Apparatus for manufacturing multi-segment article

Abstract

An assembly device (1) is provided with a plurality of feed modules (20, 70) adapted to feed at least one of a plurality of segments (A, B, C, D, E) for manufacturing a multi-segment article comprising said segments (A, B, C, D, E), and corresponding assembly rollers (31, 32), 31 ', 31' ', 31 ''') and conveying rollers (32, 32 ', 32' ', 32''', 32 '''), a plurality of wrapping modules (40, 80), and at least one cutting unit (50), characterized in that the modules (20, 40, 70, 80) of the device (1) are adapted to be arranged in any order in a group of modules, while maintaining within the group the following order, as viewed in the direction of flow (T) of the assembled segments: a feed module (20), a wrapping module (40), while said feed module (20, 20', 20'', 20 '', 30 '', 30 '', 30 '', 30 '', 30 '', 30 '', 30 '', 30 '', 30 '', 30 '', 30 '', 30 '', 30 '', 30 '') is The assembly rollers (31, 31 ', 31' ', 31 ''') can also be combined together in any order to form an assembly device (10) performing the function of a multi-feed module, said assembly rollers (31, 31 ', 31''') being adapted to assemble segments (A, B, C, D, E) with gaps (H).

Description

[0001] The object of the present application is a device for manufacturing multi-segment articles.

[0002] Currently, in the tobacco industry, rod-shaped articles are manufactured, which include various elements, namely tobacco elements containing tobacco or materials containing processed tobacco, filter elements, elements containing aromatic substances, and distance elements for cooling tobacco smoke, for example. In the present application, these various elements will be referred to as segments, and the article containing these segments is called a multi-segment article or a multi-segment rod. In the prior art, a device for assembling a filter segment group disclosed in document GB2267021A is known. The segment group manufactured on such a device is formed in such a way that the continuously conveyed segments are axially pushed against the previously conveyed segments. As a result, a group is formed in which all the segments in the group are pushed against each other so that they are in contact with each other, that is, a group without gaps between the segments is formed.

[0003] The frequent changes in the specifications of multi-segment articles, including changing the dimensions or types of individual segments, or the arrangement of individual segments within the multi-segment article, require machine manufacturers to solve the problem of changing the production line configuration as quickly as possible.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a device that gives the possibility of widely changing the configuration of the manufactured multi-segment articles while keeping the design of the device itself as simple as possible.

[0005] The object of the present invention is an assembly device provided with a plurality of feeding modules adapted to feed at least one of a plurality of segments for manufacturing a multi-segment article comprising a plurality of segments, and corresponding assembly drums and transfer drums, a plurality of wrapping modules, and at least one cutting unit. The device according to the invention is characterized in that the modules of the device are adapted to be arranged in a group of modules in any order, while taking into account the direction of flow of the segments to be assembled, and maintaining the following order within the group: feeding module, wrapping module, and the feeding modules can also be combined together in any order to form an assembly device performing the function of a multi-feeding module, and the assembly drums are suitable for assembling segments with gaps.

[0006] The device according to the invention is characterized in that the wrapping module includes a feeding unit for feeding wrapping material, a cutting unit for cutting the wrapping material into pieces, a winding unit including a winding drum and a winding support, and a transfer and pushing drum with a pushing mechanism, which is adapted to transfer the group of segments pushed together together with a segment of the first wrapping material.

[0007] The advantage of using a package module provided with a pushing mechanism is that, for any configuration of the feeding module, the quality of the manufactured product can be maintained because the segments can be pushed together by a single mechanism regardless of the order in which the segments are placed together. The same pushing mechanism can be used regardless of the order in which the feeding modules forming the segment groups are placed together.

[0008] The device according to the invention is characterized in that the pushing mechanism is a cam mechanism located on a conveying and pushing roller, and the cam mechanism is provided with a supporting element for holding and transferring the segment in a direction parallel to the axis of the segment.

[0009] The device according to the invention is characterized in that the supporting element is provided with rollers moving in grooves, the rollers being drum cams, and the grooves are formed in a cylinder located on the conveying and pushing roller.

[0010] The device according to the invention is characterized in that the supporting element is provided with rollers moving in grooves, the rollers being drum cams, and the grooves are formed on the circumferential surface of the conveying and pushing roller.

[0011] The device according to the invention is characterized by further comprising a reorienting module.

[0012] The feeding module for feeding segments in the form of rod-shaped articles according to the invention comprises a hopper for storing rods, a receiving roller for receiving rods from the hopper, a conveying roller, a cutting head located at the conveying roller for cutting the rods into individual segments, a shifting roller for changing the relative positions of the segments, and an aligning roller for forming at least one segment stream.

[0013] The feeding module according to the invention is provided with a feeding channel extending from the hopper to the receiving roller, and a filling sensor which generates an empty groove signal when the grooves of the receiving roller remain empty within the measuring area of the filling sensor. In addition, the feeding module is adapted to respond to the signal of the empty grooves of the receiving roller and feed the rods into the empty grooves of the receiving roller through a feeding device arranged downstream of the filling sensor.

[0014] The device according to the invention is characterized in that the feeding channel is provided with a blockage sensor, and the empty groove signal is generated by the filling sensor of the grooves of the receiving roller or the blockage sensor of the feeding channel.

