CN112236046B - Filter segment collecting device and method for collecting filter segments of tobacco processing industry - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter segment pooling device of the tobacco processing industry, with a filter segment running path for the trans-axial handing over of filter segments (9, 9 ') to a filter segment pooling mechanism (28), wherein extraction means (1, 1') are provided in the filter segment running path, which extraction means are configured for extracting filter rods (8) of a multiple-use length from filter magazine boxes (21.1-21.5), wherein cutting means (3, 3 ') are also provided in the filter segment running path, which cutting means are configured for cutting filter rods (8) of the multiple-use length into filter segments, in which moving means are provided downstream of the cutting means, wherein the moving means (3, 3') have flutes (7) for receiving filter segments, characterized in that the number of flutes (7) is greater than or equal to the number of 29. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for assembling filter segments for the tobacco processing industry.

Description

Filter segment collecting device and method for collecting filter segments of the tobacco processing industry

Technical Field

The invention relates to a filter segment collecting device for the tobacco processing industry, comprising a filter segment running path for transferring filter segments transversely to a filter segment collecting device.

The invention also relates to a method for assembling filter segments of the tobacco processing industry in a transverse movement.

Background

Such devices and methods are needed, for example, to produce cigarette filters having a single or multiple use lengths, which are attached to tobacco rods in a cigarette making machine.

A corresponding method and device for collecting groups of filter segments is known from EP 1 393 640 B1. The device shown there makes it possible to assemble filter segments into respective groups of filter segments very variably. For this purpose, corresponding units are known which are provided as modules or cabinet elements, each unit described as a flexible element unit 10-14 in EP 1 393 640 B1 having a plurality of roller-shaped conveying and handling devices.

The filter running path of the soft element unit 10 shown in fig. 1 of EP 1 393 640 B1 therefore has, for example, a removal roller 22.1 which engages with two circular knives 27 in order to cut filter rods of multiple use lengths removed from a magazine or reservoir 21.1 twice, then to align them on the aligning roller 23.1, after which the filter rods which have accordingly been divided into three filter segments are moved once again on the moving/cutting roller 24.1 into an aligned position and then cut again. These cut filter segments are then arranged in an arrangement drum 25.1 and transferred by a subsequent moving/transfer drum onto a collection drum 28.1. This filter segment running path or filter rod running path, although already having fewer conveying and handling mechanisms, can still be further optimized.

EP 0 383 970 B1 discloses a device for manufacturing filter cigarettes, wherein in fig. 1 two filter running paths are provided which deliver filter segments into a large grooved roller 142.

US 3,067,644A discloses a device for conveying and cutting filter rods into filter rod segments.

WO 2008/081340 A2 discloses a filter cutting system.

PCT application PCT/EP2017/081479, filed on 5.12.12.2017, claiming priority of german application 10 2016 124 052.4 on 12.12.2016, discloses a filter segment pooling device and a method for pooling filter segments of the tobacco processing industry. These applications are unpublished at the filing date of the present patent application.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a filter segment joining device for the tobacco processing industry and a corresponding method for joining filter segments of the tobacco processing industry, in particular into filter segment groups, which enable efficient and variable production of joined filter segments or filter segment groups with a low number of components.

This object is achieved by a filter segment collecting device of the tobacco processing industry with a filter segment operating path for transferring filter segments transversely to a filter segment collecting means, wherein a removal device is provided in the filter segment operating path, which removal device is designed for removing filter rods of multiple use lengths from a filter storage silo, wherein a cutting device is also provided in the filter segment operating path, which cutting device is designed for cutting filter rods of multiple use lengths transversely to filter segments, wherein a displacement device is provided downstream of the cutting device, wherein the displacement device has flutes for receiving filter segments, by means of which the flutes are designed to be expanded such that the number of flutes is a prime number greater than or equal to 29, in particular greater than or equal to 37.

By providing such a filter segment collecting device, a plurality of mechanisms for transporting and handling filter rods or filter segments can be dispensed with. In particular, it is provided here that the removal device and the cutting device, and optionally the displacement device, rotate during operation about in each case one axis of rotation. The cutting device is preferably configured as a cutting drum. The cutting device can also be configured as a take-off roller or a line roller or an acceleration roller. The moving means is preferably configured to move the roller.

Within the scope of the invention, the moving device is constructed without a cutting device. The cutting device is thus a separate device from the moving device. The possible knives of the cutting device therefore do not engage into the receptacle or into the articles of the moving device, such as filter rods or filter segments, which are accommodated in the receptacle.

This enables an extremely precise cutting operation.

Since the number of flutes of the moving drum is a prime number greater than or equal to 29 or 37, it is possible, on the one hand, to introduce a very large number of filter rods, thus achieving high efficiency, and, on the other hand, to ensure that a very high variability is achieved. This will be discussed in more detail later.

