Module for a machine and method for perforating rod-shaped articles of the tobacco industry

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of German Patent Application No. DE 10 2004 063 097.6, filed on Dec. 22, 2004, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a module for a machine used in the tobacco processing industry for conveying, processing, assembling and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles. The present invention further relates to a method for perforating rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry.

Modules of this type are known, for example, from applicant's own International Publication No. WO 03/024256 A2, incorporated herein by reference. This reference describes the modules as independent functional units that jointly form an apparatus for assembling groups of filter segments to produce multi-segment filters of the tobacco processing industry in a rod-forming process. As a result, highly variable multi-segment filter production is possible. Even different multi-segment filters can be produced cost-effectively due to the variability of the respective apparatus and/or machine. In addition, little time is required for a changeover of the apparatus and/or machine. Furthermore, the respective apparatus and/or machine saves space.

German Patent No. 101 45 326 A1, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method and apparatus for producing ventilated cigarettes by means of perforation. Another method and apparatus for perforating cigarettes are disclosed in German Patent No. 102 17 409 A1, incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide one or more modules for use in a highly variable machine of the tobacco processing industry for conveying, processing, assembling and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method that permits efficient perforation of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a machine used in the tobacco processing industry for processing, assembling, and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles, the machine comprising at least one module including a vertical conveyor. The machines described in the applicant's reference Nos. WO 03/024256A2, and PCT/EP2004/007039 (both incorporated herein by reference) can be modified to include the principles of the present invention.

By using a vertical conveyor, it is possible to obtain a filter-tipping machine or a machine for assembling rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry (e.g., a multi-segment filter producing machine) having a space-saving and highly variable configuration. In particular, the vertical conveyor can provide a variable point of interconnection with other elements of the machine, or with other machines, particularly with respect to height. The transfer of articles of the tobacco processing industry to the vertical conveyor, as well as the discharge from the conveyor, can take place at different heights and locations. Also, the articles can be arranged one above the other.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the vertical conveyor is adapted to convey articles of the tobacco processing industry exclusively in the vertical direction, at least in some sections. This can be realized particularly easily if the vertical conveyor comprises a conveying belt. According to an exemplary embodiment, the vertical conveyor preferably comprises a belt-type conveyor. The point of intersection to other conveying elements or machines of this type can be realized particularly easily and with high variability if a vertical conveyor and/or a vertical belt conveyor is used in a filter-tipping machine or a machine for assembling rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry. In addition, such a machine may require very little space for setup.

The present invention also provides a module for a machine used in the tobacco processing industry for processing, assembling and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles, comprising a vertical conveyor. According to an exemplary embodiment, the module is preferably an independent functional unit as defined in International Publication No. WO 03/024256 A2, incorporated herein by reference.

The vertical conveyor is advantageously embodied so as to convey the articles exclusively in the vertical direction, at least in some sections. In particular, the vertical conveyor can be a belt conveyor and/or or a vertical belt conveyor. Using a vertical conveyor in a module of this type results in high variability of the module, as does the use of the module in a respective machine. In addition, a module and/or machine of this type can be highly space-saving.

The vertical conveyor can be arranged downstream, with respect to the article-conveying direction, preferably at the module output. This can create an intersection to other modules or other conveying elements or conveying means, for example, a withdrawing drum. In addition, several drums can be operatively connected to the vertical conveyor, thus resulting in a highly variable intersection. If an element for taking over the articles from the vertical conveyor is provided upstream, with respect to the conveying direction, at the intake, a simple and efficient point of intersection can be provided between two modules, at least one of which comprises a vertical conveyor.

Particularly advantageous is a module that is designed to be operatively connected to at least one other module. In that case, two modules can be directly connected and placed right next to each other, thereby resulting in a high variability of the respective machines, as well as a particularly space saving arrangement.

