Conveying rod-form articles in the tobacco-processing industry

Abstract

The invention relates, inter alia, to a conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) in the tobacco-processing industry, having a rotatable or rotationally driven drum body (12), wherein the drum body (12) has, in the circumferential direction, receiving cavities (14) for rod-form articles (100) in the tobacco-processing industry (100), wherein a vacuum-control body is provided in the interior of the drum body (12), wherein the vacuum-control body is designed so that, in a conveying portion (F) for rod-form articles (100) on the conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2), the receiving cavities (14), in which the rod-form articles (100) are or can be arranged, are thereby subjected to a vacuum, wherein a vacuum-switching device (20, 20.1, 20.2) is provided in the interior of the conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) in a transfer region (U) of the conveying portion (F) of the conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2), in which the rod-form articles (100) can be or are transferred to a downstream transporting drum, as seen in the conveying direction of the rod-form articles (100), wherein the vacuum-switching device (20, 20.1, 20.2) is designed so that, on an alternating basis, it subjects the receiving cavities (14) to a vacuum or switches off the vacuum at the receiving cavities (14).

Description

[0001] Conveying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a conveyor drum for the tobacco processing industry with a rotatable or rotationally driven drum body, as well as to a drum arrangement for the transverse-axial conveying of rod-shaped articles, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments, segmented articles, or multi-segmented articles. Furthermore, the invention relates to a machine for the tobacco processing industry, in particular multi-segmented articles, of the manufacturing machine for producing rod-shaped multi-segmented articles in the tobacco processing industry. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the transverse-axial conveying of rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments, segmented articles, or multi-segmented articles.

[0004] In machines in the tobacco processing industry, particularly 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. The conveying of the aforementioned rod-shaped objects during the production of cigarettes, filters, or 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 using conveyor drums, whose outer surface or drum body is provided with grooves or receiving recesses for the transverse axial conveyance of rod-shaped objects (cigarettes, filter rods or filter plugs, filter cigarettes).During conveyance, these rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry are arranged in rows transversely axially one behind the other in receiving troughs.

[0005] In filter attachment machines, rod-shaped articles, such as tobacco rods, filter plugs, or filter rods, are conveyed transversely axially into receiving troughs on the conveyor drums. The receiving troughs are arranged at predetermined pitch intervals on the peripheral surface of the conveyor drum.

[0006] Furthermore, EP 1 943 909 B1 describes a method for conveying a rod-shaped article of the tobacco processing industry, wherein during the transfer of the article from a first conveyor to a second conveyor at the time of transfer, the article is moved in the longitudinal axial direction by means of a movement impulse.

[0007] An object of the invention is to divide a, in particular single-layer, stream of rod-shaped and transversely axially conveyed articles arranged one behind the other, for example on a conveying device such as a conveyor drum, in a simple manner.

[0008] This object is achieved by a conveyor drum of the tobacco processing industry with a rotatable or rotationally driven drum body, wherein the drum body has receiving troughs for rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, in the circumferential direction, preferably at regular intervals, wherein a vacuum control body, in particular a control flange, is provided in the interior of the drum body, wherein the vacuum control body is designed to apply negative pressure to the receiving troughs in which the rod-shaped articles are arranged or can be arranged in a conveying section of the conveyor drum, wherein the rod-shaped articles are or can be arranged, wherein in a transfer area of ​​the conveying section of the conveyor drum, in which the rod-shaped articles can be or are transferred to a transport drum following in the conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles,a vacuum switching device is provided inside the conveyor drum, wherein the vacuum switching device is designed, upon rotation of the drum body, to alternately apply negative pressure to the respective receiving troughs or receiving trough sections arranged in the transfer area of ​​the conveyor section when receiving troughs, in particular successive ones in the circumferential direction of the drum body, are arranged in the transfer area of ​​the conveyor section, or to switch off the negative pressure at the respective receiving troughs or receiving trough sections arranged in the transfer area of ​​the conveyor section.

