EP4018852B1 - Production system and method for producing activated carbon filters - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a production system for producing activated charcoal filters according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for producing activated charcoal filters.

STATE OF THE ART

Activated carbon filters are used as filters for tobacco products, for example as pipe filters, cigarillo filters or cigarette filters. The smoke is guided along the porous pieces of carbon as if through a labyrinth, so that a large part of the harmful substances remains in the filter.

From the DE 10 2019 113 489 B3 a device for producing a filter for smoking articles is known. The device has a rotary indexing table there, which carries holding devices for sleeves arranged in a circle. The rotary indexing table transports a pair of sleeves picked up in the pick-up positions from one processing station to the next. The device has a first tube stuffing station, a filling station and a second tube stuffing station as processing stations, the tubes being processed in pairs at the individual stations. The DE 10 2019 113 489 B3 also describes a corresponding method for producing a filter for smoking articles.

The ones from the DE 10 2019 113 489 B3 However, the known device for producing a filter has the disadvantage that the device shown there requires a lot of space due to its structure. In addition, not all parts of the machine are easily accessible for maintenance and repairs. For example, an oscillating conveyor arranged in the middle of the rotary indexing table is hardly accessible.

Proceeding from the prior art listed above, it is the object of the present invention to specify an improved device which eliminates the above-mentioned problems and disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, it is the object of the present invention to provide a production system for producing activated carbon filters which is extremely space-saving and in which all parts are easily accessible. It is also an object of the present invention to specify a method that also eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object is achieved with a production system for manufacturing activated carbon filters according to claim 1 and a method for manufacturing activated carbon filters according to claim 11. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The solution according to the invention consists in particular in specifying a production plant for the production of activated carbon filters, the production plant having at least the following stations: a sleeve feed station for feeding sleeves; a first cap insertion station for inserting under caps into the sleeves; a filling station for filling activated carbon into the sleeves; and a second cap inserting station for inserting top caps into the sleeves, the manufacturing system having an endless conveyor which has a plurality of sleeve receiving devices and is adapted to move the sleeves in a conveying plane by means of the sleeve receiving devices, the sleeve receiving means preferably being adapted to hold the sleeves during insertion of the bottom cap and/or during insertion of the top cap.

According to the invention, the endless conveyor is designed as a chain conveyor, belt conveyor or belt conveyor. So more generally as a conveyor with an endless loop and flexibility in the conveyor level.

The sleeves are preferably sleeves made of paper or cardboard. The sleeve is held in an upright position in the sleeve receiver. The caps can preferably be made of ceramic. The caps, in particular ceramic caps, preferably have openings through which, for example, carbon particles can be sucked out later. In particular, between 2 and 9 such openings are provided here. The shape of the openings is arbitrary. For example, these are designed as round holes or slots. Alternatively, the caps are designed as cellulose caps.

The endless conveyor is also preferably driven by a drive, in particular a motor, and moves the sleeve receiving devices within the conveying plane. This means that processing at the individual stations also takes place within the conveyor level. The drive axis of the endless conveyor is aligned perpendicular to the conveying plane. The manufacturing facility can have a manufacturing table on which the stations can be arranged. The conveying plane is preferably aligned parallel to a tabletop of the production table.

The sleeve receiving devices are particularly preferably designed to hold the sleeves during all work steps, ie from feeding in the sleeve to removing the sleeve.

The object is achieved in a satisfactory manner with the production plant according to the invention for the production of activated carbon filters. In particular, a production facility for producing activated carbon filters is provided which is extremely space-saving and in which all parts are easily accessible.

When designed as a chain conveyor, belt conveyor or belt conveyor, i.e. as a conveyor with an endless loop and flexibility in the conveying level, the endless conveyor can be flexibly and optimally adapted to the space available in the production plant. In the Compared to a rigid conveyor, such as a rotary table, the use of a flexible endless conveyor is significantly more unrestricted. The endless conveyor is particularly preferably designed as a chain. A particularly simple attachment of the sleeve receiving devices is then possible.

Preferably, the endless conveyor includes a plurality of means for releasably attaching the sleeve receiving means. The sleeve receiving devices are thus interchangeable. On the one hand, defective parts can be exchanged more easily and on the other hand, the production system is more universal and can process sleeves with different diameters. The filter sleeves can have diameters in the range of 5 to 9 mm, purely by way of example.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the conveying plane is a horizontal plane.

