automatic filling of the storage magazine with rod-shaped To reach articles or filter rods, the storage magazine is formed with an article receiving station. Such a filter receiving station is known under the name "Filtromat" HAUNI Maschinenbau AG.

Furthermore, the storage magazine is preferably formed by means of a tray, so that the tray containers filled with filter rods are used as a storage container for the storage magazine.

A further embodiment of the device consists in that a separate conveyor section is provided in each case for the articles removed from each removal device, so that after removal the conveyed articles have a separate drum run or conveying path in the conveying direction of the articles. For this purpose, each separate conveying section advantageously comprises at least one conveying member.

In particular, as a conveying member, a removal drum and / or a cutting drum and / or a staggering drum and / or a sliding drum and / or an accelerator drum is provided so that formed in accordance with desired or predetermined combination of said conveying means a drum or a drum assembly for the separate conveyor sections is.

Moreover, it is advantageous if, in the conveying direction of the article, a common conveying section for the articles with at least one conveying element is provided following the separate conveying sections. For example, cut filter pieces or filter plugs are further conveyed via the common conveying section and inserted between pairs of tobacco sticks which are spaced along the longitudinal axis. Thereby, a predetermined drum run for each taken from the article.

Furthermore, it is preferred if in each case a single drive is provided for each conveying member.

According to an alternative embodiment, a drive is provided in each case for a plurality of conveying elements, so that a gear unit is provided by means of the common drive, which drives, for example, a plurality of drums of a conveying section synchronously.

In order to enable a change from a first removal device to the second removal device in a product change, the lock device is changeable in position in the supply magazine.

For this purpose, it is advantageous if the lock device is formed by means of a guide element, in particular guide plate, or by means of a blind or the like, which have the function of a lock or a Sperrleiteinrichtung.

In addition, the device is further developed in that the lock device is formed by means of a conveyor belt or conveyor member.

In particular, the conveyor belt or the conveying member is reversible with respect to the conveying direction in order to transport the articles in alternation with the removal points or removal drums. Due to the reversibility of the conveying organs can be done a quick switch from one sampling point to another sampling point.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a machine of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter attachment machine or filter manufacturing machine, which is equipped with a feed device described above. To avoid repetition, reference is expressly made to the above statements.

As a further solution, in a method for feeding rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter pieces, from a storage magazine for the articles, wherein the articles are removed from the supply magazine alternately by means of one of at least two removal devices, it is proposed that in the storage magazine, the articles are alternately guided to a removal device by means of a lock device.

For this purpose, it is further proposed that the storage magazine is adapted to each type of article, so that thereby easily a format change or article change is achieved in the storage magazine. The adjustment can be done by adjusting the width of the magazine walls, for example.

In addition, the storage magazine is formed by means of a tray, so that the articles are removed from the tray.

For an automatic filling of the storage magazine is further proposed that the articles are introduced from an article receiving station in the supply magazine.

In a preferred embodiment, the articles taken from the removal device are each in a separate Promoted conveying section by means of at least one conveying member.

Furthermore, it is favorable if the articles are conveyed to the separate conveying section in a common conveying section by means of at least one conveying element.

Preferably, the conveying members are each driven by means of a single drive. Alternatively, several conveying members are each driven by means of a drive.

In order to achieve a change operation or format change or change of the removal devices, the position of the lock device in the storage magazine is changed for this purpose.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method, it is proposed that the articles are conveyed by means of the lock device alternately to a respective removal device. For this purpose, the lock device is preferably designed as a reversible conveying member or as in its conveying direction reversible conveyor belt.

The invention has the advantage that with a magazine and at least two removal devices different filter rod formats can be processed on a machine, without extensive rebuilding measures are performed on the storage magazine. In addition, predetermined conveying devices or conveyor drums are provided following the removal of the articles, so that the articles are reliably removed from the storage magazine by switching to the other drum run.

Fig. 1

eine Ansicht einer Filteransetzmaschine mit einer Zuführeinrichtung gemäß dem Stand der Technik;

Fig. 2a, 2b

schematische Darstellungen zweier unterschiedlicher Betriebszustände eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Zuführeinrichtung;

Fig, 3a. 3b

schematische Darstellungen zweier unterschiedlicher Betriebszustände eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Zuführeinrichtung;

Fig. 4a, 4b

schematisch ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Zuführeinrichtung in zwei verschiedenen Betriebszuständen in einer Seitenansicht;

Fig. 5

schematisch ein viertes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Zuführeinrichtung;

Fig. 6a

einen Ausschnitt aus dem in Fig. 4b gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel mit einer Schnittlinie I - I und

Fig. 6b

eine Draufsicht auf die Zuführeinrichtung gemäß der in Fig. 6a eingezeichneten Schnittlinie I - I.

