Packaging of rod-shaped products in tobacco processing industry

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to a device by means of which single-layer mass flows of rod-shaped articles (30), in particular of the tobacco processing industry, are conveyed and sorted directly after production, in particular in a filter tip assembling machine (11), such that the mass flows can be packaged into pieces without intermediate storage in a packaging device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for conveying a first mass flow of a single layer formed by rod-shaped articles, in particular rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped articles are conveyed on a conveying device in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles, thereby forming the first mass flow.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a conveying device for conveying a first mass flow of a single layer formed by rod-shaped objects, in particular rod-shaped objects in the tobacco processing industry, and a second mass flow of a single layer formed by rod-shaped objects, in particular rod-shaped objects in the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped objects in the mass flow are conveyed in a track along the transverse axis respectively.

[0003] The present invention also relates to a conveying device, in which a sorting device is provided, which includes a base roller, a transfer roller and a sorting roller, wherein the base roller has a receiving groove for accommodating rod-shaped objects in a single-layer mass flow of at least one track, wherein the receiving groove is arranged parallel to the rotation axis of the base roller, and wherein the transfer roller is constructed to transfer the rod-shaped objects from the base roller to the sorting roller, and to transfer the rod-shaped objects from the sorting roller to the base roller.

[0004] The present invention further relates to a conveying device, in which a packaging device is provided, which is particularly arranged downstream of a base roller, wherein the packaging device is constructed to form blocks from a first group of n continuous rod-shaped articles and a second group of m continuous rod-shaped articles, wherein n and m are integers ≥5. Background Art

[0005] Such methods and devices are used in various industrial sectors for conveying rod-shaped articles from an input station to an output station, wherein the articles should preferably arrive in the area of ​​the output station in the form of complete and gap-free batches. In the tobacco processing industry, for example, cigarettes are manufactured in a production machine as an input station and transported in a continuous product flow or mass flow into the area of ​​a transport device. The mass flow is transferred from the transport device or conveyor device to a packaging machine as an output station. Since each package can and should contain a defined number of articles (these articles are grouped in batches or blocks), gaps on the conveyor device are undesirable because they make the filling of the packages difficult or delay them.

[0006] In order to avoid gaps on the conveyor directly before the packaging machine, a disordered multi-layer mass flow can be transported to the packaging machine by means of a conveyor, where the objects are separated again before packaging. However, this multi-layer mass flow has the disadvantage of reduced object quality. In addition, the separation of the objects before packaging is prone to malfunctions.

[0007] Therefore, other methods and devices are known, by means of which an orderly monolayer mass flow can be conveyed. However, the mass flow can have gaps for various reasons. For example, objects (cigarettes in the present example) can be removed individually or in groups as samples or rejected in the corresponding quality control due to negative inspection results. In addition, functional faults, in particular functional faults of the input station, can lead to gaps in the grooves of the transport element or gaps in the monolayer mass flow. Therefore, different methods and devices are known, by means of which the above-mentioned gaps or gaps can be closed or compensated.

[0008] A device is known from US Pat. No. 5,366,064 A, in which a plurality of receiving rollers and / or transfer rollers and a filling roller are provided. In the event of a gap in the mass flow, a plurality of objects are conveyed by a transport element from the receiving rollers and the filling roller. The objects are thrown from the filling roller into a storage trough. The receiving roller arranged behind the storage trough guides the rejected objects to the transfer roller. On the transfer roller, the objects are located in receptacles, from which they are mechanically pushed out for return / transfer to the transport element.

[0009] A transport device is known from DE 102005034245 A1 for transporting a single-layer mass flow formed by rod-shaped articles from an input station to an output station, the transport device comprising a transport element with grooves for accommodating the articles transversely to the transport direction, wherein the transport element is provided with a device for compensating for gaps on the transport element, wherein the device comprises a filling roller and a transfer roller, wherein both the filling roller and the transport element can establish an effective connection with the transfer roller. Summary of the invention

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device by means of which rod-shaped articles can be conveyed and sorted efficiently and gently, so that the rod-shaped articles can be packaged in a resource-saving and reliable manner.

[0011] This object is achieved by a method for conveying a first mass flow of a single layer formed by rod-shaped articles, in particular rod-shaped articles from the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped articles are conveyed on a conveying device in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles, thereby forming a first mass flow, wherein the method is improved in that further rod-shaped articles, in particular further rod-shaped articles from the tobacco processing industry, are conveyed on a conveying device in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles, thereby forming a second mass flow of a single layer, wherein on the conveying device, the first mass flow is conveyed on a first track and the second mass flow is conveyed on a second track, wherein individually selectable rod-shaped articles are moved or transferred from one track to another track.

[0012] By means of the method according to the invention, the total number of rod-shaped articles conveyed in the two mass flows can be equalized. Preferably, the first track and the second track extend parallel to each other.

[0013] Preferably, the first mass flow and the second mass flow run on parallel tracks to each other.

[0014] Preferably, the movement or transfer of the respective selectable rod-shaped article from one track to the other track is carried out while maintaining the orientation of the rod-shaped article. This movement or transfer is preferably possible in both directions. The movement or transfer is preferably carried out in the longitudinal axial direction, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped article to be moved or transferred, in particular in a receiving groove of the conveying mechanism, in which the rod-shaped article is conveyed in the transverse axial direction. The rod-shaped article can be transferred or moved from the first track to the second track (more precisely in the receiving groove) and vice versa.

[0015] The method according to the invention for conveying two monolayer mass flows formed by rod-shaped articles, in particular rod-shaped articles from the tobacco processing industry, comprises the following method steps:

[0016] - conveying the rod-shaped articles on a conveying device in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles, wherein mass flows extending parallel to one another are conveyed on the conveying device in each case on one track;

[0017] - wherein each selectable rod-like object is moved from one track to another.

[0018] Preferably, the rod-shaped articles are moved in the longitudinal axis, more particularly preferably in the groove or receiving groove of the conveying device. In particular, the rod-shaped articles are arranged in the groove in the longitudinal axis one after the other, wherein the articles of the first mass flow and the articles of the second mass flow can be arranged in the same groove. There is also a combination in which articles are arranged in one of the mass flows and there are gaps or spaces in the same groove of the conveying device. It can also be provided that there are gaps in both mass flows at the same location, i.e., in particular in the same groove of the conveying device.

[0019] The conveying device can be designed as a balancing roller. Balancing of the two mass flows can also be achieved on a balancing conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt has receiving recesses for the rod-shaped articles of the two mass flows.

[0020] Preferably, the optional rod-shaped object is moved into the empty space. Within the scope of the present invention, the empty space is also understood as a gap.

[0021] Preferably, the total number of rod-shaped articles conveyed by the two mass flows is balanced by the movement. For this purpose, in particular, the total number of articles in one track and the total number of articles in the other track are calculated and, by moving or transferring the articles from one track to the other track, it is ensured that these totals are as equal as possible. Preferably, the total number of rod-shaped articles conveyed by the respective mass flows is balanced. Preferably, the total number is calculated within a predeterminable time period and / or within a predeterminable number of consecutive receptacles for rod-shaped articles.

[0022] Preferably, at least some of the gaps in the mass flow are generated by the exclusion of defective rod-shaped articles, which are rejected in advance, in particular, due to the inspection of the properties of the rod-shaped articles, when it was determined that the respective rod-shaped article inspected did not meet the desired standard. Thus, gaps or gaps are generated in the mass flow.

[0023] By balancing the total number of rod-shaped articles conveyed via the first mass flow and the total number of rod-shaped articles conveyed via the second mass flow, it is possible to achieve that the groups of rod-shaped articles that are subsequently combined into a block (one group consisting of the first mass flow and the second group consisting of the second mass flow) have a higher probability of forming a complete block for filling into a container (e.g., the lining of a cigarette pack). As a result, significantly fewer rod-shaped articles are rejected during packaging.