[0009] The invention is based on the idea that rod-shaped articles are arranged in one or more rows transversely axially one behind the other in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum and are subjected to negative pressure in the conveying section between a receiving area and a transfer area of ​​the conveyor drum using the vacuum control body inside the conveyor drum. As a result, the rod-shaped articles are held in the receiving troughs during conveying along the conveying section between the receiving area and the transfer area.At the end of the conveying section of the rod-shaped articles on the conveyor drum, a vacuum switching device is provided in the transfer area, where the rod-shaped articles can be transferred from the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum to a subsequent transport drum. This device alternately applies negative pressure to the receiving troughs or receiving trough sections of the drum body conveyed past the transfer area due to the rotation of the drum body, or switches off the negative pressure at the receiving troughs. In this process, the negative pressure is alternately switched on or off at the receiving troughs or receiving trough sections conveyed past the transfer area.For example, by means of the vacuum switching device, one or the receiving trough or a section of the receiving trough in the transfer area is subjected to negative pressure, so that the rod-shaped article arranged in the receiving trough is held and remains in the respective receiving trough or in the respective receiving trough section of the drum body and is not transferred to a subsequent transport drum, so that the held rod-shaped article is conveyed further after the transfer area in a further conveying section on the conveyor drum.In this case, it is further provided within the scope of the invention that after the application of pressure to one or more receiving troughs in the transfer area, the negative pressure for the receiving trough following in the circumferential direction, which is conveyed into the transfer area or rotated, is switched off by means of the negative pressure switching device, whereby after or upon switching off the negative pressure at the corresponding receiving trough of the c the rod-shaped articles are transferred to a subsequent transport drum.

[0010] Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, it is provided that the receiving troughs conveyed past in the transfer area are subjected to negative pressure, wherein the respective trailing receiving trough is subsequently not subjected to negative pressure because the negative pressure is or has been switched off by the negative pressure switching device. As a result, every second receiving trough in the transfer area is subjected to negative pressure. In addition, the negative pressure at the respective trailing receiving trough is switched off. The following receiving trough, at which the negative pressure is switched off, is in turn subsequently conveyed into the transfer area at the end of the conveying section, wherein the trailing receiving trough of the drum body is subjected to negative pressure by a corresponding switch in the negative pressure switching device.As a result, the receiving troughs of the drum body conveyed past in the transfer area are alternately subjected to negative pressure or not subjected to negative pressure by switching off the negative pressure.

[0011] For this purpose, in one embodiment of the conveyor drum, it is further provided that the vacuum switching device is designed as a periodically operated or periodically working vacuum switching device.

[0012] In order to hold the rod-shaped articles conveyed on the conveyor drum downstream of the transfer area in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum, according to a further aspect, the vacuum control body, in particular a control flange, is arranged inside the conveyor drum in order to apply negative pressure to receiving troughs or receiving trough sections in a further conveyor section downstream of the vacuum switching device, relative to the conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles on the conveyor drum. As a result, in the further conveyor section, which is formed on the conveyor drum upstream of the transfer area, the rod-shaped articles are held in the receiving troughs of the drum body of the conveyor drum.

[0013] Furthermore, a further development of the conveyor drum is characterized by the fact that the conveyor drum has an odd number of receiving troughs. This makes it possible to convey the rod-shaped articles conveyed on the conveyor drum in the subsequent conveying section after the transfer area a second time along the conveying section between the receiving area and the transfer area of ​​the conveyor drum. Subsequently, thanks to the alternating vacuum switching device, the rod-shaped articles conveyed twice through the conveying section can be transferred to the subsequent transport drum.

[0014] Furthermore, an embodiment of the conveyor drum is characterized in that the vacuum switching device comprises a rotary body that is rotatable or rotating about a rotation axis, wherein the rotary body is designed with at least one vacuum channel that can be or is subjected to negative pressure and with at least one ventilation channel, in particular that can be or is subjected to atmospheric pressure, wherein in particular the rotation axis of the rotary body is aligned parallel to the rotation axis of the drum body. By designing the rotary body with at least one vacuum channel that can be or is subjected to negative pressure and with at least one ventilation channel, it is possible to alternately apply negative pressure to the receiving troughs in the transfer area or to switch off the negative pressure at the respective receiving troughs in the transfer area.

