Production of rod-shaped hollow segments for the tobacco processing industry

Abstract

The invention relates, inter alia, to a method for producing rod-shaped hollow segments (70) for the tobacco processing industry, wherein hollow cylindrical, in particular tubular, blanks (60) are conveyed in a row transversely axially one behind the other, wherein the hollow cylindrical blanks (60) have a first, preferably open, head end (61) and a second, preferably open, head end (62), wherein for each blank (60) or several blanks (60) the following method steps are carried out: a) a, preferably first, mandrel (52) for the blank (60) is introduced into the first head end (61) of the blank (60) by a linear relative movement between the, in particular first, mandrel (52) and the blank (60), b) by a linear relative movement between a die (54) having a cavity (56) and the blank (60), the second head end (62) of the blank (60), preferably together with the inserted mandrel (52), is introduced into the cavity (56) of the die (54) for the second head end (62) of the blank (60), c) the second head end (62) of the blank (60) is formed, in particular reshaped, by a relative movement, in particular a linear and / or rotary movement, between the second head end (62) of the blank (60) and the die (54).

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing rod-shaped hollow segments of the tobacco-processing industry. The invention further relates to a device for producing rod-shaped hollow segments of the tobacco processing industry and to a multisegment rod production machine of the tobacco processing industry.For the production of multisegment articles of the tobacco processing industry, various rod-shaped segments, in the form of base rods or rod sections, are provided and assembled by means of a drum machine to form a multisegment article. It is known from the prior art to produce base rods and to feed them to the processing process of the drum machine by means of feed modules or to connect the drum machine directly to a strand machine in order to process strand sections further directly.EP 1 691 633 B1 discloses, for example, a drum machine of the tobacco processing industry for producing multisegment articles, wherein the drum machine comprises a plurality of feed modules which provide rod-shaped segments and feed them to a transport path.It is an object of the present invention to provide hollow segments in a simple and process-safe manner, for example for the production of smoking article products having a plurality of segments.This object is achieved by a method for producing rod-shaped hollow segments of the tobacco processing industry, wherein hollow cylindrical, in particular tubular, shaped bodies are conveyed in a row transversely axially one behind the other, wherein the hollow cylindrical shaped bodies have a first, preferably open, head end and a second, preferably open, head end, wherein the following method steps are carried out for each shaped body or a plurality of shaped bodies: a) a, preferably first, mandrel for the shaped body is introduced into the first head end of the shaped body by a linear relative movement between the, in particular first, mandrel and the shaped body, b) the second head end of the shaped body is introduced into the cavity of the die for the second head end of the shaped body, preferably together with the introduced mandrel, by a linear relative movement between a die having a cavity and the shaped body, c) by a die for the second head end of the shaped body, In particular, linear and / or rotational relative movement between the second head end of the molding and the die, the second head end of the molding is shaped, in particular shaped, d) by means of a, in particular linear, relative movement between the molding and the die, the molding is moved out of the die with the shaped second head end and / or by means of a, in particular linear, relative movement between the molding and the mandrel, the mandrel is moved out of the first head end.The invention is based on the idea that rod-shaped hollow segments are produced, for example on a supply module for a multisegment rod production machine, on which rod-shaped multisegment filters are produced with a plurality of, in particular more than three or four or five or more than five, segments, wherein the hollow segments are provided, after their production, for example with a flanged collar at one, in particular exclusively one, head end. This makes it possible to form the mouldings into hollow segments capable of further processing, as a result of which, owing to the flanged collar of the hollow segments, these can be joined to multisegment groups produced, as a result of which multisegment groups having at least one hollow segment are provided. According to the invention, the shaped bodies are shaped during their transverse axial conveyance at the one (second) head end by means of a shaping tool. For example, the blanks are made of paper so that the blanks are processed as paper tubes according to the method of the invention.For the transverse axial conveyance of the shaped bodies, a conveying device is provided, wherein in one embodiment the conveying device has a drum arrangement with at least one or more conveying drums for the transverse axial conveyance of the shaped bodies during the production process of the rod-shaped hollow segments. Preferably, the mouldings are oriented during their transverse-axial conveying on the conveying drums such that the (central) longitudinal axes of the mouldings are oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the conveying drum(s).In particular, the hollow cylindrical mouldings are empty on the inside, i.e. without contents in the enclosed interior of the mouldings.Furthermore, in one configuration of the method, it is provided that, in particular upstream, before method step c), in particular and before or after method step a), at least the second head end of the blank is moistened, in particular by a moistening device. By moistening the second head ends by means of the moistening device, it is possible to weaken the second head ends of the shaped articles made of paper, for example, in a targeted manner, whereby the (forming) process or forming process of the second head ends is simplified by the die for forming or forming the head ends.Preferably, according to a further aspect of the method, in particular upstream, before method step c), in particular and before or after method step a), the second head end of the blank is processed, in particular cut, by means of a processing tool, in particular a cutting tool. The processing of the second head ends before the shaping by the respective die facilitates