The take-off device can be designed as a take-off drum and for this purpose has, for example, a take-off ring body provided with a groove. The displacement device can accordingly be configured as a displacement drum, for example with a displacement ring with corresponding grooves. In the displacement device, it is accordingly possible to displace not only the filter rod but also the filter segment.

The number of grooves of the moving drum is particularly preferably 61 grooves.

The moving device preferably has a stop to which a filter segment received in a groove, which can also be referred to as a receptacle, is moved or can be moved.

The cutting device is preferably configured such that it cuts a filter rod of m times the used length into m filter segments or m/2 filter segments, where m is an integer greater than or equal to 2. For this purpose, the cutting device has m-1 cutters, the position of which can be adjusted relative to one another or in the axial direction relative to a receptacle in which the filter rod is or can be received, or in the case of only one cutter. By means of the adjustability of the axial position of the tool, a very variable device and a very variable method are achieved. An 8-times used length filter rod 8cm long can be cut into a total of 8 filter segments, for example by a spacing of 1 cm from a stop against which the 8-times used length filter rod rests, by a cutting device with 7 cuts of a total of 7 cutters. The cutters are preferably axially spaced from each other by 1 cm. Three cutters are used in an 8-times use length filter rod of four filter segments that should be cut to 2-times use length, said cutters having a spacing in the axial direction that corresponds to the length of the filter rod by quartering. The cutters of the cutting device are preferably arranged axially opposite one another and axially opposite the receptacles or grooves of the cutting device in such a way that the filter rod can be cut or cut into equally long filter segments.

The cut filter segments are then axially successively in receptacles and are conveyed in the filter travel path to the displacement device and are delivered to the receptacles or flutes of the displacement device.

The movement device is preferably designed such that the filter segments arranged at the stop are or can be handed out. The cut filter segments are thus always handed over from the flutes of the moving rollers, and the second or further filter segments which are still remaining are left on the moving device and further circulate with the rollers. The filter segments remaining in the grooves of the moving device or the remaining filter segments are then moved to the stop and in the next revolution of the moving device the filter segments abutting against the stop are handed over. After the final filter segment has been delivered from the flute, an empty flute is created, which is then filled again with a filter rod of multiple use length cut into a plurality of filter segments.

Due to the use of prime flutes, filter rods cut into a plurality of filter segments should also not be introduced into the flutes which are still occupied, substantially independently of the number of flutes which the extraction device or the acceleration device connected to the extraction device has.

The removal device preferably has slots for receiving filter rods, wherein the number of slots can be variably predetermined and/or an acceleration device is connected to the removal device, which has a variably predetermined number of slots.

The acceleration device preferably has an acceleration drum or an acceleration ring which rotates about an axis of rotation or on a shaft.

The filter running path preferably has, as active transport elements for the filter rod or filter segment, only: take-out devices or take-out drums; if necessary, an acceleration device, in particular an acceleration drum; a moving device, in particular a moving drum; and a collecting device or collecting drum or a corresponding collecting conveyor belt with a corresponding trough. The removal device or the acceleration device then additionally acts as a cutting device.

The filter running path is particularly preferred, which as an active transport element for filter rods or filter segments has only: take-out devices or take-out drums; a moving device, in particular a moving drum; and a collecting device or collecting drum or a corresponding collecting conveyor belt with a corresponding trough. In this case, the extraction device also comprises a cutting device. In addition to this, it can also be provided that a further moving drum is connected to the moving drum, which then accordingly transfers the filter segments or filter segment groups moved into the final position to a collecting device or collecting drum, wherein this collecting device then preferably rotates on a rotational axis which corresponds to the rotational axis of the moving drum or is arranged on the same shaft.

Preferably the variability is obtained by a different number of active slots.

The different number of active slots is preferably achieved by an exchangeable drum outer ring, also referred to as take-off ring, cutting ring, moving ring or acceleration ring, which is preferably provided with a different number of slots. For this purpose, the removal device or the removal drum can have a removal ring, for example, which can be easily replaced. The variable suction air connection can alternatively be arranged at the groove or the groove can be closed by introducing an annular body. Furthermore, as an alternative to this, a snap roller (Klicktrommel) with a variable number of grooves may be provided.

Reference is made to EP2 921 062 A1 for a variant of a snap roller. There, a transport cylinder 2 is disclosed which can be provided with a trough element 6. The trough element 6 has for this purpose on its underside a bushing 14 which can be inserted into a suction bore or a suction opening of the conveyor drum. A corresponding base body or trough element can then be used, which has a width such that a trough element is introduced into each suction air opening distributed over the circumference or, for example, only in each second suction air opening or in each third suction air opening, etc., wherein the further suction air openings can then be closed by closing means or a region widening in the circumferential direction of the transport drum is provided at the trough element, which closes or seals the suction air openings in the transport drum spaced apart from the trough. The transport rollers disclosed in EP2 921 062 A1 can be used as take-off devices. The transport cylinder can also be used as a moving device and/or as a cutting device. The disclosure of EP2 921 062 A1 should be fully incorporated in this patent application.

