Production of rod-shaped articles from the tobacco processing industry

Abstract

The invention relates, among other things, to a method for manufacturing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco processing industry, comprising several rod-shaped article segments arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped articles, wherein article groups are assembled with at least two, three, or four rod-shaped article segments each, wherein at least one article segment or several article segments of the article groups are encased by a covering strip, wherein the article groups are conveyed one behind the other in a transverse axial direction, wherein, after the assembly of the respective rod-shaped article group in the conveying direction of the transversely axially conveyed article groups at a conveying element (72), the article groups are each individually tested by means of a pneumatic testing device (80), wherein, by means of the pneumatic testing device (80), an actual tensile resistance of the respective article groups is determined.and subsequently, in the conveying direction of the transversely conveyed article groups, on a further conveying element (76, 77) in a configuration of the wrapping strips of the or an article segment or the article segments of the individual article groups, by means of a perforation device (86, 87) depending on the determined actual tensile resistance of the respective individual article groups, is provided with an individual perforation pattern in the area of ​​the article segment or in the area of ​​an article segment.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, with a plurality of rod-shaped article segments arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped articles.

[0002] The invention further relates to a device for producing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments, segmented articles, or multi-segmented articles. Furthermore, the invention relates to an arrangement of a group of several rod-shaped multi-segmented articles for the tobacco processing industry in a package, in particular a box.

[0003] 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.

[0004] In machines in the tobacco processing industry, especially filter attachment machines or machines for the production of alternative smoking products such as heat-not-burn products or e-cigarettes, conveyor drums are used to transport cigarettes, filter pieces or their components.

[0005] The conveying of the aforementioned rod-shaped objects during the production of cigarettes, filters and filter cigarettes or so-called heat-not-burn products or e-cigarettes is generally carried out in modern production machines in the tobacco processing industry by means of conveyor drums, the outer surface or drum body of which is provided with grooves or receiving troughs for receiving the rod-shaped objects for the transverse-axial conveying of rod-shaped objects (cigarettes, filter rods or filter plugs, filter cigarettes).

[0006] 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.

[0007] EP 1 691 633 B1, for example, discloses a drum machine in 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.

[0008] Furthermore, it is known that during the manufacture of cigarettes, particularly filter cigarettes, secondary air channels in the form of holes or perforations are introduced into the filter area, through which secondary air is introduced into the smoke when the cigarette is drawn on. The aim is to supply a relatively large secondary air flow, which should be in a predetermined, as constant as possible, ratio to the total flow leaving the cigarettes. This ratio is referred to as the overall ventilation rate. It is already known to provide cigarettes with holes, i.e., to perforate them, e.g., by rolling them along a roller surface covered with needles.

[0009] To keep a brand's cigarettes as consistent as possible in terms of condensate, nicotine, and carbon monoxide (CO) in the smoke, as well as in terms of the smoker's perceived smoking behavior (flavor per puff, number of puffs, and resistance), the partial ventilation levels that make up the overall ventilation level must be as constant as possible. This overall ventilation level consists of the filter ventilation level and the tobacco rod ventilation level.

[0010] During the assembly of cigarettes on a filter-fitting machine, a perforation consisting of holes is introduced into the wrapping material or the wrapping strips of the rod-shaped articles using a perforation device. In particular, a uniform perforation is introduced into the wrapping strips of the filter cigarettes, whereby the wrapping strips exhibit a predetermined, desired air permeability during smoking. So that, due to the perforation pattern introduced into the wrapping strips, secondary air is drawn in, which influences the proportions of nicotine and condensate in the smoke. In particular, the perforation is introduced into the wrapping strips using laser beams as coherent radiation, resulting in a very precise, constant zone of desired air permeability in the wrapping of the smoking article.

[0011] By creating perforations in the wrapping material of the rod-shaped products, the wrapper is provided with a zone of predetermined air permeability to mix a specific amount of fresh air into the smoke with each puff of a cigarette. The wrapping material or wrapping strips of these products are usually made of paper, with the wrapping material or wrapping strips being perforated at predetermined intervals to create the desired air permeability. For filter cigarettes, it is common practice to create the perforations in the tipping paper or wrapping strip at the mouthpiece-side filter end.

[0012] By providing smoking articles with a zone of desired air permeability in the area of ​​the mouthpiece end, a so-called ventilation zone, the articles are provided with a predetermined (total) degree of ventilation in order to be able to comply with specified values ​​for nicotine and condensate in the smoke of a smoking article or a filter cigarette with such a zone of desired air permeability.

[0013] One object of the invention is to provide perforated multi-segment articles, in particular heat-not-burn products, with a predetermined degree of ventilation during the production of multi-segment articles on a multi-segment article production machine in the tobacco processing industry, wherein the effort for this should be kept as low as possible.

