EP4278907A1 - Arrangement for the transverse axial transport of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates, among other things, to an arrangement (2) for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles (200, 201) from the tobacco processing industry, wherein the arrangement (2) is set up to have article segments (201) of a first row and a second row arranged side by side in pairs in the transverse axial direction Series, wherein in a conveyor test section (P) the arrangement (2) has at least one conveyor element or several conveyor elements (30, 31, 32, 35, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 74 , 140, 141, 142) for a first row of article segments (201) arranged transversely axially one behind the other and for a second row of article segments (201) arranged transversely axially one behind the other, with one or two each along the conveying path for the article segments (201) of the first row , in particular optical, head end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) are provided for the two head ends of the article segments (201) of the first row and along the conveying path for the article segments (201). second row one or two, in particular optical, head end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) are provided for the two head ends of the article segments (201) of the second row.

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or rod-shaped segments. The invention further relates to a method for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles.

To produce multi-segment articles for the tobacco processing industry, various rod-shaped segments, in the form of base rods or strand sections, are provided and assembled into a rod-shaped multi-segment article using a drum machine.

It is known from the prior art to produce base rods and to feed them to the processing process of the drum machine using feed modules or to connect the drum machine directly to a strand machine in order to further process strand sections directly.

EP 1 691 633 B1 discloses, for example, a drum machine in the tobacco processing industry for producing multi-segment articles, the drum machine comprising a plurality of feed modules which provide rod-shaped segments and feed them to a transport route.

One object of the invention is to provide tested segment articles in a simple manner, for example for a multi-segment article manufacturing machine in the tobacco processing industry.

The object is achieved by an arrangement for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, the arrangement being set up to convey article segments of a first row and a second row arranged in pairs next to one another in the transverse axial direction, wherein in a conveyor test section the arrangement has at least one conveyor element or a plurality of conveyor elements for a first row of article segments arranged transversely axially one behind the other and for a second row of article segments arranged transversely axially one behind the other, wherein in the conveyor test section the conveyor element is set up or the conveyor elements are set up so that the article segments of the first row are conveyed or can be conveyed along a conveying path for the article segments of the first row, and wherein in the conveying test section the conveying element is set up or the conveying organs are set up so that the article segments of the second row are conveyed or can be conveyed along a conveying path for the article segments of the second row are, whereby one, in particular optical, head-end testing device or two, in particular optical, head-end testing devices are provided for the two head ends of the article segments of the first row along the conveying path for the article segments of the first row, and one each along the conveying path for the article segments of the second row , in particular optical, head end testing device or two, in particular optical, head end testing devices are provided for the two head ends of the article segments of the second row, with the transverse axial conveying direction of the article segments after the conveying testing section and/or after the head end testing device(s) for the article segments of the first row and the head end testing device(s) for the article segments of the second row Conveyor element, in particular conveyor drum, is provided, wherein the conveyor element is set up to convey pairs of article segments, each composed of an article segment of the first row and each of an article segment of the second row.

The invention is based on the idea that, for example, from a strand machine for producing a strand of aerosol-forming materials, in particular of reconstituted tobacco-containing film, using the arrangement, the head ends of the two webs or rows of article segments are checked, preferably individually, by means of the head end testing devices. During the transfer of the articles or article segments produced on the strand machine, the rod-shaped articles or article segments are conveyed in the arrangement in the transverse axial direction by means of several conveyor drums, with pairs of article segments on the output side of the arrangement, each composed of an article segment of the first row and each of an article segment of the second row, for further processing in a multi-segment article manufacturing machine.

During the conveyance of the article rods taken over from the strand machine, the transversely axially conveyed article rods are cut, for example, into rod-shaped article segments, the cut rod-shaped article segments being conveyed in two rows of article segments arranged next to one another in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drums of the arrangement. The pairs of article segments, each of which has an article segment of a first row and a second row, which are one behind the other or next to one another in the longitudinal axial direction of the article segments are arranged in the receiving troughs are checked during conveyance in the arrangement. Here, the two head ends or end faces of the respective article segments are checked using one or more corresponding head end testing devices.

In particular, the rod-shaped article segments have magnetic or magnetizable material, in particular a metal strip, in particular a flat metal strip, which is arranged inside the article segments. The magnetic or magnetizable or inductively heatable material is, preferably a metal strip, which can be heated by induction in a finished product, such as a multi-segment article, so that, for example, tobacco material, which is provided in the rod-shaped multi-segment article, is heated.

For example, the testing devices are designed to test the end face of the head ends or a region of the head ends of the article segments. As an example, such a head end testing device for end faces of rod-shaped (multi-segment) articles is described in DE 10 2020 106 444 A1. In particular, the head end testing devices preferably each have a polarization camera.

In order to test the article segments of the first row and the second row arranged next to one another in receiving troughs of conveyor drums of the arrangement, according to the invention the article segments of the first row and the article segments of the second row are conveyed on different conveying paths within the conveyor testing section in the arrangement to the head end testing devices, so that the mutually facing head ends and/or end faces of the article segments of the first row and the article segments of the second row as well as the outer head ends of the article segments are checked. Here, the article segments of both rows are conveyed on different conveying paths within the arrangement to the head-end testing devices, so that on both sides of the article segments of the first type and on both On each side of the article segments of the second type, a head end testing device checks the head end facing the head end testing device.

After checking the head ends of the article segments of the first row and the article segments of the second row, the article segments of both rows are brought together again into pairs in the arrangement, so that pairs of article segments are provided for further processing of the article segments, for example on a multi-segment manufacturing machine, the pairs of article segments are each composed of an article segment of the first row and the second row.

The checking of the head ends of the article segments of the first row and the checking of the head ends of the article segments of the second row are preferably carried out independently of one another.

Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, it is possible for article segments provided with a metal band, for example, to be aligned in the arrangement before checking the head ends, so that the metal band occupies a predetermined position in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drums of the arrangement.

In addition, it is provided that for the inspection of the head ends of the article segments of the first row and the article segments of the second row, the two article segments of the two rows arranged next to one another are not longitudinally axially spaced or spread apart. For this purpose, in one embodiment the arrangement preferably has no expansion drum or the like.

In the case of the article segments of a first row and a second row arranged in pairs next to one another, which are conveyed in the transverse axial direction, within the scope of the invention, pairs of an article segment of the first row and an article segment of the second row formed. In particular, the article segments of the first row and the article segments of the first row are each arranged in rows transversely axially one behind the other.

For this purpose, according to a further development of the arrangement, it is provided that before the start of the conveying path for the article segments of the first row, the head ends are checked and before the start of the conveying path for the article segments of the second row, the head ends are checked, in particular with regard to the conveying direction of the article segments the conveyor test section, at least one upstream conveyor element, in particular conveyor drum, is provided, the at least one conveyor element being set up to convey pairs of article segments arranged next to one another, each composed of an article segment of the first row and each of an article segment of the second row, transversely axially. In relation to the conveying direction of the article segments upstream of the conveying test section, and thus before the start of the conveying path for the article segments of the first row for checking the head ends and before the start of the conveying path for the article segments of the second row within the conveying test section, there is at least one conveyor element, in particular Conveyor drum arranged to convey the pairs of article segments arranged next to one another, composed of one article segment of the first row and one article segment of the second row, to the conveyor testing section.

