ARRANGEMENT FOR THE CROSS-AXIAL CONVEYING OF ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES IN THE TOBACCO PROCESSING INDUSTRY

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or rod-shaped segments. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments, segmented articles, or multi-segmented articles.

[0002] To produce multi-segment articles for the tobacco processing industry, various rod-shaped segments, in the form of base rods or strand sections, are provided and assembled into a rod-shaped multi-segment article using a drum machine.

[0003] It is known from the prior art to produce base bars and feed them into 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 directly process strand sections.

[0004] EP 1 691 633 B1, for example, discloses a drum machine of the tobacco processing industry for producing multi-segment articles, wherein the drum machine comprises several feed modules that provide rod-shaped segments and feed them to a transport path.

[0005] EP 2 918 180 A1 discloses an image recording device for optically inspecting rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry using a camera.

[0006] Furthermore, DE 40 08 475 A1 discloses a filter attachment machine in which testing drums with testing devices are provided after the production of filter cigarettes.

[0007] Furthermore, WO 2021 / 214657 A1 discloses a unit for feeding rod-shaped segments.

[0008] Furthermore, WO 2021 / 121790 A1 discloses a method and system for optically analyzing a component of an aerosol-generating article.

[0009] One object of the invention is to provide tested segment articles in a simple manner, for example for a multi-segment article manufacturing machine in the tobacco processing industry.

[0010] The object is achieved by an arrangement for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, wherein the arrangement is designed to convey article segments of a first row and a second row arranged in pairs next to one another in the transverse axial direction, wherein in a conveying test section the arrangement has at least one conveying element or several conveying elements for a first row of article segments arranged transversely one behind the other and for a second row of article segments arranged transversely one behind the other, wherein in the conveying test section the conveying element is or the conveying elements are designed such that the article segments of the first row are conveyed or can be conveyed along a conveying path for the article segments of the first row,and wherein in the conveyor inspection section, the conveyor member is or the conveyor members are arranged such that the article segments of the second row are conveyed or can be conveyed along a conveyor path for the article segments of the second row, wherein along the conveyor path for the article segments of the first row, one, in particular optical, head-end inspection device or two, in particular optical, head-end inspection devices are provided for the two head ends of the article segments of the first row, and wherein along the conveyor path for the article segments of the second row, one, in particular optical, head-end inspection device or two, in particular optical, head-end inspection devices are provided for the two head ends of the article segments of the second row, which is further developed,that in the transverse axial conveying direction of the article segments, a conveying member, in particular a conveying drum, is provided after the conveying inspection section and / or after the head-end inspection device(s) for the article segments of the first row and the head-end inspection device(s) for the article segments of the second row, wherein the conveying member is configured to convey pairs of article segments, each composed of an article segment of the first row and an article segment of the second row.

[0011] The invention is based on the idea that, for example, the head ends of the two webs or rows of article segments are inspected, preferably individually, by means of the head end inspection devices on a strand machine for producing a strand of aerosol-forming materials, in particular from reconstituted tobacco-containing film, using the arrangement. During the transfer of the articles or article segments produced on the strand machine, the rod-shaped articles or article segments are conveyed in the arrangement by means of several conveyor drums in a transverse axial direction, wherein pairs of article segments, each composed of one article segment from the first row and one article segment from the second row, are provided at the output side of the arrangement for further processing in a multi-segment article production machine.

[0012] During the conveyance of the article rods taken over from the strand machine, the article rods conveyed transversely are cut, for example, into rod-shaped article segments. The cut rod-shaped article segments are conveyed in two adjacent rows of article segments in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drums of the arrangement. The pairs of article segments, each comprising an article segment from a first row and a second row, which are arranged one behind the other or next to each other in the receiving troughs in the longitudinal axial direction of the article segments, are inspected during conveyance in the arrangement. The two head ends or front sides of the respective article segments are inspected using one or more corresponding head end inspection devices.

[0013] In particular, the rod-shaped article segments comprise magnetic or magnetizable material, in particular a particularly flat metal strip, arranged inside the article segments. The magnetic or magnetizable or inductively heatable material is preferably a metal strip, which, in a finished product such as a multi-segment article, can be heated by induction, so that, for example, tobacco material provided in the rod-shaped multi-segment article is heated.

[0014] For example, the inspection devices are designed to inspect the end face of the head ends or a region of the head ends of the article segments. An example of such a head end inspection device for the end faces of rod-shaped (multi-segment) articles is described in DE 10 2020 106 444 A1. In particular, the head end inspection devices, preferably each, have a polarization camera.

[0015] In order to inspect the article segments of the first row and the second row arranged next to one another in receiving troughs of conveyor drums of the arrangement, according to the invention the article segments of the first row and the article segments of the second row are conveyed on different conveyor paths within the conveyor inspection section in the arrangement to the head-end inspection devices, so that the mutually facing head ends and / or end faces of the article segments of the first row and the article segments of the second row, as well as the outer head ends of the article segments, are inspected. The article segments of both rows are conveyed on different conveyor paths within the arrangement to the head-end inspection devices, so that on both sides of the article segments of the first type and on both sides of the article segments of the second type, a head-end inspection device inspects the head end facing the head-end inspection device.

[0016] After checking the head ends of the article segments of the first row and the article segments of the second row, the article segments of both rows are reassembled into pairs in the arrangement so that pairs of article segments are provided for further processing of the article segments, for example on a multi-segment manufacturing machine, wherein the pairs of article segments are each composed of an article segment of the first row and the second row.

[0017] Preferably, the inspection of the head ends of the article segments in the first row and the inspection of the head ends of the article segments in the second row are carried out independently of each other.

[0018] Furthermore, it is possible within the scope of the invention that, before the head ends are inspected, article segments provided with a metal band, for example, are aligned in the arrangement so that the metal band occupies a predetermined position in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drums of the arrangement.

[0019] Furthermore, it is provided that for the inspection of the head ends of the article segments of the first row and the article segments of the second row, the two adjacent article segments of the two rows are not spaced apart or spread apart from each other longitudinally. For this purpose, the arrangement preferably does not have a spreading drum or the like in one embodiment.

[0020] In the case of the article segments of a first row and a second row arranged side by side in pairs and conveyed in the transverse axial direction, within the scope of the invention, pairs are preferably formed from an article segment of the first row and an article segment of the second row. In particular, the article segments of the first row and the article segments of the first row are each arranged in rows transversely axially one behind the other.

