Transport of rod-shaped articles in tobacco processing industry

Abstract

The invention relates in particular to a conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) for the tobacco processing industry, comprising a rotationally drivable or rotationally drivable drum body (12), the drum body (12) having a receiving groove (14) for rod-shaped articles (100) for the tobacco processing industry (100) in the circumferential direction, a negative pressure control body being arranged in the interior of the drum body (12), the negative pressure control body being arranged such that the rod-shaped articles (100) are accommodated in the receiving groove (14). In a conveying section (F) of the rod-shaped articles (100) on the conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2), a negative pressure is applied to a receiving trough (14) in which the rod-shaped articles (100) are arranged or can be arranged, a negative pressure switching device (20, 20.1, 20.2) being arranged inside the conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) in a conveying region (U) of the conveying section (F) of the conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2). The rod-shaped articles (100) can be conveyed or conveyed to a conveying roller following the conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles (100) in the conveying area, and the negative pressure switching device (20, 20.1, 20.2) is arranged to alternately apply negative pressure to the receiving groove (14) or cut off the negative pressure on the receiving groove (14).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a conveyor drum for the tobacco processing industry, which has a rotationally drivable or rotationally driven drum body and a drum arrangement for the transverse axial conveyance of rod-shaped articles, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment-shaped articles or multi-segment articles. The invention further relates to a machine for the tobacco processing industry, in particular a multi-segment article making machine for producing rod-shaped multi-segment articles for the tobacco processing industry. The invention further relates to a method for the transverse axial conveyance of rod-shaped articles, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment-shaped articles or multi-segment articles for the tobacco processing industry. Background Art

[0002] In machines in the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter inserting machines or machines for producing alternative smoking products such as, for example, heat-not-burn products or electronic cigarettes, conveyor drums are used to transport cigarettes, filter elements or components thereof.

[0003] During the production of cigarettes, filter tips or filter-tipped cigarettes or so-called heat-not-burn products or electronic cigarettes, the transport of the above-mentioned rod-shaped objects is usually carried out in modern production machines of the tobacco processing industry by means of a conveyor drum, the side of which or the drum body of which is provided with grooves or receiving grooves for receiving the rod-shaped objects, for the transverse axial transport of the rod-shaped objects (cigarettes, filter rods or filter plugs, filter-tipped cigarettes). During transport, these tobacco processing industry rod-shaped objects are arranged in rows in the receiving grooves one after the other in the transverse axial direction.

[0004] In the filter tip installation machine, on the conveying drum, rod-shaped articles, such as tobacco sticks or filter plugs or filter rods, are transported to the receiving groove of the conveying drum transversely and axially. Here, the receiving groove is arranged on the peripheral surface of the conveying drum with a predetermined pitch.

[0005] Furthermore, EP 1 943 909 B1 describes a method for conveying rod-shaped articles for the tobacco processing industry, wherein during the conveyance of the articles from a first conveyor to a second conveyor, the articles are moved in the longitudinal axial direction by a motion impulse at the time of the conveyance. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to divide in a simple manner a stream of rod-shaped articles, in particular a single-layer stream of articles, which are arranged transversely one behind the other on a conveying device, such as conveyor rollers, and are conveyed transversely.

[0007] This object is achieved by a conveyor drum for the tobacco processing industry, which has a drum body that can be driven or rotated, wherein the drum body has receiving grooves in the peripheral direction, preferably at regular intervals, for rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segmented articles or multi-segmented articles, wherein a negative pressure control body, in particular a control flange, is arranged in the interior of the drum body, wherein the negative pressure control body is arranged to apply negative pressure to the receiving grooves in which the rod-shaped articles are arranged or can be arranged in the conveying section of the rod-shaped articles on the conveyor drum, wherein the negative pressure control body is arranged in the conveyor drum. A negative pressure switching device is arranged in the conveying area of ​​the conveying section of the conveying roller inside the drum, in which the rod-shaped articles can be conveyed to or are conveyed to the transport roller immediately following along the conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles, wherein the negative pressure switching device is arranged to alternately apply negative pressure to the corresponding receiving grooves or receiving groove sections arranged in the conveying area of ​​the conveying section, or cut off the corresponding negative pressure at the receiving grooves or receiving groove sections arranged in the conveying area of ​​the conveying section when the roller body rotates, especially when receiving grooves are arranged successively along the circumferential direction of the roller body.