For the closure of the variable suction air connection or slot, reference is made to EP2 328 429 B1, in which three examples of how to close the respective suction air opening of the slot, for example by providing a valve in the suction air opening or in the closure body, which can be configured as a sealing structure, are disclosed. Alternatively, an inner ring can also be provided, which is connected at its outer side to the inner side of the outer annular body having the suction air opening. Thus, for example, fewer suction air openings are provided in the inner ring than in the outer ring. For this purpose, reference is made in particular to fig. 1 and 2 of EP2 328 429 B1 and there reference numerals 22, 26 and 28 and the description and the figures associated therewith. The disclosure of EP2 328 429 B1 is to be fully incorporated in this patent application.

Filter segment collection devices are particularly preferred when the extraction device has a number of flutes or active flutes of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60, 120 or 240. The maximum number to be set is preferably 120 and can be varied by the above-described variability, in particular reduced or reduced accordingly. In the case of a corresponding base number of slots, that is to say a maximum number of slots of 240, 120 or 60, a reduced active number of slots results therefrom, i.e. the base number of slots is divided by a natural number, wherein the natural number is selected such that the division does not result in a remainder. Thus, when the number of basic grooves is 120, n = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 40 or 60.

In a particularly preferred manner, the removal device is designed as a removal drum, which has a removal ring with a number of grooves corresponding to the number of base grooves. The number of grooves of the take-off device or of the take-off drum can then be changed simply by exchanging the take-off toroids.

Preferably, two filter segment running paths are provided, wherein for this purpose two removal rings are arranged on the rotational axis of the removal device and/or wherein two moving rings are provided on the rotational axis or axis of the moving device, wherein the moving rings are arranged in particular mirror-symmetrical fashion to one another.

The name "take-out toroid" may also refer to the take-out cylinder body. Furthermore, the term "moving annular body" may also refer to a moving cylinder body.

The provision of two removal rings or two removal drums means, in particular, that two removal rings or two removal drums are arranged one behind the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tank on the rotational axis or on a common axis. The provision of two displacement ring bodies on one rotational axis correspondingly means that two displacement ring bodies are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the groove or in the direction of the rotational axis, in particular on a common axis. Accordingly, two acceleration drums or two acceleration rings can be arranged preferably on the axis of rotation of the acceleration drum or particularly preferably on a common shaft.

Preferably, at least three, preferably four filter segment running paths are provided, wherein for this purpose a corresponding number, in particular at least three, preferably four, of the removal rings is provided on the axis of rotation of the removal device and/or wherein a corresponding number, in particular at least three, preferably four, of the moving rings is provided on the axis of rotation of the moving device. The moving annular bodies may preferably be mirror images of each other, for example two pairs of moving annular bodies may be mirror images of each other. These displacement rings can each have a stop, which is arranged, for example, centrally between the displacement rings.

Mirror symmetry means within the scope of the invention that the filter rods or filter segments are arranged on the side of the moving device or of the corresponding moving annular body which adjoins other moving annular bodies adjacent thereto. In particular, two displacement rings arranged mirror-symmetrically to one another preferably share a common stop body, which is arranged along the circumference of the displacement rings between the respective displacement rings.

Furthermore, a further moving roller is preferably provided, which moves the filter segments received by the moving annular body to one side and out onto the collecting mechanism.

The collecting device preferably has a rotational axis which corresponds to the rotational axis of the moving drum. This results in a compact design.

It is particularly preferred to provide further moving drums when there are provided four filter segment running paths where four removal annuli are provided on the axis of rotation of the removal device and/or four moving annuli are provided on the axis of rotation of the moving device.

Preferably, four removal rings and/or displacement rings are arranged on a common axis in each case. As an alternative to the further moving roller, a further rotary moving mechanism can also be provided.

The multi-segment filter making machine of the tobacco processing industry is preferably equipped with a filter segment collecting device according to the invention, wherein a transfer device is provided which delivers the collected filter segments to a rod forming device, or wherein a device for wrapping the collected filter segments with a wrapping material band in a crimping process is provided.

The rod making device conveys the filter segments along the longitudinal axis. A transfer from the transverse axial conveying direction of the filter components to the longitudinal axial conveying direction therefore takes place. In a variant of the crimping process, the filter segments are held in a transverse axial conveying movement.