The machine used in the tobacco processing industry according to the present invention can be a filter-tipping machine or an apparatus for assembling groups of filter segments for producing multi-segment filters. The applicant markets a standard filter-tipping machine under the designation “MAX.” An extremely efficient filter-tipping machine is described, for example, in International Application No. PCT/EP2004/007039, incorporated herein by reference. An apparatus for assembling groups of filter segments for producing multi-segment filters is described in detail in the applicant's International Publication No. WO 03/024256 A2, incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention also relates to a module on a machine used in the tobacco processing industry for conveying, processing, assembling and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, which comprises at least two perforation devices, arranged one above the other. By arranging the perforation devices one above the other, in particular vertically above each other, it is possible to realize a highly space-saving module. Each perforation device can comprise a conveying element for removing articles from a first conveyor and transferring these to a second conveyor, thus resulting in a highly variable module. The first and/or second conveyor preferably can be a vertical conveyor. A particularly space-saving module is obtained if the vertical conveyor conveys the articles exclusively in the vertical direction, at least in some sections. According to one exemplary embodiment, the vertical conveyor is preferably a belt conveyor, in particular, a vertical belt conveyor.

A machine used in the tobacco processing industry, with elements for assembling, conveying, processing and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, advantageously comprises one of the aforementioned modules according to the invention. The machine can be a filter-tipping machine or an apparatus for assembling groups of filter segments for producing multi-segment filters.

The present invention also relates to a method for processing, assembling and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry, comprising utilizing a vertical conveyor in at least one of a filter-tipping machine or an apparatus for assembling rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry. Preferably, at least some sections of the vertical conveyor convey the rod-shaped articles exclusively in a vertical direction. The vertical conveyor preferentially comprises a conveying belt. With this method a space-saving processing, assembling and/or inspecting of rod-shaped articles becomes possible.

The present invention also relates to a method for perforating rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry. A sequence of rod-shaped articles is conveyed and divided into at least two partial sequences. The articles of each partial sequence are conveyed to a perforation device for subsequent perforation. The partial sequences are then combined again into a single sequence of perforated articles. An extremely efficient process control is possible with a noticeable increase in the operational throughput when the article sequence is divided into at least two partial sequences.

A separate perforation device can be assigned to each partial sequence, thus resulting in a highly efficient perforation of the rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry. Little space is required for realizing this method if the sequence is conveyed vertically, at least in some sections.

The sequence can be conveyed on a vertical conveyor, preferably a belt conveyor and/or vertical belt conveyor. The partial sequences can also be conveyed on a vertical conveyor. The articles in the partial sequences can be perforated while positioned vertically one above the other, for example, by using high-energy radiation, such as laser radiation.

An exemplary method and apparatus for perforating the rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry is disclosed in German Patent Nos. 101 45 326 A1, and 102 17 409 A1, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. We refer to these references with respect to the type and method of burning holes into the surfaces of rod-shaped articles, for example, into cigarette paper. These references contain detailed descriptions, and are referred to herein for a more detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, without restriction of the general inventive idea, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1
a is a schematic view of an exemplary dual-belt filter-tipping machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 1
b is a schematic view of the operation of the dual-line filter-tipping machine of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2
a is a schematic view of another exemplary embodiment of a dual-line filter-tipping machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2
b is a schematic view of the operation of the dual-line filter-tipping machine of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3
a is a schematic view of an exemplary four-line filter-tipping machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 3
b is a schematic view of the operation of the four-line filter-tipping machine of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 4
a is a schematic view of another exemplary embodiment of a four-line filter-tipping machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 4
b is a schematic view of the operation of the filter-tipping machine of FIG. 4a;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of exemplary modules according to the present invention, as well as exemplary functional units for augmenting the modules;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an exemplary perforation device according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of another exemplary embodiment of a perforation device according to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of yet another exemplary perforation device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1
a is a schematic representation of an exemplary basic dual-line filter-tipping machine 10, comprising relatively few modules and/or elements. A tobacco conveying module 11, a filter-tipping module 12, and an inspection and delivery module 13 are arranged one behind the other, and are operatively connected. The tobacco-conveying module 11 is arranged in the filter-tipping machine 10 in the upstream direction with respect to the article flow, while the inspection and delivery module 13 is arranged in the downstream direction.

