WO2000016648A1

WO2000016648A1 - Method of unblocking a machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry and manufacturing machine operating according to said method

Info

Publication number: WO2000016648A1
Application number: PCT/CH1999/000448
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernard Tallier; Jean-Pierre Fiems; Roberto Rizzolo
Original assignee: Fabriques De Tabac Reunies S.A.
Priority date: 1998-09-22
Filing date: 1999-09-21
Publication date: 2000-03-30
Also published as: EP0988802A1; HUP9903222A3; PL335537A1; AU5614899A; HUP9903222A2; HU9903222D0

Abstract

A machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry is equipped with means allowing a method of automatic unblocking of a specific portion of the machine to be carried out. The means described here allow in particular the portion of the machine (32; 38; 42) to be opened in which the blockage has occurred, then the tobacco contained in the machine to be conveyed toward a means of diversion (36) directing the tobacco toward a stock portion (300) in order to recycle it. The method is entirely automatic, allowing a rapid unblocking without intervention of the operator and without opening the machine.

Description

Method of Unblocking a Machine for Manufacture of Products of the Tobacco Industry and Manufacturing Machine Operating according to

Said Method

This invention relates to a method of unblocking a machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry as well as to a machine for manufacturing products of the tobacco industry equipped to operate according to said method.

In any machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry, in particular cigarettes, such as, for example, that described in the application EP97810862.9, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference, comprising in particular a loaded hopper for feeding a tobacco rod to a cigarette maker, the production cycle is interrupted relatively frequently owing to blockage of tobacco at any place in said distributor or rod maker. In order to unblock the obstructed portion of the machine, it is necessary to stop the production machine as well as all the auxiliary drives for security reasons, then to open the covering caps or entrance doors, in order to reach the place where the blockage has occurred, after that, with the aid of tools or instruments such as scrapers or aspirators, to remove the accumulation of tobacco in the obstructed region. Such intervention is generally difficult for the operator responsible for carrying it out, seeing that the covering caps or entrance doors are generally controlled by position detectors, an opening necessitating, first of all, a disconnection of the security circuits; moreover, owing to the complexity and the superposition of numerous devices inside the machine, as well as the presence of sound-insulating walls under these covering caps or doors or inside the machine, the accessibility to the machine portion where the blockage has occurred is greatly limited and the introduction of the mentioned unblocking means very difficult. In addition, opening the covering caps and doors allows the introduction of foreign bodies to the interior of the machine and the same opening enables tobacco fragments and tobacco dust to leave the machine and spill into the surrounding air. Moreover, with the known technique, a non- negligible quantity of tobacco is lost when eliminating the blockage mass. Finally, it is necessary that the operator of the machine remain constantly ready to intervene for an unblocking. An unblocking of a distributor according to the known technique is thus costly, owing to the personnel needed for this purpose as well as the duration required for this operation, diminishing accordingly the productivity of the machine, and owing to the loss of tobacco endured during each unblocking.

The patent application GB-A- 2 088 693 describes a cigarette- making machine equipped with means allowing reducing of the effect of a blockage occurring only under the porous belt. The means described here consist only of diverting the normal flow of tobacco during a blockage, a manual intervention for the unblocking itself remaining necessary.

A first object of the invention is thus to propose an unblocking method which does not have the mentioned drawbacks of the methods used so far, in particular by automatic conducting of the method.

A second object of the invention is to propose that the method in question is adapted to the portion of the machine in which the blockage has occurred.

A third object of the invention is to propose a method by which none of the tobacco contained in the machine at the time of the blockage is lost, but instead all the tobacco is directly reintroduced into the production cycle.

Another object of the invention is to propose a method by which a blockage in any portion of the machine is detected early enough to be able to be eliminated before the blockage spreads to other portions of the machine and before there is a risk of damage to any portion of the machine.

