GB2187076A

GB2187076A - Filling sleeves with smoking material

Info

Publication number: GB2187076A
Application number: GB08702105A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Josef Glosmann
Original assignee: Hauni Werke Koerber and Co KG
Current assignee: Koerber AG
Priority date: 1986-01-30
Filing date: 1987-01-30
Publication date: 1987-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2007-01-30
Also published as: GB2187076B; GB8702105D0; SU1581206A3

Abstract

Smoking articles are made by forming portions of smoking material, transferring the portions to a portion carrier and inserting the portions into sleeves comprising the smoking article wrapper. A preferred embodiment comprises a stationary device (7) for forming the portions, an endless conveyor (8a) with holders (9) for the portions and a filling device (16) in the form of a double drum (16a), where the tobacco portions are introduced into the sleeves (17). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and Machine for Filling Sleeves tor Rod-like Articles of the Tobacco-processing Industry The invention relates to a method for filling sleeves for rod-like articles of the tobacco processing industry in particular cigarette sleeves (papirossy).

However, the invention also relates to a machine for filling sleeves for rod-like articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular cigarette sleeves, which is particularly suitable for carrying out this method.

The term "tobacco" used in this case is also intended to cover smokable tobacco substitutes.

Machines for filling cigarette sleeves have been known for a long time. In this case the cigarette sleeves are generally filled with a travelling tobacco rod, which requires expensive machines and apparatus, for example in order to supply the rod continuously to the filling tubes located on a rotating disc or drum. The method is generally such that only one individual portion after another is separated from the tobacco rod or is formed in another manner and this tobacco portion is introduced directly into a cigarette sleeve located on a drum moved intermittently past a device for forming portions. The cigarette sleeves are thus filled with a discontinuous method at a low production speed.

It is therefore the object of the invention to improve further a method and a machine for filling sleeves for rod-like articles of the tobaccoprocessing industry, in particular cigarette sleeves.

This is achieved according to the invention by a method such that tobacco portions are formed, these tobacco portions are first of all transferred to a portion carrier, the tobacco portions are brought into a definite position with respect to the cigarette sleeves to be filled and then these cigarette sleeves are filled with the tobacco portions.

In this case it is provided according to the invention that the formation of the tobacco portions and their transfer to the portion carriers take place discontinuously.

An essential feature of the method according to the invention also consists in that the cigarette sleeves are filled with the tobacco portions continuously.

The method according to the invention thus provides that despite discontinuous formation of tobacco portions, a subsequent continuous filling of the cigarette sleeves can take place, since the cigarette sleeves are not filled with the tobacco portions immediately after their formation, but the latter can be supplied to a continuous filling operation by way of the intermediate step of transferring them to a portion carrier. The continuity of the actual filling operation thus contributes substantially to an increase in the production speed.

According to the invention, the method is further characterised by the fact that the tobacco portions formed are transferred in the direction of their longitudinal axes to the portion carrier, then discharged in the direction of their transverse axis and brought into position with respect to the cigarette sleeves to be filled and then inserted into these cigarette sleeves in the direction of their longitudinal axes.

A machine which is particularly suitable for carrying out the method is characterised according to the invention due to the fact that means are provided for forming tobacco portions and means are provided for transferring these tobacco portions to endless conveying means constructed as a portion carrier, by which the tobacco portions can be conveyed into a definite position with respect to the cigarette sleeves to be filled and that means are provided for filling the cigarette sleeves with these tobacco portions.

In this case, essential features of the machine according to the invention consist in that a stationary device for forming tobacco portions is provided, the device for forming portions comprising several successive outlets for the tobacco portions formed therein, that the endless conveying means, which are provided with holders for the tobacco portions, are guided past the row of outlets, that ejection means are associated with the outlets for ejecting the tobacco portions from the device for forming portions and for transferring these tobacco portions into the holders of the endless conveying means.

It is also provided according to the invention that the endless conveying means are driven at a predetermined speed and guided over a deflection device, the deflection device being able to move to and fro in a linear manner at a definite speed, so that as it moves in one direction, no relative movement occurs between the endless conveying means and the outlets of the device for forming portions.

According to one advantageous embodiment, the deflection device for the endless conveying means consists of rollers, which are mounted in a common reciprocating carriage.

It is provided according to the invention that the carriage is driven at a speed corresponding to half the speed of the endless conveying means.

A feature according to the invention also consists in that the endless conveying means are constructed as a conveyor belt and its holders for the tobacco portions consist of sleeves connected securely thereto.

