EP2997839A1 - Device and method for transferring rod-like articles of the tobacco processing industry from a longitudinal conveyer for transport of the articles along a longitudinal axis to a transverse conveyor for transverse axial transport of the articles or vice versa - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for transferring rod-shaped articles (11) of the tobacco processing industry from a longitudinal conveyor (12) for longitudinal axial promotion of the article (11) on a transverse conveyor (13) for cross-axial promotion of the article (11) or vice versa, wherein the transport directions T 1 of the longitudinal conveyor (12) and T 2 of the transverse conveyor (13) extend in a linear orientation, comprising a drum body (14) rotatably driven about a rotation axis I with at least one support element (15), wherein each support element (15) to a pivot axis II is arranged pivotably on the drum body (14) and has receptacles (16, 17) which are designed and arranged for removing, holding and dispensing at least two rod-shaped articles (11), in particular tobacco sticks, wherein the receptacles ( 16, 17) for changing the orientation of the rod-shaped article (11) from longitudinal axial to transverse axial or vice versa rotatable on the carrier element (15 ) are arranged, which is characterized in that the receptacles (16, 17) of a support element (15) for changing the position of the rod-shaped article (11) to each other during the rotation of the drum body (14) about the rotation axis I are designed to be movable. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding method.

Description

The invention relates to a device for transferring rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry from a longitudinal conveyor for longitudinal axial promotion of the article on a cross conveyor for Queraxialen promotion of the article or vice versa, wherein the transport directions T _{1 of} the longitudinal conveyor and T _{2 of} the cross conveyor in linear alignment, comprising a drum body rotatably drivable about a rotation axis I with at least one support element, each support element being arranged pivotably about a pivot axis II on the drum body and having receptacles designed and arranged for removing, holding and discharging at least two rod-shaped articles, in particular tobacco sticks are, wherein the receptacles for changing the orientation of the rod-shaped articles from longitudinal axial to transverse axial or vice versa are rotatably arranged on the carrier element.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for transferring rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry from a longitudinal conveyor for longitudinal axial promotion of the article on a cross conveyor for Queraxialen promotion of the article or vice versa, in particular with a device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the transport directions T _{1 of} the longitudinal conveyor and T _{2 of} the transverse conveyor in linear alignment, comprising the steps of: removing rod-shaped articles from the longitudinal conveyor or cross conveyor by means of a rotating about a rotation axis I drum body of a device for transferring rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, by at least two rod-shaped Article of recordings, which are on a support member which is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis II on the drum body, removed from the longitudinal conveyor or cross conveyor, rotating the drum body to the Rotation axis I and thus moving the rod-shaped article by a predetermined angle, aligning the at least one support element about the pivot axis II during rotation of the drum body by the predetermined angle, rotating the rod-shaped article lying in the recordings by 90 ° from a longitudinal axial to a transverse axial orientation and vice versa, and dispensing the rod-shaped articles to a cross conveyor or longitudinal conveyor.

Such devices and methods are used in the tobacco processing industry to implement rod-shaped articles, in particular tobacco rods of simple and double use length, cigarettes and the like, but also filter rods, multi-segment filters, tobacco filters, etc. from a longitudinal conveyor to a cross conveyor or vice versa. A common field of application of said device or the method is tobacco sticks simple useful length, which are conveyed in a single-lane, two-lane or multi-lane Strang unit in which they are longitudinally in the transport direction T ₁ behind the other and / or side by side, formed and of a quasi-endless strand have been removed, and to a device for applying filters, a so-called filter attachment machine in which the articles are conveyed transaxially in the transport direction T ₂ to deliver. In the filter attachment the tobacco sticks then a filter is attached. In other words, the transfer device connects, for example, a usually two-lane strand unit with a single-lane filter attachment machine.

In known arrangements formed from strand unit, filter attachment machine and device for transferring the rod-shaped articles, the transport directions T ₁ and T _{2 run} at a right angle to one another. In other words, the transport directions T ₁ and T _{2 are} transverse to one another. However, this arrangement is very expansive and leads to a large so-called "footprint". In order to avoid the angled structure of the arrangement, in particular for layout reasons, so-called straight-ahead arrangements are known in which the transport directions T _{1 of} the longitudinal conveyor and T _{2 of} the transverse conveyor run in the same linear orientation. This means that the transport directions - regardless of the orientation of the article on the respective conveyor - are aligned almost quasi, for example, when the strand unit and the filter application device are arranged one behind the other. In other words, the resulting transport direction is meant, that is, regardless of the orientation of the article itself and regardless of the type of promotion, ie linear on a strand conveyor or radially on a Drum conveyors, the rod-shaped article go through the arrangement formed from strand unit, device for transferring the article and filter attachment machine in a common main direction T = T ₁ = T ₂ .

