EP4291047A1

EP4291047A1 - Method of manufacturing rod-like articles for tobacco industry, apparatus for manufacturing rod-like articles and system for manufacturing rod-like articles

Info

Publication number: EP4291047A1
Application number: EP22707502.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bartosz Cieslikowski; Leszek Sikora
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2021-02-10
Filing date: 2022-02-02
Publication date: 2023-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2042-02-02
Also published as: PL4291047T3; WO2022172134A1; EP4291047B1; JP2024506330A; US20240108054A1; CN116829004A; KR20230170645A; PL436921A1; EP4291047C0

Abstract

The object of the application is a method for producing rod-like articles of the tobacco industry wherein a first cutting is carried out in which a continuous rod (CR) is cut by means of a first cutting unit (5) into a train of double rod-like articles (6), and the direction of conveying the double rod-like articles (6) is changed from a first direction (T1) along the axis of the rod-like articles (6) to a second direction (T2) transverse to the axis of the rod-like articles (6), at least each time two double rod-like articles (6) being transferred into grooves of drum conveyors, and at least two input streams (S1, S2) of the double rod-like articles (6) being formed. Furthermore, in the method being the object of the present application, at least two streams (S1, S2) of the double rod-like articles (6) are transformed into one intermediate stream (S) of the double rod-like articles by moving a double rod-like article (6) from one of the streams (S1, S2) between two double rod-like articles (6) of the second stream (S1, S2), the geometric centres (M) of the double rod-like articles (6) in the intermediate stream (S) being disposed in a plane (k) parallel to the second direction T2. Subsequently, a second cutting is carried out in which the double rod-like articles (6) conveyed in the intermediate stream (S) of the double rod-like articles (6) are cut into two single rod-like articles (9) by means of a second cutting unit (26) to form two output streams (S4, S5) of the single rod-like articles (9). Objects of the application are also an apparatus for manufacturing the rod-like articles of the tobacco industry from a continuous rod (CR) and a system for manufacturing the rod-like articles (9).

Description

Method of manufacturing rod-like articles for tobacco industry, apparatus for manufacturing rod-like articles and system for manufacturing rod-like articles

The object of the invention is a method for producing rod-like articles of tobacco industry, an apparatus for manufacturing rod-like articles and a system for manufacturing the rod-like articles.

In the tobacco industry, there are many types of rod-like articles in the form of both finished products and semi-finished products occurring at different stages of production. Some articles of the tobacco industry are made of a single type of material, such as unfiltered cigarettes or filter rods made of a single type of material, such articles may be referred to as one-element articles. However, nowadays articles of the tobacco industry are very often made up of several elements or segments and may contain either cut tobacco or processed tobacco. Multi-element (multi-segment) articles include cigarettes with a filter tip, filter rods containing different types of elements of filter materials, flavouring materials and elements having other functions such as to direct the airflow. The filter tips themselves may be manufactured by cutting longer rods containing a single type of filter material or multi-element rods containing different types of filter materials. Typically, the rod-like articles are moved or processed in a multiplied form, i.e. several articles are moved in the form of one long rod which is finally cut into single articles.

From the patent US 4,538,629 a method of manufacturing cigarettes is known wherein two-element articles, in this case two cigarettes joined together, are first manufactured and then cut into two single cigarettes without a filter tip. From the patent EP 0895725 B1 a method for manufacturing cigarettes with a filter tip is known wherein articles comprising two tobacco parts being components of the manufactured cigarettes are first manufactured and then, after cutting, a filter tip part having twice the length of the filter tip of a finished cigarette is placed between them. After wrapping into a wrapping material and cutting the formed rod, two cigarettes with a filter tip will be formed. From the patent EP 2717726 B1 a method for manufacturing cigarettes with a filter tip is known wherein an article comprising four tobacco parts is first manufactured.

From the international publication WO 2015/140742 A1 also a method for manufacturing cigarettes is known wherein a manufactured article comprises four tobacco parts which are cut in further processing.

In known processing machines, the produced rods are cut into two parts at the beginning of the process, and then they are spaced apart, moved axially and transversely to the axis or rotated so as to form a single stream of articles which are subjected to subsequent operations. For example, the process begins by forming one stream, with the rods being cut so as to form two streams of rods of half of their original length. The problem to be solved by the present invention is to develop a method for producing rod-like articles of the tobacco industry which is reliable, fast, highly accurate, simple, cost effective, exhibiting low waste and reduced maintenance.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is also to develop an apparatus and a system for manufacturing the rod-like articles of the tobacco industry which is reliable, fast, highly accurate, simple, cost effective, exhibiting low waste and reduced maintenance, compact, exhibiting a reduced number of components and mechanical parts, easy to maintain, easy to operate.