the shaping process or shaping process of the second head ends, since, for example, the end region of the second head ends to be deformed is prepared or weakened in a targeted manner for further processing by the die by means of a cutting tool as the processing tool. This improves the forming process of the second head ends.According to a preferred embodiment of the method, it is further provided that the second head end of the molding is crimped by means of the die after introduction into the cavity, such that the second head end has an end-side narrowing with an, in particular annular, crimping collar, wherein in particular the die has a forming engraving, in particular crimping engraving, in the cavity for crimping the second head end of the molding and / or wherein in particular the end-side crimping collar has a, preferably central and / or circular, opening, wherein further in particular the opening of the crimping collar has a diameter of 2.0 mm to 6.0 mm.In particular, the moistening of the second head ends of the shaped bodies by the moistening device and / or the machining, in particular the cutting, of the second head ends of the shaped bodies by the machining tool, in particular cutting tool, will take place before the shaping of the head ends by the die. For example, the moistening device is designed as a spray nozzle or a spray device, for example, to apply a liquid, such as water, to the second head end. Furthermore, for example, the machining tool is configured with at least one or more knives in order to cut the end region of the second head ends. Furthermore, it is provided within the scope of the invention that a preforming of the end region of the second head ends to be deformed is carried out by the machining tool, whereby the further processing by the second die with a (ver)forming of the end region of the second head ends is facilitated.For the shaping of the second head ends by the die, a respective mandrel is provided for stabilizing the mouldings, which mandrel is introduced into the cavity of the mouldings. The mouldings are thereby stabilized during the production of the hollow segments. In particular, the diameter of the mandrels is smaller than the, in particular circular, diameter of the hollow cylindrical shaped bodies.Furthermore, a method step is characterized in that the die is rotated relative to the, in particular stationary, blank during or after introduction of the second head end of the blank into the cavity. By the rotation of the die with respect to the stationary blank held or fixed by the respective mandrel, the end portion of the second head ends is smoothly formed.For this purpose, it is furthermore advantageous that after the mandrel has been introduced into the blank, the mandrel of the blank is fixed in its, in particular linear, relative movement with respect to the mandrel. Preferably, the mandrels for the blanks are made of plastic.A simple fixing of the mouldings on the respective mandrel is achieved in that, during or after the mandrel is introduced into the moulding, the mandrel is expanded, in particular in the radial direction, and / or in that, during or after the mandrel is introduced into the moulding, the moulding is acted upon by compressed air via at least one outlet opening of the mandrel.In addition, in one embodiment of the method, it is advantageous that the mandrel has a lateral stop for the first head end of the blank, wherein the blank is moved against the stop, in particular after method step b) and before method step c). This ensures reliable positioning of the mouldings on the respective mandrel. In particular, the length of the mandrel is less than the length of the shaped bodies to be deformed and the length of the rod-shaped hollow segments produced.In addition, the method is characterized in that the method steps, in particular the method steps described above, are carried out during the transverse-axial conveying of the shaped bodies on at least one conveying element, in particular conveying drum, or exclusively one conveying element, in particular conveying drum. The above-described method steps are preferably carried out on a conveying drum, wherein in particular the conveying drum is formed with receiving depressions for the mouldings arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction and the preferably linearly movable mandrels for the mouldings are arranged on one side of the receiving depressions and the respective dies for forming the end-side head end regions of the mouldings are furthermore arranged on the other side of the receiving depressions.In a further preferred embodiment of the method, it is provided that the processing of the second head end of the blank takes place upstream before method step c), in particular before method step a), by carrying out the method steps: i) a further, in particular second, mandrel for the blank is introduced into the first head end of the blank by an, in particular linear, relative movement between the further mandrel and the blank, ii) by an, in particular linear, relative movement between a further, in particular second, die for the second head end of the blank and the blank, the second head end of the blank, preferably together with the introduced mandrel, is introduced into the cavity of the further, in particular second, die, iii) by an, in particular linear, die, The second head end of the blank is processed, in particular cut, iv) by a, in particular linear, relative movement between the blank and the further die, the blank is moved with the processed second head end out of the further die and / or by a, in particular linear, relative movement between the blank and the mandrel, the mandrel is moved out of the first head end.According to a further development of the method, it is provided that method steps i) to iv) and method steps a) to d) are each carried out on different conveying elements, in particular conveying drums, wherein in particular method steps i) to iv) are carried out during the transversely axial conveying of the shaped bodies on a conveying element, in particular conveying drum, and method steps a) to d) are carried out during the transversely axial conveying of the shaped bodies on a subsequent conveying element, in particular conveying drum.Preferably, according to a further aspect, after the execution of the method steps i) to iv), in particular on, preferably exclusively, a conveying drum for the blanks, the processed blanks are transferred to a subsequent conveying element, in particular conveying drum, and the method steps a) to d) are executed on the subsequent conveying element.In particular, in a development of the method after method step iii), the second head