[0008] The present invention is based on the following concept: rod-shaped articles are arranged in one or more rows in the receiving grooves of the conveying rollers in a transverse and axial direction, and negative pressure is applied to the conveying section between the receiving area and the conveying area by using a negative pressure control body inside the conveying roller. As a result, the rod-shaped articles are kept in the receiving grooves during the conveying along the conveying section between the receiving area and the conveying area. At the end of the conveying section of the rod-shaped articles on the conveying roller, a negative pressure switch device is provided in the conveying area (in this conveying area, the rod-shaped articles can be conveyed from the receiving grooves of the conveying rollers to the next transport rollers), whereby the receiving grooves or receiving groove sections of the roller body that are conveyed past the conveying area due to the rotation of the roller body are alternately applied with negative pressure or the negative pressure at the receiving grooves is cut off. Here, the negative pressure at the receiving grooves or receiving groove sections that are conveyed past in the conveying area is alternately cut off or turned on. For example, negative pressure is applied to one or more receiving slots or a section of a receiving slot in the conveying area by a negative pressure switch device, so that the rod-shaped articles arranged in the receiving slots are held and retained in the corresponding receiving slots or the corresponding receiving slot sections of the roller body, and are not conveyed to the next transport roller, so that the held rod-shaped articles are further conveyed in another conveying section on the conveying roller after the conveying area. Here, it is also proposed within the scope of the present invention that after loading one or more receiving slots in the conveying area, the negative pressure for being conveyed into or rotated to the next receiving slot in the conveying area in the peripheral direction is cut off by a negative pressure switch device, so that after or when the negative pressure at the corresponding receiving slot is cut off, one or more rod-shaped articles are conveyed to the next transport roller.

[0009] Furthermore, it is provided within the scope of the invention that the receiving slots conveyed through in the conveying region are subjected to negative pressure, wherein the corresponding following receiving slots are subsequently not subjected to negative pressure, since the negative pressure is switched off by the negative pressure switching device. Thus, negative pressure is applied to every other receiving slot in the conveying region. Furthermore, the negative pressure at the corresponding following receiving slot is switched off. The following receiving slot, at which the negative pressure is switched off, is subsequently conveyed again into the conveying region at the end of the conveying section, wherein the following receiving slot of the drum body is subjected to negative pressure by correspondingly switching on the negative pressure switching device. Thus, the corresponding receiving slots of the drum body conveyed through in the conveying region are alternately subjected to negative pressure or are not subjected to negative pressure by switching off the negative pressure.

[0010] For this purpose, in one embodiment of the conveyor roller, it is further provided that the vacuum switching device is designed as a cyclically operated or cyclically functioning vacuum switching device.

[0011] In order to hold the rod-shaped articles conveyed on the conveyor roller after the conveying area in the receiving groove of the conveyor roller according to another aspect, in one embodiment, a negative pressure control body, in particular a control flange, is arranged inside the conveyor roller so that the receiving groove or the receiving groove section is subjected to negative pressure in a further conveying section after the negative pressure switching device with respect to the conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles on the conveyor roller. As a result, in the further conveying section, which is configured upstream of the conveying area on the conveyor roller, the rod-shaped articles are held in the receiving groove of the roller body of the conveyor roller.

[0012] Furthermore, a further development of the conveyor roller is characterized in that the conveyor roller has an odd number of receiving grooves, so that it is possible to convey the rod-shaped article conveyed in another conveying section after the conveying area on the conveyor roller again along the conveying section between the receiving area and the conveying area of ​​the conveyor roller, and then convey the rod-shaped article conveyed twice through the conveying section to the next transport roller due to the alternately working or operating negative pressure switching device.

[0013] Furthermore, one embodiment of the conveyor roller is characterized in that the negative pressure switch device has a rotating body that can rotate or swivel about a rotation axis, wherein the rotating body is configured with at least one negative pressure channel that can apply negative pressure or apply negative pressure and is configured with at least one ventilation channel that can apply atmospheric pressure or apply atmospheric pressure, wherein in particular, the rotation axis of the rotating body is oriented parallel to the rotation axis of the roller body. By configuring the rotating body with at least one negative pressure channel that can apply negative pressure or apply negative pressure and at least one ventilation channel, negative pressure can be alternately applied to the receiving slots in the conveying area or the negative pressure at the corresponding receiving slots in the conveying area can be cut off.