[0024] Preferably, the rod-shaped articles in the two mass flows are monitored and counted, and when the quantity difference of the rod-shaped articles in the two mass flows exceeds a limit value, the rod-shaped articles are moved. For example, the limit value can be two rod-shaped articles or three rod-shaped articles or only one rod-shaped article.

[0025] Preferably, an image recognition is performed on the mass flow, more precisely on a plurality of rod-shaped objects per mass flow, in order to achieve more accurate balancing. As an alternative to image recognition, the rod-shaped objects can be mechanically recognized (e.g. by a gauge), optically recognized (e.g. by a light barrier), capacitively measured and / or microwave measured in order to achieve reliable balancing.

[0026] The sorting device according to the present invention has a base roller, which receives a first mass flow and a second mass flow of rod-shaped articles. For this purpose, a receiving groove is provided, and one article of each of the first mass flow and the second mass flow can be arranged in the receiving groove in sequence along the longitudinal axis. Classification rollers are provided, which move the rod-shaped products from the mass flow in a manner superimposed with another transverse axial movement to achieve the groove offset of the rod-shaped article on the base roller. For this purpose, one or more classification rollers have a groove-free area, and the groove-free area is used to make the corresponding classification roller rotate or rotate at a different speed from the transfer roller when the groove-free area is opposite to the transfer roller. In this way, the rod-shaped articles accommodated in the grooves of the classification roller can be offset in the transverse axial direction.

[0027] Preferably, the sorting device is storage-free. In particular, no exchange tank is required, so that continuous operation of the sorting device is achieved, which significantly increases reliability and process speed.

[0028] The object is also achieved by a method for conveying a first mass flow of a single layer formed by rod-shaped articles, in particular rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped articles are conveyed on a conveying device in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles, thereby forming a first mass flow, wherein the rod-shaped articles of the first mass flow are reclassified by a sorting device, thereby providing a preset number of continuous gaps and a preset number of gapless continuous rod-shaped articles in the first mass flow, wherein for this purpose the rotational movement of the first sorting drum is controlled so that it temporarily has a circumferential speed different from that of a transfer drum which can establish an effective connection with the first sorting drum.

[0029] In order to change the circumferential speed of the first sorting drum, a superimposed speed is added to the basic speed, which is non-constant (i.e. variable) and preferably adapted to the actual operating conditions. This results in a temporarily different circumferential speed of the first sorting drum compared to the transfer drum. The transfer drum is preferably operated at a constant circumferential speed which substantially corresponds to the conveying speed of the first mass flow.

[0030] Preferably, the rod-shaped articles removed from the receiving groove of the transfer drum by the first sorting drum can be placed or placed in another groove of the transfer drum. In particular, a groove offset is produced, which can be from -10 to +10 grooves, in particular a groove offset of up to -8 to +8 grooves, further preferably up to -6 to +6 grooves, further preferably up to -4 to +4 grooves. The invention in particular eliminates the deterministic assignment of the grooves of the transfer drum to the grooves of the sorting drum.

[0031] Preferably, the peripheral speed of the first sorting drum substantially corresponds to the peripheral speed of the transfer drum when removing the stick-shaped products from the transfer drum and / or handing over the stick-shaped products to the transfer drum.

[0032] Preferably, a non-grooved area is provided at the circumference of the first sorting drum, wherein the circumferential speed of the first sorting drum deviates from the circumferential speed of the transfer drum, in particular when the non-grooved area is adjacent to the transfer drum. Preferably, the non-grooved area is approximately 180°, i.e. half of the circumference of the first sorting drum.

[0033] Preferably, the groove-free area is arranged over between 1 / 3 and 2 / 3 of the circumference of the first classifying drum.

[0034] According to the invention, the sorting drum has a grooved area and a non-grooved area on its circumference, wherein the non-grooved area extends over between 1 / 3 and 2 / 3 of the circumference of the sorting drum, wherein the radius of the sorting drum in the non-grooved area is smaller than the radius in the grooved area. Preferably, the non-grooved area extends over between 4 / 10 and 6 / 10 of the circumference of the sorting drum, in particular over 1 / 2 of the circumference of the sorting drum.

[0035] Preferably, the first mass flow is guided via the base roller, wherein the mass flow is conveyed over one full revolution on the base roller, wherein in particular the transfer roller has a groove spacing that is the same size as the groove spacing on the base roller, wherein in particular the rod-shaped objects conveyed to the base roller have a spacing that is twice the groove spacing on the base roller. As a result, the rod-shaped objects can be carried over the base roller for almost two revolutions, so that they can be handled or removed and / or placed on the base roller at least twice.

[0036] Preferably, the base drum has an odd number of receiving grooves. The transfer drum preferably has an even or odd number of receiving grooves.

[0037] In particular, the rod-shaped articles of the second mass flow are re-sorted by the sorting device, so that a preset number of continuous gaps and a preset number of continuous rod-shaped articles are provided in the second mass flow, wherein a second sorting drum is provided for this purpose, which has the same functionality as the first sorting drum described above and receives and hands over the rod-shaped articles of the second mass flow. By re-sorting by means of the sorting device, gap-free groups of rod-shaped articles can be formed, which can then be pushed into the container, so that a complete number of rod-shaped articles enter the container.

[0038] If there are not enough rod-shaped articles in the mass flow, empty blocks are formed, i.e. a certain number of empty spaces or gaps are provided continuously in the first and second mass flows, which enable the container to be completely unfilled. In this case, the used containers can then be removed directly, without removing the rod-shaped articles, or no containers can be provided directly, without removing the empty containers.

[0039] Preferably, the rod-shaped articles taken out of the receiving groove of the transfer roller by the second sorting roller can be placed in another receiving groove of the transfer roller. The groove offset can also be designed as in the cooperation between the first sorting roller and the transfer roller. Here, the deterministic allocation is also cancelled.

[0040] Preferably, when removing the rod-shaped articles from the transfer drum and / or handing over the rod-shaped articles to the transfer drum, the peripheral speed of the second sorting drum substantially corresponds to the peripheral speed of the transfer drum.

[0041] Preferably, a groove-free region is provided at the circumference of the second sorting drum, wherein the circumferential speed of the second sorting drum deviates from the circumferential speed of the transfer drum, in particular when the groove-free region is adjacent to the transfer drum.

[0042] Further preferably, the second mass flow is guided via a base roller, wherein the second mass flow is conveyed on the base roller over more than one complete revolution, wherein in particular the transfer roller has a groove spacing that is the same size as the groove spacing on the base roller, wherein in particular the spacing of the rod-shaped articles conveyed to the base roller is twice the groove spacing of the base roller.

[0043] Therefore, the basic drum is preferably configured to be able to convey the first and second mass flows.For this reason, the receiving groove of the basic drum preferably has a length that is at least twice as long as the rod-shaped article.

[0044] Preferably, a first group of n consecutive rod-shaped articles is formed from the first mass flow and a second group of m consecutive rod-shaped articles is formed from the second mass flow, the first group and the second group being formed as a block on the packaging drum, wherein n and m are integers, wherein in particular the groups are arranged on the packaging drum in a transverse axial alignment or substantially transverse axial alignment. m and n can be identical or different here and are in the range between 5 and 14. For example, m=10 can be possible and n can also be equal to 10. The embodiment is basically explained by this example (number m, n=10).

[0045] Preferably, the groups are arranged and / or conveyed gradually aligned in the transverse axial direction on the way to the packaging drum. As a result, the groups of rod-shaped articles are gradually arranged one after the other in the longitudinal axial direction and one after the other in the transverse axial direction, thereby simplifying the subsequent transfer into the container (which is preferably rectangular in cross section).

[0046] Preferably, the packaging drum rotates at a rotation speed which is a constant basic rotation speed on which a variable rotation speed is superimposed. This makes it possible to arrange an edge between the groups and to achieve a faster rotation at the moment when the edge is opposite to the adjacent drum.