[0021] For this purpose, according to a further development of the arrangement, at least one upstream conveying element, in particular a conveying drum, is provided before the beginning of the conveying path for the article segments of the first row for checking the head ends and before the beginning of the conveying path for the article segments of the second row for checking the head ends, in particular with respect to the conveying direction of the article segments before the conveying inspection section, wherein the at least one conveying element is designed to convey pairs of article segments arranged next to one another, each composed of an article segment of the first row and an article segment of the second row, transversely axially.In this case, with respect to the conveying direction of the article segments, upstream of the conveying test section, and thus before the start of the conveying path for the article segments of the first row for a test of the head ends and before the start of the conveying path for the article segments of the second row within the conveying test section, the at least one conveying element, in particular a conveying drum, is arranged in order to convey the pairs of article segments arranged next to one another, each composed of an article segment of the first row and an article segment of the second row, to the conveying test section.

[0022] The pairs of article segments are arranged one behind the other in the transverse axial direction, for example, in receiving troughs of the conveyor drums.

[0023] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the arrangement is characterized in that in the conveyor inspection section the article segments of the first row are conveyed or can be conveyed on a first conveyor element, in particular a conveyor drum, wherein one or two, in particular optical, head end inspection devices for the head ends of the article segments of the first row are arranged on the first conveyor element, and in the conveyor inspection section the article segments of the second row are conveyed or can be conveyed on a further conveyor element, in particular a conveyor drum, wherein one or two, in particular optical, head end inspection devices for the head ends of the article segments of the second row are arranged on the further conveyor element.

[0024] For testing the head ends of the article segments in both rows, one embodiment provides separate conveyor elements or conveyor drums, each of which has one or two head-end testing devices for each of the two head ends of the article segments. For testing, the article segments in both rows are divided into two substreams, with each substream undergoing a test of the head ends of the article segments. In particular, in the conveyor testing section, the article segments to be tested or being tested are not moved longitudinally axially in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drums.

[0025] According to an advantageous embodiment, the arrangement is further developed in that at least one common conveyor element, in particular a conveyor drum, is provided in the conveyor test section for the article segments of the first row and for the article segments of the second row, wherein the common conveyor element is arranged in such a way that after receiving pairs of article segments, each composed of an article segment of the first row and an article segment of the second row, the article segments of the first row are moved or can be moved relative to each other relative to the article segments of the second row, preferably while maintaining the transverse axial conveying direction,and wherein one or two head-end inspection devices for the article segments of one row are provided on the common conveyor element, or wherein one or two head-end inspection devices for the article segments of the first row and two head-end inspection devices for the article segments of the second row are provided on the common conveyor element.

[0026] Because the article segments of the two rows, which are preferably arranged side by side in the receiving troughs of the common conveyor elements or conveyor drum during transfer, are moved relative to one another during conveyance on the common conveyor element, the mutually facing end faces or head ends of the article segments are spaced apart from one another, so that the two mutually facing head ends of the article segments are accessible for inspection by means of a head end inspection device. For example, it is provided that the article segments of the two rows are moved, in particular accelerated or decelerated, using levers or rods or the like, for example, wherein the levers or rods are designed with corresponding receptacles for the article segments.

[0027] Furthermore, the invention also provides for the article segments of the two rows to be moved relative to one another on the common conveyor element, in particular the conveyor drum, by lowering or raising the article segments in a radial direction, for example, using movable receiving troughs. The receiving troughs are moved, for example, by means of a control cam, lifting cam, or the like during the transverse-axial conveying on the conveyor element or the conveyor drum.

[0028] Preferably, in one embodiment of the arrangement, it is provided that the common conveying member is designed as a conveying drum and the conveying drum is configured to move the article segments of the first row in the radial direction and / or in the circumferential direction of the conveying drum relative to the article segments of the second row.

[0029] In particular, it is provided that when the article segments are received in the receiving troughs of the common conveyor drum, the article segments of the first row and the second row (as a pair) are not shifted, i.e. that the central longitudinal axes of the article segments of the first row and the central longitudinal axis of the article segments of the second row are aligned collinearly with one another. The central longitudinal axes of the article segments of the first row and the central longitudinal axis of the article segments of the second row are aligned or arranged along a common longitudinal axis. Likewise, when the article segments are delivered and after the head ends have been checked, the central longitudinal axes of the article segments of the first row and the second row are aligned collinearly on the conveyor drum.During the conveyance of the article segments on the conveyor drum, the article segments are moved in such a way that the central longitudinal axes of the article segments of a pair of article segments are or become aligned parallel to each other, whereby the article segments of the two rows are moved relative to each other.

[0030] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the arrangement, it is preferred that the common conveying element is designed as a conveyor drum with movable, in particular pivotable, arms for the article segments. The arms are preferably designed with corresponding receiving recesses for the respective article segments.

[0031] According to a further embodiment of the arrangement, it is provided that the conveyor drum for the article segments is designed in such a way that during the conveyance of the article segments by means of the conveyor drum, the article segments of the first row and the article segments of the second row are spaced apart from one another, preferably in the transverse axial direction, by the transferred pairs of article segments.

[0032] Furthermore, it is preferred that the common conveying element is designed as a conveyor drum with rotatable receptacles for the article segments, wherein in particular the rotatable receptacles are rotatable about axes of rotation aligned radially to the axis of rotation of the conveyor drum. The rotation of the article segments by a predetermined angle about an axis of rotation formed perpendicular to their longitudinal axis enables the article segments to be rotated, turned, or reoriented by a predetermined angle during their conveyance on the conveyor drum, for example on a rotating body, whereby the mutually facing head ends of the article segments of the two rows are spaced apart from one another, whereby the mutually facing head ends of the article segments are accessible for a head end inspection by means of a head end inspection device.For example, it is possible to provide pivoting receiving troughs for the article segments in each of the two rows.

[0033] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the arrangement is further developed in that in the conveyor inspection section, with respect to the transverse axial conveying direction of the article segments, a first staggering drum is provided for the article segments of the first row and for the article segments of the second row and a second staggering drum is provided for the staggered article segments, wherein between the first staggering drum and the second staggering drum at least one conveyor drum with at least one or at least two head end inspection devices is provided for the article segments of a row or wherein a conveyor drum with one or two head end inspection devices is provided for the article segments of the first row and with one or two head end inspection devices is provided for the article segments of the second row.Here, the head ends are inspected on the conveyor drum between the two staggered drums for the staggered article segments using the head end inspection devices. The inspected article segments are then transferred to the subsequent second staggered drum, so that the staggered article segments are staggered back. Pairs of article segments, each composed of one article segment from the first row and one article segment from the second row, are then conveyed, for example, to a multi-segment article manufacturing machine.