Still another object of the invention is to propose a machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry, in particular cigarettes, able to operate according to the method in the case of blockage in the distribution part or in the tobacco rod formation part. This is achieved through an unblocking method as set forth in claim 1 and through a machine as set forth in claim 7, particular embodiments or variants being described in the claims dependent thereon.

The description below describes in detail one preferred embodiment of a manufacturing machine equipped with automatic unblocking means according to the invention, as well as the preferred methods of operation of said machine in the case of blockage of tobacco. This description is to be read with reference to the annexed drawing containing the figures where:

Figure 1 shows a machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry equipped with unblocking means according to the invention, in normal operation,

Figures 2A and 2B are longitudinal sections of a porous belt unblocking device,

Figure 3A and 3B are transverse sections of the same device,

Figure 4 shows the machine for manufacture of cigarettes of Figure 1 in position for unblocking a portion upstream of the barbed roller and of the separation chamber, and

Figure 5 shows the same machine for manufacture of cigarettes in position for unblocking a portion downstream from the barbed roller.

In the description which follows, the application EP97810862.9 can be referred to; the elements with reference numerals of less than 100 are the same as those described in said reference application, whereas those with reference numerals greater than 100 have not been explicitly described in the reference application or concern new elements forming part of the invention.

The machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry is similar to that described in the aforementioned application and comprises in particular a tobacco feed part 2, preferably a tangential sluice, a distribution part or hopper 3, a tobacco rod-making part 4 and a drive and control part 5.

As described in more detail in the application previously cited as a reference, the distributor 3 sets apart the tobacco from an intermediate stock 30, with the aid of the continuous combing belt 31 to bring it onto the continuous transfer conveyor belt 32. An equalization of the flow of the tobacco is achieved by a first continuous equalization belt 33, while the tobacco stream is oriented on the transfer belt 32 by means of the deflector 34. The detector cell 35 controls the quantity of tobacco on the transfer belt 32. A second continuous equalization belt 36 compacts and equalizes the flow of tobacco near the end of the transfer belt 32, while a barbed roller 37 combs out, mixes and gives some expansion to the flow of tobacco before it is thrown and descends essentially by gravity in the transfer channel 38. The rod-making part 4 comprises a suction chamber 40, connected through a channel, indicated schematically by 400, to a suction unit 401. The air suction circuit begins through a suction aperture disposed near the lower portion of the channel 38, passes through the separation chamber 38A, the suction vent 42 and the porous belt 41 disposed directly in the lower part of the suction chamber 50. The flow of tobacco coming from the upper portion of the channel 38 thus is separated in the separation chamber 38A into two portions, a first portion suctioned through the suction vent 42 and containing the elements intended to form the tobacco rod below the porous belt 41 , whereas the second portion, made up of heavier elements not intended to form the rod, fall by gravity into a tank or onto an elimination belt 39. The reference application also describes a mobile flap 43, responsible, in closed position as shown in Figure 1 , for allowing passage to the sides of ribs and stems of the heavy section forming the second portion of flow mentioned above, to fall into the tank or onto the elimination belt 39. This flap 43 is actuated by a jack 430, or any other suitable actuator, between the closed position of Figure 1 and the open position of Figures 4 and 5. Besides its use during an unblocking, as will be explained further on, the reference application indicates that this flap 43, in open position, allows recovery of the entire stream of tobacco coming from the upper portion of the channel 38 in the case of stopping of the porous belt 41 or stopping of the suction. In this case, the flow of tobacco is directed by gravity toward a recovery means 44, for example a transfer belt, to be led back toward the stock 30. By way of example, the means allowing the stream of tobacco to be brought back from the transfer belt 44 toward the stock 30 can be made up of another transfer belt 440, directed essentially transversely with respect to the axis of the machine, bringing the tobacco on still another transfer belt 441 which is perpendicular thereto and which distributes the tobacco in a lower portion 300 of the stock 30. The various transfer belts 44, 440 and 441 described here can be generally intended, for example, for recovery of tobacco fibers cut by the rod trimming means (not shown in the figure) disposed below a portion downstream from the porous belt 41. Since these fibers are cut, they are generally shorter than non-cut fibers coming from the tobacco feed means 2, and thus are preferably introduced into a lower portion 300 of the stock 30; this is so that the tobacco stream forms as described in more detail in the reference application.