[0047] Preferably, the groups of blocks are arranged in two planes spaced apart from one another before they are inserted into the container. Preferably, the first group is located in a first plane and the second group is located in a second plane, wherein the two planes are substantially at a distance which corresponds approximately to or is slightly smaller than the diameter of the rod-shaped article. The planes are at different distances from the axis of rotation of the packaging drum.

[0048] Preferably, the block can be completely empty. Therefore, preferably no container is provided into which the empty block is to be pushed. This unfilled container can be removed from the feeder beforehand and then conveyed to the packaging drum. Alternatively, the cycle of conveying the container in the direction of the packaging drum can also be suspended.

[0049] Preferably, in order to push the block into the container, the second group is first pushed longitudinally onto the first group, and then the block consisting of both groups is pushed into the container.

[0050] Preferably, the container is a package, an inner liner or a chamber strip. In the case where the container is a package, it only needs to be closed and the package can be transported further. In the case where the container is an inner liner, this filled inner liner is then pushed into the package, or the package is folded or formed around the inner liner. In the case where the container is a chamber of a chamber strip, the contents of the chamber strip are then moved into the package or the inner liner.

[0051] This object is also achieved by a conveying device, which is used to convey a first mass flow of a single layer formed by rod-shaped objects, in particular rod-shaped objects from the tobacco processing industry, and a second mass flow of a single layer formed by rod-shaped objects, in particular rod-shaped objects from the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped objects in the mass flow are conveyed in a track along the transverse axis respectively, and the conveying device is improved in the following way: a conveying mechanism with accommodating grooves is provided, which is constructed to move or transfer selected or selectable rod-shaped objects from one track to another track.

[0052] Preferably, a control device is provided, which sends a control signal to the conveying mechanism in order to move the rod-shaped objects from one track to another track.

[0053] Preferably, a sensor mechanism is provided, which detects an empty position of a track or multiple tracks and / or a position occupied by a rod-shaped object. The sensor mechanism can realize optical recognition, microwave measurement, capacitance measurement and / or mechanical recognition.

[0054] Preferably, the conveying mechanism has a receiving groove, wherein a rod-shaped object of the first mass flow and a rod-shaped object of the second mass flow can be respectively received in a receiving groove, wherein a rod-shaped object of the first mass flow and a rod-shaped object of the second mass flow are respectively arranged in sequence in a receiving groove along the longitudinal axis or can be received in a receiving groove, wherein there is a vacant space for moving a rod-shaped object in the receiving groove into a track (the rod-shaped object is to be moved into the track).

[0055] Preferably, the movement is carried out by compressed air impact. Alternatively, the push rod can also cause the movement. However, preferably a compressed air nozzle is provided, which is arranged in a fixed manner and always generates a compressed air impact at the moment when the rod-shaped object in the receiving groove should pass by the compressed air nozzle and should be pushed.

[0056] Preferably, a monitoring device is provided, which detects or monitors the rod-shaped objects in the track, wherein the total number of rod-shaped objects transported by the two mass flows is balanced by moving the rod-shaped objects between the tracks. The monitoring device can count the number of objects in the track or mass flow when detecting or monitoring. For example, the monitoring device can be equipped with a photocell or a camera. In the case where a camera is provided, image processing is used to determine which receiving grooves are occupied by the rod-shaped objects and where there are vacancies. The monitoring device detects the rod-shaped objects and vacancies in the two mass flows, in particular upstream of the conveying mechanism on which the rod-shaped objects move.

[0057] The conveying mechanism can also be configured as a balancing drum. Alternatively, the conveying mechanism can be designed as a conveyor belt provided with an accommodating groove, on which a mechanism for moving the rod-shaped article is arranged.

[0058] Preferably, an inspection device is arranged upstream of the conveying mechanism, wherein the inspection device checks at least one property of the conveyed rod-shaped articles and removes defective articles from the corresponding mass flow. In this context, defective means that the rod-shaped articles do not meet a predefined standard or are outside a predefined tolerance. For example, cigarettes as rod-shaped articles may have an incorrect degree of ventilation or have a tip from which too much tobacco has fallen during transportation or filling.

[0059] The object is also achieved by a conveying device, which is a conveying device for a first mass flow of a single layer formed by rod-shaped articles, in particular rod-shaped articles from the tobacco processing industry, and a conveying device for a second mass flow of a single layer formed by rod-shaped articles, in particular rod-shaped articles from the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped articles in the mass flows are conveyed along the transverse axis on a respective track, wherein a sorting device is provided, with the help of which the rod-shaped articles from one or both mass flows are transferred or can be transferred along the transverse axis to a preset number of receiving grooves.

[0060] The object is also achieved by a conveying device, which is improved in the following manner: a sorting device is provided, which includes a base roller, a transfer roller and a sorting roller, wherein the base roller has a receiving groove for accommodating rod-shaped objects in a single-layer mass flow of at least one track, wherein the receiving groove is arranged parallel to the rotation axis of the base roller, wherein the transfer roller is constructed to transfer the rod-shaped objects from the base roller to the sorting roller, and to transfer the rod-shaped objects from the sorting roller to the base roller, and the conveying device is improved in the following manner: a control device is provided, which controls the circumferential speed of the sorting roller so that the circumferential speed of the sorting roller temporarily changes relative to the circumferential speed of the transfer roller.

[0061] By varying the peripheral speed of the sorting drum relative to the peripheral speed of the transfer drum, it is possible according to the invention to dispense with a defined assignment of the receiving recesses in the sorting drum to the transfer drum.

[0062] Therefore, the rod-shaped article that can be contained in the transfer cylinder can shift the groove of preset number.Thus, the rod-shaped article that can be carried in the base cylinder can be arranged so that the gapless rod-shaped article of preset number can be handed over to the follow-up conveying mechanism from the base cylinder successively.

[0063] Preferably, the control is performed in such a way that the rod-shaped article is removed from the transfer drum and delivered to the transfer drum with a predeterminable groove offset. The groove offset is preferably between -10 and +10, in particular up to -8 to +8, in particular up to -6 to +6, in particular up to -5 to +5, further in particular up to -4 to +4, and further in particular up to -3 to +3 or up to -2 to +2.

[0064] The control device is also designed or arranged so that the transfer drum and the sorting drum have the same or substantially the same peripheral speed when removing from the transfer drum and delivering to the transfer drum.

[0065] Preferably, the removal or handing over of the rod-shaped articles is assisted by compressed air impacts, in particular so assisted that the rod-shaped articles are not only handed over from the receiving grooves of the transfer drum or the sorting drum by stopping the suction air supply, but also handed over from the receiving grooves by compressed air impacts.

[0066] Preferably, the sorting drum has a region on its circumference in which the grooves are provided and a region without grooves, wherein the region without grooves has a smaller outer radius than the region with grooves. This allows efficient and trouble-free rotation of the transfer drum and the sorting drum at different circumferential speeds, in particular when the region without grooves is adjacent to the transfer drum. The outer radius corresponds to the distance of the outer circumference from the axis of rotation.

[0067] Preferably, the base drum has grooves with a pitch that corresponds to the groove pitch of the transfer drum.

[0068] Preferably, the groove spacing of basic drum is half the groove spacing of the delivery unit that a mass flow or a plurality of mass flows are handed over to the basic drum.So, only every other groove of basic drum is filled by a mass flow or a plurality of mass flows from the delivery unit that the rod-shaped article is handed over to the basic drum.

[0069] Preferably, the basic drum has an odd number of grooves. Other drums may have an even number of grooves or accommodating grooves.

[0070] In particular, at least one sorting drum, in particular two sorting drums, is provided for each mass flow. The sorting drums can be provided with rotation axes that are offset in a transverse direction relative to one another, or they can also have the same rotation axis. In particular, the depth of the sorting drum is half or approximately half as great as the depth of the transfer drum. In this case, the transfer drum can receive two mass flows of rod-shaped articles, while each sorting drum can receive one mass flow of rod-shaped articles.

