Feeding module for feeding segments, apparatus for manufacturing multi-segment articles and method of feeding the segments for the manufacturing of multi-segment articles

Abstract

A feeding module (20, 70) for feeding segments for the manufacture of multi-segment articles adapted to cut a rod (MA, ME) into segments (A, E) and to feed the segments (A, E), comprising a hopper (21, 71) for storing the rods (MA, ME), a receiving drum (22, 72) for receiving the rods (MA, ME) from the hopper (21, 71), a cutting head (24, 74) for cutting the rod (MA, ME) into individual segments (A, E), a shifting drum (25, 75) for varying the mutual position of the segments (A), an aligning drum (26, 76) for forming at least one stream of the segments (A, E), characterised in that the feeding module (20, 70) is provided with feeding channels (110, 116) extending from the hopper (21, 71) to the receiving drum (22, 72), and a filling sensor (115) generating an empty flute (28) signal when the flute (28) of the receiving drum (22, 72) remains empty in the measuring area of the filling sensor (115), furthermore, the feeding module (20, 70) is adapted to feed the rod (MA, ME) into the empty flute (28) of the receiving drum (22, 72) by means of a feeding apparatus (118) situated downstream of the filling sensor (115) in response to a signal of an empty flute (28) of the receiving drum (22, 72).