EP2311330A1 - Distributor and method for filling a cigarette strand machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (10) has an air separator (13) for separating portions of mixing components e.g. tobacco fibers and tobacco substitutes, to be processed and mixing components not to be processed. A feeding device feeds a mixing part in a transport direction of another mixing part behind a storage compartment (14) directly into a common receiving space (16) such that tobacco mixture is produced on the common retaining space. The tobacco mixture is formed from the mixing parts and the latter mixing part flows through the air separator and entered via an input device (11). An independent claim is also included for a method for loading a cigarette-making machine with tobacco mixture.

Description

The invention relates to a distributor device for feeding a cigarette rod making machine with a tobacco mixture formed from a plurality of mixture components, comprising an input device for inputting a first mixture component M ₁ , a feed device for supplying a further mixture component M ₂ , a separator for separating portions to be processed and not to be processed one of the mixture components as well as a stowage point arranged behind the classifier, on the output side of which a removal roller for forwarding the mixture component sighted in the classifier into a receiving space is assigned, wherein at least the supply device is not return means within the distribution device.

The invention further relates to a method for feeding a cigarette rod maker with a tobacco mixture formed from a plurality of mixture components, comprising the steps of: inputting a first mixture component into a distributor device by means of an input device, viewing the first mixture component in a separator, forwarding the sighted mixture component by means of a stowage nest associated removal roller in a receiving space, supplying at least one other mixture component, which is no excess tobacco, by means of a feeder in the distribution device.

Such distribution devices and methods are used in the tobacco processing industry, in particular to supply tobacco mixtures, ie product streams of different mixture components (tobacco fibers, ribs, expanded tobacco, tobacco substitutes, additives, etc.) to a cigarette rod making machine. In this case, the distribution devices serve to dose the tobacco usually supplied to them via an air flow, to sift and to feed them via the stowage compartment to a receiving space. The receiving space serves as a feed space to a Saugstrangförderer or the like to form a tobacco rod or more tobacco strands, which are then fed to the downstream cigarette rod machine.

The tobacco strands, which are processed into cigarettes or the like, usually consist of a tobacco mixture of different mixture components (ie the taste and / or the nature of the cigarettes or the like influencing components) and / or different types of tobacco. The final tobacco blend is usually produced in the area of the so-called "Primary". This means that the tobacco mixture is transported as a finished mixture in the distributor device and further processed therein.

Such distribution devices and methods are known from the prior art, in which the entire product stream, ie the final tobacco blend, is passed through the separator of the distributor device. In addition, the already finished tobacco blend with recycled tobacco, the so-called excess tobacco, which is obtained in the field of trimming the strands, mixed. However, this results in that the composition of the tobacco mixture is constantly subjected to an uncontrolled change. In other words, the composition of the tobacco mixture changes depending on the amount of recycled tobacco. Incidentally, the tobacco mixtures contain mixture components which are not suitable for sifting, in particular because of the stresses occurring during sifting, or are even sorted out during sifting. The distribution devices and methods known from the prior art therefore have the disadvantage that all mixing components required and / or desired for strand production pass through the same process and are therefore exposed to the same loads. However, it has been found that the different mixture components react differently to the mechanical, thermal, pneumatic and / or further loads. In other words, the mentioned stresses lead to undesirable effects for some mixture components. Furthermore, require or only some of the blend components allow the sifter to view / separate heavy parts / components (eg, fins) from a blend component.

The EP 1 442 666 B1 For example, a distributor device is disclosed in which, in addition to the input device for inputting a product stream, another external supply device is provided for feeding another component, the additional supply device in the conveying direction of the tobacco between a store for receiving the product stream introduced into the distributor device and the sifter at the end the so-called visual route is arranged. This ensures that the further component is not subject to the visual process, since the sighted product stream entrains the additionally supplied component when exiting the line of sight. The two mixture components, namely the actual product stream and the further component, are thus treated differently and mixed only in the distributor device. Mixing, however, takes place before the stowage time of the distributor device, so that the tobacco mixture flowing through the stowage bay into the receiving space is uniformly distributed in the radial direction both over the entire length of the strand and with respect to the entire strand structure. The resulting or trimming excess is then usually returned to the input device, so that changes the mixing ratio of the mixture components. In other words, the final tobacco blend has a non-constant composition during strand formation. Also, in the steady state operation of the distribution device, product streams are sighted which include the additional, originally sightless component.