[0071] Preferably, basic drum and transfer drum have grooves, and the length that these grooves have can realize the space for two rod-shaped articles arranged in sequence.Particularly, the sorting drum has shorter grooves or accommodating grooves.

[0072] In the context of the present application, a recess is in particular a receiving recess, wherein the rod-shaped object is preferably held in the recess by suction of air.

[0073] The object is also achieved by a conveying device in which a packaging device is provided, which is arranged in particular downstream of a base drum, wherein the packaging device is designed to form a block from a first group of n consecutive rod-shaped articles and a second group of m consecutive rod-shaped articles, wherein n and m are integers ≥ 5, wherein the packaging device has a packaging drum which is designed as a polygon in cross section, wherein the polygon has corners and straight or outwardly curved sides between the corners, and wherein the sides have n or m grooves arranged side by side for accommodating the groups of rod-shaped articles. In particular, the conveying device has the above-mentioned features of the conveying device according to the invention and improved as described above.

[0074] Preferably, the radius of curvature of the outwardly curved edge is greater than the radius of the packaging drum, in particular at least twice as large.

[0075] Preferably, the packaging drum has two different diameters, so that a group of n consecutive rod-shaped articles is arranged on a different plane than a group of m consecutive rod-shaped articles. Preferably, the packaging drum has two different diameters, so that a group of n consecutive receiving grooves for rod-shaped articles is arranged on a different plane than a group of m consecutive receiving grooves for rod-shaped articles.

[0076] The packaging drum preferably has a front region and a rear region, wherein the front region is the region adjacent to a mechanism by means of which containers for holding rod-shaped articles can be conveyed from the packaging drum. The mechanism for conveying the containers can also be a component of the packaging drum. Preferably, the front region of the packaging drum has a smaller diameter than the rear region of the packaging drum. This allows different planes to be obtained for the groups of rod-shaped articles.

[0077] Particularly preferably, the packaging device has conveyor rollers which are arranged upstream of the packaging roller and whose cross-section becomes increasingly polygonal the closer they are to the packaging roller. This allows a reliable transfer of the stick-shaped articles during the transport process from one conveyor roller to the next and to the packaging roller. This is particularly well achieved when the packaging roller rotates at a speed which has a constant basic speed on which a variable speed is superimposed.

[0078] Preferably, a pushing device is provided, which is configured to push the second group of stick-shaped objects onto the first group of stick-shaped objects and to push the two groups into the container as a block. It is also preferred that the pushing device has an upper guide so that the stick-shaped objects from the second group, which are preferably arranged on the upper plane, cannot fall off, because at the moment of the movement of the stick-shaped objects, the intake air is preferably closed there from the receiving recess.

[0079] Preferably, the pushing device has push rods, which are configured to move the rod-shaped objects. The push rods are preferably configured so that the push rods can be used to move the rod-shaped objects from the first group and the rod-shaped objects from the second group at the same time, or even two rod-shaped objects from the first group and two rod-shaped objects from the second group at the same time.

[0080] Furthermore, preferably, a guide plate is provided which can be pushed into the container and serves to narrow the cross section of the container in the direction of the pushing movement. The guide plate is temporarily partially inserted into the respective container and preferably protrudes from the container. The guide plate preferably protrudes from the opening of the container in the horizontal and / or vertical direction.

[0081] The description of the embodiments according to the invention together with the claims and the appended drawings is sufficient to describe the embodiments according to the invention. Figure 1 The embodiments of the present invention can satisfy individual features or a combination of several features. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0082] The invention is described below based on exemplary embodiments without limiting the overall inventive concept with reference to the drawings, wherein explicit reference is made to the drawings for all specific details according to the invention that are not explained in detail in the text.

[0083] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a conveying device according to the present invention is shown;

[0084] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing two mass flows and a defragmentation module;

[0085] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a classification device according to the present invention is shown;

[0086] Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing the interaction between the classification drum and the transfer drum according to the present invention is shown;

[0087] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the rotation speed of the corresponding drum changing with time;

[0088] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the drum operation of the packaging drum and a schematic diagram of the rotation speed of the packaging drum changing with time are shown;

[0089] Figure 7 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a packaging process according to the present invention is shown;

[0090] Figure 8 A three-dimensional schematic diagram showing a cut-away portion of a packaging drum according to the present invention is shown;

[0091] Fig. 9Another three-dimensional schematic diagram shows a portion of a packaging drum according to the invention;

[0092] Fig.10 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a classification device according to the present invention is shown;

[0093] Fig.11 In another three-dimensional schematic diagram, that is, from another perspective, Fig.10 how it is implemented; and

[0094] Fig.12 A further three-dimensional schematic diagram of an embodiment of a sorting device according to the invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0095] In the context of the present invention, features expressed as "particularly" or "preferably" are to be understood as optional features.

[0096] In the figures, identical or identical elements and / or components are each provided with the same reference symbols, so that they do not have to be introduced again in each case.

[0097] Figure 1 A conveying device 10 according to the invention is schematically shown. The rod-shaped articles are conveyed in a transverse direction in a conveying direction 15. First, in a filter tipping machine 11, for example, a filter tip is mounted on a tobacco rod. Typically, a double length filter is placed between two tobacco rods, wrapped with wrapping paper, and then cut in the middle to obtain two filter cigarettes. Alternatively, the rod-shaped article may also be a heat-not-burn product. The conveying device may be a combiner or a multi-segment maker in which different segments are combined.

[0098] In the inspection device 12, the properties of the filter cigarettes are checked and, if they do not correspond to predefined properties, they are rejected. This results in a first mass flow 21 and a second mass flow 22 of rod-shaped objects (here in this example, filter cigarettes 30), which flow or are conveyed in the mass flow conveyed in the transverse axial direction and have a gap 31 (see, for example, Figure 2 ).

[0099] In the defragmentation module 13, which will be described in detail below, the rod-shaped articles 30 arranged in the two mass flows 21, 22 are re-sorted to form complete groups of ten cigarettes in this example, namely a first group 32 and a second group 33 (see again Figure 2 ). The gaps 31 are controlled in this case so that complete groups of gaps are formed in the form of a first empty group 34 and a second empty group 35 .

[0100] Subsequently, the groups of cigarettes are conveyed in the form of blocks to a packing module 14 , which blocks are introduced into containers such as, for example, cigarette packs.

[0101] In order to be able to compensate for the differences in production speed between cigarette manufacturing machines and cigarette packaging machines, logistics components have been used so far, which store the products in a mass flow with multiple layers and thus compensate for the speed differences. The disadvantage here is that the products will spread out, that is to say, they are no longer kept in a defined manner, for example, in a receiving groove, but are transported in a loose mass flow, and there is therefore a risk of cross-scattering and product damage. Therefore, it is preferred that the cigarette packs can be filled directly in the cigarette manufacturing, because such small packages or cigarette packs can be stored significantly easier. For this purpose, it is very preferred that the correct number of cigarettes is available for filling the cigarette packs. Therefore, the wrong occupancy situation caused by, for example, throwing out (Auswürfe) in the receiving groove in the conveying mechanism should no longer exist.

[0102] Until now, this problem has been solved in that cigarette manufacturing runs at overspeed, i.e. more cigarettes are manufactured than can be packed and at least the excess cigarettes, if not even all the cigarettes, are supplied to a warehouse of individual products and individual items or products are then taken from the warehouse to fill the empty slots.

[0103] According to the invention, the goal is not to fill all recesses, but rather to sort the stick-shaped articles in a clever way to ensure that the package or container can always be completely filled, or if there is a vacant position, not filled at all.