[0034] Furthermore, an embodiment of the arrangement is characterized in that in the conveyor test section a common conveyor drum for pairs of article segments, each composed of an article segment of the first row and an article segment of the second row, is provided, wherein pairs of article segments are initially conveyed or can be conveyed on the common conveyor drum, wherein a first conveyor drum for the article segments of the first row and a second conveyor drum for the article segments of the second row are arranged on the common conveyor drum,wherein article segments of the first row are transferred or can be transferred from the common conveyor drum to the first conveyor drum, and the head ends of the article segments of the first row conveyed by the first conveyor drum are checked or can be checked by means of one or two head end checking devices arranged on the first conveyor drum, and after checking the head ends of the article segments of the first row, the article segments of the first row are transferred or can be transferred to the common conveyor drum,and wherein, subsequently, article segments of the second row are transferred or can be transferred from the common conveyor drum to the second conveyor drum, and the head ends of the article segments of the second row conveyed by the second conveyor drum are checked or can be checked by means of one or two head end checking devices arranged on the second conveyor drum, and after checking the head ends of the article segments of the second row, the article segments of the second row are transferred or can be transferred to the common conveyor drum. It is provided that the article segments of one row are taken over and conveyed by one conveyor drum at a time from the common conveyor drum,The article segments are inspected accordingly at their head ends on the respective conveyor drum for the article segments. After inspecting the head ends, the respective article segments of the two rows are returned to the common conveyor drum. Preferably, when transferring the inspected article segments of the two rows from the common conveyor drum to a subsequent conveyor drum, the article segments of the two rows are arranged in receiving troughs of the common conveyor drum such that the longitudinal axes of the article segments of the two rows are aligned collinearly.

[0035] Furthermore, in a further development, the arrangement is characterized in that the arrangement is designed as a transfer module between a strand machine for producing rod-shaped article segments and a multi-segment article manufacturing machine for producing rod-shaped multi-segment articles for the tobacco processing industry.

[0036] It is possible for the arrangement to have a transfer device, such as a transfer drum, to transfer the rod-shaped article rods produced on the strand machine and conveyed longitudinally axially. Subsequently, within the arrangement or transfer module, the article rods of multiple lengths that have been received and conveyed transversely axially can be cut into corresponding article segments. In one embodiment, the arrangement can have a tumbling drum in the conveying direction, an orientation drum for orienting the article rods formed, for example, with a metal strip, as well as a cutting drum and a staggering drum. In addition, the arrangement can also further have at least one staggering shifting drum or two staggering shifting drums in the conveying direction of the article segments before the article segments grouped in pairs are tested in a conveying test section using the head-end test devices.Following the conveyor test section, a transfer drum or delivery drum is provided to subsequently transfer the paired article segments of both rows to a multi-segment article manufacturing machine.

[0037] Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segmented articles or multi-segmented articles, using a previously described arrangement for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the preceding explanations.

[0038] Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, comprising the following steps: a) Providing article segments arranged in pairs next to one another, forming a first row and a second row of article segments, wherein the article segments comprise a magnetic or magnetizable or inductively heatable material designed to heat the article segments, wherein in particular the article segments have a single usable length, b) Transversely axially conveying article segments arranged in pairs next to one another, forming a first row and a second row of article segments, c) Conveying the article segments of the first row along a first conveying path for the article segments of the first row and conveying the article segments of the second row along a second conveying path for the article segments of the second row, wherein the article segments of the first row and the second row are at least partially spaced from one another, d) Checking the two head ends of the article segments of the first row on the first conveying path,in particular simultaneously or successively, and testing the two head ends of the article segments of the second row on the second conveyor path, in particular simultaneously or successively, in a conveyor testing section e) merging pairs of article segments arranged longitudinally axially next to one another with their ends adjacent to one another, composed of one article segment of the first row and one article segment of the second row after testing one and / or both head ends of the article segments of the first row and after testing one and / or both head ends of the article segments of the second row.

[0039] Advantageously, the above method is carried out using or by means of the above-described arrangement for the transverse-axial conveying of rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry. To avoid repetition, reference is expressly made to the above explanations in this regard.

[0040] Within the scope of the invention, article segments of a single usable length are understood to mean, in particular, article segments to be processed or processed that, after further processing, e.g., on a multi-segment rod manufacturing machine, have the (usable) length that they also have in the final product, in particular the consumable product. The rod-shaped final product is manufactured from several article segments of a single usable length.

[0041] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments of the invention together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments of the invention may fulfill individual features or a combination of several features.

[0042] The invention is described below, without limiting the general inventive concept, using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, whereby express reference is made to the drawings for all details of the invention not explained in more detail in the text. They show: Fig. 1a schematic view of a machine in the tobacco processing industry for the production of multi-segment articles; Fig. 1b schematic view of the Fig. 1a associated process sequence; Fig. 2 schematically shows a view of a transfer module according to a first embodiment; Fig. 3a schematically shows a view of a transfer module according to a further embodiment; Fig. 3b schematically shows process steps for testing pairs with single-length segments along their conveying paths in the transfer module according to Fig. 3a ; Fig. 4 shows a section of a conveyor test section of a transfer module according to a further embodiment with a schematically drawn flow diagram; Fig. 5a shows a schematic section of a transfer module with a further conveyor test section according to a further embodiment; Fig. 5b shows a schematic section of a further exemplary embodiment of a transfer module with a conveyor test section in combination with a feed module of a feed unit; Fig. 6 shows a schematic section of a transfer module with a conveyor test section according to further exemplary embodiments; Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of a further transfer module according to a further embodiment; Fig. 8 shows a schematic view of a further exemplary embodiment of a transfer module in a section; Fig. 9 shows a schematic section of an exemplary embodiment of a further transfer module.

[0043] Within the scope of the invention, features marked with "in particular" or "preferably" are to be understood as optional features.

[0044] In the drawings, identical or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numbers, so that a repeated presentation is omitted.

[0045] Figur 1a shows a schematic view of a (drum) machine 1 of the tobacco processing industry for producing multi-segment articles, which is coupled to a strand machine 9, for example a crimper for producing a strand of aerosol-forming material, in particular of reconstituted tobacco-containing film.

[0046] The article strand produced in the strand machine 9 is wrapped with a wrapping material, for example a wrapping paper, and cut to length by a cutting unit into preferably aerosol-forming, multiple-length article segments 200. The cut-to-length segments 200 are transferred via a transfer drum (see e.g. Fig. 2 , reference numeral 21) to a transfer module 2 of the machine 1, on which the multi-length segments 200 are divided into two single-length segments 201 and the end faces of each (single-length) segment 201 are inspected. The multi-length segments 200 and the single-length segments 201 formed therefrom preferably have, for example, a susceptor 211 which is designed for inductive heating by means of a corresponding heating device.

[0047] The machine 1 further comprises, in the conveying direction of the segments 201, a feed unit 3 with three feed modules 301, 302, 303, the number of which can be expanded as desired, a transport path 101, a first wrapping module 4, a further feed module 5, a second wrapping module 6 and an inspection module 7.