[0015] By using a filling sensor, a blockage sensor and a feeding device in an individual feeding module, the productivity of the machine is ensured to be improved because the number of downtimes caused by unfilled grooves is reduced. The process implemented in this way not only minimizes the situation of machine downtime, but also reduces the situation of forming incomplete groups for wrapping due to the inability to feed segments and the need to reject individual rods with missing segments.

[0016] The device according to the invention is characterized in that the wall of the feed channel is formed by a belt which forces the rod towards the receiving drum.

[0017] The device according to the invention is characterized in that the feeding device is adapted to continuously feed the rods so as to replace the continuous feeding of the rods achieved by any feed channel.

[0018] The device according to the invention is characterized in that the feeding module is adapted to synchronize the rotational movement of the transfer drum with the movement of the receiving drum so as to transfer the rod from the groove of the receiving drum to the groove of the transfer drum. In addition, the feeding module includes a filling sensor for checking whether there is a rod in the groove of the receiving drum, and the receiving drum is adapted to perform a rotational movement at an increasing speed such that when an unfilled groove is detected on the receiving drum, the receiving drum moves at an increasing speed such that at the transfer point where the rod enters the groove of the transfer drum, there is another filled groove of the receiving drum and another empty groove of the transfer drum.

[0019] The device according to the invention is characterized in that the synchronization occurs at or near the transfer point where the rod enters the groove of the transfer drum.

[0020] The device according to the invention is characterized in that the feeding device is provided with a quality control sensor for the rods.

[0021] The device according to the invention is characterized in that the feeding device is provided with an ejector adapted to eject the rods.

[0022] The advantages of this device are the possibility of obtaining a multi-segment article with multiple configurations using most standard modules and sub-assemblies. In addition, the advantages of this device are that the production process can be optimized due to the possibility of reorganizing the production process within the individual specifications of the multi-segment article (for example, by changing the order of the segment arrangements while maintaining the spatial configuration required for the multi-segment article).

[0023] The object of the present invention will be described in more detail based on the embodiments presented in the drawings, wherein:

[0024] Figure 1 A device for manufacturing a multi-segment article in a first embodiment is shown,

[0025] Figure 1a An embodiment of forming a segment stream in the feeding module is shown,

[0026] Figure 1b An embodiment of forming two segment streams in the feeding module is shown,

[0027] Figure 1c An assembly unit with a segment stream from the feeding module is shown,

[0028] Figure 1d shows the segment flow in the assembly unit

[0029] Figure 1e shows the apparatus for manufacturing a multi-segment article in a second embodiment

[0030] Figure 1f shows the apparatus for manufacturing a multi-segment article in a third embodiment

[0031] Figure 1g shows the apparatus for manufacturing a multi-segment article in another embodiment

[0032] Figure 2a shows the process stages for manufacturing a multi-segment article in a first embodiment in a simplified manner

[0033] Figure 2b shows the process stages for manufacturing a multi-segment article in a second embodiment in a simplified manner

[0034] Figure 3 、 Figure 4 is the pushing mechanism of the wrapping module in the first embodiment

[0035] Figure 5 is the pushing mechanism of the wrapping module in the second embodiment

[0036] Figure 6 is the pushing mechanism of the wrapping module in the third embodiment

[0037] Figure 7 is the pushing mechanism of the wrapping module in the fourth embodiment

[0038] Figure 8 shows the feeding module in the first embodiment

[0039] Figure 9 shows the feeding module in the second embodiment

[0040] Figure 10 shows the feeding module in the third embodiment

[0041] Figure 11 shows the feeding module in the fourth embodiment

[0042] Figure 12 shows the feeding module in the fifth embodiment

[0043] Figure 13 shows the stage of a brief acceleration of the receiving drum

[0044] The device 1 for manufacturing multi-segment articles comprises an assembly device 10, a first wrapping module 40, a cutting unit 50, a reorientation unit 60, an additional feed unit 70 and a second wrapping module 80( Figure 1 ).

[0045] The assembly device 10 comprises at least two feed modules 20 and an assembly unit 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the assembly device 10 comprises four feed modules 20, 20', 20", 20"'. The feed modules 20, 20', 20", 20" are adapted to cut at least one type of rod and feed at least one type of segment. Feed modules adapted to cut two types of rods and feed two types of segments are known.

[0046] The feed module 20 comprises a hopper 21 for the rod MA, a receiving drum 22 and a drum for forming a stream of segments A formed by cutting the rod MA. The receiving drum 22 is provided with circumferentially arranged grooves in which the rod MA from the hopper 21 is located. The receiving drum 22 receives the rod MA from the hopper 21 and transfers the rod to the transfer drum 23. At the transfer drum 23 there is a cutting head 24 which is provided with one or more circular knives for cutting the rod MA. The feed module 20 comprises at least one shifting drum 25 and at least one aligning drum 26. The shifting drum 25 may also be referred to as a cascade drum in which successive segments are arranged in successive grooves of the drum. On the aligning drum 26, the segments A are arranged to move along a single movement path (along a single line as seen from the side surface of the drum). The feed module 20 supplies the segments A in at least one stream. In the illustrated embodiment, in the feed modules 20, 20', 20", 20"', the rods MA, MB, MC, MD are respectively cut into segments A, B, C, D, and the segments are fed to the assembly unit 30 in the form of a stream. Figure 1a An embodiment of the stream of segments B formed by cutting the rod MB is shown, and the drum is not shown, and only the rod MB and the segments B successively located on the receiving drum 22, the transfer drum 23, the shifting drum 25 and the aligning drum 26 are represented. Figure 1b Two streams of segments D formed by cutting the rod MD are shown.