It is also provided according to the invention that the device for forming portions comprises a slide, by which a quantity of tobacco can be separated from a tobacco stream supplied from a store and can be compressed to form a portion able to be introduced into the holders of the endless conveying means.

For this purpose it is also provided that the slide is provided with pockets for receiving the separated quantities of tobacco and that the pockets each have a semi-circular contour on one side, which together with a likewise semi-circular contour on stationary parts of the device for forming portions cooperating with the slide, forms rod-like tobacco portions.

A further feature according to the invention consists in that the slide is able to move at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the outlets for the tobacco portions.

Since several individual portions are intended to be formed simultaneously in the device for forming portions, according to the number of its outlets, a stationary part and a slide pocket are respectively associated according to the invention with each of the outlets of the device for forming portions.

According to the invention it is advantageous that the ejection means for the tobacco portions are constructed as driven rams. In a simple and reliable manner, the latter ensure ejection of the tobacco portions from the device for forming portions and an insertion of the tobacco portions into the sleevelike holders of the conveyor belt guided past the device for forming portions.

A further essential feature of the machine according to the invention consists in that a transfer section along the device for forming portions is formed of sections of the same size, each section extending over a number of holders ofthe conveyor belt, which is equal to the number of rams arranged as a whole in the device for forming portions along the transfer section.

In this case it is provided according to the invention that the rams are arranged in a staggered manner so that each of the rams is associated with a holder at a certain, but other position within the row of holders, with respect to one section in each case.

For this purpose it is also provided according to the invention that the distances between rams within all the sections are the same and that also the distances between two rams of respectively adjacent sections are the same, but iarger by the spacing of one holder than the distances between rams within the sections.

Furthermore, a feature according to the invention consists in that a feed of the band occurring at the time of each carriage pre-stroke of the deflecting device corresponds to the length of one section of the transfer section. The ram arrangement according to the invention ensures that after a definite number of feed movements of the band, each holder of a section is filled with a tobacco portion, in which case the stroke length of the reciprocating deflecting device of the conveyor belt can be kept short and thus space-saving.

A further feature of the invention consists in that the device for forming portions is followed by a filling device, to which the tobacco portions can be supplied by means of the endless conveyor and in which the tobacco portions assume a definite position with respect to the cigarette sleeves supplied thereto and that the filling device comprises means for ejecting the tobacco portions from the holders of the endless conveyor and for filling the cigarette sleeves with these tobacco portions.

The invention is also characterised by the fact that the filling device is constructed as a double drum, which is provided on one side with grooves for the cigarette sleeves and on the other side with grooves forthe holders of the tobacco portions of the endless conveying means guided around the drum, these grooves being arranged with the same spacing and in alignment with each other. It is also provided according to the invention that a trimming cutter is associated with the double drum for cutting excess tobacco present on the filled cigarette.

The invention further consists in that the double drum is provided on one side with rams associated with each groove for the cigarette sleeves and on the other side with rams associated with each groove for the portion carriers filled with tobacco portions. In this case according to the invention, the rams can be actuated by means of separate cam drives.

It is also provided according to the invention that the cam drives consist of a cam groove arranged in non-rotary parts and of a support member connected to the ram, which supports a roller rolling in the cam groove.

One feature of the invention also consists in that a support member with a roller is respectively associated with all rams. Thus, according to the path of the cam groove, both the cigarette sleeve ram as well as the tobacco filling ram can be moved continuously one after the other and a continuous filling operation can be achieved.

In order to guide the support members of the cam drive in the direction of the longitudinal movement of the ram, it is provided according to a further feature of the invention that the support members of the cam drive for the tobacco rams are each provided with a guide roller, which is respectively guided between two adjacent guide rods. For this purpose it is also provided that the support members of the cam drive for the cigarette sleeve rams are guided on guide rods.

The invention also consists in that the space of the double drum receiving the cigarette sleeve rams, the guide rods and the ram drive is kept under blocking air at slight excess pressure. Thus dust and dirt are prevented from penetrating this space, so that all the operational parts located therein are not impaired bythe effect of dust and dirt. Forthe reliable retention of the cigarette sleeves it is provided according to the invention that the grooves arranged in a groove ring in the double drum are provided with vacuum bores.

Furthermore the invention is characterised by the fact that the grooves for the holders filled with tobacco portions are formed by the tooth gaps of a double-rimmed chain wheel securely connected to the drum casing. It is thus ensured that the tobacco portions are supplied by the endless conveyor, i.e.

by the conveyor belt with the sleeve-like holders for the tobacco portions, in a non-slip manner and thus always in a position aligning with the cigarette sleeves to be filled. Furthermore the invention consists in that the double drum comprises a ring on which sockets aligning with the grooves are provided for receiving the cigarette sleeves during the filling operation.

