Apparatus and method for producing a strand from a flat multi-layered web, and also rod-form article

Abstract

Apparatus (2) and method for producing a strand (4) in the tobacco-processing industry, and also a rod-form article (16). The apparatus (2) comprises a strand-contents-supply unit (6), which is designed to supply a material strand (8) to a downstream strand-forming unit (10). The strand-contents-supply unit (6) comprises a web-guiding unit (18) and a severing arrangement (20), wherein the web-guiding unit (18) is designed to join a first flat tobacco-material web (22), a flat additional-material web (26) and a second flat tobacco-material web (24) together to form a joint flat multi-layer web (28), in which the flat additional-material web (26) is embedded between the first and the second flat tobacco-material webs (22, 24), and to feed the flat multi-layer web (28) to the severing arrangement (20), wherein the severing arrangement (20) is designed to sever the flat multi-layer web (28) into a multiplicity of longitudinal multi-layer strips (30) and to supply this multiplicity of longitudinal multi-layer strips (30), in the form of material strand (8), to the strand-forming unit (10).

Description

[0001] Device and method for producing a strand from a multi-layer flat web and rod-shaped articles

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a device for producing a rod in the tobacco processing industry, comprising a rod content supply unit configured to supply a material rod to a downstream rod forming unit. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a rod in the tobacco processing industry using a device in the tobacco processing industry, comprising a rod content supply unit configured to supply a material rod to a downstream rod forming unit. Finally, the invention relates to a rod-shaped article in the tobacco processing industry.

[0004] Articles made from a single tobacco rod are well known. These include cigarettes, cigars, tobacco sticks, filters, and filter segments. In addition to these classic rod-shaped articles, articles that do not require combustion during consumption are also considered articles of the tobacco industry. These include, for example, so-called HNB articles (HNB for "Heat-Not-Burn"), which are also referred to as THP articles (THP for "Tobacco-Heated-Product"). These articles contain tobacco-containing material that is heated for consumption. The tobacco flavor and ingredients are delivered together with an aerosol-forming substance in an air stream intended for consumption.For example, a tobacco-containing material can be a film made of reconstituted tobacco material (recon film) coated with a vapor-forming substance, such as glycerin or propylene glycol. The tobacco film can be produced using either the paper process or the slurry process.

[0005] In the THP article, the aerosol-forming tobacco material is present, for example, as a shirred sheet or in the form of a plurality of strips. WO 2021 / 213845 A1 discloses a device with which a rod-shaped article can be produced in which the aerosol-forming tobacco material is present in the form of a plurality of strips.

[0006] Just as with conventional rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry, it is also desirable for THP articles to contain additives in their tobacco material.

[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a device in the tobacco processing industry for producing a rod in the tobacco processing industry, a method for producing a rod in the tobacco processing industry and a rod-shaped article in the tobacco processing industry, wherein the possibility of flexibly adding an additive to the rod is to be created.

[0008] The object is achieved by a device for producing a rod in the tobacco processing industry, comprising a rod content supply unit which is designed to supply a material rod to a downstream rod forming unit, wherein this device is further developed in that the rod content supply unit comprises a web guide unit and a separating device, wherein the web guide unit is designed to join a first tobacco material flat web, an additive flat web and a second tobacco material flat web to form a common multi-layer flat web, in which the additive flat web is embedded between the first and the second tobacco material flat web, and to feed the multi-layer flat web to the separating device, wherein the separating device is designed toto separate the multi-layer flat web into a plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips and to provide this plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips as a material strand to the strand forming unit.

[0009] The device advantageously provides a material strand which, in addition to tobacco material, also comprises an additive. The material strand comprises a plurality of longitudinal strips, made of both tobacco material and additive. By embedding the additive between the flat tobacco material webs and separating the resulting multi-layer flat web into longitudinal strips in the separating device, the efficiency and reliability of the device can be improved. There are several reasons for this. The reliability of the device is improved because no parallel processes are required. The flat tobacco material webs and the additive flat web are separated into longitudinal strips in a single, joint process in the separating device. A plurality of cutting devices as well as parallel running material webs cut into strips or material strands made of cut strips can advantageously be avoided.Devices in which parallel material strands or parallel material webs cut into strips are provided are more prone to failure than the device according to aspects of the invention. For a disruption of the overall process, it is sufficient if a malfunction occurs in only one of the material strands or cut material webs, for example, a strip tear. Reducing the parallel processes to a single process therefore already results in an improvement in the reliability of the overall process.