[0014] This object is achieved by a method for producing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, with a plurality of rod-shaped article segments arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped articles, wherein article groups are or are assembled with at least two or three or four or more than four rod-shaped article segments, wherein the rod-shaped article segments are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the article groups and wherein at least one article segment or several, in particular all, article segments of the article groups are wrapped by a wrapping strip, wherein the article groups are conveyed one behind the other, preferably exclusively, in the transverse axial direction,wherein after the assembly of the respective rod-shaped article group in the conveying direction of the cross-axially conveyed article groups on a conveying element, in particular a conveying drum, the article groups are each tested individually by means of a pneumatic testing device, wherein an actual tensile resistance, in particular an individual one, of the respective article groups is determined by means of the pneumatic testing device, and subsequently in the conveying direction of the cross-axially conveyed article groups on a further conveying element, in particular a conveying drum, (i) the wrapping strip of the or an article segment or the article segments of the individual article groups is provided with an individual perforation pattern, in particular a perforation correction pattern, in the area of ​​the article segment or in the area of ​​one, in particular exclusively one, article segment by means of a perforation device, in particular a laser device, depending on the determined, in particular individual, actual tensile resistance of the respective individual article groups, or (ii) a wrapping strip of an article segment added to the respective article group, preferably in the area of ​​the added article segment, is provided with an individual perforation pattern, in particular a perforation correction pattern, by means of a perforation device, in particular a laser device, depending on the determined, in particular individual, actual tensile resistance of the respective individual article groups.

[0015] The invention is based on the idea that, in the production of rod-shaped articles, such as multi-segment articles or heat-not-burn products, the finished or ready-to-use rod-shaped articles are provided with a constant degree of ventilation throughout the production period or the entire production batch. For this purpose, the rod-shaped articles are conveyed, for example, on a multi-segment article manufacturing machine in a transverse axial direction, whereby it is possible that, after assembling rod-shaped article groups (as rod-shaped intermediate products), the respective, in particular individual,To determine the actual tensile resistance and then, after further conveying in the transverse axial direction on the multi-segment article manufacturing machine, the pneumatically tested article groups are supplemented by at least one further article segment by a corresponding provision module for the further article segment to form a further, in particular longer, article group (as further rod-shaped intermediate products or as rod-shaped end products), then each is wrapped by means of a wrapping strip and, in a further step, is provided with a perforation pattern, in particular a perforation correction pattern, for a constant degree of ventilation of the article group by means of a perforation device depending on the determined, in particular individual, actual tensile resistance of the article groups.

[0016] The method according to the invention ensures that rod-shaped multi-segment articles, in which the air flow resistances vary greatly between the respective article segments, are provided with a constant ventilation level (for all manufactured multi-segment articles). Due to the non-constant air flow resistances between the article segments, the respective actual tensile resistance of the article group with the article segments is determined in order to subsequently form the rod-shaped manufactured multi-segment articles with a constant ventilation level using the perforation device.

[0017] In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the multi-segment articles, such as heat-not-burn products, are assembled with several article segments with a fixed final length and are wrapped by a wrapping strip, wherein the finished multi-segment articles are tested for consumption or use by means of the pneumatic testing device with regard to the respective, in particular individual, actual tensile resistance and in a subsequent step the multi-segment articles are provided with the respective individual perforation pattern, in particular perforation correction pattern, by means of the perforation device, so that the finished multi-segment articles have the same or almost the same and constant (total) ventilation degree.

[0018] A further advantage of the method is that for each multi-segment article, the respective perforation pattern is determined depending on the determined actual tensile resistance of the respective multi-segment article in order to provide each multi-segment article with the predetermined, in particular constant or almost constant, degree of ventilation.

[0019] The actual tensile resistance of the respective article groups is determined, for example, on a test drum on which the pneumatic testing device (for a row of article groups arranged one behind the other in a cross-axial direction and conveyed) or the pneumatic testing devices (for two or more rows of article groups arranged one behind the other in a cross-axial direction and conveyed) are arranged.

[0020] The method provides that the conveyed article groups are pneumatically checked by means of a product tracking system, in particular a software-based one, during their transverse axial conveyance along the multi-segment article manufacturing machine and are provided with an individual perforation pattern, in particular a perforation correction pattern.

[0021] Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, it is provided that, when conveying two (or more) adjacent rows of coaxially arranged and conveyed article groups, the respective actual tensile resistances of the individual article groups of the two rows are determined independently of one another for each row of the article groups. Furthermore, in a further development, the downstream perforation devices for the rows are operated independently of one another. In particular, the perforation devices are designed as laser devices, i.e., for example, with one laser radiation source for each row of the article groups.

[0022] Furthermore, one embodiment of the method is characterized in that the assembled article groups, prior to being conveyed to the pneumatic inspection device, each have at least one or exclusively one article segment for one or the intended perforation pattern. This makes it possible for pre-perforated article groups to be conveyed to the pneumatic inspection device. Within the scope of the invention, it is possible, for example, for the article segments conveyed by the article group's provision module to be pre-perforated by a provision module for one type of article segment.