[0015] In particular, in one embodiment, the rotating body has a cylindrical or cylindrical shape with a longitudinal extension, wherein the at least one vacuum channel of the rotating body that can be or is subjected to negative pressure is formed along the longitudinal extension of the rotating body and / or the at least one ventilation channel of the rotating body is formed along the longitudinal extension of the rotating body. For example, the rotating body is designed in the form of an elongated shaft, wherein at least one vacuum channel or at least one ventilation channel for the receiving recesses of the drum body is provided along the longitudinal extension of the shaft.

[0016] Furthermore, a preferred embodiment of the conveyor drum is characterized in that the vacuum switching device has a plurality of vacuum channels which can be or are subjected to vacuum, wherein in particular the vacuum channels are fluidically connected to one another.

[0017] Furthermore, in one embodiment, it is provided that the vacuum switching device has a plurality of ventilation channels, wherein in particular the ventilation channels are fluidically connected to one another.

[0018] In a further development of the conveyor drum, a rotary drive is preferably provided for the rotary body, wherein in particular the rotary drive is or will be synchronized with the rotational speed of the drum body, or wherein the rotary drive is or can be operated depending on the rotational speed of the drum body. The control or regulation of the rotary drive for the rotary body enables the receiving troughs to be alternately subjected to negative pressure or the negative pressure to be switched off.In particular, it is provided within the scope of the invention that only one rod-shaped article or group of articles which is or are conveyed into the transfer area is subjected to negative pressure by a corresponding position of the negative pressure switching device and subsequently the rod-shaped article or the rod-shaped group of articles in the immediately following receiving trough is not subjected to negative pressure by switching off the negative pressure by means of the negative pressure switching device when arranged within the transfer area and is transferred to the following transport drum.

[0019] Furthermore, a further development of the conveyor drum is characterized by the fact that a testing device, in particular a head-end testing device, for the rod-shaped articles is arranged in the further conveying section of the conveyor drum. This allows the rod-shaped articles conveyed further on the conveyor drum after the transfer area to be tested accordingly. In particular, it is provided that the head ends of the rod-shaped articles are tested with a corresponding testing device.

[0020] Furthermore, the object is achieved by a drum arrangement for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, with a plurality of conveying drums for the rod-shaped articles, wherein the conveying drums are arranged one after the other in the transverse axial conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles, wherein at least one conveying drum is designed as described above, in particular with a vacuum switching device in order to alternately apply negative pressure to the receiving troughs of the receiving troughs conveyed past in the transfer area or to switch off the negative pressure at the receiving troughs.

[0021] Furthermore, a further development of the drum arrangement is characterized in that a further conveyor drum, as described above, is designed with a vacuum switching device. Within the scope of the invention, the two conveyor drums, each with a vacuum switching device, are arranged one after the other in the conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles, wherein, in particular, the two conveyor drums each equipped with a vacuum switching device each have an odd number of receiving troughs. The receiving troughs are arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction of the conveyor drums, preferably at regular intervals.

[0022] Furthermore, the object is achieved by a machine for the tobacco processing industry, in particular a multi-segment article manufacturing machine for producing rod-shaped multi-segment articles for the tobacco processing industry, with a conveyor drum as described above or with a drum arrangement as described above. To avoid repetition, express reference is made to the above statements.

[0023] 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, using a conveyor drum as described above, wherein in a conveying section between a receiving area of ​​the conveyor drum, in which rod-shaped articles are transferred from an upstream transport drum to the conveyor drum, and a transfer area of ​​the conveyor drum, in which the rod-shaped articles are transferred from the conveyor drum to a downstream transport drum, the rod-shaped articles are conveyed transverse-axially, wherein in the conveying section at least one rod-shaped article is received in each receiving trough of the conveyor drum and is subjected to negative pressure, wherein in the transfer area the receiving troughs conveyed past in the transfer area are ventilated,so that the rod-shaped articles are transferred from the respective ventilated receiving trough to the subsequent transport drum for the rod-shaped articles and, alternately after the ventilation of the respective receiving troughs, the respective trailing receiving troughs are subjected to negative pressure, whereby the rod-shaped articles are held in the respective receiving trough and are conveyed in a further conveying section of the conveyor drum, whereby the rod-shaped articles conveyed in the further conveying section of the conveyor drum are conveyed further transversely axially.