end of the blank is moistened, in particular by a moistening device.An embodiment of the method is further developed in that the further die is moved linearly relative to the, in particular stationary, blank during or after introduction of the second head end of the blank into the cavity.Furthermore, a development of the method is distinguished in that after the further mandrel has been introduced into the blank, the mandrel of the blank is fixed in its, in particular linear, relative movement with respect to the mandrel.According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that during or after the introduction of the further mandrel into the blank, the mandrel is expanded, in particular in the radial direction, and / or that during or after the introduction of the mandrel into the blank, the blank is subjected to compressed air via at least one outlet opening of the mandrel.Preferably, the further mandrel has a lateral stop for the first head end of the blank, wherein the blank is moved against the stop, in particular after method step ii) and before method step iii).Within the scope of the invention, it is possible that the method steps or a series of method steps are optionally carried out multiple times one after the other for the shaped bodies to be processed, in order to produce rod-shaped hollow segments.The object is furthermore achieved by a device for producing rod-shaped hollow segments of the tobacco-processing industry, wherein hollow cylindrical, in particular tubular, shaped articles are or can be conveyed in a row transversely axially one behind the other, wherein the hollow cylindrical shaped articles have a first, preferably open, head end and a second, preferably open, head end. The device is preferably configured to execute a method described above, in particular according to one of Claims 1 to 17. In order to avoid repetitions, express reference is made to the above explanations.Within the scope of the invention, it is provided that the device according to the invention for producing rod-shaped hollow segments is a component of a module for providing segments for multisegment rods, such as multisegment filter rods with multiple segments. Furthermore, it is also provided within the scope of the invention that the device is designed in such a way that two or more rows of mouldings arranged transversely axially one behind the other are produced, in particular simultaneously, on the device to form rod-shaped hollow segments. In this case, the device is embodied in two-track or multi-track fashion.Furthermore, an embodiment of the device is characterized in that the device has a conveying device, in particular a conveying drum, for the transverse-axial transport of the hollow cylindrical mouldings one behind the other in at least one row along a conveying path, wherein the conveying device, in particular a drum arrangement having one or more conveying drums, has receiving depressions for the mouldings, wherein, laterally on the receiving depressions of the conveying device, preferably first mandrels are provided for insertion into the first head end of the mouldings, wherein a movement means is provided which, preferably first mandrels are provided for each moulding in a, preferably linear relative movement between the, in particular first, mandrel and the moulding into the first head end of the moulding, wherein, in particular, the movement means is configured, after or after the shaping of the second head end of the moulding by a or the die, This is because, by a, in particular linear, relative movement between the blank and the mandrel, the mandrel is moved out of the first head end.In addition, a development of the device is characterized in that along the conveying path of the blanks opposite the, preferably first, mandrels for the first head end of the blanks are arranged laterally on the receiving depressions, in particular first, dies with cavities for receiving the second head ends of the blanks, wherein a movement means is provided in order to introduce the second head end of the blank, preferably together with the inserted mandrel, into the cavity of the die for the second head end of the blank by means of an, in particular linear, relative movement between the, preferably first, dies and the respective blank, wherein in particular the movement device is configured, after or after the shaping of the second head end of the blanks by means of one or the die, by means of an, in particular linear, mold, Relative movement between the blank and the die moves the blank with the shaped second head end out of the die.Furthermore, a movement means is expediently provided in order to form, in particular form, the second head end of the blank by means of an, in particular linear and / or rotational, relative movement between the second head end of the blank and the die.In particular, the means comprises, upstream of the formation of the second head ends of the blanks along the conveying path of the blanks, a moistening device for the second head ends of the blanks.According to an advantageous aspect, the device is characterized in that the, in particular first, dies have a forming engraving in the cavity for the flanging of the second head end of the blank. Preferably, the forming engraving is designed as a die or the like.Preferably, the mandrels each have a fixing device for the blanks, so that after the mandrel has been introduced into the blank, the blank is fixed in its, in particular linear, relative movement to the mandrel.Advantageously, according to one embodiment, the mandrels each have at least one outlet opening to which compressed air can be applied, so that, during or after the mandrel is introduced into the blank, the mandrel becomes, in particular in the radial direction, and / or that, during or after the mandrel is introduced into the blank, the blank is supplied with compressed air via at least one outlet opening of the mandrel.In addition, in one embodiment it is provided that the mandrels each have a lateral stop for the first head end of the blank.A further development of the device is developed in that the device has, upstream of the shaping of the second head ends of the blanks along the conveying path of the blanks, at least one processing tool, in particular a cutting tool, for the second head ends of the blanks, wherein in particular the processing tool is designed as a second die having a cavity for the second head ends of the blanks, wherein furthermore in particular in the cavity of the second die a cutting contour for the second head end of the blanks is formed.Furthermore, in one embodiment of the device, it is provided that for the processing of the second head ends of