The machine according to the invention makes it possible to carry out the method according to the invention reliably, in which case, as already mentioned, a continuous filling operation is facilitated despite discontinuous formation of tobacco portions.

The method of operation of the endless conveyor belt with its discontinuous movement in the region of its band deflection device relative to the device for forming portions and with its continuous supply of tobacco portions to the filling device contributes substantially to this. The construction of the device for forming portions according to the invention makes it possible to form several tobacco portions simultaneously and to transfer them on the endless conveyor belt to the so called portion carriers. This also facilitates the subsequent continuous supply of tobacco portions to the filling device and allows a continuous filling process with a high production capacity.

A variation differing from the machine described is provided if one dispenses with a separate filling device following the device for forming portions. In this case the invention is characterised by the use of a device for forming portions, forming several tobacco portions simultaneously, as a filling device for filling the cigarette sleeves, in which case these cigarette sleeves are received by holders of endless conveying means guided past the device for forming portions and all the tobacco portions formed simultaneously are also introduced simultaneously directly from the device for forming portions into the cigarette sleeves.

Although a discontinuous filling process takes place in this case, an increase in production with respect to hitherto known filling devices is nevertheless provided on account of the formation of several portions per portion-forming phase and on account of the simultaneous transfer of all portions into the cigarette sleeves.

The invention will be described in detail hereafter with reference to one embodiment.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette sleeve filling machine as a simplified general view, Figure 2 shows a detail of the device for forming tobacco portions, Figure 3 shows the arrangement and method of operation of the endless conveying means receiving the tobacco portions, Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the filling drum with the endless conveying means cooperating therewith, Figure 5 shows the drum development according to Figure 4 with the sequence of the filling operation for cigarette sleeves, Figures 6a and 6b each show part of the filling drum in longitudinal axial section, Figure 7 is the section VIl-VIl according to Figure 6a.

A cigarette sleeve filling machine 1 (Figure 1) comprises a tobacco store 2, from which tobacco 4 is conveyed by way of chutes 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f to a device 7 for forming portions located in the region of the chute outlets 6 (Figure 2). Endless conveying means 8 in the form of a conveyor belt 8a are guided past the stationary device 7 for forming portions, which belt 8a is provided with holders 9 for the tobacco portions 4a formed in the device 7. The endless conveyor belt 8a (Figure 1) is guided over deflecting rollers 11,12,13, and travels overa filling device 16 in the form of a filling drum constructed as a double drum 16a.On the double drum 16a, the tobacco portions supplied by the conveyor belt 8a are introduced into cigarette sleeves 17, which are supplied to the double drum 16a by way of a conveyor 18 shown solely by an arrow in Figure 1. The finished, filled cigarettes 1 7a are discharged by way of conveyor belts 19, 21, which travel over rollers 22, 23, 24. Excess tobacco which is produced during the filling operation travels by way of conveyor belts 27, 28, which travel over rollers 29, 31, 32, back to the tobacco supply 2.

Thus, in this cigarette sleeve filling machine 1, there is no direct introduction of the tobacco portions 4a formed into the cigarette sleeves 17, but the tobacco portions 4a formed in the device 7 for forming portions are first of all transferred to a portion carrier, the endless conveyor belt 8a, by which tobacco portions 4a are brought into a definite position with respect to the cigarette sleeves to be filled and indeed on the double drum 16a, (filling drum), on which these tobacco portions 4a are introduced into the cigarette sleeves 17.

Due to this, a discontinuous division into portions and continuous filling are possible, as will be described in detail hereafter.

The device 7 for forming portions (Figure 2) consists of a slide 33, which is provided with pockets 34. Associated with each tobacco chute 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f is such a pocket 34 of the slide 33, Figure 2 showing only one section with one tobacco chute and one pocket. The pockets 34 each comprise a semi-circular contour 36 on one side. The slide 33 is arranged to move longitudinally, i.e. parallel to the conveyor belt 8a guided past the device 7 for forming portions.In the case of a movement of the slide in the direction of arrow 37, a quantity of tobacco is separated by the slide 33, i.e. by one edge 38 respectively of the pockets 34, from the tobacco supplied by the tobacco chute 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e associated with the corresponding pocket 34 and these quantities of tobacco located in the pockets 34 are compressed to form tobacco portions 4a. For this purpose the slide 33 operates against a stationary part 39 associated with each pocket 34.