Arrangements are known, for example from the EP 1 561 386 B1 and from the EP 0 641 524 B1 in which the Filteransetzmaschine is arranged in a straight-ahead position above the string unit. However, this has the disadvantage that from the lying above the strand unit Filteransetzmaschine or one of these associated filter feed items can fall down into the Strang unit, which interferes with the entire production process and in the worst case leads to a stoppage of the entire arrangement. Another field of application is the production of multi-segment filters.

From the EP 1 704 788 A1 (= Document D1) is a device for transfer with the features of the preamble of claim 1 known. The transfer device in D1 is part of a straight spout assembly in which a multiple filter assembly unit is placed in front of the spool unit. In the arrangement disclosed in D1, the rod-shaped articles are fed transaxially into the transfer device. The device for transferring the rod-shaped article has a drum body on which a plurality of support elements distributed over the circumference are arranged pivotably on the drum body. Each support member has two receptacles with receiving troughs for the simultaneous removal of two rod-shaped articles from the longitudinal conveyor. As soon as the two rod-shaped articles lie in the receiving cavities of the carrier element, both rod-shaped articles pivot by 90 ° in order to prepare the delivery to the cross conveyor. The two rod-shaped articles are in each position of the support element and the drum body in the same position to each other. The rotation of the images to change the orientation of longitudinal axial to transverse axial or vice versa can only be done together, since the two images are assigned to a common carrier plate, which has only a single axis of rotation. In other words, the position of the receiving wells of a support element to each other is immutable. Two rod-shaped articles, for example, are received by a first conveyor in a parallel and spaced position to each other, are delivered in exactly this position again to a second conveyor, only rotated by 90 °.

The known devices and methods have the disadvantage that they are limited exclusively to the conversion of the rod-shaped article from the longitudinal conveying to the transverse conveying or vice versa. The placement of filters / double filters between the tobacco sticks, as well as the previously necessary spreading the tobacco sticks, which are usually flush with each other and aligned on the longitudinal conveyor or parallel lying and spaced apart two-lane fed, must be suitably by additional components, such as. Spreading elements, drum bodies, such as e.g. Tumbling drums or the like, done in the filter attachment machine. This leads to a high complexity of the entire arrangement. Concretely, the filter attachment machine has a plurality of drums to perform the aforementioned functions of spreading and joining of double filters and tobacco sticks. The cost of such known devices and arrangements are correspondingly high. In summary, the existing handover devices are limited in their applications and functionalities, resulting in disadvantages throughout the device.

The invention is thus based on the object to provide a simple and flexible device for transferring rod-shaped articles, which allows a multi-functional transfer of the rod-shaped article. The object continues to be to propose a corresponding method.

This object is achieved with a device having the features mentioned in the fact that the receptacles of a support element for changing the position of the rod-shaped article to each other during the rotation of the drum body about the rotation axis I are designed to be movable. This additional degree of freedom for the recordings an individual and above all at least one additional functionality enabling handling of the rod-shaped article in the transfer of the same from a longitudinal conveyor to a cross conveyor or vice versa guaranteed. In particular, by the inventive design and device of the device, for example, two individual tobacco sticks which are parallel to each other lying or aligned flush one behind the other on the longitudinal conveyor of the device for transfer, removed from this and placed in an aligned and spaced (spread) to each other position and delivered to a drum-type cross conveyor. In other words, the tobacco sticks by the mobility of the recordings in the transfer by a distance increase in the longitudinal direction of the Tobacco sticks are spread apart, so that, for example, a double filter can be inserted between the tobacco sticks. Due to the additional spreading function of the transfer device, it is possible to dispense with corresponding spreading devices, for example so-called spreader drums, in the subsequent machine sections, for example in the filter attachment machine. With the formation of the invention is further achieved that the effort is reduced in a format change. Finally, the invention also ensures that the products / articles are handled more gently than conventional devices because of the reduced number of transfers.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention two separate receptacles for removing, holding and dispensing of the rod-shaped articles are arranged on each support element, which are each designed and arranged pivotable about its own pivot axis S ₁ and S ₂ . With this design, the alignment, so the pivoting of the rod-shaped article by about 90 ° during the rotation of the drum body about the rotation axis I is particularly simple and secure.