The invention is thus based on the object to provide a distributor device which ensures an effective and gentle for all mixing components treatment in the production of a tobacco mixture. The further object is to propose a corresponding method.

The object is achieved by a distributor device of the type mentioned above in that the feed device for feeding at least one other Mixture component M ₂ in the transport direction T _{1 of} the introduced via the input device and flowing through the separator mixture component M ₁ behind the storage shaft directly into the receiving space, such that the tobacco mixture formed from the mixture components M ₁ and M _{2 at the} earliest in the common receiving space can be produced. With this embodiment of the invention is achieved in an effective and reliable manner that the final tobacco blend is produced by merging two individual mixed component streams. This leads to a uniform mixture of all mixing components in the strand or even in each one of the cigarettes formed from the strand. Another advantage is that the mixing components are exposed to different loads. In other words, only the mixing components are supplied to the separator, which withstand the stresses of sighting. The fact that the mixing components are completely separated and guided independently of each other into the area of the receiving space, quasi two independent circuits are created so that the mixture components can be mixed individually and controlled according to their capacity.

An expedient development of the invention is characterized in that the receiving space behind the stowage point has at least two separate entrances, wherein an access for introducing the mixture component viewed in the classifier and an access for introducing the non-marking mixture component is designed and set up. By separating the mixed component flows of the classifier is relieved, as a partial flow is passed around the classifier, so that higher machine speeds can be realized.

Advantageously, the feeding device has at least one stowage shaft with removal roller assigned on the output side. Thus, mixing components can be directed into the receiving space in a very targeted and controlled manner, so that e.g. desired flavor components can be precisely metered for each individual stranded cigarette.

A further embodiment according to the invention is characterized in that the stowage point assigned to the feeding device is narrower in the strand direction S. is formed as the input shaft associated with the stowage. The narrowing of the working area of the storage shaft ensures that the mixture component which is passed through the supply device is added only partially to the tobacco mixture. In other words, the mixture component coming out of the feeder is thrown over a smaller width on the suction belt conveyor than the mixture component coming out of the input device.

A development of the invention provides that the removal rollers are formed as needle rollers, wherein the removal roller of the or each of the feeder associated Stausachtes is needled only over a portion of the length in the axial direction, while the removal roller of the input device associated Stausachtes over the entire length in is needled in the axial direction. This embodiment supports the aforementioned advantages of targeted and metered shuddering of the respective mixture components.

A further embodiment according to the invention is characterized in that the feed device comprises a metering drum which, like the stowage shaft assigned to the input device, opens into the common receiving space. By this embodiment is achieved in a particularly effective and reliable manner that eg free-flowing components, such as granules or the like, exactly metered and parallel to the mixture component, which is entered via the input device, are passed into the receiving space.

Advantageously, the metering drum is divided in the axial direction and / or consists of several individual drums. This allows the supply of a plurality of mixing components of the mixing component supplied via the feed device. In other words, the or each mixture component may consist of several components of the mixture, wherein the division of the metering drum, which may also be realized by a plurality of individual drums, parallel or offset several mixture components can be individually fed from a reservoir and fed to the receiving space.

The object is also achieved by a method with the steps mentioned above in that the tobacco mixture formed from the mixture components is produced at the earliest in a common receiving space behind the or each stowage night. The resulting advantages have already been described in connection with the distributor device, and reference is made to the corresponding sections to avoid repetition.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer ersten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform einer Verteilervorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform der Verteilervorrichtung,

Fig. 2a

eine vergrößerte Darstellung der Ausbildung der Zuführeinrichtung gemäß Figur 2,

Fig. 3

ein Stauschacht mit nachgeordneter Walzenanordnung, bestehend aus Entnahmewalze und Schlagwalze, und

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Ausbildung der Entnahmewalze für die Zuführeinrichtung in einer Verteilervorrichtung gemäß Figur 1.

Further expedient and / or advantageous features and developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments of the distributor device according to the invention and the corresponding method will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a distributor device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a further embodiment according to the invention of the distributor device,

Fig. 2a

an enlarged view of the design of the feeder according to FIG. 2 .