Double-length tobacco rods 60 (shown in FIG. 1b), are deposited on the takeover drum 30 and are transferred thereby to a conveying drum 31 where they are cut by a cutting element 32 into two single-length tobacco rods, and are transferred to a conveying/separating drum 33. The single-length tobacco-rods 61 (shown in FIG. 1b) are pulled apart on the drum 33 and are then transferred to a vertical conveyor 34. At an intersecting point with the filter-tipping module 12, double-length filters 62 (shown in FIG. 1b) are also transferred to the vertical conveyor 34, shown as a vertical belt conveyor. Multiple-length filter rods are removed from a filter magazine 36, and then cut into double-length filters on a removal drum 37 using one or several knives (not shown). The filters are staggered on a staggering drum 38, inserted into a sequence of filters on a pusher drum 38a, and are subsequently transferred by an accelerating drum 39 to the vertical conveyor 34. As shown schematically in FIG. 1b, the double-length filter rods 62 are deposited in correspondingly provided receptacles (not shown), at the location of vertical conveyor 34, and at a location that corresponds to the location of the single-length tobacco rods 61, which are supplied later on. Subsequently, the tobacco rod/filter/tobacco rod group 63 is transferred to the takeover drum 41.

A tipping paper tape 43 is cut with the aid of an apparatus 42 into tipping-paper sections 64 (FIG. 1b), which are then affixed with adhesive to the tobacco rod/filter/tobacco rod groups 63. This process will not be explained in further detail herein since it is known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Subsequently, the tobacco rod/filter/tobacco rod group 63, provided with the tipping paper sections 64, is transferred to the conveying drum 44. On the conveying drum 44, the tipping paper section 64 is wrapped around the tobacco rod/filter/tobacco rod group 63 and a double-length filter cigarette 65 (FIG. 1b) is produced. Following the transfer of the double-length filter cigarette 65 onto the conveying drum 45, the double-length filter cigarette 65 is cut by a cutting element 32′ into two filter cigarettes 66 (FIG. 1b), which are conveyed on a vertical conveyor 34′, in this case a vertical belt conveyor. The vertical belt conveyor 34′ is operatively connected to a removal drum and/or a conveying drum 46 which takes over the filter cigarettes 66, respectively arranged coaxial inside a receptacle, and transfers these to a conveying drum 47. Following this process, the filter cigarettes 66 are transported to a delivery drum 48 where they are separated and/or pulled apart, so that they are positioned at a distance to each other.

The pulled-apart filter cigarettes 66 are transferred to a vertical conveyor 34″, for example, a vertical belt conveyor. From the vertical belt conveyor 34″ the filter cigarettes 66 are removed by a takeover drum 50 and are transferred to an inspection drum 51. The cigarettes 66 on the inspection drum 51 are tested with an inspection device 53. Defective cigarettes can be removed later on, for example, by ejecting them below the vertical conveyor 34″, as shown with the arrow starting at the vertical conveyor 34″ and extending at a slant downward to the left. The inspected cigarettes 66 are transferred from the inspection drum 51 to a delivery drum 52 and travel via the vertical conveyor 34″ and a conveying drum 54 to a turning drum 55 and then back again to the vertical conveyor 34″. The uniformly oriented cigarettes 66 are then transferred by a delivery drum 56 to a conveying belt 57.

The steps and elements described above are shown schematically in FIG. 1b. Since the operational steps were previously described with reference to FIG. 1a, they are not explained again with reference to FIG. 1b. The respective elements shown in FIG. 1b, for example, the drums 30, 31, 33, 41, 44, the vertical conveyors 34, 34′, 34″, and the articles 60-66, are shown schematically to illustrate the successive operational steps (in the directions of the arrows in FIG. 1a).

FIG. 2
a shows an alternative embodiment of a filter-tipping machine according to the present invention, comprising four modules. According to this exemplary embodiment, a tobacco rod and filter-conveying module 14, a filter-tipping module 12, a perforation module 15, and an inspection and delivery module 13 are arranged downstream from one another.

The tobacco rod and filter conveying module 14 shown in FIG. 2a differs from the tobacco rod conveying module 11 shown in FIG. 1a, in that a functional filter conveying unit 26 (see FIG. 5) is additionally provided in the upper region of the module 14. The filter conveying unit 26 can comprise a filter magazine 36′, a takeover drum 37′, a staggering drum 38′, a pusher drum 38a′, and an acceleration drum 39′. According to this exemplary embodiment, two different types of filter elements 67 and 68 (see FIG. 2b) can be assembled on the vertical conveyor 34 and placed between the single-length tobacco rods 61. The filter-tipping module 12 corresponds to the one shown in FIG. 1a. Also, the inspection and delivery module 13 corresponds to the one shown in FIG. 1a.