[0048] The feed modules 301, 302, 303 have a supply, preferably designed as a hopper, magazine, or funnel, a removal drum, a cutting drum, a pushing drum, a staggering drum, and a feed drum. The transport path 101 is formed below the feed drums of the feed modules 301, 302, 303. The transport path 101 has conveyor drums 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, which preferably have the same diameter, the same pitch, or particularly preferably are identical. The conveyor drums 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 each have a cylindrical drum body on which receptacles for rod-shaped articles are arranged in the circumferential direction, in particular receiving troughs, for holding and conveying the rod-shaped articles.

[0049] The single-length article segments 201, arranged side by side in two rows, are fed from the transfer module 2 of a transport path 101 to a feed unit 3 with individual feed modules 301, 302, and 303. The first feed module 301 of the feed unit 3 feeds a second rod-shaped segment 202 to the transport path 101, wherein the segment 202 is preferably designed as a double segment. This is inserted centrally between the two first rod-shaped article segments 201, cut centrally, and spaced apart from one another. During the transfer of the rod-shaped segments 202 from the feed drum of the feed module 301 to the conveyor drum 111 of the transport path 101, the conveyor drum 111 combs the rod-shaped segment 202 out of the feed drum receptacle.The rod-shaped segment 202 is conveyed at a web speed on a feed drum and combed out of the receptacle of the feed drum by the receptacle of the conveyor drum 111 at a higher web speed, wherein the rod-shaped segment 202 is conveyed on the conveyor drum 111 at a higher speed.

[0050] The second feed module 302 of the feed unit 3 provides a third rod-shaped segment 203, which is designed, for example, as a cooling segment. This assembly of three segments 201, 202, 203 is referred to as a segment group 206. The assembly of segment groups 206 can preferably include a tumbling step after each insertion of a further segment, which presses the segments of the segment groups together so that the segments of the segment group contact each other at the end faces. The segment 203 is cut in the center and rotated and spaced apart by means of a turning drum or a turning-spreading drum.

[0051] The further feed module 303 provides another segment, a fourth rod-shaped segment 204, and feeds it to the transport path 101 by inserting it centrally between the two segment subgroups of the segment group 206, forming a segment group 207. The segment group 207 is tumbled so that the segments contact each other at the end faces and in order to wrap the segment group 207 with the wrapping material 212 in the first wrapping module 4.

[0052] After the wrapping process, the segment group 209 has a central double segment and three pairs of identical single-length segments on each side. The segment group 209 is then cut in the middle and turned and spaced apart by means of a reorientation unit, in particular a turning drum or a turning-spreading drum. A further feed module 5 provides a fifth rod-shaped segment 205 and places it between the two segment subgroups of the segment group 209, forming the segment group 208. This segment group 208 is also tumbled so that the end faces contact each other and is wrapped in the second wrapping module 6 with a section of web-like material 213. This forms the segment group 210, which is cut in the middle and forms two individual multi-segment articles 200 that are transported side by side in the conveying direction.

[0053] A wrapping module 4 is arranged downstream of the feed modules 301, 302, 303 and the transport section 101 of the feed unit 3. This wrapping module 4 comprises a storage unit for web-shaped material, a cutting device for cutting the web-shaped material with a knife roller and a suction roller arranged opposite. The cut and spaced-apart paper strips are fed to a roller drum, and the segment group 207 is wrapped with the wrapping material 212, forming a segment group 209. This segment group 209 is cut in the middle by a circular knife and turned and spaced apart by a reorientation unit, in particular a turning drum, in order to insert another segment 205, the fifth rod-shaped segment 205. This takes place in the feed module 5.

[0054] Downstream of the feed module 5 is a second wrapping module 6, which can preferably be designed analogously to the wrapping module 4. The wrapping module 6 comprises a storage unit for web-shaped material, which is fed to a roller drum via a cutting unit and a suction roll. A wrapping material 213 is wound around the segment 205 to connect it to the other segments. Downstream of the wrapping module 6 is an inspection module 7, which checks each multi-segment article 220 for its quality characteristics and transfers it to the downstream machine. After wrapping in the wrapping module 6, the segment group 210 represents a double-length multi-segment article, which is cut in the middle and transferred into a single-lane article stream by a turning device.

[0055] Within the scope of the invention, it is provided that the multiple-length segments 200 are transferred from the strand machine 9 to the drum machine 1. In this case, it is possible for the strand machine 9 and the drum machine 1 to be arranged linearly one behind the other, so that when the strand machine 9 and the drum machine 1 are arranged straight ahead, the cut segments 200 in the strand machine 9 are transferred by means of a transfer drum, wherein the transfer drum has a vertically aligned axis of rotation, so that the segments 200 conveyed longitudinally axially in the strand machine 9 are transferred by means of the transfer drum to a transversely axially conveying conveyor drum of the transfer module 2. In this case, the transfer drum is designed, for example, with pivotable receiving troughs. For example, such a transfer drum is described in WO 2022 / 008220 A1. The disclosure of this application is expressly incorporated into the disclosure of the present application.

[0056] In another embodiment, the drum machine 1 and the strand machine 9 are arranged at an angle or in an L-shaped configuration relative to one another. The article segments 200 conveyed longitudinally axially in the strand machine 1 are transferred to the drum arrangement of the drum machine 1 on the output side by means of a transfer device such as a so-called spider, by means of which the transferred article segments 200 are conveyed in the transverse axial direction within the drum machine 1.

[0057] Within the scope of the invention, it is possible for, for example, multiple-length segments 200 to be transferred from the strand machine 9 to the drum machine 1, wherein the multiple-length article segments 200 are subsequently cut into single-length segments 201 within the drum machine 1, and in particular within the transfer module 2, and pairs of two single, single-length segments 201 arranged next to one another in the receiving troughs are transferred to the subsequent units of the drum machine 1 at the output side of the transfer module 2. In this case, during the conveyance of the segments 200 within the transfer module 2, the segments 200 are cut multiple times and, if necessary, conveyed by means of corresponding staggered drums and / or pusher drums.

[0058] Furthermore, it is also possible that, for example, several, in particular two, multiple-length segments 200 are transferred to the transfer module 2, so that the multiple-length segments 200 are subsequently cut into single-length segments 201, wherein a pair of single-length segments 201 are subsequently transferred on the output side of the transfer module 2.

[0059] Furthermore, it is possible within the scope of the invention that single-length segments 201 are already transferred from the strand machine 9, so that during the conveyance of the article segments 201 within the transfer module 2, the article segments 201 are grouped in pairs by pushing processes and, if necessary, staggering processes within the transfer module 2 for further processing on the subsequent units of the drum machine 1.

[0060] It is also provided within the scope of the invention that only single-length article segments 201 are transferred from the strand machine 9 to the transfer module 2 in pairs, so that no cutting of the article segments 201 is required during the transverse axial conveyance of the segments 201 of the transfer module 2.