On the side facing the inside of the pockets, the stationary parts 39 likewise have a semi-circular contour 41. Between the two semi-circular contours 36 and 41, the compressed quantity of tobacco is made into a rod like tobacco portion 4a. Outlets 43, whereof one is associated with each slide pocket 34, are located in a bar 42, along which the conveyor belt 8a with its holders 9 is guided. The tobacco portions 4a are brought through these outlets 43 into the holders 9 of the conveyor belt 8a. In this case the holders 9 are constructed as sleeves 9a, which are securely connected to the conveyor belt 8a at definite intervals. Provided in the region of each chute outlet 6 and thus each pocket 34 are ejection means 44 in the form a ram 44a, by which the tobacco portions 4a are ejected from the device 7 for forming portions through its outlets 43 and are transferred into the holders 9 (sleeves 9a) of the conveyor belt 8a aligning with the outlets 43.

In this case it must be ensured that for this process no relative movement occurs between the conveyor belt 8a and the outlets 43 of the device 7 for forming portions. This is achieved according to Figure 3 in that the conveyor belt 8a is driven constantly at a given speed in one direction (arrow 46) and at the same time a deflecting device (47) for the conveyor belt 8a is moved continuously to and fro in a linear manner. The deflecting device 47 consists of the two deflection rollers 11, 12, which are mounted in a jointly reciprocating carriage 48 shown only diagrammatically in Figure 3.Starting with a belt speed v of the conveyor belt 8a, the carriage 48 must be moved to and fro in a linear manner at a speed v/2, in order to obtain in one direction (carriage movement towards the left) a relative speed of zero between the stationary device 7 for forming portions, i.e. its outlets 43 (Figure 2) and the conveyor belt 8a guided past these outlets 43. During this stage the transfer of the tobacco portions 4a formed into the sleeves 9a of the conveyor belt 8a takes place. In the other direction (carriage movement towards the right), in which the deflection rollers 11,12 reach the position indicated in dot dash line in Figure 3, a relative speed between the outlets 43 of the stationary device 7 for forming portions and the conveyor belt 8a guided past the latter of 2v is achieved.In this stage, a definite advance of the conveyor belt with respect to the device 7 for forming portions occurs. As can also be seen from Figure 3, a transfer section along the device 7 forforming portions is formed from three sections A1,A2, A3 of equal size. Each of the sectionsA1,A2,A3 extends overthe same number of holders 9 (sleeves 9a) of the conveyor belt 8a, which is in turn equal to the number of outlets 43 arranged as a whole in the device 7 for forming portions along the entire transfer section and rams 44a. The rams 44a and thus also the outlets 43 aligning therewith are located above the entire transfer section so that each of the rams 44a works on a holder 9a of a certain, but respectively other position within the row of holders and with respect to one section Al, A2, A3 respectively.In the embodiment according to Figure 3, six rams 44a in all are provided. Each of the three sections Al, A2, A3 extends over six holders 9 (sleeves 9a) and in each section Al, A2, A3, two rams 44a are active. In this case, the rams 44a are arranged so that when looking from left to right in Figure 3, the first ram 44a acts on the holder 9a of the section Allying at the first position, whereas the second ram 44a acts on the holder lying at the fourth position of this section Al. In the next section A2, a ram 44a acts on the holder 9a located at the second position therein and another ram 44a acts on the holder 9a located at the fifth position. In the third and last section A3, the two rams 44a are associated with the holders 9a located atthethird and sixth positions.In each transfer stage, all the six rams 44a present are active at the same time, so that in the section A1, the first and fourth holder 9a are filled with tobacco portions 4a, in the section A2 the second and fifth and in the section A3, the third and sixth.

The advance of the conveyor belt taking place with each stroke of the carriage carried out towards the right (pre-stroke), is fixed at a value which corresponds to the length of one section (Al, A2, A3). This means that after each transfer stage, the conveyor belt 8a has moved on by the length of one section with respect to the device 7 for forming portions. The holders 9a of section Al thus reach section A2 and those of section A2 reach section A3.

The operation continues in this way for each forwards movement of the conveyor belt. When a group of six holders 9a has passed through all three sections Al, A2, A3 of the transfer section, all these holders 9a are filled with a tobacco portion 4a.

As regards the arrangement of rams, a generally valid statement is that the distances between rams within all sections Al, A2, A3 are the same, that the distances between the rams of adjacent sections Al, or A2, A3 are likewise the same but greater by the spacing of one holder than the distances between rams within the sections Al, A2, A3.

