EP2712509B2 - Discharge of rod-shaped articles from the tobacco processing industry - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for conveying rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the present context, rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry are understood to be articles that are held in a single row by means of suction air on conveyors, such as, for example, on conveyor drums in cigarette manufacturing machines, and are conveyed by them. Such articles are filter cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, filter rods or groups of filter rods, etc. If, for the sake of simplicity, only cigarettes or filter rods are mentioned below, what has been said also applies accordingly to other rod-shaped articles of the aforementioned type to be conveyed.

In a cigarette manufacturing machine, cigarettes are held in a single-layer row transversely to their axial direction on conveyor drums, which are primarily drums of cigarette manufacturing machines or filter attachment machines. For this purpose, the conveying drums have suction air openings in their peripheral surface, which are connected to a vacuum source. Cigarettes are usually transferred from a first conveyor to the next conveyor by interrupting the holding air in the transfer area in the respective delivering, first conveyor, while it is switched on in the respective receiving, second conveyor. To interrupt the holding air in the peripheral section of the first conveyor forming the transfer area, fixed control segments are arranged in its interior, which cover the suction air openings of the conveyor in this section and thereby separate them from the negative pressure.

In the patent U.S.-B-4,452,255 discloses a cigarette transfer from one drum to the following drum. The holding vacuum on the first drum is switched off for the cigarette transfer. If a defective cigarette or a cigarette is to remain on the first drum for sampling, compressed air is blown from the receiving trough to the dispensing trough, thus reducing the vacuum in the receiving trough. At the same time, compressed air is fed from the same compressed air source to an injector, which generates a negative pressure in the dispensing trough of the first drum, so that the cigarette remains in the dispensing trough while it is being conveyed further.

Furthermore, in GB-A-1 078 229 a device for conveying rod-shaped articles or cigarettes is described, wherein during the transfer of a cigarette from a first conveyor drum to a subsequent conveyor drum, the cigarette to be transferred is subjected to negative pressure from the second conveyor drum during the transfer. A control body is provided inside the second conveyor drum, by means of which the applied negative pressure in the receptacles is switched accordingly. When or during the transfer of a cigarette, the negative pressure is applied to the receiving trough of the conveyor drum. When the cigarette is delivered to the subsequent conveyor drum, atmospheric pressure is applied to the suction line of the conveyor drum.

In the patent EP-B-0 584 774 describes a cigarette transfer from a trough conveyor to a sampling drum. Here, the negative pressure of the receiving trough of the sampling drum is greater than the negative pressure of the dispensing trough of the drum conveyor.

In addition revealed EP-A-1 366 679 a method and a machine for the manufacture of filter cigarettes. Here, the cigarettes are conveyed transversely axially in grooves of the conveying drum. The grooves of a drum are designed in such a way that when a cigarette is received in a groove, the cigarette rests against two flanks of the groove, as a result of which two contact surfaces of the cigarette, which extend in the longitudinal axial direction, are formed.

Furthermore, in WO 97/012191 A1 discloses a method of making non-circular filter cigarettes.

Proceeding from this state of the art, it is the object of the present invention to reduce the noise emission and the consumption of air when transporting rod-shaped articles on conveyor drums.

This object is achieved by a method for conveying rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry according to claim 1.

The invention is based on the idea that the rod-shaped articles are each transferred from a dispensing receiving trough of a first conveyor drum into a receiving trough of a second conveyor drum, with the vacuum or the suction air on the receiving trough of the second conveyor drum only becoming effective when the article is transferred is, whereby the ventilation of the releasing receiving trough is also only switched on in the transfer area or in the transfer point. In contrast to the prior art, the filter rods, filter cigarettes or the like are transferred between the conveyor drums in such a way that the filter rods do not jump between the receiving troughs, in particular between the trough base of the dispensing receiving trough and the receiving receiving trough.

According to the prior art, when stick-shaped articles are transferred from a dispensing receiving trough to a subsequent receiving receiving trough of a second conveyor drum, the article rods are transferred in such a way that they perform a (small) jump in movement between the trough base of the dispensing receiving trough and the trough base of the receiving receiving trough .