[0104] For this purpose, the input pattern or pattern of the rod-shaped articles in the first mass flow and / or the second mass flow is recorded and divided into groups. A group here contains all the rod-shaped articles present in a layer of a block required for filling the small packages. The pattern can be, for example, a sequence of rod-shaped products and gaps arranged one behind the other in the transverse axis. A group can have, for example, ten rod-shaped products, a block two groups and thus a small package twenty rod-shaped articles. It is important here that the groups and also the blocks are completely filled. The subsequent process can then be designed in such a way that a beat can be skipped and therefore the filling of small packages which would otherwise always be completely filled. In order to be able to better understand this solution, in Figure 2 The defragmentation module 13 is schematically shown in FIG.

[0105] If the recorded pattern has, for example, 30 rod-shaped articles at the same location in two mass flows, three packages can be formed from two groups of 10 articles each of the rod-shaped articles without re-sorting. If a rod-shaped article is missing in a mass flow, this empty position should be filled with an article. Then, this article is missing at another location, so that after 10 fillings in one mass flow, an empty group consisting of 10 gaps or empty positions can be formed in turn. If multiple articles are missing, an empty group can be formed more quickly.

[0106] Figure 2 Schematically, a defragmentation module 13 is shown into which a first mass flow 21 of rod-shaped articles 30 and a second mass flow 22 of rod-shaped articles 30 are fed in a conveying direction 15. The first mass flow 21 is conveyed on a first track 26 transversely to the rod-shaped articles 30, and the second mass flow 22 is conveyed in a second track 27 transversely to the rod-shaped articles 30.

[0107] Some rod-shaped objects are rejected by the inspection device 12, so that a gap 31 has been formed in the two mass flows of the rod-shaped objects 30. The rod-shaped objects are filter cigarettes from the filter tipping machine 13 or filter cigarettes still being conveyed in the filter tipping machine 13.

[0108] In this case, first, the orientation of the second mass flow 22 in the receiving groove must be changed. A deflection device 23 is used for this purpose, which can be constructed as a conical deflector. In this embodiment, the spacing of the rod-shaped objects 30 is 6π, i.e., a spacing of approximately 18.8 mm. After the deflection device 23, a balancing roller 24 is connected in the conveying direction 15, which has a groove slightly longer than the double length of the rod-shaped objects 30. In the balancing roller 24, the rod-shaped objects 30 can be selectively exchanged between the tracks. If there is an empty groove on one of the tracks, the empty groove can be filled with a rod-shaped object from another track (if there is a rod-shaped object at this position). This movement of the rod-shaped product can be achieved by compressed air or suction air. The main goal here is to ensure that on average, there are the same number of rod-shaped objects on the two tracks.

[0109] Then a sorting device 25 is connected, which will be described in detail below and which ensures that complete groups 32 and 33 of rod-shaped articles and, if necessary, complete empty groups 34 and 35 are arranged in the mass flow. These groups can then be packed efficiently and resource-savingly.

[0110] Figure 3 The sorting device 25 is schematically shown. Figure 2 In the embodiment, the sorting device 25 is connected to the balancing drum 24 .

[0111] At the inlet of the sorting device 25, there are two mass flows 21, 22, which are conveyed on two tracks 26, 27, wherein these mass flows have approximately the same number of rod-shaped products in total. The sorting device 25 now ensures that gaps or missing rod-shaped articles and rod-shaped articles are sorted or grouped, so that a continuous group of rod-shaped articles 30 and a continuous group of gaps are obtained. In this embodiment, it is a group of ten rod-shaped articles or a group of ten gaps.

[0112] The two mass flows 21 and 22 are transferred to the base roller 40 in the conveying direction 15, more precisely at a spacing of 6π. The base roller 40 has an odd number of receiving grooves, which are arranged at a spacing of 3π, ie half the spacing of the conveyed rod-shaped articles.

[0113] At the outlet of the base drum, the rod-shaped products in the two mass flows 21 and 22 are again handed over at a spacing of 6π. Due to the smaller groove spacing and the odd number of receiving grooves on the base drum, the rod-shaped articles 30 run through two revolutions on the base drum.

[0114] In order to enable reclassification, a transfer drum 41 is provided and a classifying drum 43 or 44 is provided for each mass flow 21, 22. In the classifying device there are two or more classifying drums 43, 44, 45, 46 which are provided with grooves only over 180° of the circumference.

[0115] The sorting drum rotates synchronously with the machine speed and / or the transfer drum 41 and the base drum 40. However, in areas on which no grooves are provided, or at the moment when the sorting drums 43 to 46 are adjacent to the transfer drums 41, 42 with areas without grooves, another movement can be superimposed on the movement of one or more sorting drums, so that a groove offset of up to + / - ten grooves can be produced.

[0116] The sorting drum can receive the rod-shaped articles and can also hand over the rod-shaped articles again. Through the combination of existing parameters, for the control or with the aid of the control algorithm, a solution can be found to produce the desired pattern in the mass flows 21 and 22.

[0117] exist Figure 3 In the specific design, two sorting drums 43, 45 and 44, 46 are provided for each mass flow 21, 22. Since the rod-shaped objects basically run two circles on the base drum 40, each sorting drum can have two effects on the object flow. Figure 2) - which moves the objects between the object runs when necessary - in most cases it will be possible to find a solution for transferring the rod-shaped objects so that a complete group of rod-shaped objects 30 and a complete group of empty positions can be arranged in the mass flows 21 and 22 handed over by the base roller 40. If this is not possible or the calculated time exceeds twice the cycle time on the base roller, an emergency ejection of the individual rod-shaped objects will be carried out. This is preferably done by the sorting rollers 45 and 46, which are Figure 3 This is indicated by the arrow in the upper left corner.

[0118] It is also possible to provide three classifying drums for each mass flow.

[0119] A selective transfer of the rod-shaped articles from the base drum to the transfer drum and from the transfer drum to the sorting drum and in the opposite direction takes place. Figure 3 In the figure, some rod-shaped articles are schematically shown in some receiving grooves of the sorting drums 43 to 46. For the sake of clarity, not all receiving grooves in the sorting drums are shown here, and no grooves are shown in the transfer drums 41 and 42 and the base drum 40. Of course, they also have grooves.

[0120] It is also possible not to hand over the rod-shaped object. For example, the handover can be achieved by interrupting the vacuum supply to the receiving groove in a targeted manner, more precisely, interrupting the vacuum supply to the receiving groove in which the rod-shaped object to be handed over is held. The handover can be assisted by a targeted compressed air pulse, which can be triggered, for example, by a fast switching valve. The compressed air pulse can be guided through the suction opening, to which the suction air for holding the rod-shaped object is usually applied.

[0121] In order to achieve a groove shift or to reclassify the rod-shaped articles in the mass flow 21, 22, the sorting drums 43, 44, 45, 46 are accelerated or decelerated during the time when the grooves are not engaged and then resume a circumferential speed that is synchronous with the transfer drum 41 or 42. Figure 4 and Figure 5 This is shown schematically in .

[0122] exist Figure 4 In FIG. 4 , a transfer drum 41 with receiving recesses 47 and a sorting drum 43 are schematically shown. In this embodiment, all receiving recesses in the sorting drum are occupied by rod-shaped articles 30 .

[0123] exist Figure 5 In the figures, the rotational speed or peripheral speed is plotted over time, more precisely, the rotational speed or peripheral speed of the sorting drum 43 is plotted in the upper figure, and the rotational speed or peripheral speed of the transfer drum 41 is plotted in the lower figure.

[0124] 52 represents a basic rotation speed, which may be the same as the basic rotation speed of the classification drum 43 for the transfer drum 41, for example, 125 revolutions per minute. Figure 4 In the case of a rotary table, the circumferences of the two rollers are of different sizes, so the rotational speeds must be adjusted accordingly, so that the base rotational speeds of the respective rollers are selected so that the circumferential speeds of the two rollers are the same. Figure 5 The above figure also shows: a rotation speed 50 for a positive groove offset, that is, under this rotation speed, the rotation speed is increased within a period of time; and a rotation speed 51 for a negative groove offset, that is, under this rotation speed, the rotation speed is reduced within a certain period of time.