Fig. 3

a stowage shaft with subordinate roller arrangement, consisting of removal roller and impact roller, and

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of an inventive design of the removal roller for the feeder in a distribution device according to FIG. 1 ,

The distributor devices according to the invention are used for feeding single-strand or multi-strand cigarette rod machines with a tobacco mixture formed from a plurality of mixture components, wherein the distributor devices always have at least two independent and separate, external accesses for the mixture components.

The distributor devices 10 described in the drawing comprise an input device 11 for inputting a first mixture component M ₁ and a feed device 12 for feeding a further mixture component M ₂ . The mixture components M ₁ and M ₂ may each consist of a mixture component or more mixture components. Hereinafter, the mixture component M _{1 is} also referred to as the main component and the mixture component M ₂ as a minor component. The distributor device 10 further comprises a sifter 13 for separating portions to be processed and not to be processed of one of the mixture components M ₁ or M ₂ . Behind the sifter 13, a storage shaft 14 is arranged, on the output side, a removal roller 15, which is also referred to as Auskämmwalze assigned. By means of the removal roller 15, the mixture component jammed in the storage shaft 12 can be conveyed or conveyed into a receiving space 16. At least the feed device 12 is not a return device within the distributor device 10. This means that the feed device 12 as an external feed does not introduce any strand portion of the tobacco mixture cut off from the strand or trimmed back into the distributor device 10. In other words, the feed device 12 serves exclusively to not yet supply processed mixture components in the distributor device 10. The input device 11 may optionally serve as an external feeder for inputting mixture components not yet processed in the distribution device 10 and / or for returning eg excess tobacco or the like.

In the embodiments shown, the classifier 13 is arranged and set up to view the mixture component M ₁ . In the transport or conveying direction T _{1 of} the mixture component M ₁ , the classifier 13 is arranged behind the input device 11. The sifter 13 is followed in the transport direction T _{1 of} the storage shaft 14, at the output side end of the removal roller 15 is arranged. The removal roller 15 is usually associated with a beating roller 17, to the combed by the removal roller 15 from the storage shaft 14 Mixing component M1 of the removal roller 15 to solve. The distribution devices 10 may optionally include further elements. For example, between the input device 11 and the sifter 13, a storage bunk 18 or the like may be arranged, which is associated with a conveying element 19, namely, for example, a vertical conveyor. The distribution device 10 may also include a pre-distributor. In the described embodiments, a guide 20 is connected to the sifter 13, which serves on the one hand as a return for the air circulation within the distributor device 10 and on the other hand as a supply for the storage shaft 14. Since such distribution devices 10 are basically known, the detailed description of all parts necessary for the actual function is dispensed with.

The embodiments according to the invention are characterized in that the feed device 12 for feeding at least one further mixture component M ₂ (in addition to the mixture component M _{1 introduced} via the input device 11) in the transport direction T _{1 of} the mixture component introduced via the input device 11 and flowing through the separator 13 M ₁ behind the storage shaft 14 opens directly into the receiving space 16, such that the tobacco mixture formed from the mixture components M ₁ and M _{2 at the} earliest in the common receiving space 16 can be produced. This means that in the end, two independent component streams open into the receiving space 16 separately from each other and from outside the distributor device 10, without having previously come into contact with each other. The feed device 12 is thus arranged to supply at least one further mixture component M ₂ at the end of the transport path of the mixture component M ₁ , immediately before forwarding the tobacco mixture to a suction conveyor belt for forming the tobacco rod.

The receiving space 16 has behind the stowage bay 14 at least two separate accesses 21, 22, wherein an access 21 for introducing the sighted in the classifier 13 mixture component M ₁ and an access 22 for introducing the sightless mixture component M _{2 is} formed and set up. Two individual fiber streams are thus conducted separately into the receiving space 16 and combined within the receiving space 16 to form the final tobacco mixture. The final tobacco blend is thus produced virtually at the fiber level.