As a variation from the arrangement described in detail with a total of six rams, three sections each with six holders and two rams active per section, according to the afore-mentioned general criteria, other arrangements with different numbers may be provided. For example an arrangement of four sections each with eight holders and altogether eight rams, whereof two are provided per section, is possible. It would also be possible to provide three sections each with nine holders and a total of nine rams, whereof three are provided per section.

Whereas in the operative region of the reciprocating carriage 48 of the deflecting device 47, a relative speed of the conveyor belt 8a with respect to the stationary device for forming portions of zero is produced in the transfer stage of the tobacco portions 4a into the sleeve-like holders 9a of the conveyor belt 8a and of 2v (double the belt speed) in the stage of the advance of the conveyor belt and thus a discontinuous formation of portions occurs, the tobacco portions 4a located in the holders 9a of the conveyor belt 8a are then discharged continuously at the belt speed v peculiar to the conveyor belt 8a. The conveyor belt 8a with its holders 9 (sleeves 9a) filled with tobacco portions 4a is supplied to the double drum 16a by way of the deflecting roller 14.The conveyor belt 8a winds around the double drum 1 6a in the manner shown in Figure 4, so that the sleeves 9a of the conveyor belt 8a are received by grooves 49 of the double drum 16a, i.e. the transfer cycle of the tobacco portions 4a located in the sleeves 9a of the conveyor belt 8a to the cigarette sleeves 17 to be filled, which is shown by way of the development of the double drum 16a in Figure 5. In this case, naturally also the cigarette sleeves 17 are received in grooves 51 shown solely in Figure 5, which grooves are arranged with the same spacing as the grooves 49 for the sleeves 9a, so that the sleeves 9a of the conveyor belt 8a align with the cigarette sleeves 17.

The cigarette sleeves 17 are additionally held by means of a vacuum applied to the grooves 51, which is shown and will be described hereafter. The characteristic stations of the filling cycle are designated in Figures 4 and 5 with the same positions a, bc, d, e. At "a" the side of the conveyor belt 8a leaving the drum 1 6a is visible with the already empty sleeves 9a. Located on the other side of the drum are already empty, i.e. unfilled cigarette sleeves 17. From "b", sleeves 9a of the conveyor belt 8a filled with a tobacco portion bear against the drum 16a.On the way to position "c", the empty cigarette sleeves 17 are pushed gradually by means of rams 54 onto sockets 52, so that at "c", they are slid completely onto the latter and by ejection and filling means 53 in the form of a ram 53a the tobacco portions 4a are ejected from the sleeve 9a of the conveyor belt 8a and introduced into the cigarette sleeves 17 located on the socket 52. The actuating means for the rams 53a for filling and forthe rams 54 for the dispiacement of the cigarette sleeves are located inside the double drum 16a, which will be described in detail hereafter.The number of rams 53a or 54 arranged over the periphery of the double drum 16a naturally corresponds to the number of corresponding grooves 49, 51 and the rams 53a or 54 are naturally also arranged with the same spacing as these grooves 49,51. After the filling of the adjacent cigarette sleeves 17 in position "c", the latter is gradually pushed away from the socket 52, which likewise takes place with the filling ram 53a.

At "d", excess tobacco 26 is removed from the filled cigarette sleeves 17 by means of a trimming cutter 56, which excess tobacco is returned to the store 2, as already shown in Figure 1. In position "e", the finished cigarette 17a is transferred from the double drum 16a to the conveyor belt 19 for discharge (Figures 1 and 4), in which case the cigarettes 17a are held by means of webs 57 located on the conveyor belt 19. Figures 6a and 6b show one construction of a double drum 16a, in which case a section in the longitudinal axis as far as the centre of the drum is illustrated and in which case Figure 6b is a continuation of Figure 6a in the direction of the longitudinal axis.The double drum 16a consists of a rigid shaft 59 which is not able to rotate and is attached at one side in a housing 58 (Figure 6a), to which other non-rotary parts 61 (Figure 6a), 62, 63, 64 (Fig. 6b) are connected.

A drum casing 66 as well as further parts connected directly or indirectly to the latter are able to rotate about the stationary shaft 59. The rotary mounting of the drum casing 66 on the shaft 59 takes place by way of ball bearings 67,68. As can be seen in Figure 6b, attached to the rotary drum casing 66 by means of screws 71 is a ring 69 extending around the latter, which receives axial guide sleeves 72 for the filling rams 53a. Adjoining the rings 69 seated on the drum casing 66 in the axial direction are a chain wheel 73, a socket support ring 74 for receiving the sockets 52 and a groove ring 76, which are all connected to each other by means of axial connecting members, for example in the form of set pins 77, in a non-rotary manner.