[0125] exist Figure 3 1 and 2. Different radii r1 and r2 are also shown. r1 is a first radius of the region of the sorting drum 44 in which no grooves are provided, and r2 is a second radius of the region in which grooves are provided. r2 is preferably greater than r1.

[0126] The method and also the software of the control device must be derived from a known but undefined input pattern (the input pattern is as in Figure 2 On the right or Figure 3 As shown on the right) to generate an ordered pattern (the ordered pattern is as shown in Figure 3 ). The influencing parameters for finding a solution include the number of sorting rollers, the jump width of the groove offset (from -10 to +10 grooves) or another pre-settable maximum groove jump width. It should be noted here that the receiving grooves in the transfer roller and in the corresponding sorting roller can be, for example, 3π, that is, half the size of the receiving grooves on the conveying mechanism for conveying rod-shaped objects toward the base roller. Selected products can be received and handed over, the sorting rollers can be combined with each other, and products can be handed over and received in both the first and second cycles of the base roller. In addition, the balancing roller can be controlled according to the input mode so that fewer groove offsets must be generated.

[0127] Furthermore, it should be ensured that sufficient vacuum is always applied at the occupied open recesses in order to reliably retain the product.

[0128] In order to be able to now package from Figure 3 The delivered mass flows 21 and 22 are provided with a packaging device which ensures that the respective groups 32 and 33 are brought together as a block and can be delivered into a container. To this end, the distance, i.e. the spacing of the rod-shaped products, is first reduced again in order to enable the formation of a block which enables a relatively tight packaging of the rod-shaped articles. For example, the distance can be reduced from 6π to 3π. For this purpose, for example, a brake drum or a stepped drum with a pivotable receiving recess can be used.

[0129] Subsequently, the rod-shaped article groups (in the present embodiment, each group has ten rod-shaped articles) are brought to a plane respectively, so that they are then pushed into small packages or containers. In order to bring these groups to a plane, a roller operation can be set, such as for example Figure 6 In the upper region, three rollers 60a, 61a and 62a are shown, which gradually become more polygonal in the conveying direction 15.

[0130] Each roller itself consists of Figure 6 The two rollers shown in the figure are respectively stacked up and down, that is, the roller, which includes the rollers or roller parts 60a and 60b shown. The two rollers 60a and 60b are arranged on the same axis or on parallel offset axes, but this is not the case here. Figure 6 Correspondingly, further rollers 61a and 61b are provided, which also rotate on a common axis, and a packaging roller 62, which comprises rollers or roller parts 62a and 62b, which also rotate on a common axis.

[0131] In this embodiment, the diameters of the rollers 60b, 61b and 62b are larger than the corresponding diameters of the rollers 60a, 61a and 62a. As a result, the first group 32 of rod-shaped articles 30 are automatically arranged on a plane different from that of the second group 33 of rod-shaped articles 30. That is, the first mass flow 21 is conveyed in the transverse axial direction by the roller components 60a, 61a and 62a, and the second mass flow 22 is conveyed in the transverse axial direction by the roller components 60b, 61b and 62b. The first roller composed of the two roller components 60a and 60b is still circular as usual. Figure 6 The variation of the speed with time is shown in Figure 6 The rotation speed shown at the bottom left is labeled 52 and is a constant base rotation speed or a rotation speed that matches the speed of the manufacturing machine and / or packaging machine.

[0132] The subsequent second roller, which consists of roller components 61a and 61b, is already angular, ie, tends to be polygonal. Groove groups 63a and 63b are shown there, each having seven grooves and having edges 64 between them. Figure 6 The group formed in the embodiment of has seven rod-shaped articles. The roller has been controlled with a variable speed superimposed on the basic speed 52 so that for the moment (at which the corner of the roller 61 with the components 61a and 61b is adjacent to the roller 60 with the components 60a and 60b), the roller 61 moves slightly slower.

[0133] The last drum, the packaging drum 62 consisting of the components 62a and 62b, is already completely polygonal with corners 64 and groups 63a or 63b, each group having seven receiving recesses, which are arranged in one plane. Here, too, the speed at which the packaging drum 62 is driven is provided with a basic speed 52, to which a variable speed is superimposed, wherein in the present embodiment, the variable speed is greater than the variable speed in the intermediate drum 61. Here, too, the variable speed is used to move the edge 64 past the adjacent drum 61 more quickly.

[0134] Preferably, the variable rotation speed is a sinusoidal function.

[0135] exist Figure 6 A group consisting of 7 receiving grooves is shown in FIG. The present invention will be explained below with a group consisting of 10 receiving grooves and 10 rod-shaped articles.

[0136] In order to be able to fill the container with rod-shaped articles 30 from both groups of rod-shaped articles in the subsequent process, it is necessary to make one group run on a larger diameter than the other group. This can be achieved by radially lifting the group that is to run above the other group, more precisely by controlling it via a cam. Alternatively, as in Figure 6 As shown in , rollers or roller components with different diameters can be provided for the corresponding groups.

[0137] In order to increase process reliability, it is provided that the containers are filled by means of a packaging drum 62. For this purpose, it is expedient to arrange the rod-shaped objects 30 in two planes, which have a predetermined number of objects (e.g. seven or ten). For this purpose, it is provided that the rod-shaped objects are transferred from the curved outer shell surface to a surface that is as flat as possible, such as on a flat surface. Figure 6 In addition, it is advantageous to already push the rod-shaped products together as closely as possible. For this purpose, the shape of the rollers can be changed one by one by three or more rollers. The number of rollers required depends on the permissible deviation from the ideal handover and on the diameter of the rollers. In addition, gaps are created between the individual groups (this is done by Figure 6 The middle edge 64 shown in can be realized) is meaningful, so that reliable packaging can be achieved. These gaps can also be gradually increased and / or adjusted according to the geometry.

[0138] Figure 7 A packaging drum according to the invention is shown schematically almost in operation, more precisely in a three-dimensional schematic representation.

[0139] The rod-shaped articles 30 are conveyed in the conveying direction 15 by rollers (not shown) into two tracks which are preferably already in different planes. The rod-shaped products 30 are received on the packaging rollers 62 in a first group 32 and a second group 33 .

[0140] On the packaging drum 62 , for each block consisting of two groups, a cover in the form of an upper guide 71 is provided, which ensures that the rod-shaped articles 30 do not fly apart when they are pushed one on top of the other and the air suction in the grooves is stopped.

[0141] The container 73 is also guided by the drum 62. When the drum 62 rotates, the rod-shaped articles 30 are filled with products by the push rod 72, which is guided, for example, via a cam. As a result, the groups 32, 33 can be reliably pushed into the container 73. For this purpose, the upper guide 71 is moved together with the push rod 72 in the direction of the container 73. The movement of the push rod is preferably parallel to the rotation axis of the packaging drum 62.

[0142] Thus, first the second group 33 is pushed onto the first group 32, and then both groups are pushed into the container 73. The already filled container 73, into which the block 70 consisting of the two groups 32 and 33 has been introduced, is then fed into the further product run. The container 73 can be, for example, the inner lining of a cigarette pack. Alternatively, the block 70 can also be brought into a chamber belt.

[0143] Figure 8 A portion of a packaging drum 62 according to the invention is shown schematically and in three dimensions. For simplicity, only the first group 32 and the second group 33 of stick-shaped articles are shown here. The different planes of the receiving grooves 74 are clearly shown. Indentations are provided between the receiving grooves 74, through which the push rods 72 can pass. Each push rod 72 can push a total of four stick-shaped articles, namely two stick-shaped articles of the second group 33 and two stick-shaped articles of the first group 32.

[0144] Fig. 9 A further partial view of a packaging drum 62 according to the invention is schematically shown. In this figure, in addition to the previous representations, a guide device 75 is shown which can be temporarily brought into the container 73 and ensures that the rod-shaped articles 30, in particular the rod-shaped articles of the second group 33, can be reliably pushed into the container 73. For better illustration, part 62a of the packaging drum and part 62b of the packaging drum are also shown here again. It can be clearly seen that the diameters of the two parts 62a and 62b of the packaging drum 62 are of different sizes. This allows different planes to be achieved for the groups.