[0024] When the receiving troughs in the transfer area are subjected to negative pressure by the vacuum switching device, the conveyed rod-shaped articles remain in the respective receiving troughs and are conveyed further into the subsequent conveying section of the conveyor drum. If the negative pressure is switched off at the respective receiving trough by the vacuum switching device in the transfer area, the rod-shaped articles arranged in the receiving troughs are transferred from the conveyor drum to the downstream transport drum. The alternating switching off and on of the negative pressure in the transfer area in the receiving troughs preferably takes place by means of the vacuum switching device described above.

[0025] Furthermore, the process is characterized by the fact that the rod-shaped articles are conveyed by the upstream transport drum with a transverse axial distance that corresponds to twice the transverse axial distance of the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum.

[0026] The pitch distance refers to the axial spacing of the receiving troughs. The distance is measured from the trough center of the receiving trough to the following or adjacent trough center of the adjacent receiving trough of the trough conveyor that transports the rod-shaped articles on the surface, such as a conveyor drum, or from trough base to trough base in the case of, for example, prism-shaped receiving troughs. The pitch distance for a conveyor drum is the axial spacing or the length of the (circular) arc between (circumferentially adjacent) trough centers on the circular line on which the trough centers or the trough center axes of the receiving troughs are located.

[0027] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the method, it is preferred that the rod-shaped articles conveyed further in the further conveying section of the conveying drum are conveyed to the transfer area between the upstream transport drum and the conveying drum, wherein the rod-shaped articles are conveyed at a transverse axial distance which corresponds to twice the transverse axial distance of the receiving troughs of the conveying drum, wherein in the conveying section between the receiving area and the transfer area of ​​the conveying drum, the rod-shaped articles transferred from the upstream transport drum and the rod-shaped articles conveyed back from the transfer area to the receiving area are or are arranged alternately in the receiving troughs of the conveying drum.

[0028] Furthermore, a further development of the method is characterized in that the rod-shaped articles conveyed twice in the conveying section are subsequently transferred to the subsequent transport drum, wherein the rod-shaped articles transferred to the subsequent transport drum are conveyed with a transverse axial distance which corresponds to twice the transverse axial distance of the receiving troughs of the, in particular upstream, conveying drum.

[0029] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the method, it is preferred that the rod-shaped articles conveyed in the further conveying section of the conveying drum are inspected by means of a testing device arranged in the further conveying section, in particular a head-end testing device.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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:

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a conveyor drum with a vacuum switching device without a drum body,

[0033] Fig. 2a to Fig. 2c show different representations of the vacuum switching device for the conveyor drum from Fig. 1,

[0034] Fig. 3 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a conveyor drum with a further vacuum switching device according to a further embodiment,

[0035] Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a control shaft of a

[0036] Vacuum switching device in a perspective view, Fig. 5 schematically shows a view of a drum arrangement with two conveyor drums, each having a vacuum switching device, and

[0037] Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of another drum arrangement with two conveyor drums, each having a vacuum switching device.

[0038] Within the scope of the invention, features marked with “in particular” or “preferably” are to be understood as optional features.

[0039] In the drawings, identical or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numbers, so that a repeated presentation is omitted.

[0040] Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a conveyor drum 10. For clarity of illustration, an outer drum body of the conveyor drum 10 has been omitted. The conveyor drum 10 has an outer drum body which has receiving troughs for the rod-shaped articles 100 at equidistant intervals in the circumferential direction. The rod-shaped articles 100, such as filter rods or filter segments, are taken up by an upstream transport drum and arranged in the receiving troughs of the drum body of the conveyor drum 10 and conveyed from a receiving area along a conveying section F to a transfer area U.

[0041] In the transfer area U, a vacuum switching device 20 is arranged inside the drum body, by means of which the receiving troughs of the drum body conveyed past the transfer area U are alternately subjected to negative pressure or the negative pressure present at the receiving troughs is alternately switched off. To apply negative pressure to the receiving troughs, a corresponding control flange (not shown) is provided inside the conveyor drum or the drum body, which is fluidly connected to a suction air source. The control flange has also been omitted for reasons of clarity.