the blanks by the processing tools, in particular cutting tools, the device has a conveying device, in particular a conveying drum, for the transversely axial transport of the hollow cylindrical blanks one after the other in at least one row along a conveying path, wherein the conveying device, in particular a drum arrangement having one or more conveying drums, has receiving troughs for the blanks, wherein further, preferably second, mandrels are provided laterally on the receiving troughs of the conveying device for the introduction into the first head end of the blanks, wherein a movement means is provided for the introduction of the further, preferably second, mandrels for each blank into the first head end of the blank in a linear relative movement between the further, in particular second, mandrel and the blank, wherein in particular the movement means is configured to introduce the further, preferably second, mandrels into the blank, after or after the processing of the second head end of the blank by the processing tool, by a, in particular linear, relative movement between the blank and the mandrel, the mandrel is moved out of the first head end.In the device, according to a further development, it is provided that along the conveying path of the blanks opposite the further, preferably second, mandrels for the first head end of the blanks, further, in particular second, dies with cavities for receiving the second head ends of the blanks are arranged laterally on the receiving depressions, wherein a movement means is provided in order to introduce the second head end of the blank, preferably together with the inserted mandrel, into the cavity of the further die for the second head end of the blank by means of an, in particular linear, relative movement between the further, preferably second, dies and the respective blank, wherein in particular the movement device is configured, after one or the processing of the second head end of the blanks by the processing tool, by means of an, in particular linear, mold, Relative movement between the blank and the further die moves the blank with the shaped second head end out of the further die.In addition, one configuration of the device is distinguished in that the first dies are formed from a sintered material and / or in that the second dies are produced from a sintered material.Advantageously, the cavity of the first dies has an air guide line, wherein the air guide line can be supplied with compressed air, and / or that the cavity of the second dies has an air guide line, wherein the air guide line can be supplied with compressed air.In addition, the object is achieved by a multisegment rod production machine of the tobacco processing industry for producing multisegment rods having a plurality of, in particular four or more than four or five or more than five, segments, having a plurality of modules for providing individual transversely axially conveyed segments, wherein at least one or more modules each have at least one device, in particular described above, preferably according to one of Claims 18 to 31. In order to avoid repetitions, express reference is made to the above explanations.Further features of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments according to the invention may fulfil individual features or a combination of several features.The invention is described below without limiting the general concept of the invention on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein reference is expressly made to the drawings with respect to all details according to the invention which are not explained in more detail in the text. The following are shown: FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a conveying drum for producing rod-shaped hollow segments; FIG. 2 schematically shows a flow diagram for producing rod-shaped hollow segments; FIG. 3 schematically shows a cross section through a rod-shaped hollow segment in detail, FIG. 4 schematically shows a perspective view of a conveying arrangement for producing rod-shaped hollow segments, and FIG. 5 shows schematically in detail a process sequence for producing rod-shaped segment groups with hollow segments.Within the scope of the invention, features which are marked "in particular" or "preferably" are to be understood as optional features.In the drawings, identical or similar elements and / or parts are each provided with the same reference numerals, so that renewed presentation is omitted in each case.FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a conveying drum 50, wherein the conveying drum 50 is configured to carry out a method according to the invention for producing rod-shaped hollow segments from shaped bodies 60.The conveying drum 50 has a drum body 51 which has receiving depressions (not shown here) in the circumferential direction, wherein the mouldings 60 transferred to the conveying drum 50 are conveyed transversely axially in a row one behind the other in the receiving depressions. The blanks 60 are preferably made of paper in a hollow cylindrical manner and each have a first open head end 61 and a second open head end 62.Laterally on the receiving troughs of the conveying drum 50 for the blanks 60, mandrels 52 are arranged for the first head end 61 of the blanks 60. The mandrels 52 can be moved by means of a movement mechanism, such as a lifting gate (not shown here), in relation to the stationary receiving depressions, linearly and axially parallel to the axis of rotation of the conveying drum 50. The mandrels 52 each have a stop 53 at the end, which is brought into contact with the first head end 61 of the respective blank 60 after the respective mandrel 52 has been introduced into a hollow cylindrical blank 60.On the side of the receiving depressions opposite the mandrels 52, dies 54 are arranged laterally on the receiving depressions for the shaped articles 60. The dies 54 each have a cavity for receiving the second head end 62 of the respective blanks 60 (compare FIG. 2 ). The dies 54 on the receiving depressions of the conveying drum 50 can be moved linearly in an axis-parallel manner with respect to the axis of rotation by means of a corresponding movement gate and can additionally be rotated.When receiving the shaped bodies 60 into the receiving depressions of the conveying drum 50, the shaped bodies 60 are arranged asymmetrically in the receiving depressions, so that the shaped bodies 60 project laterally with their second head end 62 beyond the receiving depressions, so that, as a result of a linear movement of the dies 54, the second head ends 62 are received into the cavity of the dies 54. The mandrels 52 and the dies 54 are fixedly disposed on the conveying drum 