[0145] The upper guide 71 and the push rod 72 move axially as the drum rotates, and thus push the objects into the container.

[0146] The guide device 75 (which can be configured as a guide plate) ensures that the items can be neatly inserted. Or introduced into a container (e.g., a liner). The guide device 75 can be pivoted or pushed into the container 73. It is also conceivable that the guide device 75 is designed to be rotationally fixed in position with respect to the packaging drum 62, while the container 73 is axially moved (more precisely axially moved toward the guide device 75) by a small amount, for example, a few millimeters.

[0147] Before the filled container 73 leaves the packaging drum 62 , the guide device 75 should have left the container 73 , or the container 73 should have been pivoted away or moved linearly away from the guide device 75 again.

[0148] For the situation that there is an empty group, it can also be provided that no container 73 is conveyed. Even so, the upper guide 71 and the push rod 72 can then still move as usual, and they can be guided on the cam.

[0149] Fig.10 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of another embodiment of a sorting device 25 is shown. Two parallel mass flows in the form of a first mass flow 21 and a second mass flow 22 are fed to a transfer roller 48 in the conveying direction 15. The product spacing in the transverse axis is, for example, 6π. An undefined but known feed pattern of the mass flows 21 and 22 is preferably provided, wherein approximately balanced rod-shaped products are provided in the first mass flow 21 and the second mass flow 22. Thus, there is a product run or mass flow 22 in the front and a Fig.10 The rear product flow or mass flow 21.

[0150] The transfer drum 48 has receiving grooves which receive the rod-shaped products of the first mass flow 21 and the second mass flow 22. On the transfer drum 48, only every other receiving groove is filled, so that the spacing there is also 6π. The products are transferred to the base drum 40. The base drum 40 has an odd number of grooves, so that the products usually run around the base drum 40 twice. The products themselves are arranged at a spacing of 3π, i.e. half the spacing that was previously present in the first mass flow 21 and the second mass flow 22.

[0151] In order to be able to achieve the groove offset of the rod-shaped articles arranged on the base drum 40, the rod-shaped articles are removed from the transfer drum 41 and handed over to the sorting drum 43 or 44 from the first mass flow 21 and the second mass flow 22, and are also received again from there and put back to the base drum 40 again. The sorting drum 43 is provided for the first mass flow 21, while the sorting drum 44 is provided for the second mass flow 22. Therefore, the sorting drums 43 and 45 are arranged axially offset from each other. The sorting drum 44 is provided for the front product run, while the sorting drum 43 is provided for the rear product run. A similar configuration is provided slightly downstream of the base drum 40, with a transfer drum 42, which takes products from the first mass flow 21 and the second mass flow 22 and hands them over to the sorting drum 46 for products from the first mass flow and the sorting drum 45 for products from the second mass flow.

[0152] Since the sorting drums 43, 44, 45 and 46 can rotate faster or slower at the moment when the groove-free area is opposite the transfer drum, a groove offset of up to + / -10 grooves can be produced for the products received in the grooves. The groove spacing is also 3π here. The rod-shaped articles with a transverse axial offset thus predetermined are handed over to the transfer drum again and from there onto the base drum.

[0153] By using the sorting device 25, two regular mass flows are generated from two irregular mass flows, which have predefined larger product spacings or larger product gaps. The more uniform mass flow of rod-shaped products thus formed is handed over by the transfer roller 49 along the conveying direction 15.

[0154] Fig.11 Another perspective diagram schematically shows Fig.10 Here the axial offset of the classifying drums 43, 44, 45 and 46 can be clearly seen.

[0155] The mass flows 21 , 22 downstream of the transfer drum 49 are provided with a rod-shaped article spacing of, for example, 6π.

[0156] exist Fig.12 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of another embodiment of the sorting device 25 is shown in FIG. Fig.10 In addition, the coaxially arranged sorting drums 43 and 44 or 45 and 46 can be rotated separately from each other, but on the same axis. This allows a more compact design. The remaining functionality is basically the same as in Fig.10 and Fig.11The same is true in the implementation method of .

[0157] The present invention makes it possible to achieve a very efficient and product-protective packaging of rod-shaped articles, in particular of the tobacco processing industry.

[0158] All of the features mentioned, including those that can be seen alone from the drawings and those disclosed in combination with other features, are considered essential to the invention both individually and in combination. Embodiments according to the invention can be achieved by individual features or combinations of a plurality of features.

[0159] List of reference numerals:

[0160] 10: Conveying device

[0161] 11: Filter Tip Attachment Machine

[0162] 12: Check the device

[0163] 13: Defragmentation module

[0164] 14: Packaging module

[0165] 15: Conveying direction

[0166] 21: First mass flow

[0167] 22: Second mass flow

[0168] 23: Steering device

[0169] 24: Balancing roller

[0170] 25: Classification device

[0171] 26: First Track

[0172] 27: Second Track

[0173] 30: Rod-shaped objects

[0174] 31: Gap

[0175] 32: The first set of stick-shaped objects

[0176] 33: The second group of stick-shaped objects

[0177] 34: First empty group

[0178] 35: Second empty group

[0179] 40: Basic roller

[0180] 41, 42: Transfer roller

[0181] 43-46: Sorting roller

[0182] 47: Accommodating groove

[0183] 48: Transfer roller

[0184] 49: Transfer roller

[0185] 50: Speed ​​for positive groove offset

[0186] 51: Speed ​​for negative groove offset

[0187] 52: Basic speed

[0188] 60, 60a, 60b: conveyor roller

[0189] 61, 61a, 61b: conveyor roller

[0190] 62, 62a, 62b: Packaging drum

[0191] 63a, 63b: Groove group

[0192] 64: Middle edge

[0193] 65: Packaging device

[0194] 70: Block

[0195] 71: Upper guide

[0196] 72: Putter

[0197] 73: Container

[0198] 74: Groove

[0199] 75: Guide device

[0200] r1: first radius

[0201] r2: second radius.

Claims

1. A method for conveying a first mass flow (21) of a single layer of rod-shaped articles (30), in particular rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, wherein: The rod-shaped articles (30) are conveyed on a conveying device (10) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles (30) to form a first mass flow (21), characterized in that additional rod-shaped articles (30), in particular additional rod-shaped articles for the tobacco processing industry, are conveyed on the conveying device (10) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles (30) to form a single-layer second mass flow (22), wherein on the conveying device (10), the first mass flow (21) is conveyed on a first track (26) and the second mass flow (22) is conveyed on a second track, wherein each selectable rod-shaped article (30) is moved or transferred from one track to another track.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The selectable rod-shaped object (30) is moved into the empty position (31).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The total number of rod-shaped articles (30) conveyed via the two mass flows (21, 22) is balanced by means of the displacement.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that At least some of the gaps (31) in the mass flow (21, 22) are produced by the removal of defective rod-shaped articles (30).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The rod-shaped articles (30) in the two mass flows (21, 22) are monitored and counted, and when the difference in the number of the rod-shaped articles (30) in the two mass flows (21, 22) exceeds a limit value, the rod-shaped articles (30) are moved.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in particular the method according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that The rod-shaped articles (30) of the first mass flow (21) are reclassified by a classification device (25), thereby providing a preset number of continuous gaps (31) and a preset number of gapless continuous rod-shaped articles (30) in the first mass flow (21), wherein for this purpose, the rotational movement of the first classification roller (43) is controlled so that it temporarily has a circumferential speed different from that of the transfer rollers (41, 42) that can establish an effective connection with the first classification roller (43).

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The rod-shaped articles (30) taken out by the first sorting drum (43) from the receiving groove (47) of the transfer drum (41, 42) can be placed or are placed in another receiving groove (47) of the transfer drum (41, 42).