The object is also achieved by a method for combining filter segments of the tobacco processing industry in a transverse movement, wherein filter rods of multiple used lengths are removed from a filter rod magazine by means of a removal device in a filter running path, wherein the filter rods are subsequently cut off in a cutting device in a transverse axial direction and the filter segments are then transferred from the cutting device to a moving device or directly to an acceleration device and directly from there to the moving device, wherein the filter segments are moved into a final position or are arranged in a final position for one revolution of the moving device, wherein the filter segments arranged in the final position are directly transferred to a combining device or directly to a further moving drum and are directly transferred from there to the combining device.

The inventive method enables filter segments of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter segments of a group of filter segments, to be combined very efficiently and with few means, that is to say cost-effectively.

The filter segment or filter segments remaining on the displacement device in a first run of the displacement device are displaced in a next run of the displacement device into a final position, in which the filter elements arranged in the final position or at the stop of the displacement device are then handed over.

By these measures, that is to say in particular the provision of a displacement device which, in the case of multiple revolutions of a filter rod cut to filter segments of multiple usable length, each revolution always delivers a filter segment, a very space-saving and resource-saving method is achieved.

The empty flutes of the moving device are preferably in turn occupied by filter rods cut into a plurality of filter segments. For this purpose, only the emptied slots of the displacement device are preferably again occupied by the filter rods.

As an alternative to this, provision can also be made for the flute to be occupied by a filter rod cut into a plurality of filter segments, in which flute only one filter segment is still arranged, and for this filter segment to then be handed over again immediately after the laying of a new filter segment, and for the new filter segment to be moved to the stop immediately thereafter. This speeds up the method and the insertion of the filter segment collector in particular.

The movement means preferably has a plurality of flutes for receiving filter rods and filter segments, the number of flutes being a prime number of 29 or 37 or more.

Preferably, at least two filter running paths are provided with grooves oriented parallel to each other and at least partially collinear on at least two extraction annular bodies of the extraction device, and furthermore with grooves oriented parallel to each other and at least partially collinear on at least two moving annular bodies of the moving device. The method is preferably carried out in at least two filter running paths with these features.

It is preferred to use moving devices in the filter running path of the filter segment gathering device of the tobacco processing industry, the number of flutes being a prime number greater than or equal to 29, in particular greater than or equal to 37. The number of grooves is particularly preferably 61.

The drum or the corresponding take-off ring provided with different grooves according to the invention preferably has different graduations for higher variability. Particularly preferred is a higher variability due to different indexing or different number of grooves of the removal ring, wherein the variability can be increased by providing a replaceable removal ring.

By providing a moving means, preferably in the form of a moving drum, comprising preferably two or more moving annular bodies with a number of grooves that is prime and greater than or equal to 29, in particular greater than or equal to 37, preferably 61, filter rods can be efficiently processed into filter segments and groups of filter segments can be efficiently collected. In this case, preferably two, particularly preferably at least three, particularly preferably four filter operating channels on the respective removal ring or removal drum, which are arranged on the common axis of rotation or on the common axis, and a respective displacement device with a corresponding number of displacement rings, which are arranged on the common axis of rotation and particularly on the common axis, are possible. In this case, it can be said that two or more filter transfer paths are realized in parallel on a common axis of the conveying or processing means, respectively. Thereby an extremely efficient and space-saving collection of filter segments is achieved.

The rotational speed of the respective removal device and of the displacement device and of the collecting device is approximately equal to the circumferential speed. The speed between the take-out device and the moving device is adjusted for the case where the accelerating device is provided between the take-out device and the moving device.

Corresponding acceleration devices or acceleration drums are known from the prior art. These acceleration devices or acceleration drums are equipped with movable grooves which have a slow speed of the removal device for removing the filter rods from the removal device and which are then accelerated to the peripheral speed of the displacement device for delivering the filter rods in the conveying direction onto the displacement device.

For cutting the filter rod into filter segments, a cutting device is provided upstream of the moving device, the cutting device preferably comprising one or more knives. The cutting device may be a cutting drum or integrated in the take-off device or in the acceleration device.

In a first variant of the invention, a single running path is provided, by means of which filter rods of multiple usable lengths can be cut into a plurality of filter segments, in order to subsequently dispense one filter segment from each receptacle or flute of the displacement device and to displace the remaining filter segments into the dispensing position during the circulation of the displacement device. The filter segment can then be cut and unfolded centrally again.

In a second variant of the invention, a double filter running path or a double filter segment running path is provided, wherein in the respective conveying and handling means or conveying and handling devices a common shaft is provided in each case. The second variant can also be configured in the form of a quadruple of travel paths. Two dual filter segment running paths may also be provided, in which the respectively provided filter segments are collected on a common collecting mechanism into a filter segment group.