50, and are rotated about the rotational axis of the conveying drum 50 with the rotation of the conveying drum 50.After receiving the blanks 60 into the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 50, the blanks 60 are positioned between the laterally arranged mandrels 52 and the laterally arranged dies 54. Subsequently, the mandrels 52 are first moved by means of a corresponding lifting gate (not shown here) in the direction of the first head ends 61 of the hollow cylindrical blanks 60 and introduced into the blanks 60 until the head ends 61 of the blanks 60 are brought into contact with the lateral stop 53. Subsequently, the dies 54 are linearly moved toward the second head end 62 of the blanks 60 so that after the linear movement of the dies 54, the head ends 62 of the blanks 60 are received in the cavity of the dies 54. Preferably, the linear movement of the dies 54 is superimposed with a rotational movement of the dies 54 such that the dies 54 are rotated about their own axis of rotation during the rotation of the conveyor drum 50.FIG. 2 schematically illustrates various method steps for forming the head end 62 of the shaped bodies 60 by means of the die 54 in detail. In method step 100, the mandrel 52 is accommodated in the hollow cylindrical molding 60, wherein the front end of the mandrel 52 is arranged at a predetermined distance from the open (second) head end 62. Thereafter, in a subsequent method step 110, the die 54, which is preferably driven in a rotating manner, is moved linearly in the direction of the head end 62 of the molding 60, so that the head end 62 is and is accommodated in a cavity 56 of the die 54. The die 54 has a forming cavity 55 at the end of the cavity 56 which is brought into contact with the head end 62 of the blank 60, thereby forming the head end 62.In a further subsequent method step 120, the die 54 is moved linearly in the opposite direction from the head end 62, whereby the head end 62 is released on the conveying drum 50. Subsequently, the mandrel 52 is pulled out of the blank 60 by a linear movement. By introducing the head end 62 of the shaped bodies 60 into the respective cavity of the die 54, the head ends 52 are brought into contact with a forming engraving 55 (compare FIG. 2 ), so that the head end 62 of the shaped bodies 60 is processed or formed by means of the forming engraving 55. In a further method step, the shaped bodies 60 are then transferred with the head end machined by the die 54 as rod-shaped hollow segments to subsequent conveying drums.In one embodiment, the conveying drum illustrated in FIG. 1 can be part of a module for providing a segment for a multisegment rod having a plurality of, in particular more than three or four or five or more than five, segments. The module itself can be a component of a multisegment rod production machine of the tobacco processing industry. Within the scope of the invention, it is possible for the module or a module also to have a plurality of conveying drums, as illustrated in FIG. 1, in order to provide, for example, two rod-shaped hollow segments simultaneously on two conveying tracks. In this case, the conveying drums can be part of a conveying arrangement having a plurality of conveying drums.In FIG. 2, an air-conducting line 57 of the die 54 is also shown schematically in the die 54 in order to supply cleaning air to the cavity 56. By the supply of cleaning air to the air guide line 57, the cavity 56 is permanently protected from soiling, whereby the risk of soiling is reduced. In addition, the supply of air into the cavity 56 reduces the friction between the blank 60, preferably made of paper, and the inner walls of the cavity 56. Preferably, the die 54 is made of a sintered material.FIG. 3 shows schematically, by way of example, a cross section through a rod-shaped hollow segment 70. The hollow segment 70 is here, as described above by way of example, produced from a molding 60 according to the method steps, wherein the hollow segment 70 has a flange collar 72 at the (second) head end 62. The flange collar 72 has an opening 73, which is preferably circular. The opening 73 of the flange collar 72 has, for example, a diameter of 2.0 mm to 6.0 mm.FIG. 4 schematically shows a perspective view of a conveying arrangement for producing rod-shaped hollow segments, wherein the conveying arrangement has a conveying drum 50, as illustrated and described by way of example in FIG. 1, and a conveying drum 150 arranged upstream of the conveying drum 50 with respect to the transversely axial conveying direction of the shaped bodies 60. The conveying drum 150 is of identical construction or similar in construction to the conveying drum 50, wherein the individual elements of the conveying drum 150 correspond to the elements of the conveying drum 50 and are increased by the amount 100. The conveying drum 150 has receiving depressions for the hollow cylindrical shaped articles 60 in the circumferential direction, wherein a row of mandrels 152 and a row of dies 154 for forming the top ends of the shaped articles are provided laterally of the receiving depressions. After a first forming of the head ends 62 of the blanks 60 by the dies 154 on the conveying drum 150, the preformed blanks 60 are conveyed to the downstream conveying drum 50 via a conveying drum (not shown here). For example, it is possible that the tips 62 are preformed by the dies 154, since the dies 154 have, for example, larger radii in the forming engraving and the tips 62 of the blanks 60 are subsequently finally formed by the dies 54 on the subsequent conveying drum 50. For this purpose, the die 54 can be formed with smaller radii in the forming engraving.Within the scope of the invention, it can also be provided that on the conveyor drums having dies or upstream of the conveyor drums having dies, for example, a moistening device for the second head ends of the blanks and / or a cutting device or a cutting tool for the second head ends of the blanks can be provided in order to process the second head ends of the blanks for the forming before the forming of the second head ends.FIG. 5 shows a schematic process sequence for producing rod-shaped segment groups 300 having hollow segments 70. The rod-shaped segment groups 300 here have, for example, tobacco segments 200 and hollow segments 70. For the production of the segment groups 300, first two tobacco segments 200 arranged longitudinally axially next to one another are conveyed transversely axially. In the illustration of FIG. 5, the tobacco segments are conveyed from right to left, for example on conveying drums, in the transverse-axial direction.After pairs of tobacco segments 200 have been provided, a hollow cylindrical