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: When removing the rod-shaped products (30) from the transfer rollers (41, 42) and / or handing over the rod-shaped products to the transfer rollers (41, 42), the peripheral speed of the first sorting roller (43) substantially corresponds to the peripheral speed of the transfer rollers (41, 42).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that A groove-free area is provided on the circumference of the first classifying drum (43), wherein, particularly when the groove-free area is adjacent to the transfer drums (41, 42), the circumferential speed of the first classifying drum (43) deviates from the circumferential speed of the transfer drums (41, 42).

10. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that The first mass flow (21) is guided via a base roller (40), wherein the mass flow (21) is conveyed on the base roller (40) over more than one full revolution, wherein in particular the transfer rollers (41, 42) have a groove spacing which is the same size as the groove spacing on the base roller (40), wherein in particular the spacing of the rod-shaped articles (30) conveyed to the base roller (40) is twice the groove spacing on the base roller (40).

11. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that The rod-shaped articles (30) of the second mass flow (22) are reclassified by the sorting device (25), thereby providing a preset number of continuous gaps (31) and a preset number of continuous rod-shaped articles (30) in the second mass flow (22), wherein a second sorting roller (44) is provided for this purpose, which has the same functionality as the first sorting roller (43) according to claims 6 to 10 and receives and hands over the rod-shaped articles (30) of the second mass flow (22).

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that A first group (32) consisting of n continuous rod-shaped articles (30) is formed from the first mass flow (21) and a second group (33) consisting of m continuous rod-shaped articles (30) is formed from the second mass flow (22), the first group and the second group being formed as a block (70) on a packaging drum (62, 62a, 62b), wherein n and m are integers, wherein in particular the groups are arranged on the packaging drum (62, 62a, 62b) in a transverse-axially aligned or substantially transverse-axially aligned manner.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that These groups are arranged and / or conveyed in progressive alignment in a transverse axial direction on their way to the packaging drum (62, 62a, 62b).

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that The packaging drum (62, 62a, 62b) rotates at a rotational speed which is a constant basic rotational speed (52) on which a variable rotational speed is superimposed.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that Before being inserted into the container (73), the group of blocks (70) is arranged on two planes spaced apart from one another.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that Block (70) can be completely empty.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that In order to push the block (70) into the container (73), the group of the second mass flow (22) is first pushed axially in the longitudinal direction onto the group of the first mass flow (21), and then the block (70) consisting of the two groups is pushed into the container (73).

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that The container (73) is a package, a liner or a chamber strip.

19. A conveying device (10) for conveying a first mass flow (21) of a single layer of rod-shaped articles (30), in particular rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, and a second mass flow (22) of a single layer of rod-shaped articles (30), in particular rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped articles (30) in the mass flows (21, 22) are conveyed in a track along the transverse axis, characterized in that: A conveying mechanism (24) with a receiving groove (47) is provided, which is configured to move or transfer selected or selectable rod-shaped articles (30) from one track to another track.

20. The conveying device (10) according to claim 19, characterized in that The conveying mechanism (24) has a receiving groove (47), wherein a rod-shaped article (30) of the first mass flow (21) and a rod-shaped article (30) of the second mass flow (22) can be respectively received in a receiving groove (47), wherein a rod-shaped article (30) of the first mass flow (21) and a rod-shaped article (30) of the second mass flow (22) are respectively arranged in a receiving groove (47) in sequence along the longitudinal axis or can be received in a receiving groove, wherein a vacancy is present in order to move a rod-shaped article (30) in the receiving groove (47) to a track into which the rod-shaped article (30) is to be moved.

21. The conveying device (10) according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that The movement is performed by compressed air shocks.

22. The conveying device (10) according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that A monitoring device is provided, which detects or monitors the rod-shaped articles (30) in the tracks, wherein the total number of rod-shaped articles conveyed by the two mass flows (21, 22) is balanced by moving the rod-shaped articles (30) between the tracks.

23. The conveying device (10) according to any one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that An inspection device (12) is arranged upstream of the conveying device (24), which checks at least one property of the conveyed rod-shaped articles and removes defective articles from the corresponding mass flow (21, 22).

24. A conveying device (10), in particular a conveying device according to any one of claims 19 to 23, characterized in that A sorting device (25) is provided, which includes a base roller (40), a transfer roller (41) and a sorting roller (43-46), wherein the base roller (40) has a receiving groove (47) for receiving rod-shaped articles (30) in a single-layer mass flow of at least one track, wherein the receiving groove (47) is arranged parallel to the rotation axis of the base roller (40), wherein the transfer rollers (41, 42) are constructed to transfer the rod-shaped articles (30) from the base roller (40) to the sorting roller (43-46), and to transfer the rod-shaped articles (30) from the sorting roller (43-46) to the base roller (40), characterized in that a control device is provided, which controls the circumferential speed of the sorting roller (43-46) so that the circumferential speed of the sorting roller (43-46) temporarily changes relative to the circumferential speed of the transfer rollers (41, 42).

25. The conveying device (10) according to claim 24, characterized in that The control is carried out in such a way that the rod-shaped objects (30) are removed from the transfer rollers (41, 42) with a predeterminable groove offset and are delivered to the transfer rollers (41, 42).

26. The conveying device (10) according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that The classifying drum (43-46) has a region with grooves therein and a region without grooves on its circumference, wherein the region without grooves has a smaller outer radius than the region with grooves therein.

27. The conveying device (10) according to any one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that The groove pitch of the base roller (40) corresponds to the groove pitch of the transfer roller (41).

28. The conveying device (10) according to claim 27, characterized in that The groove spacing of the base roller (40) is half the groove spacing of a conveying unit that delivers the mass flow (21, 22) or the mass flows (21, 22) to the base roller (40).

29. The conveying device (10) according to any one of claims 24 to 28, characterized in that The base roller (40) has an odd number of grooves.

30. The conveying device (10) according to any one of claims 24 to 29, characterized in that At least one classifying drum (43-46), in particular two classifying drums (43-46), are provided for each mass flow (21, 22).

31. The conveying device (10) according to any one of claims 24 to 30, characterized in that The base drum (40) and the transfer drum (41) have grooves having a length capable of providing space for two rod-shaped articles (30) arranged one behind the other.

32. A conveying device (10), in particular a conveying device according to any one of claims 19 to 31, characterized in that A packaging device is provided, which is particularly arranged downstream of the base drum (40), wherein the packaging device is constructed to form blocks from a first group (32) of n continuous rod-shaped articles (30) and a second group (33) of m continuous rod-shaped articles (30), wherein n and m are integers ≥ 5, wherein the packaging device has a packaging drum (62, 62a, 62b), which is constructed as a polygon in cross section, wherein the polygon has corners (64) and has straight or outwardly curved sides between these corners (64), and wherein these sides have n or m grooves arranged side by side for accommodating the rod-shaped article groups.

33. The conveying device (10) according to claim 32, characterized in that The packaging drum (62, 62a, 62b) has two different diameters, so that a group (32) of n consecutive rod-shaped articles (30) is arranged on a different plane than a group (32) of m consecutive rod-shaped articles (30).

34. The conveying device (10) according to claim 32 or 33, characterized in that The packaging device has conveying rollers which are arranged upstream of the packaging rollers (62, 62a, 62b) and whose cross sections become more polygonal the closer they are arranged to the packaging rollers (62, 62a, 62b).

35. The conveying device (10) according to any one of claims 32 to 34, characterized in that The packaging drum (62, 62a, 62b) rotates at a rotational speed which is a constant rotational speed on which a variable rotational speed is superimposed.

36. The conveying device (10) according to any one of claims 32 to 35, characterized in that A pushing device (71, 72) is provided, which is configured to push the second group (33) of rod-shaped articles (30) onto the first group (33) of rod-shaped articles (30) and push the two groups as a block (70) into a container (73).

37. The conveying device (10) according to claim 36, characterized in that The pushing device (71, 72) has an upper guide (71).

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