[0047] The feed module 20 is provided with a feed channel for feeding the rod MA from the hopper 21 to the grooves 28 of the receiving drum 22. In Figure 8In a first embodiment of the module shown, the feeding module is provided with two feeding channels 110, the feeding channels being gravity channels, and at the end of the feeding channel 110 there is a filling device 111, which filling device includes a rotary filling element 112 having two cavities 113, and the rod MA is placed in the cavities 113. The rotational movement of the filling element 112 is synchronized with the rotational movement of the receiving drum 22 so that the cavities 113 intersect the grooves 28, thereby transferring the rod MA. The movements of the filling devices 111 and 111' are synchronized so that they alternately feed the rod MA into successive grooves 28. The feeding module may be provided with any number of feeding channels 110, and then the successive grooves are cyclically filled by successive filling devices 110. The feeding module 20 is provided with a filling sensor 115 for checking whether there is a rod MA in the groove 28 of the receiving drum 22, the filling sensor 115 being located at the side of the receiving drum 22, and the measuring area of the filling sensor covering at least one groove 28 of the receiving drum 22. In addition, the feeding module 20 is provided with a feeding device 118, which feeding device includes a filling device 119 located at the end of the channel 120 and facing away from the hopper 121. Considering the conveying direction of the rod MA in the groove 28 of the receiving drum 22, the feeding device 118 is located downstream of the filling sensor. When the filling sensor 115 detects that there is no rod MA in the groove 28, the feeding device 118 is activated so that the filling device 119 rotates to transfer the rod MA into the groove 28 of the receiving drum 22 when the empty groove 28 is within the operating area of the filling device. If the rod MA is repeatedly missing, it indicates that one of the feeding channels 110 is blocked.

[0048] Any number of feeding channels 110 may be applied, Figure 4 A second embodiment of the feeding module provided with four feeding channels 110 is shown, the total feeding capacity through the feeding channels 110 being equal to the required capacity of the receiving drum 22, the required capacity of the receiving drum 22 depending on the capacity of the equipment downstream in the production process. Each feeding channel 110 is provided with a blockage sensor 114, which blockage sensor checks whether the flow of the rod through the feeding channel 110 is proceeding correctly. If a blockage of the feeding channel 110 is detected, the controller S receives a blockage detection signal. As in the foregoing embodiment, the feeding module 20 is provided with a filling sensor 115, and the filling sensor 115 checks whether there is a rod MA in the groove 28 of the receiving drum 22. The feeding module 20 may be provided with a blockage sensor 114 or a filling sensor 115, or may be provided with both sensors. The controller S receives some of the following information based on the signal from the filling sensor 115 or based on the signal from the blockage sensor 114: some of the feeding channels 110 are not operating properly and not all of the grooves 28 of the receiving drum 22 are filled, and these signals may be collectively referred to as empty groove signals, i.e., the controller receives information that an empty groove has occurred or will occur. In Figure 4It can be seen that one of the channels is blocked, i.e., every fourth groove 28 on the receiving drum 22 is not filled. The feeding device 118 is adapted to fill individual grooves 28 that have not been filled due to a short-term interference during the operation of the feeding channel 110. In addition, the feeding device 118 is adapted to replace the feeding of any feeding channel 110, i.e., the feeding device 118 is adapted to continuously feed the rod MA in order to replace the continuous feeding of the rod MA achieved by any feeding channel. For example, when a blockage occurs in one of the feeding channels 110, the feeding device 118 temporarily takes over the operation of this blocked feeding channel 110 until it is unblocked so that the supply module 20 can continue to operate. Therefore, when a feeding channel 110 itself is damaged, one of the feeding channels 110 can be temporarily disabled and the feeding device 118 takes over the operation of this feeding channel 110 when the damaged feeding channel 110 is repaired.

[0049] In Figure 10 In the third embodiment of the feeding module shown, the feeding module 20 is provided with five feeding channels 110. Similar to the foregoing embodiment, the feeding device can both take over the operation of the feeding channel and fill individual missing rods MA. Figure 11 The feeding module in the fourth embodiment shown has three feeding channels 116, and the feeding channels 116 in this embodiment have walls formed by belts 117. Feeding modules with a larger number of feeding channels can be embodied. Similar to the above embodiments, the filling elements 112 of the individual feeding channels 116 are synchronized with each other and with the receiving drum 22. The function of the feeding device 118 is similar.

[0050] The presence of empty grooves in the receiving drum may be the result of process activities, such as quality control and rejection of defective rods, which can be alternatively or supplementally addressed as Figure 12 presented in another embodiment of the feeding module shown, in which the introduced feeding device 130 forming part of the feeding module 20 includes a filling sensor 131 for checking whether there is a rod MA in the groove 28 of the receiving drum 22. In addition, the feeding device 130 includes a quality control sensor 132 for checking the quality of the conveyed rod MA.