The feeding device 12 for feeding the or each further mixing component M ₂ may be formed in different ways. Two of the particularly preferred embodiments will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. In the embodiment according to the FIG. 1 the feeding device 12 is assigned at least one stowage shaft 23. On the output side, the staging shaft 23 is assigned a removal roller 24 with a striking roller 25. Both storage compartments 14 and 23 open into the common receiving space 16, so that the mixture components M ₁ , which follows the transport direction T ₁ , and M ₂ , which follows the transport direction T ₂ , meet each other for the first time in the receiving space 16. The storage compartments 14 and 23 of the input device 11 on the one hand and the supply device 12 on the other hand are in parallel to each other as seen in the strand direction S (see FIG FIG. 1 ). Parallel next to each other means that the two removal rollers 15 and 24 are just not in alignment with each other.

The feed shaft 12 associated with the stowage shaft 23 may have different configurations. The stowage shaft 23 can have the same width as the stowage shaft 14 seen in the stranding direction S. The respective mixture component M ₁ or M ₂ can thus be fed into the receiving space 16 in the strand direction S over the same width or more precisely the same strand length. The storage shaft 23 may also be narrower than the storage shaft 14. In other embodiments, the stowage bay 23 may also be divided into several stowage chambers. Furthermore, a plurality of independent storage bays 23 may be provided, each associated with the feeder 12. The storage shaft 23 or the storage compartments 23 may also be designed to be displaceable. This is particularly important if the storage shaft 23 or the storage bays 23 are altogether narrower than the storage shaft 14. Independently of the number of storage bays 23, a common removal roller 24 is provided so that the or each storage shaft 23 strikes the removal roller 24 ,

Corresponding to the stowage bay 23 or to the width of the stowage bay 23 or the sum of the stowage spaces 23, the removal roller 24 is formed. In one embodiment, the removal roller 24 may be that of the delivery device 12 The width of the removal roller 24 in the axial direction corresponds to the width of the storage shaft 23 or the sum of the width of the storage compartments 23. Of course, the width However, the removal roller 24 differ from the width of the stowage bay 23 and the storage bays 23.

As in particular the Figures 3 and 4 can be seen, the removal rollers 15, 24 are formed as needle rollers. Optionally, the removal rollers 15, 24 may be needled over the entire width or parts of the width. Usually, the needling is achieved by needle plates, which are peripherally attached to the roll bodies. The removal rollers 15, 24 and in particular the removal roller 24, which is associated with the feed device for the mixing component M ₂ , may be divided into several sections in the axial direction. Preferably, a subdivision into three sections 24a, 24b, 24c or 24d, 24e and 24f is selected. However, any other number of sections and / or the manner of formation, eg uniform or uneven distribution, is possible and variable. The removal device 15 assigned to the input device 11 is usually uniformly needled over the entire width in the axial direction or provided with needle plates. The delivery roller 12 associated removal roller 24 is optionally needled only over part of the length or width in the axial direction. In other words, the extraction roller 24 has needled and unpadded portions. The formation of the needling, that is, for example, the distance between the needles or the needle alignment, may be different or the same from section to section.

In the FIG. 3 the stowage shaft 23 is shown with a removal roller 24 in which all sections are needled. The stowage shaft 23 or the associated removal roller 24 is designed to supply a double strand. In other words, a portion of the extraction roller 24 (portions 24a-c) feeds a first strand with the tobacco mixture and the other portion (portions 24d-f) a second strand with the tobacco mixture. In the FIG. 3 For example, the front strand sections 24a, b and c and the rear strand sections 24d, e and f are provided. In the FIG. 4 is only the removal roller 24 for supplying a single strand shown. The section 24a, that is, the first section seen in the strand direction S, is provided with a needle plate, while the sections 24b and c located further in the strand direction S are unwaddled. There is also the possibility that only the section 24b is needled. This can be advantageous in order to produce better mixing within the strand cross-section. Alternatively, only two of the three sections 24a to c or all sections 24a to c may be needled. In particular for the basis of the FIG. 4 illustrated construction of the removal roller 24, it is useful to limit the storage shaft 23 to the correspondingly needled work area of the removal roller 24 or provide for each section 24a to c a separate storage shaft 23. In the latter case, it is advantageous to separately control and / or regulate the storage bays 23, so that a shaft-specific supply of the individual sections 24a to c is ensured.