[0061] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the transfer module 2, it is possible that, if, for example, the multiple-length segments 200 are designed or manufactured with a susceptor 211 designed as a metal belt, an alignment of the article segments provided with a metal belt takes place during the conveyance of the article segments 200 within the transfer module 2. For example, the individual rod-shaped segments 200 are aligned with respect to cutting knives on a cutting drum or rotated within the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum. In this case, it is possible, for example, for each individual segment 200 to be individually aligned within the receiving trough of the conveyor drum. Furthermore, it is also possible for each article segment to be rotated by a predetermined angle within the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum.During the individual rotation of the rod-shaped segments 200 within the receiving troughs, it is also provided that, in one embodiment, the segments are rotated with knowledge of the position of the metal strip within the article segment. Alternatively, before the rotation of the segments 200, the position of the susceptor 211, designed as a metal strip, can be detected with a corresponding sensor, so that the article segment is rotated depending on the detected position of the metal strip.

[0062] A device for handling rod-shaped articles comprising magnetic or magnetizable material, in particular a flat metal strip, by means of which rod-shaped articles are aligned within the receiving troughs of a conveyor drum, is described, for example, in German patent application No. 10 2022 101 392.8. The disclosure of this application is also explicitly incorporated into the disclosure of the present patent application. In one embodiment, the alignment of the rod-shaped articles preferably follows a cutting drum upstream of the conveying direction of the rod-shaped segments 200 within the transfer module 2.

[0063] In Fig. 2 an embodiment of a transfer module 2 according to a first embodiment is shown in a view.

[0064] The transfer module 2 has a transfer drum 21 on the input side at the output side of the strand machine 9, by means of which the multi-length article segments 200 are taken over from the strand machine 9 and subsequently transferred to a conveyor drum 22. By means of the transfer drum 21, the multi-length segments 200 conveyed longitudinally axially in the strand machine 9 are transferred to the conveyor drum 22, on which the multi-length article segments 200 are conveyed transversely axially.

[0065] For transfer, the transfer drum 21 is designed with rotatable receiving troughs (not shown). After receiving the transferred article segments 200, the multiple-length article segments 200 are conveyed transversely within the transfer module 2. From the conveyor drum 22, the article segments 200 are transferred via further conveyor drums 23, 24 to a cutting drum 25 in the conveying direction.

[0066] In one embodiment, the conveyor drum 22 is designed as an accelerator drum. Furthermore, the conveyor drum 23 is designed, for example, as a tumbling drum, and the subsequent conveyor drum 24 is designed, for example, as an orientation drum or alignment drum.

[0067] During the conveyance of the rod-shaped article segments 200, the article segments 200 are cut into single-length article segments 201 by means of one or more cutting knives or cutting devices on the cutting drum 25. The cut article segments 201 are then transferred from the cutting drum 25 to another conveyor drum 26. From the conveyor drum 26, the single-length article segments 201 are subsequently transferred to a staggered feed drum 27, on which two staggered shifting drums 28, 29 are arranged. Article segments are removed from the staggered feed drum 27 by the staggered shifting drums 28, 29 and transferred back to the staggered feed drums 27, wherein in the conveying section downstream of the second staggered shifting drum 29, the pairs of article segments 201 are arranged one behind the other in a transverse-axial manner in the receiving troughs of the staggered shifting drum 29.The conveyance of the paired single-length article segments by means of the staggered feed drum 27 and the staggered push drums 28, 29 and the arrangement of pairs of article segments on the staggered feed drum 27 before their transfer to a subsequent conveyor drum are shown, for example, in EP 3 685 684 A1, the disclosure of which document is expressly incorporated in this application in its entirety.

[0068] From the relay feed drum 27, the article segments 201 of a pair of article segments 201 arranged in pairs are each transferred to a subsequent test drum 30 or 31 in a conveyor test section P of the transfer module 2, wherein head end test devices 40, 41 for a series of article segments 201 are provided on the test drums 30, 31, by means of which the two front sides or head ends of the article segments 201 are each tested.

[0069] The head-end inspection devices 40, 41 are used, for example, to monitor the position of the strip-like metal segments within the article segments 201 and / or the cutting quality of the end faces of the article segments. The article segments 201 of a row, which are conveyed on the inspection drum 30 and inspected on their end faces, are then transferred from the inspection drum 30 to a subsequent conveyor drum 32. After the article segments 201 are transferred to the inspection drum 31, the pairs of article segments 201 are brought together.

[0070] Before being transferred to the testing drum 30, 31, pairs of article segments are arranged in the receiving troughs of the relay feed drum 27, with the article segments 201 having mutually facing end faces. One row of article segments 201 is transferred to the first testing drum 31, while the second row of article segments 201 is transferred to the second testing drum 30. After the second row of article segments 201 has been tested on the testing drum 30, they are transferred to the testing drum 31 via a conveyor drum 32, so that pairs of article segments 201 are formed on the testing drum 31, which are transferred to a transfer drum 33. From the output-side transfer drum 33, the pairs of article segments are subsequently transferred to the feed unit 3.

[0071] According to the invention, in the conveyor inspection section P, the end faces of the article segments 201 of the two rows are monitored independently of one another by means of the head-end inspection devices 40, 41. The article segments 201 are conveyed from a pair of article segments along different paths to one of the inspection drums 30, 31 in order to inspect the individual article segments 201. Subsequently, the individual article segments 201 are reassembled into a pair of article segments in the receiving troughs on the further conveyor path on the inspection drum 31 and transferred to the other units of the drum machine 1.

[0072] In Fig. 3a A further embodiment of a transfer module 2 is shown. In this case, compared to the Fig. 2 In the transfer module 2 shown, a conveyor drum 35 is arranged in the conveying direction after the relay feed drum 27, at which the pairs of article segments 201 arranged one behind the other in the transverse axial direction are transferred from the relay feed drum 27 to the conveyor drum 35. Here, the conveyor drum 35 is arranged in a conveyor test section P. In Fig. 3b A process sequence for conveying the article segments 201 on the conveyor drum 35 is schematically shown in a top view and a side view. Three head-end inspection devices 51, 52, 53 for inspecting the head ends of the article segments 201 are arranged on the conveyor drum 35, which is designed as a inspection drum.

[0073] The conveyor drum 35 has, in particular cam-controlled, movable arms for the article segments 201, so that the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 35 execute a stroke path in the radial direction between the reception of the article segments 201 from the relay feed drum 27 and the delivery to the transfer drum 33.