[0051] The feeding device 130 includes a rod rejector 133 for rejecting defective rods MA. The rejector 133 includes a pressure vessel 134 and a valve 135 located on the feeding channel 136, and compressed air is supplied through the feeding channel 136. The rejection of the rod MA is achieved by briefly supplying compressed air to the rejection channel 137. The rejection force acting on the rod MA is greater than the force holding the rod MA in the groove 28. In Figure 12 it, the rejected defective rod is labeled as MA'.

[0052] In this embodiment of the feed module, the receiving drum 22 is adapted to operate at a variable and adjustable rotational speed, preferably having a position controller, for example by coupling the receiving drum 22 to a digitally controlled servo drive provided with a position encoder. The rotational speed ω1 of the receiving drum 22 is synchronized with the rotational speed ω2 of the transfer drum 23, and the synchronization between the receiving drum 22 and the transfer drum 23 is maintained when all the grooves 28 of the receiving drum 22 are filled. During the operation of the feed device 30, individual grooves 28 may be unfilled. The occurrence of unfilled grooves 28' may be due to a brief ineffective reception of the rods MA from the hopper 21. Unfilled grooves 28' also occur when the quality control sensor 132 detects a defective rod MA' and the rejector 133 is activated. When the sensor 132 detects a low-quality rod MA', the rejector 133 rejects such defective rods. In Figure 12 it, the groove 28' is shown as the groove from which a defective rod MA' is rejected after activation of the rejector 133. Hereinafter, the groove 28' will denote the groove from which a defective rod is rejected and the groove that is not filled with the rod MA from the hopper 21.

[0053] The feed device 130 is adapted to transfer the rod MA from the groove 28 of the receiving drum 22 to the groove 29 of the transfer drum 23 at the transfer point X, the receiving drum 22 rotating at a speed ω1 and the transfer drum 23 rotating at a speed ω2 adjusted to ω1 such that the linear speeds of the receiving drum 22 and the transfer drum 23 are equal. The feed device 130 is adapted to briefly accelerate the receiving drum 22 before an unfilled groove 28' of the receiving drum 22 reaches the transfer point X. That is, the receiving drum 22 is adapted to perform a rotational movement at an increased speed ω1' so that when an unfilled groove 28' of the receiving drum 22 is detected, the receiving drum 22 moves at an increased speed ω1' so that at the transfer point X of the rod MA to the groove 29 of the transfer drum 23, there is another filled groove 28'' of the receiving drum 22 and another empty groove 29' of the transfer drum 23. The effect of accelerating the receiving drum 22 is that all the grooves 29 on the transfer drum 23 are filled, i.e., the "unfilled" state of the groove 28' is not transferred to the transfer drum 23.

[0054] Figure 4Shows the successive movement phases of the receiving drum 22 for eliminating "unfilled", the shown movement phases including the acceleration of the receiving drum 22, and the figure also shows the movement phases of the transfer drum 23 associated with the movement of the receiving drum 22. In phase a, the rod MA is transferred to the groove 29, and the receiving drum 22 moves at a rated speed ω1 adjusted to the rotational speed ω2 of the transfer drum 23. On the transfer drum, the next groove to be filled is marked as 29', and the groove 28' close to the transfer point X is unfilled. Immediately after the rod MA has been transferred to the groove 29 of the transfer drum 23, the receiving drum 22 starts to rotate at an increased speed ω1', as shown in phase b, in which the groove 28' moves faster compared to the groove 29' to be filled by the next rod MA. In phase c, the receiving drum 22 continues to rotate at the increased speed ω1', while the transfer drum 23 rotates at the rated speed ω2. In phase d, the filled groove 28" of the receiving drum 22 and the empty groove 29' of the transfer drum 23 are positioned opposite each other, i.e., their movements are synchronized, such that the rod MA can be transferred between the grooves, and the receiving drum 22 reduces its speed to the rated speed ω1, and the transfer drum 23 rotates at the rated speed ω2. The receiving drum 22 and the transfer drum 23 continue to rotate synchronously at speeds ω1 and ω2 respectively, thus enabling the successive transfer of the rod MA.