A perforation module 15 can be provided between the inspection and delivery module 13 and the filter-tipping module 12. The filter cigarettes 66, which are arranged coaxially inside a respective receptacle on the transfer drum 70, are initially transferred one after another to a vertical conveyor 34′″, by the vertical conveyor 34′ and the transfer drum 70. The single sequence of cut, double-length filter cigarettes 65 and/or coaxially arranged filter cigarettes 66 (arranged transverse and successively in the conveying direction) is divided into two partial sequences by the vertical conveyor 34′″ (e.g., a partial sequence from the perforation drum 81, and a partial sequence from the perforation drum 81′). The cigarettes are then perforated in the standard manner by perforation devices 80 and/or 80′, and are subsequently transferred to a vertical conveyor 34″″, from which the perforated filter cigarettes 66 are transferred to the conveying drum 46. The laser perforation will be described in further detail below with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

FIG. 2
b schematically shows the operational steps for the machine shown in FIG. 2a. The conveying path for the articles 60-66 of the tobacco industry is indicated schematically with an arrow in the upper region of FIG. 2b. Initially, double-length tobacco rods 60 are transferred to the takeover drum 30. The tobacco rods are then transferred to a conveying drum 31 where they are cut into single-length tobacco rods 61. Following the transfer to the conveying/separating drum 33, the single-length tobacco rods 61 are pulled apart and/or separated in the axial direction. The separated single-length tobacco rods 61 are then transferred to the vertical belt conveyor 34. On the vertical belt conveyor 34, a double-length filter element 68 from the filter-tipping module 12 is added. The filter element 68 is deposited in the center of a respective receptacle and/or holding receptacle (not illustrated) in the vertical belt conveyor 34. Two filter elements 67 are deposited on each end of the filter element 68 in the respective receptacles of the vertical belt conveyor 34, so that following the transfer of the single-length tobacco rods 61 to the vertical belt conveyor 34, each receptacle contains a sequence of components, comprising a single-length tobacco rod 61, a filter element 67, a filter element 68, a filter element 67, and a single-length tobacco rod 61. Means for pushing these components together can also be provided, for example, in the region of the vertical belt conveyor 34, or in the region of the takeover drum 41.

On the takeover drum 41, tipping paper sections 64 can be respectively affixed and/or glued to the tobacco rod/filter/tobacco rod groups 63. The respective tipping paper section 64 can be wound around the group 63 on the drum 44 to produce double-length filter cigarettes 65, which are positioned in the discharge area for drum 44 and on the conveying drum 45. On the conveying drum 45, the double-length filter cigarettes 65 can be cut in the center to form two cigarettes 66 which are then transferred to a vertical belt conveyor 34′.

The cigarettes 66, which are arranged next to each other in the axial direction, are subsequently transferred to a drum 70, and from there are transferred to a vertical belt conveyor 34′″.

The cigarettes 66, which are arranged adjacent to one another in a receptacle of the vertical belt conveyor 34′″, are conveyed in a single cigarette sequence on the vertical belt conveyor 34′″ until they reach the drum 81′. The drum 81′ removes a partial sequence from the sequence by removing the cigarettes 66 from every second receptacle. The remaining cigarettes 66 on the vertical belt conveyor 34′″ are removed by the drum 81. The cigarettes 66 are subsequently perforated while positioned on the drums 81 and 81′. The perforated cigarettes 66 are transferred to the vertical belt conveyor 34″″ and conveyed via drums 46, 47, 48 to the vertical belt conveyor 34″. Prior to transfer to the vertical belt conveyor 34″, the cigarettes 66 can be pulled apart while on the drum 48, as indicated schematically in FIG. 2b.

Referring to FIG. 2a, the pulled-apart cigarettes 66 can be transported successively past an inspection device 53 while positioned on the inspection drum 51 in the drawing plane, and inspected thereby. The inspected cigarettes subsequently travel via a drum 52 back to the vertical belt conveyor 34″, and from there, travel via a drum 54 to a turning drum 55 on which one partial sequence of the cigarettes is turned. As a result, all cigarettes 66 can have the same orientation from that point forward. The cigarettes 66, conveyed with uniform orientation, can be transferred from the vertical belt conveyor 34″ via a removal drum 56 to a conveying belt 57.