In a horizontal plane, there are particular advantages in terms of accessibility to the entire production facility and the individual stations. The cores are visible during the entire process, so that quality monitoring is easy.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides that the direction of insertion of the lower caps and the direction of insertion of the upper caps are aligned orthogonally to the conveying plane.

During the insertion of the under cap, an anvil can be arranged as a counterpart from above. Likewise, when inserting the top cap, an anvil can be arranged as a counterpart from below. The filling direction is also particularly preferably orthogonal to the conveying plane. This makes it possible to arrange the stations below or above the conveyor level or the endless conveyor. This ensures a simple and space-saving construction. Transferred to a production table, the conveying level thus runs at such a distance from the table that stations can be arranged below the conveying level.

According to an advantageous further development of the invention, the direction of insertion of the lower cap is oriented in the opposite direction to the direction of insertion of the upper cap.

The advantage here is that the sleeve no longer has to be moved during processing, and in particular no longer has to be rotated.

A further embodiment of the present invention provides that the sleeve receiving devices each have a base body and a pivoting body, the pivoting body being mounted on the base body so that it can pivot about a pivot axis, the pivoting body being in a pivoting plane between a holding position in which a sleeve is attached of the sleeve receiving means, and is pivotable to a release position in which a sleeve can be fed or removed.

Here, the base body is attached to the endless conveyor. Due to the swivel body, the sleeve receiving device is designed to receive sleeves of different sizes. In addition, this allows the sleeves to be held securely and easily picked up and released.

According to an advantageous refinement of this embodiment, the pivoting plane is parallel to the conveying plane or corresponds to the conveying plane.

This also results in good accessibility of the individual components.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sleeve receiving device has a pretensioning element which holds the pivoting body in the holding position.

The sleeve receiving devices have to be moved into the release position in one pass, ie from the insertion of a first sleeve until the renewed insertion of a further sleeve into the same receiving device, for receiving and for dispensing the sleeve, ie twice into the release position. It is therefore advantageous if the receiving device is otherwise held in the holding position. The pretensioning element used for this purpose is preferably designed to be elastically deformable. It is particularly preferably a spring, in particular a compression spring.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the production plant has at least one driver which is designed to come into contact with the pivoting body in order to move the pivoting body into the release position.

In this case, the driver is designed to actuate the pivoting body in such a way that it moves into the release position. In other words, the driver is used to control the pivoting body. From the release position to the holding position, the pivoting body is moved by means of the biasing member when the operation of the driver is interrupted. In each case, a corresponding driver is preferably arranged at the tube supply station and a corresponding driver at the tube discharge station.

For example, a stop element can be formed on the pivoting body, which is designed to come into contact with the driver. The stop element can be designed as a body, for example a rod, which extends beyond the remainder of the sleeve receiving device. For example, the stop element can extend orthogonally to the conveying plane upwards or downwards.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the production facility also has a large number of test stations for detecting bad parts and a reject station for sorting out detected bad parts.

The test stations can have distance-measuring, preferably optical, detectors or sensors. The test stations can be arranged in particular for checking the lower cap, the activated carbon that has been filled in and the upper cap. In particular, the test stations check the correct position of the two caps and the level of activated carbon. An associated test station is preferably arranged correspondingly behind the first cap insertion station, behind the filling station and behind the second cap insertion station. The relative term "behind" means downstream as viewed in the flow of matter. A carrier is preferably also arranged at the reject station.

In a preferred embodiment, the production plant has a cleaning station, which is arranged behind the filling station and is designed to blow or suck particles, in particular coal dust, out of the sleeve or the filter.

When filling in the activated carbon, dusty particles are always filled in as well. If the filters are not cleaned thereof, the user must blow clean the filter before use thereof. Since cleaning is integrated into the manufacturing process here, the user does not have to take this step. The cleaning can take place in particular by means of compressed air, so that the cleaning station can have a compressed air tank, a compressor or the like. The openings arranged in the caps, in particular ceramic caps, can thus be used for blowing out or sucking off the dust-like particles.