The holding vacuum on the receiving troughs for holding the rod-shaped articles while they are being conveyed on the drum bodies is designed in such a way that ventilation air, i.e. no negative pressure, is present on the delivering conveyor drum before reaching the transfer position at the suction bores of the delivering receiving trough and before the transfer position is reached the receiving trough suction air is applied to the second conveyor drum, i.e. a holding vacuum is applied to the (open or unoccupied) receiving troughs of the second conveyor drum. Thus, according to the prior art, an air flow is generated in the transfer area at the receiving troughs, with popping noises occurring as a result of the jumping movement of the articles when the rod-shaped articles are transferred.

In contrast, according to the invention, it is provided that the article sticks or the like to be transferred in the transfer area do not perform a jumping movement between the trough base of the dispensing receiving trough and the trough base of the receiving receiving trough, with the suction hole or similar in the receiving trough of the second conveyor drum during introduction until the transfer of the rod-shaped article are aerated in the receiving trough and, after the article has been introduced into the receiving trough of the second conveyor drum, forming a form fit between the article with a round cross-section and the receiving trough of complementary shape, is sealed before the holding vacuum for holding the article in the receiving trough of the second conveyor drum is switched on. This avoids the formation of an air flow in the transfer area between the conveyor drums. Thus, the development of noise is reduced by the avoided jumping of the article rods and the inventive switching of the negative suction air pressure at the receiving troughs of the conveyor drums. In particular, the holding vacuum or negative pressure for holding the article in the receiving trough of the second conveyor drum is switched on only after the suction air bores of the article-receiving trough of the second conveyor drum have been closed by the article arranged in the receiving trough.

Due to the simultaneous positive fit of the articles to be transferred at the time of transfer and in the transfer area with the round contour of the dispensing receiving trough of the first conveyor drum and with the contour of the receiving trough of the second conveyor drum, it is achieved that the rod-shaped Items do not perform a jump in movement in the radial direction in relation to the axes of rotation of the first and/or second conveyor drum.

In the context of the invention, a positive fit is understood to mean that the rod-shaped article lies flat on the surface between the receiving trough and the dispensing trough, so that the suction bores or holding bores of the receiving troughs are closed.

In addition, it is envisaged that when the article to be transferred forms a form fit on both sides with the contour of the dispensing receiving trough of the first conveyor drum and with the contour of the receiving trough of the second conveyor drum in the transfer area, the distance between the trough base of the dispensing receiving trough of the first conveyor drum and the base of the receiving trough of the second conveyor drum is 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm smaller than the diameter of the article to be transferred.

In addition, it is preferred in the further development of the method that the articles to be transferred are transferred in the transfer area without any movement impulses from the dispensing receiving trough of the first conveyor drum to the receiving trough of the second conveyor drum. In this case, the rod-shaped articles to be transferred are not subjected to an additional movement impulse in the radial direction in relation to the rotation axes of the conveyor drums during the transfer in order to be moved from the dispensing receiving trough to the receiving receiving trough.

For this purpose, it is provided that the articles to be transferred close at least one or more suction bores of the receiving trough of the second conveyor drum in the transfer area with the formation of the form fit with the receiving trough, with the articles to be transferred in particular each having negative pressure on the releasing receiving trough of the first conveyor drum are applied. It is also provided that after the closing or upon closing of the suction bores of the respective receiving receiving troughs, the negative pressure at the suction bore(s) of the releasing receiving trough of the first conveyor drum is or is switched off. This takes place in particular before and during the formation of the simultaneous positive locking of the articles to be transferred with the dispensing receiving trough and with the receiving receiving trough of the adjacent conveyor drums.

By introducing the article rods into the receiving troughs, the suction bores of this receiving trough is or are closed and sealed before the holding vacuum is switched on at the suction bores of the receiving trough. At the same time or shortly thereafter, when the suction bores of the receiving receiving trough are subjected to suction air, the suction bore or suction bores of the opposite delivering receiving trough of the first conveyor drum is aerated accordingly, whereby the ventilation of the delivering conveyor drum is only switched on at this point in time and there is no holding vacuum at the delivering receiving trough. In particular, the holding vacuum or the suction air at the receiving troughs of the second conveyor drum is only switched on or switched on with the transfer, i.e. at the point in time at which the longitudinal center axis of the respective rod-shaped article is arranged on the connecting line of the two conveyor drum centers or the axes of rotation of the conveyor drums.