[0023] Furthermore, in a further development of the method, it is preferred that during or during the assembly of the article groups in the transverse axial conveying direction of the article segments of the article groups to be assembled or assembled, no perforation of the article segments of the respective article groups and / or no perforation of the wrapping strip of the respective article groups is carried out before conveying to the pneumatic testing device. After the assembly of the article groups, possibly wrapping by means of a wrapping strip upstream of the pneumatic testing device(s), no perforation of the respective article groups takes place.

[0024] Furthermore, an embodiment of the method is characterized in that in the conveying direction of the article groups downstream of the pneumatic testing device for the article groups and upstream of the perforation device at least one further article segment, which is preferably not to be provided with the perforation pattern or is to be provided with the perforation pattern, is added to the article groups in each case and / or in the conveying direction of the article groups downstream of the perforation device at least one further article segment, which is preferably not to be provided with a perforation pattern, is added to the article groups in each case.In this case, it is provided within the scope of the invention that after the individual perforation of the respective article groups (as intermediate products), further article segments are added to the respective perforated article groups, for example by one or more provision modules for the further article segments, in order to then produce the ready-to-use multi-segment articles, such as heat-not-burn products, in the further production steps, for example on a multi-segment article production machine.

[0025] According to a further aspect of the method, it is provided that in the conveying direction of the article groups, downstream of the pneumatic testing device for the article groups and upstream of the perforation device, at least one further article segment is added to each of the article groups and, after the addition of the further article segment to the respective article groups, the added further article segment is provided with the perforation pattern, in particular perforation correction pattern, by means of the perforation device.

[0026] In one embodiment of the method, it is advantageous that upstream of the perforation device, the added further article segment of the article groups is wrapped by a wrapping strip, wherein in particular the wrapping strip of the further article segment of the article groups is provided with the perforation pattern, in particular perforation correction pattern, by means of the perforation device.

[0027] Furthermore, in a further development, the method is characterized in that, in the conveying direction of the article groups downstream of the perforation device, the article groups provided with a perforation pattern formed by the perforation device have an almost constant or almost identical tensile resistance.

[0028] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, it is further provided that for the compilation of the article groups, the article segments in the conveying direction of the article segments upstream of the pneumatic testing device and / or upstream of the perforation device are not or will not be provided with a perforation pattern, or that for the compilation of the article groups in the conveying direction of the article segments upstream of the pneumatic testing device and / or upstream of the perforation device, at least one article segment for the article group is provided with a perforation pattern.

[0029] In the method, it is particularly preferred that the determined actual tensile resistances of the respective article groups are transmitted to a control device, in particular a preferably central machine control unit, and after the actual tensile resistance of the respective article groups has been transmitted by means of the control device, a comparison of the respective actual tensile resistance with a predetermined, preferably common for the article groups, target value for the tensile resistance of the article groups is carried out and in the event of a deviation, in particular an undershoot, of the respective actual tensile resistance of the individual article groups from the target value below or above a predetermined deviation limit value, a corresponding control command is transmitted from the control device to the perforation device for forming the individual perforation pattern, in particular perforation correction pattern, in the respective article groups.

[0030] Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment of the method, it is provided that the assembled article groups are or are at least partially provided with a wrapping strip upstream of the pneumatic testing device.

[0031] In addition, according to one aspect, the method is characterized in that two, preferably parallel, rows of article groups arranged next to one another and at a longitudinal axial distance from one another and assembled are each conveyed by a pneumatic testing device and a perforation device in the transverse axial direction, preferably by means of a drum arrangement with several conveyor drums, wherein in particular the assembled article groups of the two rows with the article segments are or become identical, in particular symmetrical.

[0032] Furthermore, the object is achieved by a device for producing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, with a plurality of rod-shaped article segments arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped articles, wherein the device has a plurality of supply modules for supplying article segments for rod-shaped article groups and a plurality of article segments and article groups having at least one wrapping strip, wherein the device further has a drum arrangement for transversely conveying the rod-shaped article groups, each having at least two or three or four or more than four rod-shaped article segments, wherein in the transversely conveying direction of the article groups in the drum arrangement, a pneumatic testing device for determining the, preferably individual,tensile resistance of the individual article groups and downstream of the pneumatic testing device, a perforation device, in particular a laser device, for individual perforation of the article groups with a perforation pattern, in particular a perforation correction pattern, is provided, wherein the perforation device is designed such that (i) depending on the determined, preferably individual, actual tensile resistance of the respective individual article groups, the wrapping strip of an article segment or the article segments of the individual article groups is provided with an individual perforation pattern, in particular a perforation correction pattern, in the area of ​​the article segment or in the area of ​​one, in particular exclusively one, article segment or (ii) that a wrapping strip of an article segment added to the respective article group, preferably in the area of ​​the added article segment, by means of a perforation device,in particular a laser device, depending on the determined, in particular individual, actual tensile resistance of the respective individual article groups, is provided with an individual perforation pattern, in particular a perforation correction pattern.