The cleaning in the cleaning station is preferably carried out by means of suction or extraction, since the electrically conductive carbon is not distributed in the system in this way.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by means of a method for producing activated carbon filters, the method having the following steps: feeding a sleeve at a sleeve feed station; inserting a bottom cap into the sleeve at a first cap insertion station; filling activated carbon into the canister at a filling station; inserting a top cap into the sleeve at a second cap insertion station; and removing the sleeve or the filter into a collection container, with the sleeve being moved between the stations by means of an endless conveyor designed as a chain conveyor, belt conveyor or belt conveyor, which has a large number of sleeve receiving devices and is designed to hold the sleeves by means of to move the sleeve receiving devices in a conveying plane.

According to the invention, the sleeve remains in the sleeve receiving device from the time the sleeve is fed in until the sleeve is removed.

In the case of the method, the aspects and advantages already described in connection with the production plant are equally valid. The advantages and aspects already mentioned with regard to the individual production systems apply to the process accordingly transferrable and will not be repeated individually here. In particular, the method can be carried out using the production system according to the invention.

In an advantageous development of the invention, when the sleeve is moved between the stations, at least one driver comes into contact with the sleeve receiving devices in such a way that a pivoting body of the sleeve receiving device is moved from a holding position, in which a corresponding sleeve is held, into a release position , in which a corresponding sleeve can be fed or removed.

This results in a simple possibility of arranging the sleeves and thus the filters at different production stages in the sleeve receiving device and removing them therefrom. The driver actuates the swivel body here. In particular, moving the pivot body to the release position occurs at the case infeed station, the case outfeed station and optionally selectively at the reject station.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, after the activated carbon has been filled in and before the sleeve or the filter is removed, a cleaning step takes place in which the sleeve or the filter is blown out or sucked out at a cleaning station.

In this case, fine disruptive particles are removed, for example by means of compressed air. However, the sleeve or the filter is preferably sucked out. The removal of the particles increases the comfort for the user.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides that bad parts are identified at a large number of test stations and identified bad parts are rejected at one reject station.

The production plant and the method are particularly suitable for the production of activated carbon filters. As an alternative to this, however, it would also be suitable for other filters, in which case another, preferably particulate, filter material would then be used instead of the activated carbon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1

eine Explosionsansicht eines Filters, der mittels der erfindungsgemäßen Fertigungsanlage herstellbar ist;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Fertigungsanlage zum Herstellen von Aktivkohlefiltern;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht der in Fig. 2 gezeigten Fertigungsanlage von oben;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Hülsen-Aufnahmeeinrichtung; und

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht der in Fig. 4 gezeigten Hülsen-Aufnahmeeinrichtung.

Further features, advantages and embodiments of the invention result from the following description of embodiments of the production plant and with reference to the figures. Show it:

1

an exploded view of a filter that can be produced by means of the production system according to the invention;

2

a perspective view of a production plant according to the invention for the production of activated carbon filters;

3

a top view of the in 2 Manufacturing plant shown from above;

4

a perspective view of a sleeve receiving device according to the invention; and

figure 5

a top view of the in 4 shown sleeve receiving device.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

1 shows an exploded view of a filter 1000, which can be produced by means of the production system or the method according to the invention. The filter has a sleeve 200 secured by a bottom cap 300 (in Fig 1 shown on the left) is closed from below. Activated carbon 400 is arranged inside the sleeve 200 and acts as a filter material. The smoke is guided through the porous pieces of carbon as if through a labyrinth, whereby a large part of the harmful substances remain in the filter 1000. A top cap 500 closes the filter 1000 from the top.

The sleeve 200 is a preferably cylindrical hollow body with an inner area which can be closed by means of the caps 300 and 500 and in which the filter material, here the activated carbon 400, is enclosed. The sleeves 200 are preferably a sleeve 200 made of paper or cardboard. Caps 300 and 500 are preferably formed of ceramic and serve to seal the ends of sleeve 200. As indicated in the case of the lower cap 300, the caps 300, 500 have openings 301. Coal particles can be sucked off through these openings 301 during production.

2 shows a perspective view of a production plant 100 for producing activated carbon filters 1000. The production plant 100 has a production table 101 on or on which the individual stations are arranged. In this case, the production system 100 initially has a sleeve feed station 110 at which a sleeve is fed to an endless conveyor 160 . The endless conveyor 160 has a drive 102 and a conveying plane E, within which the endless conveyor 160 conveys the sleeve from one manufacturing station to the next manufacturing station. A drive axis of the drive 102 is arranged orthogonally to the conveying plane E.