In addition, in a drum machine in the tobacco processing industry, in particular a filter attachment machine, with a plurality of conveyor drums for transversely axial conveying of rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry, with the conveyor drums each being provided with receiving depressions in the circumferential direction for receiving rod-shaped articles, it is provided that two adjacent conveyor drums are arranged in such a way that the axial spacing between the center axes of the conveyor drums is smaller than the sum of the radius of a first conveyor drum between the center axis of the first conveyor drum and the trough base of the receiving troughs of the first conveyor drum, preferably located in the transfer area between the adjacent conveyor drums, and from the Radius of a second adjacent conveyor drum between the central axis of the second conveyor drum and the bottom of the trough of the receptacles preferably located in the transfer area between the adjacent conveyor drums ulden of the second conveyor drum and from the, preferably smallest, diameter of the rod-shaped articles to be conveyed.

An axial spacing of two adjacent conveyor drums is understood to mean the distance between the center axes of two adjacent conveyor drums between which rod-shaped articles are transferred. In particular, the center axes of the respective adjacent conveyor drums are designed as axes of rotation of the conveyor drums.

It is provided that at the time of transfer or in the transfer area of rod-shaped articles from one conveyor drum to the following adjacent conveyor drum, the distance between the center axes or axes of rotation of the adjacent conveyor drums is smaller than the distance between the deepest point of the trough base of the dispensing receiving trough of the first conveyor drum to the axis of rotation, which in connection with the present invention is referred to as the radius of the first conveyor drum between the central axis of the first conveyor drum and the trough base of the receiving trough, and the radius, ie the distance between the (deepest) trough base of the receiving trough of the second conveyor drum its deepest point and the central axis or the axis of rotation of the second conveyor drum and the diameter of the rod-shaped articles to be conveyed. At the time of transfer or in the transfer area, the distance between the trough base of the dispensing receiving trough and the trough base of the receiving receiving trough of the second conveyor drum is smaller than the diameter of the rod-shaped article to be transferred or the rod-shaped article produced on the drum machine.

Such an arrangement of the conveyor drum in a drum machine, in particular a filter tipping machine, means that the noise development is reduced, which means that the drum machine can be operated more quietly for the production or conveyance of rod-shaped articles.

In particular, a further development of the drum machine is characterized in that all the conveyor drums of the drum machine are arranged in such a way that the respective axial spacing between the center axes of two adjacent conveyor drums is smaller than the sum of the radius of the first conveyor drum between the center axis of the first conveyor drum and the bottom of the trough the receiving troughs of the first conveyor drum, preferably located in the transfer area between the adjacent conveyor drums and from the radius of the adjacent second conveyor drum between the center axis of the second conveyor drum and the trough base of the receiving troughs of the second conveyor drum, preferably located in the transfer area between the adjacent conveyor drums, and from the diameter of the rod-shaped articles to be conveyed on the drum machine.

Here, the drum machine in the tobacco processing industry is designed in particular for the production of rod-shaped articles with a fixed diameter, so that only filter cigarettes with a predetermined diameter are produced on a filter attachment machine. In this respect, the drum machine is a single-format drum machine for the production of rod-shaped articles. The drum machine is preferably operated according to the method described.

In addition, a preferred embodiment of the drum machine is characterized in that the receiving troughs of the conveyor drums have a continuous, in particular rounded, trough shoulder in the edge area of the receiving troughs and outside the trough base of the receiving troughs in relation to the transverse axial conveying direction of the conveyor drums on both sides of the trough base.

This is intended in particular for a drum machine in which the axial spacing between the center axes or the axes of rotation of adjacent conveyor drums is smaller than the sum of the radius between the center axis of the first conveyor drum and the trough base of the receiving trough of the first conveyor drum that releases the articles and the radius of the adjacent second conveyor drum between the central axis and the trough base of the article-receiving receiving trough of the second conveyor drum and the diameter of the rod-shaped article to be transferred.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments according to the invention together with the claims and the accompanying drawing. Embodiments according to the invention can fulfill individual features or a combination of several features.

