KR20180034345A - Improved filter rod maker for handling rigid packaging web material - Google Patents

Abstract

The filter rod builder includes a drive station for forming a packed filter rod; A cutter blade for cutting the packaged filter rod into rod sections (104); And a rotating drum (100) having a plurality of spaced apart long grooves (102), wherein a plurality of spaced apart elongated grooves are formed on the outer surface of the drum, 104). The drum includes stop means (106) at one end of each elongated groove adjacent to the filter rod when the filter rod is received into the long groove. The stop means 106 includes a pin 108 having a main cylinder having a first diameter D1 and a main cylinder having a pin 108 extending between a first end and a second end, And extends along the axis F of the groove 102. The pin 108 includes a proximal portion 118 extending along the axis F from a second end of the main cylinder and the proximal portion 118 has a second diameter D2 that is less than the first diameter D1. And provides a substantially planar surface to abut one end of the elongate filter rod.

Description

Improved filter rod maker for handling rigid packaging web material

The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing filter rods for use in the manufacture of smoking articles such as filter cigarettes.

The filter cigarettes typically include a cigarette cut filler rod enclosed by a paper wrapper and a cylindrical filter arranged in a terminal-to-end relationship with the packed tobacco rod and attached with a tipping paper. The filter typically consists of one or more plugs of fibrous filtration material. One suitable fibrous filtration material is cellulose acetate tow which is often treated with a plasticizer, such as triacetin. The one or more plugs are typically surrounded by a paper material referred to as a " plug wrap ".

Fabricating the filter rod from the continuous fiber filter tow involves moving the filter tow in a generally longitudinal direction through a continuous treatment step of aligning the tow fibers, before the tow is crimped and compressed to form a uniform shape such as a substantially circular rod And applying a plasticizer and / or other additives to the fibers. The manufacturing process also includes packaging the fiber tow rods in a plug wrap to produce a packaged filter rod.

To this end, the filter rod maker comprises a packaging station for receiving rod-shaped fiber tows from a forming station and packaging rod-shaped fiber tows with filter paper to form a continuous filter rod. The packaging station comprises an endless belt conveyor configured to advance in a predetermined direction along an endless path (e.g., provided as a garniture tape) and a filter paper ribbon feeder Supply device. The packaging station also includes a guide element that progressively converts the conveyor to a tube at a second portion of the path downstream of the first path portion by moving the side edges of the belt toward each other. This type of filter rod maker is described, for example, in US 4768526.

More specifically, the conveyor typically includes an annularly bent belt around two return rollers. A branch of the belt is slidably operable along a longitudinal groove provided in the guide element or garniture. The grooves continuously vary between the inlet and outlet ends of the guide and have a generally cylindrical cross-section at the outlet end. The belt sliding in the groove constitutes the garniture tape, and the filter paper ribbon advancing from the first path portion by the garniture tape is guided around the fiber toe rod in the second path portion. Thus, at the packaging station, the filter paper ribbon is wound around the rod-shaped fiber tow to overlap the periphery of the filter paper ribbon.

The filter rod maker also includes gluing means for applying an appropriate adhesive to one or both side edges of the filter paper ribbon so that the side edges are joined together when overlapping. The adhesive may be applied onto the packaging web material in the applicator region along the packaging garment, or alternatively may be applied upstream from the entrance of the packaging web material to the garniture of the packaging station.

By way of example, a heat-activatable adhesive can be applied on one or two side edges of a filter paper ribbon, and the filter rod maker activates the adhesive and adds a heat source disposed at an arbitrary location along the garniture .

In addition, the filter rod maker typically further includes means for cooling the adhesive to allow the adhesive to cure quickly. In particular, a filter rod maker is known which includes a cooling bar that is operatively coupled with an endless belt conveyor at any location along the package web material downstream of the heat source. Such a cooling bar is typically configured to be at a temperature of about -5 degrees Celsius to about 6 degrees Celsius during use. This allows the adhesive to cure and form a sealed longitudinal seam as the packed rod moves along the cooling bar.