The invention will be described in more detail below without limiting the general idea of the invention by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, reference being expressly made to the drawings with respect to all details of the invention which are not explained in greater detail in the text. Show it:

Fig. 1

a view of a filter attachment machine with a feeder according to the prior art;

Fig. 2a, 2b

schematic representations of two different operating states of a first embodiment of a feed device according to the invention;

Fig. 3a. 3b

schematic representations of two different operating states of a second embodiment of a feeder;

Fig. 4a, 4b

schematically a third embodiment of a feed device according to the invention in two different operating states in a side view;

Fig. 5

schematically a fourth embodiment of a feeder;

Fig. 6a

a section of the in Fig. 4b shown embodiment with a section line I - I and

Fig. 6b

a plan view of the feeder according to the in Fig. 6a drawn section line I - I.

In the following figures, identical or similar elements or corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that apart from a respective renewed idea.

In Fig. 1 is the front view of a Filteraufsetzmaschlne MAX type of Hauni Maschinenbau AG shown. This machine has the following details: An infeed drum 111 transfers the tobacco sticks produced by a cigarette rod making machine to a staggering drum 222, which deliver the supplied tobacco stalks of two pieces each with a space between the tobacco sticks to an assembling drum 133,

The filter rods pass from a magazine 40 onto a removal drum 60 where they are cut into filter plugs of double use length, staggered on a staggering drum 70, aligned by a sliding drum 80 to a series of consecutive plugs and an accelerator drum 90 in the spaces between the cigarette rows on the compilation drum 133 filed. The tobacco rod filter plug tobacco rod groups are taken over by a tumbling drum 110 and pushed together.

By means of the magazine 40, the drums 60, 70, 80, 90, a feeder 50 is formed for the filter rods.

A backing paper strip 120 drawn from a tipping paper bobbin 130 is glued by a gluing device 140 and then cut in a cutting device 160 on a suction drum 170 by the knives of a knife drum 180 into tufts. The separated pad sheets are adhered to the tobacco rod filter plug tobacco rod groups on the tumbling drum 110 and rolled on a roller drum 190 around the cigarette filter groups.

The finished double filter cigarettes are fed via a transfer drum 210 of a cutting drum 220 and assembled on this by central cutting through the filter plug to single-filter cigarettes. A turning device 230 turns the series of filter cigarettes and at the same time transfers them into the passing unswept filter cigar relays. The filter cigarettes pass through a test drum 240 to an ejector drum 260. A take-off drum 280 cooperating with a brake drum 270 places the filter cigarettes on a take-off belt 290.

Fig. 2a shows a first embodiment of a feed device 50 according to the invention, wherein from the magazine 40, the filter rods are guided for removal in the lower left area. For this purpose, a guide plate 42 is arranged in the feed region 41 in the right-hand region of the feed region 41. The baffle 42 is in Fig. 2a and the following figures are shown by dashed lines. The positions or working positions of the lightweight sheet 42 have a lock function. As a result, the filter rods are guided from the magazine 40 into the left region of the feed region 41, while the lower right region of the feed region 41 is blocked.

At the in Fig. 2a shown embodiment 40 two sampling points for removal of filter rods are provided in the lower region of the magazine.

To remove filter rods on the left side, a removal drum 11 is arranged in the lower region, so that the filter rods are removed from the magazine 40 and cut by means of one or more cutting blade 12 in filter plug double use length. Subsequently, the cut filter plugs are transferred from the removal drum 11 to a staggering drum 13, on which the filter plugs are staggered. Thereafter, the staggered filter plugs are transferred to a sliding drum 14, on which the filter plugs are arranged in a row one behind the other. Subsequently, the filter plug are transferred to an accelerator drum 15.

From the accelerator drum 15, the cut and Queraxial successively arranged in a row filter plug to the Übergabetrommein 31, 32 passed and to the assembly drum 133 (see. Fig. 1 ).

The right conveyor section, consisting of a removal drum 21, one or two arranged on the removal drum 21 cutting blades 22, a sliding drum 23, a staggering drum 24 and an accelerator drum 25, is not operated in this case, since the feed region 41 on the right side of the baffle 42 is separated, so that no filter rods reach the removal point with the removal drum 21. The accelerator drum 25 runs with it so that the filter plugs can be transported from the accelerator drum 15 via the transfer drum 31 to the transfer drum 32 without colliding with the accelerator drum 25.