Fig. 1

schematisch eine Filteransetzmaschine gemäß dem Stand der Technik in einer Vorderansicht;

Fig. 2

schematisch im Ausschnitt einen Querschnitt durch eine Trommelanordnung mit zwei Fördertrommeln im Übergabebereich von stabförmigen Artikeln;

Fig. 3a bis 3c

schematisch die Übergabe eines stabförmigen Artikel zwischen zwei benachbarten Fördertrommeln und

Fig. 4a, 4b

schematisch jeweils vergrößerte Ausschnitte des Übergabebereichs zwischen den beiden Fördertrommeln (vgl. Fig. 3a bis 3c).

The invention is described below without restricting the general inventive concept using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings, with express reference being made to the drawings with regard to all details according to the invention that are not explained in more detail in the text. Show it:

1

schematically a filter attachment machine according to the prior art in a front view;

2

Schematically, in detail, a cross section through a drum arrangement with two conveyor drums in the transfer area of rod-shaped articles;

Figures 3a to 3c

schematically the transfer of a rod-shaped article between two adjacent conveyor drums and

Figures 4a, 4b

schematic enlarged sections of the transfer area between the two conveyor drums (cf. Figures 3a to 3c ).

In the following figures, the same or similar elements or corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that they are not presented again.

In 1 a filter tipping machine is shown in a partial front view, the filter tipping machine receiving tobacco rods of twice the usable length via a drum arrangement T for supplying tobacco rods from a schematically drawn cigarette rod machine P. A cigarette rod machine is known under the designation "PROTOS" by the patent applicant.

On their conveying path to a collating drum 21, the tobacco rods of twice the useful length are cut and spread apart longitudinally and axially. On the collating drum 21 are over a further Drum assembly M transported double-length filter plugs, which are each inserted between two longitudinally axially spaced tobacco rods. As a result, a sequence of tobacco rod-filter plug-tobacco rod groups arranged one behind the other transversely axially is formed on the assembly drum 21 . The assembled article groups are transferred from the assembly drum 21 to a conveyor drum 22 .

A glued and conveyed covering paper strip 11 is cut in a covering apparatus 10 on a cutting drum 12 by the knives of a cutterhead 13 into covering sheets or connecting sheets. The cut connecting leaves are each transferred to or attached to the article groups or tobacco rod-filter plug-tobacco rod groups on the conveyor drum 22 .

After tacking the cut and individual connecting leaves to each article group, the article groups are transported on to a subsequent rolling drum 26 and rolling device 27, by means of which the connecting leaves are completely wrapped around the tobacco rod-filter plug-tobacco rod groups. In one embodiment, the rolling device 27 consists of a web wheel, a rolling hand with a rolling surface and a rolling roller on the output side, the rolling surface and the rolling drum 26 forming a rolling channel in which groups of articles are wrapped with the connecting leaves, thus forming double-length filter cigarettes.

The double-length filter cigarettes are then transferred to a conveyor drum 28 and then to a further conveyor drum 29 and made available to a filter tipping machine for further processing.

From the conveyor drum 29, the double-length filter cigarettes are conveyed via a conveyor drum 30 to a cutting drum 31 on which a cutting blade 32 is arranged, which produces filter cigarettes of a single use-length from the double-length filter cigarettes by means of a central separating cut.

The filter cigarettes are then transferred from the cutting drum 31 to a spreading drum 33 . On the spreading drum 33 the pairs of filter cigarettes are spaced apart from one another longitudinally and axially and then transferred to a first testing drum 34 . A first testing element 44 is arranged on the testing drum 34 designed as a conveying element, which subjects the filter cigarettes to a first test, e.g. a tip end test.

Within the scope of the invention, it is possible for the manufactured filter cigarettes to be subjected to an optical check on the first checking member 44 designed as a checking device.

The cigarettes are then transferred from the testing drum 34 to a subsequent second testing drum 35 on which a second testing element 45 designed as a testing device is arranged in order to subject the cigarettes to further quality tests, in particular a further optical test.