According to the invention, the number of filter segments delivered accordingly is the same for each filter running path for each revolution of the moving cutting annular body.

Further features of the invention are apparent from the description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the claims and the drawings. Embodiments according to the invention can satisfy a single feature or a combination of features.

Without limiting the general inventive concept, the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of example, wherein reference is made explicitly to the drawings with regard to all the details according to the invention which are not explained in detail in the text.

Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a multi-segment filter making machine according to the prior art;

figure 2 schematically shows in three-dimensional view the important elements of the running path of two filter segments according to the invention;

figure 3 is a schematic view of a single filter segment running path in another embodiment according to the present invention;

figure 4 shows schematically in a three-dimensional view four filter running paths or two dual filter segment running paths according to the invention; and is

Fig. 5 shows a schematic three-dimensional representation of a quadruple filter operating channel according to the invention.

Detailed Description

In the figures, elements and/or parts of the same or similar type are assigned the same reference numerals, respectively, so that a renewed description is omitted accordingly.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a multi-segment filter production device with a device according to the prior art for collecting groups of filter segments for producing multi-segment filters. The multi-segment filter manufacturing apparatus is divided into respective units. The device can be divided into a plurality of individual functional units according to the patent application DE 101 55 292.0 of the present inventor. The functional units can in this embodiment be several soft element units 10 to 14, two handover units 15 and 16 which can also be shown as one handover unit and a corresponding striping unit 17 which is only shown very schematically.

The soft element units 10-14 are similar to each other. These soft element units substantially correspond to the soft element units of fig. 5 a) of DE 101 55 292.0 of the present applicant. For all more detailed details of these soft element units, reference is explicitly made to patent application DE 101 55 292.0. The soft element units 11, 12 and 13 differ from the soft element units 10 and 14 in that a further circular knife 27 is provided, by means of which the supplied filter elements are cut once more. In this embodiment five soft element units 10-14 are used. Instead of or in addition to these soft component units, hard component units can also be used which, instead of filter components made, for example, of cellulose acetate or nonwoven, have hard filter components, such as sintered components, hollow cylinders or cavities and capsules, which can also be filled, for example, with particles. The description made with reference to fig. 6 a) of DE 101 55 292.0, for example, is conceivable in a corresponding hard element unit.

The soft component units 10-14 of fig. 1 comprise respective storage containers 21.1-21.5, which may for example have filter components of 12 times the use length or such filter components of 16 times the use length. In the soft component unit 10, filter components of n-fold the usable length are removed by means of the removal drum 22.1 and cut by the circular knife 27 into filter components of smaller usable length. If only two circular knives are involved here, a filter of 12 times the use length is cut beforehand into filter elements of 4 times the use length. If the upper circular knife is a circular knife and the lower circular knife is two circular knives arranged one behind the other in the rear plane, filter elements of 16 times the usable length are each cut to filter elements of 4 times the usable length.

The filter components of 4 times the use length are then transferred to an aligning drum 23.1, in which they are aligned, in order to be subsequently moved first in a transverse axial direction flush in a moving/cutting drum 24.1, in order to carry out a further cut with a circular knife 27, which cuts the filter components of 4 times the use length into filter components of 2 times the use length. These filter components are aligned in the following alignment drum 25.1 in order to align them next in the movement/transfer 26.1 transversely axially flush and then deposit them onto the collecting drum 28.1.

Thus, a filter element of 2 times the usable length is stored in the soft element unit 10. These filter components are then transferred by means of the transfer rollers 29 to the collecting rollers 28.2 of the soft component unit 11. On this collecting drum 28.2, two filter components of a single service length are then placed, which are then pulled apart from one another in the longitudinal axis direction in the unwinding drum 30.1. To this end, reference is made in particular to fig. 2, which shows the position of the respective filter element.

The soft component unit 11 differs from the soft component unit 10 in that in the region of the moving/transfer drum 26.2 a further circular knife 27 is arranged, which cuts the filter components of 2 times the use length into filter components of a single use length. The soft element unit 11 differs from the soft element unit 10 in that an unwinding roller 30.1 is used instead of the hand-off roller 29. The soft element units 12 and 13 also comprise respective spreading rollers 30.2 and 30.3, by means of which the inserted segments or filter elements can be correspondingly pulled apart or spread apart from one another.

The soft component unit 14 again corresponds essentially to the soft component unit 10, but in this case an arrangement drum 31 is used instead of the hand-over drum 29, which is essential to the invention. In this aligning drum, the collected segments or filter elements (which are arranged in a respective group of 8 filter elements in this embodiment, namely six single-use-length filter elements and two double-use-length filter elements) are divided into two groups, i.e. aligned correspondingly in this embodiment, in order then to be aligned flush in the moving drum 32 transversely axially and to be pressed together in the following oscillating drum 33. The groups are then transferred to a transfer drum 34 and accelerated by means of an acceleration drum 35, introduced into the insertion wheel 19 of the transfer conveyor 20, in order to be transferred into the multi-segment filter rod in a known manner, and then subsequently wrapped with filter paper and cut. With regard to the transfer of the multi-segment filter groups from the transverse axial conveying direction 36 into the rods in the longitudinal axial conveying direction 36, reference is made in particular to DE 25 34 666.

