EP3909438A1

EP3909438A1 - Transfer unit

Info

Publication number: EP3909438A1
Application number: EP21171137.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Esposti; Giuliano Gamberini
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2020-05-12
Filing date: 2021-04-29
Publication date: 2021-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 2041-04-29
Also published as: PL3909438T3; EP3909438B1

Abstract

A transfer unit for transferring rod-shaped semi-products for a processing machine of the tobacco industry which comprises a conveyor assembly (2), a releasing assembly (3) and resetting device (4). The conveyor assembly (2) comprises one or more conveyor drums (5), each of which has a plurality of seats (5a) configured to receive and convey a succession of semi-products, at least some of the seats (5a) are associated with respective stop surfaces (6) which define an axial abutment for positioning a respective semi-product in the seat (6). The releasing assembly (3) is configured to transfer the semi-products from the conveyor assembly (2) to a forming beam (T) and is configurable to transfer semi-products of different formats as a function of a format changeover in the processing machine (100). The resetting device (4) defines the stop surfaces (6) and acts in conjunction with at least one conveyor drum (5) to vary their axial position along the axis of rotation (X) of that conveyor drum (5), as a function of a format changeover in the processing machine (100).

Description

This invention relates to the technical sector of machines and processing processes of the tobacco industry.
Specifically, this invention relates to a transfer unit for transferring rod-shaped semi-products for a processing machine of the tobacco industry, as well as the processing machine itself.
This invention also relates to the method for preparing the transfer unit to adapt it to operate following a format changeover of the semi-products to be transferred and to a respective method for the transfer of rod-shaped semi-products in a processing machine of the tobacco industry.
Making an article of the tobacco industry requires the performance, by means of appropriate processing machines, of a succession of operations which may even be very complex, intended to process various materials by treating them and combining them until the finished products have been made.
In this sector the complexity of the operations to be carried out and the distinctive structural features (in terms of both shape and composition) of the materials treated makes aspects linked to the handling of the raw materials and semi-products extremely critical, along the entire processing path for making the finished products.
Indeed, it is evident that incorrect procedures for transferring the materials being processed between one operating station and the next can generate defects and rejects in the finished products or even damage components of the processing machine itself.
That problem is accentuated if the same processing machine, or at least one of its parts, must be able to be prepared for processing semi-products which have different features, particularly in terms of dimensions.
In this case, the prior art uses a "format changeover" procedure in which one or more elements of the processing machine are replaced to make them suitable for operating correctly with the specifications of the new semi-product.
However, that solution has significant disadvantages which make it inefficient.
Indeed, that replacing procedure is particularly onerous and long since it is necessary for the individual elements to be correctly interfaced with each other, in such a way as to ensure the correct transfer of the semi-products from one processing station to the next.
For example the Applicant observed that said problem is particularly accentuated when making multisegment articles, specifically multisegment filters.
In this specific context the processing machine typically comprises a conveyor assembly configured to receive and transversely convey the multisegment semi-products and a releasing assembly configured to transfer them from the conveyor assembly to a forming beam for axially-longitudinally conveying the semi-products in such a way as to form a continuous rod.
To perform a format changeover the releasing assembly is at least partly replaced and slides movable thanks to suitable motors are used to move the entire conveyor assembly.
This system involves a large number of movements and does not allow a continuous machine front plane, with consequent risks of intrusion by products inside the base itself and noise emission.
Moreover, to achieve precise positioning of the multisegment semi-products quite sturdy and reliable mechanical components are required to avoid introducing errors.
In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is to propose a transfer unit for semi-products which overcomes at least some of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
Specifically, the aim of this invention is to provide a transfer unit which allows the processing machine in which it is installed to be adapted in a simple and efficient way for processing semi-products having different formats and/or features.
The technical purpose indicated and the aims specified are substantially achieved by a transfer unit comprising the technical features described in one or more of the accompanying claims.
Accordingly this invention shows a transfer unit for transferring rod-shaped semi-products for a processing machine of the tobacco industry which comprises a conveyor assembly, a releasing assembly and resetting device.
The conveyor assembly comprises one or more conveyor drums, each of which has a plurality of seats configured to receive and transversely convey a succession of rod-shaped semi-products.
At least some of the seats of at least one conveyor drum are associated with respective stop surfaces which define an axial abutment for positioning a respective rod-shaped semi-product in the seat.
The releasing assembly is configured to transfer the succession of semi-products from the conveyor assembly to a forming beam and is configurable to transfer semi-products of different formats as a function of a format changeover in the processing machine.
The resetting device defines the stop surfaces and acts in conjunction with at least one conveyor drum to vary the axial position of the stop surfaces along the axis of rotation of that conveyor drum as a function of a format changeover in the processing machine.
Advantageously, the transfer unit allows the processing machine to be prepared in a particularly high-performance way for operating with semi-products of different formats, by modifying the position of the stop surfaces which allow definition of the dimensions and/or positioning of the seats inside which the semi-products are received and conveyed.
This invention also relates to a processing machine, specifically a processing machine of the tobacco industry which comprises a unit according to this invention.
This invention also relates to a method for performing the format changeover in a conveying unit for semi-products of the tobacco industry, specifically multisegment semi-products or multisegment filters which comprises the following steps:

preparing a releasing assembly as a function of a specific format of the semi-products, specifically a releasing assembly according to this invention;
adjusting or replacing the resetting device to set the axial position of the stop surfaces as a function of the specific format of the semi-products to be transferred, specifically as a function of the transfer elements of the releasing assembly.

Advantageously, the method described here allows optimization of the format changeover processes in a processing machine of the tobacco industry, by simply performing an adjustment/replacement of the resetting device without the need to modify the operating conditions of all of the elements upstream/downstream of it.
This invention also relates to a method for transferring rod-shaped semi-products, specifically multisegment semi-products or multisegment filters, in a processing machine of the tobacco industry, which comprises a step of transferring a succession of semi-products by means of a unit according to this invention and a step of changing format performed according to the format changeover method according to this invention.
The dependent claims, which are incorporated herein by reference, correspond to different embodiments of the invention.
Further features and advantages of the present invention are more apparent in the detailed description below, with reference to a preferred, but non-exclusive, embodiment of a transfer unit, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1A-1B show a front view and side view of a unit according to this invention;
Figure 2 shows different operating configurations of a detail of the transfer unit;
Figures 3A-3B show in detail possible example embodiments for a component of the transfer unit;
Figure 4 shows a processing machine of the tobacco industry in which a transfer unit is installed.