[0042] In Figs. 2a to 2c, different representations and views of the vacuum switching device 20 in the transfer area U for the conveyor drum 10 from Fig. 1 are shown schematically.

[0043] The vacuum switching device 20 has a housing 21 in which a rotatable shaft 22 is rotatably mounted. The shaft 22 has a central passage 24, which, when positioned appropriately, is subjected to negative pressure, so that the rod-shaped articles 100 arranged in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 10 are held in the receiving troughs in the region of the transfer area U. The held rod-shaped articles 100 are then conveyed by means of a conveyor drum 10 into a further, subsequent conveying section of the conveyor drum 10 in the receiving troughs, wherein the rod-shaped articles 100 are held in the receiving troughs on the conveyor drum after the transfer area U by means of negative pressure.

[0044] The shaft 22 is formed on the outer area with two lateral flats 26, which, when the shaft 22 rotates and is arranged opposite a receiving trough in the drum body of the conveyor drum 10 in the transfer area U, ventilate the corresponding receiving trough, so that the respective rod-shaped articles 100 in this area are transferred to the subsequent transport drum. The vacuum switching device 20 with its housing 21 and the shaft 22 arranged therein is a component of the control flange inside the drum body of the conveyor drum 10. By rotating the shaft 22 on the housing 21, the receiving troughs are alternately subjected to negative pressure or ventilated accordingly. By rotating the shaft 22, the negative pressure is interrupted after each rotation of 180°. A drive 28 (cf. Fig.1) is provided, which is preferably synchronized with the rotational speed of the drum body of the conveyor drum 10, so that at the same time in the transfer area U only every second rod-shaped article 100 is transferred to the following transport drum and the respective following rod-shaped article is held between two rod-shaped articles 100 to be transferred in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 10.

[0045] Fig. 3 schematically shows a further embodiment of a conveyor drum 10 with a vacuum switching device 20 in a schematic detailed view in cross section. The conveyor drum 10 has a drum body 12 in which receiving troughs 14 for the rod-shaped articles 100 are formed in the circumferential direction. The vacuum switching device 20 is arranged in the transfer area U, in which the rod-shaped articles 100 are transferred to a subsequent transport drum (not shown here), so that the rod-shaped articles arranged in the receiving troughs 14 are alternately transferred to a subsequent conveyor drum (not shown here), where the rod-shaped articles are held in the receiving troughs 14 and, after the transfer area U, are conveyed into a further, subsequent conveyor section of the conveyor drum 10.

[0046] The vacuum switching device 20 in Fig. 3 has a control shaft 32 inside the housing 21, which is shown schematically in a perspective view in Fig. 4.

[0047] The control shaft 32 has a plurality of channels in the circumferential direction, which are alternately formed as vacuum channels 34 and ventilation channels 36 in the outer surface of the control shaft 32. The control shaft 32 has three vacuum channels 34 and three ventilation channels 36, each of which is fluidically connected to one another. The fluidically connected vacuum channels 34 are connected to a vacuum source, and the fluidically connected ventilation channels 36 are connected to a ventilation source. The rotation of the control shaft 32 is synchronized with the conveying speed of the drum body 12.

[0048] Preferably, the drum body 12 of the conveyor drum 10 has an odd number of receiving troughs 14.

[0049] Fig. 5 schematically shows a drum arrangement T by means of which rod-shaped articles are conveyed in a transverse axial manner. In this case, the drum arrangement T has a first conveyor drum 10.1 with respect to the conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles, which is correspondingly designed with a schematically designated vacuum switching device 20.1 in the transfer area to the downstream conveyor drum 10.2. On the conveyor drum 10.1, downstream of the vacuum switching device 20.1 with respect to the conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles, there is provided a testing device 30.1 for the head ends of the rod-shaped articles being conveyed on the conveyor drum 10.1. The tested rod-shaped articles are then conveyed a second time along the conveying section F of the conveyor drum 10.1 and subsequently transferred to the downstream conveyor drum 10.2.