The pairs of article segments are arranged one behind the other in the transverse axial direction, for example in receiving troughs of the conveyor drums.

Furthermore, the arrangement is characterized in one embodiment in that in the conveyor testing section the article segments of the first row are conveyed or can be conveyed on a first conveyor element, in particular a conveyor drum, with one or two, in particular optical, head end testing devices for the head ends on the first conveyor element the article segments of the first row are arranged, and in Conveyor testing section, the article segments of the second row are or can be conveyed on a further conveyor element, in particular a conveyor drum, with one or two, in particular optical, head end testing devices for the head ends of the article segments of the second row being arranged on the further conveyor element.

For checking the head ends of the article segments of the two rows, in one embodiment, separate conveyor elements or conveyor drums are provided, on which one head end testing device or two head end testing devices are provided for each of the two head ends of the article segments in order to check the head ends of the article segments. For the test, the article segments of the two rows are divided into two sub-streams, with a test of the head ends of the article segments being carried out for each sub-stream. In particular, in the conveyor test section, the article segments to be tested or inspected are not moved longitudinally axially in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drums.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the arrangement is developed in that at least one common conveyor element, in particular a conveyor drum, is provided in the conveyor test section for the article segments of the first row and for the article segments of the second row, the common conveyor element being set up in such a way that after pairs have been picked up of article segments, each composed of an article segment of the first row and an article segment of the second row, the article segments of the first row are moved or are movable relative to the article segments of the second row, preferably while maintaining the transverse axial conveying direction, and wherein on the one or two head-end testing devices are provided for the article segments of a row on the common conveyor element, or one or two head-end testing devices are provided on the common conveyor element for the article segments of the first row and two head-end testing devices are provided for the article segments of the second row.

Because the article segments of the two rows, which are preferably arranged next to each other in the receiving troughs of the common conveyor elements or conveyor drum during transfer, are moved against one another during conveyance on the common conveyor element, the mutually facing end faces or head ends of the article segments are spaced apart from one another, so that the two mutually facing head ends of the article segments are accessible for testing using a head end testing device. Here, for example, it is provided that the article segments of the two rows are moved, in particular accelerated or decelerated, using, for example, levers or rods or the like, with the levers or rods in particular being designed with corresponding receptacles for the article segments.

Furthermore, it is also provided within the scope of the invention that the article segments of the two rows on the common conveyor element, in particular the conveyor drum, are moved relative to one another by lowering or raising the article segments in the radial direction, for example using movable receiving troughs. Here, the receiving troughs are moved, for example, by means of a control cam, lifting cam or the like during the transverse axial conveyance on the conveyor element or the conveyor drum.

Preferably, in one embodiment of the arrangement it is provided that the common conveyor element is designed as a conveyor drum and the conveyor drum is set up to move the article segments of the first row in the radial direction and/or in the circumferential direction of the conveyor drum relative to the article segments of the second row.

In particular, it is provided that when the article segments are taken over into the receiving troughs of the common conveyor drum, the article segments of the first row and the second row (as a pair) are not shifted, that is, the central longitudinal axes of the article segments of the first row and the central longitudinal axis of the article segments of the second row are collinearly aligned with one another. The central longitudinal axes of the article segments of the first row and the central longitudinal axis of the article segments of the second row are aligned or arranged along a common longitudinal axis. Likewise, when the article segments are delivered and after the head ends have been checked, the central longitudinal axes of the article segments of the first row and the second row are collinearly aligned on the conveyor drum. During the conveyance of the article segments on the conveyor drum, the article segments are moved in such a way that the central longitudinal axes of the article segments of an article segment pair are or are aligned parallel to one another, with the article segments of the two rows being moved relative to one another.

In addition, in the arrangement in one embodiment it is preferred that the common conveyor element is designed as a conveyor drum with movable or movable, in particular pivotable, arms for the article segments. The arms are preferably designed with corresponding receiving troughs for the respective article segments.

According to a further embodiment of the arrangement, it is provided that the conveyor drum for the article segments is designed in such a way that during the conveyance of the article segments by means of the conveyor drum, the article segments of the first row and the article segments of the second row from the transferred pairs of article segments, preferably in a transverse axial direction Direction, spaced apart from each other.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the common conveyor element is designed as a conveyor drum with rotatable receptacles for the article segments, in particular the rotatable receptacles being rotatable about axes of rotation aligned radially to the axis of rotation of the conveyor drum. By rotating the article segments by a predetermined one Angle about a rotation axis formed perpendicular to their longitudinal axis makes it possible for the article segments to be rotated or turned or reoriented by a predetermined angle during their conveyance on the conveyor drum, for example on a rotating body, as a result of which the mutually facing head ends of the article segments of the two rows are spaced apart from one another are, whereby the mutually facing head ends of the article segments are accessible for a head end test using a head end test device. For example, it is possible that pivotable receiving troughs are provided for the article segments of the two rows.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the arrangement is further developed in that in the conveying test section, a first stagger drum is provided for the article segments of the first row and for the article segments of the second row and a second stagger drum for the staggered article segments in relation to the transverse axial conveying direction of the article segments, whereby At least one conveyor drum with at least one or at least two head end testing devices for the article segments of a row is provided between the first relay drum and the second relay drum, or wherein a conveyor drum with one or two head end testing devices for the article segments of the first row and with one or two head end testing devices for the article segments of the second row is provided. Here, the head ends are tested on the conveyor drum between the two staggered drums for the staggered article segments using the head end testing devices. The checked article segments are then transferred to the subsequent second staggered drum, so that the article segments transferred in staggered manner are staggered back, whereby pairs of article segments, each composed of an article segment of the first row and an article segment of the second row, are subsequently conveyed, for example, to a multi-segment article manufacturing machine .

Furthermore, an embodiment of the arrangement is characterized in that in the conveyor test section a common conveyor drum for pairs of article segments, each composed of an article segment of the first row and an article segment of the second row, is provided, with pairs of Article segments are conveyed or can be conveyed, with a first conveyor drum for the article segments of the first row and a second conveyor drum for the article segments of the second row being arranged on the common conveyor drum, with article segments of the first row being transferred from the common conveyor drum to the first conveyor drum or can be transferred and the head ends of the article segments of the first row conveyed by the first conveyor drum are or can be tested by means of one or two head end testing devices arranged on the first conveyor drum and after testing the head ends of the article segments of the first row, the article segments of the first row are sent to the common conveyor drum are transferred or can be transferred, and then article segments of the second row are transferred or can be transferred from the common conveyor drum to the second conveyor drum and the head ends of the article segments of the second row conveyed by the second conveyor drum are arranged by means of one or two on the second conveyor drum Head end testing devices are checked or can be checked and after checking the head ends of the article segments of the second row, the article segments of the second row are transferred or can be transferred to the common conveyor drum. It is provided here that the article segments of a row are taken over and conveyed by one conveyor drum from the common conveyor drum, with the article segments being checked accordingly at their head ends on the respective conveyor drum for the article segments. After checking the head ends, the respective article segments of the two rows are returned to the common conveyor drum. Preferably when the tested article segments of the two rows are transferred from the common conveyor drum to a subsequent conveyor drum Article segments of the two rows are arranged in receiving troughs of the common conveyor drum in such a way that the longitudinal axes of the article segments of the two rows are aligned collinearly.