[0074] In the embodiment in Fig. 3a or 3b, the article segments 201 provided with a hatching are moved back and forth on the conveyor drum 35 in a radial direction relative to the other (non-hatched) article segments 201 during their transverse axial conveyance. As a result, the hatched article segments 201 are moved relative to the article segments of the respective article segment pair. Because the hatched (front) article segment 201 is first moved from right to left during conveyance (cf. Fig. 3b ) is first moved inwards towards the axis of rotation of the conveyor drum 35, the (rear) non-hatched article segment 201 becomes accessible on the inside end face for the head end inspection device 51, so that the inside end face of the corresponding article segment is inspected by means of the head end inspection device 51.

[0075] Subsequently, the hatched article segment 201 is moved radially outward, so that the article segment pairs with one (hatched) article segment and one (unhatched) article segment are inspected at the outer head ends or end faces by the head-end inspection device 52. The (hatched) article segment is then moved radially further outward, making the inner end face of the (hatched) article segment 201 accessible to the head-end inspection device 53, and the end face is thereby inspected. The (hatched) article segment 201 is then moved back to the radial center of the conveyor drum 35, so that the article segment pairs are aligned collinearly with their longitudinal axes before transfer, in order to be transferred to the subsequent transfer drum 33.

[0076] The movement of the article segments 201 on the conveyor drum 35 takes place, for example, by means of a corresponding cam gear or a corresponding cam control with movable receiving troughs.

[0077] In Fig. 4 Furthermore, an exemplary embodiment of a conveyor test section of a transfer module 2 is shown. The upper area schematically shows the process sequence in the conveyor test section P, while the lower area shows a view of a drum arrangement of the conveyor test section P.

[0078] In the conveyor inspection section P shown, article segments 201 are transferred in pairs from a conveyor drum 61 to a subsequent conveyor drum 62. A staggering drum 72 is arranged on the conveyor drum 62, by means of which the article segments 201 are transferred back to the conveyor drum 62 in a staggered manner. The article segments 201 arranged in a staggered manner on the conveyor drum 62 are then transferred to an inspection drum 63, on which head-end inspection devices 55, 56, 57, 58 are arranged to individually inspect one end face of the staggered article segments 201. Because the article segments 201 are arranged in a transverse axial and longitudinal axial direction and staggered in the successively arranged receiving troughs of the inspection drum 63, the hatched article segments, for example, are inspected on their end faces by means of the head-end inspection device 56, 58.The non-hatched article segments 201 are monitored or inspected by means of the head-end inspection devices 55, 57.

[0079] After the inspection, the inspected, staggered article segments 201 are transferred to a conveyor drum 64 on which a staggering drum 74 is arranged, so that the article segments 201 transferred to the staggering drum 74 are staggered and a re-staggering is carried out, whereby the re-staggered article segments 201 are subsequently conveyed further in pairs on the conveyor drum 64.

[0080] In a further embodiment (not shown here), it is conceivable within the scope of the invention that a conveyor inspection section P of the transfer module 2 also has a turning spreading drum in order to space the mutually facing end faces of a pair of article segments 201 by a turning spreading process and at the same time to make them accessible for a head end inspection device.

[0081] A further embodiment of a conveyor test section P of a transfer module 2 is shown in Fig. 5a shown schematically. The conveyor test section P has a conveyor drum 65 which has receiving troughs in the circumferential direction. The conveyor drum 65 receives pairs of article segments 201 from an upstream conveyor drum, wherein the transverse axial distance between the received pairs of article segments 201 is twice as large as the transverse axial distance between the receiving troughs, so that when the received pairs of article segments 201 are received, every second article trough of the conveyor drum 65 is occupied by a pair of article segments 201. The pairs of article segments 201 are then transferred to a downstream conveyor drum 66, which is preferably designed as a path difference drum.

[0082] The conveyor drum 66 preferably has two offset drum rings or the like with receiving troughs, wherein a drum ring is provided for each article segment of an article segment pair in order to convey the article segments 201 of a pair along different conveying paths during the rotation of the conveyor drum 66. The drum bodies of the conveyor drum 66 have the same transverse axial distance between the receiving troughs as the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 66.

[0083] When the respective article segments 201 of an article segment pair are picked up on the conveyor drum 66, the picked-up article segments 201 are conveyed into the receiving troughs of the drum rings of the conveyor drum 66 at a transverse axial distance corresponding to twice the transverse axial distance of the receiving troughs of the drum rings. The drum bodies have offset axial grooves, so that the article segments 201 of the respective article segment pairs move on different pitch circles.Due to the offset and different pitch circles for the article segments 201, the mutually facing inner sides of the end faces of the article segments 201 of a pair of article segments are spaced apart from one another, so that an inner side of an article segment 201 is inspected by means of the head-end inspection device 51 arranged on the conveyor drum 66, and subsequently the outer sides of the two article segments 201 are monitored by the head-end inspection device 52 arranged on the conveyor drum 66. Subsequently, the not-yet-inspected end face of an article segment 201 is inspected by means of the head-end inspection device 53 arranged on the conveyor drum 66. The reunited (collinearly aligned) article segments 201 of a pair of article segments are then returned to the conveyor drum 65.

[0084] In an alternative, it is conceivable that the conveyor drum 66 is also designed with pivotable arms for the article segments 201 of an article segment pair, whereby during the conveyance of the article segments the arms are pivoted against each other, for example by means of a cam gear or the like, whereby the inner end faces of an article segment pair are accessible for a head end inspection device.

[0085] In one embodiment, one of the conveyor drums 65, 66 has an odd number of troughs, while the other conveyor drum has an even number of receiving troughs.

[0086] In Fig. 5b A further exemplary embodiment of a transfer module 2 is shown, wherein multiple-length article segments 200 are removed from a magazine 131 by means of a removal drum 130, and the article segments 200 provided with a metal strip are conveyed past by means of an alignment device 132 arranged on the removal drum 130, in particular a magnetic alignment device, whereby the metal strips of the article segments 200 are aligned. The article segments 200 are then conveyed to the cutting drum 25. The multiple-cut article segments 200 are then transferred as single-length article segments 201 to a first staggering drum 126 and subsequently to a second staggering drum 127 and are arranged in a staggered manner by means of the staggering drums 126, 127 such that pairs of article segments 201 are arranged one behind the other in the transverse axial direction.Subsequently, the article segment pairs arranged in two rows one behind the other on a subsequent conveyor drum 128 are transferred to the conveyor drum 65. From the conveyor drum 65, the article segment pairs are transferred to the conveyor drum 66, on which the head-end inspection devices 51, 52, 53 are arranged to inspect the end faces of the individual article segments 201.

[0087] The inspected article segments 201 of the two rows of article segment pairs are then transferred back from the conveyor drum 66 to the conveyor drum 65 and subsequently conveyed to the feed unit 3.