Advantageously, the two receptacles associated with a carrier element are formed and arranged coordinated with respect to their pivotal ranges. This means that the two images, in particular to avoid collisions during alignment and for path and time-optimized alignment, both structurally and with respect to the position of the pivot points or pivot axes, ie purely mechanical, are coordinated. This training is particularly important if the two recordings have a common pivot drive.

A particularly preferred development is characterized in that the two recordings with their pivot axes S ₁ and S ₂ forming bearing points close to each other and / or one above the other and the recordings starting from the bearing points each as a cantilevered lever away from the pivot axes S ₁ and S ₂ extend, wherein the receptacles from a position in which they are preferably aligned parallel and spaced from each other, away from each other, preferably in each case by 90 °, in a position in which the two receptacles are aligned with each other, and formed back movable , Due to the local location of the two bearing points on the one hand and at the free end of the lever to be included, rod-shaped article on the other hand can be by simply pivoting the two levers from the first position in which the two images are aligned parallel and spaced from each other, in the second position in which the two images are aligned with each other, in particular in a simple and fast way to insert, for example, a double filter necessary distance between the rod-shaped articles produce. The size of the distance depends inter alia significantly on the distance of the bearing points and / or from the receiving position of the tobacco sticks in the recordings.

Suitably, each lever has a mounting portion, with which the lever is pivotally mounted on the carrier element, and a trough portion for removing, holding and dispensing of the rod-shaped article, wherein the mounting portion which is connected via a connecting web with the trough portion, offset from the trough portion lying in another plane and the trough portion has adapted to the outer shape of the rod-shaped article to be transferred well surface. The trough surface is formed at the free end of the lever, ie at the bearing point opposite end. By this stepped design of the lever can be in a space-saving manner, the trough portion at a higher level than the attachment portion.

A further advantageous embodiment is characterized in that each support element is associated with at least one depression body, which lies with its likewise adapted to the outer shape rod-shaped article trough surface above the mounting portions of the receptacles and is oriented such that the trough body is preferably aligned in alignment with the recordings when the levers are in the position in which they are aligned with each other. By the trough body as part of the device for transfer in addition rod-shaped articles can be supplied. Of particular advantage is this development, when the device for transfer with each carrier element, for example, should pass two tobacco sticks. The trough body on the carrier element can record in its trough surface already before the filter attachment during the transfer and alignment of the rod-shaped article from längsaxial to queraxial eg a double filter, so that during the transfer of the tobacco sticks from a longitudinal conveyor to a cross conveyor one of two individual tobacco rods and one in between lying formed double filter unit formed and can be delivered to the cross conveyor. With the hollow body is virtually at each Carrier element created the ability to receive additional items and in particular a double filter, to hold and deliver together with the tobacco sticks. The arrangement above the mounting portion, which is particularly space-saving possible by the cantilevered design of the lever, the double filter can be positioned between the splayed by the pivoting of the lever tobacco sticks.

Advantageously, all the trough surfaces of the two receptacles, on the one hand, and of the trough body, on the other hand, tangent to a common plane E. Thus, dispensing of the rod-shaped articles, e.g. the unit formed from the two tobacco rods and the double filter, be carried out without further alignment and / or corrective measures. In other words, the said unit is to be further processed immediately.

A further embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the hollow body is fixed in a stationary and rotationally fixed manner on the carrier element. This allows safe and easy holding and storing the double filter during transport on the drum body.

In a preferred development of the device according to the invention, each individual receptacle of a carrier element is assigned its own pivoting drive. With this option according to the invention, the recordings can be pivoted individually or in a time-delayed manner in addition to the mechanical tuning to one another or, alternatively, without collision.

The object is also achieved by a method with the steps mentioned above in that the rod-shaped article located on a support element are changed in their position relative to each other during the rotation of the drum body about the rotation axis I. This means, for example, that two parallel supplied articles after the transfer are aligned and without or with distance from one another, or two aligned and flush one behind the other lying products after the transfer in alignment but with a distance to each other, so spread. The reverse transfer is also possible. This increases the functionality of the transfer procedure, since additional manufacturing steps of the cigarette manufacturing can be prepared or even carried out when the articles are handed over. Preferably, two individual and parallel on the longitudinal conveyor tobacco sticks are taken as rod-shaped article and moved by pivoting the recordings about its own pivot axis S ₁ and S ₂ away from each other by 90 ° in a position in which the two tobacco rods preferably aligned aligned with each other and provided with a distance to each other.