The object of the invention is a method for producing rod-like articles of the tobacco industry wherein a first cutting is carried out in which a continuous rod is cut by means of a first cutting unit into a train of double rod-like articles, and the direction of conveying the double rod-like articles is changed from a first direction along the axis of the rod-like articles to a second direction transverse to the axis of the rod-like articles, at least each time two double rod-like articles being transferred into grooves of drum conveyors, and at least two input streams of double rod-like articles being formed. In the method according to the invention, at least two streams of double rod-like articles are transformed into one intermediate stream of double rod-like articles by moving a double rod-like article from one of the streams between two double rod-like articles of the other of the streams, the geometric centres of the double rod-like articles in the intermediate stream being disposed in a plane parallel to the second direction. Furthermore, in the method according to the invention, a second cutting is carried out wherein the double rod-like articles conveyed in the intermediate stream of the double rod-like articles are cut into two single rod-like articles by means of a second cutting unit to form two output streams of the single rod-like articles.

As used herein, the term “stream” is used to describe a series of rod-like articles parallel to each other and moving in the same direction.

As used herein, the term “train” is used to describe a string of rod-like articles moving in the same direction and placed in line with each other and in line with their movement direction.

Thanks to the invention several important advantages are achieved.

The change of the conveying direction of at least two double rod-like articles and the transfer of said at least two double rod-like articles into grooves of drum conveyors allow the process to be carried out at very high speed, high accuracy and high reliability.

The change of the conveying direction of at least two double rod-like articles and the transfer of said at least two double rod-like articles into grooves of drum conveyors allow to eliminate cutting units, and thus additional steps in the process, and to reduce therefore the number of drum conveyors. The speed, accuracy and reliability of the process is thereby increased. The process is made simpler and more cost effective. As a result of the decreased number of mechanical components, drum conveyors and cutting units the maintenance needs are reduced and the operation of the equipment is facilitated.

A reduced waste has been measured as well, and a lower contamination of the equipment from dirt and dust. The equipment becomes also more compact and lighter.

Preferably, in the method according to the invention, the transformation of the two streams of double rod like articles comprises a rotation during which the double rod-like article of one of the streams of double rod like articles is rotated by 180 degrees.

Preferably, in the method according to the invention, the transformation of the two streams of double rod- like articles comprises moving the double rod-like article from one of the streams transversely to the axis of the double rod-like article and moving the double rod-like article between the double rod-like articles of the second stream.

Preferably, in the method according to the invention, the double rod-like articles are centred after moving the double rod-like article to the intermediate stream. Preferably, in the method according to the invention, the single rod-like articles are spaced apart after the second cutting, whereas the single rod-like articles continue to move in the two output streams of the single rod-like articles.

Preferably, in the method according to the invention, an additional rod-like element is placed between the spaced single rod-like articles. Preferably, in the method according to the invention, single rod-like articles and an additional rod-like element are joined with a wrapping material.

Preferably, in the method according to the invention, the movement speed of the input streams is lower than the movement speed of the output streams.

Preferably, in the method according to the invention, the continuous rod and the rod-like articles comprise multiple elements.

The object of the invention is also an apparatus for manufacturing rod-like articles of the tobacco industry from a continuous rod, comprising a transport unit for moving the continuous rod in a direction along the axis of the continuous rod and a first cutting unit for cutting the continuous rod into a train of double rod-like articles. The apparatus according to the invention further comprises a transfer mechanism for transferring each time at least two double rod-like articles from the transport unit adapted to move the double rod-like articles in a first direction along the axis of the double rod-like articles and to feed double rod-like articles into grooves on drum conveyors adapted to move the double rod-like articles in a second direction transversely to the axis of the double rod-like articles. The apparatus according to the invention further comprises a drum conveyor unit for conveying a first input stream and a second input stream of double rod like articles, and a displacing unit for forming an intermediate stream of the double rod-like articles by displacing a double rod-like article from one of the streams and placing such rod-like article between the rod-like articles of the second stream. The apparatus according to the invention also comprises a centering means for positioning the double rod-like articles so that the geometric centres of the double rod-like articles in the intermediate stream are disposed in a plane parallel to the second direction, a transport unit for conveying the intermediate stream formed by combining the first stream and the second stream of double rod-like articles, and a second cutting unit for cutting the double rod-like article into two single rod-like articles.

