Inner liner winding drum with packing drum

Abstract

Method for conveying a first single-layer mass stream (21) formed from rod-shaped articles (30), in particular from the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped articles (30) are conveyed on a conveying device (10) in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles (30), thereby forming the first mass stream (21), wherein further rod-shaped articles (30), in particular from the tobacco processing industry, are conveyed on the conveying device (10) in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles (30), thereby forming a second single-layer mass stream (22), wherein on the conveying device (10) the first mass stream (21) is conveyed on a first lane (26) and the second mass stream (22) is conveyed on a second lane, which is further developed by forming groups (32, 33) of rod-shaped articles (30) from the two mass streams (21, 22).wherein containers (73) made of a covering material (80) are formed simultaneously with the groups (32, 33) of rod-shaped articles (30) and the groups (32, 33) of rod-shaped articles (30) are inserted into the containers (73) so that the latter is conveyed further as a block (70).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for conveying a first single-layer mass flow formed from rod-shaped articles, in particular from the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped articles are conveyed on a conveying device in a direction which is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles, as a result of which the first mass flow is formed, wherein further rod-shaped articles, in particular from the tobacco processing industry, are conveyed on the conveying device in a direction which is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles, as a result of which a second single-layer mass flow is formed, wherein the first mass flow is conveyed on a first path and the second mass flow is conveyed on a second path on the conveying device.

[0002] The invention further relates to a container forming device for the tobacco processing industry, comprising a winding drum with a plurality of winding elements around which wrapping material can be formed. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of such a container forming device in such a method.

[0003] When manufacturing and packaging rod-shaped articles, the aim in various industries, and especially in the tobacco processing industry, is to produce finished products that use as few resources as possible. Finished products can be rod-shaped articles placed in packs, such as filter cigarettes or heat-not-burn products. For example, packaging is provided for this purpose that contains eight to sixteen heat-not-burn rod-shaped products, which are placed in two layers in a package. Typically, the packaging has an inner liner made of a wrapping material, such as paper, with the inner liner then placed in an outer packaging or another packaging. The inner liner can be fully sealed, i.e., have not only a base and side walls, but also a lid. However, the inner liner can also be provided without a lid.

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to provide rod-shaped articles which are incorporated into a wrapping material in a resource-saving and efficient manner.

[0005] This object is achieved by a method for conveying a first single-layer mass flow formed from rod-shaped articles, in particular from the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped articles are conveyed on a conveying device in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles, whereby the first mass flow is formed, wherein further rod-shaped articles, in particular from the tobacco processing industry, are conveyed on the conveying device in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles, whereby a second single-layer mass flow is formed, wherein the first mass flow is conveyed on the conveying device on a first track and the second mass flow is conveyed on a second track, which is further developed in that groups of sets of rod-shaped articles are formed from the two mass flows,whereby containers made of a wrapping material are formed simultaneously with the groups of rod-shaped articles and the groups of rod-shaped articles are inserted into the containers so that they are conveyed further as blocks.

[0006] Here, the term "simultaneous" implies that, in particular, the containers are formed during the conveying of the rod-shaped products in the two mass flows, so that shortly after the containers are formed, they are also used to insert rod-shaped articles. The time interval is preferably less than one minute, particularly preferably less than ten seconds, especially less than two seconds.

[0007] In particular, this means that groups of sets of rod-shaped articles are formed from the two mass flows, preferably that groups of two sets of rod-shaped articles are formed, whereby these groups of rod-shaped articles from the two sets can be designed in different ways, for example such that a group of rod-shaped articles from one set is arranged below the rod-shaped articles from the other set, so that the rod-shaped articles from the sets lie one above the other, so to speak. When forming groups from sets or from two sets, the rod-shaped articles can also be arranged such that a rod-shaped article from the first set is arranged alternately with a rod-shaped article from the second set in the group.

[0008] Within the scope of the invention, it is preferably provided that a group of rod-shaped articles is inserted into a container so that this group is conveyed further with the container as a block.

[0009] Preferably, each group comprises a predeterminable number of rod-shaped articles, with n rod-shaped articles from the first mass flow being assigned to the group as the first set and m rod-shaped articles from the second mass flow being assigned to the group as the second set. m and n are natural numbers, where m = n, preferably, or preferably, m = n+1 or n-1.

[0010] Preferably, the orientation of the rod-shaped articles in the first and second sets is the same. Orientation refers, in particular, to the sequence of segments of the rod-shaped articles.

[0011] It is also possible that there is no clear relationship between the rod-shaped articles from the first mass flow and the second mass flow in terms of their position in the group that is introduced into the container. For example, the first set of rod-shaped articles from the first mass flow and the second set of rod-shaped articles from the second mass flow can be converted into a single, single-layer mass flow, for example by alternately arranging a rod-shaped article from the first set and the second set one behind the other in the conveying direction. This also creates a pitch reduction when conveying the rod-shaped articles, for example. The rod-shaped articles from the first set and the second set are thus alternately placed or moved onto the single mass flow that is then formed.Subsequently, a part of this group thus formed from the rod-shaped articles of the first set and the second set is, for example, partially pivoted in order to be placed on the other part and introduced into the container.

[0012] Preferably, the rod-shaped articles of the first mass flow are re-sorted such that a gap of n rod-shaped articles is provided in the first mass flow and an uninterrupted sequence of axn (a multiplied by n) rod-shaped articles, wherein the rod-shaped articles of the second mass flow are re-sorted such that a gap of m rod-shaped articles and an uninterrupted sequence of bxm (b multiplied by m) rod-shaped articles is provided in the second mass flow. Here, a and b are also natural numbers and depend on how seamlessly the first mass flow and the second mass flow can be produced. The more gaps of rod-shaped articles there are, the smaller a and b will be. This will be explained in more detail below. If m = n, preferably a = b. Preferably, m and n are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.

[0013] The first mass flow preferably comprises ax number of first sets, and the second mass flow preferably comprises bx number of second sets, in an uninterrupted sequence, followed typically by a gap the size of a first set in the first mass flow and a gap the size of a second set in the second mass flow. The two empty sets are preferably parallel to each other or in the same location.

[0014] Preferably, the gaps in the mass flows run essentially parallel. Thus, the gaps are preferably at the same location along the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles or are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the articles.

[0015] Preferably, in the event of a gap, a container is omitted during container production. Thus, the production of the containers is preferably adjusted in terms of time and location so that no empty packaging enters the process. To this end, production is preferably simply interrupted during container production so that no wrapping material section from which a container is being formed is wasted. For this purpose, a folding cycle in a container forming device can be omitted. Alternatively, it is of course also possible to ensure that the container, especially one that has already been partially formed, is removed from the process.

[0016] Preferably, before inserting the groups of rod-shaped articles into the containers, the two-lane mass flows are converted into a single-lane mass flow. This allows for a very space-saving packaging device.

[0017] The conversion of the two-lane mass streams into a single-lane mass stream can take place shortly before the packaging device. However, this can also take place in a conveyor device that has a sorting device, which is described below, in the general part of the description as well as in the description of the figures, in particular the Fig. 10, 11 , 12 and 13 as well as the Fig. 3 Here, the delivery of the sets of rod-shaped articles can be arranged in such a way that they are designed as a single-lane, single-layer mass flow. For this purpose, for example, a staggering drum and a sliding drum or a staggering / sliding drum can be connected to the base drum 40 as a transfer drum, by means of which the rod-shaped articles are staggered transversely and then shifted into a single-lane mass flow.

[0018] Preferably, shortly before the group of rod-shaped articles is inserted into the containers, a first part of the group is pivoted out of the single-lane mass flow and placed on a second part of the group. This preferably occurs on a packaging device. The pivoting preferably occurs around a pivot axis parallel to a rotation axis of the packaging device.

[0019] Preferably, after the groups of rod-shaped articles have been inserted into the containers, the containers are closed. A lid is therefore preferably provided.

[0020] Preferably the container is an inner liner.

[0021] Subsequently, the containers filled with rod-shaped articles are preferably fed as blocks to a storage device of the tobacco processing industry, which is designed and configured to temporarily store groups of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, formed as blocks and placed in packaging material, in order to then preferably completely package them. Reference is made to the patent application entitled "Storage Device and Machine of the Tobacco Processing Industry," also filed today by the applicant.

[0022] The storage device is designed and configured to temporarily store groups of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, which are formed as blocks and inserted into packaging material, wherein the storage device comprises at least one channel into which the blocks can be inserted linearly one after the other, wherein the at least one channel is designed to be sloping, so that the blocks slide up to a stop of the storage device.

[0023] The storage device comprises a storage device, which is preferably designed as a first in - first out storage device. In addition, the storage device preferably comprises an insertion selector, by means of which the blocks can be introduced into a channel inlet of the storage device, wherein the insertion selector can be pivoted vertically or laterally such that its outlet is operatively connected to or aligned with a predeterminable or selectable channel inlet of a channel. Preferably, an upward transport device is also provided, which is designed and configured to convey blocks upwards and deliver them into an insertion selector. The storage device preferably comprises a plurality of channels arranged one above the other, in particular parallel one above the other. The storage device further preferably comprises a plurality of channels arranged next to one another, in particular parallel next to one another.Preferably, 3 to 10 columns and 10 to 30 rows of channels are provided.

[0024] The object is further achieved by a container forming device of the tobacco processing industry, comprising a winding drum with a plurality of winding elements around which wrapping material can be formed, each winding element being rotatable about an axis of rotation and having suction air openings, the suction air openings serving to hold wrapping material sections on the winding element, a plurality of folding elements being provided at folding stations, the folding elements folding wrapping material in operative connection with the winding elements, the finished folded containers being or being dispensable at a dispensing station.

[0025] In one embodiment, non-folded or partially folded wrapping material sections are delivered or can be delivered at a discharge station arranged upstream of the delivery station.

[0026] The winding drum is preferably controlled such that it forms the containers in response to a signal emitted by a conveyor or control device. If the conveyor has a gap between two mass flows, as described above and below, such that an empty container would be created upon introduction of rod-shaped articles, a further control signal ensures that no container is formed for this gap at that moment. For example, it can then be ensured that no wrapping material section is removed from the winding drum from a continuous feed process, so that, for example, a winding element on the winding drum can remain empty.