Advantageously, double filters are inserted into the device for transfer, so that when dispensed to the cross conveyor between the tobacco rods each have a double filter and forms an aligned formation with the tobacco sticks.

The advantages resulting from the method steps according to the invention have already been described in connection with the device for transfer, so reference is made to avoid repetition to the corresponding passages.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Anordnung, umfassend eine Strangeinheit, eine Vorrichtung zur Übergabe stabförmiger Artikel und eine Filteransetzmaschine in Seitenansicht, wobei eine Filtereingabestation in Transportrichtung T hinter der Vorrichtung zur Übergabe angeordnet ist,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer weiteren Anordnung aus Strangeinheit, Vorrichtung zur Übergabe stabförmiger Artikel und Filteransetzmaschine in Seitenansicht, wobei eine Filtereingabestation an der Vorrichtung zur Übergabe vorgesehen ist,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung der Vorrichtung zur Übergabe in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung eines Trägerelementes der Vorrichtung zur Übergabe in Seitenansicht, wobei sich die Aufnahmen des Trägerelementes in einer Abnahmeposition für die stabförmigen Artikel vom Längsförderer befinden,

Fig. 5

das Trägerelement gemäß Figur 4 in Draufsicht, und

Fig. 6

das Trägerelement gemäß der Figuren 4 und 5, wobei sich die Aufnahmen des Trägerelementes in der maximalen Spreizstellung befinden.

Further expedient and / or advantageous features and further developments emerge from the subclaims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments of the subject invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an arrangement comprising a strand unit, a device for transferring rod-shaped articles and a filter attachment machine in side view, wherein a filter input station is arranged in the transport direction T behind the device for transfer,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of another arrangement of strand unit, apparatus for transferring rod-shaped articles and filter attachment machine in side view, wherein a filter input station is provided on the device for transfer,

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of the device for transfer in side view,

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of a carrier element of the device for transfer in side view, wherein the receptacles of the carrier element are in a removal position for the rod-shaped article from the longitudinal conveyor,

Fig. 5

the carrier element according to FIG. 4 in plan view, and

Fig. 6

the support element according to the FIGS. 4 and 5 , wherein the receptacles of the carrier element are in the maximum spread position.

The devices shown in the drawing are used in particular to receive two longitudinally transported tobacco and parallel tobacco sticks from a two-lane longitudinal conveyor and rotated these two tobacco sticks rotated by 90 ° and spread apart from each other on a basket drum in which the tobacco sticks are transported transversely to their longitudinal extent However, in principle, the transport direction T is maintained in the straight-line installation of string unit and filter attachment machine. Of course, the device according to the invention is also suitable for use of articles other than tobacco sticks, e.g. Filter rods, double filters, Multifilterstäbe, cigarettes or the like to pass. Also, the invention is not limited to the transfer of articles from longitudinal axial to transverse axial. Of course, e.g. Also, articles which are aligned on a transverse conveyor in a spread position to each other, passed through the device according to the invention to a longitudinal conveyor on which the articles are then adjacent to each other or aligned flush with each other. In other words, the device can also serve to pass cross-axially and spread to each other lying articles to a longitudinal conveyor on which the articles are brought together, namely lie almost without a gap.

For the sake of simplicity, the following explanations describe, for example, the joining of a two-lane strand unit as a longitudinal conveyor with a single-lane filter attachment machine as a transverse conveyor, ie the transfer from the longitudinal conveyor to a transverse conveyor.

The in the drawing, in particular the FIG. 3 , illustrated device 10 is used to transfer rod-shaped article 11 of the tobacco processing industry from a longitudinal conveyor 12 for longitudinal axial promotion of Article 11 on a cross conveyor 13 for Queraxialen promotion of Article 11, wherein the transport directions T _{1 of} the longitudinal conveyor 12 and T _{2 of} the cross conveyor 13 in linear alignment. The device 10 comprises a rotationally driven around a rotation axis I. Drum body 14 with at least one support element 15, wherein each support member 15 is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis II on the drum body 14. Each carrier element 15 has at least two receivers 16, 17 which are designed and arranged for removing, holding and dispensing at least two rod-shaped articles 11, in particular tobacco sticks, wherein the receivers 16, 17 change the orientation of the rod-shaped articles 11 are arranged from longitudinal axial to transverse axial rotatably on the carrier element 15. The possibility of transfer from a cross conveyor to a longitudinal conveyor has already been mentioned above and will not be described in further detail below, but in principle runs in the reverse order to the embodiment described below.

