EP3685684A1 - The preparation of rod-like smoking products - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing rod-shaped smoking products on a drum machine (T) of the tobacco processing industry, rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry being in receiving troughs of rotating conveyor drums (12, 14, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 34) of a conveying arrangement for the transaxially conveying of rod-shaped articles are arranged transversely one behind the other and are conveyed in several conveying sections (FA1, FA2, FA3) by rotation of the conveying drum in the transverse axial conveying direction. The rod-shaped articles are conveyed in a first conveyor section (FA1) on at least one conveyor drum (12) transversely axially with a first transverse axial distance between the rod-shaped articles, the rod-shaped articles conveyed transversely axially in the first conveyor section (FA1) subsequently in a with a first cutting device (18) trained second conveyor section (FA2) are conveyed, the transverse axial distance between the rod-shaped articles being increased or reduced during or after the transfer of the rod-shaped articles from the first conveyor section (FA1) to the second conveyor section (FA2). In the second conveyor section (FA2), the rod-shaped articles are cut into several, in particular two or three, article rod segments (101, 102, 103) by means of the first cutting device of the second conveyor section (FA2), which are then conveyed to further conveyor drums of the conveyor arrangement.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing rod-shaped smoking products on a drum machine of the tobacco processing industry, rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry being arranged transversely axially one behind the other in receiving troughs of rotating conveying drums of a conveyor arrangement for the transaxially conveying of rod-shaped articles and by rotating the conveying drum in the transversely axial conveying direction be promoted.

Conveyor drums are used in machines in the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter attachment machines, to transport cigarettes, filter pieces or their components. In the context of the invention, the term “components” of the cigarettes and filter rods also means elements of alternative smoking products, for example as elements.

The conveying of the aforementioned items during the manufacture of cigarettes, filters and alternative smoking products is used in modern production machines in the tobacco processing industry Generally carried out by means of conveying drums, the lateral surface of which is provided for conveying rod-shaped objects as rod-shaped components (cigarettes, filter rods or filter plugs, filter cigarettes) with troughs for receiving the objects.

During the extraction, these objects of the tobacco processing industry are held by suction air on the conveyor drums, which are in contact with corresponding channels, mostly bores. These channels are generally arranged in rows, the lengths of which correspond to the dimensions of the objects to be transported transversely to the direction of transport.

In filter attaching machines and multi-filter segment manufacturing machines, rod-shaped articles such as e.g. Tobacco sticks or filter plugs or filter rods, conveyed transversely axially in receiving troughs of the conveyor drums. Here, the receiving troughs are arranged at predetermined intervals on the circumferential surface of the conveyor drum.

Under a filter attachment machine is a device for producing filter cigarettes with means for receiving double-length tobacco sticks, with means for cutting these double-long tobacco sticks into single-length tobacco sticks, with means for inserting double-length filter plugs between the single-length tobacco sticks, with means for connecting of the double-length filter plug with the two tobacco sticks of simple length by covering with a topping paper sheet, which is separated by means of a cutting device from a supplied topping paper strip, with means for performing a separating cut through the double-length filter plug, so that filter cigarettes of normal use length are produced. In a single-lane filter attachment machine, a sequence of tobacco rod filter plugs-tobacco rod groups arranged and transported transversely one behind the other is fed to a covering device as a single-lane material flow.

For example, in EP 1 213 105 B1 discloses a filter attachment machine.

The object of the invention is to enable product-friendly conveyance of multi-cut or to be cut rod-shaped articles.

The object is achieved by a method for producing rod-shaped smoking products on a drum machine of the tobacco processing industry, rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry being arranged transversely axially one behind the other in receiving troughs of rotating conveying drums of a conveyor arrangement for the transaxially conveying of rod-shaped articles and by rotating the conveying drum in transversely axial conveying direction are conveyed, and the rod-shaped articles in the respective transfer area between two conveying drums are transferred from an article-dispensing conveying drum to an article-receiving conveying drum, the rod-shaped articles being transversely axially in a first conveying section on at least one conveying drum with a first, preferably constant, transverse-axial Distance between the rod-shaped articles are conveyed, the rod-shaped articles conveyed transversely axially in the first conveying section subsequently in a first Cutting device designed second conveyor section are conveyed, wherein during or after the transfer of the rod-shaped articles from the first conveyor section to the second conveyor section, the transverse axial distance between the rod-shaped articles is increased or decreased, in the second conveyor section the rod-shaped articles by means of the first cutting device of the second conveyor section are cut into several, in particular two or three, article rod segments and, after the rod-shaped articles have been cut into article rod segments, the article rod segments are formed in the second conveying section into a, preferably single-row, row of article rod segments arranged transversely axially one behind the other, the transverse axial, preferably constant, distance of the article rod segments part or a fraction of the formed row of article rod segments corresponds to the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles conveyed in the second conveying section, the transverse axial distance of the article rod segments of the row formed in the second conveying section being determined by the product of the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles in the second conveying section multiplied by the reciprocal of the number of the respectively cut from the rod-shaped articles Article rod segments, and then the preferably single-row, transversely axially arranged article rod segments are transferred from the second conveyor section to a third conveyor section designed with a second cutting device, wherein in the third conveyor section the article rod segments are each cut into several, in particular two, article rod segment pieces, preferably in the center, wherein in the third conveying section, the article rod segments and the article rod segment pieces are conveyed with a, preferably constant, transverse axial distance which corresponds to the corresponds to the transverse axial distance of the article rod segments of the formed, preferably single-row, series of article rod segments in the second conveying section, and then the article rod segment pieces are conveyed with the same constant transverse axial distance to a feed device for supplying smoke article components to the article rod segment pieces conveyed by the conveyor drums.