[0027] In addition, the container forming device can be switched on and off by suction air control, depending on whether suction air is required or not. For example, valves can be provided to prevent excessive suction air loss at a winding device that is not processing a wrapping material section. Alternatively, a very large suction air supply can be provided remotely from the winding devices, and the winding devices can each be provided with sufficiently long suction air lines so that the suction air does not collapse at the winding devices that require suction air, provided air is sucked in at the winding device that is not processing a wrapping material section.

[0028] Preferably, the winding element located at the discharge station is retractable for delivering the finished folded containers. In particular, it is preferably provided that the extension of the winding element is reduced perpendicular to the rotational axis of the winding element. For example, a stepper motor can be provided for this purpose, or this can be achieved via control cams.

[0029] To fold the containers, the winding members are preferably rotated, in particular by 90°, as the winding drum rotates. The folding members arranged at the folding stations are provided with at least one pressing surface, the pressing surface being designed to press against the wrapping material section in the direction of the winding member operatively connected to the respective folding member. This allows for the production of very precise containers.

[0030] Preferably, a gluing device, a cutting, embossing and / or perforating device and / or a bottom folding device are arranged upstream of the winding drum in the conveying direction of the wrapping material.

[0031] This allows a strip of wrapping material pulled from a reel to be prepared so that containers can be produced efficiently and safely. A gluing device can ensure that the areas of the wrapping material to be glued are sufficiently glued. A cutting device can make small incisions in the wrapping material. An embossing and / or perforating device can ensure that preferred folding edges are provided (through embossing), and the perforating device can ensure that predetermined breaking points or separation points are provided for pulling wrapping material sections from the strip. Furthermore, the bottom folding device folds over the bottom of the wrapping material sections so that it only needs to be pressed down once later to ensure the stability of the container base.

[0032] The winding elements preferably have a rectangular cross-section. In particular, the cross-section is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the winding elements.

[0033] The folding members are preferably designed as cam folding members and / or as pressure rams. Cam folding members can, for example, be designed to press inwardly on the winding member. Inward is preferably in the direction of the rotational axis of the winding drum. A pressure ram can be designed to press on the folding members from the inside outward. For example, it is provided that the pressure rams are radially linearly displaceable or radially linearly movable in order to be able to be in a pressing operative connection with the winding member depending on the position of the winding member.

[0034] Furthermore, the cam folding members are preferably square, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, or octagonal in cross-section, with recesses, particularly those shaped like circular segments, being provided at the edges. The cross-section is preferably square, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, or octagonal perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

[0035] The rotation axes of the winding elements and / or the cam-folding elements are preferably parallel to the rotation axis of the winding drum. Recesses on the edges of the cam-folding elements serve to prevent unnecessary indentation of the container edges during the container forming process.

[0036] The pressing rams are preferably designed to be linearly and radially movable. These rams are particularly designed to be assigned to a winding member and to press against the winding member. Preferably, a pressing ram is provided for each winding member of the winding drum. The respective pressing ram is arranged radially from the winding member toward the center of the winding drum.

[0037] The winding drum preferably has pressure rams designed as slides, which are accommodated in slide guides. The slides serve to press against a formed base of a container or a wrapping material section during the winding of the wrapping material section into a container. The slide can be heated or equipped with a heater, in particular to assist the setting of an adhesive on the wrapping material section.

[0038] Preferably, a carriage is provided for each winding element in a carriage guide. Furthermore, the carriage can have suction air openings provided in the direction of the winding element. This makes it possible to remove a finished container from the winding element using the carriage. The carriage can be moved linearly in the carriage guide. In particular, the carriage guides are provided on the circumference of the winding drum. The carriage can be moved linearly in the carriage guide parallel to the rotational axis of the winding drum.

[0039] Preferably, a combination of a packing drum and a winding drum is provided, wherein the rotational axis of the packing drum and the rotational axis of the winding drum coincide, i.e., are coaxial. This combination can also be referred to as a packing-winding drum. Such a packing-winding drum can wind and produce containers, for example, from an inner liner, in a very small space and very efficiently, which can then be filled with groups of rod-shaped articles immediately after production. This all preferably takes place on a common device.

[0040] Preferably, a container forming device according to the invention is used in a method according to the invention.

[0041] Conveyor systems are used in various industries to convey rod-shaped articles from an input station to an output station. The articles should ideally arrive at the output station in a complete and unbroken batch. In the tobacco processing industry, for example, cigarettes are produced in a production machine as the input station and transported in a continuous product or mass flow to the area of ​​the transport device. The mass flow is transferred from the transport device or conveyor system to a packaging machine as the output station. Since each package can and should hold a defined number of articles that are grouped together in a batch or block, gaps on the conveyor system are undesirable as they complicate or delay filling the packages.

[0042] To avoid gaps on the conveyor system directly upstream of the packaging machine, a disordered, multi-layered mass flow can be transported to the packaging machine using a conveyor system, with the items being separated again before packaging. However, such multi-layered mass flows have the disadvantage of reducing the quality of the items. Furthermore, separating items before packaging is highly prone to failure.

[0043] Therefore, other methods and devices are known by which a single-layer, orderly mass flow can be conveyed. However, the mass flow can contain gaps for various reasons. For example, items, in this example cigarettes, can be sampled individually or in groups or, if appropriate quality control is in place, rejected due to a negative test result. Furthermore, a malfunction, particularly in the input station, can lead to defects in the troughs of transport elements or gaps in the single-layer mass flow. Therefore, various methods and devices are known by which the described defects or gaps can be closed or compensated.

[0044] US Pat. No. 5,366,064 A discloses a device comprising multiple receiving and / or transfer drums and a filling drum. In the event of a gap in the mass flow, multiple articles are fed by a transport element consisting of a receiving drum and a filling drum. Articles are ejected from the filling drum into a storage chute. A receiving drum located behind the storage chute guides the ejected articles to a transfer drum. The articles lie in receptacles on the transfer drum, from which they are mechanically ejected for return / transfer to the transport element.

[0045] From DE 10 2005 034 245 A1 a transport device for transporting a single-layer mass flow formed from rod-shaped articles from an input station to an output station is known, comprising a transport element with troughs for receiving the articles transversely to the transport direction, wherein the transport element is assigned a device for compensating gaps on the transport element, wherein the device comprises a filling drum and a transfer drum, wherein both the filling drum and the transport element can be brought into operative connection with the transfer drum.

[0046] A method and a device are specified by means of which rod-shaped articles are conveyed and sorted efficiently and gently, so that the rod-shaped articles can be packaged in a resource-saving and safe manner.

[0047] One embodiment is a method for conveying a first single-layer mass flow formed from rod-shaped articles, in particular from the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped articles are conveyed on a conveying device in a direction that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles, whereby the first mass flow is formed, wherein the method is further developed in that further rod-shaped articles, in particular from the tobacco processing industry, are conveyed on the conveying device in a direction that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles, whereby a second single-layer mass flow is formed, wherein on the conveying device the first mass flow is conveyed on a first track and the second mass flow is conveyed on a second track, wherein individual selectable rod-shaped articles are shifted or displaced from one track to the other track.

[0048] This process allows the total number of rod-shaped articles conveyed by the two mass flows to be equalized. Preferably, the first and second tracks run parallel to each other.

[0049] Preferably, the first mass flow and the second mass flow run on paths parallel to each other.

[0050] Preferably, the individual selectable rod-shaped articles are shifted or relocated from one track to the other while maintaining the orientation of the rod-shaped articles. The shifting or relocating is preferably possible in both directions. The shifting or relocating preferably takes place in a longitudinal axial direction, i.e., in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped article to be shifted or relocated, in particular in a receiving trough of a conveyor element in which the rod-shaped article is conveyed transversely axially. It is possible to shift or relocate a rod-shaped article from the first track to the second track, or vice versa, in the receiving trough.

[0051] One embodiment is a method for conveying two single-layer mass flows formed from rod-shaped articles, in particular from the tobacco processing industry, which provides the following method steps: Conveying the rod-shaped articles in a direction which is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles on a conveying device, wherein on the conveying device the mass flows are each conveyed on a track which runs parallel to one another, wherein individually selectable rod-shaped articles are shifted from one track to the other track.

[0052] Preferably, the rod-shaped articles are displaced longitudinally axially, in particular preferably in a trough or receiving trough of the conveying device. In particular, the rod-shaped articles are arranged longitudinally axially one behind the other in the troughs, wherein an article of the first mass flow and an article of the second mass flow can be arranged in the same trough. There is also a combination in which an article is provided in one mass flow and an empty space or gap exists in the same trough of the conveying device. It can also be provided that empty spaces are present in the two mass flows at the same location, i.e. in particular in the same trough of the conveying device.

[0053] The conveying device can be designed as a balancing drum. Balancing the two mass flows can also be achieved on a balancing conveyor belt, with the conveyor belt having receiving troughs for the rod-shaped articles of the two mass flows.

[0054] Preferably, the selectable rod-shaped articles are moved into empty spaces. Within the scope of the invention, empty space also refers to a gap.

[0055] Preferably, the shifting balances the total number of rod-shaped articles conveyed by the two mass flows. For this purpose, in particular, the total number of articles in one lane and the total number of articles in the other lane are calculated, and shifting or relocating the articles from one lane to the other lane ensures that the totals are as equal as possible. Preferably, the total number of rod-shaped articles conveyed by the respective mass flows is balanced. Preferably, the total is calculated over a predeterminable period of time and / or a predeterminable number of consecutive pickups for the rod-shaped articles.

[0056] Preferably, at least some of the voids in the mass flows arise from the exclusion of defective rod-shaped articles, which have been preemptively eliminated, in particular by inspecting the properties of the rod-shaped articles and determining that the respective inspected rod-shaped articles do not meet the desired standards. This creates the voids or gaps in the mass flows.

[0057] By balancing the total number of rod-shaped articles conveyed by the first mass flow and the total number of rod-shaped articles conveyed by the second mass flow, it is possible for the sets of rod-shaped articles subsequently assembled into blocks, with one set being formed from the first mass flow and the second set from the second mass flow, to be formed with a higher probability into a complete block for filling into a container, for example, the inner liner of a cigarette pack. Thus, significantly fewer rod-shaped articles are rejected during packaging.

[0058] Preferably, the rod-shaped articles in the two mass flows are monitored and counted, and if a threshold value of a different number of rod-shaped articles in the two mass flows is exceeded, the rod-shaped articles are shifted. For example, a threshold value can be two rod-shaped articles, three rod-shaped articles, or just one rod-shaped article.