In the accompanying figures the reference number 1 has been used to generally indicate a transfer unit according to this invention, identified hereinafter in the description simply as unit 1.
The unit 1 described herein is configured to transfer rod-shaped semi-products in a processing machine 100 of the tobacco industry and comprises a conveyor assembly 2, a releasing assembly 3 and a resetting device 4.
The conveyor assembly 2 in turn comprises one or more conveyor drums 5, each of which has a plurality of seats 5a configured to receive and transversely convey a succession of rod-shaped semi-products.
At least some of the seats 5a, preferably all of the seats, of at least one of the conveyor drums 5 are associated with respective stop surfaces 6, which define an axial abutment for positioning a respective rod-shaped semi-product in each seat 5a.
In other words, the seats 5a have an elongate shape which preferably extends between the opposite faces of the respective conveyor drum 5, in which the stop surface 6 defines a stop against which one end of the semi-product will abut during use of the unit 1.
In contrast, the releasing assembly 3 is configured to transfer the succession of semi-products from the conveyor assembly 2 to a forming beam "T".
Specifically, the forming beam "T" is of the type configured to axially-longitudinally convey the semi-products, in such a way as to form a continuous rod.
Advantageously, the releasing assembly 3 is configurable to transfer semi-products of different formats as a function of a format changeover in the processing machine 100.
In detail, the releasing assembly 3 comprises a drum with orientable arms 3a and a spider conveyor 3b.
The orientable arms of the drum with orientable arms 3a are configured to receive the succession of semi-products from the conveyor assembly 3 and to transfer them transversely.
The orientable arms are also replaceable in such a way as to be able to adapt them at a format changeover in the processing machine 100.
In other words, when a format changeover is performed in the processing machine 100, it is possible to replace the orientable arms in such a way as to specifically modify their shape and/or size to adapt them for operating correctly with the specific format of the new semi-product which must be transferred.
In contrast, the spider conveyor 3b is configured to receive the succession of semi-products from the orientable arms and to transfer them to the forming beam "T" and it can be replaced to perform the format changeover.
Specifically, the spider conveyor 3b can be totally replaced and/or repositioned relative to a supporting frame of the processing machine 100, in such a way that the set-down point in which the spider conveyor 3b releases the semi-products on the forming beam "T" remains unchanged, even and particularly following a format changeover in the processing machine 100.
In contrast, the resetting device 4 defines the stop surfaces 6 and acts in conjunction with at least one respective conveyor drum 5 of the conveyor assembly 2 to vary the axial position of the stop surfaces 6 along the axis of rotation of that specific conveyor drum 5, as a function of a format changeover in the processing machine 100.
In other words, the resetting device 4 modifies the axial position of the stop surfaces 6 as a function of the specific format of the semi-products which the unit 1 must transfer.
In this way, the stop surfaces 6 substantially define an axial dimension of the seats 5a and a variation in their position relative to the transfer drum 5 to which they are coupled allows modification of the effective position in which the semi-product received from the transfer drum 5 will effectively be positioned, so as to adapt it to the corresponding modification of the subsequent drum with orientable arms 3°.
Consequently, the variation in the format of the semi-products to be processed in the processing machine 100 (which involves a variation of the respective length) will be compensated for by a movement of the stop surfaces 6, allowing the unit 1 to be adapted in a simple and efficient way for transferring the new format, without the need to perform a complex and onerous operation for replacing/moving all of the components of the processing machine 100.
In other words, the action of the resetting device 4 allows modification of the structure of the seats 5a in such a way as to define a modifiable interface portion of the processing machine 100 which allows a correct transfer of the articles from the processes/stations upstream of the resetting device 4 itself to those downstream.
According to one aspect of this invention, observable specifically in the accompanying figures 3A and 3B, the resetting device 4 comprises a plurality of fingers 4a associated with respective seats 5a of the conveyor assembly 2 and each of which defines a respective stop surface 6.
Preferably, the fingers 4a associated with the same conveyor drum 5 are integral with each other through a supporting member 4b, which is rotationally synchronous with the respective conveyor drum 5 and rotatable about its axis of rotation "X".
The supporting member 4b may be made in the form of a disc, a plate or a ring, preferably using metal materials.
Even more preferably, the fingers 4a are made as one, that is to say, monolithically, with the supporting member 4b, for example extending away from the latter along a line perpendicular to a lying plane of the supporting member 4b.
According to one aspect of this invention, the fingers 4a are slidably inserted into the seats 5a, therefore the variation in the position of the stop surfaces 6 is obtained by an axial adjustment movement performed by that supporting member 4b along the axis of rotation of the conveyor drum 5 to which the resetting device 4 is coupled.