The invention is based on the idea that during or after the transfer of rod-shaped articles from a conveyor drum of the first conveyor section to a conveyor drum of the second conveyor section, the rod-shaped articles are decelerated or accelerated in their path speed and after the transfer the rod-shaped articles and those from the rod-shaped ones Articles formed article rod segments and also the article rod segment pieces formed from the article rod segments are conveyed at the same path speed in the second conveyor section and in the third conveyor section. Here, the path speeds of the rod-shaped articles, the article rod segments and article rod segment pieces during their conveyance in the second conveying section and third conveying section are the same or constant. This gives in relation to the direction of conveyance of the rod-shaped articles, the article rod segments and the article rod segment pieces before the supply of further smoke article components to the article rod segment pieces, a product-gentle conveyance of the corresponding rod-shaped articles, the article rod segments and the article rod segment pieces in the second conveying section and in the third conveying section of the conveying arrangement.

Here, for the production of rod-shaped smoke products on a drum machine designed with the conveyor arrangement, multi-length article rods are taken over as products of the rod machine, for example from a strand machine or strand production machine. The multi-length article bars are conveyed in the longitudinal axial direction, in particular, on the output side of the strand machine and transferred to one or the conveyor drum of the first conveyor section by means of a transfer device. By means of the upstream transfer device, the multi-length article rods produced by the extrusion machine are transferred as rod-shaped articles from a longitudinal-axial conveyance to a transverse-axial conveyance on the conveyor arrangement. For example, the transfer device is designed as a spider or push drum.

During the transverse axial conveyance of the rod-shaped articles in the first conveying section, they are conveyed at a first transverse axial distance from one another. After or during the transfer of the rod-shaped articles of a conveyor drum of the first conveyor section to a subsequent conveyor drum of the second conveyor section, the transverse axial distance between the transferred rod-shaped articles is changed. The rod-shaped articles are thus conveyed in the second conveying section with a second transverse axial distance which differs from the first transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles during their conveying in the first conveying section.

In the second conveying section there is a first cutting device on a first cutting drum, on which the rod-shaped articles are conveyed, provided to cut the rod-shaped articles into several article rod segments. For this purpose, for example, the cutting device has one or two or more cutting knives in order to cut the multi-long rod-shaped articles. If the first cutting device has a cutting knife, the rod-shaped articles are each cut into two article rod segments. If the first cutting device has two cutting knives, the rod-shaped articles are each cut into three article rod segments.

In the context of the invention, it is provided that in the second conveyor section, after the rod-shaped articles have been cut into article rod segments, the article rod segments are formed into a series of article rod segments arranged one behind the other. It is further provided that, after cutting, the row of the article rod segments arranged transversely axially one behind the other, which are conveyed individually in the receiving troughs of the conveying drum (s), are staggered in the receiving troughs or in a single row, i.e. H. are arranged in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum (s) without a longitudinal axial offset to one another.

In particular, the rod-shaped articles are cut into article rod segments of the same length by means of the first cutting device in the second conveyor section. In addition, the article rod segments in the third conveying section are preferably cut into article rod segment pieces of the same length by means of the second cutting device.

The transverse axial distance of the cut article rod segments which are transferred from the second conveyor section of the conveyor arrangement to the third conveyor section in the second conveyor section corresponds to the product of the reciprocal of the number of article rod segments cut from the respective rod-shaped article and the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles in the second conveyor section before cutting. If, for example, two article rod segments are obtained from the rod-shaped articles, the transverse axial distance is Article rod segments, which are transferred on the output side of the second conveyor section to the third conveyor section, in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum (s) half the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles in the second conveyor section. In the event that three article rod segments are obtained from the rod-shaped articles in the second conveyor section, the transverse axial distance of the article rod segments to be delivered to the third conveyor section in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum (s) is one third of the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles in the second conveyor section.

In the context of the invention, the first conveying section can have only one conveying drum or several conveying drums, the rod-shaped articles being conveyed transversely axially in the receiving troughs of the conveying drum (s) with a first, constant transverse axial distance in the first conveying section. In addition, the second conveying section has a plurality of conveying drums, one conveying drum being designed as a cutting drum. In addition, the second conveying section can have further conveying drums, such as, for example, at least one relay drum, at least one sliding drum, at least one transfer drum or the like. In addition to a cutting drum with a cutting device arranged thereon, the third conveyor section of the conveyor arrangement can have further conveyor drums.

In addition, the groups of article segment segments cut from the article rod segments are preferably conveyed in the third conveyor section with a transverse axial distance in the third conveyor section which corresponds to the transverse axial distance of the article rod segments which are conveyed in the third conveyor section before cutting by means of the cutting device.

In particular, the first cutting drum of the second conveyor section and the second cutting drum of the third conveyor section have the same pitch between the receiving troughs.