The manufacturing system 100 has a first cap insertion station 120, a filling station 130 and a second cap insertion station 140 as manufacturing stations. At the first cap insertion station 120, a bottom cap is inserted into the sleeve. At the filling station 130 activated carbon is filled into the sleeve. At the second cap insertion station 140, a top cap is inserted into the sleeve.

in the in 3 The top view shown shows the production system 100 and its individual stations in somewhat more detail. The top view shows the production table 101 from above. The sleeve supply station 110 has a separating device 111 which separates the sleeves. Then the tubes are fed to a tube receiver 170 of the endless conveyor 160 . The endless conveyor 160 has a multiplicity of such sleeve receiving devices 170 which are arranged on the endless conveyor 160 . The endless conveyor 160 moves the sleeve receivers 170 along the arrow shown in an endless loop.

From the sleeve supply station 110 the sleeve receiver 170 is moved with the sleeve to the first cap insertion station 120 . The first cap loading station 120 has a collection bin 123 in which the first caps are stored. Furthermore, the first cap insertion station 120 has a separating device 121 for the first caps. The caps are then moved towards the sleeve receivers 170 one at a time. Here this is done by means of a rotary table 122. The cap is then inserted orthogonally to the conveying plane E into the sleeve. Here, the first cap insertion station 120 is for inserting the under cap. Accordingly, the cap is inserted into the sleeve from below.

From the first cap insertion station 120 the sleeve receiver 170 with the sleeve is then moved to the first inspection station 181 by means of the endless conveyor 160 . At the first test station 181 a check is made as to whether the first sleeve has been inserted correctly. In particular, it is checked whether the insertion depth, ie the direction orthogonal to the conveying plane E, is correct. For this purpose, the first test station 181 can have a distance sensor that measures the insertion depth.

The sleeve receiving device 170 with the sleeve is then moved from the first inspection station 181 to the filling station 130 by means of the endless conveyor 160 . At the filling station 130, the activated carbon is filled into the sleeve. The filling station 130 has a collection container 131 in which the activated carbon is stored.

The sleeve receiving device 170 with the sleeve is then moved from the filling station 130 to the second inspection station 182 by means of the endless conveyor 160 . At the second test station 182, it is checked whether the filling quantity of activated carbon is correct, i.e. whether it is within a target range. For this purpose, the second test station 182 can also have a distance sensor that measures the filling quantity.

From the second inspection station 182 the sleeve receiver 170 with the sleeve is then moved to the second cap insertion station 140 by means of the endless conveyor 160 . The second cap loading station 140 includes a collection bin 143 in which the second caps are stored. Furthermore, the second cap insertion station 140 has a separating device 141 for the second caps. The second caps can be designed identically to the first caps. It is therefore possible for the cap insertion stations 120 and 140 to have a common collection container.

The second caps are moved toward the sleeve receiver 170 one by one. A rotary table 142 is also arranged for this purpose. The second cap is then inserted into the sleeve orthogonally to the conveying plane E, here from above. The second cap insertion station 140 serves to insert the top cap and therefore to close the sleeve.

From the second cap insertion station 140, the sleeve receiver 170 with the sleeve or filter is then conveyed to the third by means of the endless conveyor 160 Inspection station 183 moves. At the third test station 183, a test is carried out to determine whether the second, ie the top cap, has been inserted correctly. In particular, it is also checked here whether the insertion depth is correct. For this purpose, the third test station 183 can also have a distance sensor that measures the insertion depth.

The sleeve receiving device 170 with the sleeve or the filter is then moved from the third inspection station 183 to the scrap station 185 by means of the endless conveyor 160 . Incorrect parts, i.e. incorrect filters, are ejected from the process at reject station 185. The defective parts can in particular be a filter identified as a defective part by means of one of the test stations 181 , 182 , 183 . The filter or the corresponding sleeve receiving device 170 is marked so that the sleeve receiving device 170 can be opened in a targeted manner at the reject station 185 and the filter is released. The filter is then discharged into a reject bin 186 .

To open the sleeve receiving device 170, ie to release the sleeve or the filter, an in 3 driver 105 shown schematically come into contact with the sleeve receiving device 170 . The carrier 105 can be attached to the endless conveyor 160 in a movable, preferably foldable, manner. For example, it can be movable parallel to the conveying plane E in a plane. Overall, the sleeve receiving device 170 can be made to release the sleeve or the filter in a targeted manner.