[0033] In order to assemble the article groups to be tested, the provision modules for individual or multiple article segments for the article groups are arranged upstream of the pneumatic testing device, for example on a multi-segment article manufacturing machine, so that after the article groups to be tested have been assembled, they are conveyed cross-axially using conveyor drums of the drum arrangement of the testing device or the testing devices.

[0034] Furthermore, an embodiment of the device is characterized in that in the conveying direction of the article groups, downstream of the pneumatic testing device for the article groups and upstream of the perforation device, at least one further provision module for providing a further article segment for the article groups is provided.

[0035] In the device, it is further preferred that, in the conveying direction of the article groups, a wrapping device for wrapping the or a further article segment added to the respective article group is provided downstream of the pneumatic testing device for the article groups and upstream of the perforation device.

[0036] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the method, it is advantageous that a provision module for providing an article segment for the article groups is provided downstream of the perforation device in the conveying direction of the article groups.

[0037] According to an advantageous aspect of the device, a control device, in particular a preferably central machine control unit, is provided, wherein in particular the determined actual tensile resistances of the respective article groups are transmitted to the control device and after the transmission of the actual tensile resistance of the respective article groups by means of the control device, a comparison of the respective actual tensile resistance with a predetermined, preferably common for the article groups, target value for the tensile resistance of the article groups is carried out or can be carried out and in the event of a deviation, in particular a fall below, of the respective actual tensile resistance of the individual article groups from the target value below or above a predetermined deviation limit value, the control device sends a corresponding control command to the perforation device for forming the individual perforation pattern,in particular perforation correction samples, are transmitted or can be transmitted in the respective article groups.

[0038] Preferably, the device is designed for at least two, preferably parallel, rows of article groups arranged and assembled next to one another and at a longitudinal axial distance from one another, wherein the two rows of article groups are each conveyed next to one another by a pneumatic testing device and each by a perforation device in the transverse axial direction, preferably by means of the drum arrangement with a plurality of conveyor drums.

[0039] Preferably, the device is configured to carry out a method as described above, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 11. To avoid repetition, explicit reference is made to the above statements. In particular, the device is designed as a multi-segment article manufacturing machine or multi-segment filter manufacturing machine.

[0040] Furthermore, the object is achieved by an arrangement of a group of several rod-shaped multi-segment articles from the tobacco processing industry in a package, in particular a box, wherein the multi-segment articles each have wrapping strips with perforation patterns, in particular perforation correction patterns, wherein at least two or the perforation patterns of the multi-segment articles of the package differ, wherein in particular the multi-segment articles are produced by a method according to one of claims 1 to 11, as described above. The package for the rod-shaped multi-segment articles has a predetermined volume, so that the multi-segment articles arranged therein, such as heat-not-burn products, are arranged, for example, in a linear, tightly packed arrangement or in a hexagonal arrangement in the package.

[0041] In one embodiment of the arrangement, it is further provided that the perforation patterns each have a plurality of perforation holes, preferably in the circumferential direction of the multi-segment article, wherein the number of perforation holes of the perforation patterns is between 10 and 30, preferably between 10 and 20, and / or wherein the total area of ​​the perforation holes of the perforation patterns is between 0.4 mm 2< to 1.0 mm 2<.

[0042] 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 incorporate individual features or a combination of several features.

[0043] 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. 1 is a schematic view of a multi-segment article manufacturing machine according to the invention for producing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco processing industry according to a first embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a multi-segment article manufacturing machine according to the invention for producing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco processing industry according to a second embodiment.

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

[0046] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a machine 10 according to the invention for producing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco processing industry. The machine 10 has two supply modules 61, 62 for supplying rod-shaped article segments for assembling article groups.

[0047] In the first supply module 61, multiple length rod-shaped article rods are removed from a magazine or supply (not shown here) by a removal drum 12.

[0048] In the first supply module 61, the multi-length article bars arranged in troughs and conveyed transversely on the removal drum 12 are cut into article bar segments using cutting knives 113 and transferred to a staggering drum 13. The cut article bar segments are staggered on the staggering drum 13. The staggered article bar segments are transferred to a sliding drum 16 and displaced there longitudinally axially so that they are arranged transversely axially aligned one behind the other. These article bar segments, arranged longitudinally axially aligned one behind the other, are subsequently transferred to a cutting drum 15, on which a cutting knife 113 is arranged to cut the article bar segments, particularly in the center.The cut filter rod segments are then transferred to a further cutting drum 16, on which the preferably double-length or twice-length article rod segments are cut, preferably centrally, by a cutting blade 113. This creates article segments for the article groups to be formed from the article rod segments, wherein the article segments are arranged longitudinally axially to one another, for example in a trough of the cutting drum 16. From the cutting drum 16, the article segments are transferred to a further conveyor drum 17, on which an additional cutting blade 113 can optionally be arranged in order to cut the article segments again. The cutting blade 113 on the drum 16 can also be optionally arranged. From the conveyor drum 17, the article segments from the provision module 61 are then transferred to a spreading drum 18, on which the article segments are transferred and spaced apart from one another on the spreading drum 18.be spread.