In addition, the arrangement is characterized in a further development in that the arrangement is designed as a transfer module between a strand machine for producing rod-shaped article segments and a multi-segment article manufacturing machine for producing rod-shaped multi-segment articles in the tobacco processing industry.

It is possible for the arrangement to have a transfer device, such as a transfer drum, in order to transfer the rod-shaped article bars produced on the strand machine and conveyed longitudinally axially. The article rods of multiple lengths that have been taken over and conveyed cross-axially can then be cut into corresponding article segments within the arrangement or the transfer module. In one embodiment, the arrangement in the conveying direction can have a tumbling drum, an orientation drum for orienting the article bars formed, for example, with a metal strip, as well as a cutting drum and a relay drum. In addition, the arrangement can also have at least one staggered push drum or two staggered push drums in the conveying direction of the article segments before the article segments grouped in pairs are tested in a conveyor testing section using the head end testing devices. Following the conveyor test section, a transfer drum or delivery drum is provided in order to subsequently transfer the paired article segments of both rows to a multi-segment article manufacturing machine.

In addition, the object is achieved by a method for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, using a method described above Arrangement for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry. To avoid repetition, please refer to the previous statements accordingly.

1. a) Bereitstellen von paarweise nebeneinander angeordneten Artikelsegmenten, die eine erste Reihe und eine zweite Reihe von Artikelsegmenten bilden, wobei die Artikelsegmente ein magnetisches oder magnetisierbares oder induktiv erwärmbares Material aufweisen, ausgebildet um die Artikelsegmente zu erwärmen, wobei insbesondere die Artikelsegmente eine einfache Gebrauchslänge aufweisen,
2. b) queraxiales Fördern paarweise nebeneinander angeordneten Artikelsegmenten, die eine erste Reihe und eine zweite Reihe von Artikelsegmenten bilden,
3. c) Fördern der Artikelsegmente der ersten Reihe entlang eines ersten Förderwegs für die Artikelsegmente der ersten Reihe und Fördern der Artikelsegmente der zweiten Reihe entlang eines zweiten Förderwegs für die Artikelsegmente der zweiten Reihe, wobei die Artikelsegmente der ersten Reihe und der zweiten Reihe zumindest abschnittweise voneinander beabstandet sind,
4. d) Prüfen der beiden Kopfenden der Artikelsegmente der ersten Reihe, insbesondere auf dem ersten Förderweg und/oder insbesondere gleichzeitig oder nacheinander, und Prüfen der beiden Kopfenden der Artikelsegmente der zweiten Reihe, insbesondere auf dem zweiten Förderweg und/oder insbesondere gleichzeitig oder nacheinander, in einem Förderprüfabschnitt
5. e) Zusammenführen von Paaren von längsaxial nebeneinander stirnseitig aneinanderliegend angeordneten Artikelsegmenten, zusammengestellt aus jeweils einem Artikelsegment der ersten Reihe und jeweils einem Artikelsegment der zweiten Reihe, insbesondere nach dem Prüfen von einem und/oder beiden Kopfenden der Artikelsegmente der ersten Reihe und insbesondere nach dem Prüfen von einem und/oder beiden Kopfenden der Artikelsegmente der zweiten Reihe.

In addition, the object is achieved by a method for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, comprising the following steps:

1. a) providing article segments arranged next to one another in pairs, which form a first row and a second row of article segments, the article segments having a magnetic or magnetizable or inductively heatable material, designed to heat the article segments, in particular the article segments having a simple working length,
2. b) transversely axially conveying article segments arranged in pairs next to one another, which form a first row and a second row of article segments,
3. c) conveying the article segments of the first row along a first conveying path for the article segments of the first row and conveying the article segments of the second row along a second conveying path for the article segments of the second row, the article segments of the first row and the second row being spaced apart from one another at least in sections are,
4. d) checking the two head ends of the article segments of the first row, in particular on the first conveying path and/or in particular simultaneously or one after the other, and checking the two head ends of the article segments of the second row, in particular on the second conveying path and/or in particular simultaneously or one after the other, in a funding test section
5. e) Combining pairs of article segments arranged longitudinally axially next to one another on the front side, composed of one article segment from the first row and one article segment from the second row, in particular after testing from one and/or both head ends of the article segments of the first row and in particular after checking one and/or both head ends of the article segments of the second row.

The above method is advantageously carried out using or by means of the arrangement described above for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry. In order to avoid repetitions, we expressly refer to the above statements.

In the context of the invention, article segments of a simple usage length are understood to mean, in particular, article segments to be processed or processed which, after further processing, for example on a multi-segment bar production machine, have the (usage) length that they also have in the end product, in particular a consumable one. The rod-shaped end product is made from several article segments of simple usable length.

Further features of the invention can be seen from the description of embodiments of 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.

Fig. 1a

schematisch eine Ansicht einer Maschine der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie zu Herstellung von Multisegmentartikeln;

Fig. 1b

schematisch den zu Fig. 1a zugehörigen Verfahrensablauf;

Fig. 2

schematisch eine Ansicht eines Überführungsmoduls gemäß einer ersten Ausgestaltung;

Fig. 3a

schematisch eine Ansicht eines Überführungsmoduls gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform;

Fig. 3b

schematisch Verfahrensschritte zur Prüfung von Paaren mit einfachlangen Segmenten entlang ihrer Förderwege in dem Überführungsmodul gemäß Fig. 3a;

Fig. 4

einen Ausschnitt eines Förderprüfabschnitts eines Überführungsmoduls gemäß einer weiteren Ausgestaltung mit einem schematisch eingezeichneten Ablaufschema;

Fig. 5a

schematisch einen Ausschnitt eines Überführungsmoduls mit einem weiteren Förderprüfabschnitt gemäß einer weiteren Ausgestaltung;

Fig. 5b

schematisch ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel für ein Überführungsmodul mit einem Förderprüfabschnitt in Kombination mit einem Zuführmodul einer Zuführeinheit;

Fig. 6

schematisch einen Ausschnitt eines Transfermoduls mit einem Förderprüfabschnitt gemäß weiteren Ausführungsbeispielen;

Fig. 7

schematisch eine Ansicht eines weiteren Transfermoduls gemäß einer weiteren Ausgestaltung;

Fig. 8

schematisch eine Ansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels für ein Transfermodul im Ausschnitt;

Fig. 9

schematisch ein Ausführungsbeispiel für ein weiteres Transfermodul.