[0059] Preferably, image recognition of the mass flows is performed, specifically across multiple rod-shaped articles of each mass flow, to enable more precise balancing. Instead of image recognition, mechanical detection, for example, via a sensor, optical detection, for example, via a light barrier, capacitive measurement, and / or microwave measurement of the rod-shaped articles can be performed to enable reliable balancing.

[0060] One embodiment of a sorting device has a base drum that receives a first mass flow and a second mass flow of rod-shaped articles. For this purpose, receiving troughs are provided, in each of which an article from the first mass flow and one from the second mass flow can be arranged one behind the other along the longitudinal axis. Sorting drums are provided that move rod-shaped products from a mass flow in such a way that a further transverse axial movement is superimposed in order to enable a trough offset of this rod-shaped article on the base drum. For this purpose, one sorting drum or the sorting drums have a trough-free area that serves to turn or rotate the respective sorting drum at a different speed than the transfer drum at the moment the trough-free area is opposite a transfer drum.This allows a transverse axial offset of the rod-shaped articles held in the troughs of the sorting drum to be achieved in the transverse axial direction.

[0061] Preferably, the sorting device is memory-free. In particular, no storage chute is required, enabling continuous operation of the sorting device, which significantly increases reliability and process speed.

[0062] One embodiment is a method for conveying a first single-layer mass flow formed from rod-shaped articles, in particular from the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped articles are conveyed on a conveying device in a direction which is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles, as a result of which the first mass flow is formed, wherein the rod-shaped articles of the first mass flow are re-sorted by means of a sorting device such that a predeterminable number of consecutive gaps are provided in the first mass flow and a predeterminable number of consecutive rod-shaped articles without gaps are provided, wherein for this purpose a rotational movement of a first sorting drum is controlled such that it temporarily has a different peripheral speed than a transfer drum which can be brought into operative connection with the first sorting drum.

[0063] To change the peripheral speed of the first sorting drum, a superimposed speed is added to the base speed. This speed is not constant, i.e., variable and preferably adapted to the conditions. This results in a temporarily different peripheral speed of the first sorting drum compared to the transfer drum. The transfer drum is preferably operated at a constant peripheral speed, which essentially corresponds to the conveying speed of the first mass flow.

[0064] Preferably, a rod-shaped article removed from a receiving trough of the transfer drum by the first sorting drum can be or is deposited into another trough of the transfer drum. This results in, in particular, a trough offset that can range from -10 to +10 troughs; in particular, the trough offset is up to -8 to +8 troughs, further preferably up to -6 to +6 troughs, further preferably up to -4 to +4 troughs. The invention, in particular, eliminates a deterministic assignment of a trough of the transfer drum to a trough of the sorting drum.

[0065] Preferably, when removing and / or delivering rod-shaped products from the transfer drum and / or onto the transfer drum, the peripheral speed of the first sorting drum substantially corresponds to the peripheral speed of the transfer drum.

[0066] Preferably, a trough-free area is provided on the circumference of the first sorting drum, wherein the peripheral speed of the first sorting drum differs from the peripheral speed of the transfer drum when the trough-free area borders the transfer drum. The trough-free area is preferably approximately 180°, i.e., half the circumference of the first sorting drum.

[0067] Preferably, the trough-free area is provided between 1 / 3 and 2 / 3 of the circumference of the first sorting drum.

[0068] In one embodiment, a sorting drum has a region with troughs and a region without troughs around the circumference of the sorting drum, with the trough-free region extending over between 1 / 3 and 2 / 3 of the circumference of the sorting drum, with the radius of the sorting drum being smaller in the trough-free region than in the region with troughs. Preferably, the trough-free region extends over between 4 / 10 and 6 / 10, in particular over 1 / 2, of the circumference of the sorting drum.

[0069] Preferably, the first mass flow is guided over a base drum, wherein the mass flow is conveyed for more than one complete revolution on the base drum. In particular, the transfer drum has a trough spacing that is as large as the trough spacing on the base drum, and in particular, the spacing of the rod-shaped articles conveyed to the base drum is twice as large as the trough spacing on the base drum. This makes it possible for the rod-shaped articles to complete almost two revolutions on the base drum, so that they can be manipulated, removed, and / or placed on the base drum at least twice.

[0070] The base drum preferably has an odd number of receiving cavities. The transfer drum preferably has an even or odd number of receiving cavities.

[0071] In particular, the rod-shaped articles of the second mass flow are re-sorted by the sorting device such that a predeterminable number of consecutive gaps are provided in the second mass flow and a predeterminable number of consecutive rod-shaped articles are provided. For this purpose, a second sorting drum is provided, which has the same functionality as the first sorting drum as described above and receives and discharges rod-shaped articles of the second mass flow. Re-sorting by the sorting device makes it possible to form sets of rod-shaped articles without gaps, which can later be pushed into containers so that a complete number of rod-shaped articles are placed in the containers.

[0072] If there are not enough rod-shaped articles in the mass flows, an empty block is created, i.e., the number of consecutive empty spaces or gaps in the first and second mass flows is provided that would allow a container to be completely unfilled. In this case, the used container can simply be discarded, so that no rod-shaped article needs to be discarded, or simply no container is provided, so that no empty container needs to be discarded.

[0073] Preferably, a rod-shaped article removed from one receiving trough of the transfer drum by the second sorting drum can be deposited into another receiving trough of the transfer drum. Here, too, the trough offset can be configured in the same way as when the first sorting drum interacts with the transfer drum. Here, too, the deterministic assignment is eliminated.

[0074] Preferably, when removing and / or delivering rod-shaped articles from the transfer drum and / or onto the transfer drum, the peripheral speed of the second sorting drum substantially corresponds to the peripheral speed of the transfer drum.

[0075] Preferably, a trough-free area is provided on the circumference of the second sorting drum, wherein in particular the circumferential speed of the second sorting drum deviates from the circumferential speed of the transfer drum when the trough-free area borders on the transfer drum.

[0076] Furthermore, the second mass flow is preferably guided over a base drum, wherein the second mass flow is conveyed for more than one complete revolution on the base drum, wherein in particular the transfer drum has a trough spacing which is as large as the trough spacing on the base drum, wherein in particular the spacing of the rod-shaped articles fed to the base drum is twice as large as the trough spacing of the base drum.

[0077] The base drum is thus preferably designed so that the first and second mass flows can be conveyed. For this purpose, the receiving troughs of the base drum preferably have a length that is at least twice as long as the rod-shaped articles.

[0078] Preferably, a first set of n consecutive rod-shaped articles is formed from the first mass flow, and a second set of m consecutive rod-shaped articles, where n and m are integers, is formed from the second mass flow as a block on a packing drum, wherein, in particular, the sets are arranged in a transverse axial alignment or in a substantially transverse axial alignment on the packing drum. m and n can be the same or different and can range between 4 and 14. For example, m can be 10 and n can also be 10. The exemplary embodiments are essentially explained using this example (number m, n = 10 and m, n = 5).

[0079] Preferably, the sets are arranged and / or conveyed in an increasingly aligned transverse axial direction on their way to the packing drum. As a result, the rod-shaped articles of the sets are increasingly arranged one behind the other in a transverse axial alignment, thus simplifying subsequent transfer into a container that is preferably rectangular in cross-section.

[0080] Preferably, the packing drum rotates at a constant base speed over which a variable speed is superimposed. This allows for the provision of edges between the sets and a faster rotation at the moment the edges are opposite to an adjacent drum.

[0081] Preferably, the sets of a block are arranged on two spaced-apart levels before being inserted into a container. Preferably, the first set is located on a first level and the second set on a second level, with the two levels essentially being spaced apart by a distance that is approximately equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of a rod-shaped article. The levels are at different distances from the rotational axis of the packing drum.

[0082] Preferably, a block can be completely empty. This also preferably eliminates the need for a container into which the empty block would be inserted. This container, which would not be filled, can be removed from the feeder beforehand and later conveyed to the packing drum. Alternatively, a cycle that conveys containers toward the packing drum can be suspended.

[0083] Preferably, to insert a block into a container, the second set is first pushed longitudinally over the first set and then the block from both sets is pushed into the container.

[0084] Preferably, the container is a package, an inner liner, or a chamber of a chamber belt. If the container is a package, it only needs to be closed, and the package can be conveyed further. If the container is an inner liner, this filled inner liner is then pushed into a package, or a package is folded or formed around the inner liner. If the container is a chamber of a chamber belt, the contents of the chamber belt are then pushed into a package or an inner liner.

[0085] One embodiment comprises a conveying device for conveying a first single-layer mass flow formed from rod-shaped articles, in particular from the tobacco processing industry, and a second single-layer mass flow formed from rod-shaped articles, in particular from the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped articles in the mass flows are conveyed transversely axially in a respective path which is further developed in that a conveying element with receiving troughs is provided which is designed to shift or displace selected or selectable rod-shaped articles from one path to the other path.

[0086] Preferably, a control device is provided which sends control signals to the conveyor member so that rod-shaped articles are moved from one track to the other track.

[0087] Preferably, a sensor system is provided that detects empty spaces and / or areas of the web or webs occupied by rod-shaped articles. The sensor system can enable optical detection, microwave measurement, capacitive measurement, and / or mechanical detection.

[0088] Preferably, the conveying member has receiving troughs, wherein a rod-shaped article of the first mass flow and a rod-shaped article of the second mass flow can be received in a receiving trough, wherein a rod-shaped article of the first mass flow and a rod-shaped article of the second mass flow are arranged or can be received one behind the other in a receiving trough in a longitudinal axial direction, wherein there is an empty space in the receiving trough for displacing a rod-shaped article into the path into which the rod-shaped article is to be displaced.

[0089] Preferably, the movement is carried out by means of a burst of compressed air.

[0090] Alternatively, a plunger could also provide the displacement. Preferably, however, a stationary compressed air nozzle is provided, which generates a burst of compressed air whenever a rod-shaped article in the receiving recess moves past the compressed air nozzle and is to be displaced.

[0091] Preferably, a monitoring device is provided which detects or monitors the rod-shaped articles in the tracks, wherein the sum of the rod-shaped articles conveyed by the two mass flows is balanced by the displacement of the rod-shaped articles between the tracks. The monitoring device can count the number of articles in the tracks or the mass flows during detection or monitoring. For example, the monitoring device can be equipped with a photocell or a camera. If a camera is provided, image processing is used to determine which receiving troughs are occupied by rod-shaped articles and where there are empty spaces. The monitoring device detects the rod-shaped articles and empty spaces in the two mass flows, in particular upstream of the conveyor element on which the displacement of the rod-shaped articles takes place.