[0049] From the spreading drum 18, the corresponding longitudinally spaced article segments for the article groups to be formed are transferred to a assembling drum 27, wherein, by means of the second provision module 62, one article segment, in particular a double-length or multiple-length article segment, is inserted between the article segments provided by the first provision module 61. This is shown schematically below the assembling drum 27 in an illustrated article group.

[0050] In the second supply module 62, multiple-length article bars are removed from a magazine or supply (not shown here) by means of a removal drum 22 and cut into article bar segments by cutting knives 113 arranged on the removal drum 22, in order to be transferred to a staggering drum 23 and staggered there. The article bar segments are then transferred to a sliding drum 24 and pushed there in transverse axial alignment into the correspondingly provided troughs. The article bar segments arranged in transverse axial alignment are then transferred to a cutting drum 25, so that the article bar segments, in particular multiple-length or double-length, are cut into article bar segments by the cutting knife 113 arranged on the cutting drum 24.The article bar segments from the second provision module 62 are then transferred to the assembly drum 27 via a conveyor drum 26, so that article groups with article segments from both provision modules 61, 62 are or are formed on the assembly drum 27.

[0051] In this way, a compilation of article groups is formed in the longitudinal axial direction from article segments of the two provision modules 61, 62. The article groups with the article segments are pushed together and then transferred to a conveyor drum 53 in order to attach wrapping strips cut from a tipping paper strip 50 to the respective article groups and to wrap the wrapping strips around the article groups. For this purpose, a tipping roller 52 and a knife roller 51 cooperating with the tipping roller 52 are provided on the conveyor drum in order to cut wrapping strips of finite length from the tipping paper strip 50 and to attach the wrapping strips to the article groups by means of the tipping roller 52. The article groups are then transferred to a downstream roller drum 54, on which a roller hand 55 is arranged to wrap the attached wrapping strips around the article groups.

[0052] From the roller drum 54, the wrapped or wrapped article groups are conveyed via further conveyor drums 56, 57 to a cutting drum 58, so that the wrapped article groups are cut in the center by the cutting blade 113. The cut article groups are then transferred to a spreading drum 59, so that the individual and cut article groups are spaced or spread apart from one another in a receiving trough in the longitudinal axial direction.

[0053] Subsequently, the pairs of article groups spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis are transferred from the spreading drum 59 to a conveyor drum 71 and subsequently to a testing drum 72. Pneumatic testing devices 80 are arranged on the testing drum 72 for each row of the pairs of article groups conveyed side by side in order to pneumatically detect or determine the tensile strength of the individual article groups. Within the scope of the invention, it is provided that for each row of article groups arranged transversely one behind the other (with several, in particular wrapped, article segments), a pneumatic testing device 80 is provided for determining the individual tensile strength of the individual article groups.

[0054] The respective actual tensile resistances of the individual article groups are transmitted from the pneumatic testing devices 80 to a machine control 100. The machine control 100 has a computer by means of which an actual-setpoint comparison is carried out between the respective individual actual tensile resistance of the individual article groups and a predetermined setpoint for the individual article groups.

[0055] The pneumatically tested article groups (as intermediate products) are then transferred from the testing drum 72 to a subsequent conveyor drum 73 and a assembling drum 47 arranged downstream therefrom.

[0056] A third provision module 64 is arranged on the assembly drum 47, wherein by means of the third provision module 64 a further article segment is added to each of the pneumatically checked article groups by the provision module 64.

[0057] In the third supply module 64, multiple-length article bars are removed from a magazine or supply (not shown here) by means of a removal drum 42 and subsequently conveyed transversely axially via several conveyor drums 43, 44 to a cutting drum 45, on which a cutting blade 113 is arranged to cut the article bars into article segments. The article segments provided by the third supply module 64 are then conveyed by the cutting drum 45 via a spreading drum 46 to the assembly drum 47, wherein the article segments are applied to the outside of the article segments by the third supply module 64 on the assembly drum 47.

[0058] From the assembly drum 47, the completed article groups (as finished products) are then transferred to a conveyor drum 93 in order to attach wrapping strips cut from a covering paper strip 90 to the respective article groups formed as finished products and to wrap the wrapping strips around the article groups.