This device 10 according to the invention is characterized in that the receptacles 16, 17 of a support element 15 for changing the position of the rod-shaped article 11 to each other during the rotation of the drum body 14 about the rotation axis I are designed to be movable. This means that the receptacles 16, 17 relative to each other, depending or independent of each other, can be changed in position to turn the articles 11 not only by 90 ° from longitudinal axial to transverse axial (or vice versa), but in addition to the article 11 eg to spread during the transfer, so that the article 11 for receiving or positioning a double filter between them with a corresponding distance on or in the transverse conveyor 13.

The features and developments described below represent individually or in combination with each other preferred embodiments. It is expressly understood that features that are summarized in the claims and / or the description or described in a common embodiment, also functionally independent the can further develop device 10 described above and the corresponding method.

For a better understanding of the invention is based on the FIGS. 1 and 2 First, the integration of the device 10 is described in a device 18 for filter cigarette production. The arrangement 18 comprises a strand unit SE, which is indicated only in the approach, following the transport direction T, the device 10 for transferring the rod-shaped articles 11 and subsequently the filter attachment machine FA. In the strand unit SE, the articles 11 in the described embodiment are two lanes, ie parallel lying side by side, transported in the transport direction T ₁ and the device 10 is supplied. The device 10 transports the longitudinally axially received articles 11 in the transport direction T ₂ , rotates the articles 11 by 90 °, thereby spreading the articles 11 so as to deliver them transaxially and at a distance from one another to the filter attachment machine FA. In the FIG. 1 is a filter input station FE arranged in the transport direction T behind the device 10 for transfer. In other words, the feeding of double filters 19 takes place in the transport direction T only behind the device 10. In the FIG. 2 an embodiment is shown in which the filter input station FE is assigned directly to the device 10, so that the double filter 19 are inserted into the device 10. See below.

The device 10 comprises in the embodiment according to FIG FIG. 3 four support elements 15. The number of support elements 15 may also be smaller or larger. On each carrier element 15, two receptacles 16, 17 are arranged for removal, for holding and for dispensing the rod-shaped article 11. Each of the two receptacles 16, 17 is designed and arranged pivotable about its own axis of rotation S ₁ and S ₂ . The pivoting of the two receptacles 16, 17 can be independent or preferably dependent on each other and / or asynchronous or in particular synchronous to each other. The two pivot axes S ₁ and S _{2 of} the receptacles 16, 17 are aligned parallel and spaced from each other and extend transversely to the axis of rotation I of the drum body 14 and the pivot axis II of the support member 15. Particularly preferably, the pivot axes S ₁ and S ₂ intersect with the Swivel axis II.

Both a carrier element 15 associated receptacles 16, 17 are arranged with respect to their pivotal areas coordinated with each other on this. This vote can be realized mechanically / constructively and / or control technology. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, see for example the FIGS. 5 and 6 , Are the two receptacles 16, 17 with their pivot axes S ₁ and S ₂ forming bearing points close to each other. But they can also be superimposed. The distance does not depend on a specific value or is not bound to any specific value. By close together, it is merely stated that the bearing points are preferably at a distance from one another which corresponds to the spacing of the parallel-lying articles 11 on the longitudinal conveyor 12. The receptacles 16, 17 extend starting from the bearing points in each case as a cantilevered lever 20, 21 away from the pivot axes S ₁ and S ₂ . In other words, the levers 20 protrude, 21 with their free ends away from the bearing points. The levers 20, 21 and thus the receptacles 16, 17 are from a position in which the two receptacles 16, 17 are preferably aligned parallel and spaced from each other (see, for example FIG. 5 ) away from each other, preferably at 90 °, in a position in which the two receptacles 16, 17 are aligned with each other (see, eg FIG. 6 ), and designed to be movable back. When pivoting the receptacles 16, 17 about the pivot axes S ₁ and S ₂ from the position according to FIG. 5 in the position according to FIG. 6 There is thus inevitably a distance enlargement, referred to as spreading, between the rod-shaped articles 11 located in the receptacles 16, 17.