Thanks to the invention several important advantages are achieved.

The change of the conveying direction of at least two double rod-like articles and the transfer of said at least two double rod-like articles into grooves of drum conveyors allow the process to be carried out at very high speed, high accuracy and high reliability. The change of the conveying direction of at least two double rod-like articles and the transfer of said at least two double rod-like articles into grooves of drum conveyors allow to eliminate cutting units, and thus additional steps in the process, and to reduce therefore the number of drum conveyors.

The speed, accuracy and reliability of the process is thereby increased. The process is made simpler and more cost effective. As a result of the decreased number of mechanical components, drum conveyors and cutting units the maintenance needs are reduced and the operation of the equipment is facilitated.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention further comprises a spacing unit for spacing single rod like articles. Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention comprises a positioning unit for placing an additional rod-like element between the spaced single rod-like articles.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is provided with a unit for joining the single rod-like articles and an additional rod-like element with a wrapping material.

The object of the invention is also a system for manufacturing rod-like articles comprising feeding units for feeding rod-like elements, whereas the multi-element rod-like article is provided with the rod-like elements or parts of the rod-like elements. The system further comprises a transport unit for conveying the rod-like elements, a feed unit for feeding a wrapping material, a transfer device for transferring the rod-like elements from the transport unit onto a strand of the wrapping material, a forming unit for forming a continuous multi element rod formed of the rod-like elements wrapped in the wrapping material, and an apparatus for manufacturing the rod-like articles.

Preferably, in the system according to the invention, the single rod-like article comprises at least two different rod-like elements.

In the tobacco industry, it is common practice to manufacture rod-like articles of double or quadruple length, whereas the first process step after manufacturing an article is to cut the article. In the process according to the invention, the first cutting is not necessary. Advantageous technical effects of the invention are the elimination of one cutting unit and the reduction of the number of drum conveyors within the process machine. The object of the invention is illustrated in more detail with reference to an embodiment presented in a drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a production system for manufacturing multi-element rod-like articles in a top view,

Fig. 2 shows another production system for manufacturing multi-element rod-like articles in a top view,

Fig. 3 shows diagrammatically the manufacturing process of example rod-like articles in the first embodiment,

Fig. 4 shows a view of a production machine carrying out the process of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically the process of manufacturing rod-like articles in the second embodiment, Fig. 6 shows a view of a production machine carrying out the process of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 shows diagrammatically the process of manufacturing rod-like articles in the third embodiment,

Fig. 8 shows a view of a production machine carrying out the process of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9a shows an example pair of double two-element rod-like articles,

Fig. 9b shows an example of a two-element rod-like article,

Fig. 10a shows an example pair of double one-element rod-like articles, and Fig. 10b shows an example of a one-element rod-like article. A production system 1 for manufacturing rod-like articles shown in Fig. 1 comprises a production machine 2 for manufacturing rods and a process machine 3 for processing the rods manufactured on the production machine 2. In particular, the rods manufactured by the production machine 2 are double-length multi element rod-like articles 6, and the rods manufactured on the process machine 3 are single-length multi element rod-like articles 9. During the processing of the double multi-element rod-like articles 6 on the process machine 3, they are transformed into single multi-element rod-like articles 9 which may be subjected to further processes. For example, further elements may be attached to a single rod-like article 9.

The production machine 2 is provided with feeding units 2A, 2B and 2C for feeding three types of rod-like elements A, B and C, respectively. The rod-like elements A, B, C are placed on a conveyor belt. The production machine 2 is provided with a known forming unit for forming a multi-element continuous rod CR. As shown in Fig.1 , the continuous rod CR is moved in a direction along the axis of the continuous rod by means of a transport unit 4 which may be integrated with the forming unit. Example rod-like elements A, B and C are placed in a predetermined sequence on a strand of the wrapping material and wrapped in such material so as to form a continuous multi-element rod CR composed of rod-like elements, where the rod- like elements A, B, C are arranged coaxially one after another. A rotary cutting head 5 on the production machine 2 constitutes a first cutting unit which performs a first cutting as in the method according to the invention. As a result of the first cut, double multi-element rod-like articles 6 containing elements of the types A, B, C or fragments thereof are cut from the continuous multi-element rod CR (the cut is made through one of the elements, and the halves of the cut element are components of adjacent articles), whereas the continuous rod CR moves along its axis with a first conveying speed v1 in a first direction T 1. The double rod-like article 6 has the structure of two single rod-like articles 9 joined together. The double rod-like article 6 comprises two halves of an A-type element, two B-type elements and one C-type element (Fig. 2).