The invention is described below without limiting the general idea of the invention using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, with express reference being made to the drawings with regard to all details of the invention not explained in more detail in the text. Show it:

Fig. 1a

schematically a view of a machine in the tobacco processing industry for producing multi-segment articles;

Fig. 1b

schematically the to Fig. 1a associated procedure;

Fig. 2

schematically a view of a transfer module according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 3a

schematically a view of a transfer module according to a further embodiment;

Fig. 3b

schematically method steps for testing pairs with single-length segments along their conveying paths in the transfer module Fig. 3a ;

Fig. 4

a section of a conveyor test section of a transfer module according to a further embodiment with a schematically drawn flow chart;

Fig. 5a

schematically a section of a transfer module with a further conveyor test section according to a further embodiment;

Fig. 5b

schematically a further exemplary embodiment of a transfer module with a conveyor test section in combination with a feed module of a feed unit;

Fig. 6

schematically a section of a transfer module with a conveyor test section according to further exemplary embodiments;

Fig. 7

schematically a view of a further transfer module according to a further embodiment;

Fig. 8

schematically a view of a further exemplary embodiment of a transfer module in detail;

Fig. 9

schematically an exemplary embodiment of another transfer module.

Within the scope of the invention, features marked “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 numbers, so that they are not presented again.

Figure 1a shows a schematic view of a (drum) machine 1 of the tobacco processing industry for producing multi-segment articles, which is coupled to a strand machine 9, for example a crimper for producing a strand of aerosol-forming material, in particular of reconstituted tobacco-containing film.

The article strand produced in the strand machine 9 is covered with a wrapping material, for example a wrapping paper, and cut to length by a cutting unit into, preferably aerosol-forming, multiple-length article segments 200. The cut segments 200 are transferred via a transfer drum (see e.g Fig. 2 , reference number 21) to a transfer module 2 of the machine 1, on which the multiple-length segments 200 are divided into two single-length segments 201 and the end faces of each (single-length) segment 201 are inspected. The multiple-length segments 200 and the single-length segments 201 formed therefrom preferably have, for example, a susceptor 211, which is designed for inductive heating by means of a corresponding heating device.

The machine 1 further has, in the conveying direction of the segments 201, a feed unit 3 with three feed modules 301, 302, 303, the number of which can be expanded as desired, a transport route 101, a first wrapping module 4, a further feed module 5, a second wrapping module 6 and an inspection module 7 on.

The feed modules 301, 302, 303 have a supply, preferably designed as a hopper, magazine or hopper, a removal drum, a cutting drum, a push drum, a relay drum and a feed drum. The transport path 101 is formed below the feed drums of the feed modules 301, 302, 303. The transport route 101 has conveyor drums 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, which are preferably designed to have the same diameter, the same pitch or, particularly preferably, identically. The conveyor drums 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 each have a cylindrical drum body on which receptacles for rod-shaped articles are arranged in the circumferential direction, in particular receiving troughs, in order to hold and transport the rod-shaped articles.

The single-length article segments 201 arranged next to each other in two rows are fed after the transfer module 2 to a transport route 101 of a feed unit 3 with individual feed modules 301, 302 and 303. The first feed module 301 of the feed unit 3 feeds a second rod-shaped segment 202 to the transport route 101, the segment 202 preferably being designed as a double segment. This is inserted in the middle between the two first rod-shaped article segments 201, cut in the middle and spaced apart from one another. When the rod-shaped segments 202 are transferred from the feed drum of the feed module 301 to the conveyor drum 111 of the transport route 101, the rod-shaped segment 202 is combed out of the receptacle of the feed drum by the conveyor drum 111. The rod-shaped segment 202 is conveyed at a web speed on a feed drum and combed out of the receptacle of the feed drum 111 at a higher web speed, the rod-shaped segment 202 being conveyed on the conveyor drum 111 at a higher speed.

The second feed module 302 of the feed unit 3 provides a third rod-shaped segment 203, which is designed, for example, as a cooling segment. This compilation of three segments 201, 202, 203 will referred to as segment group 206. The compilation of segment groups 206 can preferably contain a tumbling step after each insertion of a further segment, which presses the segments of the segment groups together so that the segments of the segment group contact each other at the front. The segment 203 is cut in the middle and rotated and spaced apart from one another using a turning drum or a turning spreading drum.

The further feed module 303 provides another segment, a fourth rod-shaped segment 204, and feeds it to the transport route 101 by inserting it centrally between the two segment subgroups of the segment group 206 and forming a segment group 207. The segment group 207 is tumbled so that the segments contact each other at the front and in order to wrap the segment group 207 with the wrapping material 212 in the first wrapping module 4.

After the wrapping process, the segment group 209 has a central double segment and three pairs of identical single-length segments on each side. The segment group 209 is then cut in the middle and turned and spaced apart from one another by means of a reorientation unit, in particular a turning drum or a turning spreading drum. A further feed module 5 provides a fifth rod-shaped segment 205 and places it between the two segment subgroups of the segment group 209 and forms the segment group 208. This segment group 208 is also tumbled so that the end faces contact each other and in the second wrapping module 6 with a section of a web-shaped material 213 enveloped. This forms the segment group 210, which is cut in the middle and forms two individual multi-segment articles 200 which are transported side by side in the conveying direction.

A wrapping module 4 is arranged downstream of the feed modules 301, 302, 303 and the transport path 101 of the feed unit 3. This wrapping module 4 includes a storage for web-shaped material, a Cutting device for cutting the web-shaped material with a knife roller and a suction roller arranged opposite. The cut-to-length and spaced-apart paper strips are fed to a rolling drum and the segment group 207 is covered with the wrapping material 212 and forms a segment group 209. This segment group 209 is cut in the middle by a circular knife and turned and spaced apart from one another by a reorientation unit, in particular a turning drum, to insert another segment 205, the fifth rod-shaped segment 205. This is done in feed module 5.

The feed module 5 is followed by a second wrapping module 6, which can preferably be designed analogously to the wrapping module 4. The wrapping module 6 includes a storage for web-shaped material, which is fed to a rolling drum via a cutting unit and a suction roll. A wrapping material 213 is wrapped around segment 205 to connect it to the other segments. Downstream of the wrapping module 6 is an inspection module 7, which checks each multi-segment article 220 for its quality properties and passes it on to the subsequent machine. After wrapping in the wrapping module 6, the segment group 210 represents a double-length multi-segment article that is cut in the middle and transferred into a single-lane article stream by a turning device.

Within the scope of the invention it is provided that the multiple-long segments 200 are transferred from the strand machine 9 to the drum machine 1. It is possible here that the strand machine 9 and the drum machine 1 are arranged linearly one behind the other, so that when the strand machine 9 and the drum machine 1 are in a straight position, the cut segments 200 are transferred to the strand machine 9 by means of a transfer drum, the transfer drum being a vertically aligned one Axis of rotation, so that the segments 200 conveyed longitudinally axially in the strand machine 9 by means of the transfer drum to a conveyor drum conveying transversely axially of the transfer module 2 be handed over. Here, the transfer drum is designed, for example, with pivotable receiving troughs. For example, such a transfer drum is in WO 2022/008220 A1 described. The disclosure of this application is expressly incorporated into the disclosure of the present application.