[0092] The conveyor element can also be designed as a compensating drum. Alternatively, the conveyor element can be configured as a conveyor belt with receiving troughs, on which elements are provided for moving rod-shaped articles.

[0093] Preferably, a testing device is arranged upstream of the conveyor element. The testing device checks at least one property of the conveyed rod-shaped articles and removes defective articles from the respective mass flow. In this context, a "defective" means a rod-shaped article that does not conform to a predefined standard or lies outside predefined tolerances. For example, a cigarette, as a rod-shaped article, could have an incorrect degree of ventilation or a head end from which too much tobacco has trickled out during transport or filling.

[0094] According to one embodiment, a conveying device is formed by a first single-layer mass flow consisting of rod-shaped articles, in particular from the tobacco processing industry, and a second single-layer mass flow consisting of rod-shaped articles, in particular from the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped articles are conveyed in the mass flows transversely axially in one track each, wherein a sorting device is provided by means of which rod-shaped articles from one of the mass flows or both mass flows are or can be displaced transversely axially to a predeterminable number of receiving troughs.

[0095] One embodiment comprises a conveying device which is further developed in that a sorting device is provided which comprises a base drum, a transfer drum and a sorting drum, wherein the base drum has receiving troughs for receiving at least one web of rod-shaped articles in a single-layer mass flow, wherein the receiving troughs are arranged parallel to a rotational axis of the base drum, wherein the transfer drum is designed to transfer rod-shaped articles from the base drum to the sorting drum and to transfer rod-shaped articles from the sorting drum to the base drum, which is further developed in that a control device is provided which controls the peripheral speed of the sorting drum in such a way that the peripheral speed of the sorting drum is temporarily changed compared to the peripheral speed of the transfer drum.

[0096] By changing the peripheral speed of the sorting drum compared to the peripheral speed of the transfer drum, it is possible according to the invention to cancel a deterministic assignment of receiving troughs in the sorting drum to the transfer drum.

[0097] This makes it possible to offset rod-shaped articles held in the transfer drum by a predefined number of troughs. This makes it possible to arrange the rod-shaped articles conveyed in the base drum in such a way that a predefined number of rod-shaped articles are transferred consecutively from the base drum to a subsequent conveyor without a gap.

[0098] Preferably, the control is such that the removal of a rod-shaped article from the transfer drum and the release of the rod-shaped article onto the transfer drum occurs with a predeterminable trough offset. The trough offset is preferably between -10 and +10, in particular up to -8 to +8, in particular up to -6 to +6, in particular up to -5 to +5, furthermore in particular up to -4 to +4, and furthermore in particular up to -3 to +3 or up to -2 to +2.

[0099] The control device is further designed or configured such that when removed from the transfer drum and when placed on the transfer drum, the transfer drum and the sorting drum have the same or substantially the same peripheral speed.

[0100] Preferably, the removal or delivery of rod-shaped articles is assisted by a compressed air blast, in particular in such a way that the rod-shaped article is released from the receiving trough in the transfer drum or the sorting drum not only by terminating the suction air supply, but by a compressed air blast from the receiving trough.

[0101] The sorting drum preferably has a region around its circumference in which troughs are provided and a region that is trough-free, with the trough-free region having a smaller outer radius than the region in which troughs are provided. This allows for very efficient and trouble-free rotation with different peripheral speeds of the transfer drum and the sorting drum, particularly when the trough-free region borders the transfer drum. The outer radius corresponds to the distance of the outer circumference from the axis of rotation.

[0102] Preferably, the base drum has a trough spacing that corresponds to the trough spacing of the transfer drum.

[0103] Preferably, the trough spacing of the base drum is half the spacing of the troughs of a conveyor unit delivering the mass flow or mass flows to the base drum. Thus, only every second trough of the base drum is filled by the mass flow or mass flows from the conveyor unit delivering the rod-shaped articles to the base drum.

[0104] Preferably, the base drum has an odd number of troughs. The other drums can have an even number of troughs or receiving troughs.

[0105] In particular, at least one sorting drum, in particular two sorting drums, is provided for each mass flow. The sorting drums can be provided with rotation axes offset transversely to one another or can also have the same rotation axis. In particular, the depth of a sorting drum is half or approximately half the depth of the transfer drum. In this case, the transfer drum can accommodate rod-shaped articles from two mass flows, whereas each sorting drum can accommodate rod-shaped articles from one mass flow.

[0106] Preferably, the base drum and the transfer drum have troughs of a length that allows space for two rod-shaped articles arranged one behind the other. In particular, the sorting drum has shorter troughs or receiving troughs.

[0107] In the context of this application, troughs are in particular receiving troughs, wherein rod-shaped articles are preferably held in the troughs by suction air.

[0108] One embodiment is a conveyor device in which a packaging device is provided, which is arranged in particular downstream of the base drum, wherein the packaging device is designed to form blocks from a first set of n consecutive rod-shaped articles and a second set of m consecutive rod-shaped articles, where n and m are integers that are ≥ 5, wherein the packaging device has a packing drum that is designed as a polygon in cross-section, wherein the polygon has corners and, between the corners, has sides that are straight or curved outwards, and wherein the sides have n or m troughs arranged next to one another for receiving a set of rod-shaped articles. In particular, the conveyor device has the above features of the conveyor device according to the invention and further developed, which is described above.

[0109] Preferably, the radius of curvature of the outwardly bent sides is larger than the radius of the packing drum, in particular at least twice as large.

[0110] Preferably, the packing drum has two different diameters, so that a set of n consecutive rod-shaped articles is arranged on a different plane than a set of m consecutive rod-shaped articles. Preferably, the packing drum has two different diameters, so that a set of n consecutive receiving troughs for rod-shaped articles is arranged on a different plane than a set of m consecutive receiving troughs for rod-shaped articles.

[0111] The packing drum preferably has a front region and a rear region, with the front region being the region adjacent to a device by means of which containers for holding rod-shaped articles can be conveyed out of the packing drum. The device for conveying the containers can also be part of the packing drum. Preferably, the front region of the packing drum has a smaller diameter than the rear region of the packing drum. This allows the different levels for the sets of rod-shaped articles to be created.

[0112] Particularly preferably, the packaging device comprises conveyor drums arranged upstream of the packing drum, whose cross-sections become more polygonal the closer they are arranged to the packing drum. This makes it possible to ensure a reliable transfer of rod-shaped articles during the conveying process from one conveyor drum to the next conveyor drum up to the packing drum. This is particularly well-achieved when the packing drum rotates at a speed that has a constant base speed overlaid by a variable speed.

[0113] In one embodiment, the packing drum has pivoting elements by means of which a set of rod-shaped articles can be pivoted, whereby, in particular, a set consisting of a single-layer, single-lane stream of rod-shaped articles conveyed cross-axially can be placed onto another set of rod-shaped articles. The pivot axis is preferably parallel to a rotational axis of the packing drum. Preferably, several pivoting elements are provided.

[0114] Preferably, an insertion device is provided that is designed to push the second set of rod-shaped articles over the first set of rod-shaped articles and to push the two sets as a block into a container. Furthermore, the insertion device preferably has an upper guide so that the rod-shaped articles from the second set, which are preferably arranged on an upper level, do not fall out, since the moment the rod-shaped articles are moved, the suction air from the receiving troughs is preferably switched off.

[0115] The insertion device preferably has pushers configured to displace the rod-shaped articles. The pushers are preferably configured such that one rod-shaped article from the first set and one rod-shaped article from the second set can be displaced simultaneously with one pusher, or even two rod-shaped articles from the first set and two rod-shaped articles from the second set can be displaced simultaneously.

[0116] Furthermore, a guide plate is preferably provided, which can be inserted into a container and ensures a tapered cross-section in the direction of the container's insertion movement. The guide plate is temporarily partially inserted into the respective container and preferably protrudes beyond it. The guide plate preferably protrudes horizontally and / or vertically beyond the opening of the container.

[0117] 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.

[0118] 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 representation of a conveying device in a first embodiment, Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of two mass flows and a defragmentation module, Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a sorting device in one embodiment, Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of the interaction of a sorting drum according to the invention with a transfer drum, Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of the rotational speeds of the respective drums over time, Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a drum run to a packing drum and the packing drum with schematic representations of the rotational speeds over time, Fig. 7 is a schematic three-dimensional representation of a packing process, Fig. 8 is a schematic three-dimensional representation of a section of a packing drum, Fig. 9 is a further schematic three-dimensional representation of part of a packing drum, Fig. 10 is a schematic three-dimensional representation of a sorting device, Fig.11the embodiment of the . Fig. 10 in another schematic three-dimensional representation, namely from a different perspective, Fig. 12 a further schematic three-dimensional representation of an embodiment of a sorting device, Fig. 13 a schematic three-dimensional representation of a container forming device according to the invention in interaction with a conveying device in a packing device or packing drum, Fig. 14 a schematic more detailed representation of a container forming device according to the invention, Fig. 15 a schematic detailed representation of the forming process, Fig. 16 a schematic representation of a process sequence, Fig. 17 a schematic three-dimensional representation of a packing drum, Fig. 18 a schematic detailed representation of a part of the packing drum Fig. 17 , Fig. 19 a schematic representation of another embodiment of a container forming device, Fig. 20 the embodiment of the Fig. 19 in a schematic three-dimensional representation with further elements, Fig. 21 the container forming device from the embodiment according to Fig. 20 in a schematic three-dimensional representation from a different perspective, Fig. 22 a schematic three-dimensional representation of a combination of a container forming device with a packing drum and Fig. 23 the combination of the container forming device with the packing drum from Fig. 22 in a schematic three-dimensional representation from a different perspective.

[0119] Within the scope of the invention, features marked with "in particular" or "preferably" are to be understood as optional features.

[0120] In the drawings, identical or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numbers, so that a repeated presentation is omitted.

[0121] Fig. 1 shows a schematic of a conveying device 10 according to the invention. Rod-shaped articles are conveyed transversely axially in the conveying direction 15. First, filters, for example, are attached to tobacco rods in a filter attachment 11. Typically, a filter of twice the usable length is placed between two tobacco rods and wrapped with a tipping paper, and then cut in the middle to produce two filter cigarettes. The rod-shaped articles can alternatively also be heat-not-burn products. The conveying device can be a combiner or a multi-segment maker in which the various segments are assembled. Instead of the filter attachment 11, a device for producing the rod-shaped articles can also be provided.