On a machine as described above or in the application referred to, blockages of tobacco can originate essentially in three places: first of all, on the first transfer belt 32, or else in the channel 38, directly above the separation chamber 38A, or otherwise in the vent 42, below the porous belt 41.

Compared to the machine described above, a machine able to carry out automatic unblocking operations is equipped with the following elements: first of all, the equalization belt 36 disposed facing the transfer belt 32 is installed in a movable way and is provided with a jack or other actuation means 360, able to space the equalization belt 36 apart from the transfer belt 32, as can be seen in Figure 4. Then, the lower face of the channel 38 is provided with a movable wall 380, able to pivot about an axis 381 , disposed perpendicularly and preferably directly under the end downstream from the transfer belt 32, the movable wall 380 being able to be closed, as shown in Figure 1 , or be opened, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, by action of a jack or any other actuator 382. A detection cell 383 is moreover disposed in the channel 38, above the separation chamber 38A. This detection cell 383 is able to detect a blockage at that place. Actually, the flow of tobacco is generally discontinued at that point, causing the detector 383 to be sometimes excited and sometimes de-energized. A check of the state of the detector revealing a particular period without change of state of the detector 383 indicates a blockage of tobacco at that place or upstream. The vent 42 itself is also provided with a detector 420, able to detect a blockage below the porous belt 41 in the same way as the preceding detector 383. The vent 42 is also provided with a movable wall 421 , able to pivot, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, about an axis 422, by action of a jack 423 or other actuator. As a variant, it is also possible that the axis 422 is disposed close to the porous belt 41 , making the movable wall 421 open downward. The air suction unit 401 is moreover equipped with a closing valve, indicated schematically by 402. As a variant, the suction unit 401 and/or the valve 402 can be designed to be able to reverse the flow of air in the channel 400. The means for controlling the drive of the different transfer belts, the equalization belts as well as the barbed roller 37 are able in addition to control the drive of these various elements at reduced speed as will be seen further below.

Figures 2A and 2B as well as 3A and 3B show perpendicular sections of a portion of the rod-making part 4. In Figures 2A and 3A, one sees that the porous belt 41 , only a central portion of the lower strap of which is shown here, circulates longitudinally between two vertical walls bounding a lower portion of the suction chamber 40. An unblocking device is mounted above the porous belt 41 , in the suction chamber 40, being made up of a jack or any other actuator 410 controlling the longitudinal displacement of a rod 411 to which cam means 412, 413 are connected, indicated here schematically by two different example embodiments, and disposed near the ends of the lower strap of the porous belt 41. When the jack or actuator 410 is actuated, the cams 412, 413 push the porous belt 41 downward, making the latter disengage from the two vertical walls bounding the suction chamber 40, as is seen in Figures 2B and 3B. In this way the shreds of tobacco accumulated under the porous belt 41 , between the two walls limiting the suction chamber 40 downward, detach themselves therefrom and are collected as described further below. Other embodiments of the unblocking device of the porous belt 41 are of course conceivable, in particular each cam can be replaced by a small vertical jack whose mobile part acts directly upon the porous belt 41. The control unit 50 receives these data from the various blockage detectors previously mentioned, in particular the detector 35 on the transfer belt 32, the detector 383 in the channel 38 and the detector 420 in the suction vent. The same control unit 50 is able to control the various drives, of the continuous combing belt 31 , of the equalization belt 33, of the transfer belt 32, of the second equalization belt 36, of the barbed roller 37, it being possible to stop these elements or control them, simultaneously or independently, at reduced speed, variable speed or normal speed. The control unit 50 is moreover able to control the jacks or actuators 360 of the second equalization belt 36, 382 of the movable wall 380, 430 of the mobile flap 43, 423 of the movable wall 421 , as well as the valve 402 controlling the stopping or the change of direction of flow of the suction unit 401. The control unit 50 preferably comprises a microprocessor unit provided with a program allowing the various operations described above and further below to be carried out.