The rod-forming unit, schematically indicated at 17 in fig. 1, is for example a conventional rod-forming apparatus of the name KDF 2E of the applicant.

Figure 2 shows schematically in a three-dimensional view two single filter running paths or filter segment running paths of the tobacco processing industry. Two take-off devices 1 in the form of take-off drums are provided which take off filter rods 8 from a filter rod magazine or storage container, not shown. The take-out drum has 60 slots 7 for receiving filter rods 8. The take-off drum is shown here as a take-off ring 100. The take-out drum or take-out ring 100 is rotated in the direction of the arrow about a rotational axis 140 or is arranged on a corresponding shaft, not shown. The removal device is configured in this embodiment as a cutting device. To this end, circular knives 6 are provided, respectively, which cut the filter rods 8 received in the grooves 7 into first and second filter segments 9, 9', respectively.

The filter segments 9, 9' are then transferred from the extraction device 1 to the movement device 3. Here, the filter segments 9, 9' enter into each second groove of the movement means 3.

The respective moving means 3 are configured in the form of a moving roller having a moving annular body 110. The respective displacement device 3 rotates about a rotational axis or is driven in rotation on a respective shaft. The slots 7 provided on the displacement device 3 have here in this example a number 61.

Each first filter segment is then handed over as a filter segment arranged at stop 130 to a collecting mechanism in the form of a collecting drum 28, where two filter segments 9, 9 "are thus successively introduced into respective grooves 7 one after the other in the longitudinal axial direction.

The filter segments 9, 9' are then placed alternately in the direction of rotation of the collecting mechanism. From there, the two filter segments 9, 9' may be handed over for further processing, for example, to a transverse axial crimping winder (Rollwicklung) or a longitudinal axial rod maker.

The second filter segments 9' remaining on the moving means 3 are moved to the stop 130, corresponding to how the filter rods are moved to the stop 130, and then handed out to the collecting drum 28 in the next pass. The filter segments 9, 9' are again introduced into the empty grooves 7 that then remain.

Instead of the collecting drum 28, a collecting conveyor belt, which has, for example, a trough 7, can also be provided.

As a variant, it is possible, for example, to provide the removal device 1 with 120 grooves 7, i.e. they have an index which is half as large as the index of the removal device 1 shown in fig. 2. It is also possible to provide 30 slots, 15 slots or another number of slots already mentioned before. Provision can also be made, for example, for one filter rod 8 to be cut into four filter segments. In this case, a slot number of 30 slots is provided, with double indexing as shown in fig. 2, that is to say the pitch of the slots is doubled. This results in a simple exchangeability or a possibility of variation, so that an extraction ring body 100, which is correspondingly equipped with a different groove, can be exchanged.

Figure 3 schematically shows a filter running path or filter segment running path in another embodiment of the invention. The take-off device 1 in the form of a take-off roller is operated at a slower peripheral speed than the displacement device 3 in the form of a moving roller. To compensate for the speed difference, an acceleration roller 2 or a registration roller is provided. Finally the respectively cut filter segments are handed off from the moving device 3 to a collecting drum 28. Instead of a collecting drum, a collecting belt may also be provided. Two options are schematically shown in this figure. On the one hand, the take-off cylinder can be designed as a cutting device, which is illustrated by a schematically illustrated circular knife 6 on the take-off cylinder. On the other hand, it is possible to configure the alignment drum as a cutting device, which is schematically illustrated by the circular knife 6 at the alignment drum. It is furthermore possible to provide a cutting device, for example in the form of a cutting cylinder, between the alignment cylinder and the moving cylinder.

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention. Here two runs of two filter segments or two runs of dual filter segments are shown. Extraction device 1' comprises two extraction annular bodies 100 and 101, both rotating jointly about a rotation axis 140. The extraction device 1' has an annular body 100 with 60 slots and a coaxially arranged extraction annular body 101 with 40 slots. Other numbers of slots may be provided as described above. The division of the extraction toroid 100 is therefore as small as 1.5 times the division of the extraction toroid 101.

The filter rods 8 are removed by the removal device 1 from a magazine or storage container, not shown, so that the filter rods 8 rest against the edge of the adjacent removal ring 100 or 101. Alternatively, the filter rod 8 can be removed and moved into a position adjacent to the removal ring 100 or 101. The filter rods are cut into filter segments on the take-off drum, to be precise into two filter segments on the take-off drum and into three filter elements on the take-off drum. One circular knife 6 is provided for a single cut and a double circular knife 6' is provided for a double cut.