[0014] In particular, in one embodiment, the rotating body has a cylindrical or cylindrical shape with a longitudinal extension, wherein at least one negative pressure channel of the rotating body that can or does exert a negative pressure is configured along the longitudinal extension of the rotating body, and / or at least one ventilation channel of the rotating body is configured along the longitudinal extension of the rotating body. For example, the rotating body is configured in the form of an elongated shaft, wherein at least one negative pressure channel or at least one ventilation channel is provided for the receiving groove of the drum body along the longitudinal extension of the shaft.

[0015] Furthermore, a preferred embodiment of the conveyor roller is characterized in that the vacuum switch device has a plurality of vacuum channels to which a vacuum can be applied or to which a vacuum is applied, wherein in particular the vacuum channels are fluidically connected to one another.

[0016] Furthermore, in one embodiment it is provided that the vacuum switching device has a plurality of ventilation channels, wherein in particular the vacuum channels are fluidically connected to one another.

[0017] Preferably, in a refinement of the conveyor roller, a rotary drive for the rotating body is provided, wherein in particular the rotary drive is synchronized with the rotational speed of the roller body, or wherein the rotary drive is operated or can be operated according to the rotational speed of the roller body. By controlling or regulating the rotary drive for the rotating body, it is possible to alternately apply negative pressure to the receiving slots or cut off the negative pressure. In particular, it is provided within the scope of the invention that negative pressure is applied only to the rod-shaped articles or groups of articles conveyed into the conveying area by correspondingly adjusting the negative pressure switching device, and then the rod-shaped articles or groups of rod-shaped articles in the following receiving slots are not applied with negative pressure by cutting off the negative pressure by means of the negative pressure switching device arranged in the conveying area, and are conveyed to the following transport rollers.

[0018] In addition, a refinement of the conveyor roller is characterized in that an inspection device for rod-shaped articles, in particular a head end inspection device, is arranged in another conveying section of the conveyor roller. Thus, rod-shaped articles further conveyed on the conveyor roller after the transfer area are inspected accordingly. In particular, it is provided that the head end of the rod-shaped articles is inspected by means of a corresponding inspection device.

[0019] In addition, the task is solved by a roller arrangement for transversely conveying rod-shaped objects, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment-shaped objects or multi-segment objects, which has a plurality of conveying rollers for rod-shaped objects, wherein the conveying rollers are arranged successively along the transverse axial conveying direction of the rod-shaped objects, wherein at least one conveying roller is constructed as described above, in particular is constructed with a negative pressure switching device so as to alternately apply negative pressure to a receiving groove (a receiving groove conveyed through in a conveying area) or cut off the negative pressure at the receiving groove.

[0020] In addition, a further development of the roller arrangement is characterized in that the other conveyor roller as described above is provided with a negative pressure switch device. In this context, it is provided within the scope of the invention that two conveyor rollers each having a negative pressure switch device are arranged one after the other in the conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles, wherein in particular, the two conveyor rollers each having a negative pressure switch device each have an odd number of receiving grooves. The receiving grooves are hereby configured one after the other in the peripheral direction of the conveyor rollers, preferably at regular intervals.

[0021] Furthermore, the object is achieved by a machine for the tobacco processing industry, in particular a multi-segment article making machine for producing rod-shaped multi-segment articles for the tobacco processing industry, which has a conveyor roller as described above or has a roller arrangement as described above. To avoid repetitions, explicit reference is made to the above statements.

[0022] In addition, the task is solved by a method for transversely axially conveying rod-shaped articles, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment-shaped articles or multi-segment articles, for the tobacco processing industry using the aforementioned conveyor roller, wherein the rod-shaped articles are transversely axially conveyed in a conveying section between a receiving area of ​​the conveyor roller and a conveying area of ​​the conveyor roller, wherein the rod-shaped articles are conveyed from an upstream transport roller to the conveyor roller in the receiving area and from the conveying area to a downstream transport roller, wherein in the conveying section, at least one rod-shaped article is respectively accommodated in each receiving slot of the conveyor roller and a negative pressure is applied, wherein in the conveying section, the receiving slots conveyed through in the conveying area are ventilated so that the rod-shaped articles are conveyed from each ventilated receiving slot to the next transport roller for the rod-shaped articles, and after the corresponding receiving slots are ventilated, negative pressure is alternately applied to the corresponding trailing receiving slots, wherein the rod-shaped articles are held in the corresponding receiving slots and conveyed in another conveying section of the conveyor roller, wherein the rod-shaped articles conveyed in the other conveying section of the conveyor roller are further conveyed transversely axially.