[0055] The process performed by the device 1 according to the invention further proceeds such that the segments reach the assembly unit 30, which includes an assembly drum 31 and a transfer drum 32, and the assembly drum 31 and the transfer drum 32 are provided with grooves in which the segments A, B, C, D are received and transferred. The assembly drums 31, 31', 31", 31"' are respectively adapted to receive and transfer the flows of segments A, B, C, D. The first assembly drum 31 is adapted to receive only segment A, while the assembly drum 31' is adapted to receive the flow of segment A from the feed module 20 via the transfer drum 32, and is adapted to receive the flow of segment B from the feed module 20', and the flows of segment A and segment B are assembled on the assembly drum 31'. Similarly, on the assembly drum 31', the flows of segment A and segment B are received together, and the flow of segment C is received from the feed module 20". On the assembly drum 31", the flows of segment A, segment B and segment C are received together, and the flow of segment D is received from the feed module 20". Figure 1c The above-described feeding of the segments A, B, C, D to the assembly unit 30 is shown in a simplified manner in Figure 1dShows the assembly process of these segments in direction T, showing how the segments are added to the continuous assembly drum 31 to form a segment group G1. The movement paths TA, TB, TC, TD of segments A, B, C, D are respectively shown in the figure, where the movement paths TA, TB, TC, TD travel parallel to each other. In the assembly unit 30, the segment A flow, segment B flow, segment C flow, and segment D flow are arranged and conveyed so that adjacent segments in the groove maintain a gap H, and the gap H can have a similar value between individual segments. A process where the gap H has different values for different adjacent segments can be embodied. The assembly unit 30 is adapted for feeding to the first wrapping module 40, which is used to wrap the group G1 including segments A, B, C, D, with a gap H maintained between segments A, B, C, D. By adjusting the assembly unit 30 to form a segment group with a gap H, segments A, B, C, D can be fed in any order, and an example of the forming process will be described hereinafter in this specification. One of the following processes can be embodied: on the assembly drum 31 or the conveying drum 32, segments A, B, C, D axially move in the groove so that at least some adjacent segments contact each other. By adding a pushing mechanism on the assembly drum 31 and / or the conveying drum 32, this implementation can be achieved.

[0056] Another module in the device according to the present invention is the first wrapping module 40, which includes a feeding unit 41 for feeding the first wrapping material MW1, a cutting unit 42 for cutting the first wrapping material MW1 into a plurality of segments W1 of the first wrapping material, and a winding unit 43 for wrapping the segment group. The first wrapping module 40 includes a conveying and pushing drum 44, which is adapted to receive the segment group G1 with a gap, and the first wrapping module 40 is provided with a mechanism for pushing the segment group G1 together so that the segments in the group contact each other when pushed together. The enlarged view showing the first wrapping module 40 Figure 3 shows the pushing mechanism 45, which includes fixed arched pushing elements 45A, 45B, as Figure 4 shown, and the fixed arched pushing elements press against the outermost segments of the segment group G1 on both sides. Starting from the moment when the segment group G1 is placed in the groove 44A of the drum 44 (step d, the steps of the manufacturing process are described hereinafter in the specification), the pushing elements 45A, 45B push segments A, B, C, D together until the segment group G2 is formed (stage e), at which time all segments have been pushed together and the gap has been eliminated. Figure 4 The pushing elements 45A, 45B are shown in an exploded view in, which is a view similar to the side surface of the drum 44. Immediately after the segments are pushed together, a segment W1 of the first wrapping material is fed (stage f). In Figure 5In another embodiment shown, the pushing mechanism 46 includes pushing elements in the form of rotating pressure rings 46A, 46B that rotate together with the roller conveyor 44, and they can also be in the form of movable elements that reciprocate parallel to the axis of the segment. The winding module 43 is provided with a winding roller 43A that is adapted to convey together the group G2 of segments A, B, C, D that have been pushed together and a segment W1 of the first wrapping material. The winding module 43 is also provided with a winding unit 43B that is adapted to wrap a segment W1 of the first wrapping material around the group G2 on the winding roller 43A. The rod thus formed is labeled R (stage g).

[0057] In Figure 6 In another embodiment shown, the pushing mechanism 47 includes two sets of pushing rollers 47A that press against the outermost segments in the group G1. In Figure 7 In the fourth embodiment shown, Figure 1 the pushing mechanism 48 in the cross-section A-A marked in includes a support element 48A, and the support element is provided with a roller 48B that moves in a groove 49. The roller 48B is a barrel cam, and the groove 49 is formed in a cylinder 49A located on the conveying and pushing roller 44. The groove 49 can be formed on the circumferential surface of the conveying and pushing roller 44. In this embodiment, the support element 48A has a cylindrical cavity 48C that can accommodate segments, and the support elements 48A for individual segments move independently of other support elements for other segments. The segments A, B, C, D with a gap H are conveyed such that they move from stage d to stage e, in which they come into contact with each other, and Figure 7 the successive cross-sections in show the pushing mechanism 48 when the conveying and pushing roller 44 rotates and moves to stage e.

[0058] The next module in the device according to the invention is a cutting unit 50 located downstream of the first wrapping module 40 along the process flow direction T in the manufacture of multi-segment articles. The cutting unit 50 is provided with a circular knife 51, and the circular knife is used to cut the multi-segment rod R into two halves, that is, into two half multi-segment rods labeled R1 and R2 ( Figure 2a and Figure 2b in stage h). The cutting is performed such that the segment B of the multi-segment rod R is cut into two halves.