Figure 4 shows the machine for manufacture of cigarettes in position for unblocking a blockage which has occurred on the transfer belt 32.

A blockage at this place can be signaled either by the detector 35 which reports that the thickness of the layer of tobacco on the transfer belt 32 has exceeded a limit value, or by one of the detectors 383 or 420 signaling the absence of tobacco flow at respective places controlled by each detector, the microprocessor program being able to correlate the data received from these various detectors.

When for example, as shown in Figure 4, the detector 35 signals that the thickness of the layer of tobacco on the transfer belt 32 has exceeded a limit value, thus signalling a blockage downstream from this detector, the program included in the control unit 50 orders the following operations:

- storing the defect for display on a control screen for the operator,

- stopping the drive of the porous belt 41 for making the rod, - actuating the jack 430 to swing the mobile flap 43 in order to direct the flow of tobacco as well as the tobacco contained in the machine toward the transfer means 44, 440 and 441 , by means of which it will be directed toward the stock 300,

- stopping the drive motors of the continuous combing belt 31 , of the transfer belt 32 as well as of the equalization belts 33 and 36 and of the barbed roller 37,

- as soon as the porous belt 41 is completely immobilized, closing the valve 402 of the suction unit 401 in order to cut the suction in the chamber 40,

- actuating the jack 382 in order to make the movable wall 380 pivot and to direct by gravity the tobacco contained in the channel 38 toward the open flap 43 then the stock 300, as described above,

- actuating the jack 423 in order to make the movable wall 421 pivot and make the tobacco contained in the vent 42 fall by gravity toward the open flap 43 then the stock 300, as described above,

- as soon as the tobacco contained in the channel 38 and in the vent 42 has been removed as indicated above, the operations carried out are as follows:

- actuating the jack 360 to space the equalization belt 36 apart from the transfer belt 32,

- slowly starting up the transfer belt 32 and the equalization belt 36, and the barbed roller 37, in order to discharge the tobacco by gravity along the open channel 36 as indicated further above, toward the open flap 43 then the stock 300, as described above,

- when the tobacco is completely discharged as indicated above, stopping the transfer belt 32, the equalization belt 36 and the barbed roller 37, - actuating the jack 360 to put the equalization belt 36 back into normal operating position,

- actuating the jack 423 to put the movable wall 421 of the vent 42 back into normal operating position,

- actuating the jack 382 to put the movable wall 380 of the channel

38 into normal operating position,

- actuating the jack 430 to put the mobile flap 43 back into the normal operating position,

- opening the valve 402 to restore the suction in the chamber 40,

- indicating the end of the unblocking cycle.

As of this moment, the manufacturing machine can be restarted, manually or automatically.

Figure 5 shows the machine for manufacture of cigarettes in position for unblocking a blockage which has occurred in the transfer channel 38 or in the suction vent 42.

A blockage in the channel 38 can be signaled either by the detector 383, which reports an accumulation of tobacco above the separation chamber 38A, or by the detector 420 signaling the absence of tobacco flow in the vent 42.

A blockage in the vent 42 is signaled by the detector 420.