Within the scope of the invention, it is further provided that, based on the conveying direction of the rod-shaped products such as the rod-shaped articles, the article rod segments and the article rod segment pieces, only after the second cutting drum of the third conveyor section via a feed device, rod-shaped segments, such as filter segments or the like , are placed on the cut article rod segment pieces, so that article groups are formed therefrom, which are then wrapped or cut with a wrapping material strip. It can be provided that after the third conveying section between two longitudinally spaced article rod segments, corresponding filter segments or other smoking article segments are inserted on a compilation drum and these are then wrapped by means of a wrapping material strip, so that rod-shaped smoking products are subsequently made easier by a central cut through the respective smoking article groups formed Usage length arise, which may then be further processed. This makes it possible to also produce short rod-shaped products, such as heat-not-burn products, with a product length of 40 to 65 mm on a drum machine or filter attachment machine.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method it is provided that in the second conveyor section the rod-shaped articles are each cut into three article bar segments and the article rod segments of the row formed, arranged transversely axially one behind the other, are conveyed with a transverse axial distance that is one third of the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles conveyed in the second conveyor section Corresponds to the article before cutting by the first cutting device of the second conveyor section, or in the second conveyor section the rod-shaped articles are each cut into two article rod segments and the article rod segments of the row formed, which are arranged transversely axially one behind the other, are conveyed with a transverse axial distance that the Half of the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles conveyed in the second conveyor section corresponds to the cutting of the second conveyor section by the first cutting device.

In addition, a further development of the method is characterized in that in the second conveyor section the rod-shaped articles on a cutting drum are cut into groups of article rod segments by means of the first cutting device, the groups of article rod segments on the cutting drum of the second conveyor section having the same transverse axial distance, which corresponds to the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles before cutting in the second conveyor section, are conveyed and then the groups of article rod segments are transferred to a subsequent conveyor drum of the second conveyor section, with a first return transfer drum and a second return transfer drum being related to the conveying direction of the article rod segments on the conveyor drum are arranged, with respect to the conveying direction of the groups of article rod segments from the conveyor drum to the first return displacement drum, a first article rod segment de r group of article rod segments is transferred and the article rod segment returned from the first return transfer drum to the conveyor drum is released into a free receiving trough of the conveyor drum and then a second article rod segment of the group of article rod segments is transferred from the conveyor drum to the second return transfer drum, each from the second Return transfer drum to article drum segment returned to the conveyor drum is transferred into a free receiving trough of the conveyor drum, whereby after the arrangement of the article rod segments conveyed by the first return transfer drum and the second return transfer drum in free receiving troughs of the conveyor drum, the article rod segments on the conveyor drum are separated and in the same direction and in relation to the conveying direction in the same direction, transversely axially transverse axial distance are arranged in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum, the transverse axial, preferably constant, distance of the article rod segments of the article rod segments arranged transversely one behind the other corresponds to the part or fraction of the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles conveyed in the second conveying section.

Here, the conveyor drum with the first return displacement drum arranged thereon and with the second return displacement drum arranged thereon is arranged in the conveying direction of the article rod segments after the first cutting device in the second conveying section. Here, the cut groups of article rod segments are transferred from a cutting drum with the first cutting device to the conveyor drum with the two return displacement drums or conveyed to the latter. By means of the conveyor drum and the two return displacement drums, the individual article rod segments of the groups of article rod segments are separated and arranged one behind the other in the transverse axial direction, the article rod segments being arranged in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum. After the separation and arrangement or rearrangement of the article rod segments in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drums, the article rod segments have a transverse axial distance which is determined by the product of the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles in the second conveyor section (before cutting) multiplied by the reciprocal of the number of article rod segments cut from the rod-shaped articles or the number of article rod segments of the group of article rod segments. After the return of the article rod segment from the second return transfer drum and before the transfer of the article rod segments to a subsequent conveyor drum, the article rod segments are arranged in a (single row) row axially one behind the other in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum or one behind the other and axially offset, for example in a staggered manner , arranged in the receiving troughs.

The conveyor drum, on which the first return displacement drum and the second return displacement drum are arranged, preferably has receiving troughs with a constant pitch that corresponds to the transverse axial Distance of the consecutively arranged and isolated article rod segments corresponds. The first return displacement drum and the second return displacement drum also each have receiving troughs with the same pitch which corresponds to the pitch of the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum. The conveyor drum preferably has an even number of receiving troughs.

According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, it is provided that the or all of the conveyor drums in the first conveyor section and in the second conveyor section and in the third conveyor section, with the exception of the first return transfer drum and the second return transfer drum, have an even number of receiving troughs.

In the case of conveyor drums, the division distance is understood to mean the transverse axial distance of the receiving troughs in which the groups of smoking articles are arranged or transported. The (transverse axial) distance is from the trough center of the receiving trough to the following trough center of the adjacent receiving trough of the trough conveyor which conveys the rod-shaped smoking articles (groups) or from trough bottom to trough bottom at e.g. measured in a prismatic receiving trough. The division distance on a drum conveyor, also known as a conveyor drum, is the transverse axial distance or the length of the (circular) arc between (adjacent) trough centers on the circular line on which the trough centers or trough center axes of the troughs are arranged.

If, after the groups have been separated, the individual article rod segments are staggered longitudinally axially and arranged one behind the other, for example in a staggered manner in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum by means of the return displacement drums arranged thereon, it is advantageous according to a development of the method that the individual article rod segments arranged behind one another axially follow the conveyor drum to a sliding drum of the second conveyor section are transferred and the article rod segments are shifted on the sliding drum and are aligned in such a way that a single-row row of transverse article axially arranged one behind the other is formed on the sliding drum.