[0023] When the receiving slots in the conveying area are subjected to negative pressure by the negative pressure switch device, the rod-shaped articles being conveyed remain in the corresponding receiving slots and are further conveyed to another immediately following conveying section of the conveying roller. If the negative pressure applied by the negative pressure switch device in the conveying area at the corresponding receiving slots is cut off by the negative pressure switch device in the conveying area, the rod-shaped articles arranged in the receiving slots are conveyed from the conveying rollers to the downstream transport rollers. Preferably, the negative pressure in the receiving slots in the conveying area is alternately cut off and turned on by the negative pressure switch device.

[0024] Furthermore, the method is characterized in that the rod-shaped articles are conveyed by the upstream transport rollers at a transverse axial distance which corresponds to twice the transverse axial distance of the receiving grooves of the transport rollers.

[0025] The pitch is understood to be the transverse axial distance of the receiving grooves. The distance is measured here from the groove center point of the receiving groove of a groove conveyor (such as, for example, a conveyor roller) for transporting rod-shaped objects on a surface to the next or adjacent groove center point of the adjacent receiving groove, or in the case of, for example, prismatic receiving grooves, from groove bottom to groove bottom. The pitch in the case of conveyor rollers is the length of the (circumferential) arc or the transverse axial distance between the groove center points (adjacent in the circumferential direction) on the circular line on which the groove center point axis and the groove center point of the receiving groove are arranged.

[0026] In addition, in one embodiment of the method, it is preferred that the rod-shaped articles further conveyed in another conveying section of the conveying roller are conveyed to the upstream conveying roller and the conveying area between the conveying roller, wherein the rod-shaped articles are conveyed at a transverse axial distance corresponding to twice the transverse axial distance of the receiving groove of the conveying roller, wherein in the conveying section between the receiving area and the conveying area of ​​the conveying roller, the rod-shaped articles conveyed from the upstream conveying roller and the rod-shaped articles conveyed back from the conveying area to the receiving area are alternately arranged in the receiving groove of the conveying roller.

[0027] In addition, an improvement of the method is characterized in that the rod-shaped articles conveyed twice in the conveying section are then conveyed to the next conveying roller, wherein the rod-shaped articles conveyed to the next conveying roller are conveyed with a transverse axial distance, which corresponds to twice the transverse axial distance of the receiving groove of the upstream conveying roller.

[0028] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the method, it is preferred that the rod-shaped articles conveyed in the other conveying section of the conveyor rollers are inspected by an inspection device arranged in the other conveying section, in particular a head end inspection device.

[0029] Other features of the present invention will become clear from the description of the embodiments according to the present invention together with the claims and the attached drawings. According to the embodiments of the present invention, individual features or a combination of multiple features may be realized. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In the following, without limiting the general inventive concept, the invention is described by means of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein for all details according to the invention which are not further explained in the text, explicit reference is made to the drawings.

[0031] Figure 1 A view of a conveyor roller with a negative pressure switch device is schematically shown with the roller body omitted;

[0032] Figure 2a to Figure 2c The data for Figure 1Different illustrations of the negative pressure switch device of the conveyor roller;

[0033] Figure 3 Schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a conveyor roller having another negative pressure switch device according to another design;

[0034] Figure 4 A view schematically showing a control shaft of a negative pressure switching device in a perspective illustration;

[0035] Figure 5 A schematic view of a roller arrangement with two conveyor rollers, each of which has a negative pressure switching device; and

[0036] Figure 6 A schematic representation of a further roller arrangement is shown with two conveyor rollers, each of which has a vacuum switching device.

[0037] Within the scope of the present invention, features indicated as "particularly" or "preferred" are to be understood as optional features.

[0038] In the figures, identical or similar elements and / or parts are respectively provided with the same reference numerals in order not to have to be introduced again each time. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] exist Figure 1 , a perspective illustration of a conveyor drum 10 is schematically shown in a perspective view. For reasons of better representation, the outer drum body of the conveyor drum 10 is not drawn. The conveyor drum 10 has an outer drum body with receiving grooves for rod-shaped objects 100 spaced equidistantly in the peripheral direction. Rod-shaped objects 100, such as, for example, filter rods or filter segments, are received by an upstream transport drum and arranged in the receiving grooves of the drum body of the conveyor drum 10 and are conveyed from the receiving area along the conveying section F to the transfer area U.

[0040] In the conveying area U, a negative pressure switch device 20 is arranged inside the drum body, by which the receiving slots of the drum body conveyed past the conveying area U are alternately subjected to negative pressure or the negative pressure applied at the receiving slots is alternately cut off. In order to apply negative pressure to the receiving slots, a corresponding control flange (not shown) is provided inside the conveying drum or the drum body, which is fluidically connected to the suction air source. For reasons of better representation, the control flange is also not drawn.