In another embodiment, the drum machine 1 and the strand machine 9 are arranged at an angle or in an L-shaped configuration relative to one another. Here, the longitudinally axially conveyed article segments 200 in the strand machine 1 are transferred on the output side to the drum arrangement of the drum machine 1 by means of a transfer device such as a so-called spider, by means of which the transferred article segments 200 are conveyed in the transverse axial direction within the drum machine 1.

Within the scope of the invention, it is possible, for example, for multiple-length segments 200 to be transferred from the strand machine 9 to the drum machine 1, with the multiple-length article segments 200 subsequently being cut into single-length segments 201 within the drum machine 1, and in particular within the transfer module 2, on the output side of the transfer module 2 pairs of two individual and single-length segments 201 arranged side by side in the receiving troughs are transferred to the subsequent units of the drum machine 1. During the conveyance of the segments 200 within the transfer module 2, the segments 200 are cut several times and, if necessary, conveyed using appropriate relay drums and/or push drums.

In addition, it is also possible for, for example, several, in particular two, multiple-length segments 200 to be transferred to the transfer module 2, so that the multiple-length segments 200 are then cut into single-length segments 201, with a pair of single-length segments 201 following on the output side of the transfer module 2 be handed over.

Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, it is possible for single-length segments 201 to be transferred from the strand machine 9, so that as part of the conveyance of the article segments 201 within the transfer module 2, the article segments 201 are correspondingly paired in pairs by pushing processes and, if necessary, staggering processes within the transfer module 2 be grouped for further processing on the subsequent units of the drum machine 1.

It is also provided within the scope of the invention that only single-length article segments 201 are transferred from the strand machine 9 to the transfer module 2 in pairs, so that no cutting of the article segments 201 is necessary during the transverse axial conveyance of the segments 201 of the transfer module 2.

In addition, in one embodiment of the transfer module 2, it is possible that, in the event that, for example, the multi-length segments 200 are designed or manufactured with a susceptor 211 designed as a metal band, an alignment of the with a susceptor 211 can be carried out during the conveyance of the article segments 200 within the transfer module 2 Article segments provided with metal strips are carried out. For example, the individual rod-shaped segments 200 are aligned with respect to cutting blades on a cutting drum or rotated within the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum. It is possible, for example, for each individual segment 200 to be aligned individually within the receiving trough of the conveyor drum. In addition, it is also possible for each article segment to be rotated by a predetermined angle within the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum. When the rod-shaped segments 200 are individually rotated within the receiving troughs, it is also provided that the segments are carried out in one embodiment with knowledge of the position of the metal strip within the article segment. Alternatively, the position of the susceptor 211, which is designed as a metal band, can be detected with a corresponding sensor before the segments 200 are rotated, so that in Depending on the detected location or position of the metal strip, the article segment is rotated.

A device for handling rod-shaped articles that have magnetic or magnetizable material, in particular a flat metal strip, by means of which rod-shaped articles are aligned within the receiving troughs of a conveyor drum, is for example in the German patent application with the application number 10 2022 101 392.8 described. The disclosure of this application is also explicitly incorporated into the disclosure of the present patent application. In one embodiment, the alignment of the rod-shaped articles preferably follows the conveying direction of the rod-shaped segments 200 within the transfer module 2 upstream of a cutting drum.

In Fig. 2 an exemplary embodiment of a transfer module 2 according to a first exemplary embodiment is shown in a view.

The transfer module 2 has a transfer drum 21 on the input side on the output side of the strand machine 9, by means of which the multi-length article segments 200 are taken over by the strand machine 9 and are subsequently transferred to a conveyor drum 22. By means of the transfer drum 21, the multi-length segments 200 conveyed longitudinally axially in the strand machine 9 are transferred to the conveyor drum 22, on which the multi-length article segments 200 are conveyed transversely axially.

For the transfer, the transfer drum 21 is designed with rotatable receiving troughs (not shown). After receiving the transferred article segments 200, the multi-length article segments 200 are conveyed transversely axially within the transfer module 2. From the conveyor drum 22, the article segments 200 are transferred in the conveying direction via further conveyor drums 23, 24 to a cutting drum 25.

In one exemplary embodiment, the conveyor drum 22 is designed as an accelerator drum. Furthermore, for example, the conveyor drum 23 is designed as a tumbling drum and the subsequent conveyor drum 24, for example, as an orientation drum or alignment drum.

During the conveyance of the rod-shaped article segments 200, the article segments 200 are cut into single-length article segments 201 using one or more cutting knives or cutting devices on the cutting drum 25. The cut article segments 201 are then transferred from the cutting drum 25 to a further conveyor drum 26. The single-length article segments 201 are then transferred from the conveyor drum 26 to a staggered feed drum 27, on which two staggered push drums 28, 29 are arranged. From the relay push drums 28, 29, article segments are removed from the relay feed drum 27 and returned to the relay feed drums 27, the pairs of article segments 201 being arranged one behind the other in a transverse axial manner in the conveying section after the second relay push drum 29 in the receiving troughs of the relay push drum 29. The conveyance of the pairs of single-length article segments by means of the relay feed drum 27 and the relay push drums 28, 29 and the arrangement of pairs of article segments on the relay feed drum 27 before they are transferred to a subsequent conveyor drum are, for example, in EP 3 685 684 A1 shown, whereby the disclosure of this document is expressly incorporated in its entirety into this application.

From the relay feed drum 27, the paired article segments 201 of a pair of article segments 201 are each transferred to a subsequent testing drum 30 or 31 in a conveyor testing section P of the transfer module 2, with head end testing devices 40, 41 for a series of article segments 201 on the testing drums 30, 31 are provided, by means of which the two end faces or head ends of the article segments 201 are checked.

By means of the head end testing devices 40, 41, for example, the position of the band-like metal segments within the article segments 201 and/or the cutting quality of the end faces of the article segments are monitored. The article segments 201 of a row conveyed on the test drum 30 and tested on the end faces are then transferred from the test drum 30 to a subsequent conveyor drum 32, with the pairs of article segments 201 being brought together after the article segments 201 have been transferred to the test drum 31.

Before being transferred to the test drum 30, 31, pairs of article segments are arranged in the receiving troughs of the relay feed drum 27, the article segments 201 having end faces facing one another. A series of article segments 201 are passed to the first inspection drum 31, while the second series of article segments 201 are passed to the second inspection drum 30. After checking the second row of article segments 201 on the test drum 30, they are transferred to the test drum 31 via a conveyor drum 32, so that pairs of article segments 201 are formed on the test drum 31, which are transferred to a transfer drum 33. The pairs of article segments are subsequently transferred to the feed unit 3 from the transfer drum 33 on the output side.