[0122] In the testing device 12, the properties of the filter cigarettes are checked and, if these properties do not correspond to the specified properties, they are rejected. This results in a first mass flow 21 and a second mass flow 22 of rod-shaped articles, in this example, filter cigarettes 30, which flow or are conveyed in the cross-axially conveyed mass flow and have gaps 31 (see, for example, Fig. 2 ).

[0123] In a defragmentation module 13, which will be described in more detail below, the rod-shaped articles 30 arranged in the two mass flows 21, 22 are re-sorted in such a way that complete sets of, in this example, ten cigarettes are formed, namely a first set 32 ​​and a second set 33 (see again Fig. 2 ). The gaps 31 are controlled in such a way that a complete set of gaps is formed in the form of a first empty set 34 and a second empty set 35.

[0124] The cigarette sets are then transferred into blocks in a packing module 14, which are then placed into containers, such as a cigarette pack. The packing module may comprise one or more packing drums and a container forming device according to the invention.

[0125] In order to compensate for differences in production speed between cigarette manufacturing machines and cigarette packaging machines, logistics components have been used to date that store products in mass flows comprising multiple layers, thus compensating for the speed differences. The disadvantage of this is that the products are released, i.e. are no longer held in a defined manner, for example, in receiving troughs, but are transported in loose mass flows, thus creating a risk of cross-flying products and product damage. It is therefore preferable if cigarette packaging can be filled directly in the cigarette production line, as such packets or cigarette packs can be stored much more easily. For this purpose, it is very preferable if the correct number of cigarettes is available to fill a cigarette pack.Incorrect occupancy in receiving troughs in conveyor systems, which may have arisen due to ejections, for example, must therefore no longer exist.

[0126] This problem has so far been solved by over-producing cigarettes, meaning that more cigarettes are produced than are packaged, and at least the surplus cigarettes, if not all of them, are placed in a warehouse of individual products, and the individual articles or products are taken from the warehouse to fill any gaps.

[0127] According to the invention, the aim is not to fully fill all troughs, but rather to skillfully sort the rod-shaped articles to ensure that a package or container can always be completely filled or, if there are gaps, is not filled at all.

[0128] For this purpose, an input sample or sample of rod-shaped articles is taken into a first mass flow and / or a second mass flow and divided into sets. A set contains all the rod-shaped articles present in one layer of a block required to fill a package. The pattern can, for example, be the sequence of rod-shaped products arranged one behind the other and gaps. For example, a set can have ten rod-shaped products, a block two sets, and thus a package twenty rod-shaped articles. It is important that the sets and blocks are completely filled. The subsequent process can then be designed so that a cycle, and thus the filling of a package, can be skipped, and otherwise the packages are always fully filled. To better understand this solution approach, Fig. 2 A defragmentation module 13 is shown schematically.

[0129] For example, if the sampled item contains 30 stick-shaped items at the same location in each of the two mass streams, three packs of stick-shaped items can be formed from two sets of 10 items each without re-sorting. If a stick-shaped item is missing from a mass stream, this empty space should be filled with an item. This item is then missing from another location, so that after 10 refills in a mass stream, an empty set of 10 gaps or empty spaces can be formed one after the other. If multiple items are missing, an empty set can be formed more quickly.

[0130] Fig. 2 schematically shows a defragmentation module 13 into which a first mass flow 21 of rod-shaped articles 30 and a second mass flow 22 of rod-shaped articles 30 are introduced in the conveying direction 15. The first mass flow 21 is conveyed on a first path 26 transversely axially to the rod-shaped articles 30, and the second mass flow 22 is accordingly conveyed in a second path 27 transversely axially to the rod-shaped articles 30.

[0131] Some rod-shaped articles have been discharged by the inspection device 12, resulting in gaps 31 in the two mass flows of rod-shaped articles 30. The rod-shaped articles in this case are filter cigarettes that are coming from the filter applicator 13 or are still being conveyed in the filter applicator 13.

[0132] In this case, the second mass flow 22 must first be turned from its orientation in the receiving troughs. This is done using a turning device 23, which can be designed as a cone turner. The spacing between the rod-shaped articles 30 in this exemplary embodiment is 6π, i.e. a spacing of approximately 18.8 mm. Downstream of the turning device 23 in the conveying direction 15 is a compensating drum 24, which has troughs that are slightly longer than twice the length of the rod-shaped articles 30. In the compensating drum 24, rod-shaped articles 30 can be selectively exchanged between the lanes. If there is an empty trough on one lane, it can be filled with a rod-shaped article from the other lane if a rod-shaped article is located at this point. This type of displacement of the rod-shaped products can be achieved using compressed air or suction air.The primary goal here is to ensure that, on average, there are the same number of rod-shaped articles on both lanes.

[0133] This is followed by a sorting device 25, which is described in more detail below and ensures that complete sets 32 and 33 of rod-shaped articles are arranged in the mass flows and, if necessary, complete empty sets 34 and 35. These sets can then be packaged efficiently and in a resource-saving manner.

[0134] Fig. 3 shows schematically a sorting device 25. The sorting device 25 includes Fig. 2 to the compensating drum 24.

[0135] At the entrance of the sorting device 25 are two mass flows 21, 22, which are conveyed in two tracks 26, 27, wherein the mass flows in total contain approximately the same number of rod-shaped products. The sorting device 25 then ensures that the gaps or the missing rod-shaped articles and the rod-shaped articles are sorted or combined in such a way that coherent sets of rod-shaped articles 30 and coherent sets of gaps are formed. In this exemplary embodiment, there are ten rod-shaped articles as a set or ten gaps as a set.

[0136] The two mass flows 21 and 22 are transferred in the conveying direction 15 to the base drum 40, specifically at a distance of 6π. The base drum 40 has an odd number of receiving troughs arranged at a distance of 3π, i.e., half the distance between the rod-shaped articles being conveyed.

[0137] At the outlet of the base drum, the rod-shaped products are discharged again into the two mass streams 21 and 22 at a distance of 6π. Due to the smaller trough spacing on the base drum and the odd number of receiving troughs, the rod-shaped articles 30 run through two circuits on the base drum.

[0138] To facilitate re-sorting, a transfer drum 41 and a sorting drum 43 or 44 are provided for each mass flow 21, 22. The sorting device comprises two or more sorting drums 43, 44, 45, 46, which are equipped with troughs only along 180° of their circumference.

[0139] The sorting drums rotate synchronously with the machine speed and / or with the transfer drum 41 and the base drum 40. However, in the area where no troughs are provided or at the moment where the sorting drums 43 to 46 border the transfer drum 41, 42 with the trough-free area, a further movement can be superimposed on the movement of the sorting drum or the sorting drums, so that a trough offset of up to + / - ten troughs can be generated.

[0140] The sorting drums can pick up and release rod-shaped items. By combining the available parameters, the control system, or rather the control system's algorithm, can find a solution to create a desired pattern in mass flows 21 and 22.

[0141] In the concrete design of the Fig. 3 Two sorting drums 43, 45 and 44, 46 are provided for each mass flow 21, 22. Since the rod-shaped articles essentially run two rounds over the base drum 40, each sorting drum can influence the article flow twice. Together with the compensating drum 24 (see Fig. 2 ), which shifts articles between the article runs as needed, it will in most cases be possible to find a solution for shifting rod-shaped articles so that complete sets of rod-shaped articles 30 and complete sets of empty spaces can be provided in the mass flows 21 and 22 discharged from the base drum 40. If this is not possible or the computing time exceeds twice the circulation time on the base drum, an emergency discharge of individual rod-shaped articles is carried out. This is preferably done by the sorting drums 45 and 46, which are indicated by the arrows at the top left in the Fig. 3 are indicated.

[0142] Three sorting drums can also be provided per mass flow.

[0143] A selective transfer of rod-shaped articles takes place from the base drum to the transfer drum and from the transfer drum to the sorting drum and in the opposite direction. Fig. 3 Some rod-shaped articles are schematically shown in some of the receiving troughs of the sorting drums 43 to 46. For clarity, not all receiving troughs in the sorting drums are shown here, and no troughs are shown in the transfer drums 41 and 42, nor in the base drum 40. These, of course, also have troughs.

[0144] It may also be the case that rod-shaped articles are not transferred. Transfer can be achieved, for example, by deliberately interrupting the vacuum supply to a receiving trough, specifically the trough holding the rod-shaped article to be transferred. The transfer can be supported by a targeted compressed air pulse, which can be triggered, for example, by a quick-acting valve. The compressed air pulse can be directed through a suction air opening where the suction air for holding the rod-shaped article is otherwise applied.

[0145] In order to enable a trough offset or a re-sorting of the rod-shaped articles in the mass flows 21, 22, the sorting drums 43, 44, 45, 46 are accelerated or decelerated during the time in which the troughs are not engaged and then the synchronous peripheral speed to the transfer drum 41 or 42 is restored. This is shown schematically in the Fig. 4 und 5 shown.

[0146] In Fig. 4 schematically shows the transfer drum 41 with receiving troughs 47 and the sorting drum 43, in which in this embodiment all receiving troughs are occupied with a rod-shaped article 30.

[0147] In Fig. 5 In each case, the rotational speed or the peripheral speed is plotted over time, namely the rotational speed or the peripheral speed of the sorting drum 43 in the upper diagram and that of the transfer drum 41 in the lower diagram.

[0148] 52 shows a base speed, which for a transfer drum 41 of the same size as the sorting drum 43 can be, for example, 125 revolutions per minute. Fig. 4 However, the circumferences of the two drums are different, so the speed must be adjusted accordingly so that the base speed of the respective drum is selected so that the peripheral speed of both drums is the same. In the upper diagram of the Fig. 5 In addition, a speed 50 is shown for a positive trough offset, at which the speed is increased over a period of time, and 51 is the speed for a negative trough offset, at which the speed is reduced for a certain period of time.

[0149] In Fig. 3 The different radii r1 and r2 are also shown. r1 is the first radius of the sorting drum 44 to an area in which no troughs are provided, and r2 is the second radius to an area in which troughs are provided. r2 is preferably larger than r1.