In the FIG. 2 shown feeding device 12 of the distributor device 10 comprises a metering drum 26, which like the input device 11 associated with Stowing shaft 14 opens into the common receiving space 16. The metering drum 26 is used for direct supply of the mixture component M ₂ in the receiving space 16. The metering drum 26 is rotatably driven and provided with recesses 27 for receiving and delivering the mixture component M ₂ . In particular, the metering drum 26 is suitable for supplying free-flowing mixture components M ₂ . The troughs 27 are aligned axially in the strand direction S. The metering drum 26 may be formed as a single drum or multiple drum. For this purpose, the single drum can be divided in the axial direction. Furthermore, a plurality of individual drums can form the metering drum 26. The width of the metering drum 26 in the axial direction corresponds in one embodiment to the width of the removal roller 15. In other embodiments, the width of the metering drum 26 may differ from the width of the removal roller 15. In the event that several individual drums form the metering roller 26, each individual drum can be assigned its own drive 28, 29.

To supply the metering drum 26 with the mixture component M ₂ , the metering drum 26 is connected to a storage device 30. The memory device 30 itself can be used as a multiple memory for recording several Individual components (the mixture component M ₂ ) may be formed. At the outlet of the storage device 30 in the transition to the metering drum 26, a scraper 31 is arranged, which ensures the uniform filling of all wells 27.

Not dargstellt but are possible return elements to recycle the strand cut / trimmed excess tobacco again or supply the distribution device 10 again.

In the following, the method principle is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing: The input of the mixture component M ₁ via the input device 11 to the receiving space 16 is the same for all embodiments and proceeds in a known manner. From the outside, the mixture component M _{1 is} input to the distribution apparatus 10. The mixture component M ₁ is received in a Speicheriepe 18 and continuously fed by means of the conveying element 19 to the sifter 13. In the sifter 13, the mixture component M _{1 is} spotted. In this case, non-processed parts (eg ribs) of shares to be processed (eg tobacco fibers) are separated. Only the parts to be processed are supplied to the stowage bay 14 by the air flow via the guide 20 and stowed in the stowage bay 14. The removal roller 15 meshes by rotation from the storage shaft 14, the mixing component M ₁ and leads them with the aid of the impact roller 17 to the receiving space 16.

The mixture component M ₂ can now also be supplied to the receiving space 16 in various ways according to the invention. With the train guide 12 according to FIG. 1 the mixture component M _{2 is taken up} in a storage pond and fed to the storage shaft 23 by means of a conveying element. In the storage shaft 23, the mixture component M _{2 is} jammed. If necessary, the removal roller 24 combs by rotation from the storage shaft 23, the mixture component M ₂ and leads them with the aid of the impact roller 25 to the receiving space 16. The storage and promotion can also be done in other ways. The desired for strand production, final tobacco blend is thus produced only after the or each Stowage 14, 23 directly and directly before the strand formation. If the mixture component M _{2 contains} no components critical to the sighting, the storage compartments 14, 23 can have the same width, so that both mixing components M ₁ and M ₂ over the entire machine width, ie the full width of the shaft (in strand direction S) with correspondingly completely needled removal rollers 15, 24 can be added. Thus, the strand produced over the entire length and over the strand cross-section is evenly provided with two mixing components M ₁ and M ₂ . This means that the excess tobacco trimmed from the strand also contains both mixing components M ₁ and M ₂ .

If the mixture component M ₂ contains components that are critical for critical purposes, the only partially needled removal roller 24, such as in FIG FIG. 4 shown, and / or a stowage shaft 23 with reduced width relative to the stowage 14 used. This ensures that the mixture component M ₂ is distributed over only a part of the strand cross-section. In other words, a strand is popped up, which has different tobacco mixtures in the radial direction. The excess is separated from the bottom of the strand, which is why the strand in the radial direction furthest away from the suction belt should consist only of the mixture component M ₁ . The excess is formed from the third (last) portion of the extraction rollers 15, 24, and therefore the portion 24c of the extraction roller 24 is then unwound. Alternatively or cumulatively, the stop shaft 23 may be narrower, so that the mixture component M _2, for example, falls only on the first two sections 24a and b or only on one of the two sections 24 a or b. This means that the tobacco mixture which was last stowed away, ie the furthest away from the suction belt transversely to the direction of the line S, now has only the mixture component M ₁ . Since the excess tobacco is free of the mixture component M ₂ (ie contains only the mixture component M ₁ ), this excess tobacco can be returned to the input device 11 again.