The production machine 2 may be a machine for manufacturing double tobacco rods from which filter tip cigarettes are manufactured. Further in the description, for the sake of simplicity, the term "double rod-like article" may refer to both multi-element and single-element filter articles, smoking or heating articles, tobacco rods or articles containing tobacco or processed tobacco.

Between the production machine 2 and the process machine 3, there is situated a transfer device 8 for changing the direction of longitudinal movement of the double rod-like articles 6 to a movement being transverse to the axis of the double rod-like article 6. Within the production machine 2, the double rod-like article 6 moves in a direction along its axis parallel to the first direction T1. After transferring, within the process machine 3, the double rod-like article 6 moves in a second direction T2 transversely to the axis of the double multi-element rod-like article 6, the second direction T2 being transverse to the first direction T1 In the case of the machine arrangement shown in Fig 1 , the second direction T2 of movement of the double rod-like articles 6 and the single rod-like articles 9 on the process machine 3 is described by a second direction T2 perpendicular to the first direction T1. Within the process machine 3, the double multi-element rod-like articles 6 as well as the single multi-element rod like articles 9 formed during the process are transported in the direction T2, whereas they are transported in the grooves of successive drum conveyors. It is possible to implement a machine arrangement in which there is an obtuse angle between the second direction T2 and the first direction T 1. Fig. 2 shows a production machine 2' for manufacturing tobacco rods coupled to a process machine 3' by means of a transfer device 8', whereas an angle of 180° is maintained between the second direction T2 and the first direction T1, the double tobacco rods being additionally rotated during the transfer.

The course of the process taking place on the process machine 3 is illustrated in a simplified manner in Fig. 3 in the form of rod-like articles in successive stages of the process. In the fragment of the example machine 3 shown in Fig. 4, the first drum conveyor 11 receives the double rod-like articles 6 from the transfer device