From the scrap station 185 the sleeve receiving means 170 with the sleeve or the filter is then moved to the cleaning station 190 by means of the endless conveyor 160 . Fine dust particles are then removed from the filter at the cleaning station 190 . For this purpose, the cleaning station 190 can have a compressed air tank, a compressor or the like.

From the cleaning station 190 the sleeve receiving device 170 with the sleeve or the filter is then moved to the sleeve removal station 150 by means of the endless conveyor 160 . At the sleeve removal station 150, the sleeve receiving device 170 is opened so that the sleeve or the filter is released. This is also at the Sleeve receiving devices 170 a driver 105 arranged. The filters can then be moved, e.g. dropped, into a good part container 151 .

From the sleeve discharge station 150, the sleeve receiving means 170 is then moved back to the sleeve supply station 110. There, the sleeve receiving devices 170 are opened again by means of a driver 105, so that a new sleeve can be inserted into the sleeve receiving devices 170. The process then starts all over again.

4 and 5 show more detailed views of the sleeve receiving device 170. The sleeve receiving device 170 can have at least one, here two, fastening devices 174, by means of which the sleeve receiving device 170 can be attached to the endless conveyor 160. The fasteners 174 may be configured differently depending on the type of endless conveyor 160.

The sleeve receiving device 170 has a base body 171 and a swivel body 172 . The pivot body 172 is pivotable about a pivot axis S relative to the base body 171 . On one side of the swing body 172, a gripping portion 172a is arranged. A stop element 175 is arranged on the other side of the pivoting body 172 . When the stop member 175 comes into contact with the driver 105, the pivot body 172 is moved about the pivot axis S. More specifically, the pivoting body 172 is supported by the in Figures 4 and 5 holding position shown, in which the sleeve 200 shown is held, is moved to the release position, in which the sleeve 200 is released. The stop element 175 extends parallel to the pivot axis S. The pivot axis S in turn is orthogonal to the conveying plane E. This means that the pivoting plane in which the pivoting body 172 moves is parallel to the conveying plane E.

Sleeves 200 with different diameters can be held by the sleeve receiving device 170 by the pivoting body 172 .

As in figure 5 As can be seen, the sleeve receiving device 170 has a biasing element 173 which is designed to hold the pivoting body 172 in its holding position. Here the biasing element 173 is designed as a compression spring Pivoting body 172 biases. The point of action of the prestressing element 173 is here formed in the vicinity of the stop element 175 .

It goes without saying that in the case of the present invention there is a relationship between, on the one hand, features that have been described in connection with method steps and, on the other hand, features that have been described in connection with corresponding devices. Thus, method features described are also to be regarded as device features belonging to the invention—and vice versa—even if this was not explicitly mentioned.

It should be noted that the features of the invention described with reference to individual embodiments or variants, such as the type and design of the individual components and their exact dimensions and spatial arrangement, can also be present in other embodiments, unless otherwise stated or is automatically prohibited for technical reasons. A production plant according to the invention is specified in claim 1, and a production method according to the invention in claim 11. Advantageous refinements of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims.

REFERENCE LIST

100

manufacturing plant

101

production table

102

drive

105

driver

110

Case Feed Station

111

Separating device (for sleeve)

120

first cap insertion station

121

Separating device (for first cap)

122

Round table (for cap feeding)

123

collection container

130

filling station

131

collection container

140

second cap insertion station

141

Separating device (for second cap)

142

Round table (for cap feeding)

143

collection container

150

case removal station

151

Good part container

160

endless conveyor

170

sleeve pick-up device

171

base body

172

swivel body

172a

gripping range

173

biasing element

174

fastening device

175

stop element

181

first test station (for bottom cap)

182

second test station (for activated carbon)

183

third inspection station (for top cap)

185

Committee Station

186

Reject bin

190

cleaning station

200

sleeve

300

bottom cap

301

openings

400

activated charcoal

500

top cap

1000

filter

E

funding level

S

pivot axis

Claims (14)

1. A manufacturing apparatus (100) for manufacturing carbon filters, the manufacturing apparatus (100) comprising at least the following stations:

   - a sleeve feeding station (110) for feeding sleeves (200);

   - a first cap insertion station (120) for inserting lower caps into the sleeves (200);

   - a filling station (130) for filling activated carbon into the sleeves (200); and