[0059] Another module is the reorientation module 60, which is adapted to change the orientation of the half multi-segment rods R1 and R2 relative to each other, i.e., change the relative positions of the rods R1 and R2 during conveyance. The reorientation module 60 may be provided with a reorientation drum known in the tobacco industry, which, in addition to circumferential conveyance, also reorients the rod-shaped articles being conveyed axially and / or transversely to the axes of these articles. The reorientation module 60 may be provided with a rotary drum known in the tobacco industry, which, in addition to circumferential conveyance, also causes the rod-shaped articles being conveyed to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to the circumferential surface. The reorientation module 60 is adapted to change the initial coaxial positioning of the rods R1 and R2 such that the axes of the rods R1 and R2 are coaxial and oriented in opposite directions to each other, while maintaining the gap between the rods R1 and R2. Due to the operation of the reorientation module 60, the rods R1 and R2 are reoriented such that the segments D at the ends of the rods R1 and R2, which were initially oriented away from each other, are oriented towards each other, while the half segments B, which were initially oriented towards each other and are positioned opposite the segments D in the rods R1 and R2, are oriented away from each other. When observed along the process flow, the reorientation module may be positioned at other locations of the device, as will be described below with reference to Figure 1e as described.

[0060] The additional feed module 70 includes a hopper 71 and a receiving drum 72, which is provided with grooves arranged circumferentially, and the rods ME from the hopper 71 are placed in the grooves. The rods ME are transferred to the transfer drum 73. At the transfer drum 73, there is a cutting head 74, which is provided with one or more circular knives for cutting the rods. The additional feed module 70 includes at least one shifting drum 75 and at least one aligning drum 76. The additional feed module 70 is adapted to feed a stream of additional segments E to the assembly drum 31””. The half multi-segment rods R1 and R2 are conveyed on the transfer drum 32”” and then transferred to the assembly drum 31””. After feeding the additional segments E and the half multi-segment rods R1 and R2, a group S1 is formed on the assembly drum, and the group S1 includes the half multi-segment rod R1 with a gap, the segment E, and the half multi-segment rod R2. The transfer drum 32”” may perform the function of the reorientation module 60.

[0061] The second wrapping module 80 includes a feeding unit 81 for feeding a second wrapping material MW2, a cutting unit 82 for cutting the second wrapping material MW2 into a plurality of segments W2 of the second wrapping material, and a winding unit 83. The second wrapping module 80 includes a conveying and pushing roller 84 adapted to receive a group S1 that includes a half multi-segment rod R1, a segment E, and a second half multi-segment rod R2, where a gap is maintained between the rods R1, R2, and the segment E, and the conveying and pushing roller 84 is provided with a mechanism for pushing the elements of the group S1 together such that the rods R1, R2, and the additional segment E are in contact after being pushed together. The group of elements R1, E, R2 without a gap is designated as S2. The conveying and pushing roller 84 is adapted to convey the group S2 of the elements R1, E, R2 that have been pushed together together with a segment W2 of the second wrapping material. The winding unit 83 is adapted to wrap a segment W2 of the second wrapping material around the group S2 on a winding roller 83A. The rod thus formed is designated as P. In other embodiments, intermediate steps may be employed to gradually push the segments together, for example, by performing an additional quality control process. In other embodiments not shown, only selected segments are pushed together, and the group of segments that have been pushed together maintains at least one gap between the segments.

[0062] Figure 1e The apparatus for manufacturing a multi-segment article in the embodiment shown is configured such that an additional feeding module 70 is located downstream of a cutting unit 50 adapted to cut a rod R into two half multi-segment rods R1, R2, where a conveying roller 32”” receives the spaced-apart half multi-segment rods R1, R2. The additional feeding module 70 supplies a flow of additional segments E between the spaced-apart half multi-segment rods to an assembly roller 31””. The assembly roller 31”” receives the spaced-apart half multi-segment rods R1, R2 and the additional segment E. A group S1 including the rod R1, the segment E, and the rod R2 is prepared on the assembly roller 31””. A reorientation module 60 is adapted to change the initial positions of the rods R1 and R2, where the rods R1 and R2 are coaxially positioned with each other and coaxially positioned with the segment E such that each rod R1 and R2 is coaxially positioned with the segment E, while the second rods R1, R2 are oppositely oriented with respect to the segment E, and a gap will be maintained between the rods R1, R2 and the segment E. Due to the operation of the reorientation module 60, the rods R1, R2 are reoriented such that the outermost segments D of the rods R1, R2, which were initially oriented away from the segments R1, R2, are oriented towards the segment E, while the half segments B, which were initially oriented towards the segment E and are positioned opposite the segments D in the rods R1, R2, are oriented away from the segment E.

[0063] Figure 1f The apparatus for manufacturing a multi-segment article in the embodiment shown is configured to cooperate with Figure 1eThe device shown in is the same, and the additional feed module 70 includes a hopper 71 provided with at least two feed channels for supplying the rod ME to the grooves of the receiving drum 72. The application of the hopper 71 with feed channels may be necessary for a rod having a relatively high coefficient of friction of its outer surface with respect to the surfaces of other rods and affecting the smooth feeding of the rod.

[0064] Figure 1g The device for manufacturing a multi-segment article in the embodiment shown in is configured to be the same as Figure 1e the device shown in, and each of the feed modules 20, 20', 20", 20"' includes a hopper 21 provided with at least two feed channels for supplying the rods MA, MB, MC, MD, and the additional feed module 70 includes a hopper 71 provided with at least two feed channels for supplying the rod ME to the grooves of the receiving drum 72. In the cases described above and in the case of fragile rods that are prone to deformation, the application of the hoppers 21, 71 with feed channels may be necessary.