8 and transports them at a second conveying speed v2. On this conveyor as well as on subsequent conveyors, the double and single rod-like articles are held in grooves by means of a vacuum provided by holes in the bottoms of the grooves. The double multi-element rod-like articles 6 are conveyed onto the drum conveyor 12. On the drum conveyors 11 and 12, the double rod-like articles 6 are conveyed in the form of two input streams S1 and S2 (Fig. 3) and move at a second conveying speed v2, whereas the double rod like articles 6 remain in the first configuration, namely are positioned coaxially to one another. The conveyor 12 may be provided with long grooves or may comprise two coaxial drum conveyors. Then, after being transported by the drum conveyor 15, the first stream S1 and the second stream S2 of the double rod-like articles 6 are transferred onto the drum conveyor 16 provided with supports 18 which are rotatable relative to the drum conveyor 16 and supports 19 which are non-rotatable relative to the drum conveyor 16. In the supports 18 and 19 there are provided grooves for transporting the double rod-like articles 6. One stream S1 of the double rod-like articles 6 is transported in the grooves of the rotatable supports 18, and a second stream S2 of the double rod-like articles 6 is transported in the grooves of the non-rotatable supports 19. During rotation of the drum conveyor 16, the configuration of the double rod-like articles is altered, namely the double rod-like articles 6 of the second stream S2 are rotated by 180° and are placed between the double rod-like articles 6 of the first stream S1. As a result of the rotation of the double rod-like articles 6, the first input stream S1 and the second input stream S2 are interconnected and an intermediate stream S of the double rod-like articles 6 is formed and is transferred onto a further drum conveyor 17. The double rod-like articles are moved so that, in the second configuration, the geometric centres M of the double rod- like articles are disposed in a plane k parallel to the second direction T2 and move in such plane. In such configuration, the double rod-like articles 6 are also moved on the drum conveyor 17 and the subsequent drum conveyors. During the transport of the intermediate stream S of the double rod-like articles 6 on the drum conveyor 17 at the second conveying speed v2, a quality control of such articles takes place. A radiation source 20 is situated inside the drum conveyor, the radiation passes through the individual double rod-like articles 6 and enters a receiver 21. The receiver may be, for example, a camera recording images formed by radiation passing through individual double rod-like articles 6. The grooves provided in the drum conveyor 17 are wide enough to examine such articles with radiation to a maximum extent. The quality control may relate to the dimensions of the rod-like articles or of components of the rod-like articles as well as the contents of such articles. The double rod-like articles 6 are transferred from the drum conveyor 17 onto the drum conveyor 22. The drum conveyor 22 cooperates with the drum conveyor 23 which may be used to transfer selected double rod-like articles 6 as samples for additional quality control or random quality control, whereas the articles 6 to be inspected are dropped into a container 10. When defects in the double rod-like articles 6 are detected, the defective articles 6 may be rejected from production after being transferred onto the drum conveyor 23. The double rod-like articles 6 are transported on the drum conveyor 22 at a speed v2 and are spaced on the circumference of the drum conveyor 22 with a pitch t2. The double rod-like articles 6 are conveyed from the drum conveyor 22, which is a feeding drum conveyor, onto the drum conveyor 24, which is a receiving drum conveyor. On the drum conveyor 24, the double rod-like articles 6 are conveyed with a pitch t3 greater than the pitch t2 on the drum conveyor 22, the conveying speed v3 on the (receiving) drum conveyor 24 being greater than the conveying speed v2 on the (feeding) drum conveyor 22. The ratio of the pitch t3 to t2 may be 2:1, in which case the ratio of the speed v3to v2 will also be 2:1. The ratio of the pitch t3 to t2 may be in the range between 1.5 and 2.5, similar to the ratio of the speed v3 to v2. The above described relations between the conveying speeds allow adjusting, after the rotation step, the conveying speed to the speed that is needed during the second cut. The double rod-like articles 6 are conveyed onto a drum conveyor 25 on which they are transported at a third conveying speed v3. On the conveyor 25, there takes place the centering of the double rod-like articles 6 and the third cutting, i.e. the cutting of the double rod-like articles 6 into the single rod-like articles 9 by means of a rotary knife 26 belonging to the second cutting unit 42, whereas the cutting is performed by cutting the C-type element. The third cutting is carried out at a conveying speed v3, the rotary knife 26, when cutting easily fusible materials, may be cooled by a cooling system 27 by means of a stream of cool air directed at the cutting edge of the rotary knife 26 Like in the case of to the rotary knife 13, the cooling of the rotary knife 26 may take place behind the sheath guiding the articles to be cut, generally on the side opposite to the cutting point. As a result of the cutting, two output streams S4 and S5 of single rod-like articles 9 are formed The output streams S4 and S5 move at a higher speed than the input streams S1, S2. On the conveyor 28, the basic rod-like sections 9 moving in the output streams S4 and S5 are axially spaced apart, for example according to the solution disclosed in the patent US 7,296,579 B1, and then the fourth stream S4 and the fifth stream S5, in which the sections are spaced apart, are transferred onto the drum conveyor 29. By means of the drum conveyors 30 and 31, the D-type rod-like articles are delivered onto the drum conveyor 29, whereas the D-type rod-like articles may be made of a material from which it is difficult to cut very short fragments, for example having a length close to the diameter of manufactured sections. Groups 36 comprising two single rod-like articles 9 and a rod-like element D are conveyed onto a drum conveyor 32 on which they are pushed together and centred. On subsequent drum conveyors 33, 34 and further, the rectangular wrapping material is wrapped so as to connect all rod-like sections of which the group is composed.