[0041] exist Figure 2a to Figure 2c The schematic diagrams are shown in FIG. Figure 1 Different illustrations and views of the vacuum switch device 20 in the transport region U of the conveyor roller 10.

[0042] The negative pressure switch device 20 has a housing 21 in which a rotatable shaft 22 is rotatably mounted. The shaft 22 has a central channel 24, which is subjected to negative pressure in a corresponding position, so that the rod-shaped article 100 arranged in the receiving groove of the conveying roller 10 is held in the receiving groove in the area of ​​the conveying area U. Then, the held rod-shaped article 100 is conveyed in the receiving groove by the conveying roller 10 to another immediately following conveying section of the conveying roller 10, wherein the rod-shaped article 100 is held in the receiving groove on the conveying roller after the conveying area U by the negative pressure.

[0043] The shaft 22 is configured with two lateral flattened portions 26 at the outer region, which, when the shaft 22 rotates, ventilates the corresponding receiving slot when arranged in the conveying region U opposite to the receiving slot of the roller body of the conveyor roller 10, so that the corresponding rod-shaped articles 100 are conveyed to the next transport roller in this region. The negative pressure switch device 20 and its housing 21 and the shaft 22 arranged therein are components of the control flange inside the roller body of the conveyor roller 10. By rotating the shaft 22 at the housing 21, the receiving slot is alternately subjected to negative pressure or ventilated accordingly. By rotating the shaft 22, the negative pressure is interrupted after each 180° rotation.

[0044] For the rotation of the shaft 22, a drive 28 is provided (see Figure 1 ), which is preferably synchronized with the rotation speed of the roller body of the conveying roller 10, so that at the same time in the conveying area U only every other rod-shaped article 100 is conveyed to the immediately following transport roller, and the corresponding immediately following rod-shaped articles between two rod-shaped articles 100 to be conveyed are held in the receiving groove of the conveying roller 10.

[0045] exist Figure 3 , another embodiment of a conveyor roller 10 with a negative pressure switch device 20 is schematically shown in cross section in a schematic detailed view. The conveyor roller 10 has a roller body 12, in which a receiving groove 14 for rod-shaped articles 100 is constructed in the peripheral direction. In the conveying area U, the rod-shaped articles 100 are conveyed to the next transport roller (not shown here), and the negative pressure switch device 20 is arranged in the conveying area so that the rod-shaped articles arranged in the receiving groove 14 are alternately conveyed to the next conveyor roller (not shown here) or so that the rod-shaped articles are held in the receiving groove 14 and conveyed to another next conveying section of the conveyor roller 10 after the conveying area U.

[0046] Figure 3 The negative pressure switch device 20 in the embodiment has a control shaft 32 in the interior of the housing 21. Figure 4 It is shown schematically in a perspective illustration.

[0047] The control shaft 32 has a plurality of channels in the peripheral direction, which are alternately configured as negative pressure channels 34 and ventilation channels 36 in the side of the control shaft 32. The control shaft 32 has three negative pressure channels 34 and three ventilation channels 36, which are fluidically connected to each other. The negative pressure channels 34 fluidically connected to each other are respectively connected to a negative pressure source, and the ventilation channels 36 fluidically connected to each other are respectively connected to a ventilation source. The rotation of the control shaft 32 is correspondingly synchronized with the conveying speed of the drum body 12.

[0048] The drum body 12 of the conveyor drum 10 preferably has an odd number of receiving grooves 14 .

[0049] exist Figure 5 , a roller arrangement T is schematically shown, by which rod-shaped articles are transported in a transverse axial manner. Here, with respect to the conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles, the roller arrangement T has a first conveyor roller 10.1, which is correspondingly configured with a schematically indicated negative pressure switch device 20.1 in the transport area to the following conveyor roller 10.2. At the conveyor roller 10.1, after the negative pressure switch device 20.1 with respect to the conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles, an inspection device 30.1 is provided for the head end of the rod-shaped article transported on the conveyor roller 10.1. The inspected rod-shaped article is then transported a second time along the conveying section F of the conveyor roller 10.1 and subsequently transported to the following conveyor roller 10.2.

[0050] The conveying roller 10.2 is configured with a negative pressure switch device 20.1 so that the rod-shaped articles conveyed on the conveying roller 20.1 are alternately transferred to the next transport roller or further conveyed on the conveying roller 10.2 to an inspection device 30.2 for the head end of the further conveyed rod-shaped articles.