[0010] Furthermore, in many cases the additive flat web containing the additive, which will also be referred to below as the additive material, is less tensile or tear-resistant than the tobacco material. In other words, the flat web made of additive material is more susceptible to potential strip tears than the tobacco material flat web itself. By embedding the additive flat web between the two tobacco material flat webs, a single strip tear or the tearing of several strips of the additive flat web can be easily tolerated. The additive strips torn off, for example, during the splitting process of the flat web, are carried along by the tobacco material strips in the further course of the process and conveyed together with them. An interruption of the overall process is advantageously avoided. The additive flat web has a tensile strength Rf26. The first tobacco material flat web has a tensile strength Rf22.The second flat tobacco material sheet has a tensile strength of Rf24. Preferably, Rf26 < Rf24 and / or Rf26 < Rf22, in particular, Rf26 < 0.5*Rf24 and / or Rf26 < 0.5*Rf22. In particular, Rf22 and / or Rf24 are greater than 15N with respect to a sheet width of 15mm. In particular, Rf26 is less than 5N with respect to a sheet width of 15mm.

[0011] The arrangement of the additive flat web between the two tobacco material flat webs is also advantageous with regard to a splicing process of the additive flat web. A splicing process occurs when an expiring additive flat web is joined to a new additive flat web at a splice point. The splice point unavoidably weakens the material of the additive flat web. Therefore, the risk of a strip tear or a tear of the entire strand in the area of ​​the splice point is particularly high. As already mentioned above, partial tearing of the strips of the additive flat web in the area of ​​the splice point can be tolerated. The torn individual strips of the additive flat web are carried along in the sandwich structure by the tobacco material flat web located on both sides, for example above and below, or by the strips produced from these. They are therefore not lost for the continuous process.Disruptions to the overall process can also be advantageously avoided. These advantages are particularly evident when the additive material used is one that results in a lower tensile strength of the additive sheet than the tensile strength of the tobacco material sheet.

[0012] Furthermore, in many cases, the additive flat sheet is more adhesive, especially with respect to the separating device, than the tobacco material flat sheet. If the separating device comes into direct interaction with the additive flat sheet, this can lead to sticking of the separating device. This is advantageously avoided because the additive flat sheet is embedded between the tobacco material flat sheets. As a result, the additive flat sheet does not come into direct contact with the separating device to the same extent as if the additive flat sheet itself were cut or, for example, were located in a double-layer structure on the top or bottom side of a tobacco material flat sheet. This also represents a significant process-related advantage.

[0013] A further advantage of the device according to aspects of the invention, which lies less on the process side than on the product side, is that the additive flat web is in contact with the first or second tobacco material flat web over a large area, i.e. on both flat sides. This makes it possible for the tobacco material and the additive present in the additive flat web to be heated and consumed together. The aroma and other ingredients contained in the tobacco material are transferred together with the additives into the air stream intended for consumption, since the tobacco material and the additive are more or less always at the same temperature. The multi-layer structure or sandwich structure realized in the multi-layer flat web also ensures good contact between the additive and the tobacco material or the flat webs involved.The separation process carried out in the separating device often exerts slight pressure on the multi-layer structure, so that the flat sheet of tobacco material and the flat sheet of additive are at least slightly bonded to one another. This bond between the tobacco material and the additive also ensures that the additive is homogeneously distributed (particularly when viewed in cross-section) throughout the rod and thus also in the rod-shaped article produced from the rod. In particular, the flat sheet of additive and / or the additive and / or the additive layer and / or the longitudinal strip of additive comprises glycerin and / or propylene glycol.In particular, the additive flat web and / or the additive layer has a proportion of glycerol and / or propylene glycol of at least 30%, preferably 50% or particularly preferably at least 60%, wherein the proportion describes the ratio of the mass of glycerol and / or propylene glycol to the dry mass of the additive layer and / or the additive flat web and / or the additive longitudinal strip and is at least 0.3, preferably 0.5 or particularly preferably 0.6.