The packaged filter rod thus made can then be cut into portions having a predetermined length to obtain filter plug elements. In particular, the filter maker includes a cutting assembly at any location downstream of the cooling bar to cut the packed continuous filter rod leaving the packaging station into filter rod portions having lengths corresponding to the multiple filter plug elements. This filter rod section can be subsequently transferred to the filter combiner or to a tipping device for entrusting to the tobacco rod. To this end, the outlet station of the filter rod maker comprises a delivery drum, which comprises a plurality of long flutes configured to receive a filter rod portion leaving the packaging station and carries the filter rod portion to another operation unit.

For certain applications, it may be desirable, for example, to use a rigid and thick package web material to impart a higher stiffness to the filter. However, this may make it difficult to form a filter rod having a low ovality. In addition, the friction generated between the rigid packaging web material and the portions of the filter rod web material along the packaging material web material increases, resulting in more heat and impacting the sealing efficiency of the cooling bars.

At the same time, due to the inherent propensity of the rigid and thick packaging web material to tilt elastically back to its original flattened condition, more precise sealing of the overlapping side edges of the packaged web material surrounded by the rod- A large amount of adhesive is needed. However, this may have the undesirable effect that an excess amount of adhesive accumulates on the surface of the transfer drum receiving the packed filter rod portion at the outlet of the packaging station. Because of this, the filter rod maker may often have to be stopped and the machine downtime is therefore undesirably increased.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus for producing a filter rod for use in the manufacture of smoking articles to effectively heal the above-mentioned drawbacks. In particular, it would be desirable to provide such a device that can significantly reduce machine downtime and at the same time ensure that the filter rod obtained by the device meets the manufacturing requirements required in terms of, for example, sealing quality, ovoidity, will be.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filter rod manufacturing apparatus for use in manufacturing a smoking article. The apparatus includes a filter plug material and a drive station for receiving the package web material and forming a filter rod packed from the filter plug material and the package web material. The apparatus also includes at least one cutter blade for cutting the packaged filter rod into elongate rod sections. The apparatus also includes a transfer device including a rotating drum having a plurality of spaced apart elongated grooves on its outer surface, wherein the elongated grooves are constructed and arranged to receive elongated rod portions upon rotation of the drum. The drum further includes stop means at one end of each elongate groove where the elongated filter rod is located when the elongated filter rod is received into the elongated groove. The stop means comprises a pin with a main cylinder having a first diameter (D1), the main cylinder having a first end having a pin attached to the drum frame and a second end opposite the first end, Extends along the axis F of the groove. The pin also includes a proximal portion extending along the axis F from the second end of the main cylinder and the proximal portion having a second diameter D2 that is less than the first diameter D1, Thereby providing a substantially planar surface to contact.

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the details of the transfer device of the device according to the invention.
Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the drum frame of the transfer device of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of the stop means of the conveying device of Figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the garnish and heating bar of the drive station of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention.
Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a cooling bar of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention.
Figure 6 shows a schematic side view of the compression means of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention.

The term " ovality " is used herein to describe the shape of the cross-section of the filter rod, and in particular to describe the degree of deviation from the origin. In the present case, the ovality can be expressed in terms of length, and the mathematical definition of the ovality is as follows.

To know the ovality of the part of the filter rod, one end is seen along the longitudinal direction of the filter rod. For example, the end of the filter rod may be positioned on the transparent stage such that the image of the end of the filter rod is recorded by a suitable imaging device located below the stage. The dimension "a" is taken to be the minimum outer diameter of the region at its downstream end and the dimension "b" is taken to be the maximum outer diameter of the region at its downstream end. This process is repeated for a total of 10 filter loads with the same design and the number average of the ten ovality measurements is recorded as the ovality for the corresponding design of the filter rod.

In contrast to known devices, there is provided a filter rod maker having an improved transfer device for delivering a newly formed filter rod portion. The transfer device includes a rotating drum having a plurality of spaced apart long grooves on its outer surface, the long grooves being constructed and arranged to receive elongate rod portions upon rotation of the drum. The drum includes stop means at one end of each elongate groove adjacent to the elongated filter rod when the elongate filter rod is received in the elongated groove. The stop means includes a pin providing a substantially flat surface for contacting one end of the elongated filter rod. The pin includes, at one end, a portion which, in use, contacts the elongated filter rod and has a reduced diameter compared to the main cylinder of the pin.