[0065] In Figure 2a the multi-segment rod manufacturing process shown in a simplified manner, the feed module 20 cuts the rod MA into segments A and feeds two segments A into the assembly unit 30 (stage a), the feed module 20' cuts the rod MB and feeds the segment B (stage b), the feed module 20" cuts the rod MC and feeds two segments C (stage c), and the feed module 20"' cuts the rod MD and feeds two segments D (stage d). The segments A, B, C, D are conveyed within the assembly unit 30 with gaps. The assembly unit 30 transfers the group G1 including the segments A, B, C, D with gaps to the first wrapping module 40. Within the wrapping module 40, the segments A, B, C, D are pushed together, and then the segments A, B, C, D form a group G2 in which there are no gaps between the segments (stage e). In the wrapping module 40, a plurality of segments of the first wrapping material MW1 are cut from the first wrapping material W1 bundle and wrapped around the group G2 (stage f), and after being wrapped around the winding drum 43A by the winding unit 43B, R is formed (stage g). The rod R is cut into two half multi-segment rods R1 and R2 by the cutting unit 50 (stage h), where the rods R1 and R2 are adjacent to each other and coaxially positioned through the half segment B. The rods R1 and R2 are reoriented in the reorientation unit 60 (stages i, j, k, l, m, n) so that after reorientation, they are again coaxially positioned, have gaps and have opposite ends compared to the initial state, that is, the half segments B are oriented away from each other, while the segments D are oriented towards each other. In Figure 2aDuring the process of redirecting the rods R1 and R2 shown, the redirection is performed by rotating the rods R1 and R2 shown in the rotation phase k. Phases j and l represent the movement of the rods before and after rotation, and these phases can be omitted. The additional feeding module 70 cuts the rod ME into segments E and feeds the segments E between the rods R1 and R2. After pushing the segments E together, a group S1 including the rod R1, the segment E, and the rod R2 is formed (phase o), where the gap between the rod R1, the rod R2, and the segment E is maintained. After pushing the rod R1, R2, and the segment E together, a group S2 is formed where there is no gap between the rod R1, R2, and the segment E (phase p). In the second wrapping module 80, a plurality of fragments W2 of the second wrapping material are cut from the second wrapping material bundle MW2 and wrapped around the group S2 (phase r). After wrapping on the winding drum 83A by the winding unit 83, the rod P is formed (phase s).

[0066] In Figure 2b In the process of manufacturing a multi-segment rod in the second embodiment shown in a simplified manner, the feeding module 20 cuts the rod MB into segments B and feeds the segments B to the assembly unit 30 (phase a in FIG. 2), the feeding module 20' cuts the rod MA and feeds two segments A (phase b), the feeding module 20'' cuts the rod MD and feeds two segments D (phase c), and the feeding module 20''' cuts the rod MC and feeds two segments C (phase d). The process phases e to h are carried out as described for the first embodiment. In phases i and j, the half multi-segment rods R1 and R2 are displaced transversely to the axes of the rods R1 and R2. In phases k, l, and m, the rods R1 and R2 are redirected such that after the axial displacement of the rods R1 and R2, the half segments B are oriented away from each other, while the segments D are oriented towards each other. In phases m and n, the rods R1 and R2 are displaced transversely to their axes such that the rods R1 and R2 are coaxially positioned. The further process is carried out in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0067] The description of the embodiments of the present invention for the device also discloses a method for manufacturing a multi-segment article, comprising the following steps: wherein in a first feeding module 20, rods MA, MB, MC, MD are fed from a hopper 21 for storing the rods MA, MB, MC, MD through a receiving drum 22 for receiving the rods MA, MB, MC, MD from the hopper 21; the rods MA, MB, MC, MD are cut into segments A, B, C, D by a cutting head 24, and the cutting head 24 is located at a conveying drum 23 for cutting the rods MA, MB, MC, MD into individual segments A, B, C, D. Subsequently, the segments A, B, C, D are fed to an assembling unit 30 via a shifting drum 25 for changing the relative positions of the segments A, B, C, D and an aligning drum 26 for forming at least one stream of segment A, one stream of segment B, one stream of segment C, and one stream of segment D. In the assembling unit 30 provided with an assembling drum 31 and a conveying drum 32 for receiving the segments A, B, C, D from the feeding module 20, a segment group G1 is formed. Subsequently, in a wrapping module 40, a fragment W1 of a first wrapping material is fed and the segment group G1 supplied from the assembling unit 30 is wrapped to form a multi-segment rod R. In addition, in the first wrapping module 40, a group G1 of segments A, B, C, D having gaps is received through a conveying and pushing drum 44, and then the group G1 of segments A, B, C, D is pushed together by pushing mechanisms 45, 46, 47, 48 such that the segments A, B, C, D in the group G1 are in contact with each other after being pushed together. Subsequently, the group G2 of segments A, B, C, D that have been pushed together is conveyed together with a fragment W1 of the first wrapping material through the conveying and pushing drum 44, and then the group G2 of segments A, B, C, D that have been pushed together is wrapped with the fragment W1 of the first wrapping material.

[0068] In addition, in the method according to the present invention, the wrapped segment group G2 is cut into two half multi-segment rods R1, R2, and then an additional rod ME is fed into an additional feeding module 70, the additional rod ME is cut, and the additional segment E obtained by cutting the rod ME is fed between the two half multi-segment rods R1, R2.