Adjoining the groove ring 76 is a ring 78, which receives the rams 54 for pushing the cigarette sleeves 17 onto the sockets 52 as well as guide rods 54a, 54b. This ring 78 is also connected in a nonrotary manner to the groove ring 76 in the axial direction by means of connecting members in the form of set pins 79. An annular flange 81 is attached by means of screws 82 to the other end of the drum (Figure 6a) to the end face of the drum casing 66, which annular flange is constructed on the periphery as a toothed rim 83, in which a drive pinion (not shown) for the drum drive can engage. A second annular flange 84 of this type is arranged at a distance from this annular flange 81 in the direction of the longitudinal axis.Located between two annular flanges 81,84 is a cylindrical casing 86, to whose end faces the annular flanges 81,84 are connected by means of screws 87, 88. The aforementioned, non-rotary parts 61 (Figure 6a) 62, 63, 64 (Figure 6b) are connected to the rigid shaft 59 by means of spring/groove connections 89,91,92. The part 61 is also connected to the housing 58 by means of axial set pins 93. The parts 88,86,81,66, 69,73, 74,76,78 connected to each other together form the double drum part able to rotate about the rigid axis 59 with the rigid parts 61, 62, 63, 64 attached thereto. Over its entire periphery the groove ring 76 (Figure 6b) comprises grooves 51 already shown in Figure 5, for receiving the cigarette sleeves 17.The cigarette sleeves 17 can be removed directly from a magazine 93 located above the groove ring 76 of the double drum 16a, of which only parts of the side walls 93a, 93b are shown in Figure 6b. The cigarette sleeves 17 are held in the grooves 51 by vacuum. For this purpose the groove ring 76 comprises corresponding vacuum bores 94, 96,97 at the base of the grooves 51, which bores are connected to a vacuum channel 98 located in the stationary part 62, which has a connection (not shown here) to a vacuum source (not shown).

The chain wheel 73 is constructed with a double rim, that is to say it comprises toothed rims 73a, 73b which are spaced apart and which engage the conveyor belt 8a on its sleeves 9a filled with tobacco portions 4a. The grooves 49 already shown in Figure 5 are thus formed by the tooth gaps of the toothed rims 73a, 73b. The positive connection between the sleeve band 8a, 9a and the chain wheel 73, 73a, 73b guarantees a slip-free supply of tobacco portions 4a, so that the latter are always brought into a position aligning with the cigarette sleeves 17 to be filled.

The afore-mentioned rams 54 serve for sliding the cigarette sleeves 17 onto the sockets 52. The movement of the rams 54 is produced by a cam drive. The latter consists of a cam groove 99 arranged in the stationary parts 63, which extends over the entire periphery of the part 63 and of rollers 101 rolling in this cam groove 99 during the rotation of the rotary drum part. Each roller 101 is received in a rotary manner by a support member 102, to which the corresponding ram 54 is attached. The support members 102 are guided on two guide rods 54a, 54b respectively. The rams 54 thus experience an axial movement according to the deflection of the rollers 101 associated therewith, which is imparted thereto as they travel through the cam groove 99. The shape of the cam groove 99 is such that a movement of the rams and thus sliding ofthe cigarette sleeves 17 onto the sockets 52 results, as can be seen in Figure 5. A cigarette sleeve 17 slid onto a socket 52 is shown in dot dash lines in Figure 6b.