Each lever 20, 21 is preferably formed integrally and has a mounting portion, 20 a, 21 a, with which the lever 20, 21 is pivotally mounted on the support member 15, and a trough portion 20 b, 21 b for removing, holding and delivering the rod-shaped article 11 on. The attachment portion 20 a, 21 a is offset from the trough portion 20 b, 21 b arranged. In other words, the attachment portion 20a, 21a on the one hand and the trough portion 20b, 21b on the other hand lie in different planes. Attachment portion 20 a, 21 a and trough portion 20 b, 21 b are interconnected by a connecting web 20 c, 21 c. In a side view of the lever 20, 21 (see, eg FIG. 4 ) This first runs horizontally, namely with the mounting portion 20a, 21 a, then slightly rising, namely with the connecting web 20c, 21c, to then pass into the trough portion 20b, 21b, which also extends horizontally again. The trough portion 20b, 21b has an outwardly facing trough surface 22, 23, which is adapted to the outer shape of the article 11 to be transferred.

The support elements 15 are preferably distributed uniformly over the circumference of the drum body 14 and arranged on the end face thereof. Preferably, the support elements 15 and the receptacles 16, 17 disposed thereon describe a circle during rotation about the axis of rotation I of the drum body 14.

As mentioned above, the pivoting of the receptacles 16, 17 of a carrier element 15 can be dependent or independent of each other. For this purpose, the receptacles 16, 17 may be structurally and / or control-technically selectively connected to one another or designed as separate pivoting units. Preferably, each individual receptacle 16, 17 of a carrier element 15 is assigned a separate pivot drive. The separate quarter turn actuators of a Carrier element 15 are preferably individually controllable, so that an optimized coordination of the pivoting movements of the receptacles 16, 17 of a carrier element 15 is simplified.

In the illustrated embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention, in particular according to the FIGS. 3 to 6 , each carrier element 15 is associated with at least one hollow body 24, each hollow body 24 having vacuum holes not shown. The trough body 24 is with its also to the outer shape rod-shaped article, in the example shown double filter 19, adapted trough surface 25 above the mounting portions 20a, 21a of the receptacles 16, 17. More specifically, the trough body 24 and the trough surface 25 extend parallel to the pivot axis II and transverse to the transport direction T _{1 of} the rod-shaped article 11 on the longitudinal conveyor 12. Preferably, the pivot axis II, the pivot axes S ₁ and S ₂ and the center axis M of the trough surface 25 of the trough body 24 in a common plane (see, in particular FIG. 4 ). Of course, the trough body 24 with its trough surface 25 also offset from the mounting or bearing points of the receptacles 16, 17 may be arranged.

The trough body 24 and thus also its trough surface 25 are aligned with the receptacles 16, 17 or their trough portions 20b, 21b and trough surfaces 22, 23 such that the trough surface 25 of the trough body 24 to the trough surfaces 22, 23 of the trough portions 20b, 21b is preferably aligned in alignment, if this in the maximum spread position (see, eg FIG. 6 ) are located. In other words, the tobacco sticks form a rod-shaped article 11 in the receptacles 16, 17, when they are in the aligned alignment position, and the double filter 19 is a three-piece, aligned behind one another rod formation. Preferably, all the trough surfaces 22, 23, 25 of the two receptacles 16, 17 on the one hand and the hollow body 24 on the other hand affect a common plane E. The trough body 24 itself is fixed in the embodiment shown and rotationally fixed to the carrier element 15. For this purpose, a support body 26 is arranged on the carrier element 15, which protrudes with a boom 27 via the attachment portions 20a, 21a. In the boom 27, the trough surface 25 is formed on the fastening portions 20 a, 21 a side facing away from.

In further embodiments, which are not explicitly illustrated, the device 10 is assigned sensors 28, 29 in the input or transfer area and in the output or delivery area of the rod-shaped articles 11. The sensor 28 in the transfer area, preferably from the longitudinal conveyor 12, serves to detect the front edge of the rod-shaped article 11, whereby the acquisition of the rod-shaped article 11 is optimized. The sensor 29 in the delivery area is used to detect the axial position of the rod-shaped article 11 on the cross conveyor 13. Furthermore, can be determined by the latter sensor 29, whether ever a rod-shaped article 11 or a formed of two tobacco rods and a double filter unit in the trough of the cross conveyor 13 is located.

In the following, the method according to the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing.