[0014] The additive flat sheet is provided with an additive, for example, a flavoring or ingredient. This could be a flavor or menthol, for example. Propylene glycol or glycerin, or a mixture of these two substances, can also be used as an additive, for example, to enhance vapor development. Furthermore, a tobacco-saving filler or similar can be used as an additive.

[0015] It is preferably provided that the first and second flat tobacco material webs are at least approximately the same width. The width of the flat tobacco material web is measured transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to its longitudinal direction. In order to position the first and second flat tobacco material webs edge to edge, the device comprises, in particular, a web edge control. For example, a first web edge control is provided for both the first flat tobacco material web and a second web edge control is provided for the second flat tobacco material web. The web guide unit is furthermore designed, in particular, such that it is configured to position the additive flat web centrally between the first and second flat tobacco material webs. The additive flat web is therefore preferably positioned such that its longitudinal edges are at an approximately equal distance from the longitudinal edges of the two flat tobacco material webs, viewed transversely to the longitudinal direction.In particular, the additive flat sheet has a smaller width than the first or second tobacco material flat sheet.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the device is further developed in that the separating device comprises a first roller and a second roller cooperating therewith, wherein the respective outer surface of the first and second rollers have grooves and elevations arranged alternately next to one another in an axial direction of the respective roller and running in a closed circumferential direction, and in an effective region the elevations of the first roller engage in the grooves of the second roller and the elevations of the second roller engage in the grooves of the first roller, wherein the grooves and elevations of the rollers are not in contact with one another in the effective region, wherein the rollers are arranged in such a way that they engage with one another and overstretch the flat web transversely to predetermined separating lines, so that the flat web is torn apart along the separating lines.

[0017] The first and second rollers are not in contact with each other in the active area. The flat web is not cut along the severance line by the interaction of two blades, but rather is torn in a defined manner by over-stretching. Advantageously, no cutting process takes place. The targeted and defined over-stretching and subsequent tearing of the flat web results in an open structure at the broken edges of the strips. This open structure makes the strips particularly suitable for releasing additives, for example, flavors and other ingredients when heated. Furthermore, the separating device exhibits significantly less wear due to the lack of contact between the rollers.

[0018] According to an alternative embodiment, the device is further developed in that the separating device is a circular knife cutting device which comprises a first roller and a second roller cooperating therewith, wherein the respective outer surface of the first and second rollers have circular knives arranged alternately next to one another in an axial direction of the respective roller and grooves arranged between adjacent circular knives, and in an active region the circular knives of the first roller engage in the grooves of the second roller and the circular knives of the second roller engage in the grooves of the first roller, wherein in each case a cutting edge of a circular knife of the first roller is in contact with a cutting edge of a circular knife of the second roller, so that the flat web can be or is separated into strips in the manner of a continuous scissor cut.

[0019] Both a separating device comprising two rollers that tear the flat web in a defined manner and a separating device comprising a disc-blade cutting device can comprise discs or disc blades that are designed intermittently. This means that at least one of the elevations or one of the cutting edges is designed along the circumference in a section such that adjacent strips are not completely separated from one another, but are connected to one another by a remaining web. For this purpose, a groove is provided, for example, in the elevations or disc blades.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment, the device is further developed in that the strand content provision unit comprises a web separation unit which is arranged upstream of the web guide unit and is designed to separate a flat tobacco material web lengthwise and to provide the resulting partial webs as first and second flat tobacco material webs to the web guide unit.

[0021] Furthermore, the web separating unit is particularly designed such that the first and second partial webs have the same width. Advantageously, it is sufficient to feed a single flat web of tobacco material to the device.

[0022] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the device comprises a flat web supply unit. In the flat web supply unit, for example, the flat web of tobacco material, which is subsequently separated, or the first flat web of tobacco material and the second flat web of tobacco material are provided. For example, the flat webs are provided on reels. The flat web supply unit is further configured to provide the additive flat web. The additive flat web can also be provided on a reel, for example. The flat web supply unit further comprises, for example, a reel changer and a splicer, which fully automatically join an outgoing flat web to a new flat web and feed them into the continuously performed production process.

[0023] According to a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the strand content provision unit comprises a web folding unit which is arranged upstream of the web guide unit and is designed to fold a flat web lengthwise onto one another within a folding section extending in a longitudinal direction of the flat web along a folding line which also runs in the longitudinal direction of the flat web, so that partial regions of a single flat side of the flat web lying on both sides of the folding line face one another, wherein the sections of the flat web present on both sides of the folding line form the first and the second flat tobacco material web and the web guide unit is designed to position the additive flat web within the folding section between the first and the second flat tobacco material web.