In a product change, the working position of the baffle 42 ( Fig. 2a ), so that the left portion of the feed section 41 is blocked by the guide plate 42. This is in Fig. 2b shown. The filter rods are then removed via the right conveying section with the drums 21, 23, 24, 25. The filter plugs cut from the removed filter rods are arranged on the accelerator drum 25 transversely in succession in a row and are transferred via the transfer drums 31, 32 to the assembling drum 133 delivered.

By the drums 11, 13, 14 and 15, a separate conveyor section for the removed on the left side Fllterstäbe or filter plug is formed. This separate conveying section is designated by the reference symbol L. When removing the filter rods and conveying the cut from the filter rods filter plug in the left conveyor section L (see. Fig. 2a ), the filter rods are subsequently transferred to the transfer drum 31, 32. In addition, the accelerator drum 25 is additionally driven together with the transfer drum 31, 32, so that the filter plugs conveyed via this transport path do not collide with the accelerator drum 25 since the accelerator drum 25 is arranged therebetween on the transport path of the filter plugs from the accelerator drum 15 to the transfer drum 32 ,

The right conveying section for the filter rods or cut filter plugs removed on the right side of the magazine 40 is designated by the reference symbol R and consists of the drums 21, 23, 24 and 25. When conveying the filter rods or filter plugs in the right conveying section R (cf. , Fig. 2b ), the drums 11, 13, 14, 15 of the left conveyor section L are not driven, since the filter plug directly from the accelerator drum 25 passed from the transfer drum 31 to the subsequent transfer drum 32.

For transferring the cut filter plugs, a common conveying section for both conveying sections L and R, consisting of the transfer drums 31, 32, is also provided and is designated by the reference symbol G.

Depending on the desired filter format or cigarette format on a filter attachment machine filter rods from the magazine 40 either over the left conveyor section L (see. Fig. 2a ) or the right conveyor section R (see. Fig. 2b ). If the removal or delivery of the filter plug takes place via one of the two conveyor sections L and R, the corresponding conveyor members of the conveyor section L and R are driven, while the conveying members of the other conveyor section R and L are at least partially not driven, ie the conveying members are completely, or only partially at rest.

The in the FIGS. 2a . 2 B Feeding device 50 shown is attached to an existing filter attachment machine (cf. Fig. 1 ) Can be retrofitted, so that the benefits of such upgraded Filteransetzmaschine is significantly increased, since a product change is greatly facilitated on the filter attachment.

As a magazine 40 or storage magazine are in the embodiments In Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b filled tray containers used with filter rods.

In the FIGS. 3a . 3b is in each case an embodiment corresponding to the FIGS. 2a . 2 B illustrated, wherein the feeder 50 in Fig. 3a . 3b additionally has a filter receiving station 45, which receives filter rods from a filter transmitter, not shown here, and inserts laterally into the feed region 41 or into the filter magazine 44. A known filter receiver is known under the name "Filtromat" HAUNI Maschinenbau AG.

Characterized in that the filter rods are introduced from the filter receiving station 45, the guide plate 42 is arranged horizontally for removing the filter rods on the left conveyor section L (see. Fig. 3a ). Fig. 3b shows the operating state of the feeder 50, in which the filter plugs are removed via the right conveyor section R from the filter magazine 44 and cut into filter plugs, which are transported via the drums 21, 23, 24, 25 to the Übergabetrommein 31, 32. The baffle 42 is arranged in this case so that the left portion of the feed portion 41 is locked.

A further embodiment of a feed device 50 according to the invention is in the FIGS. 4a and 4b shown. In the two figures, the working positions of the guide plate 42 are each shown as a lock device.

In contrast to the embodiments shown in the previous drawings, an accelerator drum 33 is provided in the common conveyor section G, which the functionality of the accelerator drums 15, 25 (see. Fig. 2a ) and the two transfer drums 31, 32 combined. From the accelerator drum 33, the filter plugs are delivered to the assembly drum 133.

Furthermore, in Fig. 4a shown schematically that the drums 11, 13, 14, 21, 23, 24, 33 are each driven by a single drive. The single drive for the respective drums is designated by the reference numeral 35.

In Fig. 4b an alternative drive concept for the drums 11, 13, 14, 21, 23, 24 is shown. Hlerbei is provided for the left conveyor section L, a common drive 36 for the drums 11, 13 and formed for the right conveyor section R, a common drive 37 for the drums 21, 23 and 24. Since the drum 14 of the left conveyor section L is rotated to avoid collisions with filter plugs which are conveyed upon removal and conveyance in the right conveyor section R and then transferred to the accelerator drum 33, the drum 14 and the accelerator drum 33 are driven by a common drive 38 driven.