According to the invention, in the conveyor test section P, the end faces of the article segments 201 of the two rows are monitored independently of one another by means of the head end test devices 40, 41. Here, the article segments 201 are conveyed from a pair of article segments in different ways to one of the test drums 30, 31 in order to test the individual article segments 201. Subsequently, the individual article segments 201 are brought together again to form a pair of article segments in the receiving troughs on the further conveying path on the test drum 31 and handed over to the other units of the drum machine 1.

In Fig. 3a is a further exemplary embodiment of a transfer module 2 shown. Here is compared to the in Fig. 2 shown transfer module 2 in the conveying direction after the relay feed drum 27, a conveyor drum 35 is arranged, on which the pairs of article segments 201 arranged one behind the other in the transverse axial direction are transferred from the relay feed drum 27 to the conveyor drum 35. Here, the conveyor drum 35 is arranged in a conveyor test section P. In Fig. 3b a process sequence for conveying the article segments 201 on the conveyor drum 35 is shown schematically in a top view and in a side view. Three head end testing devices 51, 52, 53 for testing the head ends of the article segments 201 are arranged on the conveyor drum 35, which is designed as a testing drum.

The conveyor drum 35 has, in particular, cam-controlled, movable arms for the article segments 201, so that the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 35 carry out a stroke in the radial direction between the reception of the article segments 201 from the relay feed drum 27 and the delivery to the transfer drum 33.

In the exemplary embodiment in Fig. 3a or 3b, the hatched article segments 201 are moved back and forth in the radial direction on the conveyor drum 35 during their transverse axial conveyance relative to the other (unhatched) article segments 201. As a result, the hatched article segments 201 are moved relative to the article segments of the respective article segment pair. Because the hatched (front) article segment 201 initially moves from right to left during promotion (cf. Fig. 3b ) is first moved inwards to the axis of rotation of the conveyor drum 35, the (rear) non-hatched article segment 201 on the inside end face becomes accessible to the head end testing device 51, so that the inside end face of the corresponding article segment is checked by means of the head end testing device 51.

The hatched article segment 201 is then moved outwards in the radial direction so that the article segment pairs with one (hatched) article segment and an (unhatched) article segment is checked by means of the head end testing device 52 on the outer head ends or end faces. The (hatched) article segment is then moved radially further outwards, whereby the inside end face of the (hatched) article segment 201 is accessible to the head end testing device 53 and the end face is thereby checked. The (hatched) article segment 201 is then moved again to the radial center of the conveyor drum 35, so that before the transfer, the article segment pairs are collinearly aligned with their longitudinal axes in order to be transferred to the subsequent transfer drum 33.

The movement of the article segments 201 on the conveyor drum 35 takes place, for example, by means of a corresponding cam mechanism or a corresponding cam control with movable receiving troughs.

In Fig. 4 An exemplary embodiment of a conveyor test section of a transfer module 2 is also shown. The process sequence in the conveyor test section P is shown schematically in the upper area, while a view of a drum arrangement of the conveyor test section P is shown in the lower area.

In the conveyor test section P shown, article segments 201 are transferred in pairs from a conveyor drum 61 to a subsequent conveyor drum 62. A staggered drum 72 is arranged on the conveyor drum 62, by means of which the article segments 201 are returned to the conveyor drum 62 in a staggered manner. The article segments 201 arranged in a staggered manner on the conveyor drum 62 are then transferred to a testing drum 63, on which head end testing devices 55, 56, 57, 58 are arranged in order to individually test one end face of the staggered article segments 201. Because the article segments 201 are arranged in the transverse axial and longitudinal axial directions and staggered in the receiving troughs of the test drum 63 arranged one behind the other, for example the Hatched article segments are checked on their end faces using the head end testing device 56, 58. The non-hatched article segments 201 are monitored or checked using the head end testing devices 55, 57.

After the test, the tested, staggered article segments 201 are transferred to a conveyor drum 64, on which a staggered drum 74 is arranged, so that the article segments 201 transferred to the staggered drum 74 are staggered and a staggering is carried out, whereby the staggered article segments 201 are subsequently displayed the conveyor drum 64 is conveyed further in pairs.

In a further embodiment (not shown here), it is conceivable within the scope of the invention that a conveyor test section P of the transfer module 2 also has a reversible expansion drum in order to space the mutually facing end faces of a pair of article segments 201 by a reversible expansion process and at the same time be accessible to a head end testing device close.

A further embodiment of a conveyor test section P of a transfer module 2 is shown in Fig. 5a shown schematically. The conveyor test section P has a conveyor drum 65 which has receiving troughs in the circumferential direction. The conveyor drum 65 receives article segments 201 in pairs from an upstream conveyor drum, the transverse axial distance of the received pairs of article segments 201 being twice as large as the transverse axial distance of the receiving troughs, so that when the received pairs of article segments 201 are taken over, every second article trough of the conveyor drum 65 is occupied by a pair of article segments 201. The pairs of article segments 201 are then transferred to a subsequent conveyor drum 66, which is preferably designed as a path difference drum.

The conveyor drum 66 preferably has two offset drum rings or the like with receiving troughs, a drum ring being provided for each article segment of a pair of article segments in order to convey the article segments 201 of a pair on different conveying paths during the rotation of the conveyor drum 66. The drum bodies of the conveyor drum 66 have the same transverse axial distance between the receiving troughs as the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 66.

When the respective article segments 201 of a pair of article segments are picked up on the conveyor drum 66, the picked up article segments 201 are conveyed at a transverse axial distance into the receiving troughs of the drum rings of the conveyor drum 66, which corresponds to twice the transverse axial distance of the receiving troughs of the drum rings. The drum bodies have offset axis stitches, so that the article segments 201 of the respective pairs of article segments move on different pitch circles. Due to the offset and different partial circles for the article segments 201, the mutually facing inner sides of the end faces of the article segments 201 of an article segment pair are spaced apart from one another, so that an inside of an article segment 201 is checked by means of the head end testing device 51 arranged on the conveyor drum 66 and subsequently on the one on the The outsides of the two article segments 201 are monitored using the head end testing device 52 arranged on the conveyor drum 66. The end face of an article segment 201 that has not yet been tested is then checked using the head end testing device 53 arranged on the conveyor drum 66. The article segments 201 of an article segment pair that have been brought together again (collinearly aligned) are then returned to the conveyor drum 65.

In an alternative, it is conceivable that the conveyor drum 66 is also designed with pivotable arms for the article segments 201 of a pair of article segments, whereby the arms are positioned during the conveyance of the article segments, for example by means of a cam mechanism or Like, can be pivoted relative to each other, whereby the inner end faces of a pair of article segments are accessible to a head end testing device.

In one embodiment, one of the conveyor drums 65, 66 has an odd number of troughs, while the other conveyor drum has an even number of receiving troughs.