   - a second cap insertion station (140) for inserting upper caps into the sleeves (200),

   wherein the manufacturing apparatus (100) comprises an endless conveyor (160) having a plurality of sleeve receiving means (170) and is configured to move said sleeves (200) in a conveying plane E by means of said sleeve receiving means (170), wherein the sleeve receiving means (170) are configured to hold the sleeves (200) during the insertion of the lower cap and/or during the insertion of the upper cap, characterized in that the endless conveyor (160) is configured as a chain conveyor, belt conveyor or strap conveyor.
2. The manufacturing apparatus (100) for manufacturing carbon filters according to claim 1,
   wherein the conveying plane E is a horizontal plane.
3. The manufacturing apparatus (100) for manufacturing carbon filters according to any one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the insertion direction of the lower caps and the insertion direction of the upper caps are oriented orthogonally to the conveying plane E.
4. The manufacturing apparatus (100) for manufacturing carbon filters according to claim 3,
   wherein the insertion direction of the lower cap is oriented opposite to the insertion direction of the upper cap.
5. The manufacturing apparatus (100) for manufacturing carbon filters according to any one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the sleeve receiving means (170) each comprise a base member (171) and a pivot member (172), the pivot member (172) being pivotably mounted on the base member (171) about a pivot axis S, the pivot member (172) being pivotable in a pivot plane between a holding position in which a sleeve (200) is holdable on the sleeve receiving means (170) and a release position in which a sleeve (200) is feedable or dischargeable.
6. The manufacturing apparatus (100) for manufacturing carbon filters according to claim 5,
   wherein the pivoting plane is arranged in parallel with the conveying plane E or corresponds to the conveying plane E.
7. The manufacturing apparatus (100) for manufacturing carbon filters according to claim 5 or 6,
   wherein the sleeve receiving means (170) has a biasing element (173) which holds the pivot member (172) in the holding position.
8. The manufacturing apparatus (100) for manufacturing carbon filters according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
   wherein the manufacturing apparatus (100) comprises at least one driver (105) configured to come into contact with the pivot member (172) to move the pivot member (172) to the release position.
9. The manufacturing apparatus (100) for manufacturing carbon filters according to any one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the manufacturing apparatus (100) further comprises a plurality of inspection stations (181, 182, 183) for detecting bad parts and a reject station (185) for rejecting detected bad parts.
10. The manufacturing apparatus (100) for manufacturing carbon filters according to any one of the preceding claims,
    wherein the manufacturing apparatus (100) comprises a cleaning station (190) which is arranged downstream of the filling station (130) and is configured to blow or suck particles, in particular carbon dust, out of the sleeve (200).
11. A method for manufacturing carbon filters, the method comprising the steps of:

    - feeding a sleeve (200) at a sleeve feeding station (110);

    - inserting a lower cap into the sleeve (200) at a first cap insertion station (120);

    - Filling activated carbon into the sleeve (200) at a filling station (130);

    - inserting a upper cap into the sleeve (200) at a second cap insertion station (140); and

    - discharging the sleeve (200) at a sleeve discharge station (150),

    wherein moving the sleeve (200) between the stations is performed by means of an endless conveyor (160) configured as a chain conveyor, belt conveyor or strap conveyor having a plurality of sleeve receiving means (170) and is configured to move the sleeves (200) by means of the sleeve receiving means (170) in a conveying plane E, the sleeve (200) remaining in the sleeve receiving means (170) from the feeding of the sleeve (200) to the discharging of the sleeve (200).
12. The method for manufacturing carbon filters according to claim 11,
    wherein, when the sleeve (200) is moved between the stations, at least one driver (105) comes into contact with the sleeve receiving means (170) in such a way that a pivot member (172) of the sleeve receiving means (170) is moved from a holding position, in which a corresponding sleeve (200) is held, into a release position, in which a corresponding sleeve (200) can be fed in or discharged.
13. The method for manufacturing carbon filters according to claim 11 or 12,
    wherein after the feeding of the activated carbon and before the discharging of the sleeve (200), a cleaning step is carried out in which the sleeve (200) is blown out or sucked out at a cleaning station (190).
14. The method for manufacturing carbon filters according to any one of claims 11 to 13,
    wherein a bad part detection is performed at a plurality of inspection stations (180) and a reject of detected bad parts is performed at a reject station (185).

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