In this way, to perform a format changeover it is possible to simply make the fingers 4a slide inside the respective seats 5a in order to be able to obtain a variation in the position of the stop surfaces 6.
Alternatively, the fingers 4a may be replaceable so that different axial positions of the stop surfaces 6 in the respective seats 5a can be obtained, in particular by totally replacing the supporting member 4b.
In other words, in order to be able to adapt the unit 1 to a possible format changeover in the processing machine 100, it is possible to move the fingers 4a, making them slide inside the respective seats 5a, or replace the fingers 4a in such a way as to select those with the best features for operating with the new format.
It is also possible for the format changeover to be performed using both of the procedures outlined above, in which for example the fingers 4a may be replaced and then a final adjustment made to them, moving them axially inside the respective seats 5a until the desired configuration is reached.
In general, the stop surfaces 6 can be associated with all of the seats 5a of the same conveyor drum 5, in particular of a single conveyor drum 5.
Alternatively, if the conveyor assembly 2 comprises a plurality of conveyor drums 5, the stop surfaces 6 can be associated with multiple different conveyor drums 5.
According to that aspect, the stop surfaces 6 can be associated with each seat 5a of each conveyor drum 5, or be associated only with some seats 5a of each conveyor drum 5.
Moreover, the stop surfaces 6 can be defined and divided into groups having different features.
Specifically, the stop surfaces 6 can be defined by a plurality of first stop surfaces 6a and second stop surfaces 6b having different structure and/or axial position.
For example, as shown in Figure 3A and 3B, the first and second stop surfaces 6a, 6b have different axial positions defining an alternating trend in the stop surfaces about the axis of the drum. That aspect is particularly advantageous if the unit 1 is used in a processing machine 100 configured to make and/or process multisegment semi-products which have different lengths. In that case, the axial staggering between the first and second stop surfaces 6a, 6b can be selected as a function of the difference in length between the respective groups of segments to create the desired lateral alignment or centring.
The different groups of stop surfaces 6 can be associated with the same conveyor drum 5, as shown in the embodiment in Figures 3A and 3B, or with different conveyor drums 5 if the conveyor assembly 2 comprises more than one of them.
Therefore, the resetting device 4 may comprise a single supporting member 4b having multiple groups of fingers 4a, alternating with each other, having different dimensions and adapted to define respective pluralities of stop surfaces or, alternatively, the resetting device 4 may comprise a plurality of supporting members 4b each having respective fingers 4a with specific shapes and/or dimensions and associated with respective conveyor drums 5 (in particular, the plurality of first stop surfaces 6a may be associated with a first conveyor drum 5 and the plurality of second stop surfaces 6b may be associated with a second conveyor drum 5), in such a way as to define on each conveyor drum 5 respective stop surfaces 6.
The resetting device 4 may also comprise more than two supporting members 4b each having one or more groups of fingers 4a adapted to define respective pluralities of stop surfaces 6, for example in the case of successions of groups of segments having at least three different lengths. Preferably, if multiple groups of fingers 4a are present, those groups are adjustable independently of each other, in particular, when those groups of fingers 4a are associated with respective conveyor drums 5 which are separate and/or with different supporting members 4b.
The unit may also comprise pushing means operating at least on the seats 5a associated with respective stop surfaces 6, in such a way as to apply an axial pushing action on the semi-products housed in them towards the stop surface 6.
In other words, the pushing means allow the semi-products to be firmly abutted against the stop surfaces, which therefore act as stops for the axial sliding of the semi-products inside the respective seats 5a under the action of the pushing means.
According to one aspect of this invention, the pushing means comprise mechanical pushing means, preferably consisting of a plurality of pushers adapted to engage and push one end of respective semi-products axially towards the stop surfaces 6.
Alternatively, the pushing means comprise pneumatic pushing means, preferably comprising at least one blower adapted to blow a jet of air at one end of respective semi-products, thereby pushing them axially towards the stop surfaces 6.
Alternatively, the pushing means may comprise a combination of mechanical pushing means and pneumatic pushing means, associated with respective seats 5a as a function of the specific features of the semi-products to be conveyed in those seats 5a.
Advantageously, this invention achieves the preset aims, overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a transfer unit 1 which allows the processing machine 100 in which it is installed to be rapidly and efficiently adapted to operate with semi-products of different formats.
Indeed, the presence of the resetting device 4 makes the unit 1 capable of creating an efficient interface between the upstream processing stations and the forming beam, allowing a format changeover to be performed in the processing machine 100 without the need to totally structurally/functionally modify even some of the elements of the processing machine 100 located upstream and downstream of the unit 1.