[0024] In particular, it is provided in this context that the web folding unit comprises a guide plate which forms a folding edge which is designed to introduce the folding line into the flat tobacco material web, wherein the partial regions of the single flat side of the flat web lying on both sides of the folding line are guided on opposite sides of the guide plate.

[0025] Even when folding the flat tobacco material web, the first and second flat tobacco material webs can be provided starting from a single flat tobacco material web. Compared to a design of the device in which the flat tobacco material web is separated into two partial webs, the above embodiment eliminates the otherwise required separating device. All that is required is, for example, a corresponding guide plate, which is structurally simple to implement.

[0026] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the device for producing a strand of the tobacco processing industry is further developed in that the web guide unit is realized without a web edge control for the additive flat web.

[0027] Advantageously, web edge control can be omitted for the additive flat web. Web edge control is otherwise used to prevent the formation of extremely narrow strips near the edges when the flat web is separated into longitudinal strips. Since, even with inaccurate positioning, the extremely narrow edge strips of the additive flat web are easily carried along by the strips of the first and second tobacco material flat webs above and below, i.e., conveyed along in the transport process, web edge control can be omitted. The fine edge strips are cut in the sandwich layer and conveyed along with the tobacco material. The omission of web edge control represents an advantageous simplification of the device.

[0028] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the device for producing a rod in the tobacco processing industry is further developed in that a longitudinal strip release device, in particular a pneumatically operated longitudinal strip release device, is arranged between the separating device and the rod forming unit, which is designed to at least partially release the multi-layer longitudinal strips from their multi-layer structure.

[0029] If the presence of a multilayer structure, especially a sandwich structure, is not desired in the manufactured rod-shaped article, the stripe dissolving device can be used to dissolve the multilayer structure before strand formation. This allows the stripes to be randomized within the strand, thus avoiding the multilayer structure.

[0030] In both cases—when the resulting sandwich structure is also desired for strand production, and when it is to be randomized by a separating device—a strand can be produced in which the additive is distributed very homogeneously across the cross-section of the strand. This is beneficial for the quality of the rod-shaped article produced from this strand. In particular, it prevents stripes of additive from concentrating in certain areas of the strand, which could potentially lead to undesirable product properties.

[0031] The object is further achieved by a method for producing a rod in the tobacco processing industry with a device in the tobacco processing industry, comprising a rod content supply unit, with which a material rod is provided to a downstream rod forming unit, wherein this method is further developed in that the rod content supply unit comprises a web guide unit and a separating device, wherein the web guide unit joins a first flat tobacco material web, an additive flat web and a second flat tobacco material web to form a common multi-layer flat web, wherein the additive flat web is embedded by the web guide unit between the first and the second flat tobacco material web, and wherein the web guide unit feeds the multi-layer flat web to the separating device,wherein the separating device separates the multi-layer flat web into a plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips and provides this plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips as a material strand to the strand forming unit.

[0032] The same or similar advantages apply to the method for producing a rod in the tobacco processing industry as those already mentioned with regard to the device for producing a rod in the tobacco processing industry, so that repetition will be avoided.

[0033] According to an advantageous embodiment, the method is further developed in that the strand content provision unit comprises a web separating unit which is arranged upstream of the web guide unit, wherein the web separating unit separates a flat tobacco material web lengthwise so that two partial webs are created, wherein the web separating unit provides the partial webs as first and second flat tobacco material webs to the web guide unit.

[0034] According to an alternative embodiment, the method for producing a rod in the tobacco processing industry is further developed in that the rod content provision unit comprises a web folding unit which is arranged upstream of the web guide unit, wherein the web folding unit folds a flat web lengthwise onto one another within a folding section extending in a longitudinal direction of the flat web along a folding line which also runs in the longitudinal direction of the flat web, so that partial regions of a single flat side of the flat web lying on both sides of the folding line face one another, wherein the sections of the flat web present on both sides of the folding line form the first and the second flat tobacco material web, and the web guide unit positions the additive flat web within the folding section between the first and the second flat tobacco material web.