By providing such a stop means that provides a reduced surface area for direct contact with the newly formed filter rod portion, the likelihood that the adhesive will accumulate in the stop means is advantageously and significantly reduced. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it will be appreciated that the proximal end of the pin is in contact with the diametrically central portion of the filter rod portion where no adhesive will normally be expected. At the same time, since the adhesive is applied to form a seal between the overlapping longitudinal side edges of the package web material, it is possible to provide a seal between the periphery of the filter rod portion, which is the portion of the filter rod portion most likely to be found, A small gap remains.

Thus, the number and frequency of stops of the filter rod maker are significantly reduced, and thus the overall machine downtime is advantageously reduced. Thus, the filter rod fabricator according to the present invention can be used in the manufacture of a filter rod comprising a rigid and thick wrapper, or at any time when a greater amount of adhesive is needed to reliably and securely seal the wrapped web material around the filter plug material Especially useful. As will become apparent from the following description, in some preferred embodiments, additional advantageous improvements related to the characteristics of the filter rod, such as sealing quality, ovality and visible effects, can be obtained.

 An apparatus according to the invention comprises a filter plug material and a drive station for receiving the package web material and forming a filter rod packed from the filter plug material and the package web material. The apparatus also includes at least one cutter blade for cutting the packaged filter rod into elongated rod portions. The apparatus also includes a transfer device for transferring the newly formed elongated load portions. The transfer device includes a rotating drum having a plurality of spaced apart long grooves on its outer surface, the long grooves being constructed and arranged to receive elongate rod portions upon rotation of the drum. The drum further includes stop means at one end of each elongate groove where the elongated filter rod is located when the elongated filter rod is received into the elongated groove. The stop means comprises a pin with a main cylinder having a first diameter (D1), the main cylinder having a first end having a pin attached to the drum frame and a second end opposite the first end, Extends along the axis F of the groove. The pin also includes a proximal portion extending along the axis F from the second end of the main cylinder and the proximal portion having a second diameter D2 that is less than the first diameter D1, Thereby providing a substantially planar surface to contact. Preferably, the abutting portion has a cylindrical shape.

The second diameter D2 is preferably less than about 80% of the first diameter D1. Additionally or alternatively, the second diameter is at least about 50% of the first diameter D1. These values are advantageous because a sufficiently wide annular area around the filter rod portion does not contact the flat surface of the stop means, minimizing the possibility that the adhesive may be buried by the drum. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the second diameter D2 is about 75% of the first diameter. By way of example, the first diameter D1 may be 8 mm and the second diameter D2 may be 6 mm.

Preferably, the length L of the adjacent portion measured along the axis F of the long groove is at least about 0.5 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the length L of the abutment measured along the axis F of the long groove is less than about 2 mm. These values are advantageous because a sufficiently large axial clearance remains between the peripheral region of the filter rod region and the flat surface of the stop means. This also contributes to minimizing the possibility that the adhesive may be buried by the drum. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the length L of the adjacent portion measured along the axis F of the long groove is about 1 mm.

The drive station of the apparatus typically includes a garniture coupled to operate with the endless belt conveyor, the garniture being configured to receive the filter plug material and the packaging web material, and the first and second longitudinal edges of the packaging web material And is configured to wrap the packaged web material in the filter plug material to form an overlying packed filter rod. The drive station also includes an applicator that supplies a heat activatable adhesive to seal the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the package web material. The thermally activated adhesive may be applied to one or two longitudinal side edges of the packaging web material.

The drive system further includes a heat source for activating the adhesive, wherein the heat source is disposed at an arbitrary position along the garniture. More specifically, the garniture preferably provides heat to the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the web web material while supporting longitudinal side edges of the endless belt conveyor slidably advancing in the garniture The heating bar is configured to operate. The heating bar preferably includes a groove having an arc profile to at least partially receive the sealed packaged filter rod.

Even more preferably, the heating bar comprises a pair of heated bar bumps, each heating bar bump restricting the heating bar flutes at one side and a support surface at the other side so that the belt is slidable along the garniture The support surface of the ridge is configured to support the longitudinal side edges of the endless belt conveyor in the V-shaped arrangement (when viewed in cross-section) according to the advancement.