If a single-row row of article rod segments, which are arranged transversely and axially one after the other and are arranged in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum prior to their transfer to a subsequent conveyor drum, is formed on the conveyor drum by means of the return displacement drums arranged thereon, one embodiment of the method is characterized in that the Article rod segments are moved longitudinally axially during their conveyance on the first return displacement drum and the article rod segments are displaced axially axially during their conveyance on the second return displacement drum and after return of the longitudinally axially displaced article rod segments from the first return displacement drum and from the second return displacement drum, the individual article rod segments on the conveyor drum in a single row are aligned or arranged transversely axially one behind the other in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum.

For this purpose, one embodiment of the method advantageously provides that when groups with three article rod segments are conveyed, one of the two return transfer drums has a number of receiving troughs for the article rod segments, which is the sum of an integer multiple of 3 and the number 1 (3xn + 1 ; n = 1, 2, 3, ...), and the other of the two return displacement drums has a number of receiving troughs for the article rod segments, which is the difference of an integer multiple of 3 and the number 1 (3xm - 1; m = 1, 2, 3, ...), or when promoting groups with two article rod segments each, the first return transfer drum has an odd number of receiving troughs for the article rod segments and the second return transfer drum has an odd number of receiving troughs for the article rod segments.

For example, it is possible for the first return transfer drum to have an odd number of receiving troughs for the article rod segments and the second return transfer drum to have an even number of receiving troughs for the article rod segments when conveying groups with three article rod segments, or for the promotion of groups with three each Article rod segments, the first return transfer drum has an even number of receiving troughs for the article rod segments and the second return transfer drum has an odd number of receiving troughs for the article rod segments.

According to a further aspect, a further development of the method is characterized in that the single-row article rod segments arranged one behind the other in the transverse axial direction in the second conveyor section and / or the single-row article rod segments arranged one behind the other in the transverse axial direction in the third conveyor section in the center with respect to the cutting plane of the, preferably exclusively, one cutting device, in particular Cutting knife, are aligned or are in the third conveyor section. In particular, the third conveyor section has at least one conveyor drum which is designed as a cutting drum and on which a cutting knife for cutting the article rod segments into article rod segment pieces is preferably arranged as the cutting device. In addition, the third conveying section of the conveying arrangement can have further conveying drums. The second conveying section of the conveying arrangement ends at the conveying drum arranged upstream of the cutting drum, on which the article rod segments to be delivered to the cutting drum are conveyed in a (single) row transversely axially one behind the other.

In addition, it is provided within the scope of the invention that when the single-row and transverse-axially arranged article rod segments are transferred from a conveyor drum to the cutting drum or to the conveyor drum with the cutting device, the third conveyor section begins. It can also be provided that downstream of the cutting drum or the cutting device, further conveyor drums are provided which convey the cut article rod segments to the feed device for feeding further smoking article components.

In an advantageous further development of the method, it is provided that by means of a transfer device arranged upstream of the at least one conveyor drum of the first conveyor section, longitudinally axially conveyed rod-shaped articles, preferably from a strand production machine, are transferred to the at least one transversely axially conveying conveyor drum of the first conveyor section.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that during or during the transfer of rod-shaped articles to be cut from the first conveying section to the second conveying section, the transverse axial distance between the rod-shaped articles to be cut and thus also the path speed of the rod-shaped articles changes, i.e. are enlarged or reduced, and then during the conveyance of the rod-shaped products (rod-shaped articles, article rod segments, article rod segment pieces) in the second conveyor section and in the third conveyor section the path speed of the rod-shaped products before being fed to a feed device for feeding (further) smoke article components to the in the article assembly segment pieces produced in the conveyor arrangement is or remains constant.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments according to the invention together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments according to the invention can fulfill individual features or a combination of several features.

Figur 1

schematisch eine vereinfachte Ansicht einer Trommelmaschine gemäß einer ersten Ausgestaltung;

Figur 2

schematisch eine Ansicht einer Fördertrommel mit zwei daran angeordneten Rückführversetztrommeln gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Figur 3

schematisch eine Ansicht einer Fördertrommel mit zwei daran angeordneten Rückführversetztrommeln gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel;

Figur 4

schematisch eine vereinfachte Ansicht einer Trommelmaschine gemäß einer weiteren Ausgestaltung;

Figur 5

schematisch eine Ansicht einer Fördertrommel mit zwei daran angeordneten Rückführversetztrommeln gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel und

Figur 6

schematisch eine Ansicht einer Fördertrommel mit zwei daran angeordneten Rückführversetztrommeln gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel.

The invention is described below without restricting the general inventive concept using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, with respect to all in the text details not explained in detail according to the invention is expressly made to the drawings. Show it:

Figure 1

schematically shows a simplified view of a drum machine according to a first embodiment;

Figure 2

schematically shows a view of a conveyor drum with two return displacement drums arranged thereon according to a first embodiment;

Figure 3

schematically a view of a conveyor drum with two return displacement drums arranged thereon according to a further embodiment;

Figure 4

schematically shows a simplified view of a drum machine according to a further embodiment;

Figure 5

schematically shows a view of a conveyor drum with two return displacement drums arranged thereon according to a further embodiment and

Figure 6

schematically a view of a conveyor drum with two return displacement drums arranged thereon according to a further embodiment.