blank 260 is in each case supplied to the pairs of tobacco segments 200 on the outer sides of the tobacco segments 200, with the result that the tobacco segments 200 of a pair are arranged between the outer blanks 260. Subsequently, the outer shaped bodies 260 are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinally axial manner, such that a gap or a distance is formed between the respective shaped body 260 and the tobacco segment 200.After the spacing of the shaped bodies 260 from tobacco segments 200, mandrels 152.1, 152.2 at the outer head ends of the shaped bodies 260 are introduced into the shaped bodies 260 from the outside. In addition, a shaped part or a die 154.1, 154.2 is introduced between the tobacco segments 200 and the inner-side head ends of the shaped bodies 260, wherein the head end of the shaped body 260 facing the die 154.1, 154.2 is subsequently shaped by a linear relative movement between the respective die 154.1, 154.2 and the shaped body 260, so that hollow segments 70 are thereby formed. Subsequently, the shaped blanks 260 or the hollow segments 70 are moved or removed from the respective die 154.1, 154.2 with a shaped head end and the mandrels 152.1, 152.2 are pulled out of the shaped blanks 260. Then, the formed blanks 260 and hollow segments 70 are moved in the longitudinal axial direction toward the pairs of the tobacco segments 200 disposed therebetween, so that the tip ends of the blanks 260 and hollow segments 70 are disposed at the tip ends of the tobacco segments 200 facing the blanks 260 and hollow segments 70, respectively, thereby forming rod-shaped segment groups 300. In the further course, it is preferably provided that in further method steps (not shown) further rod-shaped segments are supplied to the segment groups 300.All features mentioned, including those taken alone from the drawings and also individual features which are disclosed in combination with other features, are considered to be essential to the invention alone and in combination. Embodiments according to the invention may be fulfilled by individual features or a combination of a plurality of features.List of reference characters50 Conveying drum 51 Drum body 52 Mandrel 53 Stop 54 Die 55 Forming engraving 56 Cavity 57 Air guide line 60 Blank 61 First head end 62 Second head end 70 Hollow segment 72 Flange collar 73 Opening 100 Method step 110 Method step 120 Method step 150 Conveying drum 151 Drum body 152 Mandrel 152.1, 152.2 Mandrel 154 Die 154.1, 154.2 Die 200 Tobacco segment 260 Blank 300 Segment groupReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedEP 1 691 633 B1

[0003]

Claims

Method for producing rod-shaped hollow segments (70) of the tobacco-processing industry, wherein hollow cylindrical, in particular tubular, shaped bodies (60) are conveyed transversely axially one behind the other in a row, wherein the hollow cylindrical shaped bodies (60) have a first, preferably open, head end (61) and a second, preferably open, head end (62), wherein the following method steps are carried out for each shaped body (60) or a plurality of shaped bodies (60): a) a, preferably first, mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2) for the shaped body (60) is introduced into the first head end (61) of the shaped body (60) by a linear relative movement between the, in particular first, mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2) and the shaped body (60), b) by means of a linear relative movement between a die (54) having a cavity (56) and the molding (60), the second head end (62) of the molding (60) is introduced, preferably together with the inserted mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2), into the cavity (56) of the die (54) for the second head end (62) of the molding (60), c) by means of an in particular linear and / or rotational relative movement between the second head end (62) of the molding (60) and the die (54), the second head end (62) of the molding (60) is shaped, in particular shaped, d) by means of an in particular linear relative movement between the molding (60) and the die (54), the molding (60) is moved out of the die (54) with the shaped second head end (62) and / or by means of an in particular linear, Relative movement between the blank (60) and the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2), the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2) is moved out of the first head end (61).Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in particular upstream, before method step c), in particular and before or after method step a), at least the second head end (62) of the blank (60) is moistened, in particular by means of a moistening device.Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in particular upstream, before method step c), in particular and before or after method step a), the second head end (62) of the blank (60) is machined, in particular cut, by means of a machining tool, in particular a cutting tool.Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second head end (62) of the molding (60) is crimped by means of the die (54) after introduction into the cavity (56), such that the second head end (62) has an end-side constriction with an, in particular annular, crimping collar (72), wherein in particular the die (54) has a forming engraving (55), in particular crimping engraving, in the cavity (56) for crimping the second head end (62) of the molding (60) and / or wherein in particular the end-side crimping collar (72) has a, preferably central and / or circular, opening (73), wherein furthermore in particular the opening (73) of the crimping collar (72) has a diameter of 2.0 mm to 6.0 mm.Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, during or after introduction of the second head end (62) of the blank (60) into the cavity (56), the die (54) is rotated relative to the blank (60), in particular a fixed blank.Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, after the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2) has been introduced into the blank (60), the blank (60) is fixed in its, in particular linear, relative movement with respect to the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2).Method according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, during or after the introduction of the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2) into the blank (60), the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2) is expanded, in particular in the radial direction, or in that, during or after the introduction of the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2) into the blank (60), the blank (60) is acted upon with compressed air via at least one outlet opening of the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2).Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pin (52, 152.1, 152.2) has a lateral stop (53) for the first head end (61) of the blank (60), wherein the blank is moved against the stop (53), in particular after method step b) and before method step c).Method according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the method steps are carried out during the transversely axial conveying of the mouldings (60) on at least one conveying element, in particular conveying drum (50, 150), or exclusively one conveying element, in particular conveying drum.Method according to one of Claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the machining of the second head end (62) of the blank (60) takes place upstream before method step c), in particular before method step a), by carrying out the method steps: i) a further, in particular second, mandrel (151) for the blank (60) is introduced into the first head end (61) of the blank (60) by means of an, in particular linear, relative movement between the further mandrel (151) and the blank (60), ii) is introduced into the cavity (56) of the further, in particular second, blank (60) by means of an, in particular linear, relative movement between a further, in particular second, die (154), which has a cavity (56), for the second head end (62) of the blank (60) and the blank (60), preferably together with the introduced mandrel (151), is introduced into the cavity (56) of the further, in particular second die, Introduced into the die (154), iii) by a, in particular linear, relative movement between the second head end (62) of the blank (60) and the die (154), the second head end (62) of the blank (60) is processed, in particular cut, iv) by a, in particular linear, relative movement between the blank (60) and the further die (154), the blank (60) is moved with the processed second head end (62) out of the further die (154) and / or by a, in particular linear, relative movement between the blank (60) and the mandrel (151), the mandrel (151) is moved out of the first head end (61).Method according to Claim 10, characterized in that the method steps i) to iv) and the method steps a) to d) are each carried out on different conveying members, in particular conveying drums, wherein in particular the method steps i) to iv) are carried out on a conveying member, in particular conveying drum, during the transversely axial conveying of the shaped articles (60), and the method steps a) to d) are carried out on a subsequent conveying member, in particular conveying drum, during the transversely axial conveying of the shaped articles (60).Method according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that after the execution of the method steps i) to iv), in particular on, preferably exclusively, a conveying drum (150) for the mouldings (60), the processed mouldings (60) are transferred to a subsequent conveying element, in particular conveying drum, and the method steps a) to d) are executed on the subsequent conveying element.Method according to one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that, after method step iii), the second head end (62) of the blank (60) is moistened, in particular by means of a moistening device.Method according to one of Claims 10 to 13, characterized in that, during or after introduction of the second head end (62) of the blank (60) into the cavity (56), the further die (154) is moved linearly relative to the blank (60), in particular a fixed blank.Method according to one of Claims 10 to 14, characterized in that, after the further mandrel (151) has been introduced into the blank (60), the blank (60) is fixed in its, in particular linear, relative movement with respect to the mandrel (151).Method according to one of Claims 10 to 15, characterized in that, during or after the introduction of the further mandrel (151) into the blank (60), the mandrel (151) is expanded, in particular in the radial direction, and / or in that, during or after the introduction of the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2) into the blank (60), the blank (60) is acted upon with compressed air via at least one outlet opening of the mandrel (151).Method according to one of Claims 10 to 16, characterized in that the further mandrel (151) has a lateral stop for the first head end (61) of the blank (60), wherein the blank is moved against the stop, in particular after method step ii) and before method step iii).Device for producing rod-shaped hollow segments (70) of the tobacco processing industry, wherein hollow cylindrical, in particular tubular, shaped bodies (60) are or are conveyed in a row transversely axially one behind the other, wherein the hollow cylindrical shaped bodies (60) have a first, preferably open, head end (61) and a second, preferably open, head end (62), wherein the device is preferably configured to carry out a method according to one of Claims 1 to 17.Device according to claim 18, characterised in that the device has a conveying device, in particular a conveying drum, for the transverse-axial transport of the hollow-cylindrical mouldings (60) one behind the other in at least one row along a conveying path, wherein the conveying device, in particular a drum arrangement having one or more conveying drums (50, 150), has receiving troughs for the mouldings (60), wherein, laterally on the receiving troughs of the conveying device, preferably first mandrels (51, 151) are provided for insertion into the first head end (61) of the mouldings (60), wherein a movement means is provided which, preferably first mandrels (52, 152) for in each case one moulding (60) are inserted into the first head end (61) of the moulding (60) in a preferably linear relative movement between the, in particular first, mandrel and the moulding (60), wherein in particular the movement means is configured, after or after the shaping of the second head end (62) of the blank (60) by a or the die (54), to move the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2) out of the first head end (61) by a, in particular linear, relative movement between the blank (60) and the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2).Device according to claim 18 or 19, characterised in that along the conveying path of the mouldings (60) opposite the, preferably first, mandrels (52, 152) for the first head end (61) of the mouldings (60) are arranged laterally on the receiving depressions, in particular first, dies (54) with cavities (56) for receiving the second head ends (62) of the mouldings (60), wherein a movement means is provided in order to introduce the second head end (62) of the moulding (60), preferably together