[0050] The conveyor drum 10.2 is provided with a vacuum switching device 20.1 so that the rod-shaped articles conveyed on the conveyor drum 20.1 are alternately transferred to the subsequent transport drum or are conveyed further on the conveyor drum 10.2 to a testing device 30.2 for the head ends of the further conveyed rod-shaped articles.

[0051] The drum arrangement T in Fig. 5 is in particular a component of a manufacturing machine for rod-shaped products in the tobacco processing industry.

[0052] Figure 6 schematically shows another embodiment of a drum arrangement T, which is a component of a manufacturing machine for rod-shaped products in the tobacco rolling stock industry. By means of the drum arrangement T in Figure 6, pairs of rod-shaped articles 101, 102 are conveyed transversely axially. The rod-shaped articles 101, 102 are arranged longitudinally axially next to one another and in pairs on a conveyor drum 110 in the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 110 and are conveyed to a subsequent conveyor drum 111. The rod-shaped articles 101, 102 are transferred from the upstream conveyor drum 110 to the conveyor drum 111.The conveyor drum 111 has an odd number of receiving troughs, wherein the transverse axial distance of the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 111 corresponds to half the transverse axial distance of the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 110 or half the transverse axial distance of the pairs of rod-shaped articles 101, 102 on the conveyor drum 110.

[0053] The pairs of rod-shaped articles 101, 102 transferred in pairs by the conveyor drum 110 are conveyed, after transfer from the conveyor drum 111, to the transfer area U between the conveyor drum 111 and the subsequent conveyor drum 112. In the transfer area U between the conveyor drums 111, 112, a vacuum switching device 120.1 for the rod-shaped articles 101 is arranged inside the conveyor drum 111. The vacuum in the receiving troughs is switched on by means of the vacuum switching device 120.1 for the rod-shaped articles 101 so that the rod-shaped articles 101 of the pairs of conveyed rod-shaped articles 101, 102 are conveyed further on the conveyor drum 111. At the same time, the rod-shaped articles 102 are transferred to the subsequent conveyor drum 112. The rod-shaped articles 101, which are conveyed further on the conveyor drum 111 after the transfer area U, are conveyed to a testing device 30.1 for testing the head ends of the rod-shaped articles 101. The two head ends of the rod-shaped articles 101 are tested by means of the testing device 30.1. The tested rod-shaped articles 101 are then conveyed to the transfer area between the conveyor drum 110 and the conveyor drum 111. The transverse axial distance of the separated rod-shaped articles 101 after the transfer area U on the conveyor drum 110 corresponds to the transverse axial distance of the pairs of rod-shaped articles 101, 102. Due to the odd number of receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 111, a pair of rod-shaped articles 101, 102 is arranged between each two separated rod-shaped articles 101 arranged transversely one behind the other during the conveyance of the pairs of rod-shaped articles 101, 102 between the conveyor drums 110, 111. The separated and tested rod-shaped articles 101 are then switched on by means of the vacuum switching device 120.1 is transferred individually to the following conveyor drum 112.

[0054] The rod-shaped articles 102 transferred from the conveyor drum 111 to the subsequent conveyor drum 112 and separated are conveyed on the conveyor drum 102 to a transfer area U between the conveyor drum 112 and a subsequent conveyor drum 113, wherein a vacuum switching device 120.2 is provided in the transfer area U. The conveyor drum 112 has an odd number of receiving troughs for the rod-shaped articles, wherein the transverse axial distance of the receiving troughs of the conveyor drum 112 corresponds to half the transverse axial distance between pairs of rod-shaped articles 101, 102 on the conveyor drum 110.

[0055] The vacuum switching device 120.2 for the rod-shaped articles 102 is configured such that the separated rod-shaped articles 102 remain on the conveyor drum 112 after the transfer area U and are conveyed to a testing device 30.2 for testing the head ends of the rod-shaped articles 102. The tested rod-shaped articles 102 are then conveyed on or by means of the conveyor drum 112 toward the transfer area between the conveyor drum 111 and the conveyor drum 112. In the transfer area between the conveyor drums 111, 112, the separated and inspected rod-shaped articles 102 are formed together with the separated and inspected rod-shaped articles 101, which are transferred from the conveyor drum 111 to the conveyor drum 112, into pairs of rod-shaped articles 101, 102, which are further conveyed on the conveyor drum 112 to the transfer area U on the conveyor drum 112.The pairs of tested rod-shaped articles 101, 102 are then transferred from the conveyor drum 112 to the subsequent conveyor drum 113.