The afore-mentioned rams 53a serve for introducing tobacco portions 4a into the cigarette sleeves 17 slid onto the sockets 52. Apart from their guidance in the afore-mentioned guide sleeves 72, on the other hand the latter are each received by a sleeve 103, to which they are securely connected by means of a connecting member 104. These sleeves are mounted to slide longitudinally by means of rolling/sliding bearings 106, 107 in the annular flanges 81,84. The movement of the rams 53a for the filling operation takes place in a similar manner to the rams 54 for the sliding of the cigarette sleeves 17 onto the sockets 52 by means of a cam drive. For each ram 53a, this cam drive also consists of a roller 109 guided in a cam groove 108, which roller is received in a rotary manner by a support member 111 connected to the sleeve 103.The cam groove is located in the non-rotary part 61. Mounted to rotate at the other end of the support member 111 is a guide roller 112, which is guided to roll between two adjacent guide rods 113, 1 13a in the case of an axial movement of the ram. This roller guide is shown in Figure 7. As can be seen in Figure 6a, the guide rods 113 are attached bytheir ends to the annularflanges 81,84. The cam groove 108 has a shape according to which a movement of the filling ram 53a is produced, as shown in Figure 5. The tobacco portions 4a are introduced into the cigarette sleeves 17 by the rams 53a. The ram stroke is thus designed so that the rams 53a push the filled cigarette sleeves 17 down again from the sockets 52.The retaining force of the vacuum for the cigarette sleeves 17 in the grooves 51 is rated so that a displacement of the cigarette sleeves 17 in the grooves 51 by the rams 54 on the one hand and by the filling rams 53a on the other hand is possible. The space between the nonrotary part 63 and the ring 78 which is able to rotate with respect thereto, which receives the rams 54 and the guide rods 54a, 54b, is kept under air at slight excess pressure, in order to prevent the penetration of dust and dirt into this area. Blocking air is thus present to a certain extent, which is supplied by way of a connection 116 and by way of channels 117, 118.This blocking air space is sealed by means of sliding ring seals 119, 121. In this case, a sliding ring seal 121 simultaneouslywith afurthersliding ring seal 122 serves for sealing the vacuum region between the stationary parts 63,59, 62 and the rotary drum parts (groove ring 76). With a filling drum constructed in this way as a double drum 16a, continuous filling of the cigarette sleeves 17 with the tobacco portions 4a supplied by the device 7 for forming portions by means of the sleeve belt 8a, 9a is possible.

Instead of a double drum 1 6a constructed in this way, the use of two individual drums rotating in synchronism with each other is possible, one being provided with the grooves and rams for the cigarette sleeves and the other being provided with the goroves and rams for the tobacco portions.

It is also possible to dispense with the separate filling device 16 and to use the device 7 for forming portions simultaneously as a filling device for the cigarette sleeves 17. In this case it is solely necessary for the cigarette sleeves 17 to be introduced into the sleeve-like holders 9, 9a of the conveyor belt by suitable means so that the tobacco portions 4a formed are introduced directly into the cigarette sleeves. In this case the method of operation of the device 7 for forming portions in conjunction with the reciprocating deflection device 47 for the endless conveying means 8, 8a remains unchanged so that this requires no further explanation.

Claims

1. Method for filling sleeves for rod-like articles of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular cigarette sleeves, characterised in that tobacco portions are formed, these tobacco portions are first of all transferred to a portion carrier, the tobacco portions are brought into a defined position with respect to the cigarette sleeves to be filled and then these cigarette sleeves are filled with the tobacco portions.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the formation of tobacco portions and their transfer to the portion carrier take place discontinuously.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the cigarette sleeves are filled with tobacco portions continuously.

4. Method according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the tobacco portions formed are transferred to the portion carrier in the direction of their longitudinal axes, they are then discharged in the direction of their transverse axis and brought into position with respect to the cigarette sleeves to be filled and then they are inserted in the direction of their longitudinal axes into these cigarette sleeves.

5. Machine for filling sleeves for rod-like articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular cigarette sleeves, particuiarly for carrying out the method according to claims 1 to 4, characterised in that means for forming tobacco portions are provided as well as means for transferring these tobacco portions to endless conveying means constructed as a portion carrier, by which the tobacco portions can be conveyed into a definite position with respect to the cigarette sleeves to be filled and that means are provided for filling the cigarette sleeves with these tobacco portions.

6. Machine according to claim 5, characterised in that a stationary device is provided for forming the tobacco portions, in which case the device for forming portions comprises several successive outlets for the tobacco portions formed therein, that the endless conveying means, which are provided with holders for the tobacco portions, are guided past the row of outlets, that associated with the outlets are ejection means for ejecting the tobacco portions from the device for forming portions and for transferring these tobacco portions into the holders of the endless conveying means.

7. Machine according to claim 6, characterised in that the endless conveying means are driven at a predetermined speed and guided over a deflecting device, the deflecting device being able to move to and fro in a linear manner at a definite speed, so that as it moves in one direction, there is no relative movement between the endless conveying means and the outlets of the device for forming portions.

8. Machine according to claim 6, characterised in that the deflection device for the endless conveying means consists of rollers, which are mounted in a common, reciprocating carriage.

9. Machine according to claim 8, characterised in that the carriage is driven at a speed corresponding to half the speed of the endless conveying means.

10. Machine according to one or more of claims 5 to 9, characterised in that the endless conveying means are constructed as a conveyor belt and its holders for the tobacco portions consist of sleeves connected firmly thereto.

11. Machine according to claim 6, characterised in that the device for forming portions comprises a slide, with which a quantity of tobacco can be separated from a tobacco stream supplied from a store and compressed as a portion able to be introduced into the holders of the endless conveying means.