[0069] In a second wrapping module 80, other steps of the method can also be carried out, wherein a plurality of fragments W2 of a second wrapping material are fed and the two half multi-segment rods R1, R2 and the additional segment E are wrapped.

Claims

1. An assembly device (1), the assembly device being provided with: a plurality of feeding modules (20, 70), the feeding modules being adapted to feed at least one of a plurality of segments (A, B, C, D, E) for manufacturing a multi-segment article comprising the segments (A, B, C, D, E), and corresponding assembly rollers (31, 31’, 31”, 31”’, 31””) and transfer rollers (32, 32’, 32”, 32””); a plurality of wrapping modules (40, 80); at least one cutting unit (50); characterized in that the modules (20, 40, 70, 80) of the device (1) are adapted to be arranged in a group of modules in any order, while taking into account the direction (T) of the flow of the segments being assembled, and maintaining the following order within the group: feeding module (20), wrapping module (40), and the feeding modules (20, 20’, 20”, 20”’) can also be combined together in any order to form an assembly device (10) performing the function of a multi-feeding module, and the assembly rollers (31, 31”, 31”’, 31””) are adapted to assemble segments (A, B, C, D, E) having a gap (H).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein The wrapping module comprises a feeding unit (41) for feeding wrapping materials (MW1, MW2), a cutting unit (42) for cutting the wrapping materials into pieces (W1, W2), a winding unit (43) comprising a winding roller (43A) and a winding support (43B), and a transfer and pushing roller (44) with a pushing mechanism (45), the transfer and pushing roller (44) being adapted to transfer a group (G2) of segments (A, B, C, D) pushed together together with a piece (W1) of the first wrapping material.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pushing mechanism (45) is a cam mechanism (48) located on the transfer and pushing roller (44), the cam mechanism (48) being provided with a support element (48A) for holding and transferring the segments (A, B, C, D) in a direction parallel to the axis of the segments (A, B, C, D).

4. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The support element (48A) is provided with rollers (48A) moving in a groove (49), the rollers being barrel cams, and the groove (49) is formed in a cylinder (49A) located on the transfer and pushing roller (44).

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein The support element (48A) is provided with rollers (48A) moving in a groove (49), the rollers being barrel cams, and the groove (49) is formed on the circumferential surface of the transfer and pushing roller (44).

6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that A reorientation module (60) is further included.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The feed module (20, 70) for feeding segments in the form of rod-shaped articles comprises a hopper (21, 71) for storing the rods (MA), a receiving roller (22, 72) for receiving the rods (MA) from the hopper (21, 71), a conveying roller (23, 73), a cutting head (24, 74) located at the conveying roller (23, 73) for cutting the rods (MA) into individual segments (A), a shifting roller (25, 75) for changing the relative positions of the segments (A), and an aligning roller (26, 76) for forming at least one stream of segments (A).

8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The feed module (20, 70) is provided with a feed channel (110, 116) extending from the hopper (21, 71) to the receiving roller (22, 72), and a filling sensor (115) which generates a signal of an empty groove (28) when the groove (28) of the receiving roller (22, 72) remains empty in the measuring area of the filling sensor (115). Additionally, the feed module (20, 70) is adapted to feed the rods (MA, ME) into the empty groove (28) of the receiving roller (22, 72) by means of a feed device (118) arranged downstream of the filling sensor (115) in response to the signal of the empty groove (28) of the receiving roller (22, 72).

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The feed channel (110, 116) is provided with a blockage sensor (114), and the signal of an empty groove is generated by the filling sensor (115) of the groove (28) of the receiving roller (22, 72) or the blockage sensor (114) of the feed channel (110, 116).

10. The device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that, The wall of the feed channel (116) is formed by a belt (117) which forces the rods (MA, ME) towards the receiving roller (22, 72).

11. The device according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that, The feed device (118) is adapted to continuously feed the rods (MA, ME) so as to replace the continuous feeding of the rods (MA, ME) achieved by any one of the feed channels (110, 116).

12. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The feed module (20, 70) is adapted to synchronize the rotational movement of the transfer drum (23) with the movement of the receiving drum (22) such that the rod (MA) is transferred from the groove (28) of the receiving drum (22) to the groove (29) of the transfer drum (23). Additionally, the feed module (20, 70) includes a filling sensor (31) for checking the presence of the rod (MA) in the groove (28) of the receiving drum (22), and the receiving drum (22) is adapted to perform a rotational movement at an increased speed (ω1'), such that when an unfilled groove (28') is detected on the receiving drum (22), the receiving drum (22) moves at an increased speed (ω1') such that at the transfer point (X) where the rod (MA) enters the groove (29) of the transfer drum (23), there is another filled groove (28”) of the receiving drum (22) and another empty groove (29') of the transfer drum (23).

13. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that, The synchronization occurs at or near the transfer point (X) where the rod (MA) enters the groove (29) of the transfer drum (23).

14. The device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The feeding device (30, 40) is provided with a quality control sensor (32) for the rod (MA).

15. The device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that, The feeding device (30, 40) is provided with an ejector (33) adapted to eject the rod (MA).

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