[0056] The vacuum switching devices 120.1, 120.2 are operated in a similar manner to the vacuum switching devices 20 described in Figures 1 to 4.

[0057] All mentioned features, including those revealed solely in the drawings 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.

[0058] List of reference symbols

[0059] 10 conveyor drum

[0060] 10.1 , 10.2 Conveyor drum

[0061] 12 Drum body 14 Receiving trough 20 Vacuum switching device

[0062] 20.1 , 20.2 Vacuum switching device

[0063] 21 Housing 22 Shaft 23 Passage 26 Flattening 28 Drive

[0064] 30.1 , 30.2 Head-end testing device

[0065] 32 Control shaft 34 Vacuum channel 36 Ventilation channel 100 Rod-shaped article

[0066] 101 , 102 rod-shaped article 110 conveyor drum 111 conveyor drum 112 conveyor drum 113 conveyor drum

[0067] 120.1 , 120.2 Vacuum switching device F Conveyor section T Drum arrangement U Transfer area

Claims

Patent claims 1. Conveyor drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) for the tobacco processing industry with a rotatable or rotatably driven drum body (12), wherein the drum body (12) has, in the circumferential direction, preferably at regular intervals, receiving recesses (14) for rod-shaped articles (100) for the tobacco processing industry (100), in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, wherein a vacuum control element, in particular a control flange, is provided inside the drum body (12), wherein the vacuum control element is configured to apply vacuum to the receiving recesses (14) in which the rod-shaped articles (100) are or can be arranged in a conveying section (F) of rod-shaped articles (100) on the conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2), wherein in a transfer area (U) of the conveying section (F) of the conveying drum (10, 10.1) , 10.2), in which the rod-shaped articles (100) can be transferred or are transferred to a transport drum following the conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles (100), inside the conveying drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2) a vacuum switching device. (20, 20.1 , 20.2) is provided, wherein the vacuum switching device (20, 20.1 , 20.2) is configured to alternately apply vacuum to the respective receiving troughs (14) or receiving trough sections arranged in the transfer area (U) of the transfer area (U) of the conveying section (F) when the drum body (10) is rotated, in particular when receiving troughs (14) are arranged successively in the circumferential direction of the drum body (10) or receiving trough sections arranged in the transfer area (U) of the conveying section (F) or to switch off the vacuum at the respective receiving troughs (14) or receiving trough sections arranged in the transfer area (U) of the conveying section (F). Conveyor drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum switching device (20, 20.1, 20.2) is designed as a periodically operated or periodically functioning vacuum switching device (20, 20.1, 20.2). Conveyor drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vacuum control element is arranged inside the conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) to apply vacuum to receiving troughs (14) or receiving trough sections in a further conveying section (F) after the vacuum switching device (20, 20.1, 20.2), with respect to the conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles (100) on the conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2). Conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) has an odd number of receiving troughs (14). Conveyor drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the vacuum switching device (20, 20.1 , 20.2) has a rotating body (22, 32) which is rotatable or rotating about an axis of rotation, wherein the rotating body (22, 32) has at least one vacuum channel (24, 34) which is subject to or subjected to vacuum and at least. a ventilation channel (36) is formed, in particular one that can be pressurized or is pressurized with atmospheric pressure, wherein in particular the axis of rotation of the rotating body (22, 32) is aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum body (12). Conveyor drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the rotating body (22, 32) has a cylindrical or cylindrical shape with a longitudinal extent, wherein the at least one vacuum channel (24, 34) of the rotating body (22, 32) that can be pressurized or is pressurized with vacuum is formed along the longitudinal extent of the rotating body (22, 32) and / or the at least one ventilation channel (36) of the rotating body (22, 32) is formed along the longitudinal extent of the rotating body (22, 32). Conveyor drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the vacuum switching device (20, 20.1 , 20.2) has several vacuum channels (34) that can be pressurized or are pressurized, wherein in particular the vacuum channels (34) are fluidically connected to one another. Conveyor drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the vacuum switching device (20, 20.1, 20.2) has several ventilation channels (36), wherein in particular the ventilation channels (36) are fluidically connected to one another. Conveyor drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that a rotary drive is provided for the rotating body (22, 32), wherein in particular the rotary drive is or becomes synchronized with the rotational speed of the drum body (12) or wherein the rotary drive is or can be operated depending on the rotational speed