2 shows schematically a cross section through a drum arrangement with a first conveyor drum 110 and a second conveyor drum 120, which, for example, are part of a filter attachment machine F (cf. 1 ) are.

According to the illustrated embodiment, conveyor drum 110 is shown as the conveyor drum delivering article 115 and conveyor drum 120 as the conveyor drum receiving article 115, so that between conveyor drum 110 and conveyor drum 120 in a transfer area 130, the rod-shaped articles 115 are transferred from the delivering conveyor drum 110 to the receiving one Conveyor drum 120 are passed.

The conveyor drum 110 has a drum body 112 which has receiving recesses 114 at regular intervals in the circumferential direction, in which the rod-shaped articles 115 such as filter rods or cigarettes or filter cigarettes are received. The receiving troughs 114 have a trough contour in cross section, which is adapted to the curvature or to the circumference or the circular cross-sectional shape of the rod-shaped article 115 in a form-complementary manner. The drum body 114 also has suction bores 113 assigned to the receiving troughs 114 and which are acted upon by suction air, so that the rod-shaped articles 115 rest in the receiving troughs 114 of the conveyor drum 110 and are held in place.

A control body 111 is arranged in the interior of the conveyor drum 110 and is surrounded by the revolving or rotationally driven drum body 112 . The control body 111 ensures that the suction bores 113 of the drum body 112 in the conveying area for conveying the rod-shaped articles 115 are subjected to negative pressure until they are transferred, so that the rod-shaped articles 115 are held in the receiving troughs 114 . After the transfer of the rod-shaped articles 115 to the conveyor drum 120 receiving the articles 115, the suction bores 113 of the first conveyor drum 110 are or will be aerated, i.e. there is no negative pressure or corresponding suction air at the suction air bores 113 on the unoccupied receiving troughs 114.

Due to the rotation of the drum body 112 around the axis of rotation R110 , after the rod-shaped articles 115 have been picked up by a conveyor drum arranged upstream in the conveying direction, the rod-shaped articles 115 are arranged in the receiving troughs and conveyed to the transfer area 130 .

The second conveyor drum 120 receiving the articles 115 has an outer drum body 122 which is provided with receiving troughs 124 at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. In order to apply negative pressure to the received articles 115 when receiving rod-shaped articles 115 in the receiving troughs 124 , radially arranged suction bores 123 for the receiving troughs 124 are also formed in the drum body 122 . To the recorded Article 115 to hold in the receiving troughs 124, a control body 121 is also arranged inside the conveyor drum 120. The drum body 122 is driven to rotate about the axis of rotation R120 of the conveyor drum 120 .

Furthermore, the receiving troughs 124 of the drum body 122 are adapted to the geometric dimensions or the curvature of the rod-shaped articles 115 to be transported, with the receiving troughs 124 in particular being designed to complement the circular average contour of the rod-shaped articles 115 .

In order to transfer rod-shaped articles 115 from the conveyor drum 110 to the following conveyor drum 120, they are conveyed to the transfer area 130, with the synchronous approach of the receiving trough 114 dispensing the article and a receiving trough 124 of the conveyor drum 120 receiving the article 115, the article 115 to be delivered being introduced into the receiving trough 124 is so that during the transfer time in each case a form fit with the article to be transferred 115 and the trough contours of the dispensing receiving trough 114 of the conveyor drum 110 and the receiving receiving trough 124 of the conveyor drum 122 is achieved simultaneously. When the positive connection on both sides is formed, the aerated suction bore 123 of the receiving cavity 124 is sealed by the rod-shaped article 115, the suction bore 123 not yet being subjected to negative pressure.

Before the rod-shaped articles 115 are transferred to the receiving troughs 124 of the conveyor drum 120, the rod-shaped articles 115 to be transferred are held in the receiving troughs 114 of the first conveyor drum 110 by applying suction air or negative pressure to the suction bores 113. The suction air at the suction bores 113 is only switched off or the ventilation at the suction bores 113 is only switched on when the rod-shaped articles 115 to be dispensed form a form fit with the receiving recesses 114 of the conveyor drum 110 and with the receiving recesses 124 of the conveyor drum 120. This is achieved in particular when the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped article 115 lies on the (imaginary) line connecting the two center points of the drum or on the line connecting the axes of rotation R110 and R120 of the conveyor drum 110 or 120. The ventilation on the delivering conveyor drum 110 is only switched on at this transfer time, while the vacuum or the suction air at the suction air bores 123 is switched on at this transfer time.