with the inserted mandrel, into the cavity (56) of the die (54) for the second head end (62) of the moulding (60) by means of an, in particular linear, relative movement between the, preferably first, dies (52, 152) for the first head end (61) of the moulding (60), wherein in particular the movement device is configured to, after or forming the second head end (62) of the shaped bodies (60) by a or the die (54), by a, in particular linear, relative movement between the shaped body (60) and the die (54), moving the shaped body (60) with the formed second head end (62) out of the die (54).Device according to one of Claims 18 to 20, characterized in that a movement means is provided in order to form, in particular to form, the second head end (62) of the blank (60) by means of an, in particular linear and / or rotational, relative movement between the second head end (62) of the blank (60) and the die (54).Device according to any one of claims 18 to 21, characterised in that upstream of the formation of the second head ends of the mouldings (60) along the conveying path of the mouldings (60), the device comprises a moistening device for the second head ends (62) of the mouldings (60).Device according to one of Claims 18 to 22, characterized in that the, in particular first, dies (54) in the cavity (56) have a forming engraving (55) for the flanging of the second head end (62) of the blank (60).Device according to one of Claims 18 to 23, characterized in that the mandrels (52, 152) each have a fixing device for the mouldings (60), so that, after the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2) has been introduced into the moulding (60), the moulding (60) is fixed in its, in particular linear, relative movement with respect to the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2).Device according to one of Claims 18 to 24, characterized in that the mandrels (52, 152) each have at least one outlet opening which can be acted upon by compressed air, with the result that, during or after the introduction of the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2) into the blank (60), the mandrel (151) is expanded, in particular in the radial direction, and / or in that, during or after the introduction of the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2) into the blank (60), the blank (60) is acted upon by compressed air via at least one outlet opening of the mandrel (52, 152.1, 152.2).Device according to one of Claims 18 to 25, characterized in that the pins (52, 152) each have a lateral stop for the first head end (61) of the blank (60).Device according to one of Claims 18 to 26, characterized in that the device has, upstream of the shaping of the second head ends (62) of the mouldings (60) along the conveying path of the mouldings (60), at least one processing tool, in particular a cutting tool, for the second head ends (62) of the mouldings (60), wherein in particular the processing tool is designed as a second die (154), which has a cavity (56), for the second head ends (62) of the mouldings (60), wherein furthermore in particular in the cavity (56) of the second die (154) a cutting contour for the second head end (62) of the mouldings (60) is designed.Device according to claim 27, characterised in that for the machining of the second head ends (62) of the blanks (60) by the machining tools, in particular cutting tools, the device has a conveying device, in particular a conveying drum, for the transversely axial transport of the hollow cylindrical blanks (60) one behind the other in at least one row along a conveying path, wherein the conveying device, in particular a drum arrangement with one or more conveying drums, has receiving troughs for the blanks (60), wherein further, preferably second, mandrels (151) are provided laterally on the receiving troughs of the conveying device for insertion into the first head end (61) of the blanks (60), wherein a movement means is provided which move the further, preferably second, mandrels (151) for each blank (60) in a linear relative movement between the further, in particular second, blanks, A mandrel (151) and the blank (60) to be introduced into the first head end (61) of the blank (60), wherein in particular the movement means is configured, after or after the processing of the second head end (62) of the blank (60) by the processing tool, to move the mandrel (151) out of the first head end (61) by a, in particular linear, relative movement between the blank (60) and the mandrel (151).Device according to claim 27 or 28, characterised in that along the conveying path of the mouldings (60) opposite the further, preferably second, mandrels (52, 152) for the first head end (61) of the mouldings (60), further, in particular second, dies (154) with cavities (56) for receiving the second head ends of the mouldings (60) are arranged laterally on the receiving depressions, wherein a movement means is provided in order to introduce the second head end (61) of the moulding (60), preferably together with the inserted mandrel (151), into the cavity (56) of the further die (154) for the second head end (62) of the moulding (60) by means of an, in particular linear, relative movement between the further, preferably second, dies (154) and the respective moulding (60), wherein in particular the movement device is configured to, after or during the processing of the second head end (62) of the shaped bodies (60) by the processing tool, by means of an in particular linear relative movement between the shaped body (60) and the further die (154), the shaped body (60) is moved with the shaped second head end (62) out of the further die (154).Device according to one of Claims 18 to 29, characterized in that the first dies (54) are formed from a sintered material and / or in that the second dies (154) are produced from a sintered material.Device according to one of Claims 18 to 30, characterized in that the cavity (56) of the first dies (54) has an air-conducting line (57), it being possible for the air-conducting line (57) to be acted upon by compressed air, and / or in that the cavity (56) of the second dies (54) has an air-conducting line (57), it being possible for the air-conducting line (57) to be acted upon by compressed air.Multisegment rod production machine of the tobacco processing industry for producing multisegment rods having a plurality of, in particular four or more than four or five or more than five, segments, having a plurality of modules for providing individual transversely axially conveyed segments, wherein at least one or more modules each has or have at least one device according to one of Claims 18 to 31.

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