[0059] On the conveyor drum 93, a covering roller 92 and a knife roller 91 cooperating with the covering roller 92 are provided for each web of the assembled article groups in order to cut wrapping strips of finite length from the covering paper strip 90 for the assembled article groups and to attach the wrapping strips to the article groups by means of the covering roller 92.

[0060] Subsequently, the article groups, each provided with an attached wrapping strip, are transferred to a subsequent roller drum 94, on which a roller hand 95 is arranged to wrap the attached wrapping strips around the article groups. In the conveying area between the assembly drum 47 and the downstream conveyor drums, article groups are conveyed in two tracks or rows spaced apart from one another.

[0061] From the roller drum 94, the rolled or wrapped article groups are conveyed via further conveyor drums 96, 97 to a conveyor drum 75, on which conveyor drums 76, 77 are arranged in the conveying direction of the article groups. The article groups are transferred from the conveyor drum 75 to the conveyor drums 76, 77 and conveyed back again. While the article groups are conveyed on the conveyor drums 76, 77, the article groups are provided with an individual perforation pattern, in particular a perforation correction pattern, on the wrapping strips at a corresponding position using laser devices 86, 87 arranged thereon.

[0062] The individual perforation patterns, in particular perforation correction patterns, for the respective individual article groups are determined on the basis of the comparison carried out by the machine control 100 of the respective individual actual tensile resistance of the article groups with a, in particular predetermined, target tensile resistance in order to provide article groups with a constant or almost constant degree of ventilation, in particular within a predetermined tolerance range, on the multi-segment article manufacturing machine 10 by perforation with an individual perforation pattern to be introduced into the wrapping of the article groups.

[0063] The article groups provided with an individual perforation pattern are then transferred from the conveyor drum 75 to the subsequent conveyor drums 78, 79.

[0064] In Fig. 2A further exemplary embodiment of a multi-segment article manufacturing machine 10 according to the invention is schematically shown. The multi-segment article manufacturing machine 10 has three supply modules 61, 62, 63 for supplying article groups to be processed, by means of which article segments are provided for the article groups to be assembled. The supply modules 61, 62, 63 are arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction of the article segments or article groups.

[0065] The provision modules 61, 62 are already provided for the embodiment according to Figure 1 described, so reference is made to the above explanations, which apply correspondingly to the present embodiment. In the conveying direction of the article segments, the article groups assembled on the assembling drum 27 (as intermediate products) are transferred to a subsequent conveyor drum 28.

[0066] The third supply module 63 is designed such that multiple-length article rods are removed from a magazine or supply (not shown here) by means of a removal drum 32 and cut into article rod segments by cutting knives 113 arranged on the removal drum 32, in order to be transferred to a staggering drum 33 and staggered there. The article rod segments are then transferred to a sliding drum 34 and pushed there in transverse axial alignment into the correspondingly provided troughs. The article rod segments arranged in transverse axial alignment are then transferred to a cutting drum 35, so that the article rod segments, in particular multiple-length or double-length, are cut into article segments by the cutting knife 113 arranged on the cutting drum 34.The article bar segments from the third provision module 63 are then transferred to the assembly drum 37 via a conveyor drum 36, so that article groups with article segments from the three provision modules 61, 62, 63 are or are formed on the assembly drum 37.

[0067] Thereafter, a wrapping strip cut from the covering paper strip 50 is attached to the formed article groups on the conveyor drum 53, which is then wound around the article groups on the roller drum 54.

[0068] The wrapped double-length article groups are then conveyed transversely on the downstream conveyor drums 56, 57 to the cutting drum 58, so that the double-length article groups are cut in the middle. The cut article groups are then spaced apart longitudinally on the spreading drum 59 and conveyed to the testing drum 72. A pneumatic testing device 80 is provided on the testing drum for each web or row of wrapped article groups (as end products) to record or determine the individual actual tensile resistances of the individual article groups.

[0069] After the actual tensile resistances of the article groups have been recorded or determined, the article groups are conveyed from the test drum 72 via the conveyor drums 73, 147, 148, 149 to the conveyor drum 75 in two rows next to each other.

[0070] The individual actual tensile resistances of the article groups are transmitted to the machine control 100, so that by means of the computer of the machine control 100, individual perforation patterns for the respective article groups are determined based on a comparison of the determined actual tensile resistance with a predetermined target tensile resistance, which are subsequently introduced into the wrapping strips of the article groups by means of the laser devices 86, 87 on the conveyor drums 76, 77.