In the context of the invention, features which are labeled "in particular" or "preferably" are to be understood as optional features.

In the drawings, the same or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that a renewed presentation is not given.

In Figure 1 is schematically shown a simplified representation of a drum machine T, such as a filter attachment machine, by means of which rod-shaped smoke products are produced. The drum machine T has several conveyor sections FA1, FA2, FA3 with conveyor drums, by means of which rod-shaped products are conveyed transversely axially.

The drum machine T has a take-over drum 12, by means of which rod-shaped articles of multiple useful lengths, such as tobacco rod sticks or filter sticks, are taken over by a schematically designated strand machine S. A transfer conveyor (not shown here), such as a so-called spider or push-in drum, is provided for the transfer of the rod-shaped articles of multiple use length, which are conveyed longitudinally axially in the strand machine S, to the transfer drum 12, so that, for example, a so-called spider or push-in drum is provided, so that the longitudinally axially conveyed rod-shaped articles are conveyed in on the output side of the strand machine S. a transverse axial conveying direction are transferred to the take-over drum 12.

The rod-shaped articles are conveyed on the transfer drum 12 in the transverse axial direction in the receiving troughs with a first transverse axial distance in a first conveying section FA1. The rod-shaped articles are then transferred from the transfer drum 12 to a subsequent conveyor drum 14 of a second conveyor section FA2. When the rod-shaped articles are transferred from the transfer drum 12 to the conveyor drum 14, the transverse axial distance between the rod-shaped articles is increased or decreased, so that the speed of the rod-shaped articles in the second conveyor section FA2 is braked or accelerated compared to their web speed in the first conveyor section FA1.

The rod-shaped articles are then transferred from the conveyor drum 14 to a cutting drum 16. A cutting device in the form of a plurality of cutting knives 18 is provided on the cutting drum 16 in order to divide the multi-length rod-shaped articles into a plurality of article rod segments to cut. The cutting device can have only one or more cutting knives 18. In the embodiment of the cutting device shown in FIG. 1, two cutting knives 18 are provided in order to cut the rod-shaped articles into three article rod segments of the same length or into groups with three article rod segments of the same length. The groups of article rod segments in the second conveying section FA2 are conveyed on the cutting drum 16 with the same transverse axial distance as the rod-shaped articles on the conveying drum 14 in the second conveying section FA2.

After the bar-shaped articles have been cut, the groups of article bar segments are transferred to a subsequent conveyor drum 20. A first return transfer drum 22 and a second return transfer drum 24 are arranged on the conveyor drum 20 in order to separate and rearrange the article rod segments of the respective groups of article rod segments in order to form a row of article rod segments arranged transversely axially one behind the other in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 20 (cf. Figure 2 and Figure 3 ).

The article rod segments of the row of article rod segments which are formed on the conveyor drum 20 and which are arranged transversely one behind the other and which are arranged in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum before being transferred to a subsequent conveyor drum 26 have a transverse axial distance from one another which is part of the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles corresponds to the conveyor drums 14, 16 in the second conveyor section FA2. Here, the transverse axial distance of the article rod segments of the row formed corresponds to the product of the transverse axial distance of the article rod segments in the second conveyor section FA2 multiplied by the reciprocal of the number of article rod segments of the groups of article rod segments. That is, the transverse axial distance of the individual article rod segments of the row corresponds to half or one third of the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles conveyed in the second conveying section FA2, if by means of a Cutting knife 18 or by means of two cutting knives 18, the rod-shaped articles are cut into two or three article rod segments. The rearrangement and formation of the series of article bar segments on the conveyor drum 20 is described below with reference to FIG Figures 2 and 3rd explained (see below).

The row of article rod segments formed on the conveyor drum 20 is formed in such a way that the article rod segments in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 20 are arranged in a staggered manner, ie with an offset in the longitudinal axial direction, and transversely axially one behind the other (cf. Figure 2 and Figure 3 ).

The article rod segments are transferred from the conveyor drum 20 to the subsequent conveyor drum 26, which is preferably designed as a sliding drum. The individual article rod segments are shifted and aligned longitudinally on the conveyor drum 26, so that the article rod segments are arranged on the conveyor drum 26 in a single-row row of article rod segments arranged transversely axially one behind the other. Thereafter, the article bar segments arranged in a row are transferred from the conveyor drum 26 to the subsequent conveyor drum 28 in the second conveyor section FA2. In the second conveyor section FA2, after the separation and rearrangement of the article rod segments on the conveyor drum 20, the article rod segments on the conveyor drums 26, 28 are conveyed with the same transverse axial distance, which is the product of the transverse axial distance of the article rod segments in the second conveyor section FA2 multiplied by the reciprocal of the number of Article staff segments corresponds to the groups from article staff segments.

The article rod segments are transferred from the conveyor drum 28 to a subsequent cutting drum 30, in which a cutting knife 32 is arranged in order to cut the aligned article rod segments arranged one behind the other in the center, so that two article rod segment pieces are formed from the article rod segments. To the cutting of the article rod segments into article rod segment pieces, the cut groups of article rod segment pieces are transferred to a subsequent conveyor drum 34, on which the cut article rod segments are conveyed in pairs and are subsequently conveyed to an assembly drum 36 and transferred to the latter.