[0035] According to an advantageous embodiment, it is further provided that the web guide unit does not carry out any web edge control for the additive flat web.

[0036] Furthermore, it is provided in particular that a longitudinal strip release device, in particular a pneumatically operated longitudinal strip release device, is arranged between the separating device and the strand forming unit, wherein the longitudinal strip release device at least partially releases the multi-layer longitudinal strips from their multi-layer structure.

[0037] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the method is further developed in that a flat web which is more adhesive than the tobacco material flat web is processed as the additive flat web.

[0038] The object is further achieved by a rod-shaped article of the tobacco processing industry, produced from a strand of the tobacco processing industry which was produced by a method according to one or more of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0039] The rod-shaped article of the tobacco processing industry is in particular a so-called HNB or THP article.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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:

[0042] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a device for producing a rod in the tobacco processing industry,

[0043] Fig. 2 is a simplified perspective view of a web separating unit of such a device for producing a strand in the tobacco processing industry,

[0044] Fig. 3 is a simplified perspective view of a web folding unit of such a device for producing a rod in the tobacco processing industry,

[0045] Fig. 4 a simplified cross-sectional view of a multi-layer flat sheet,

[0046] Fig. 5 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a rod-shaped article produced by a method according to an embodiment.

[0047] Fig. 6 a simplified cross-sectional view of a multi-layer flat web with dividing lines for forming multi-layer longitudinal strips and

[0048] Fig. 7 is a simplified cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a rod-shaped article produced by a method according to an embodiment.

[0049] Within the scope of the invention, features marked with “in particular” or “preferably” are to be understood as optional features.

[0050] In the drawings, identical or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numbers, so that a repeated presentation is omitted.

[0051] Fig. 1 shows a simplified schematic representation of a device 2 for producing a rod 4 for the tobacco processing industry. The device 2 comprises a rod content supply unit 6, which is configured to provide a material rod 8 to a downstream rod forming unit 10. The rod forming unit 10 comprises a format unit 12, in which the material rod 8, preferably in the form of a spread-out or at least partially gathered cut multi-layer flat web, is formed into the rod 4 for the tobacco processing industry. With the aid of a cutting device 14, rod-shaped articles 16 for the tobacco processing industry are cut to length from the rod 4. The articles 16 are, for example, so-called HNB or THP products.

[0052] The rod content provision unit 6 comprises a web guide unit 18 and a separating device 20. A part or section of the rod content provision unit 6 is considered a web guide unit 18. The web guide unit 18 is configured to combine a first flat tobacco material web 22, an additive flat web 26, and a second flat tobacco material web 24 into a common multi-layer flat web 28. The additive flat web 26 is embedded between the first and second flat tobacco material webs 22, 24. The multi-layer flat web 28 is fed to the separating device 20. The separating device 20 is configured to separate the multi-layer flat web 28 into a plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips 30.The plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips 30 forms the material strand, preferably designed as a cut multi-layer flat web 8, which is provided to the strand forming unit 10, for example, via a pair of transport rollers 32 and a conveyor support 34, in particular designed as a static support with lateral boundaries, or the like. A strand 4 is formed from this in the formatting unit 12. In addition to the web guide unit 18 and the separating device 20, the strand content provision unit 6 comprises a flat web provision unit 36, with which the first and second flat tobacco material flat webs 22, 24 and the additive flat web 26 are provided. The flat webs 22, 24, 26 are provided, for example, on reels. The flat web provision unit 36 ​​can also be designed such that an automatic reel change is possible.

[0053] The first flat tobacco material web 22 travels from a reel 38 via various deflection rollers (not shown in more detail) to the web guide unit 18. Likewise, the second flat tobacco material web 24 travels from a reel 38 via various deflection rollers to the web guide unit 18. Dancers 46 can be provided in both web guides to regulate and / or control the web tension. By way of example, a dancer 46 is shown only in the web guide of the second flat tobacco material web 24.