A fourth embodiment of a feeder 50 is shown in FIG Fig. 5 shown. In the feed region 41 inwardly and downwardly facing guide plates 46, 47 are arranged to guide the filter rods from the filter magazine 44 to the removal drums 11, 21. In the lower region of the feed region 41, a horizontally conveying conveyor belt 48 is arranged, which conveys the supplied filter rods either to the removal drum 11 or 21. For this purpose, a drive 49 is associated with the conveyor belt 48, by means of which the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 48 is reversible or reversible. As a result, the removal units 11 or 21 are alternately conveyed to the filter rods, depending on which conveyor section the filter rods or plugs are transported.

When the conveyor belt 48 transports the filter rods to the left side, the filter rods are picked up by the counterclockwise rotating removal drum 11 and cut into filter plugs by means of the cutting blades 12. After the transfer of the filter plug to the staggering drum 13, the filter plugs are staggered and transferred to the sliding drum 14, on which the filter plug be arranged in a row one behind the other.

If the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 48 is reversed, the filter rods are removed via the counterclockwise rotating removal drum 21 and, after being cut into filter plugs, are fed by means of the cutting blade 22 via the sliding drum 23 to the staggering drum 24. Subsequently, the filter plugs arranged transversely axially behind one another are transferred from the staggering drum 24 to a transfer drum 26, so that the filter stoppers conveyed in the right-hand conveying section R are transferred to the common transfer drum 31. From the transfer drum 31, the filter plug are conveyed to an accelerator drum 39 on.

If the filter plugs are conveyed in the left conveyor section L, the filter plugs are also transferred to the transfer drum 31, wherein the transfer drum 26 rotates so that the filter plugs can be transported from the left conveyor section to the accelerator drum 29 without colliding with the transfer drum 26.

In Fig. 6 is a part of the In Fig. 4b illustrated embodiment shown in fragmentary form. Furthermore, In Fig. 6a a section line II drawn. A corresponding plan view of the filter magazine or the feeding device along the drawn line II is in cross section in Fig. 6b shown. From this it can be seen that the extraction units 11, 21 are arranged in rotation on associated control bodies 17 and 27, respectively. The control bodies 17, 27 are arranged on the machine side MS of the filter feed device 50.

The filter magazine 44 also has a horizontally displaceable rear wall 51 and a likewise horizontally displaceable front wall 52 on. The front wall 52 and the rear wall 51 of the filter magazine 44 are penetrated by rod-like guides 53, 54, so that the rear wall 51 and the front wall 52 to the length of the male filter rods in the filter magazine 44 (vgi. Fig. 6a ) can be adjusted. The front wall 52 and the rear wall 51 of the filter cartridge serve as a guide for the filter rods.

In order to vary the distance between the front wall 52 and the rear wall 51, the guides 53, 54, for example, so rotatably mounted, so that by means of the rotatable guide 53, the rear wall 51 or by means of the rotatable guide 54, the front wall 52 in the manner of a screw drive or Spindle drive is moved. For this purpose, separate motor drives 55, 56 are provided for the guides 53, 54.

According to the length of the recorded filter rods in the filter magazine 44, the distance between the rear wall 51 and the front wall 52 and corresponding to the width of the removal drum 11 or the removal drum 21 is set so that the filter rods safely and reliably received from the flat magazine 44 without transverse filter rods and then be removed accordingly.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11

removal drum

12

cutting blade

13

staggering drum

14

Schlebetrommel

15

accelerating drum

17

control body

21

removal drum

22

cutting blade

23

staggering drum

24

pushing drum

25

accelerating drum

26

Transfer drum

27

control body

31

Transfer drum

32

Transfer drum

33

accelerating drum

35

individual drive

36

drive

37

drive

38

drive

39

accelerating drum

40

magazine

41

feeding

42

baffle

44

Filtermagakin

45

Filter receiving station

46

guide plate

47

guide plate

48

conveyor belt

49

drive

50

feeding

51

rear wall

52

front wall

53

guide

54

guide

55

drive

56

drive

60

removal drum

70

staggering drum

80

Schlebetrommel

90

accelerating drum

110

Taumeitrommel

111

infeed drum

120

Beiagpaplerstreifen

130

Belagpapierbobine

133

Assembly drum

140

Beleimvorrlchtung

160

cutter

170

suction drum

180

cutterhead

190

rolling drum

210

Transfer drum

220

cutting drum

222

staggering drum

230

turning device

240

testing drum

260

Auswerftrommel

270

brake drum

280

offshoot drum

290

offshoot band

R

right conveyor section

L

left conveyor section

G

(common) conveyor section

MS

machine side

Claims (25)