[0150] The process and also the software of the control device must be derived from a known but undefined input pattern, such as this one in Fig. 2 shown on the right or in Fig. 3 shown on the right, produce an ordered pattern like this one in Fig. 3 shown on the left. The influencing parameters for finding a solution are the number of sorting drums, the jump distance of a trough offset from -10 to +10 troughs or other predeterminable maximum trough jump distances. It must be taken into account that the receiving troughs in the transfer drum and in the respective sorting drum can, for example, be 3π, i.e. half the size of those on the conveyor elements that convey the rod-shaped articles to the base drum. Selected products can be picked up and delivered, combinations of the sorting drums can be made with one another, and products can be picked up and removed in both the first and second cycle of the base drum. In addition, depending on the input pattern, the compensating drum can be controlled so that less trough offset needs to be generated.

[0151] In addition, it should be ensured that there is always sufficient vacuum in the open troughs that are occupied to keep the products safe.

[0152] To get the Fig. 3 In order to be able to package the discharged mass flows 21 and 22, a packaging device is provided which ensures that the respective sets 32 and 33 are brought together as a block and can be discharged into a container. To this end, the pitch, i.e. the distance between the rod-shaped products, is first reduced again in order to enable block formation, which allows the rod-shaped articles to be packed relatively tightly. For example, the pitch is reduced from 6π to 3π. For this purpose, a braking drum or a staggered drum with pivoting receiving troughs can be used, for example.

[0153] Subsequently, the sets of rod-shaped articles, in this embodiment of ten rod-shaped articles each, are brought to a level in order to then insert them into packages or a container. To bring the sets to a level, a drum conveyor can be provided, as for example in Fig. 6 In the upper area, three drums 60a, 61a, and 62a are shown, which become increasingly polygonal in the conveying direction 15.

[0154] The respective drums consist of the Fig. 6 shown two drums shown one above the other, namely a drum containing the shown drums or drum parts 60a and 60b. These two drums 60a and 60b are arranged on the same axis or a parallel offset axis, which here in Fig. 6 however, is shown separately. Accordingly, a further drum 61a and 61b is provided, which also rotates on a common axis, and a packing drum 62, which comprises the drums or drum parts 62a and 62b, which also rotate on a common axis.

[0155] In this embodiment, the diameter of the drums 60b, 61b and 62b is larger than the corresponding diameter of the drums 60a, 61a and 62a. This automatically arranges the first set 32 ​​of rod-shaped articles 30 on a different plane than the second set 33 of rod-shaped articles 30. The first mass flow 21 is conveyed transversely axially via the drum parts 60a, 61a and 62a, and the second mass flow 22 is conveyed transversely axially via the drum parts 60b, 61b and 62b. The first drum, consisting of the two drum components 60a and 60b, is still round as usual. The rotational speed, which is shown below in Fig. 6 shown on the far left, in which the speed is plotted against time, is marked 52 and is a constant base speed or a speed that is adapted to the speed of the manufacturing machine and / or packaging machine.

[0156] The adjoining second drum, consisting of drum components 61a and 61b, is already provided with corners, thus tending towards a polygonal shape. There, trough sets 63a and 63b are shown, each having seven troughs and an edge 64 between them. The sets, which in the embodiment according to Fig. 6 are formed, thus comprising seven rod-shaped articles. This drum is already controlled at a variable speed superimposed on the base speed 52, so that at the moment when the corners of drum 61 with components 61a and 61b border on drum 60 with components 60a and 60b, drum 61 is moved somewhat slower.

[0157] The last drum, namely packing drum 62, consisting of components 62a and 62b, is already completely polygonal, with corners 64 and sets 63a and 63b, each with seven receiving troughs, each arranged in a single plane. Here, the speed at which packing drum 62 is driven is also provided with a base speed 52, onto which a variable speed is superimposed. In this embodiment, the variable speed is higher than in the middle drum 61. Here, too, the variable speed serves to move edges 64 past the adjacent drum 61 more quickly.

[0158] Preferably, the variable speed is a sine function.

[0159] In Figur 6 Sets of 7 receiving troughs are shown. The invention is explained below using sets of 10 receiving troughs and 10 rod-shaped articles.

[0160] To enable the filling of containers with rod-shaped articles 30 from two sets of rod-shaped articles in a later process, it is necessary for one set to run on a larger diameter than the other set. This can be achieved by radially lifting the set, which should run above the other set, controlled by a cam. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 6 As shown, different diameters of the drums or drum parts may be provided for the respective sets.

[0161] For increased process reliability, the filling of containers using a packing drum 62 is provided. For this purpose, it is advisable to arrange the rod-shaped articles 30 in two levels of a predetermined number of articles, for example, seven or ten. For this purpose, the rod-shaped articles are transferred from a curved surface to a surface that is as flat as possible, as shown in Fig. 6 shown. In addition, it is advisable to push the rod-shaped products together as close as possible. For this purpose, the shape of the drums can be changed piece by piece using three or more drums. The number of drums required depends on the permissible deviation from the ideal transfer and the diameter of the drums. In addition, the creation of gaps between the individual sets, which is achieved by the intermediate edges 64, which are Fig. 6 It is useful to allow for secure packaging by allowing the gaps shown in the figure. These gaps can also be gradually enlarged and / or adapted to the geometry.

[0162] Fig. 7 shows schematically a packing drum according to the invention in operation, in a three-dimensional schematic representation.

[0163] Rod-shaped articles 30 are fed in the conveying direction 15 from a drum (not shown) in two tracks, preferably at different levels. The rod-shaped products 30 are received in a first set 32 ​​and a second set 33 on the packing drum 62.

[0164] On the packing drum 62, a cover in the form of an overhead guide 71 is provided for each block of two sets, which ensures that the rod-shaped articles 30 do not fly away when they are pushed over one another and the suction air in the troughs is stopped.

[0165] The containers 73 are also guided over the drum 62. During the rotation of the drum 62, the rod-shaped articles 30 are filled with the products via pushers 72, which are guided, for example, over curves. This allows the sets 32, 33 to be securely inserted into the containers 73. For this purpose, an upper guide 71 moves together with the pushers 72 toward the containers 73. The movement of the pushers is preferably parallel to the rotation axis of the packing drum 62.

[0166] As a result, the second set 33 is first pushed over the first set 32, and then both sets are inserted into the container 73. The filled containers 73, into which a block 70 from the two sets 32 and 33 has been inserted, are then transferred to the next product line. The container 73 can, for example, be an inner liner of a cigarette pack. Alternatively, the blocks 70 can also be inserted into chamber belts.

[0167] Fig. 8 shows a schematic and three-dimensional view of part of a packing drum 62 according to the invention. For the sake of simplicity, only a first set 32 ​​and a second set 33 of rod-shaped articles are shown here. The different levels of the receiving troughs 74 are clearly shown. Recesses are provided between the receiving troughs 74 through which the pushers 72 can pass. Each pusher 72 can move a total of four rod-shaped articles, namely two rod-shaped articles from the second set 33 and two rod-shaped articles from the first set 32.

[0168] Fig. 9 shows a schematic further partial representation of a packing drum 62 according to the invention. In addition to the previous representations, this representation shows a guide device 75 which can be temporarily inserted into a container 73 and ensures that the rod-shaped articles 30, in particular of the second set 33, can be safely pushed into the container 73. Here, for the sake of clarity, part 62a of the packing drum and part 62b of the packing drum are shown again. It is clearly visible that the diameters of these two parts 62a and 62b of the packing drum 62 are different. This enables the different levels for the sets.

[0169] The upper guide 71 and the plungers 72 move axially during the rotation of the drum and thus push the articles into the containers.

[0170] The guide device 75, which can be designed as a guide plate, ensures that the articles are neatly inserted into the container, for example, an inner liner. The guide device 75 can be pivoted or pushed into the container 73. It would also be conceivable for the guide device 75 to be stationary and rotating with the packing drum 62, and for the containers 73 to move axially by a small amount, for example, a few millimeters, toward the guide device 75.

[0171] Before the filled container 73 leaves the packing drum 62, the guide device 75 should have left the container 73 or the container 73 should have been pivoted away again or moved linearly away from the guide device 75.

[0172] In the event that empty sets are present, it may also be provided that no container 73 is fed in. The upper guide 71 and the rams 72 can then still move as usual; they can be guided on curves.

[0173] Fig. 10 shows a schematic three-dimensional representation of a further embodiment of a sorting device 25. Two parallel mass flows in the form of a first mass flow 21 and a second mass flow 22 are fed in the conveying direction 15 to a transfer drum 48. The transverse axial product spacing is, for example, 6 pi. An undefined but known input pattern of the mass flows 21 and 22 is preferably provided, with an approximate balance of rod-shaped products in the first mass flow 21 and in the second mass flow 22. There is thus a front product run or mass flow 22 and one in the Fig. 10 rear product run or mass flow 21.

[0174] The transfer drum 48 has receiving troughs that receive the rod-shaped products from the first mass flow 21 and the second mass flow 22. On the transfer drum 48, only every second receiving trough is filled, so the spacing there is also 6 pi. The products are transferred to the base drum 40. The base drum 40 has an odd number of troughs, so the products typically circulate twice around the base drum 40. The products themselves are arranged at a spacing of 3 pi, i.e., half the spacing that previously existed in the first mass flow 21 and the second mass flow 22.

[0175] To enable a trough offset of rod-shaped articles arranged on the base drum 40, rod-shaped articles from the first mass flow 21 and the second mass flow 22 are removed from the transfer drum 41, in particular selectively, selected, or predetermined, and from there transferred to the sorting drum 43 or 44, and then picked up again from there and returned to the base drum 40. The sorting drum 43 is provided for the first mass flow 21, and the sorting drum 44 for the second mass flow 22. The sorting drums 43 and 45 are thus arranged axially offset from one another. The sorting drum 44 is provided for the front product run, and the sorting drum 43 for the rear product run.A similar configuration is provided slightly downstream of the base drum 40 with a transfer drum 42 which removes products from the first mass flow 21 and the second mass flow 22 and delivers them to the sorting drum 46 for products from the first mass flow and to the sorting drum 45 for products from the second mass flow.

[0176] Because the sorting drums 43, 44, 45, and 46 can be rotated at a speed that is either accelerated or decelerated at the moment the trough-free area is opposite the transfer drum, a trough offset of up to + / - 10 troughs can be achieved for the products held in the troughs. The trough spacing here is also 3 pi. The rod-shaped articles, thus predeterminably offset transversely, are transferred back to the transfer drums and from there to the base drum.