[0054] Within the web guide unit 18, the second flat tobacco material web 24 is guided, for example, via a web edge guide 40. A web edge guide can also be provided for the first flat tobacco material web 22. With the help of the web edge guide(s), the first and second flat tobacco material webs 22, 24 can be laid precisely longitudinal edge to longitudinal edge. In other words, the longitudinal edges of the two flat tobacco material webs 22, 24 are placed on top of one another. A further web edge guide can also be provided for the multi-layer flat web 28. The additive flat web 26 is placed between the first and second flat tobacco material webs 22, 24. This is also unwound from a reel 38. A web edge guide can be dispensed with for the additive flat web 26, which does not mean that a web edge guide is nevertheless provided for the additive flat web 26, for example.Web edge control is typically provided to prevent the formation of narrow edge strips in the separating device 20 following the web guide unit 18. In the separating device 20, the multi-layer flat web 28 is separated into multi-layer longitudinal strips 30. If the multi-layer flat web 28 is fed to the separating device 20 in such a way that narrow edge strips are formed, these may tear off and be lost to the production process or cause disruptions in the production process. For the additive flat web 26, web edge control can advantageously be dispensed with, since even if narrow additive strips are formed, they are conveyed along with the longitudinal tobacco material strips and can practically not lead to disruptions in the production process.

[0055] The multi-layer flat web 28 is preferably located directly upstream of the separating device 20. For example, the flat webs 22, 24, 26 are brought together by the separating device 20. However, additional guide rollers can also be provided to bring the flat webs 22, 24, 26 together.

[0056] The separating device 20 is, for example, a circular knife cutting device. A device can also be provided as the separating device 20, with which the flat webs are separated into longitudinal strips by overstretching the flat webs locally and transversely to their longitudinal direction to such an extent that they tear apart in a defined manner along a separating line. Such a separating device 20 is known, for example, from DE 10 2019 125 295.4 of the applicant. The separating device 20 can also be designed such that adjacent strips are connected to one another via webs.

[0057] Fig. 2 shows a simplified perspective view of a web cutting unit 42, which can be designed as part of the rod content provision unit 6. A flat web 44 of tobacco material is fed to the web cutting unit 42. Via various deflection rollers (not shown in more detail) and dancers 46 provided to maintain the web tension, the flat web 44 reaches a disc knife device 48, which separates the flat web 44 into a first flat tobacco material web 22 and a second flat tobacco material web 24. The subsequent deflection rollers form a web guide unit 18, with which the first and second flat tobacco material webs 22, 24 are guided and finally brought together. The additive flat web 26, which is fed from below via a dancer 46, is embedded between the first and second flat tobacco material webs 22, 24. In this way, the multi-layer flat web 28 can be provided.

[0058] The web cutting unit 42 is therefore arranged upstream of the web guide unit 18. From the disc cutter device 48 onward, the web cutting unit 42 merges into the web guide unit 18. The partial webs created from the flat web 44 downstream of the disc cutter device 48 are considered from this moment onward as the first and second flat tobacco material webs 22, 24.

[0059] According to a further exemplary embodiment, the rod content provision unit 6 is configured such that it comprises a web folding unit 50. This is shown in the simplified perspective view of Fig. 3. The web folding unit 50 is also arranged upstream of the web guide unit 18 and is configured to fold a flat web 44 lengthwise onto one another within a folding section 52 extending in a longitudinal direction L of the flat web 44 along a folding line that also runs in the longitudinal direction L of the flat web 44. The flat web 44 is folded onto one another such that partial regions of a single flat side of the flat web 44 located on both sides of the folding line, for example from its upper side, face one another, in other words, lie on one another. The sections of the flat web 44 located on both sides of the folding line now form the first and second flat tobacco material webs 22, 24.A web guide unit 18, which is not shown in Fig. 3, is designed to place the additive flat web 26 within the folding section 52 between the first and the second tobacco material flat web 22, 24.

[0060] The web folding unit 50 includes, for example, a guide plate 54, which forms the folding edge in the flat web 44 and ensures that the flat web folds onto itself as described above. The guide plate 54 can also be used to place the additive flat web 26 between the two flat tobacco material flat webs 22, 24.

[0061] According to a further embodiment, a strip release device 56 is arranged between the separating device 20 and the rod-forming unit 10 (see Fig. 1). The strip release device 56 is, in particular, pneumatically operated and releases the multi-layer longitudinal strips 30 from their multi-layer structure. In other words, the multi-layer structure can be separated, for example, with a blast of compressed air, so that individual longitudinal strips of tobacco material and of the additive flat web are present. Such separation takes place, for example, on a conveyor support 34. The conveyor support preferably has lateral boundaries and / or a device for generating an air cushion for the multi-layer longitudinal strips to be conveyed.