[0088] In Fig. 6 1 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a conveyor inspection section P for article segments 201 on a transfer module 2. The conveyor inspection section P has a conveyor drum 68 on which two inspection drums 69, 70, each with head-end inspection devices 40, 41 arranged thereon, are arranged. By means of the inspection drum 69, one article segment 201 of an article segment pair is taken over from the conveyor drum 68, while the article segment 201 of the article segment pair remaining on the conveyor drum 68 is conveyed to the inspection drum 70 and transferred thereto. The article segment 201 of an article segment pair picked up and conveyed by the inspection drum 69 is inspected on both ends by means of the head-end inspection device 40 and then transferred back to the conveyor drum 68.The article segments 201 conveyed by the inspection drum 70 are also inspected on their end faces by means of the head-end inspection device 41 arranged on the inspection drum 70 and are then returned to the conveyor drum 68, so that the article segments 201 are subsequently conveyed further in pairs on the conveyor drum 68.

[0089] In Fig. 7 a further embodiment of the transfer module 2 is shown in a detail. Here, a void filling device 150 is provided between the conveyor drum 23 and the cutting drum 25 and the conveyor drum 24, wherein the void filling device 150 is designed such that when empty receiving troughs are detected on the conveyor drum 24, the receiving troughs are filled with rod-shaped article segments. The void filling device 150 has individual shafts 151 for the article segments, at the end of each of which a drum 152 is arranged. The drum 152 cooperates with a rotating arm 153, which removes a corresponding article segment from the drum 152 and, by rotating it, places it into an (empty) receiving trough of the conveyor drum 24. When the corresponding drum 152 rotates, the rod-shaped article segments slide onto the next corresponding free trough of the drum 152.As a result, a corresponding rod-shaped article segment is gently placed into an empty trough of the conveyor drum 24.

[0090] In the embodiment in Fig. 7 The shafts 151 are fed from a magazine 154. Alternatively, the shafts 151 can also be filled by means of a tray or a mass flow.

[0091] In Fig. 8 is a further embodiment of a void filling device 150. In this embodiment, for example, the magazine 154 of the void filling device 150 is filled before the drum machine 1 is put into operation (cf. Fig. 1a ) is filled, for example, by first removing the rod-shaped article segments by means of the conveyor drums 155, 156 after the article segments 200 have been transferred to the conveyor drum 22 before production operation and feeding them to the magazine 154 via a mass flow conveyor in order to fill it.

[0092] During production, the article bars produced by the strand machine 9 are then conveyed in a known manner by means of the transfer drum 21 and then via the conveyor drum 22, 23, 24 to the cutting drum 25.

[0093] In Fig. 9 A further embodiment of the transfer module 2 is shown, wherein multi-length article segments 200 are removed from the magazine 131 by means of the removal drum 130, which are aligned by means of the alignment device 132 with respect to the position of a susceptor 211 designed as a metal strip. The multi-length article segments 200 are then cut into single-length article segments 201 on the cutting drum 25. The single-length article segments are then staggered on the subsequent staggering drums 126, 127 and arranged in pairs transversely axially one after the other in a row. The article segments arranged in pairs are subsequently transferred to the conveyor drum 128, and a conveyor drum 129 is subsequently provided to transfer the pairs of article segments 201 to the conveyor drum 140.From the conveyor drum 140, individual article segments 201 of a row are transferred to the conveyor drum 141, while the article segments 201 remaining on the conveyor drum 140 are conveyed further and inspected from both sides by the head-end inspection device 41. The article segments 201 conveyed further by the conveyor drum 141 are transferred from the conveyor drum 141 to a subsequent conveyor drum 142, so that the head-end inspection device 40 arranged on the conveyor drum 142 inspects the two end faces of the article segments on the conveyor drum 142, which is designed as a inspection drum. The individual article segments 201 are then transferred from the conveyor drum 142 to the transfer drum 33, so that the two article segments 201 of the article segment pairs are reunited on the transfer drum 33. Bezugszeichenliste

[0094] 1Machine 2Transfer module 3Feed unit 4Wrapping module 5Feed module 6Wrapping module 7Inspection module 9Strand machine 21Transfer drum 22Conveyor drum 23Conveyor drum 24Conveyor drum 25Cutting drum 26Conveyor drum 27Staggered feed drum 28, 29Staggered push drum 30Test drum 31Test drum 32Conveyor drum 33Transfer drum 35Conveyor drum 40, 41Head-end test device 51, 52, 53Head-end test device 55, 56, 57,58Head-end testing device 61Conveyor drum 62Conveyor drum 63Test drum 64Conveyor drum 65Conveyor drum 66Conveyor drum 68Conveyor drum 69Test drum 70Test drum 72Staggering drum 74Staggering drum 101Transport section 110Conveyor drum 111Conveyor drum 112Conveyor drum 113Conveyor drum 114Conveyor drum 115Conveyor drum 126Staggering drum 127Staggering drum 128Conveyor drum 129Conveyor drum 130Removal drum 131Magazine 132Alignment device 140Conveyor drum 141Conveyor drum 142Conveyor drum 150Approach filling device 151Shaft 152Drum 153Sleeves 154Magazine 155Conveyor drum 156Conveyor drum 200Article segment 201Article segment 202Segment 203Segment 204Segment 205Segment 206Segment group 207Segment group 208Segment group 209Segment group 210Segment group 211Susceptor 212Wrapping material 213Wrapping material 220Multi-segment article 301Feed module 302Feed module 303Feed module , P funding test section

Claims

1. An arrangement (2) for transversely axially conveying of rod-shaped articles (200, 201) of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, wherein the arrangement (2) is configured to convey article segments (201) of a first row and a second row disposed side by side in pairs in transverse axial direction, wherein in a conveying inspection section (P) the arrangement (2) comprises at least one conveying member or a plurality of conveying members (30, 31, 32, 35, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 74, 140, 141, 142) for a first row of article segments (201) transversely axially disposed behind each other and for a second row of article segments (201) transversely axially disposed behind each other, wherein in the conveying inspection section (P) the conveying member (30, 31, 32, 35, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 74, 140, 141, 142) is or the conveying members (30, 31, 32, 35, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 74, 140, 141, 142) are configured that the article segments (201) of the first row are conveyed or conveyable along a conveying inspection section for the article segments of the first row, and wherein in the conveying inspection section (P) the conveying member (30, 31, 32, 35, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 74, 140, 141, 142) is or the conveying members (30, 31, 32, 35, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 74, 140, 141, 142) are configured that the article segments (201) of the second row are conveyed or conveyable along a conveyor path for the article segments (201) of the second row, wherein in each case one, in particular optical, head end inspection device (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) or two, in particular optical, head end inspection devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) are provided for the two head ends of the article segments (201) of the first row along the conveyor path for the article segments (201) of the first row and wherein in each case one, in particular optical, head end inspection device (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) or two, in particular optical, head end inspection devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) are provided for the two head ends of the article segments (201) of the second row along the conveyor path for the article segments (201) of the second row, characterized in that a conveying member (33, 65), in particular a conveyor drum, is provided in the transverse axial conveying direction of the article segments (201) after the conveying inspection section (P) and / or after the head end inspection device or devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the article segments (201) of the first row and after the head end inspection device or devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the article segments (201) of the second row, wherein the conveying member (33, 65) is configured to convey pairs of article segments (201) assembled in each case of one article segment of the first row and in each case of one article segment of the second row.