[0071] All mentioned features, including those that can be gathered from the drawings alone, as well as individual features disclosed in combination with other features, are considered essential to the invention, both individually and in combination. Embodiments according to the invention may be fulfilled by individual features or a combination of several features. Within the scope of the invention, features marked "in particular" or "preferably" are to be understood as optional features. List of reference symbols

[0072] 10 Multi-segment article manufacturing machine 12 Removal drum 13 Stacking drum 15 Cutting drum 16 Cutting drum 16 Pushing drum 17 Conveyor drum 18 Spreading drum 22 Removal drum 23 Stacking drum 24 Pushing drum 24 Cutting drum 25 Cutting drum 26 Conveyor drum 27 Assembly drum 28 Conveyor drum 32 Removal drum 33 Stacking drum 34 Cutting drum 34 Pushing drum 35 Cutting drum 36 Conveyor drum 37 Assembly drum 42 Removal drum 43 Conveyor drum 44 Conveyor drum 45 Cutting drum 46 Pushing drum 47 Assembly drum 50 Covering paper strip 51 Knife roller 52 Covering roller 53 Conveyor drum 54 Rolling drum 55 Rolling hand 56 Conveyor drum 57 Conveyor drum 58 Cutting drum 59 Pushing drum 61, 62, 63, 64Preparation module 71Conveyor drum 72Test drum 73Conveyor drum 75Conveyor drum 76, 77Conveyor drum 78, 79Conveyor drum 80Test device 86,87Laser devices 90Tipping paper strips 91Knife roller 92Tipping roller 93Conveyor drum 94Rolling drum 95Rolling hand 96Conveyor drum 97Conveyor drum 100Machine control 113Cutting blades 147, 148, 149Conveyor drum,

Claims

1. A method for producing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, with a plurality of rod-shaped article segments arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped articles, wherein article groups are or are assembled, each comprising at least two or three or four rod-shaped article segments, wherein the rod-shaped article segments are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the article groups and wherein at least one article segment or several, in particular all, article segments of the article groups are wrapped by a wrapping strip, wherein the article groups are conveyed one behind the other, preferably exclusively, in the transverse axial direction, wherein after the assembly of the respective rod-shaped article group in the conveying direction of the transverse axially conveyed article groups on a conveying member (72), in particular a conveying drum (72),the article groups are each individually tested by means of a pneumatic testing device (80), wherein a, in particular individual, actual tensile resistance of the respective article groups is determined by means of the pneumatic testing device (80), and subsequently in the conveying direction of the cross-axially conveyed article groups on a further conveying element (76, 77), in particular a conveying drum (76, 77), (i) the wrapping strip of the or an article segment or the article segments of the individual article groups by means of a perforation device (86, 87), in particular a laser device, depending on the determined, in particular individual, actual tensile resistance of the respective individual article groups with an individual perforation pattern, in particular a perforation correction pattern, in the area of ​​the article segment or in the area of ​​one, in particular exclusively one,article segment is provided or (ii) a wrapping strip of an article segment added to the respective article group, preferably in the region of the added article segment, is provided with an individual perforation pattern, in particular a perforation correction pattern, by means of a perforation device (86, 87), in particular a laser device, depending on the determined, in particular individual, actual tensile resistance of the respective individual article groups.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembled article groups, before being conveyed to the pneumatic testing device (80), each have at least one or exclusively one article segment for one or the perforation pattern to be provided.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatduring or during the assembly of the article groups in the transverse axial conveying direction of the article segments of the article groups to be assembled or assembled, no perforation of the article segments of the respective article groups and / or no perforation of the wrapping strip of the respective article groups is carried out before conveying to the pneumatic testing device (80) and / or that in the conveying direction of the article groups downstream of the pneumatic testing device (80) for the article groups and upstream of the perforation device (86, 87) at least one further article segment, which is preferably not to be provided with the perforation pattern or is to be provided with the perforation pattern, is added to the article groups and / or in the conveying direction of the article groups downstream of the perforation device (86, 87) at least one further article segment, which is preferably not to be provided with a perforation pattern,Article segment is added to the article groups.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatin the conveying direction of the article groups, downstream of the pneumatic testing device (80) for the article groups and upstream of the perforation device (86, 87), at least one further article segment is added to each of the article groups, and after the further article segment has been added to the respective article groups, the added further article segment is provided with the perforation pattern, in particular the perforation correction pattern, by means of the perforation device (86, 87), wherein in particular upstream of the perforation device (86, 87), the added further article segment of the article groups is wrapped by a wrapping strip, wherein in particular the wrapping strip of the further article segment of the article groups is provided with the perforation pattern, in particular the perforation correction pattern, by means of the perforation device (86, 87).