When, for example, as shown in Figure 5, a blockage has been detected as indicated above, the program included in the control unit 50 orders the following operations:

- storing the defect for display on a control screen for the operator, - stopping the drive of the porous belt 41 for making the rod,

- actuating the jack 430 to swing the mobile flap 43 in order to direct the flow of tobacco as well as the tobacco contained in the machine toward the transfer means 44, 440 and 441 , by means of which it will be directed toward the stock 300,

- as soon as the porous belt 41 is completely immobilized, closing the valve 402 of the suction unit 401 in order to cut the suction in the chamber

40,

- repeatedly actuating several times the jack 410 (Figures 2B and 3B) in order to disengage the porous belt 41 from the suction chamber 40 and to unstick the tobacco shreds stuck there,

- as soon as the tobacco contained in the channel 38 and in the vent 42 and under the porous belt 41 has been removed as indicated above, the operations carried out are as follows:

- actuating the jack 423 to put the movable wall 421 of the vent 42 back into normal operating position, - actuating the jack 382 to put the movable wall 380 of the channel 38 back into normal operating position,

- actuating the jack 430 to put the mobile flap 43 back into normal operating position,

- opening the valve 402 to restore the suction in the chamber 40,

- indicating the end of the unblocking cycle.

As of this moment the manufacturing machine can be restarted manually or automatically.

In the two methods described above, the tobacco contained in the suction vent 42 flows out, when it is removed as indicated, in reverse direction to the flow of tobacco when the machine operates in production. This is possible by means of the stopping of the suction as well as the opening of the movable wall 421 , which restores the atmospheric pressure at the top of the vent 42 and allows flow of the tobacco by gravity at this place. As a variant, it is also possible for the valve 402 and/or the suction unit 401 to be conceived to be able to reverse the flow of air in the channel 400 and the suction chamber 40 in order to aid detachment of the tobacco shreds from the porous belt 41 as well as removal of the tobacco from the vent 42 in open position. Thus, in the two operation sequences above, the operation of closing the valve 402 can be replaced by an operation of reversal of the flow of air, it being possible to maintain the reversed flow of air until it is indicated that the suction is restored or to maintain it for a predetermined duration following a duration in which the flow of air is completely interrupted until the suction is restored normally.

The two methods described above, each corresponding to a blockage in a specific portion of the machine, mention by way of example a sequence of operations in a predetermined order; certain ones among them can possibly be reversed. Should the case arise, one skilled in the art will know how to adapt the methods described to his own problem. There is no fear of an accumulation of tobacco and a blockage in the stock 30 at the time of an unblocking operation as described above, said operation taking a certain time, since the cell for detection of the maximum stock 24 orders a stopping of the tobacco feed means 2 when the stock 30 is full.

The unblocking methods and means described above relate to one particular embodiment of a manufacturing machine, other embodiments of such a machine are conceivable; one skilled in the art will easily know how to adapt the indications given here to his type of machine. In particular, the methods and the means to this end have been described for a specific manufacturing machine, equipped with a single rod-making part 4. Modern machines with high productivity can be equipped with two rod-making parts operating in parallel. One skilled in the art will therefore know how to double the necessary means described above in order to be able to carry out automatic unblocking of each of the rod-making parts, separately or simultaneously.

The methods and means described above thus allow an automatic unblocking to be achieved of a machine for the manufacture of products of the tobacco industry, therefore requiring fewer interventions by the operator, the unblocking being carried out more quickly, without opening the machine, or without exchange of tobacco fibers and dust between the interior of the machine and the surrounding air, and this without loss of tobacco, the tobacco being entirely recycled in the machine. The productivity of the manufacturing machine is greatly improved.

Claims

Claims:

1. A method of unblocking a machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry (1) comprising, in particular, at least one tobacco feed part (2), at least one tobacco distribution part (3), at least one tobacco rod-making part (4) made up in particular of at least one porous belt (41 ) circulating longitudinally in a lower portion of a suction chamber (40) and a drive and control part (5) comprising a control unit (50),

wherein it comprises the following steps:

- detection of a blockage in a specific part of said machine through at least one blockage detector (35, 383, 420) and signaling the blockage as well as the said specific portion to the control unit (50),

- the control unit (50) then ordering sequentially:

- stopping the operation of at least one rod-making part (4),

- stopping the drives of the devices (31 , 32, 33, 36, 37) forming at least one tobacco distribution part (3),