Fig. 5 shows, in simplified terms, the process carried out on the process machine in the second embodiment wherein, as in the first embodiment, two input streams S1, S2 are formed and are combined to form an intermediate stream S, and after cutting the double rod-like articles, two output streams S4, S5 are formed. Similarly, the first drum conveyor 11 receives the double rod-like articles 6 from the transfer device 8 and transports them at a second conveying speed v2. The double rod-like articles 6 are conveyed onto the drum conveyor 12. On the drum conveyor 12, the double rod-like articles 6 are conveyed in the form of two input streams S1 and S2 (Fig. 5) and remain in the first configuration, namely they are positioned coaxially to one another. The double rod-like articles 6 are transferred onto drum conveyors 43 and 44 where a displacement of one of the rod-like articles 6 relative to another article in a direction being transverse to the article axis is carried out. Subsequently, after transporting the double rod-like articles onto the drum conveyor 45, the double rod-like article 6 of the second input stream S2 is axially displaced between the rod-like articles 6 of the first input stream. Thus, an intermediate stream S is formed from the two input streams S1, S2. In the intermediate stream, the double rod-like articles 6 are in a second configuration, i.e. the geometric centres M are disposed in a plane k parallel to the second direction T2. It is possible to carry out the invention wherein more than two double rod-like articles are transferred from the production machine 2. In the process shown in Fig. 7, three double rod-like articles 6' are transferred simultaneously. A fragment of the process machine 3 carrying out this process is shown in Fig. 8. The double rod-like article 6' comprises a half of a rod-like element G, two rod-like elements J and a rod-like element H. The three double rod-like articles 6' are transferred onto the drum conveyor 11 on which they remain in a first configuration, namely positioned coaxially. The successively fed double rod-like articles 6' are placed in three streams S1, S2, S3. The rod-like articles 6' are transferred onto the drum conveyor 50 and further onto the drum conveyor 51 in such a way that they are conveyed transversely to the axis of the rod-like articles 6', and then on the drum conveyor 52 along the axis of the rod-like articles 6'. On the drum conveyor 52 and further, the rod-like articles 6' are conveyed in a single intermediate stream S in a second configuration in which the geometric centres of the double rod-like articles 6 are disposed in a plane k parallel to the second direction T2. Further, the process is carried out as in the previous embodiments, i.e. the rod-like articles 6' are cut and two output streams S4, S5 are formed, after spacing the single rod-like articles 9' apart, additional rod-like elements D are placed between the spaced articles. In the case of short rod-like articles, four double rod-like articles may be conveyed. In another possible embodiment of the method according to the invention, more than three types of rod-like elements or only two types of rod-like elements are fed. It is also possible to carry out a method according to the invention wherein a continuous rod made of one type of material is fed.

Fig. 9a shows a pair 46 of double rod-like articles 47 comprising two single rod-like articles 48 composed of two types of elements E and F, the single rod-like article 48 shown in Fig. 9b comprising a half of an E-type element and a half of a F-type element.

Fig. 10a shows a pair 53 of double rod-like articles 54 comprising two single rod-like articles 55 composed of a single type of material as shown in Fig. 10b. By placing another rod-like element made of filter material or of several types of material between the two articles 55 made of tobacco, a double length cigarette may be obtained. One of embodiments of the present invention comprises also a system for manufacturing rod-like articles 9, for example comprising at least two different rod-like elements A, B, C, E, F, G, H, J. The said system includes feeding units 2A, 2B, 2C for feeding the rod-like elements A, B, C, whereas the multi-element rod like article 9 is provided with rod-like elements A, B, C or parts of rod-like elements A, B, C. In the described embodiment, the system comprises also a transport unit for conveying the rod-like elements A, B, C and a unit for feeding a wrapping material, for example a cigarette paper. The system in the present embodiment also includes a transfer device for transferring the rod-like elements A, B, C from the transport unit onto the strand of wrapping material, a forming unit for forming a continuous multi-element rod CR formed of the rod like elements (A, B, C) wrapped in a wrapping material, and an apparatus for manufacturing rod-like articles as in one of the embodiments described above.

Claims

Patent claims

1. A method for producing rod-like articles of the tobacco industry wherein a first cutting is carried out in which a continuous rod (CR) is cut by means of a first cutting unit (5) into a train of double rod-like articles (6), the direction of conveying the double rod-like articles (6) is changed from a first direction (T1) along the axis of the rod-like articles (6) to a second direction (T2) transverse to the axis of the rod-like articles (6), at least each time two double rod-like articles (6) being transferred into grooves of a drum conveyor (11), and at least two input streams (S1, S2) of the double rod-like articles (6) being formed, at least two streams (S1, S2) of the double rod-like articles (6) are transformed into one intermediate stream (S) of double rod-like articles by moving a double rod-like article (6) from one of the streams (S1, S2) between two double rod-like articles (6) of the other of the streams (S1, S2), the geometric centres (M) of the double rod-like articles (6) in the intermediate stream (S) being disposed in a plane (k) parallel to the second direction (T2), a second cutting is carried out wherein the double rod-like articles (6) conveyed in the intermediate stream (S) of the double rod-like articles (6) are cut into two single rod-like articles (9) by means of a second cutting unit (26) to form two output streams (S4, S5) of single rod-like articles (9).