[0177] By using the sorting device 25, two irregular mass flows are converted into two regular mass flows with predefined larger product spacing or a larger gap between products. The thus more uniform mass flows of rod-shaped products are discharged via the transfer drum 49 in the conveying direction 15.

[0178] Fig. 11 shows schematically in a different perspective the embodiment according to the invention from Fig. 10 Here, the axial offset of the sorting drums 43, 44, 45 and 46 is clearly visible.

[0179] The mass flow 21, 22 downstream of the transfer drum 49 is provided with a distance of the rod-shaped articles of 6pi, for example.

[0180] In Fig. 12 A three-dimensional schematic representation of another embodiment of a sorting device 25 is shown. The sorting drums 43, 44, 45 and 46 are not as in Fig. 10 They are not arranged transversely offset from each other, but are arranged on a coaxial rotation axis. Otherwise, the coaxially arranged sorting drums 43 and 44, or 45 and 46, are rotatable separately from each other, but on the same axis. This allows for a more compact design. The other functionalities are in principle the same as in the embodiment of the Fig. 10 und 11 .

[0181] The invention enables very efficient and product-friendly packaging of rod-shaped articles, particularly in the tobacco processing industry.

[0182] Fig. 13 shows schematically a container forming device 90 according to the invention in conjunction with the conveyance of rod-shaped articles 30. On the right in Fig. 13 Two interrupted, single-layer mass flows in the form of a first mass flow 21 and a second mass flow 22 of rod-shaped articles arrive in the conveying direction 15, i.e., transversely axially to the rod-shaped articles 30 in the direction of a sorting device 25. Not shown is a compensating device 24, which can be arranged upstream of the sorting device 25 and ensures, for example, in the first two gaps of the second mass flow 22, that a rod-shaped article is pushed longitudinally axially from the first mass flow 21 into the second mass flow 22. This serves to balance the number of rod-shaped articles in the mass flows 21 and 22.

[0183] The sorting device 25 comprises the in the embodiments of the Figuren 10 bis 12 corresponding organs by means of which the cross-axially conveyed rod-shaped articles 30 of the first mass flow 21 and the second mass flow 22 are re-sorted such that they are conveyed continuously without gaps, except for predeterminable large gaps. The size of the gaps corresponds to a first empty set 34 and a second empty set 35. This therefore represents a number of empty spaces that would otherwise be placed as a group in a container 73.

[0184] In the embodiment of the Fig. 13 A total of 10 rod-shaped articles are placed in the containers 73 in two layers of five rod-shaped articles each. The first empty set 34 therefore has five empty spaces and the second empty set 35 also has five empty spaces. The continuous flow of rod-shaped articles in the first lane 26 and the second lane 27 downstream of the sorting device 25 has a number of ax 5 rod-shaped articles that are conveyed without gaps. The natural number n is 5 and m is also 5. a depends on how gappy the first mass flow 21 and the second mass flow 22 are conveyed to the sorting device 25, ie how many rod-shaped articles are possible for an uninterrupted flow of ax 5 rod-shaped articles in the first mass flow 21 and the second mass flow 22.

[0185] In this embodiment, the two tracks 26 and 27 are transferred into a track 81, i.e., in this case, the rod-shaped articles of the second track 27 are pushed longitudinally axially into the track 26, so that the pitch is halved. This creates a single-layer and single-track mass flow 81. In addition, sets of five rod-shaped articles are formed, which are spaced a short distance apart from each other. In particular, to prepare the insertion of the sets 32 and 33, for example, drums are used which are similar to those from Fig. 6 and are driven accordingly. The transfer of two tracks into one track is shown schematically in area 120.

[0186] In addition, Fig. 13 A container forming device 90 according to the invention is provided schematically in three dimensions, which in particular has a winding drum 91. In the conveying direction 15, a wrapping material 80 is first drawn off, for example, from a reel (not shown), and conveyed in the direction of the winding drum 91.

[0187] First, a gluing device 100 can be provided, which applies glue to the wrapping material 80 according to a predeterminable pattern. A cutting, embossing, and / or perforating device 101 follows in the conveying direction 15. This device 101 perforates a tear-off edge 99, which is arranged transversely to the conveying direction 15, and makes short and small incisions in the material section that serves as the base 104. In addition, a longitudinally axial embossed edge is achieved in order to reliably fold the base area.

[0188] Downstream of the cutting, embossing, and / or perforating device 101, a bottom folding device 102 is provided, which ensures that the bottom is folded approximately 90° from the remainder of the wrapping material section 82. In a station at 12 o'clock on the winding drum 91, a wrapping material section 82 is held by suction air on a winding member 92 of the winding drum 91 and, by rotation of the winding drum 91, is torn off from the remaining wrapping material strip 80 at the tear-off edge 99. In the next station, namely a folding station 95, the winding member 92 rotates clockwise and cooperates with a cam folding member 94, so that a first fold of the wrapping material section is performed.

[0189] In the conveying direction, Fig. 13 the next winding element 92 is empty. This is because no container can be produced at this exact location, since the two empty sets 34 and 35 are provided in the two mass flows, so that either, and what is preferred, no wrapping material section 82 has been removed from the winding element 92 or, if one has been removed, the section has been removed from the process.

[0190] In the next folding station 95, the next folding or folding operation is performed in cooperation with a winding device 92 and a cam folding device 94. In the next folding station 95, the wrapping material section is further formed. In the last folding station 95, the short edge of the container 98 is folded over and pressed down. In addition, the bottom 104 is folded over and pressed down here (not shown).

[0191] It is preferably provided that the adhesive areas or glue areas are heated in order to enable faster setting of the glue.

[0192] The cam folding members 94, designed as cam drums, serve to fold the wrapping material tightly around the winding members 92.

[0193] After the last folding station 95 has been left, the winding member 92 contracts transversely to the rotation axis 93 so that the finished container can be removed from the winding member 92 and can be conveyed in the conveying direction 15 towards the packing drum 92.

[0194] The filling of the containers 73 can be done as described in connection with the Figuren 7 bis 9 described. In Fig. 13 A somewhat different packing drum 62 according to the invention is shown. There, a single-lane, cross-axial flow of sets of rod-shaped articles is conveyed, with one of the sets being pivoted onto the other set by a pivoting device. In region 122, the pivoting takes place so that two sets of rod-shaped articles lie one above the other cross-axially. From there, the two sets can be transferred into the container 73 using pushers, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0195] The containers 73 filled with rod-shaped articles 30 are conveyed further as blocks 70. Reference numeral 110 may indicate a lid closing device 110 that closes any lid of the container 73.

[0196] These blocks 70 are then guided further in the conveying direction 15 and, for example, delivered to an intermediate storage facility.

[0197] Fig. 14 shows the container forming device 90 according to the invention in a somewhat better schematic representation. Here, the folding processes are more clearly visible. In addition, the tear-off edges 99, which were produced, for example, by perforation by the device 101, and the cuts 124 are more clearly visible. Furthermore, an embossed line 123 is visible, which in the embodiment of the Fig. 14 is shown in more detail. Furthermore, the interaction of the winding members 92 with the cam folding members 94 for folding the containers 73 or the wrapping material sections 82 into containers 73 is shown.

[0198] The winding elements 93 have a notch collinear with the axis of rotation of the winding elements, by means of which notch the winding element 92 can be widened and tapered in a direction transverse or perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the winding elements 92, in order to enable a precise fit of the containers 73 during production and to be able to deliver the containers 73 safely at the delivery station 96.

[0199] Fig. 15 shows schematically the interaction of a winding member 92 with a cam folding member 94. The cam folding member has a pressing surface 98, which ensures that the wrapping material section 82 in the region of the short edge lies tightly against the winding member 92 at the short edge or the short surface. To prevent the folded edge 125 of the wrapping material section 82, which is created thereby, from being pressed in, recesses 106 are provided on the edges 105 of the cam folding member 94. Preferably, the cam folding member rotates in the Figuren 13 bis 15 counterclockwise.

[0200] Fig. 16 shows a schematic of the process for producing the containers and filling them with rod-shaped articles. In the upper part of the Fig. 16 A wrapping material 80 is pulled off a reel (not shown) in the conveying direction 15. A gluing device 100, a cutting, embossing, and / or perforating device 101, and a bottom folding device 102 are also provided there. The order of these devices can also be different.

[0201] The correspondingly processed wrapping material 80 is fed to the winding drum 91, where containers 73 are produced. These containers 73 are fed to a packing drum 62. The rod-shaped articles are conveyed to the packing drum via the schematically illustrated conveyor drum 103. This can be a conveyor drum such as the one shown in Fig. 6 is shown, for example a conveyor drum 61a or 61b or 62a or 62b.

[0202] The filled containers are then delivered as blocks 70 to a lid closing device 110, where the lid is closed. The blocks 70 with closed lids are conveyed in the conveying direction 15 either directly into another packaging device or via an upward conveyor 107 to an intermediate storage device (not shown).

[0203] Fig. 17 shows schematically in a three-dimensional representation a packing drum according to Fig. 13 . Here, the containers 73 arrive in the conveying direction and are picked up by receptacles 130 of a receiving ring 131 or a receiving drum and held, for example, by suction air. Pivoting devices 121 are also shown, which in this example pivot a set 32 ​​of rod-shaped articles 30 onto another set 33 of rod-shaped articles 30. From area 132 onwards, the pivoting devices 121 have been omitted from the figure. This serves to better illustrate the insertion of the groups of rod-shaped articles consisting of the two sets 32 and 33 by the pushers 72 or the pusher 72. Guide devices 133 designed as guide plates serve to spread open the container 73 so that the groups of rod-shaped articles can be introduced into the containers 73 safely and without damage.

[0204] Fig. 18 shows schematically once again the elements used to insert a group of rod-shaped articles. The group 134, consisting of two sets of five rod-shaped articles 30 each, is introduced into the container 73 by means of the pusher 72, or in this case, five pushers, each of which linearly moves two superimposed rod-shaped articles 30, through the guide device 133, which serves to hold the container 73.

[0205] Fig. 19 shows schematically a further embodiment of a container forming device with a winding drum 91. Here too, a wrapping material 80 is Fig. 19 from left to right. Cuts and folds have already been made. A bottom folding device 102 folds the bottom of the wrapping material 80 into Fig. 19 downwards. The wrapping material 80 is conveyed to the right in the direction of the arrow, up to a holding roller 85, which, in cooperation with another holding roller 85, serves to hold the wrapping material 80 during the tearing off of a wrapping material section 82. The wrapping material 80 is conveyed beneath a guide plate 86, which is preferably equipped with Coanda nozzles, to ensure reliable material transport.