In practice, the heating bar is disposed with the heating bar groove facing the upper surface of the belt advancing in the groove of the garniture. When the belt advances along the garniture, the longitudinal side edge of the belt slides against the (outer) supporting surface of the heated bar bulge, and the sealed, packaged filter rod is formed between the top surface of the belt and the surface of the heating bar groove Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > volume. ≪ / RTI > This is advantageous in that the belt is prevented from moving away from the center position in the garter. In addition, it is advantageous to form a filter having a low egg-shape.

Preferably, the heated bar ridge has a substantially triangular cross-section and the support surface is tilted such that the longitudinal lateral edge of the belt forms an angle of at least about 30 degrees between the supports (V-shaped arrangement). More preferably, the support surface is inclined such that the longitudinal edges of the belt form an angle of about 45 degrees between the support surfaces. In some preferred embodiments, the support surface is inclined such that the longitudinal edge of the belt forms an angle of about 60 degrees.

In addition, the drive station preferably includes a cooling bar that is operatively and thermally coupled with the garniture and endless belt conveyor and allows the adhesive to cure. The cooling bar is disposed downstream of the heat source. In a preferred embodiment, the cooling bars are disposed immediately downstream of the heating bars and can be mounted on the same brackets.

The heating bar includes a longitudinal groove extending between the cooling bar inlet and the cooling bar outlet and having a length opposite to the top surface of the belt advancing in the groove of the garniture so as to be configured to at least partially receive the packed filter rod Directional grooves. Preferably, at the cooling bar inlet, the cross-section of the groove is substantially semicircular.

In practice, the cooling bar is disposed at a certain distance from the garniture such that a passage of the belt is defined between the garbage and the cooling bars. The grooves are preferably limited to the left and right by the side ridges which provide respective outer adjacent surfaces configured to cooperate with the longitudinal side edges of the belt advancing between the cooling bars and the garniture and the surface area of the cross- Between the bar inlet and the cooling bar outlet.

Thus, as the belt advances along the garniture, the distance between the opposing faces of the longitudinal edges of the belt increases as the belt is fitted to the cooling bar inlet and the longitudinal edges of the belt contact the lateral raised portions of the cooling bar groove . This is advantageous because it prevents the cooling bars from being heated by the friction of the belt against the cooling bars by preventing the belt from sliding later on the remainder of the cooling bars. On the other hand, a packaged filter rod with a thermally activated adhesive sealing the overlapping side edges of the packaged web material is maintained and advanced between the top surface of the belt and the surface of the cooling bar groove. Thus, the adhesive provided between the overlapping longitudinal side edges of the packaging web material and pre-heated by the heat source can be cooled to achieve rapid curing of the adhesive.

In some preferred embodiments, the apparatus is operatively associated with a garniture and is disposed at a downstream end of the garniture and includes a packed filter rod and a packaged web material at random locations along first and second longitudinal edges of the packaged web material, Further comprising compression means configured to cooperate. The compression means is constructed and arranged to apply a compressive load substantially directed along the radial direction of the packaged filter rod to the packaged filter rod. This is particularly advantageous when using a rigid and thick web material because by providing such a compression means it is possible to make the wound wrapping web material, which is understood to be one of the main factors of ovoidity, to move away from the full cylindrical arrangement around the filter plug material Because it copes with the unique propensity to move.

Preferably, the compression means comprises a cooperating portion having a substantially spherical shape. The surface finish of the packaged filter rod is advantageously advantageous in that it provides a fairly smooth cooperation between the compression means and the outer surface of the packaged filter rod, while at the same time the ovality is reduced without being significantly affected. Thus, the overall visible effect of the packaged filter rod is advantageously improved.

The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the drawings in the accompanying drawings.

1 shows the details of the transfer device of the device according to the invention. The transfer device includes a rotary drum 100, which has a plurality of spaced long grooves 102 on the outer surface of the drum 100. The long groove 102 is constructed and arranged to receive the elongated rod portion 104 upon rotation of the drum 100. The drum 100 further includes stop means 106 at one end of each elongated groove 102 where the elongated filter rod portion is located when the elongated filter rod portion 104 is received into the elongated groove 102 do.