1. Apparatus (50) for feeding rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter pieces, having a storage hopper (40, 44) for the articles, with at least two removal devices (11, 21) being provided for the articles, the articles being removable from the storage hopper (40, 44) selectively by means of a respective removal device (11, 21), characterised in that in the storage hopper (40,44) a sluice device (42, 48) is provided for feeding the articles to a respective removal device (11, 21).
2. Apparatus (50) according to Claim 1, characterised in that the storage hopper (40, 44) is designed or adaptable for at least two types of articles.
3. Apparatus (50) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the storage hopper (40, 44) is designed with an article-receiving station (45).
4. Apparatus (50) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the storage hopper (40, 44) is formed by means of a tray (40).
5. Apparatus (50) according to one or more of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a respective separate conveying section (L, R) is provided for the articles removed by each removal device (11, 21).
6. Apparatus (50) according to Claim 5, characterised in that each separate conveying section (L, R) comprises at least one conveying member (11, 13, 14, 15, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26).
7. Apparatus (50) according to Claim 6, characterised in that a removal drum (11, 21) and/or cutting drum (11, 21) and/or a staggering drum (13, 23) and/or a pushing drum (14, 24) and/or an accelerating drum (15, 25) is provided as the conveying member (11, 13, 14, 15, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26).
8. Apparatus (50) according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterised in that, in the conveying direction of the articles following the separate conveying sections (L, R), there is provided a common conveying section (G) for the articles having at least one conveying member (31, 32, 33).
9. Apparatus (50) according to one or more of Claims 5 to 8, characterised in that a respective individual drive (35) is provided for each conveying member (11, 13, 14, 15, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 31, 32, 33).
10. Apparatus (50) according to one or more of Claims 5 to 8, characterised in that a respective drive (35, 36) is provided for a plurality of conveying members (11, 13, 14, 21, 23, 24) of a conveying section (L, R).
11. Apparatus (50) according to one or more of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the sluice device (42, 48) is changeable in its position in the storage hopper (40, 44).
12. Apparatus (50) according to one or more of Claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the sluice device (42, 48) is formed by means of a guiding element (42), in particular guiding plate (42), or a louvre.
13. Apparatus (50) according to one or more of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the sluice device (42, 48) is formed by means of a conveyor belt (48) or conveying member.
14. Apparatus (50) according to Claim 13, characterised in that the conveyor belt (48) or the conveying member is reversible with respect to the conveying direction.
15. Machine of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter-attaching machine or filter-producing machine, having an apparatus (50) according to one or more of Claims 1 to 14.
16. Method for feeding rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter pieces, from a storage hopper (40, 44) for the articles, the articles being removed from the storage hopper (40, 44) alternately by means of a respective one of at least two removal devices (11, 21), characterised in that the articles are guided in the storage hopper (40, 44) alternately to a respective removing device (11, 21) by means of a sluice device (42, 48).
17. Method according to Claim 16, characterised in that the storage hopper (40, 44) is adapted to at least one type of article.
18. Method according to Claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the articles are removed from a tray (40).
19. Method according to one of Claims 16 to 18, characterised in that the articles are introduced into the storage hopper (44) from an article-receiving station (45).
20. Method according to one or more of Claims 16 to 19, characterised in that the articles removed by a removal device (11, 21) are conveyed into a respective separate conveying section (L, R) by means of at least one conveying member (11, 13, 14, 15, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26).
21. Method according to Claim 20, characterised in that the articles are conveyed, after the separate conveying section (L, R), in a common conveying section (G) by means of at least one conveying member (31, 32, 33).
22. Method according to Claim 20 or 21, characterised in that the conveying members (11, 13, 14, 15, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26) are driven by means of a respective individual drive (35).
23. Method according to Claim 20 or 21, characterised in that a plurality of conveying members (11, 13, 14, 21, 23, 24) are driven by means of a respective drive (36, 37).
24. Method according to one or more of Claims 16 to 23, characterised in that the position of the sluice device (42, 48) in the storage hopper (40, 44) is changed.
25. Method according to one or more of Claims 16 to 24, characterised in that the articles are conveyed alternately to a respective removal device (11, 21) by means of the sluice device (42, 48).

Images