[0206] The material section 82 is held on a winding element 92 by suction air. The conveying speed on the winding element 92 is slightly faster than the conveying speed of the wrapping material 80, so that the material section 82 can be torn off at the point 87, which can be referred to as the tear-off area 87.

[0207] Subsequently, the winding member 92 is rotated in the direction of rotation 89, specifically during the rotation of the winding drum 91. This creates a force due to air resistance and inertia on the wrapping material section 82, which is held to the winding member 92 by suction air, causing the wrapping material section 82 to fold over, preferably at a folded edge. The rotation of the winding member 92 winds the wrapping material section 82 around the winding member 92. In addition, a pressure ram 84 serves to make contact with the winder during rotation, so that the wrapping material section 82 is placed tightly against the winding member 92.

[0208] For this purpose, the pressure ram 84 can move linearly and radially. To enable the movement of the pressure ram, it can be cam-controlled or spring-loaded.

[0209] Once the wrapping material section 82 is completely wound around the winding member 92, the plunger 84 can remain pressed against the winding member for a certain time to assist in bonding the bonded joint. Furthermore, the pressure plunger 84 can be heated for this purpose. At the 6 o'clock position of the winding drum 91, the plunger 84 retracts to release the wound material strip section in the form of the container 72 so that it can be pulled off the winding member 92 and conveyed away.

[0210] Fig. 20 shows schematically in a three-dimensional representation the container forming device comprising a winding drum 91 made of Fig. 19 with other elements that take place beforehand in the process sequence. In particular, in comparison to the previous figures, a dancer 140 is shown here, which serves to enable web speed compensation when a material strip section is not required or no container is needed at that moment during production. In this case, the dancer 140 moves in the Fig. 20 downwards, so that a winding element 92, in this case the winding element 92, which is located at 12 o'clock in Fig. 20 arranged on the winding drum, is not provided with a wrapping material section 82.

[0211] In Fig. 20 Downstream of the dancer 140, the known processing elements of the gluing device 100, cutting, embossing and / or perforating device 101 and bottom folding device 102 are shown. Here too, as in Fig. 19 Two holding rollers 85, which can be referred to as a holding roller pair, are shown. The guide plate, preferably with Coanda nozzles, is also shown.

[0212] In addition to the illustration in Fig. 19 It is shown that carriages 141 are provided on the winding drum 91 in carriage guides 142. These serve to press the bottom of the finished container 73. The carriages 141 can be heated to assist in bonding the bottom of the container 73. Furthermore, the carriages can have suction air openings on the bottom leading to the containers or the winding elements in order to safely remove the containers from the winding elements.

[0213] Fig. 21 shows schematically the winding drum 91 from Fig. 20 in a three-dimensional representation, approximately from below. Here, the movement of the carriage 141 in the carriage guide 142 is clearly visible, particularly at the moment the container 73 is pulled off the winding element 92. For this purpose, the carriage 141 preferably draws suction air onto the container in order to pull the container 73 off the winding element 92. The container 92 is then also picked up in the carriage guide 142 and later transferred to another conveyor element (not shown).

[0214] Fig. 22 shows a schematic three-dimensional representation of a combination of a winding drum 91 and a packing drum 62. The winding drum 91 and the packing drum 62 have coaxial axes of rotation. In this way, containers can be formed simultaneously and filled with groups of rod-shaped articles. The packing drum 62 corresponds to the packing drum from the Fig. 17 with the elements shown there. For the sake of simplicity, the wrapping material 80 is shown in a simplified feeding device comprising two deflection rollers 145. However, feeding and processing of the wrapping material 80 as described in the embodiments of Fig. 20 , 16 and 14 and 13. The finished containers 73 are taken over by a receiving drum 143 and transferred to conveyor drums 144 for further processing.

[0215] Fig. 23 shows the combination of packing drum 62 and winding drum 91 in a schematic three-dimensional representation, so that some elements are more clearly visible there. The packing drum 62 has pivoting devices 121 according to those from the embodiments according to Fig. 3 and Fig. 17 The winding drum 91 has winding elements 92 mounted on plungers that are radially displaceable in through-bores of a flange, allowing the winding elements 92 to be retracted after the containers 73 have been completed. In particular, the insertion of the groups of rod-shaped articles into the containers 73 occurs simultaneously with the retraction of the winding element 92. This enables a very gentle and very efficient filling of freshly formed containers 73.

[0216] 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. Bezugszeichenliste

[0217] 10 Conveyor device 11 Filter applicator 12 Testing device 13 Defragmentation module 14 Packing module 15 Conveyor direction 21 First mass flow 22 Second mass flow 23 Turning device 24 Compensation drum 25 Sorting device 26 First lane 27 Second lane 30 Rod-shaped article 31 Gap 32 First set of rod-shaped articles 33 Second set of rod-shaped articles 34 First empty set 35 Second empty set 40 Base drum 41, 42 Transfer drum 43 - 46 Sorting drum 47 Pick-up trough 48 Transfer drum 49 Transfer drum 50 Speed ​​for positive trough offset 51 Speed ​​for negative trough offset 52 Base speed 60, 60a, 60b Conveyor drum 61, 61a, 61b Conveyor drum 62, 62a, 62bPacking drum 63a,63b Trough set 64Intermediate edge 65Packaging device 70Block 71Top guide 72Push rod 73Container 74Trough 75Guide device 80Wrapping material 81Single-lane mass flow 82Wrapping material section 84Pressure ram 85Holding roller 86Guide plate 87Tear-off area 88Force effect 89Direction of rotation 90Container forming device 91Winding drum 92Winding element 93Rotation axis 94Cam folding element 95Folding station 96Discharge station 97Discharge station 98Pressing surface 99Tear-off edge 100Gluing device 101Cutting, embossing and / or perforating device 102Bottom folding device 103Conveyor drum 104Bottom 105Edge 106Recess 107Upward conveyor 110Lid closing device 120Area 121Pivoting device 122Area 123Embossing line 124Cut 125Folding edge 130Receiver 131Receiver ring 132Area 133Guide device 134Group 140Dancer 141Slide 142Slide guide 143Take-over drum 144Conveyor drum 145Deflection roller , r1first radius r2second radius

Claims

1. A method for conveying a first single-layer mass flow (21) formed from rod-shaped articles (30), in particular from the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped articles (30) are conveyed on a conveying device (10) in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles (30), thereby forming the first mass flow (21), wherein further rod-shaped articles (30), in particular from the tobacco processing industry, are conveyed on the conveying device (10) in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped articles (30), thereby forming a second single-layer mass flow (22), wherein the first mass flow (21) is conveyed on a first track (26) on the conveying device (10) and the second mass flow (22) is conveyed on a second track, characterized in thatgroups of sets (32, 33) of rod-shaped articles (30) are formed from the two mass flows (21, 22), containers (73) made of a wrapping material (80) being formed simultaneously with the groups of rod-shaped articles (30) and the groups of rod-shaped articles (30) being pushed into the containers (73) so that they are conveyed further as blocks (70).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that each group has a predeterminable number of rod-shaped articles (30), wherein n rod-shaped articles (30) from the first mass flow (21) are assigned to the group as the first set (32) and m rod-shaped articles (30) from the second mass flow (22) are assigned to the group as the second set (33), wherein in particular the orientation of the rod-shaped articles in the first set (32) and in the second set (33) is the same.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe rod-shaped articles (30) of the first mass flow (21) are re-sorted such that a gap (34) of n rod-shaped articles (30) and an uninterrupted sequence of axn rod-shaped articles (30) is provided in the first mass flow (21), wherein the rod-shaped articles (30) of the second mass flow (22) are re-sorted such that a gap (34) of m rod-shaped articles (30) is provided in the second mass flow (22) and an uninterrupted sequence of bxm rod-shaped articles (30).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the gaps (34) in the mass flows (21, 22) run essentially parallel.

5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that in the case of a gap (34), a container (73) is omitted during the manufacture of the container (73).

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in thatbefore the groups of rod-shaped articles (30) are pushed into the containers (73), the two single-lane mass flows (21, 22) are converted into a single-lane mass flow (81), wherein in particular shortly before the group of rod-shaped articles (30) is pushed into the containers (73), a first part of the group is pivoted out of the single-lane mass flow (81) and is placed on a second part of the group.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that after the groups of rod-shaped articles (30) have been inserted into the containers (73), the containers (73) are closed.

8. A container forming device (90) for the tobacco processing industry, comprising a winding drum (91) with a plurality of winding members (92) around which wrapping material (80) can be formed, each winding member (92) being rotatable about a rotational axis (93) and having suction air openings, the suction air openings serving to hold wrapping material sections (82) on the winding member (92), a plurality of folding members (94) being provided at folding stations (95), the folding members (94) folding wrapping material (82) in operative connection with the winding members (92), the finished folded containers (73) being or being dispensable at a dispensing station (96).

9. Container forming device (90) according to claim 8, characterized in that In order to deliver the finished folded containers (73) to the delivery station (96), the winding member (92) arranged there can be contracted.

10. Container forming device (90) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in thatfor folding the containers (73), the winding members (92) are each rotated by, in particular 90°, when the drum (91) is rotated, wherein the folding members (94) arranged at the folding stations (95) are provided with at least one pressing surface (98), wherein the pressing surface (98) is designed to press on the wrapping material section (82) in the direction of the winding member (92) which is in operative connection with the respective folding member (94).

11. Container forming device (90) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the winding drum 91, a gluing device (100), a cutting, embossing and / or perforating device (101) and / or a bottom folding device (102) is arranged upstream in the conveying direction (15) of the wrapping material (80).

12. Container forming device (90) according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the winding elements (92) are rectangular in cross-section.

13. Container forming device (90) according to one of claims 8 to 12 characterized in that the folding members are designed as cam folding members (94) and / or as pressure stamps (84).

14. Container forming device (90) according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the cam folding members (94) are quadrangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal or octagonal in cross-section, wherein recesses (106), in particular in the form of circular segments, are provided in particular on the edges (105), wherein non-folded or partially folded wrapping material sections (82) can be delivered in particular at a removal station (97) arranged upstream of the delivery station (96).

15. Use of a container forming device (90) according to one of claims 8 to 14 in a method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

Images