of the drum body (12). Conveyor drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2) according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that a testing device (30.1 , 30.2), in particular a head end testing device, for the rod-shaped articles (100) is arranged in the further conveying section of the conveyor drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2). Drum arrangement (T) for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles (100), in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, with several conveying drums (10, 10.1, 10.2) for the rod-shaped articles (100), wherein the conveying drums (10, 10.1, 10.2) are arranged one after the other in the transverse axial conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles (100), wherein at least one conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) is configured according to any one of claims 1 to 10. Drum arrangement (T) according to claim 11, characterized in that a further conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 is provided.Machine for the tobacco processing industry, in particular a multi-segment article manufacturing machine for the production of rod-shaped multi-segment articles for the tobacco processing industry, with a conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to one of claims 1 to 10 or with a drum arrangement (T) according to claim 11 or 12. Method for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles (100) for the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods or filter rod segments or segment articles or multi-segment articles, using a conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein in a conveying section (F) between a receiving area of ​​the conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2), in which rod-shaped articles (100) are fed from an upstream transport. port drum to the conveying drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2), and a transfer area (U) of the conveying drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2), in which the rod-shaped articles (100) are transferred from the conveying drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2) to a downstream transport drum, the rod-shaped articles (100) are conveyed transversely axially, wherein in the conveying section (F) into each receiving trough (14) of the conveying drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2) at least one rod-shaped article (100) is received and subjected to negative pressure, wherein in the transfer area (U) the receiving troughs (14) conveyed past in the transfer area (U) are vented, so that the rod-shaped articles (100) are transferred from the respective vented receiving trough (14) to the subsequent transport drum for the rod-shaped articles (100) and alternately after the venting of the respective receiving troughs (14) the respective trailing receiving troughs (14) are subjected to negative pressure, wherein the rod-shaped articles (100) are held in the respective receiving trough (14) and are conveyed in a further conveying section of the conveying drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2), wherein the rod-shaped articles (100) conveyed in the further conveying section of the conveying drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2) are conveyed further transversely axially.A method according to claim 14, characterized in that the rod-shaped articles (100) are conveyed from the upstream transport drum with a transverse axial spacing that corresponds to twice the transverse axial spacing of the receiving troughs (14) of the conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2). A method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the rod-shaped articles (100) conveyed further in the conveying section of the conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2) are conveyed to the transfer area (U) between the upstream transport drum and the conveying drum (10, 10.1, 10.2), wherein the rod-shaped articles (100) are conveyed with a transverse axial spacing that corresponds to twice the transverse axial spacing of the receiving troughs. (14) of the conveying drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2), wherein in the conveying section between the receiving area and the transfer area (U) of the conveying drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2) the rod-shaped articles (100) transferred from the upstream transport drum and the rod-shaped articles (100) conveyed back to the receiving area are arranged alternately in the receiving troughs (14) of the conveying drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2). Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the rod-shaped articles (100) conveyed twice in the conveying section (F) are subsequently transferred to the following transport drum, wherein the rod-shaped articles (100) transferred to the following transport drum are conveyed with a transverse axial distance that corresponds to twice the transverse axial distance of the receiving recesses (14) of the, in particular upstream, conveying drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2).Method according to one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the rod-shaped articles (100) conveyed in the further conveying section of the conveying drum (10, 10.1 , 10.2) are tested by means of a testing device arranged in the further conveying section, in particular a head end testing device.

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