This invention also relates to a processing machine 100 for making multisegment semi-products of the tobacco industry.
Specifically, the processing machine 100 is configured to make multisegment filters.
The processing machine 100 comprises at least one feed line 101, as shown in the accompanying figures, configured to feed segments made of material of the tobacco industry which are made starting from a plurality of pieces supplied by means of a hopper 101a, which are appropriately divided into a plurality of segments in a cutting station 101b and are then transferred, if necessary after having been further processed, to the transfer unit 1. The feed line 101 may also be configured if necessary to feed segments fed individually and not obtained by cutting respective rods, for example tubular segments.
According to a particular embodiment, the processing machine 100 comprises a plurality of feed lines 101 for segments having different properties and an assembling device configured to receive respective segments from those lines 101 assembling the segments into at least two periodic alternating successions of semi-products preferably having different axial dimensions, feeding them transversely.
According to that embodiment, each feed line 101 comprises a respective hopper 101a adapted to contain pieces having specific properties and a respective cutting station 101b in which those pieces are divided to make segments in turn having specific properties/formats.
The processing machine 100 also comprises, inside the assembling device or downstream of it, a transfer unit 1 made according to what is described above.
Advantageously, that processing machine 100 allows the disadvantages of the prior art to be overcome, since, thanks to the transfer unit 1, it is easily and rapidly adaptable to operate with segments of different formats.
This invention also relates to a method for performing the format changeover in a transfer unit 1 for transferring semi-products of the tobacco industry, specifically multisegment semi-products or multisegment filters.
Specifically, the method applies to a unit 1 as described above.
According to that method a releasing assembly 3 is prepared as a function of a specific format of the semi-products.
Preferably, the releasing assembly is a releasing assembly made according to what is described above, specifically a releasing assembly 3 which comprises a drum with orientable arms 3a and a spider conveyor 3b.
Specifically, preparation of the releasing assembly 3 occurs with a replacement and/or movement of the spider conveyor 3b, in such a way as to keep a fixed releasing point for the semi-products relative to the forming beam "T", and a corresponding replacement and/or variation of the orientable arms.
At the same time, the resetting device 4 is adjusted or replaced in such a way as to set the axial position of the stop surfaces 6 associated with the seats 5a as a function of the specific format of the semi-products to be transferred, specifically as a function of the transfer elements of the releasing assembly 3.
In other words, in order to perform the format changeover, in addition to preparing the releasing assembly 3, an adjustment or replacement of the resetting device 4 is performed which allows modification of the position of the stop surfaces 6, causing a structural variation of the seats 5a in such a way as to adapt them to conveying the semi-products, interfacing in the optimum way the releasing assembly 3 and the processing stations located immediately upstream of the unit 1.
Preferably, at least one drum of the conveyor assembly 2, disposed upstream of the resetting device 4 and specifically at least the drum immediately upstream of the drum associated with the resetting device 4, is not modified or replaced or subjected to movement.
In other words, the presence and the operation of the resetting device 4 allows a format changeover procedure to be performed without the need to move, modify and/or replace at least one of the drums which are located upstream of the resetting device 4 itself, since by operating directly on the latter it is possible to create an interface which guarantees correct movement of the semi-products from the processes and from the processing stations upstream to those downstream of the unit 1.
It should be noticed that the resetting device according to what is described above may be used both for transferring monolithic semi-products (single segments) and multisegment groups. Moreover, the resetting device according to what is described above may be used both for feeding segments or multisegment groups having the same length (therefore defining a single transversal succession) or for feeding segments or multisegment groups having different lengths, therefore defining an alternating and repeated succession of two or more segments or multisegment groups.
According to a different embodiment, the stop surfaces 6; 6a, 6b are made as one with the shell of the respective drum. In this situation, to perform the format changeover it is sufficient to replace only the drum having the stop surfaces 6; 6a, 6b.
This invention also relates to a method for transferring rod-shaped semi-products, specifically multisegment semi-products or multisegment filters, in a processing machine 100 of the tobacco industry.
That method comprises transferring a succession of semi-products by means of a unit 1 according to what is described above which has been subjected to a preparation step using a method for performing the format changeover according to this invention.
Advantageously, the methods presented herein allow optimization of the processes for processing semi-products of the tobacco industry, providing a particularly efficient procedure for adapting the processing machine 100 to operate with semi-products of different formats.