3, the stop means 106 comprises a pin 108 with a main cylinder 110 having a first diameter D1 of about 8 mm, the main cylinder having a long groove < RTI ID = 0.0 > A first end 112 attached to the drum frame 116 (see FIG. 2) mounted on the drum 100 along the axis F of the drum 100 and a second end 114 opposite to the first end 112 . The pin 108 also includes a proximal portion 118 extending along the axis F from the second end 114 of the main cylinder 110. Adjacent portion 118 has a second diameter D2 of about 6 mm. Adjacent portion 118 provides a substantially flat surface 120 for contacting one end of elongate filter rod portion 104. 1-3, the abutting portion 118 has a cylindrical shape and the length L measured along the axis F is about 1 mm.

Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the heating station 202 and the garniture 200 of the drive station of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention. The garniture (200) is operatively engaged with the endless belt conveyor (204). In addition, the garniture 200 is configured to receive the filter plug material and the packaging web material, and also includes first and second longitudinal edges of the packaging web material, . The garniture 200 is operatively associated with a heating bar 202 that supplies heat to activate the applied adhesive at an upstream location on one or both of the longitudinal side edges of the web web material. At the same time, the heating bar supports the longitudinal side edges of the endless belt 204 slidably advancing in the garniture 200. The heating bar 202 includes a groove 206 having an arc profile to at least partially receive the heat sealed packaged filter rod. 4, heating bar 202 includes a pair of heating bar ridges 208, 210, each heating bar ridge 208, 210 having a heating bar groove 206 on one side, And provides support surfaces 212, 214 on the other side. The support surfaces 212 and 214 of the heated bar ridges 208 and 210 are configured to support the longitudinal side edges of the belt in a V-shaped configuration as the belt slides forward within the garniture 200 . The volume defined by the upper surface of the belt 204 and the surface of the heating bar groove 206 substantially envelops the packaged packaged rod that is sealed. This prevents the belt 204 from being displaced from the center position during use and assists in the formation of the packed filter rod of low ovality. 4, the hopper ridges 208, 210 have a substantially triangular cross-section and the support surfaces 212, 214 are formed such that the longitudinal lateral edges of the belt are angled at least about 60 degrees between the supports .

The drive station of the device according to the invention is preferably arranged to be thermally operated to operate with the garniture and endless belt to induce cooling and hardening of the adhesive supplied to the longitudinal lateral edges of the packaged web material to seal around the filter plug material And further includes a cooling bar for coupling. The cooling bar is disposed immediately downstream of the heating bar. Details of the cooling bar 300 are shown in Fig. The cooling bar 300 includes a longitudinal groove 302 extending between the cooling bar inlet 304 and the cooling bar outlet 306. The cooling bar groove 302 is configured to receive the at least partially packed filter rod. In use, the cooling bar 300 is disposed with a longitudinal groove 302, opposite the top surface of the belt advancing in the groove of the garniture, so that the passage of the belt is defined between the garniture and the cooling bar Not shown). At the cooling bar inlet 304, the cross section of the cooling bar groove 302 is substantially semicircular. The cooling bar groove 302 is limited by the side ridges 306 and 308, which provide respective outer adjacent surfaces configured to cooperate with longitudinal side edges of the belt that advance between the cooling bar 300 and the garniture. do. The surface area of the cross section of the groove 302 is reduced between the cooling bar inlet 304 and the cooling bar outlet 306. Thus, when the belt advances along the garniture, the distance between the opposing faces of the longitudinal edges of the belt is such that the belt is close to the cooling bar inlet 304 and the longitudinal edge of the belt is in contact with the lateral ridges 306, and 308, respectively. Thus, the belt is advantageous in that sliding against the remainder of the cooling bar 300 downstream of the cooling bar inlet 304 is advantageous, or at least cooperation between the belt and the cooling bar 300 is severely limited. This is advantageous in that the cooling bar 300 is not significantly heated by friction between the belt and the cooling bar 300. At the same time, the packed filter rod is advanced between the belt and the surface of the cooling bar so that the adhesive activated by the heating bar is thermally bonded to the cooling bar and rapid curing of the adhesive can be achieved.

The compression means 400 for use in a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in Fig. The compression means 400 is operatively associated with the garniture and disposed at the downstream end of the garniture to cooperate with the packaged filter rod at any location along the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the packaging web material . More specifically, the compression means 400 is constructed and arranged to apply a compressive load substantially directed along the radial direction of the packaged filter rod to the packaged filter rod. In the embodiment of Figure 5, the compression means 400 comprises a cooperating portion 402 having a substantially spherical shape.