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatin the conveying direction of the article groups downstream of the perforation device (86, 87), the article groups provided with a perforation pattern formed by the perforation device (86, 87) have an almost constant or almost identical tensile resistance.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that for the compilation of the article groups, the article segments in the conveying direction of the article segments upstream of the pneumatic testing device (80) and / or upstream of the perforation device (86, 87) are not or will not be provided with a perforation pattern, or that for the compilation of the article groups in the conveying direction of the article segments upstream of the pneumatic testing device (80) and / or upstream of the perforation device (86, 87) at least one article segment for the article group is provided with a perforation pattern.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in thatthe determined actual tensile resistances of the respective article groups are transmitted to a control device, in particular a preferably central machine control unit, and after the transmission of the actual tensile resistance of the respective article groups by means of the control device, a comparison of the respective actual tensile resistance with a predetermined, preferably common for the article groups, target value for the tensile resistance of the article groups is carried out and in the event of a deviation, in particular undershoot, of the respective actual tensile resistance of the individual article groups from the target value below or above a predetermined deviation limit value, a corresponding control command is sent from the control device to the perforation device (86, 87) for forming the individual perforation pattern, in particular perforation correction pattern,in the respective article groups and / or that the assembled article groups are or are at least partially provided with a wrapping strip upstream of the pneumatic testing device (80) and / or that two, preferably parallel, rows of article groups arranged side by side and at a longitudinal axial distance from one another and assembled are each conveyed to a pneumatic testing device (80) and a perforation device (86, 87) in the transverse axial direction, preferably by means of a drum arrangement with several conveyor drums, wherein in particular the assembled article groups of the two rows with the article segments are or are constructed identically, in particular symmetrically.

8. Device (10) for producing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, with a plurality of rod-shaped article segments arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped articles, wherein the device (10) has a plurality of supply modules (61, 62, 63, 64) for supplying article segments for rod-shaped article groups and a plurality of article segments and at least one wrapping strip, wherein the device (10) further has a drum arrangement for the transverse-axial conveying of the rod-shaped article groups, each having at least two or three or four rod-shaped article segments, wherein in the transverse-axial conveying direction of the article groups in the drum arrangement, a pneumatic testing device (80) for determining the, preferably individual,tensile resistance of the individual article groups and downstream of the pneumatic testing device (80) a perforation device (86, 87), in particular a laser device, is provided for individual perforation of the article groups with a perforation pattern, in particular a perforation correction pattern, wherein the perforation device (86, 87) is designed such that (i) depending on the determined, preferably individual, actual tensile resistance of the respective individual article groups, the wrapping strip of an article segment or of the article segments of the individual article groups is provided with an individual perforation pattern, in particular a perforation correction pattern, in the area of ​​the article segment or in the area of ​​one, in particular exclusively one, article segment or (ii) that a wrapping strip of an article segment added to the respective article group,preferably in the area of ​​the added article segment, by means of a perforation device (86, 87), in particular a laser device, is provided with an individual perforation pattern, in particular a perforation correction pattern, depending on the determined, in particular individual, actual tensile resistance of the respective individual article groups.

9. Device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in thatin the conveying direction of the article groups, downstream of the pneumatic testing device (80) for the article groups and upstream of the perforation device (86, 87), at least one further provision module (64) for providing a further article segment for the article groups is provided and / or that in the conveying direction of the article groups, downstream of the pneumatic testing device (80) for the article groups and upstream of the perforation device (86, 87), a wrapping device for wrapping the or a further article segment added to the respective article groups is provided.

10. Device (10) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that in the conveying direction of the article groups, a provision module (64) for providing an article segment for the article groups is provided downstream of the perforation device (86, 87).

11. Device (10) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in thata control device, in particular a preferably central machine control unit (100), is provided, wherein in particular the determined actual tensile resistances of the respective article groups are transmitted to the control device and after the transmission of the actual tensile resistance of the respective article groups by means of the control device, a comparison of the respective actual tensile resistance with a predetermined, preferably common for the article groups, target value for the tensile resistance of the article groups is carried out or can be carried out and in the event of a deviation, in particular undershoot, of the respective actual tensile resistance of the individual article groups from the target value below or above a predetermined deviation limit value, a corresponding control command is sent from the control device to the perforation device (86, 87) for forming the individual perforation pattern, in particular perforation correction pattern,is transmitted or can be transmitted in the respective article groups.

12. Device (10) according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the device (10) is designed for at least two, preferably parallel, rows of article groups arranged and assembled next to one another and at a longitudinal axial distance from one another, wherein the two rows of article groups are each conveyed next to one another by a pneumatic testing device (80) and one perforation device (86, 87) in the transverse axial direction, preferably by means of the drum arrangement with a plurality of conveyor drums.

13. Device (10) according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the device (10) is configured to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

14. Arrangement of a group of several rod-shaped multi-segment articles of the tobacco processing industry in a package, in particular a box, wherein the multi-segment articles each have wrapping strips with perforation patterns, in particular perforation correction patterns, wherein at least two or the perforation patterns of the multi-segment articles of the package differ, wherein in particular the multi-segment articles are produced by a method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

15. Arrangement according to claim 14, characterized in that the perforation patterns each have a plurality of perforation holes, preferably in the circumferential direction of the multi-segment article, wherein the number of perforation holes of the perforation patterns is between 10 and 30, preferably between 10 and 20, and / or that the total area of ​​the perforation holes of the perforation patterns is between 0.4 mm 2 up to 1.0 mm 2 amounts.

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