FIG. 3
a is a schematic representation of another alternative embodiment of a four-line filter-tipping machine according to the present invention. As compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1a, the tobacco-rod conveying module 11′ is different in that it comprises a functional unit 21 for feeding tobacco-rods. The tobacco-rod feeding unit 21 can comprise a takeover drum 30′, a conveying drum 31′, a cutting element 32′, a conveying/separating drum 33′, as well as the beginning and/or a section of a conveying belt 90.

Thus, two cut and pulled-apart, single-length tobacco rods 61 can be alternately deposited onto the vertical conveyor 34 by the conveying/separating drums 33, 33′. One sequence of the single-length, pulled-apart tobacco rods 61 is transferred from the conveying/separating drums to the conveying belt 90, while another sequence of single-length, pulled-apart tobacco rods 61 is further processed in the filter-tipping module 12′. Initially, double-length filter cigarettes 65 are produced, then single-length filter cigarettes 66 are produced coaxially, which are respectively arranged inside a receptacle, as previously described with reference to FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b.

An exchange occurs between the cigarettes 66 coming from above, and the single-length tobacco rods 61 conveyed from below, by the conveying belt 90, in the region of the vertical conveyor 34′ for the upstream-positioned filter-tipping module 12′. The single-length tobacco rods 61 together with the double-length filters 62, supplied from the filter magazine 36″ to the single-length tobacco rods 61, are initially formed into double-length filter cigarettes 65 inside the downstream-positioned filter-tipping module 12′, and are then separated into individual filter cigarettes 66. This operation takes place as explained above in connection with the previous embodiments.

The exchange between the vertical conveyor 34′ of the upstream-positioned filter-tipping module 12′, and the conveying belt 90 takes place such that the respective holding receptacles on the conveying belt 90 for the rod-shaped articles alternately contain and/or are supplied with the articles which are processed in the upstream positioned filter-tipping module 12′ into single filter cigarettes 66.

Following this, the produced filter cigarettes 66 are correspondingly inspected in the inspection and delivery module 13′, which in contrast to the inspection and delivery module 13 according to FIG. 1a, comprises a functional inspection unit 23, an inspection drum 51′, a delivery drum 52, and an inspection device 53′. Two inspection devices 53 and 53′ can be provided for this embodiment to satisfy the increased throughput of filter cigarettes 66 to be inspected. The sequence of filter cigarettes, moved via the delivery drum 48 to the vertical conveyor 34″, is also divided into partial sequences, wherein one partial sequence comprises filter cigarettes with one orientation and the other partial sequence comprises filter cigarettes with the opposite orientation. A separating out from the filter cigarette flow in this case also occurs in the lower region of the vertical conveyor 34″.

FIG. 3
b schematically illustrates the respective operational steps of the exemplary four-line filter-tipping machine shown in FIG. 3a, for which the respective explanations have already been provided above. The exemplary embodiment with four belts can be achieved with the aid of cooperating conveying elements 30, 30′; 31, 31′; 33, 33′; 34″, 91; 51, 51′; and 34″, 52, which are arranged below each other. For illustration purposes, the conveying belt 90 is shown in FIG. 3a below the conveying elements, positioned vertically above.

An exemplary filter-tipping machine of the present invention having a comprehensive expansion stage is shown schematically in FIG. 4a.

In contrast to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3a, the tobacco-rod conveying module 11′ is replaced with a tobacco-rod and filter-conveying module 14′. Module 14′ can comprise a filter-conveying unit 26 with a filter magazine 36′″, a takeover drum 37′″, a staggering drum 38′″, a pusher drum 38a′″, and an accelerating drum 39′″ in the filter-conveying module 16. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this is a separate module which comprises a vertical conveyor 34′ that is operatively connected to an accelerating drum 39″, the accelerating drum 39′″, the conveying belt 90, and a takeover drum 41″ of the downstream positioned filter-tipping module 12′. Thus, in contrast to FIG. 3a, double-length filter cigarettes can be produced in four lines. Also provided is an additional functional unit 26 for conveying filters, which comprises a filter magazine 36′, a takeover drum 37′, a staggering drum 38′, a pusher drum 38a′, and an acceleration drum 39′.

The perforation module 15′ can comprise four laser perforation devices 80, 80′, 80″, and 80′″, as well as four perforation drums 81, 81′, 81″, and 81′″. The filter cigarettes can thus be divided into four partial flows for perforating. The filter cigarettes are taken over by the vertical conveyor 34′″ and transferred to the vertical conveyor 34″″, so that the perforated filter cigarettes can again be merged into a single sequence of filter cigarettes. The module 13′ shown in FIG. 4a can correspond to that shown in FIG. 3a.