The method is used to transfer rod-shaped articles 11 of the tobacco processing industry from a longitudinal conveyor 12 for longitudinal axial promotion of the article 11 on a transverse conveyor 13 for Queraxialen promotion of Article 11 or vice versa. For the sake of simplicity, the method will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the transfer of tobacco rods fed in parallel on a longitudinal conveyor 12 to a transverse conveyor 13 on which the tobacco rods lie in alignment one behind the other. The transport directions T _{1 of} the longitudinal conveyor 12 and T _{2 of} the transverse conveyor 13 extend in a linear orientation. Simply put, the rod-shaped articles 11 are independent of their orientation and the design of the means of transport in the view according to the FIGS. 1 and 2 transported from right to left or vice versa.

First, the rod-shaped articles 11 are removed from the longitudinal conveyor 12 by means of rotating around a rotation axis I drum body 14 of the device 10 for transferring rod-shaped articles 11 of the tobacco processing industry, by at least two rod-shaped article 11 of the receptacles 16, 17, on the Carrier element 15 which is arranged pivotably about a pivot axis II on the drum body 14, are removed from the longitudinal conveyor 12. The preferably continuously driven drum body 14 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise about the axis of rotation I and thus moves the rod-shaped article 11 by a predetermined angle. Preferably, the transport path of the rod-shaped article 11 on the drum body 14 is about 180 °. Of course, other angular sizes can form the transport route. When losing the Article 11 of the longitudinal conveyor 12 and the delivery of the article 11 to the cross conveyor 13, the support member 15 must be aligned with respect to the respective conveying element exactly. Using the example of the longitudinal conveyor 12, the receptacles 16, 17 must be parallel to the longitudinal conveyor 12 in order to remove the article 11 also. For this purpose, the carrier element 15 is aligned about the pivot axis II during rotation of the drum body 14. Furthermore, the rod-shaped articles 11 located in the receptacles 16, 17 are rotated by 90 ° from the longitudinal axial to the transverse axial orientation in order to deliver the rod-shaped articles 11 to the transverse conveyor 13.

According to the invention, the rod-shaped articles 11 located on a carrier element 15 are changed in their position relative to each other during the rotation of the drum body 14 about the axis of rotation I. It is thus carried out for each article 11, an additional movement, which is superimposed on the other movements of the device 10. The device 10 described above according to one of claims 1 to 9 is particularly suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

In the specific embodiment of the drawing, two individual and parallel on the longitudinal conveyor 12 tobacco sticks are recorded as rod-shaped article 11 and by the pivoting of the receptacles 16, 17 about its own pivot axis S ₁ and S ₂ away from each other by 90 ° in one Moved position in which the two tobacco sticks are preferably aligned with each other and provided at a distance from each other. This spreading of the tobacco sticks, referred to as spreading, with simultaneous alignment of the tobacco sticks in alignment with one another, results in sufficient space being created between the tobacco sticks in order to place a double filter 19. The double filter 19 can already be in a hollow body 24 of the carrier element 15 before the receptacles 16, 17 remove the tobacco sticks from the longitudinal conveyor 12. The feeding of the double filter 19 can also take place at the same time or subsequently - optionally still in the apparatus 10 or at the subsequent transverse conveyor 13 - or even later.

Preferably, a formation consisting of two tobacco rods and an intermediate double filter 19 is already formed within the device 10, in which both the tobacco rods and the double filter 19 lie in alignment one behind the other. This formation is then delivered to the cross conveyor 13 and fed to the next processing step.

In a variant of the method which is not shown, two tobacco rods which are fed in one lane and lie flush against each other on the longitudinal conveyor 12 can be removed, spread, ie provided at a distance from each other, and deposited again in an aligned formation on the transverse conveyor 13. The feeding of a double filter 19 can be done accordingly.

Claims (12)