2. The arrangement (2) according to Claim 1, characterized in that, there is provided at least an upstream conveying member, in particular a conveyor drum, ahead of the start of the conveyor path for the article segments (201) of the first row for an inspection of the head ends and ahead of the start of the conveyor path for the article segments (201) of the second row for an inspection of the head ends, in particular with respect to the conveying direction of the article segments (201) ahead of the conveying inspection section (P), the at least one conveying member being configured, to convey transversely axially pairs of article segments (201) disposed side by side assembled of an article segment of the first row, respectively, and of an article segment of the second row, respectively.

3. The arrangement (2) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the conveying inspection section (P), the article segments (201) of the first row are conveyed or conveyable on a first conveying member, in particular a conveyor drum, one or two, in particular optical, head end inspection devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the head ends of the article segments (201) of the first row being disposed on the first conveying member, and, in the conveying inspection section (P), the article segments (201) of the second row are conveyed or conveyable on a further conveying member, in particular a conveyor drum, one or two, in particular optical, head end inspection devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the head ends of the article segments (201) of the second row being disposed on the further conveying member.

4. The arrangement (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one common conveying member, in particular a conveyor drum, is provided in the conveying inspection section (P) for the article segments (201) of the first row and for the article segments (201) of the second row, wherein the common conveying member is configured such, that, after receiving pairs of article segments (201), assembled respectively of an article segment (201) of the first row and of an article segment (201) of the second row, the article segments (201) of the first row are moved or movable to each other relative to the article segments (201) of the second row, preferably by maintaining the transverse axial conveying direction, and wherein one or two head end inspection devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the article segments (201) of a row are provided on the common conveying member or wherein in each case one or two head end inspection devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the article segments (201) of the first row and in each case two head end inspection devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the article segments (201) of the second row are provided on the common conveying member.

5. The arrangement according to Claim 4, characterized in that the common conveying member is designed as conveyor drum and the conveyor drum is configured to move the article segments (201) of the first row in the radial direction and / or in the circumferential direction of the conveyor drum relative to the article segments (201) of the second row.

6. The arrangement (2) according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the common conveying member is designed as conveyor drum with movable or moving, in particular pivotable, tiny arms for the article segments (201).

7. The arrangement (2) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the conveyor drum for the article segments (201) is designed such that during the conveying of the article segments (201) by means of the conveyor drum, the article segments (201) of the first row and the article segments (201) of the second row of the transferred pairs of the article segments (201) are spaced apart from each other, preferably in the transverse axial direction.

8. The arrangement (2) according to one of Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the common conveying member is designed as conveyor drum with rotatable receptacles for the article segments (201), wherein in particular the rotatable receptacles are rotatable about the rotational axes oriented radially to the rotational axis of the conveyor drum.

9. The arrangement (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a first staggered drum for the article segments (201) of the first row and for the article segments (210) of the second row and a second staggered drum for the article segments (201) disposed in a staggered manner are provided in the conveying inspection section (P) relative to the transverse axial conveying direction of the article segments (201), wherein at least one conveyor drum with at least one or at least two head end inspection devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the article segments (201) of a row are provided between the first staggered drum and the second staggered drum, or wherein a conveyor drum is provided with one or two head end inspection devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the article segments (201) of the first row and with one or two head end inspection devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) for the article segments (201) of the second row.

10. The arrangement (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in the conveying inspection section (P), is provided a common conveyor drum for pairs of article segments (201), each assembled of an article segment of the first row and an article segment of the second row, wherein, at first, pairs of article segments (201) are conveyed or conveyable on the common conveyor drum, wherein a first conveyor drum for the article segments (201) of the first row and a second conveyor drum for the article segments (201) of the second row are disposed on the common conveyor drum, wherein article segments (201) of the first row are transferred or transferable from the common conveyor drum to the first conveyor drum, and the head ends of the article segments (201) of the first row conveyed by the first conveyor drum are inspected or inspectable by means of one or two head end inspection devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) disposed on the first conveyor drum, and after the inspection of the head ends of the article segments (201) of the first row, the article segments (201) of the first row are transferred or transferable to the common conveyor drum, and wherein, after this, article segments (201) of the second row are transferred or transferable from the common conveyor drum to the second conveyor drum, and the head ends of the article segments (201) of the second row conveyed by the second conveyor drum are inspected or inspectable by means of one or two head end inspection devices (40, 41, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58) disposed on the first conveyor drum, and after the inspect of the head ends of the article segments (201) of the second row, the article segments (201) of the second row are transferred or transferable to the common conveyor drum.

11. The arrangement (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the arrangement (2) is designed as transfer module between a rod machine for manufacturing rod-shaped article segments and a multi-segment article manufacturing machine for manufacturing rod-shaped multi-segment articles of the tobacco-processing industry.

12. A method for transversely axially conveying of rod-shaped articles (200, 201) of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, using an arrangement (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 11.

13. The method for transversely axially conveying of rod-shaped articles (200, 201) of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles comprising the following steps: a) providing article segments disposed side by side in pairs forming a first row and a second row of article segments (201), wherein the article segments (201) comprise a magnetic or magnetizable or inductively heatable material, designed to heat the article segments, wherein in particular the article segments comprise a single usable length, b) transversely axially conveying of article segments (201) disposed side by side in pairs, forming a first row and a second row of article segments (201); c) conveying the article segments (201) of the first row along a first conveyor path for the article segments of the first row and conveying the article segments of the second row along a second conveyor path for the article segments (201) of the second row, wherein the article segments of the first row and the second row are spaced apart at least in sections, d) inspecting the two head ends of the article segments (201) of the first row on the first conveyor path, in particular simultaneously or consecutively, and inspecting the two head ends of the article segments (201) of the second row on the second conveyor path, in particular simultaneously or consecutively, in a conveying inspection section (P) e) merging pairs of article segments (201) longitudinally axially adjacent disposed contiguously on the front side, assembled of one article segment (201) of the first row and one article segment (201) of the second row respectively, after inspecting one and / or both head ends of the article segments (201) of the first row and after inspecting one and / or both head ends of the article segments (201) of the second row.