The fact that during the transfer of the rod-shaped article 115 a simultaneous positive locking of the article 115 to be transferred with the receiving troughs 114 and 124 is achieved, jumping of the article 115 in the radial direction between the receiving troughs 114, 124 of the rods is prevented, so that the articles 115 experience no acceleration or movement impulse in the radial direction of the conveyor drum 114, 120.

In particular, when the articles 115 with a round cross-section, in particular circular ones, are introduced, the dispensing trough 114 and the receiving trough 124 are arranged in the transfer area 130 in such a way that the, in particular maximum, distance between the trough base of the dispensing trough 114 and the receiving trough 124 is smaller than the Diameter of the round shaped and circular shaped article 115 is.

In one embodiment of the transfer method according to the invention, the distance in the transfer area 130 at the time of transfer between the base of the receiving trough 114 and the base of the receiving trough 124 is between 0.1 mm and 0.3 mm smaller than the circular diameter of the rod-shaped articles 115.

The illustrated principle according to the invention of the transfer of rod-shaped articles can also be used in a corresponding manner for the transfer of articles between conveyor drums both with rigid and with moving receiving troughs for the rod-shaped articles.

In the Figures 3a to 3c the transfer of rod-shaped articles 115 from the first conveyor drum 110 to the adjacent second conveyor drum 120 in subsequent method steps on the filter attachment machine F is shown schematically. In this case, an axial gauge AS is formed between the central axes or the axes of rotation R110 and R120 of the two conveyor drums 110, 120. The center distance AS is determined by the distance between the center axes of the two adjacent conveyor drums 110, 120, which simultaneously form the axes of rotation R110 and R120 of the two conveyor drums 110, 120, respectively.

In addition, the conveyor drum 110 has a radius B110, which is determined by the distance between the central axis or the axis of rotation R110 and the trough base of the receiving trough 114 of the conveyor drum 110.

Furthermore, the conveyor drum 120 receiving the articles has a radius B120, which is determined by the distance between the center axis or the axis of rotation R120 and the (deepest) trough base of the receiving trough 124 of the conveyor drum 120.

At the in Figure 3a The method step shown, the rod-shaped article 115 is conveyed from the conveyor drum 110 into the transfer area 130, so that the rod-shaped article 115, which is held in the receiving trough 114 of the conveyor drum, is introduced into the receiving trough 124 of the article-receiving conveyor drum 120 and rests against the trough base Suction air bores of the receiving trough 124 are closed. With simultaneous rotation of the two conveyor drums 110, 120 and with the formation of a form fit the receiving troughs 114, 124 of the two conveyor drums 110, 120 to be transferred article 115 in step according to Figure 3b slightly pressed in relation to the imaginary connecting line between the axis of rotation R110 and R120 of the two conveyor drums 110, 120, since the distance between the trough base of the receiving trough 114 and the trough base of the receiving trough 124 in the in Figure 3b shown position in the transfer area and at the time of transfer is smaller than the diameter of article 115 before the transfer time (cf. Figure 3a ) and after the transfer time (cf. 3c ).

After handing over the staff-shaped Article 115 pursuant to 3c negative pressure is applied to the adjacent, second conveyor drum 120 in the suction bores of the receiving trough 124, while negative pressure at the suction bores of the receiving trough 114 is switched off. Because after the transfer of the rod-shaped article (cf. Figure 3b ) the distance between the trough base of the receiving trough 114 dispensing the article and the receiving trough 124 receiving the article is increased, the rod-shaped article 115 assumes its circular cross-section again.

In Figures 4a, 4b are enlarged sections of the transfer area 130 according to the Figure 3b shown method step shown schematically. How from the Figures 4a, 4b shows, the diameter d of the dotted, circular rod-shaped article 115 is drawn in, the distance between the trough base of the two receiving troughs 114, 124 being smaller than the diameter of the article 115, which is circular in cross-section. According to this embodiment, the center distance AS is smaller than the Sum of the radius B110, the radius B120 and the diameter d of the rod-shaped article 115.