In Fig. 5b a further exemplary embodiment of a transfer module 2 is shown, wherein multi-length article segments 200 are removed from a magazine 131 by means of a removal drum 130 and the article segments 200 provided with a metal strip are conveyed past by means of an alignment device 132 arranged on the removal drum 130, in particular a magnetic alignment device, whereby the Metal strips of the article segments 200 are aligned. The article segments 200 are then conveyed to the cutting drum 25. The multiply cut article segments 200 are then transferred as single-length article segments 201 to a first stagger drum 126 and subsequently to a second stagger drum 127 and arranged in a staggered manner by means of the stagger drum 126, 127 in such a way that pairs of article segments 201 are arranged one behind the other in the transverse axial direction. The pairs of article segments arranged in two rows one behind the other on a subsequent conveyor drum 128 are then transferred to the conveyor drum 65. The pairs of article segments are transferred from the conveyor drum 65 to the conveyor drum 66, on which the head end testing devices 51, 52, 53 are arranged in order to test the end faces of the individual article segments 201.

The tested article segments 201 of the two rows of article segment pairs are then transferred back from the conveyor drum 66 to the conveyor drum 65 and then conveyed to the feed unit 3.

In Fig. 6 a further exemplary embodiment of a conveyor test section P for article segments 201 on a transfer module 2 is shown. Here, the conveyor test section P has a conveyor drum 68, on which two test drums 69, 70 are arranged, each with head end test devices 40, 41 arranged thereon. By means of the test drum 69, an article segment 201 of an article segment pair is taken over from the conveyor drum 68, while the article segment 201 of the article segment pair remaining on the conveyor drum 68 is conveyed to the test drum 70 and handed over to it. The article segment 201 of an article segment pair picked up and conveyed by the test drum 69 is checked on both end faces by means of the head end testing device 40 and then returned to the conveyor drum 68. The article segments 201 conveyed by the test drum 70 are also checked on their end faces by means of the head end testing device 41 arranged on the test drum 70 and then returned to the conveyor drum 68, so that the article segments 201 are then conveyed further in pairs on the conveyor drum 68.

In Fig. 7 a further exemplary embodiment of the transfer module 2 is shown in a detail. Here, a void filling device 150 is provided between the conveyor drum 23 and the cutting drum 25 and the conveyor drum 24, the void filling device 150 being designed in such a way that when empty receiving troughs are detected on the conveying drum 24, the receiving troughs are filled with rod-shaped article segments. Here, the empty space filling device 150 has individual shafts 151 for the article segments, at the end of which a drum 152 is arranged. The drum 152 works together with a rotating arm 153, which removes a corresponding article segment from the drum 152 and introduces it into an (empty) receiving trough of the conveyor drum 24 by rotating it. When the corresponding drum 152 rotates, the rod-shaped article segments slide onto the corresponding next free trough of the drum 152. As a result, a corresponding rod-shaped article segment is gently placed in an empty trough of the conveyor drum 24.

In the exemplary embodiment in Fig. 7 the shafts 151 are fed from a magazine 154. Alternatively, the shafts 151 can also be filled using a tray or a mass flow.

In Fig. 8 is a further exemplary embodiment for a void filling device 150. In this exemplary embodiment, for example, the magazine 154 of the void filling device 150 is activated before the drum machine 1 is put into operation (cf. Fig. 1a ) is filled, for example by first removing the rod-shaped article segments by means of the conveying drums 155, 156 after the article segments 200 have been transferred to the conveyor drum 22 before production and are fed to the magazine 154 via a mass flow conveyor in order to fill it.

In the production operation, the article bars produced by the strand machine 9 are then conveyed in a known manner by means of the transfer drum 21 and then via the conveyor drum 22, 23, 24 to the cutting drum 25.

In Fig. 9 a further exemplary embodiment of the transfer module 2 is shown, with multi-length article segments 200 being removed from the magazine 131 by means of the removal drum 130, which are aligned by means of the alignment device 132 with respect to the position of a susceptor 211 designed as a metal strip. The multi-length article segments 200 are then cut into single-length article segments 201 on the cutting drum 25. Subsequently, the single-length article segments are staggered on the following stagger drums 126, 127 and arranged in pairs in a row transversely axially one after the other. The article segments arranged in pairs are subsequently transferred to the conveyor drum 128 and subsequently a conveyor drum 129 is provided in order to transfer the pairs of article segments 201 to the conveyor drum 140. From the conveyor drum 140, individual article segments 201 in a row are delivered to the conveyor drum 141 handed over while the article segments 201 remaining on the conveyor drum 140 are conveyed further and are checked from both sides by means of the head end testing device 41. The article segments 201 conveyed further by the conveyor drum 141 are transferred from the conveyor drum 141 to a subsequent conveyor drum 142, so that the head end testing device 40 arranged on the conveyor drum 142 checks the two end faces of the article segments on the conveyor drum 142 designed as a test drum. The individual article segments 201 are then transferred from the conveyor drum 142 to the transfer drum 33, so that the two article segments 201 of the article segment pairs are brought together again on the transfer drum 33.

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

Reference symbol list

1

machine

2

Transfer module

3

Feeding unit

4

Envelope module

5

Feeding module

6

Envelope module

7

Inspection module

9

strand machine

21

transfer drum

22

conveyor drum

23

conveyor drum

24

conveyor drum

25

cutting drum

26

conveyor drum

27

Staggered feed drum

28, 29

Relay sliding drum

30

Test drum

31

Test drum

32

conveyor drum

33

transfer drum

35

conveyor drum

40, 41

Head end testing device

51, 52, 53

Head end testing device

55, 56, 57, 58

Head end testing device

61

conveyor drum

62

conveyor drum

63

Test drum

64

conveyor drum

65

conveyor drum

66

conveyor drum

68

conveyor drum

69

Test drum

70

Test drum

72

relay drum

74

relay drum

101

Transport route

110

conveyor drum

111

conveyor drum

112

conveyor drum

113

conveyor drum

114

conveyor drum

115

conveyor drum

126

relay drum

127

relay drum

128

conveyor drum

129

conveyor drum

130

removal drum

131

magazine

132

Alignment device

140

conveyor drum

141

conveyor drum

142

conveyor drum

150

Apprenticeship filling device

151

shaft

152

drum

153

Poor

154

magazine

155

conveyor drum

156

conveyor drum

200

Article segment

201

Article segment

202

segment

203

segment

204

segment

205

segment

206

Segment group

207

Segment group

208

Segment group

209

Segment group

210

Segment group

211

susceptor

212

wrapping material

213

wrapping material

220

Multi-segment items

301

Feeding module

302

Feeding module

303

Feeding module

P

Conveyance testing section

Claims (13)