[0062] Fig. 4 shows, in a schematically simplified cross-sectional view, a preferred embodiment of the multi-layer flat web 28, which is to be divided into multi-layer longitudinal strips 30 by the separating device 20. This comprises the first and second flat tobacco material webs 22, 24 and the additive flat web 26 arranged therebetween. The tobacco material flat webs 22, 24 are arranged such that their outer edges 58 lie flush with one another. For this purpose, a corresponding web edge control is provided. Viewed in the cross section shown in Fig. 4, a width of the additive flat web 26 is preferably less than the width of the tobacco material flat web 22, 24. Figure 6 shows the multi-layer flat web 28 and exemplary separating lines which are created by the separating device 20 and divide the multi-layer flat web 28 into multi-layer longitudinal strips 30.

[0063] Fig. 5 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of a rod-shaped article 16. This article comprises, in cross-section, a plurality of longitudinal tobacco material strips and several additive longitudinal strips 60. The tobacco material longitudinal strips are not shown for reasons of clarity, but it is clearly visible that the additive longitudinal strips 60 are homogeneously distributed in the cross-section. The article 16 is provided, for example, with a wrapping material strip 62, such as a wrapping paper or the like.

[0064] Fig. 7 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of a rod-shaped article 16. In cross-section, this article comprises a plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips 30, which comprise longitudinal strips of tobacco material and longitudinal strips of additives 60. In this embodiment, the longitudinal strips of additives 60 are also homogeneously distributed in the cross-section. The article 16 is provided, for example, with a wrapping material strip 62, such as a wrapping paper or the like.

[0065] 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.

[0066] List of reference symbols

[0067] 2 Device

[0068] 4 strand

[0069] 6 strand content delivery unit

[0070] 8 Material strand, preferably designed as a spread or at least partially gathered cut multi-layer flat web

[0071] 10 strand forming unit

[0072] 12 format unit

[0073] 14 Cutting device

[0074] 16 articles

[0075] 18 Web guide unit

[0076] 20 Separator

[0077] 22 first tobacco material flat web

[0078] 24 second tobacco material flat web

[0079] 26 additive flat web

[0080] 28 multi-layer flat web

[0081] 30 multi-layer longitudinal strips

[0082] 32 pairs of transport rollers

[0083] 34 funding requirements

[0084] 36 Flat track preparation unit

[0085] 38 reels

[0086] 40 Web edge control

[0087] 42 web separation unit

[0088] 44 flat track

[0089] 46 dancers

[0090] 48 Disc knife device

[0091] 50 web folding unit

[0092] 52 folding section

[0093] 54 guide plate

[0094] 56 Strip removal device

[0095] 58 outer edges

[0096] 60 additive longitudinal strips, additive layer 62 wrapping material

[0097] L longitudinal direction

Claims

Device and method for producing a strand from a multi-layer flat web and rod-shaped articles Patent claims 1. A device (2) for producing a rod (4) in the tobacco processing industry, comprising a rod content supply unit (6) configured to supply a material rod (8) to a downstream rod forming unit (10), characterized in that the rod content supply unit (6) comprises a web guide unit (18) and a separating device (20), wherein the web guide unit (18) is configured to join a first tobacco material flat web (22), an additive flat web (26), and a second tobacco material flat web (24) to form a common multi-layer flat web (28), in which the additive flat web (26) is embedded between the first and the second tobacco material flat web (22, 24), and to feed the multi-layer flat web (28) to the separating device (20), wherein the separating device (20) is configured toto separate the multi-layer flat web (28) into a plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips (30) and to produce this plurality of multi-layer, Providing longitudinal strips (30) as a material strand (8) to the strand-forming unit (10). Device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the strand content provision unit (6) comprises a web-separating unit (42) which is arranged upstream of the web-guiding unit (18) and is configured to separate a flat tobacco material web (22, 24) lengthwise and to provide the resulting partial webs as first and second flat tobacco material webs (22, 24) to the web-guiding unit (18).Device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the strand content provision unit (6) comprises a web folding unit (50) which is arranged upstream of the web guide unit (18) and is designed to fold a flat web (44) lengthwise onto one another within a folding section (52) extending in a longitudinal direction of the flat web (44) along a folding line which also runs in the longitudinal direction (L) of the flat web (44), so that partial regions of a single flat side of the flat web (44) lying on both sides of the folding line face one another, wherein the sections of the flat web (44) present on both sides of the folding line form the first and the second flat tobacco material web (22, 24), and the web guide unit (18) is designed to position the additive flat web (26) between the first and the second flat tobacco material web (22, 24) within the folding section (52).Device (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the web folding unit (50) comprises a guide plate (54) which forms a folding edge which is designed to introduce the folding line into the flat tobacco material web (44), wherein the partial regions of the single flat side of the flat web (44) lying on both sides of the folding line are guided on mutually opposite sides of the guide plate (54).