Claims

A transfer unit for transferring rod-shaped semi-products for a processing machine (100) of the tobacco industry, comprising:
- a conveyor assembly (2) comprising one or more conveyor drums (5), each conveyor drum (5) having a plurality of seats (5a) configured to receive and transversely convey a succession of rod-shaped semi-products, at least some of the seats (5a) of at least one conveyor drum (5) being associated with respective stop surfaces (6) defining an axial abutment for positioning a respective rod-shaped semi-product in the respective seat (6);

- a releasing assembly (3) configured to transfer the succession of semi-products from the conveyor assembly (2) to a forming beam (T) for axially-longitudinally conveying the semi-products in such a way as to form a continuous rod, the releasing assembly (3) being configurable to transfer semi-products of different formats as a function of a format changeover in the processing machine (100);
the unit being characterized in that it comprises a resetting device (4) defining the stop surfaces (6), the resetting device (4) acting in conjunction with at least one respective conveyor drum (5) of the conveyor assembly (2) to vary the axial position of the stop surfaces (6) along the axis of rotation (X) of the conveyor drum (5) as a function of a format changeover in the processing machine (100).
The unit according to claim 1, wherein the resetting device (4) comprises a plurality of fingers (4a) associated with respective seats (5a) of the conveyor assembly (2) and each of which defines a respective stop surface (6).
The unit according to claim 2, wherein the fingers (4a) associated with the same conveyor drum (5) are integral with each other through a supporting member (4b), being preferably made as one with the supporting member (4b) and wherein the supporting member (4b) is rotationally synchronous with the respective conveyor drum (5) and rotatable about the axis of rotation (X) of the conveyor drum (5).
The unit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the fingers (4a) are slidably movable along the seats (5a), specifically through an axial adjustment movement performed by the supporting member (4b) along the axis of rotation (X) of the conveyor drum (5).
The unit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the fingers (4a) are replaceable so that different axial positions of the stop surfaces (6) in the respective seats (5a) can be obtained, in particular by totally replacing the supporting member (4b).
The unit according to one or more of claims 3 to 5, wherein the supporting member (4b) is in the form of a disc or plate, preferably made of metal and, still more preferably, made monolithically with the fingers (4a).
The unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising pushing means operating at least on the seats (5a) associated with respective stop surface (6) to apply an axial pushing action on the semi-products housed in the seats (5a) towards the stop surface (6).
The unit according to claim 7, wherein the pushing means comprise mechanical pushing means, preferably comprising a plurality of pushers adapted to engage and push one end of respective semi-products axially towards the stop surfaces (6).
The unit according to claim 7, wherein the pushing means comprise pneumatic pushing means, preferably comprising at least one blower adapted to blow a jet of air at one end of respective semi-products, thereby pushing the semi-products axially towards the stop surfaces (6).
The unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the stop surfaces (6) are associated with all the seats (5a) of the same conveyor drum (5), specifically of a single conveyor drum (5).
The unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the stop surfaces (6) are defined by a plurality of first stop surfaces (6a) alternated with a plurality of second stop surfaces (6b), and wherein the first stop surfaces (6a) and the second stop surfaces (6b) lie in respective planes, parallel to each other and spaced along the axis of the conveyor drum (5) in such a way as to define different axial positions of the semi-products in the respective seats (5a).
The units according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, wherein the stop surfaces (6) are defined by a plurality of first stop surfaces (6a) associated with a first conveyor drum (5) and a plurality of second stop surfaces (6b) associated with a second conveyor drum (5), the first and second stop surfaces (6a, 6b) being preferably axially adjustable independently of each other.
The unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the releasing assembly (3) comprises:
- a drum (3a) with orientable arms configured to receive the succession of semi-products from the conveyor assembly (2) and to transfer the semi-products transversely; the orientable arms being replaceable to perform format changeover;

- a spider conveyor (3b) configured to receive the succession of semi-products from the orientable arms and to transfer the semi-products to the forming beam (T) by a translational movement having at least one axial component; the spider conveyor (3b) being replaceable to perform format changeover.
The machine for making multisegment semi-products of the tobacco industry, specifically multisegment filters, comprising a plurality of feed lines for feeding segments having different properties and an assembling device configured to receive respective segments from the feed lines and to assemble the segments into at least two periodic alternating successions of semi-products preferably having different axial dimensions, the feed lines and the assembling device being configured to feed the segments transversely, and wherein the machine comprises, in the assembling device or downstream of the assembling device, a transfer unit according to one or more of the preceding claims.
A method for performing a format changeover in a transfer unit for transferring semi-product of the tobacco industry, specifically multisegment semi-products or multisegment filters according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, comprising the following steps:
- preparing a releasing assembly (3) according to one or more of the preceding claims, specifically a releasing assembly (3) according to claim 13;

- adjusting or replacing the resetting device (4) to set the axial position of the stop surfaces (6) as a function of the specific format of the semi-products to be transferred, specifically as a function of the orientable arms (3a) of the drum with orientable arms (3a).
The format changeover method according to claim 15, wherein at least one drum of the conveyor assembly (2) disposed upstream of the resetting device (4) is not modified or replaced or subjected to movement or positional variation of the stop surfaces of the respective seats for the rod-shaped semi-products.
A method for transferring rod-shaped semi-products, specifically multisegment semi-products or multisegment filters, in a processing machine (100) of the tobacco industry, comprising a step of transferring a succession of semi-products by means of a unit according to one or more of claims 1 to 13 and a step of changing format performed according to claim 15 or 16.