Arrangement (2) for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles (200, 201) of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, the arrangement (2) being set up to have article segments (201) of a first row and a first row arranged next to one another in pairs second row in the transverse axial direction, wherein in a conveyor test section (P) the arrangement (2) has at least one conveyor element or several conveyor elements (30, 31, 32, 35, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70 , 72, 74, 140, 141, 142) for a first row of cross -axially arranged item segments (201) and for a second row of cross -axis article segments (201), whereby in the funding test section (P) the funding organ (30, 31 , 32, 35, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 74, 140, 141, 142) or the funding bodies (30, 31, 32, 35, 62, 63, 64 , 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 74, 140, 141, 142) are set up so that the article segments (201) of the first row are conveyed along a conveying path for the article segments (201) of the first row are or can be funded, and the funding body (30, 31, 32, 35, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 74, 140, 141, 142) is set up in the funding test section (P). is or the funding bodies (30, 31, 32, 35, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 74, 140, 141, 142) are set up so that the article segments (201) of the second Rows are conveyed or can be conveyed along a conveying path for the article segments (201) of the second row, with one, in particular optical, head-end testing device (40, 41, 51, 52, 53) along the conveying path for the article segments (201) of the first row. 55, 56, 57, 58) or two, in particular optical, head end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) are provided for the two head ends of the article segments (201) of the first row and where along the conveying path for the article segments (201) of the second row, one, in particular optical, head-end testing device (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) or two, in particular optical, head-end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) are provided for the two head ends of the article segments (201) of the second row, in the transverse axial conveying direction of the article segments (201) after the conveying test section (P) and/or after the or the head end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the article segments (201) of the first row and after the head end testing device or devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56 , 57, 58) a conveyor element (33, 65), in particular a conveyor drum, is provided for the article segments (201) of the second row, the conveyor element (33, 65) being set up to consist of pairs of article segments (201), each composed of one Article segment of the first row and one article segment of the second row to promote. Arrangement (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that before the start of the conveying path for the article segments (201) of the first row for checking the head ends and before the start of the conveying path for the article segments (201) of the second row for checking the head ends, especially in relation to the direction of funding of the article segments (201) in front of the conveyor testing section (P), at least one upstream conveyor element, in particular conveyor drum, is provided, the at least one conveyor element being set up as pairs of article segments (201) arranged next to one another, each composed of an article segment of the first row and each article segment of the second row to be conveyed transversely axially. Arrangement (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the conveyor test section (P), the article segments (201) of the first row are conveyed or can be conveyed on a first conveyor element, in particular a conveyor drum, with one or two on the first conveyor element. In particular, optical head end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) are arranged for the head ends of the article segments (201) of the first row, and in the conveyor testing section (P) the article segments (201) of the second Row on a further conveyor element, in particular a conveyor drum, are conveyed or can be conveyed, with one or two, in particular optical, head end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the head ends on the further conveyor element the article segments (201) of the second row are arranged. Arrangement (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the conveyor test section (P) at least one common conveyor element, in particular conveyor drum, is provided for the article segments (201) of the first row and for the article segments (201) of the second row , wherein the common conveyor body is set up in such a way that after receiving pairs of article segments (201), each composed of an article segment of the first row and an article segment of the second row, the article segments (201) of the first row are relative to the article segments (201 ) of the second row, preferably while maintaining the transverse axial conveying direction, moved towards each other are or are movable, and wherein one or two head end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) are provided on the common conveyor element for the article segments (201) of a row or where on the common Conveyor body each has one or two head-end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the article segments (201) of the first row and one or two head-end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53). , 55, 56, 57, 58) are provided for the article segments (201) of the second row. Arrangement (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the common conveyor element is designed as a conveyor drum and the conveyor drum is set up to transport the article segments (201) of the first row in the radial direction and/or in the circumferential direction of the conveyor drum relative to the article segments (201). to move to the second row. Arrangement (2) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the common conveyor element is designed as a conveyor drum with movable or movable, in particular pivotable, arms for the article segments (201). Arrangement (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the conveyor drum for the article segments (201) is designed such that during the conveyance of the article segments (201) by means of the conveyor drum, the article segments (201) from the transferred pairs of article segments (201) the first row and the article segments (201) of the second row are spaced apart from one another, preferably in the transverse axial direction. Arrangement (2) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the common conveyor element is designed as a conveyor drum with rotatable receptacles for the article segments (201), In particular, the rotatable receptacles can be rotated about axes of rotation aligned radially to the axis of rotation of the conveyor drum. Arrangement (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the conveying test section (P), based on the transverse axial conveying direction of the article segments (201), there is a first relay drum for the article segments (201) of the first row and for the article segments (201) the second row and a second stagger drum for the staggered article segments (201) are provided, with at least one conveyor drum with at least one or at least two head end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55) between the first stagger drum and the second stagger drum. 56, 57, 58) is provided for the article segments (201) of a row or wherein a conveyor drum with one or two head end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the article segments (201) the first row and with one or two head end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the article segments (201) of the second row. Arrangement (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the conveyor test section (P) a common conveyor drum is provided for pairs of article segments (201), each composed of an article segment of the first row and an article segment of the second row, wherein pairs of article segments (201) are initially conveyed or can be conveyed on the common conveyor drum, a first conveyor drum for the article segments (201) of the first row and a second conveyor drum for the article segments (201) of the second row being arranged on the common conveyor drum , wherein article segments (201) of the first row are or can be transferred from the common conveyor drum to the first conveyor drum and the head ends of the article segments (201) of the first row conveyed by the first conveyor drum by means of a or two head end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) arranged on the first conveyor drum are tested or can be tested and after testing the head ends of the article segments (201) of the first row, the article segments (201) of the first row are or can be transferred to the common conveyor drum, and then article segments (201) of the second row are or can be transferred from the common conveyor drum to the second conveyor drum and the head ends of the article segments (201) conveyed by the second conveyor drum ) of the second row are checked or can be tested by means of one or two head end testing devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) arranged on the second conveyor drum and after testing the head ends of the article segments (201). second row, the article segments (201) of the second row are or can be transferred to the common conveyor drum. Arrangement (2) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the arrangement (2) is designed as a transfer module between a strand machine for producing rod-shaped article segments (201) and a multi-segment article manufacturing machine for producing rod-shaped multi-segment articles in the tobacco processing industry. Method for transversely axially conveying rod-shaped articles (200, 201) of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, using an arrangement (2) according to one of claims 1 to 11. Method for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles (200, 201) of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, comprising the following steps: a) Providing article segments (201) arranged next to one another in pairs, which form a first row and a second row of article segments (201), the article segments having a magnetic or magnetizable or inductively heatable material, designed to heat the article segments, in particular the Item segments have a simple usage length, b) transversely axially conveying article segments (201) arranged next to one another in pairs, which form a first row and a second row of article segments (201), c) conveying the article segments (201) of the first row along a first conveying path for the article segments (201) of the first row and conveying the article segments (201) of the second row along a second conveying path for the article segments (201) of the second row, wherein the Article segments of the first row and the second row are at least partially spaced apart from one another, d) checking the two head ends of the article segments (201) of the first row, in particular on the first conveying path and/or in particular simultaneously or one after the other, and checking the two head ends of the article segments (201) of the second row, in particular on the second conveying path and/or in particular simultaneously or one after the other, in a conveyor test section (P) e) Combining pairs of article segments (201) arranged longitudinally axially next to one another on the front side, composed of one article segment of the first row and one article segment of the second row, in particular after checking one and/or both head ends of the article segments (201) of the first Row and in particular after checking one and / or both head ends of the article segments (201) of the second row.

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