FIG. 4
b schematically shows the operation of the exemplary four-line filter-tipping machine of FIG. 4a. The operation will be self-explanatory to the person of ordinary skill in the art in view of the above-provided description.

Exemplary embodiments of the modules according to the present invention are shown in the upper region of FIG. 5, namely a tobacco-rod conveying module 11, a filter-tipping module 12, an inspection and delivery module 13, a perforation module 15, and a filter-conveying module 16. Not shown is a tobacco-rod and filter-conveying module 14 which comprises a combination of a tobacco-rod conveying module 11 and a functional unit 26 for conveying filters. The various functional units which can be installed in the respective modules are further shown in the lower region of FIG. 5. Provided, for example, is a functional unit 23 for inspection, which can be installed in the inspection and delivery module 13. To install the functional unit 23 in the inspection and delivery module 13, the conveying drum 54 and the turning drum 55 can be removed. Also provided is a functional unit 25 for the perforation, which comprises two laser perforation devices 80″ and 80′″, two perforation drums 81″ and 81′″, as well as a functional unit for transporting 27, comprising a conveying belt 90, and/or a section of a conveying belt 90. Finally, a functional unit 21 for feeding tobacco rods is provided, which comprises a takeover drum 30′, a conveying drum 31′, a cutting element 32′, and a conveying/separating drum 33′.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a perforation device. The vertical conveyor 34′″ can be provided with receptacles 95 in the conveying belt on the vertical conveyor 34′″. Arrows are used in FIG. 6 to indicate the conveying direction. The cigarettes 66 are deposited at the article intake location 100 into the respective receptacles 95 on the conveying belt. In the exemplary embodiment shown, one receptacle is alternately left empty and one is filled. In the region where the perforation drum 81′ is located, one filter cigarette 66 is removed from the vertical conveyor 34′″, while the adjacent filter cigarette 66 remains on the conveying belt. The division of the receptacles on the perforation drum 81′ is thus twice that on the vertical conveyor 34′″. The remaining partial sequence of filter cigarettes 66 on the vertical conveyor 34′″ is transferred to the perforation drum 81. The filter cigarettes 66 are then perforated in the standard manner in the region of perforation devices 80, 80′. A grooved drum 92 and/or 92′ is provided by means of which the filter cigarettes 66 are rotated around their axes. In the process, high-energy radiation 98 is focused onto the filter paper to burn small holes into it. Reference is made to German Patent No. 101 45 326 A1, incorporated herein by reference, to explain the mode of operation of the perforation device 80, 80′, 80″ and 80′″.

The perforated filter cigarettes are conveyed to the vertical conveyor 34″″, so that a corresponding sequence of filter cigarettes 66 is formed and delivered to the article delivery region 101.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of another exemplary perforation device according to the present invention. According to this exemplary embodiment, the number of receptacles 95 increases four-fold between the vertical conveyor 34′″ and 34″″ and the perforation drums 81 to 81′″. Thus, for this exemplary embodiment, four laser perforation devices 80 to 80′″ and four perforation drums 81 to 81′″ are provided instead of the two shown in FIG. 6. The method of perforating and picking up and/or delivering the filter cigarettes corresponds to the method illustrated in FIG. 6. However, the throughput is doubled while the speed of the moving elements remains the same.

As compared to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, the throughput of filter cigarettes can be doubled when using the exemplary perforation arrangement depicted in FIG. 8. According to this exemplary embodiment, the perforation devices 80 and 80′ can be used which respectively comprise two optic systems 93 and 94, and/or 93′ and 94′. These optic systems function to focus high-energy radiation 98 (e.g., laser radiation) onto the cigarettes 66. The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8 can additionally be provided with a roller belt 96 and/or 96′. The cigarettes 66 are positioned between the roller belt 96 and/or 96′, and the rolling block 97 and/or 97′, thereby causing a rotation of the corresponding cigarettes 66. With respect to the configuration of the perforation device 80 and/or 80′, we refer to the full content of German Patent No. 102 17 409 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

Module for a machine and method for perforating rod-shaped articles of the tobacco industry

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