12. Machine according to claim 11, characterised in that the slide is provided with pockets for receiving the quantities of tobacco separated and that the pockets each have a semi-circular contour on one side, which together with a likewise semicircular contour on stationary parts of the device for forming portions cooperating with the slide forms rod-like tobacco portions.

13. Machine according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the slide is able to move transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the outlets for the tobacco portions.

14. Machine according to claims 12 and 13, characterised in that a stationary part and a slide pocket are respectively associated with each of the outlets of the device for forming portions.

15. Machine according to claim 6, characterised in that the ejection means for the tobacco portions are constructed as driven rams.

16. Machine according to one or more of claims 6 to 15, characterised in that a transfer section along the device for forming portions is formed of sections A1,A2, A3 of the same size, each section A1,A2, A3 extending over a number of holders of the conveyor belt which is equal to the number of rams arranged as a whole in the device for forming portions along the transfer section.

17. Machine according to claim 16, characterised in that the rams are arranged to be staggered so that each of the rams is associated with a holder of a certain, but respectively different position within the row of holders, with respect to one section A1,A2, A3 respectively.

18. Machine according to claim 17, characterised in that the distances between the rams within all the sections A1,A2, A3 are the same and that even the distances between the two rams of adjacent sections A1,A2 or A2, A3 respectively are the same, but are bigger by one holder spacing than the distances between rams within the sections A, A2, A3.

19. Machine according to one or more of claims 7 to 9 and 16 to 18, characterised in that the feed of the belt occurring for each carriage pre-stroke of the deflecting device corresponds to the length of a section Al, A2, A3 of the transfer section.

20. Machine according to claim 6, characterised in that the device for forming portions is followed by a filling device, to which the tobacco portions are supplied by means of the endless conveyor and in which the tobacco portions assume a definite position with respect to the cigarette sleeves supplied thereto and that the filling device comprises means for ejecting tobacco portions from the holders of the endless conveyor and for filling these cigarette sleeves with these tobacco portions.

21. Machine according to claim 20, characterised in that the filling device is constructed as a double drum, which on the one side is provided with grooves for the cigarette sleeves and on the other side with grooves for the holders of the tobacco portions of the endless conveyor means guided around the drum, these grooves being arranged with the same spacings and in alignment with each other.

22. Machine according to claim 21, characterised in that associated with the double drum is a trimming cutter for cutting off excess tobacco present on the filled cigarette.

23. Machine according to claim 21, characterised in that the double drum is provided on one side with rams associated with each groove for the cigarette sleeves and on the other side with rams associated with each groove for the portion carrier filled with tobacco portions.

24. Machine according to claim 23, characterised in that the rams can be actuated by means of separate cam drives.

25. Machine according to claim 23, characterised in that the cam drives consist of a cam groove arranged in non-rotary parts and of a support member connected to the ram which support member supports a roller rolling in the cam groove.

26. Machine according to claim 23, characterised in that a support member respectively with a roller is associated with all the rams.

27. Machine according to one or more of claims 23 to 26, characterised in that the support members of the cam drive for the tobacco rams are each provided with a guide roller, which is guided respectively between two adjacent guide rods.

28. Machine according to one or more of claims 23 to 26, characterised in that the support members of the cam drive for the cigarette sleeve ram are guided on guide rods.

29. Machine according to one or more of claims 24 to 26 and 28, characterised in that the space in the double drum receiving the cigarette sleeve ram, the guide rods and the ram drive is kept under blocking air at slight excess pressure.

30. Machine according to claim 21, characterised in that the grooves arranged in a groove ring in the double drum are provided with vacuum bores.

31. Machine according to claim 21, characterised in that the grooves for the holders filled with tobacco portions are formed by the tooth gaps of a double-rimmed chain wheel securely connected to the drum casing.

32. Machine according to one or more of claims 21 to 31, characterised in that the double drum comprises a ring, on which sockets aligning with the grooves are located for receiving the cigarette sleeves during the filling operation.

33. Machine for filling sleeves for rod-like articles of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular cigarette sleeves, characterised by the use of a device for forming portions forming several tobacco portions at the same time, as a filling device for filling the cigarette sleeves, these cigarette sleeves being received by holders of endless conveying means guided past the device for forming portions and all the tobacco portions formed at the same time also being introduced at the same time directly from the device for forming portions into the cigarette sleeves.

34. Method for filling sleeves for rod-like articles of the tobacco-processing industry, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

35. Machine for filling sleeves for rod-like articles of the tobacco-processing industry, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.