The supply of the mixture component M ₂ via the metering drum 26 takes place accordingly. The mixture contains component M ₂ sichtungskritischen no play, the metering drum 26 can perform over the entire width of the pick roller 15, the mixture component m _2. If the mixture component M ₂ is critical components, the or each individual component of the Mixing component M ₂ only over a part of the width of the removal roller 15 is added.

Claims (15)

A distributor device (10) for feeding a cigarette rod making machine with a tobacco mixture formed from a plurality of mixture components, comprising an input device (11) for inputting a first mixture component M ₁ , a feed device (12) for feeding a further mixture component M ₂ , a separator (13) for separation of components of one of the mixture components to be processed and not to be processed, and a stowage shaft (14) arranged behind the separator (13), on the output side associated with a removal roller (15) for forwarding the mixture component in the separator (13) into a receiving space (16) is, wherein at least the feed device (12) is not a return device within the distributor device (10), characterized in that the feed device (12) for feeding at least one further mixture component M ₂ in the transport direction T ₁ of the input device (11) input and by the Si Chter (13) flowing mixture component M ₁ behind the storage shaft (14) opens directly into the receiving space (16), such that the tobacco mixture formed from the mixture components M ₁ and M _{2 at the} earliest in the common receiving space (16) can be produced. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving space (16) behind the stowage bay (14) has at least two separate accesses (21, 22), wherein an access (21) for introducing the mixture component M ₁ sighted in the separator (13) and an access (22) for introducing the sightless mixture component M _{2 is} formed and arranged. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the feed device (12) has at least one stowage shaft (23) with an outlet side associated removal roller (24). Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the storage spaces (14, 23) or the respectively associated removal rollers (15, 24) of the input device (11) and the feed device (12) open into the common receiving space (16). Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the storage spaces (14, 23) of the input device (11) on the one hand and the feed device (12) on the other hand in the strand direction S are parallel to each other. Device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the delivery device (12) associated with Stowing shaft (23) is formed in the strand direction S narrower than the input device (11) associated with stowage bay (14). Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the feed device (12) has at least two storage slots (23), wherein the storage spaces (23) of the feed device (12) is associated with a common removal roller (24). Device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the removal roller (24) of the or each of the feed device (12) associated Stausachtes (23) in the axial direction is shorter than the removal roller (15) of the input device (11) associated Stowage (14). Device according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the removal rollers (15, 24) are designed as needle rollers, wherein the removal roller (24) of the or each of the feed device (12) associated Stächachtes (23) only over a portion of the length is needled in the axial direction, while the removal roller (15) of the input device (11) associated Stausachtes (14) is needled over the entire length in the axial direction. Device according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the removal roller (24) of the feed device (12) associated with storage chutes (23) is divided in the axial direction into a plurality, preferably three sections, wherein optionally seen in strand direction S first section (24a, d) for each strand and / or the middle section (24b, e) are needled for each strand. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the feed device (12) comprises a metering drum (26) which, like the input device (11) associated Stausacht (14) opens into the common receiving space (16). Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the metering drum (26) is rotatably driven and provided with recesses (27) for receiving and dispensing free-flowing mixture components M ₂ . Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the metering drum (26) is divided in the axial direction and / or consists of a plurality of individual drums. Device according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the metering drum (26) is connected to a storage device (30) for one or more individual components of the mixture component M ₂ . A method of feeding a cigarette rod making machine with a tobacco blend formed from a plurality of blend components, comprising the steps of: Inputting a first mixing component M ₁ into a distributor device (10) by means of an input device (11), Sifting of the first mixture component M ₁ in a sifter (13), - Forwarding the spotted mixture component M ₁ by means of a stowage (14) associated removal roller (15) in a receiving space (16), Supplying at least one further mixture component M ₂ , which is not excess lead tobacco, into the distributor device by means of a feed device (12), characterized in that the tobacco mixture formed from the mixture components M ₁ and M _{2 is} produced at the earliest in a common receiving space (16) behind the or each storage shaft (14, 23).

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