The filter rod 8 is then handed over to the movement means 3' comprising the two moving annular bodies 110 and 111. It is also possible to provide only one moving annular body. It must only be realised that a stop 130 is provided in the centre of this moving annular body or, when two moving annular bodies are used, against which filter segments 9 and 9' can abut.

The number of slots of the moving annular bodies 110 and 111 is 61. The cut filter segments 9, 9' are then accordingly handed out to a collecting mechanism or drum 28. The movement means 3', comprising the two moving annular bodies 110 and 111, rotate around the rotation axis 141 or on a common axis.

In fig. 4, further double filter running paths of correspondingly identical design are shown, so that a total of four filter running paths or two double filter running paths each, which are arranged on a common axis of rotation or shaft, are realized or implemented. On the collecting drum 28, a group of filter segments is then produced, which are arranged alternately long-short-long-short. Short filter segments are produced on the moving annular body 110, 111/cutting annular body by cutting the filter rod into three filter segments, which is handed over by the extraction annular body 101. A somewhat longer filter segment is produced by cutting the filter rod 8 once.

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention. Here, on a common axis of rotation 140 or on a common shaft, four extraction annular bodies 100, 101, 102 and 103 are arranged on extraction device 1 ″. The graduation or number of the grooves is also different in each case here. The extraction ring 100 has 60 slots, the extraction ring 101 has 40 slots, the extraction ring 102 has 20 slots and the extraction ring 103 has 10 slots.

The filter rods 8 housed in the slots 7 of the extraction ring are often cut differently. A single cut occurs on the extraction ring 100. A double cut is performed on the extraction annular body 101. For this purpose, a double circular knife 6' is used. The filter rod 8 is cut into 5 filter segments on the extraction annular body 102. Quadruple circular knives were used for this purpose. The filter rods housed on the extraction annular body 103 are cut into 10 filter segments. For this purpose, 9 knives were used for one circular knife. Alternatively, the circular knives may also be arranged offset in the direction of rotation of the removal rings 101, 102, 103.

The movement means 3 ', arranged on a common axis, on which the four movement annuli 110, 111, 112 and 113 are arranged, are directly connected to the extraction means 1'. It is also possible to provide two moving annular bodies, which are units of moving annular bodies 110 and 111 and 112 and 113, respectively. A stop 130 is provided in the center of the two moving rings. For clarity, the filter segments are shown uncut on the moving device.

As can be clearly seen in figure 5, the number of filter segments of different length on the moving annular body becomes greater, according to the decreasing number of grooves on the extracting annular body. In order to be able to give all cut filter segments correspondingly to the collecting mechanism, a further moving drum 120 is provided, which moves all the received filter segments onto the side face shown on the right front in fig. 5, in order then to be applied to the collecting drum 28 arranged on the common axis of the moving means 3'.

All the features mentioned, which are also taken individually from the drawings, as well as the individual features disclosed in connection with the other features, are considered essential to the invention, both individually and in combination. Embodiments according to the invention can be implemented by means of individual features or combinations of features. Within the scope of the present invention, the features marked with "in particular" or "preferred" refer to features that can be chosen arbitrarily.

List of reference numerals

1.1 'and 1' extraction device

2. Accelerating roller

3. 3 ', 3' mobile device

6. Circular knife

6' double round knife

7. Trough

8. Filter tip rod

9. 9' filter segment

10-14 soft element unit

15. Handover unit

16. Handover unit

17. Sliver forming unit

19. Embedded wheel

20. Transfer conveyor

21.1-21.5 storage container

22.1-22.5 take-off roller

23.1-23.5 arraying roller

24.1-24.5 moving/cutting cylinders

25.1-25.5 arraying roller

26.1-26.5 moving/handing-over roller

27. Circular knife

28. 28.1-28.5 collecting roller

29. Hand-over roller

30.1-30.3 unwinding roller

31. Arranging roller

32. Movable roller

33. Swinging roller

34. Hand-over roller

35. Accelerating roller

36. Direction of conveyance

100-103 taking out annular body

110-113 moving annular body

120. Additional moving rollers

130. Stop dog

140. Axis of rotation

141. Axis of rotation

Claims (20)

1. Filter segment collection device of the tobacco processing industry with a filter segment running path for the transverse axial handing over of filter segments (9, 9 ') onto a filter segment collection mechanism, wherein extraction means (1, 1 ') are provided in the filter segment running path, which extraction means are configured for extracting filter rods (8) of multiple use length from a magazine, wherein cutting means are also provided in the filter segment running path, which cutting means are configured for cutting the filter rods (8) of multiple use length into filter segments transverse axially, wherein moving means are provided downstream of the cutting means, wherein the moving means (3, 3 ') have flutes (7) for receiving filter segments, characterized in that the number of flutes (7) is a prime number greater than or equal to 29.