The drum machine T has a feed device Z for feeding (further) rod-shaped article rod segments or products which are conveyed to the assembly drum 36, so that rod-shaped smoke products which are subsequently enveloped with a wrapping material strip are produced on the assembly drum 36.

According to the invention, in the third conveyor section FA3, the article rod segments and the article rod segment pieces are conveyed with the same transverse axial distance as the article rod segments on the conveyor drums 26, 28.

In Fig. 2 schematically shows a view of the conveyor drum 20 of the second conveyor section FA2, on which the return displacement drums 22, 24 are arranged. The cut groups of article rod segments 100 are transferred from the cutting drum 16 into the receiving trough of the conveyor drum 20. The article rod segment groups 100 each have three article rod segments 101, 102 and 103, which are arranged next to one another in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 20. An article bar segment group 100 is shown schematically to the right of the conveyor drum 20.

The article rod segment groups 100 are conveyed axially axially in the direction of the rotating return transfer drums 22, the article rod segment 101 being received by the return transfer drum 22 in the receiving troughs of the return transfer drum 22 and then in a free receiving trough of the conveyor drum 20 behind the Receiving trough of the conveyor drum 20, in which an article bar segment group 100 is arranged. Subsequently, a group reduced by the article bar segment 101 with the article bar segments 102, 103 and a laterally axially spaced article bar segment 101 are conveyed in the direction of the second return transfer drum 24.

By means of the return displacement drum 24, the group with the article rod segments 102, 103 in each case receives the article rod segment 103 into a receiving trough, while the middle article rod segment 102 of the group remains on the conveyor drum 20. When the article rod segment 103 is returned to the conveyor drum 20, the returned article rod segment 103 is introduced into a free receiving trough of the conveyor drum 20 in relation to the conveying direction of the article rod segments behind the article rod segment 101. After the return of the article rod segments 103 into the free receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 20, the article rod segments 101, 102, 103 in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 20 are separated and arranged in a staggered manner axially one behind the other, the transverse axial distance between the article rod segments 101, 102, 103 being one third corresponds to the transverse axial distance of the article rod segment group 100 during its conveyance on the cutting drum 16 in the second conveyor section FA2 and during its conveyance on the conveyor drum 20 in the area between the acceptance of the article rod segment groups 100 and the reception of the article rod segment 102 by means of the return conveyor drum 22. The article rod segments 101, 102, 103 are then transferred from the conveyor drum 20 to the subsequent sliding drum 26 or conveyor drum, on which the longitudinally axially displaced article rod segments 101, 102, 103 are shifted axially and aligned to form a single-row row of article rod segments arranged one behind the other axially to build.

During the conveyance of the article rod segments 101 by means of the return transfer drum 22 and while the article rod segments 103 are being conveyed on the return transfer drum 24, the article rod segments 101, 103 are not displaced in the longitudinal axial direction.

In the embodiment in Fig. 2 of the return transfer drum 22, 24, the first return transfer drum 22 has an odd number of receiving troughs for the article rod segments 101. The second return displacement drum 24 has an even number of receiving troughs for the article rod segments 103.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2 The article staff segment groups 100 consist of three article staff segments 101, 102, 103 Fig. 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the rod-shaped articles are cut centrally on the cutting drum 16 by means of a cutting knife 18, so that a group with two article rod segments 101, 102 is formed from the article rod segment groups 100 (cf. Fig. 3 ).

By means of the return displacement drum 22, the article rod segment 101 is taken over by the conveyor drum 20 and then arranged in a free receiving trough of the conveyor drum 20 behind the article rod segment 101, which remains on the conveyor drum 20. The individual article rod segments 101, 102 are then conveyed to the second return transfer drum 24, the article rod segments 102 being introduced into a free receiving trough of the conveyor drum 20 by means of the return transfer drum 24. After the return of the article rod segment 102 between the return transfer drum 24 and the conveyance of the individual article rod segments 101, 102 to the subsequent conveyor drum 26, the article rod segments 101, 102 are arranged in the transverse axial direction at regular intervals on the conveyor drum 20. Here, the transverse axial distance of the individual article rod segments 101, 102 corresponds to half the transverse axial distance of the article rod segment group 100 on the cutting drum 16 and on the conveyor drum 20.

The individual article rod segments 101, 102 conveyed by the conveying drum 20 to the conveying drum 26 are staggered one behind the other in the transverse axial direction and staggered in the longitudinal axial direction. In this case, the longitudinally axially offset article rod segments 101, 102 are aligned in the receiving troughs on the conveyor drum 26 designed as a sliding drum, so that a single-row row of the article rod segments 101, 102 arranged transversely axially one behind the other is formed on the sliding drum 26.

In Fig. 4 Another embodiment of the drum machine T is shown, which is compared to the embodiment in Fig. 1 is modified in that this embodiment does not have a sliding drum 26 and conveyor drum 28 in the second conveyor section FA2 (cf. Fig. 1 ) having. In this embodiment of the drum machine T, the formation of a single-row row of article rod segments arranged one behind the other and axially in the receiving troughs of the conveying drum 20 takes place on the conveying drum 20 by means of the return displacement drums 22, 24. Otherwise, the conveying processes are on the conveying drums of the conveying sections FA1, FA2, FA3 as in the embodiment in Fig. 1 correspondingly the same.