- opening at least one diversion flap (43) disposed in a lower portion of the machine, able to receive the tobacco still contained in the manufacturing machine and to direct it toward transfer means (44, 440, 441) able to transfer said tobacco toward a portion (300) of a tobacco stock (30),

- opening at least one lateral wall (380, 421 ) of at least one channel

(38, 42) conducting the flow of tobacco in the machine at the rate of normal operation, the tobacco then being able to fall by gravity into the said lower portion of the machine,

- actuating unblocking means (410; 402; 360) selected according to the machine portion where the blockage has occurred, - removing the tobacco by means of said flap or flaps (43) and said transfer means,

- closing said lateral wall or walls (380, 421) of said channel or channels (38, 42) conducting the flow of tobacco in the machine at the rate of normal operation,

- closing the diversion flap or flaps (43),

- restarting the machine.

2. The unblocking method of claim 1 , in the case where said machine portion where a blockage has been detected corresponds to a transfer belt (32) of the distribution means (3), wherein the step of actuating unblocking means corresponds to:

- actuating means of spacing (360) an equalization belt (36), disposed substantially parallel to the transfer belt (32), relative to said transfer belt,

- starting up at reduced speed the transfer belt (32) and the equalization belt (36) in order to remove the tobacco contained between these two elements,

- stopping the drive of the transfer belt (32) and of the equalization belt (36),

- putting the equalization belt (36) back in place relative to the transfer belt (32).

3. The unblocking method of claim 2, in the case where the distribution part (3) comprises a barbed roller (37) disposed immediately downstream from the transfer belt (32), wherein said barbed roller (37) is also started up at reduced speed upon start up at reduced speed of the transfer belt (32) and of the equalization belt (36).

4. The unblocking method of claim 1 , in the case where said machine portion where a blockage has been detected corresponds to a channel (38) of a distribution part (3) or to a suction vent (42) disposed immediately under the porous belt (41), wherein the step of actuating unblocking means corresponds to:

- actuating means (410, 411 , 412, 413) able to disengage the porous belt (41) from the suction chamber (40).

5. The unblocking method of one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of stopping the operation of the rod-making part (4) comprises actuating a valve (402) for interruption of the suction through the suction chamber (40).

6. The unblocking method of one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the step of stopping the operation of the rod-making part (4) comprises the actuating a valve (402) able to reverse the flow of air in the suction chamber (40).

7. A machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry (1) comprising in particular: a tobacco feed part (2), at least one tobacco distribution part (3), at least one tobacco rod-making part (4) made up in particular of a porous belt (41) circulating longitudinally in a lower portion of a suction chamber (40) and a drive and control part (5) comprising a control unit (50), equipped with means allowing an unblocking method according to one of the claims 1 to 6 to be carried out, wherein it comprises in particular the following:

- at least one detection means (35) able to detect a blockage in a transfer means (32) of the tobacco distribution part (3),

- the control unit (50) being able to receive a blockage signal coming from said detection means (35) and to order in particular the stopping of the drives of the machine as well as of the suction of at least one rod-making part (4), - an opening-closing means (360) of said transfer means (32) on which the blockage has been detected,

- at least one opening-closing means (430) of at least one mobile diversion flap (43),

- at least a second transfer means (44, 440, 441) able to receive the tobacco contained in the machine, directed by said mobile diversion flap, and to transfer it toward a stock portion (300),

- at least one opening-closing means (382) of at least one transfer channel (38),

- at least one opening-closing means (423) of at least one suction vent (42),

all of the said opening-closing means (360, 430, 382, 423) being controlled by said control unit (50).

8. Machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry (1), comprising in particular: a tobacco feed part (2), a tobacco distribution part (3), at least one tobacco rod-making part (4) made up of in particular a porous belt (41) circulating longitudinally in a lower portion of a suction chamber (40) and a drive and control part (5) comprising a control unit (50), equipped with means allowing an unblocking method to be carried out according to one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein it comprises in particular the following means:

- at least one detection means (383) able to detect a blockage in at least one transfer channel (38) of a tobacco distribution part (3) and/or

- at least one detection means (420) able to detect a blockage in at least one suction vent (42) of a tobacco rod-making part (4)

- a control means (50) able to receive a blockage signal coming from said detection means (383, 420) and to order in particular the stopping of the drives of the machine as well as of the suction of at least one rod-making part (4),

- at least a second transfer means (44, 440, 441) able to receive the tobacco contained in the machine, directed by said mobile diversion flap or flaps and to transfer it toward a stock portion (300),

- at least one opening-closing means (423) of at least one suction vent (42),

- at least one means of disengagement (410, 412, 413) of said porous belt (41) from said suction chamber (40),

- all the said opening-closing means (360, 430, 382, 423) as well as the disengagement means (410) being controlled by the said control unit (50).

9. Machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry (1) according to claim 8, wherein it further comprises:

- at least one detection means (35) able to detect a blockage on at least one transfer means (32) of the tobacco distribution part (3),

- an opening-closing means (360) of said transfer means (32) on which the blockage has been detected.

10. Machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry (1) according to one of the claims 7 to 9, wherein it comprises a suction unit (401) connected through a valve (402) to a channel (400) leading to the suction chamber (40) of a tobacco rod-making part (4), said valve being able to interrupt the suction in the suction chamber during an unblocking operation.

11. Machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry (1) according to claim 10, wherein said suction unit and/or said valve are able to reverse the flow of air in the suction chamber during an unblocking operation.

12. Machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry (1) according to one of the claims 7 or 9 to 11 , wherein said transfer means (32) of the tobacco distribution part (3) is made up of at least one continuous transfer belt (32), able to transfer a flow of tobacco from an entrance position toward an upper portion of at least one transfer channel (38), and at least one continuous equalization belt (36) disposed near the downstream end of the corresponding transfer belt, the flow of the tobacco transferred by the upper strap of the transfer belt being caught slightly by the lower strap of the equalization belt, the opening-closing means of said transfer means being made up of a device (360) able to space apart or bring closer together the lower strap of the equalization belt with respect to the upper strap of the transfer belt.

13. Machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry (1) according claim 12, wherein opening-closing means of said transfer means are made up of a jack (360) able to space apart or bring closer together the lower strap of the equalization belt with respect to the upper strap of the transfer belt.

14. Machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry (1) according to one of the claims 12 or 13, wherein the control unit (50) is able to control the drive of at least one transfer belt (32) and of at least one equalization belt at reduced speed.

15. Machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry (1 ) according to one of the claims 7 to 14, wherein the opening-closing means of a transfer channel (38) is made up of at least one portion of wall (380) of said channel (38) able to be opened by action of an activator (382) so as to allow the tobacco contained in said channel to fall by gravity toward a mobile diversion flap (43).

16. Machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry (1) according to claim 15, wherein the activator is a jack (382) able to open or close said wall portion (380) upon the command of the control unit (50).

17. Machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry (1) according to one of the claims 7 to 16, wherein the opening-closing means of at least one suction vent (42) is made up of at least one portion of wall (421) of said suction vent (42) able to be opened by action of an activator (423) so as to allow the tobacco contained in said suction vent to fall by gravity toward a mobile diversion flap (43).

18. Machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry (1) according to claim 17, wherein the activator is a jack (423) able to open or close said wall portion (421) upon the command of the control unit (50).

19. Machine for manufacture of products of the tobacco industry (1) according to one of the claims 8 to 18, wherein the means of disengagement of the porous belt (41) is made up of at least two cams (412, 413) able to be activated between a withdrawal position and a position in which said cams push a portion of the porous belt out of the suction chamber (40) by action of a jack (410) upon the command of the control unit (50).