[0051] Figure 5 The drum arrangement T in the embodiment is a component of a machine for producing rod-shaped products, in particular for the tobacco processing industry.

[0052] Figure 6 A further embodiment of a drum arrangement T is schematically shown, which is part of a machine for producing rod-shaped products for the tobacco industry. Figure 6In the roller arrangement T in FIG. 1 , the rod-shaped articles 101 and 102 are transported in a transverse axial direction. The rod-shaped articles 101 and 102 are arranged side by side and in pairs in the receiving grooves of the conveying roller 110 in a longitudinal axial direction on the conveying roller 110, and are transported to the next conveying roller 111. The rod-shaped articles 101 and 102 are transferred from the upstream conveying roller 110 to the conveying roller 111. The conveying roller 111 has an odd number of receiving grooves, wherein the transverse axial distance of the receiving grooves of the conveying roller 111 corresponds to half of the transverse axial distance of the receiving grooves of the conveying roller 110 or corresponds to half of the transverse axial distance of the rod-shaped articles 101 and 102 on the conveying roller 110.

[0053] The rod-shaped articles 101, 102 pairs conveyed in pairs from the conveying roller 110 are conveyed to the conveying area U between the conveying roller 111 and the following conveying roller 112 after being conveyed from the conveying roller 111. In the conveying area U between the conveying rollers 111, 112, a negative pressure switch device 120.1 is arranged in the interior of the conveying roller 111 for the rod-shaped articles 101, wherein the negative pressure is turned on in the receiving groove by the negative pressure switch device 120.1 for the rod-shaped articles 101, so that the rod-shaped articles 101 in the conveyed rod-shaped articles 101, 102 pairs are further conveyed on the conveying roller 111. At the same time, the rod-shaped articles 102 are conveyed to the following conveying roller 112. The rod-shaped articles 101 further conveyed on the conveying roller 111 after the conveying area U are conveyed to the inspection device 30.1 for inspecting the head ends of the rod-shaped articles 101. The two head ends of the rod-shaped articles 101 are inspected by the inspection device 30.1. After that, the checked rod-shaped articles 101 are conveyed to the conveying area between the conveying rollers 110 and 111. The transverse axial distance of the individual rod-shaped articles 101 after the conveying area U at the conveying roller 110 corresponds to the transverse axial distance of the pair of rod-shaped articles 101 and 102. Since the number of receiving slots of the conveying roller 111 is an odd number, between two individual rod-shaped articles 101 arranged successively in the transverse axial direction, there is a pair of rod-shaped articles 101 and 102 arranged between the conveying rollers 110 and 111 during the conveying of the pair of rod-shaped articles 101 and 102. Then, the individual and checked rod-shaped articles 101 are conveyed individually to the next conveying roller 112 by the negative pressure switch device 120.1.

[0054] The individual rod-shaped articles 102 conveyed from the conveying roller 111 to the next conveying roller 112 are conveyed on the conveying roller 102 to the conveying area U between the conveying roller 112 and the next conveying roller 113, wherein a negative pressure switch device 120.2 is arranged in the conveying area U. The conveying roller 112 has an odd number of receiving grooves for the rod-shaped articles, wherein the transverse axial distance of the receiving grooves of the conveying roller 112 corresponds to half of the transverse axial distance between the pair of rod-shaped articles 101 and 102 on the conveying roller 110.

[0055] The negative pressure switch device 120.2 for the rod-shaped article 102 is arranged so that the individual rod-shaped article 102 remains on the conveying roller 112 after the conveying area U and is conveyed to the inspection device 30.2 for inspecting the head end of the rod-shaped article 102. Then, the inspected rod-shaped article 102 is conveyed on the conveying roller 112 or by the conveying roller in the direction of the conveying area between the conveying roller 111 and the conveying roller 112. In the conveying area between the conveying rollers 111 and 112, the individual and inspected rod-shaped article 102 forms a pair of rod-shaped articles 101 and 102 together with the individual and inspected rod-shaped article 101 conveyed from the conveying roller 111 to the conveying roller 112, and the rod-shaped article pair is further conveyed on the conveying roller 112 to the conveying area U at the conveying roller 112. Then the inspected rod-shaped article 101 and 102 pair is conveyed from the conveying roller 112 to the next conveying roller 113.

[0056] Negative pressure switch devices 120.1, 120.2 are used with Figures 1 to 4 The negative pressure switch device 20 described in the specification operates in a corresponding manner.