Subsequently, the formation of a single row row of article bar segments on the conveyor drum 20 based on the embodiments in FIG Fig. 5 and 6 explained.

In Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the conveyor drum 20 with the return displacement drums 22, 24 arranged thereon. This exemplary embodiment essentially corresponds to the exemplary embodiment in FIG Fig. 2 with the difference that the article rod segments 101 are moved in the longitudinal axial direction on the first return displacement drum 22, so that the returned article rod segments 101 are arranged in the transverse axial direction directly behind the article rod segment 102 in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drums. This is shown schematically below the conveyor drum 20.

When the article rod segments 102, 103 and 101 are conveyed further on the conveyor drum 20, the respective article rod segment 103 is received in the receiving troughs of the return conveyor drum 24 by means of the return displacement drum 24 and moved in the longitudinal axial direction during the return to the conveyor drum 20 and arranged in a free receiving trough of the conveyor drum 20 , so that after the return of the separated article rod segments 103 to the conveyor drum 20, the article rod segments 101, 102, 103 are arranged one behind the other in a single row. Subsequently, the individual article bar segments 101, 102, 103 arranged one behind the other are transferred to the subsequent cutting drum 30, so that article bar segment pieces are cut from the article bar segments by a central cut through the article bar segments 101, 102, 103.

In the embodiment in Fig. 6 the difference to the exemplary embodiment is in Fig. 3 in that the article rod segments 101 and the article rod segments 102 on the respective return transfer drums 22 and 24 are moved in the longitudinal axial direction during their conveyance on the return transfer drums 22 and 24, respectively, so that after the return of the respective article rod segments 101, 102, these are centered with respect to the cutting planes of the cutting knife 32 are aligned with the cutting drum 30. In addition, the transverse axial distance between the article rod segments 101, 102 is equidistant before the transfer of the article rod segments 101, 102 arranged one behind the other to the cutting drum 30. In the embodiment in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 6 the return displacement drums 22, 24 each have an odd number of receiving troughs for article rod segments 101, 102.

All of the features mentioned, including those that can be seen in the drawings alone and also individual features that are disclosed in combination with other features, become essential to the invention alone and in combination viewed. Embodiments according to the invention can be fulfilled by individual features or a combination of several features.

Reference list

12th

Takeover drum

14

Conveyor drum

16

Cutting drum

18th

Cutting knife

20

Conveyor drum

22

Return transfer drum

24th

Return transfer drum

26

Conveyor drum

28

Conveyor drum

30th

Cutting drum

32

Cutting knife

34

Conveyor drum

36

Assembly drum

100

Article staff segment group

101, 102, 103

Item staff segment

FA1

first funding stage

FA2

second funding section

FA3

third funding section

S

Strand machine

T

Drum machine

Z.

Feeding device

Claims (8)