2. Filter segment pooling device according to claim 1, wherein said movement means (3, 3 ') have a stop (130) to which the filter segments (9, 9') housed in said grooves (7) are or can be moved.

3. The filter segment collecting device according to claim 2, characterized in that said movement means (3, 3') are configured so as to: so that said filter segments (9, 9') arranged at said stops are or can be handed over.

4. The filter segment collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the extraction means (1, 1 ') have grooves (7) for receiving filter rods (8), wherein the number of grooves (7) can be variably predetermined, or acceleration means are connected to the extraction means (1, 1'), the acceleration means having grooves (7), the number of which can be variably predetermined.

5. Filter segment collecting device according to claim 4, characterised in that the variability is given by a different number of active grooves (7).

6. Filter segment collection device according to claim 5, wherein different numbers of active flutes (7) are achieved by an exchangeable roller outer ring with different numbers of flutes (7) with variable suction air connections at the flutes (7), by sealing the flutes (7) or by snap rollers with a variable number of flutes (7).

7. The filter segment collecting device according to claim 1, wherein the extraction means (1, 1') have a number of flutes (7) or active flutes (7) of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60, 120 or 240.

8. Filter segment pooling device according to claim 1, wherein two filter segment running paths are provided, wherein for this purpose two extraction annuli are arranged on the axis of rotation (140) of said extraction means (1, 1 ', 1 ") and/or wherein two moving annuli are provided on the axis of rotation (141) of the moving means (3, 3', 3").

9. The filter segment gathering device as recited in claim 8, wherein the moving annular bodies are arranged in mirror symmetry with respect to each other.

10. Filter-segment pooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least three filter-segment running channels are provided, wherein, for this purpose, a corresponding number of extraction annuli are provided on the axis of rotation (140) of said extraction means (1, 1 ', 1 "), and/or wherein, on the axis of rotation (141) of said moving means (3, 3', 3"), a corresponding number of moving annuli are provided.

11. A filter segment pooling device according to claim 10, wherein four filter segment travel paths are provided.

12. Filter segment pooling device according to claim 10, wherein further moving drums (120) are provided, which move the filter segments (9, 9 ") received by said moving toroids to one side and back out onto a pooling mechanism.

13. The filter segment collecting device according to claim 12, wherein said collecting means have an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation of said collecting means corresponds to the axis of rotation of said moving means (3, 3').

14. Multi-segment filter manufacturing machine of the tobacco processing industry, with filter segment splicing means according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein there are provided hand-over means that hand-over the spliced filter segments onto rod-forming means, or wherein there are provided connected means for enclosing the spliced filter segments (9, 9') in a crimping process with a strip of wrapping material.

15. Method for pooling filter segments (9, 9 ') of the tobacco processing industry in a transverse movement, wherein filter rods (8) of multiply-used length are extracted from a filter rod magazine by means of extraction means (1, 1') in a filter-running path, wherein the filter rods are either immediately cut into filter segments axially in a cutting device and immediately handed over from the cutting device to a moving device (3, 3 '), or are handed over directly to acceleration means and from there directly to moving devices (3, 3'), wherein the filter segments (9, 9 ') are moved into a final position or are arranged in a final position in accordance with the surrounding of the moving device (3, 3'), wherein the segments arranged in the final position are handed over directly to pooling means or to a moving drum and from there to a pooling means (3 ', 7), wherein the number of segments is equal to the number of the moving means (3, 3') or is directly handed over to a moving drum, and from there to a pooling means (3 ', 7), wherein the number of filter segments arranged in the final position is equal to the pooling means (3', 7).

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein one filter segment (9 ') or a plurality of filter segments left on the moving drum in a first round of the moving means is moved into a final position in a next round of the moving means (3, 3'), wherein the filter segments arranged in the final position are then handed out.

17. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the empty flutes (7) of said movement means (3, 3 ') are in turn occupied by said filter segments (9, 9').

18. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that at least two filter-running channels are carried out or provided, with grooves (7) oriented parallel to one another and at least partially colinearly on at least two extraction annuli of extraction means (1, 1 ', 1 ") and with grooves (7) oriented parallel to one another and at least partially colinearly on at least two moving annuli of moving means (3, 3', 3").

19. Use of movement means (3, 3') with a number of grooves that is the prime number greater than or equal to 29, in the filter running path of the filter segment collection means.

20. Use according to claim 19, wherein a filter segment collecting device of the tobacco processing industry according to any one of claims 1 to 13 is provided.

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