[0057] All the mentioned features, also those which can be taken from the drawings alone, and also the individual features disclosed in combination with other features, are considered essential to the invention, either individually or in combination. Embodiments according to the invention can be realized by individual features or a combination of multiple features.

[0058] Reference Symbols List:

[0059] 10Conveyor roller

[0060] 10.1, 10.2 conveyor roller

[0061] 12 roller body

[0062] 14 receiving slots

[0063] 20 Negative pressure switch device

[0064] 20.1, 20.2 Negative pressure switch device

[0065] 21 Shell

[0066] 22 Axis

[0067] 23 channels

[0068] 26 flattened part

[0069] 28Drive

[0070] 30.1, 30.2 Head end inspection device

[0071] 32 control axes

[0072] 34 Negative pressure channel

[0073] 36 ventilation channels

[0074] 100 stick-shaped items

[0075] 101, 102 Rod-shaped objects

[0076] 110 conveyor roller

[0077] 111 conveyor roller

[0078] 112 conveyor roller

[0079] 113 conveyor roller

[0080] 120.1, 120.2 Negative pressure switch device

[0081] F conveying section

[0082] T roller arrangement

[0083] U transfer area.

Claims

1. A conveying roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) for the tobacco processing industry, comprising a roller body (12) which can be driven rotatably or rotatably, wherein the roller body (12) has receiving grooves (14) preferably at regular intervals in the peripheral direction, the receiving grooves being used for rod-shaped articles (100) of the tobacco processing industry (100), in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segmented articles or multi-segmented articles, wherein a negative pressure control body, in particular a control flange, is arranged inside the roller body (12), wherein the negative pressure control body is arranged to apply negative pressure to the receiving grooves (14) in which the rod-shaped articles (100) are arranged or can be arranged in the conveying section (F) of the rod-shaped articles (100) on the conveying roller (10, 10.1, 10.2), wherein the negative pressure control body is arranged inside the conveying roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) in the conveying section (F) of the rod-shaped articles (100). A negative pressure switch device (20, 20.1, 20.2) is arranged in a conveying area (U) of a conveying section (F) of a conveying roller (10, 10.1, 10.2), in which a rod-shaped article (100) can be conveyed to or to a transport roller immediately following the conveying direction of the rod-shaped article (100), wherein the negative pressure switch device (20, 20.1, 20.2) is arranged to alternately apply negative pressure to corresponding receiving grooves (14) or receiving groove sections arranged in the conveying area (U) of the conveying section (F) or cut off the negative pressure at corresponding receiving grooves (14) or receiving groove sections arranged in the conveying area (U) of the conveying section (F) when the roller body (10) rotates, especially when receiving grooves (14) are arranged successively in the peripheral direction of the roller body (10) in the conveying area (U).

2. The conveyor roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to claim 1, characterized in that The vacuum switching device (20, 20.1, 20.2) is designed as a vacuum switching device (20, 20.1, 20.2) that operates or works periodically.

3. The conveying roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A negative pressure control body inside a conveying roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) is arranged to apply negative pressure to a receiving groove (14) or a receiving groove section in another conveying section (F) after a negative pressure switch device (20, 20.1, 20.2) relative to the conveying direction of a rod-shaped article (100) on the conveying roller (10, 10.1, 10.2).

4. The conveyor roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The conveying rollers (10, 10.1, 10.2) have an odd number of receiving grooves (14).

5. The conveyor roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The negative pressure switch device (20, 20.1, 20.2) has a rotating body (22, 32) that can rotate or swivel around a rotation axis, wherein the rotating body (22, 32) is constructed with at least one negative pressure channel (24, 34) that can be applied with negative pressure or is applied with negative pressure and is constructed with at least one ventilation channel (36) that can be applied with atmospheric pressure or is applied with atmospheric pressure, wherein in particular, the rotation axis of the rotating body (22, 32) is oriented parallel to the rotation axis of the drum body (12).

6. The conveyor roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to claim 5, characterized in that The rotating body (22, 32) has a cylindrical or cylindrical shape with a longitudinal extension, wherein at least one negative pressure channel (24, 34) of the rotating body (22, 32) that can apply negative pressure or applies negative pressure is constructed along the longitudinal extension of the rotating body (22, 32), and / or at least one ventilation channel (36) of the rotating body (22, 32) is constructed along the longitudinal extension of the rotating body (22, 32).