Method for producing rod-shaped smoking products on a drum machine (T) of the tobacco processing industry, wherein rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry in receiving troughs of rotating conveyor drums (12, 14, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 34) a conveyor arrangement for the transverse axial conveyance of rod-shaped articles are arranged axially one behind the other and are conveyed by rotation of the conveying drum in the transverse-axial conveying direction, and the rod-shaped articles are transferred from an article-dispensing conveying drum to an article-receiving conveying drum in the respective transfer area between two conveying drums, the rod-shaped Articles are conveyed in a first conveyor section (FA1) on at least one conveyor drum (12) transversely axially with a first, preferably constant, transverse axial distance between the rod-shaped articles, the articles in the first conveyor section (FA1) being conveyed transversely axially following nd are conveyed in a second conveying section (FA2) formed with a first cutting device (18), with or after the transfer of the rod-shaped articles from the first conveying section (FA1) on the second conveyor section (FA2) the transverse axial distance between the rod-shaped articles is increased or decreased, the rod-shaped articles in the second conveyor section (FA2) by means of the first cutting device (18) of the second conveyor section (FA2) in several, in particular two or three, article rod segments (101, 102, 103) are cut and after the rod-shaped articles have been cut into article rod segments (101, 102, 103), the article rod segments (101, 102, 103) in the second conveyor section (FA2) to form a, preferably single-row, Row of article rod segments (101, 102, 103) arranged one behind the other in a transverse axis, the transverse axial, preferably constant, distance of the article rod segments (101, 102, 103) of the formed row of article rod segments (101, 102, 103) being a part or a fraction of the corresponds to the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles conveyed in the second conveying section (FA2), the transverse axial distance of the articles rod segments (101, 102, 103) of the row formed in the second conveyor section (FA2) is determined by the product of the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles in the second conveyor section (FA2) multiplied by the reciprocal of the number of article rod segments (101 , 102, 103), and whereupon the, preferably single row, transverse axially arranged article rod segments (101, 102, 103) are transferred from the second conveying section (FA2) to a third conveying section (FA3) formed with a second cutting device (32), whereby in the third conveyor section (FA3) the article rod segments (101, 102, 103) are each cut into several, in particular two, article rod segment pieces, preferably in the middle, the article rod segments (101, 102, 103) and the article rod segment pieces being included in the third conveyor section (FA3) a, preferably constant, transverse axial distance are promoted, which corresponds to the transverse axial distance on the article rod segments (101, 102, 103) of the formed, preferably single-row, series of article rod segments (101, 102, 103) in the second conveyor section (FA2), and then the article bar segment pieces are conveyed with the same constant transverse axial distance to a feed device (Z) for feeding smoking article components to the article bar segment pieces conveyed by the conveyor drums. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the second conveying section (FA2) the rod-shaped articles are each cut into three article rod segments (101, 102, 103) and the article rod segments (101, 102, 103) of the row formed which are arranged transversely axially one behind the other with a transversely axial one Distance is conveyed, which corresponds to a third of the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles conveyed in the second conveyor section (FA2) before cutting by the first cutting device (18) of the second conveyor section (FA2), or the rod-shaped articles in each case in the second conveyor section (FA2) two article rod segments (101, 102, 103) are cut and the article rod segments (101, 102, 103) of the row formed, which are arranged transversely axially one behind the other, are conveyed with a transverse axial distance which is half the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles conveyed in the second conveying section (FA2) before cutting through the first cutter g (18) of the second conveyor section (FA2) corresponds. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the second conveyor section (FA2) the rod-shaped articles are cut on a cutting drum (16) by means of the first cutting device (18) in groups of article rod segments (101, 102, 103), the Groups of article rod segments (101, 102, 103) are conveyed on the cutting drum (16) of the second conveyor section (FA2) with the same transverse axial distance, which corresponds to the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles before cutting, and then the groups of Article rod segments (101, 102, 103) are transferred to a downstream conveyor drum (20) of the second conveyor section (FA2), with a first return displacement drum (22) on the conveyor drum (20) in relation to the direction of conveyance of the article rod segments (101, 102, 103). and a second return transfer drum (24) are arranged, with respect to the conveying direction of the groups (100) of article rod segments (101, 102, 103) from the conveyor drum (20) to the first return transfer drum (22) in each case a first article rod segment (101) Group (100) of article rod segments (101, 102, 103) is transferred and the article rod segment (101) returned from the first return transfer drum (22) to the conveyor drum (20) is released into a free receiving trough of the conveyor drum (20) and then from the A second article bar segment (101, 102) of the group (100) of article bar segments (101, 102, 103) is conveyed to the second return displacement drum (24) by the conveyor drum (20) is given and the article rod segment 103, 102) respectively returned from the second return transfer drum (24) to the conveyor drum (20) is transferred into a free receiving trough of the conveyor drum (20), with the arrangement of the first return transfer drum (22) and the second Return displacement drum (24) conveyed article rod segments (101, 102, 103) into free receiving troughs of the conveying drum (20), the article rod segments (101, 102, 103) on the conveying drum (20) individually and in relation to the conveying direction, one behind the other and at the same transverse axial distance in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum (20) are arranged, the transverse axial, preferably constant, distance of the article rod segments (101, 102, 103) of the article rod segments (101, 102, 103) arranged transversely axially one after the other, the part or fraction of the transverse axial distance of the in the second conveyor section (FA2) supported rod-shaped article. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the individual article bar segments (101, 102, 103) arranged one behind the other in the transverse axis are subsequently transferred from the conveyor drum (20) to a sliding drum (26) of the second conveyor section (FA2) and the article bar segments (101, 102, 103) on the sliding drum (26) can be displaced and aligned in such a way that a single-row row of article rod segments (101, 102, 103) arranged behind one another transversely axially is or is formed on the sliding drum (26). A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the article rod segments (101, 102, 103) are moved longitudinally axially during their conveyance on the first return transfer drum (22) and the article rod segments (101, 102, 103) during their conveyance on the second return transfer drum (24 ) are shifted axially and after returning the axially displaced article rod segments (101, 102, 103) from the first return displacement drum (22) and from the second return displacement drum (24) the individual article rod segments (101, 102, 103) on the conveyor drum (20) in a single row are aligned or arranged transversely axially one behind the other in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum (20). Method according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that when groups (100) with three article rod segments (101, 102, 103) are conveyed, one of the two return transfer drums (22, 24) has a number of receiving troughs for the article rod segments (101 , 102, 103), which corresponds to the sum of an integer multiple of 3 and the number 1 (3xn + 1; n = 1, 2, 3, ...), and the other of the two return transfer drums (22, 24) has a number of receiving troughs for the article rod segments (101, 102, 103) which corresponds to the difference of an integer multiple of 3 and the number 1 (3xm-1; m = 1, 2, 3, ...), or that the first when promoting groups (100) with two article staff segments (101, 102) each Return displacement drum (22) has an odd number of receiving troughs for the article rod segments (101, 102, 103) and the second return displacement drum (24) has an odd number of receiving troughs for the article rod segments (101, 102, 103). Method according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the single-row article rod segments (101, 102, 103) arranged one behind the other in the transverse axial direction in the second conveying section (FA2) and / or the single-row article rod segments (101, 102, 103) arranged one behind the other in the transverse axial direction in the third Conveying section (FA3) in the third conveying section (FA3) is or are centered with respect to the cutting plane of the, preferably exclusively, one cutting device (32), in particular cutting knife (32). Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that by means of a transfer device arranged upstream of the at least one conveyor drum (12) of the first conveyor section (FA1), longitudinally axially conveyed rod-shaped articles, preferably from a strand production machine (S), to which at least one transversely axially conveying Conveyor drum (12) of the first conveyor section (FA1) are handed over.

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