Device (10) for transferring rod-shaped articles (11) of the tobacco processing industry from a longitudinal conveyor (12) for longitudinal axial promotion of the article (11) on a transverse conveyor (13) for Queraxialen promotion of the article (11) or vice versa, wherein the transport directions T _{1 of} the longitudinal conveyor (12) and T _{2 of} the transverse conveyor (13) extend in linear alignment, comprising a drum body (14) rotatably driven about a rotation axis I with at least one support element (15), wherein each support element (15) about a pivot axis II pivotally is arranged on the drum body (14) and has receptacles (16, 17) which are designed and arranged for removing, holding and dispensing at least two rod-shaped articles (11), in particular tobacco sticks, the receptacles (16, 17) for changing the orientation of the rod-shaped article (11) from longitudinal axial to transverse axial or vice versa rotatably mounted on the carrier element (15), characterized gek characterized in that the receptacles (16, 17) of a carrier element (15) for changing the position of the rod-shaped article (11) to each other during rotation of the drum body (14) about the rotation axis I are designed to be movable. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that on each carrier element (15) has two separate receptacles (16, 17) for removal, holding and dispensing of the rod-shaped article (11), each about its own pivot axis S ₁ and S _{2 are} pivotally designed and furnished. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the two receivers (16, 17) associated with a carrier element (15) are designed and arranged to be coordinated with respect to their pivoting ranges. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the two receptacles (16, 17) lie with their pivot axes S ₁ and S ₂ forming bearing points close to each other or one above the other and the receptacles (16, 17) starting from the bearing points each extending as a cantilevered lever (20, 21) away from the pivot axes S ₁ and S ₂ , wherein the receptacles (16, 17) from a position in which they are preferably aligned parallel and spaced from each other, away from each other, preferably at 90 °, in a position in which the receptacles (16, 17) are aligned with each other, and formed back movable. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that each lever (20, 21) has a fixing portion (20a, 21a), with which the lever (20, 21) is pivotally mounted on the carrier element (15), and a trough portion (20b, 21 b) for removing, holding and dispensing of the rod-shaped article (11), wherein the fastening portion (20 a, 21 a) which is connected via a connecting web (20 c, 21 c) with the trough portion (20 b, 21 b), offset to the trough portion (20b, 21 b) lies in another plane and the trough portion (20b, 21 b) adapted to the outer shape of the rod-shaped article (11) to be transferred well surface (22, 23). Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that each carrier element (15) is associated with at least one depression body (24) which, with its cavity surface (25) also adapted to the outer shape of rod-shaped article (11), above the attachment sections of the receptacles (16, 17 ) and is oriented such that the well body (24) is preferably aligned with the receptacles (16, 17) when the levers (20, 21) are in the position in which they are aligned with each other. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that all trough surfaces (22, 23, 25) of the two receptacles (16, 17) on the one hand and the hollow body (24) on the other hand tangent to a common plane E. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the hollow body (24) fixed and rotationally fixed to the carrier element (15) is attached. Device according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that each individual receptacle (16, 17) of a carrier element (15) is associated with a separate pivot drive. Method for transferring rod-shaped articles (11) of the tobacco-processing industry from a longitudinal conveyor (12) for longitudinally conveying the articles (11) to a transverse conveyor (13) for transversely conveying the articles (11) or vice versa, in particular with a device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the transport directions T _{1 of} the longitudinal conveyor (12) and T _{2 of} the transverse conveyor (13) extend in a linear orientation, comprising the steps: Removing rod-shaped articles (11) from the longitudinal conveyor (12) or transverse conveyor (13) by means of a drum body (14) rotating about a rotation axis I of a device (10) for transferring rod-shaped articles (11) of the tobacco-processing industry, in that in each case at least two rod-shaped articles (11) of receptacles (16, 17) which are arranged on a carrier element (15), which is arranged pivotably about a pivot axis II on the drum body (14), by the longitudinal conveyor (12) or cross conveyor (13) be removed Rotating the drum body (14) about the rotation axis I and thereby moving the rod-shaped articles (11) by a predetermined angle, Aligning the at least one carrier element (15) about the pivot axis II during rotation of the drum body (14) by the predetermined angle, Rotating the rod-shaped article (11) lying in the receptacles (16, 17) by 90 ° from a longitudinal-axial to a transverse-axial orientation and vice versa, and Dispensing the rod-shaped articles (11) to a transverse conveyor (13) or longitudinal conveyor (12), characterized in that the on a support member (15) located rod-shaped article (11) during rotation of the drum body (14) about the rotation axis I in their position to each other are changed. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that each two individual and parallel on the longitudinal conveyor (12) lying tobacco sticks as rod-shaped article (11) and by the pivoting of the receptacles (16, 17) about the own pivot axis S ₁ and S ₂ away from each other by 90 ° in a position to be moved, in which the two Tobacco sticks are aligned with each other aligned and provided with a distance to each other. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that double filters (19) are inserted into the device (10) for transfer, so that when dispensed to the transverse conveyor (13) between the tobacco sticks in each case a double filter (19) and with the tobacco sticks a aligned alignment forms.

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