From the enlarged view in Figure 4b also shows that the outer edge areas of the receiving troughs 114, 124 outside of the (deepest) trough base have rounded edge areas as a trough shoulder. This results in a continuous trough contour of the receiving troughs 114 or 124 due to the trough shoulders formed on both sides of the trough base.

All of the features mentioned, including those that can be taken from the drawing alone and also individual features that are disclosed in combination with other features, are considered essential to the invention alone and in combination. Embodiments according to the invention can be fulfilled by individual features or a combination of several features.

Reference List

10

topping apparatus

11

lining paper strips

12

suction roll

13

knife roller

21

assembly drum

22

conveyor drum

26

roll drum

27

rolling device

28

drum

29

drum

30

conveyor drum

31

cutting drum

32

cutting knife

33

spreading drum

34

test drum

35

test drum

36

conveyor drum

38

particles

44

checking body

45

checking body

110

conveyor drum

111

control body

112

drum body

113

suction bore

114

receiving recess

115

rod-shaped articles

120

conveyor drum

121

control body

122

drum body

123

suction hole

124

receiving recess

130

transfer area

AS

axis spacing

i.e

diameter

B110

radius

B120

radius

f

filter attachment machine

M

Drum assembly (filter plug)

T

Drum arrangement (tobacco rods)

P

cigarette rod machine

R110

axis of rotation

R120

axis of rotation

Claims (3)

1. Method for conveying rod-shaped articles (115) in the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter rods or cigarettes or groups of filter rods or groups of articles composed thereof, wherein the rod-shaped articles (115) are conveyed in a direction transverse to the axis into receiving troughs (114, 124) of drum bodies (112, 122), in particular driven in a rotating manner, of conveying drums (110, 120), wherein the rod-shaped articles (115) are delivered individually from the discharging receiving troughs (114) of the first conveying drum (110) in a delivery area (130) onto the receiving receiving troughs (124) of the second conveying drum (120), wherein the articles (115) are held on the first conveying drum (110) by means of negative pressure in the receiving troughs (114) and conveyed to the delivery area (130), the articles (115) are delivered in the delivery area (130) between the first conveying drum (110) and the second conveying drum (120) and during or on delivery to in each case a receiving trough (124) of the drum body (122) of the second conveying drum (120), in each case developing a positive lock with the profile, which is in each case closely fitting to the article (115) to be delivered, of the discharging receiving troughs (114) of the first conveying drum (110) and with simultaneous development of a positive lock with the profile, which is in each case closely fitting to the article (115) to be delivered, of the receiving receiving trough (124) of the second conveying drum (120), wherein in each case the retaining negative pressure on the discharging receiving trough (114) of the first conveying drum (110) is turned off with the development of the positive lock, on both sides, of the individual articles (115) and at the same time the rod-shaped article (115) is subjected to retaining negative pressure on the receiving receiving trough (124) of the second conveying drum (120), characterised in that the rod-shaped articles (115) are formed as circular-shaped articles (115) and on development of the positive lock, on both sides, of the article (115) to be delivered with the profile of the discharging receiving trough (114) of the first conveying drum (110) and with the profile of the receiving receiving trough (124) of the second conveying drum (120) in the delivery area (130), the gap between the groove bottom of the discharging receiving trough (114) of the first conveying drum (110) and the groove bottom of the receiving receiving trough (124) of the second conveying drum (120) is 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm smaller than the diameter of the article (115) to be delivered, wherein the articles (115) in each case to be delivered in the delivery area (130) seal at least one or more suction holes (123) of the receiving receiving trough (124) of the second conveying drum (120) with development of the positive lock with the receiving receiving trough (124).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the articles (115) to be delivered are each delivered in the delivery area (130) free of movement impulse by the discharging receiving trough (114) of the first conveying drum (110) to the receiving receiving trough (124) of the second conveying drum (120).
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the articles (115) to be delivered are each subjected to negative pressure on the discharging receiving trough (114) of the first conveying drum (110).

Images