7. The conveyor roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: The negative pressure switching device (20, 20.1, 20.2) has a plurality of negative pressure channels (34) to which negative pressure can be applied or to which negative pressure is applied, wherein in particular the negative pressure channels (34) are fluidically connected to one another.

8. The conveyor roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that The negative pressure switching device (20, 20.1, 20.2) has a plurality of ventilation channels (36), wherein in particular the ventilation channels (36) are fluidically connected to one another.

9. The conveyor roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that A rotary drive is provided for the rotating body (22, 32), wherein in particular the rotary drive is synchronized with the rotational speed of the drum body (12) or wherein the rotary drive is operated or can be operated as a function of the rotational speed of the drum body (12).

10. The conveyor roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that An inspection device (30.1, 30.2), in particular a head end inspection device, for rod-shaped articles (100) is arranged in another conveying section of the conveying rollers (10, 10.1, 10.2).

11. A roller arrangement (T) for transversely conveying rod-shaped objects (100), in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segmented objects or multi-segmented objects, comprising a plurality of conveying rollers (10, 10.1, 10.2) for rod-shaped objects (100), wherein the conveying rollers (10, 10.1, 10.2) are arranged successively along the transverse axial conveying direction of the rod-shaped objects (100), wherein at least one conveying roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) is constructed according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The drum arrangement (T) according to claim 11, characterized in that A further conveyor roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 is provided.

13. A machine for the tobacco processing industry, in particular a multi-segment article manufacturing machine for producing rod-shaped multi-segment articles for the tobacco processing industry, having a conveyor roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 or a roller arrangement (T) according to claim 11 or 12.

14. A method for transversely conveying rod-shaped articles (100), in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segmented articles or multi-segmented articles, for the tobacco processing industry using a conveyor drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: In a conveying section (F) between a receiving area of ​​a conveying roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) and a conveying area (U) of the conveying roller (10, 10.1, 10.2), a rod-shaped article (100) is conveyed transversely and axially, in which the rod-shaped article (100) is conveyed from an upstream conveying roller to the conveying roller (10, 10.1, 10.2), and in which the rod-shaped article (100) is conveyed from the conveying roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) to a downstream conveying roller, wherein in the conveying section (F), at least one rod-shaped article (100) is respectively accommodated in each receiving groove (14) of the conveying roller (10, 10.1, 10.2) and a load is applied thereto. Pressure is applied to the receiving slots (14) conveyed through the conveying area (U), wherein the receiving slots (14) conveyed in the conveying area (U) are ventilated, thereby conveying the rod-shaped articles (100) from each ventilated receiving slot (14) to the immediately following transport roller for the rod-shaped articles (100), and after the corresponding receiving slots (14) are ventilated, negative pressure is applied alternately to the corresponding trailing receiving slots (14), wherein the rod-shaped articles (100) are held in the corresponding receiving slots (14) and conveyed in another conveying section of the conveying rollers (10, 10.1, 10.2), wherein the rod-shaped articles (100) conveyed in the other conveying section of the conveying rollers (10, 10.1, 10.2) are further conveyed transversely and axially.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The rod-shaped articles (100) are conveyed by upstream transport rollers at a transverse axial distance which corresponds to twice the transverse axial distance of the receiving grooves (14) of the transport rollers (10, 10.1, 10.2).

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The rod-shaped articles (100) further conveyed in another conveying section of the conveying rollers (10, 10.1, 10.2) are conveyed to a conveying area (U) between an upstream transport roller and the conveying rollers (10, 10.1, 10.2), wherein the rod-shaped articles (100) are conveyed at a transverse axial distance corresponding to twice the transverse axial distance of the receiving grooves (14) of the conveying rollers (10, 10.1, 10.2), wherein in the conveying section between the receiving area and the conveying area (U) of the conveying rollers (10, 10.1, 10.2), the rod-shaped articles (100) conveyed from the upstream transport rollers and the rod-shaped articles (100) conveyed back to the receiving area are alternately arranged in the receiving grooves (14) of the conveying rollers (10, 10.1, 10.2).

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The rod-shaped article (100) conveyed twice in the conveying section (F) is then conveyed to the next conveying roller, wherein the rod-shaped article (100) conveyed to the next conveying roller is conveyed at a transverse axial distance corresponding to twice the transverse axial distance of the receiving groove (14) of the upstream conveying roller (10, 10.1, 10.2).

18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that The rod-shaped articles (100) conveyed in the other conveying section of the conveying rollers (10, 10.1, 10.2) are inspected by an inspection device arranged in the other conveying section, in particular a head-end inspection device.

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