Apparatus for manufacturing rod-shaped tobacco products with a filter, in particular filter cigarettes

Abstract

Apparatus for making rod-shaped tobacco products with a filter that includes a tobacco stick delivery device, a filter delivery device, a covering paper delivery device, a cigarette making device, a cigarette testing device, and a cigarette dispensing device. All the devices, in which each device includes at least one drum, are arranged to form a drum course. A drive element is structured and arranged to drive at least some of the drums of the drum course in positional synchronization with the transport of the rod-shaped tobacco products, and a drum unit is composed of at least one drum, which is not one of the at least some drums, and a bearing and control flange. At least one separate additional drive element is structured and arranged to drive the at least one drum, and a drive unit is composed of the separate drive element and the drum unit. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of European Patent Application No. 03 09 0209.2 filed Jul. 10, 2003, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention is concerned with an apparatus for making rod-shaped tobacco products with a filter, in particular filter cigarettes, essentially including a tobacco stick delivery device, a filter delivery device, a covering paper delivery device, a cigarette making device, a cigarette testing device and a cigarette dispensing device. All the devices have a plurality of drums to form a drum course which can be driven by a drive element in positional synchronization with transport of the rod-shaped tobacco products within the apparatus. [0004] 2. Discussion of Background Information [0005] Apparatuses of this kind are used in the field of the tobacco...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] Therefore, the present invention provides an apparatus which is easy to handle and cost-efficient to manufacture, and which guarantees reliable operation and at the same time allows a compact design.

[0007] According to the invention, an apparatus of the kind mentioned hereinbefore includes at least one drum of the drum course that can be driven with a separate, additional drive element, such that the separate drive element together with a drum unit composed of a drum as well as a bearing and control flange forms a drive unit. Due to this construction, the requirements of an integrated drive solution and a conventional direct drive solution, which at first glance are contradictory, are fulfilled. Due to the construction of the apparatus according to the invention, a compact drive solution for direct driving of the drums, which guarantees reliable operation, is proposed. Due to the integrated concept of designing the drive element and the drum unit separately from each other and yet as a unit, firstly a very low-maintenance and assembly / dismounting-friendly apparatus, and secondly a very compact apparatus is provided.

[0008] Preferably, each drum of the drum course is assigned a separate drive element, which together with the drum unit in each case forms an independent drive unit. As a result, in a particularly economical manner a durable and low-maintenance apparatus is proposed. Due to the direct driving of all the drums, a considerable reduction of noise is further achieved. Also, cleaning as well as adjustment and alignment of the drum are made easier by manual rotation capacity. Also, the direct driving of all the drums in the manner according to the invention allows a selective change of division of the drums.

[0010] Advantageously, the drive element is shielded by a housing, such that the housing is smaller in its external dimensions than an opening within a partition wall of the apparatus, and has a substantially rectangular profile cross-section. Thus, a particularly compact and assembly-friendly design is achieved, because firstly forward release of the drive unit, that is, in the direction of the control side, is possible, and secondly a high packing density of the drums is achieved. The packing density of the drums can therefore be increased, as the rectangular profile shape allows the use of small flanges.

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, a three-point bearing which is usually necessary is superfluous, as only two bearings have to be provided for the shaft.

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