The compression means are advantageous in that the hard or thick package web material, which is understood to be the cause of the ovality, responds to the tendency to move away from the complete cylindrical arrangement around the filter plug material in the newly packaged filter rod. Moreover, due to the spherical shape, the compression means 400 provide a smooth cooperation between the compression means 400 and the outer surface of the packaged filter rod. Thus, the overall visual impact of the packaged filter rod is advantageously improved since the surface finish of the packaged filter rod is substantially unaffected.

100: Drums
102: Long groove
104: elongated filter rod section
106: Stop means
108: pin
110: main cylinder
112: First stage
114: second stage
116: Drum frame
118:
120: Flat surface
200: Ganichere
202: heating bar
204: Endless belt conveyor
206: heating bar groove
208, 210: heating bar ridge
212, 214: Support surface
300: cooling bar
302: longitudinal groove
304: cooling bar inlet
306: Cooling bar outlet
306, 308:
400: compression means
402: Cooperation Department
D1: first diameter
D2: second diameter
F: Axis
L: Length
alpha: angle

Claims (12)

An apparatus for producing a filter rod for use in the manufacture of smoking articles,
A drive station for receiving the filter plug material and the packaging web material and forming the filter plug material and the packaged filter rod from the packaging web material;
At least one cutter blade for cutting the packaged filter rod into elongated rod portions;
A transfer device comprising a rotating drum, the rotating drum having a plurality of elongated grooves spaced apart from the outer surface, the elongate grooves being constructed and arranged to receive the elongated rod portions as the drum rotates, Further comprising stop means at one end of each elongated groove in which the elongated filter rod is located when the elongated filter rod is received in the elongated groove,
Wherein the stop means comprises a pin having a main body having a first diameter (D1), the main body having a first end attached to the drum frame and a second end opposite to the first end, Which extends along the axis F of the long groove,
Said pin having a proximal portion extending along axis F from a second end of said main body and said proximal portion having a second diameter D2 less than said first diameter D1, To provide a substantially planar surface to abut one end of the device. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second diameter (D2) is less than about 80% of the first diameter (D1). 3. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second diameter (D2) is at least about 50% of the first diameter (D1). A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the length L of the abutment measured along the axis F of the elongate groove is at least about 0.5 mm. 5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the length L of the abutment, measured along the axis F of the elongate groove, is less than about 3 mm. 6. The drive system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A filter web material configured to receive the filter plug material and the packaging web material and operable to overlap the first and second longitudinal edges of the packaging web material to form the packaged filter rod, A garniture configured to wrap the wrapped web material in a plug material; And
And an applicator to supply an adhesive to seal the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the packaging web material. 7. The web conveyor of claim 6, wherein the garniture is adapted to provide heat to the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the packaged web material and to move the longitudinal side of the endless belt conveyor slidably advanced within the garniture Wherein the heating bar further comprises a groove having an arc profile to at least partially receive the packed filter rod to be sealed. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the heating bar comprises a pair of heated bar bumps, each heating bar bump defining a groove on one side and a support surface on the other side, Wherein the edge of the endless belt conveyor is slidably advanced out of the groove such that the belt is positioned at a substantially central position within the garniture Maintained. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the heating bar bulge has a substantially triangular cross-section and the support surface is inclined so that a longitudinal lateral edge of the belt forms an angle of at least about 30 degrees between the supports. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus further comprises a cooling bar operatively and thermally coupled to the gantry to cool the adhesive and induce curing, the cooling bar extending between the cooling bar inlet and the cooling bar outlet And a longitudinal cooling bar groove disposed with a longitudinal groove opposite to an upper surface of the belt advancing in the garniture to define a passage of the belt, the groove being adapted to at least partially receive the packaged filter rod Configured; Wherein the cooling bar groove is limited laterally by side elevations providing respective outer adjacent surfaces configured to cooperate with the longitudinal edges of the belt, wherein the cross-sectional surface area of the groove is between the cooling bar and the cooling bar outlet / RTI > 7. The packaging web material of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of second webs, operatively associated with the garniture, disposed at a downstream end of the garniture, And compressing means configured to cooperate with the filtered filter rod to apply a compressive load substantially directed along the radial direction of the packaged filter rod to the packaged filter rod. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the compression means comprises a cooperating portion having a substantially spherical shape.

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