2 The method as in claim 1, characterised in that the transformation of the two streams (S1, S2) of the double rod-like articles (6) comprises a rotation during which a double rod-like article (6) of one of the streams (S1, S2) of the double rod-like articles is rotated by 180 degrees.

3 The method as in claim 1, characterised in that the transformation of two streams (S1, S2) of the double rod-like articles (6) comprises moving a double rod-like article (6) from one of the streams (S1, S2) transversely to the axis of the double rod-like article (6) and moving the double rod-like article (6) between the double rod-like articles (6) of the second stream (S1, S2).

4. The method as in any of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the double rod-like articles (6) are centred after moving the double rod-like article (6) to the intermediate stream (S).

5. The method as in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the single rod-like articles (9) are spaced apart after the second cutting, whereas the single rod-like articles (9) continue to move in the two output streams (S4, S5) of the single rod-like articles (9).

6. The method as in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an additional rod-like element (D) is placed between the spaced single rod-like articles (9).

7. The method as in claim 6, characterised in that the single rod-like articles (9) and the additional rod like element (D) are joined with a wrapping material.

8. The method as in any of the preceding claims, further characterised in that the movement speed (v2) of the input streams (S1, S2) is lower than the movement speed (v3) of the output streams (S4, S5).

9. The method as in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the continuous rod (CR) and the rod-like articles (6) comprise multiple elements.

10. An apparatus for manufacturing rod-like articles of the tobacco industry from a continuous rod (CR), comprising: a transport unit (4) for moving the continuous rod (CR) in a direction along the axis of the continuous rod (CR), a first cutting unit (5) for cutting the continuous rod (CR) into a train of double rod-like articles (6), a transfer mechanism (8) for transferring each time at least two double rod-like articles (6) from the transport unit (4) adapted to move the double rod-like articles (6) in a first direction (T1) along the axis of the double rod-like articles (6) and to feed the double rod-like articles (6) into grooves on a drum conveyor (11) adapted to move the double rod-like articles (6) in a second direction (T2) transversely to the axis of the double rod-like articles (6), a drum conveyor unit (11, 12, 15, 43, 44, 50) for conveying a first input stream (S1) and the second input stream (S2) of the double rod-like articles (6), a displacing unit (16, 45, 51, 52) for forming an intermediate stream (S) of the double rod-like articles (6) by displacing a double rod-like article (6) from one of the streams (S1, S2) and placing such rod-like article (6) between the double rod-like articles (6) of the second stream (S1, S2), a centering means for positioning the double rod-like articles so that the geometric centres (M) of the double rod-like articles (6) in the intermediate stream (S) are disposed in a plane (k) parallel to the second direction (T2), a transport unit (17, 22, 24, 52) for conveying an intermediate stream (S) formed by combining the first stream (S1) and the second stream (S2) of the double rod-like articles (6), a second cutting unit (42) for cutting the double rod-like article (6) into two single rod-like articles (9).

11. The apparatus as in claim 10, characterised by further comprising a spacing unit for spacing the single rod-like articles (9).

12. The apparatus as in claim 11, characterised by further comprising a positioning unit for placing an additional rod-like element (D) between the spaced single rod-like articles (9).

13. The apparatus as in claim 12, characterised by being further provided with a unit for joining the single rod-like articles (9) and the additional rod-like element (D) with a wrapping material.

14 A system for manufacturing rod-like articles (9) comprising: feeding units (2A, 2B, 2C) for feeding rod-like elements (A, B, C), whereas the multi-element rod-like article (9) is provided with the rod-like elements (A, B, C) or parts of the rod-like elements (A, B, C), a transport unit for conveying the rod-like elements (A, B, C), a feed unit for feeding a wrapping material, a transfer device for transferring the rod-like elements (A, B, C) from the transport unit onto a strand of the wrapping material, a forming unit for forming a continuous multi-element rod (CR) formed by the rod-like elements (A, B, C) wrapped in the wrapping material, and an apparatus for manufacturing the rod-like articles as in any of the claims 10 to 13.

15. The system as in claim 14, characterised in that the single rod-like article (9) comprises at least two different rod-like elements (A, B, C, E, F, G, H, J).