5. Device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the web guide unit (18) is realized without a web edge control for the additive flat web (26).

6. Device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a longitudinal strip release device (56), in particular a pneumatically operated longitudinal strip release device (56), is arranged between the separating device (20) and the strand forming unit (10), which is designed to at least partially release the multi-layer longitudinal strips (30) from their multi-layer structure.

7. A method for producing a rod (4) of the tobacco processing industry comprising the following steps: - providing a flat web (44), preferably a first flat web of tobacco material (22) and a second flat web of tobacco material (24), - providing an additive flat sheet (26) having a top side and a bottom side, - conveying and arranging the flat web (44) and the additive flat web (26) to form a multi-layer flat web (28), wherein the top and bottom of the additive flat web (26) in connection with the flat web (44), preferably the top of the additive flat web (26) with the first tobacco material flat web (22) and the bottom of the additive flat web (26) with the second tobacco material flat web (24), - separating the multi-layer flat web (28) into multi-layer longitudinal strips, preferably into multi-layer longitudinal strips connected to one another in sections, preferably with a width between 0.5 mm and 4 mm, particularly preferably between 0.8 mm and 2 mm, and - Forming the multi-layer longitudinal strips (30) into a strand (4). Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the flat web (44) is separated lengthwise to form two partial webs, namely the first and second flat tobacco material webs (22, 24). Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the flat web (44) is folded lengthwise onto one another within a folding section extending in a longitudinal direction (L) of the flat web (44) along a folding line also running in the longitudinal direction (L) of the flat web (44), so that the partial regions of a single flat side of the flat web (44) located on both sides of the folding line face one another, wherein the partial regions of the flat web (44) located on both sides of the folding line form the first and second flat tobacco material webs (22, 24), and the web guide unit (18) positions the additive flat web (26) within the folding section between the first and second flat tobacco material webs (22, 24).Method according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the additive flat web (26) has a smaller width than the flat web (44) and / or the first tobacco material flat web (22) and / or the second tobacco material flat web (24). Method according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the multi-layer longitudinal strips (30) are at least partially released from their multi-layer structure by a longitudinal strip release device (56), in particular a pneumatically operated longitudinal strip release device (56). Method for producing a rod (4) in the tobacco processing industry, using a device (2) in the tobacco processing industry according to at least one of claims 1 to 6. A rod-shaped article (16) of the tobacco processing industry, produced from a strand (4) of the tobacco processing industry produced by a method according to one of claims 7 to 12. A rod-shaped smoking article of the tobacco processing industry with a mouth-side end and a distal end, wherein a filter element is arranged at the mouth-side end, and wherein the rod-shaped smoking article has an aerosol-forming segment which is a multi-layer longitudinal strip (30) with at least three layers, preferably with two tobacco-containing layers made of at least a first flat sheet of tobacco material and / or a second flat sheet of tobacco material, and / or preferably with an additive layer (60) made of an additive flat sheet, wherein the multi-layer longitudinal strip has a width between 0.5 mm and 4 mm, wherein in a multi-layer longitudinal strip the additive layer (60) particularly preferably has a smaller width than one or both tobacco-containing layers.Rod-shaped smoking article according to claim 14, characterized in that the aerosol-forming segment has at least 4, 8, 10 c of the 20 multi-layer longitudinal strips (30) and / or preferably the additive layer (60) has a proportion of glycerol and / or propylene glycol of at least 30%, preferably 50% or particularly preferably at least 60%, wherein the proportion describes the ratio of the mass of glycerol and / or propylene glycol to the dry mass of the additive layer (60) and is at least 0.3, preferably 0.5 or particularly preferably 0.6.

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