Method and apparatus for manufacturing tobacco industry rods

Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing tobacco industry rods comprising a feeding assembly (2) for feeding a strand of filling material (3), a parameter modifying apparatus (4) for setting parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material (3), a compacting unit (5) or a folding unit (5') for pre-compacting the strand of filling material (3), a placing apparatus (6) for placing individual objects (7) of at least one type in the strand of filling material (3), a wrapping material (11) feeding assembly (10), a forming unit (8) for forming a continuous rod (CR), a cutting head (9) for cutting the continuous rod (CR) into rods (R). The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the parameter modifying apparatus (4', 4", 4"') for setting physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material (3) is adapted for setting physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the material strand (3) in alternating sections so that the sections (P1, P2) of the strand of filling material (3) have alternating physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters or structure, and the movement of the placing apparatus (6) is synchronised with the cycle of setting physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters or the structure to the strand of filling material (3) such that the objects (20, 21) of one type are placed in the sections (P1, P2) of the material strand (3) having the same physicochemical physicochemical parameters or structure. The object of the invention is also a method of manufacturing the tobacco industry rods.

Description

[0001] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TOBACCO INDUSTRY RODS

[0002] The object of the invention is a method and apparatus for manufacturing tobacco industry rods.

[0003] The invention is used in the tobacco industry to manufacture paper filters.

[0004] It is common in the tobacco industry to manufacture smoking articles provided with filters inside which there are objects that perform functions such as imparting aroma, cooling tobacco smoke, giving rigidity to the mouthpiece. Commonly used are flavoured capsules, tubes, rods, pellet-type objects. The method for manufacturing such filters is to form a continuous roll filled with a filter material in which the objects are placed and to cut such continuous rod into individual rods from which there are eventually cut individual mouthpieces or individual segments which are used to produce multi-segment filters. The filling material used to manufacture the filters is usually a fibrous material. For many years, paper and acetate fibres have been commonly used, with the filling material usually being in the form of a strand. Nowadays, filling materials based on a variety of plastics or based on plant material other than cellulose can be used. The segments manufactured from the rods are expected to be of high quality. The problem faced by manufacturers of these rods is an uneven distribution of the filling material around the objects placed inside, the problem of inappropriate distribution of the filling material becoming apparent in the formation of empty areas before and behind the object in the axial direction. The problem of uneven distribution of the filling material can affect the shape of the rod. Sometimes the rods are oval or irregular in cross-section instead of cylindrical, which is dependent on the uneven distribution of the filling material inside the rod around the placed objects as well as between the objects.

[0005] In the state of the art, apparatuses for folding a paper strand prior to compacting it in the process of production of a continuous rod are known. Such a solution is shown in CN105745069A which discloses an apparatus for processing a continuous strand containing a creased structure for the use in the production of a strip article, such as a filter element for a smoking article. The apparatus comprises a first roller and a second roller. The first roller and the second roller each contain a plurality of circumferentially running cams. Furthermore, the first roller and the second roller are arranged such that the circumferential cam of the first roller and the circumferential cam of the second roller are connected to each other. After carrying the continuous strand between the first roller and the second roller, the continuous strand with a creased structure may have an overlapping creased structure and be continuous, and a wavy structure extending in the longitudinal direction of the strand.

[0006] The document US 2,954,773 discloses a method of manufacturing cigarette mouthpieces, comprising pressing a strand of cellulose fibres by reducing, at selected intervals, the diameter of areas located along the length of the cellulose fibres by compacting the cellulose fibres and fusing the compressed cellulose fibres in the located area together, into a series of cigarette mouthpieces. In the state of the art, in particular from GB1264894, there is known an apparatus for producing a material to be used in the production of filters which employs the application of a plasticizer to a strand made of substantially longitudinally arranged creased thermoplastic fibres, and the subsequent formation of a pattern of grooves or folds in the strand by compressing an area on the surface of the strand to a reduced thickness while softening with a plasticizer or other softening agent, if necessary by means of heat, this pattern being fixed in the strand during subsequent curing, preferably at least some of the said grooves or folds in the strand being substantially aligned with the fibres to form channels for gas flow with a reduced pressure drop.

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to develop an apparatus for manufacturing tobacco industry rods containing objects, whereas the rods are manufactured from a continuous strand of filling material and the apparatus is adapted to modify the parameters of the filling material, in particular the density of the material, and the feeding of the objects into the filling material is synchronised with the varying parameters of the filling material. The objects to be placed into the rods are individual objects, for example spherical objects such as capsules or oblong objects such as tubes.

[0008] The object of the invention is an apparatus for manufacturing tobacco industry rods comprising a feeding assembly for feeding a strand of filling material, a parameter modifying apparatus for setting parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material, a compacting unit or a folding unit for pre-compacting the strand of filling material, a placing apparatus for placing individual objects of at least one type in the strand of filling material, a wrapping material feeding assembly, a forming unit for forming a continuous rod, a cutting head for cutting the continuous rod into rods. The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the parameter modifying apparatus for setting physicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material is adapted for setting physicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the material strand in alternating sections so that the sections of the strand of filling material have alternating physicochemical parameters or structure, and the movement of the placing apparatus is synchronised with the cycle of setting the physicochemical parameters or the structure of the strand of filling material in such a way that objects of one type are placed in sections of the material strand having the same physicochemical parameters or structure.

[0009] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the parameter modifying apparatus for setting physicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the material strand is a creasing apparatus adapted to set different degrees of creasing for the sections of the strand of filling material.

[0010] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the parameter modifying apparatus for setting physicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material is an incising apparatus adapted to incise the sections of the strand of filling material to different degrees. The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the parameter modifying apparatus for setting physicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material is a dosing apparatus for feeding the fluid.

[0011] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the movement of the cutting head is synchronised with the movement of the placing apparatus.

[0012] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the placing apparatus is adapted to place an object selected from a group comprising a capsule, a tube, a thin rod, a pellet.

[0013] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the placing apparatus is adapted to place objects of at least two types selected from a group comprising a capsule, a tube, a thin rod, a pellet.

[0014] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the parameter modifying apparatus is adapted to modify the physicochemical parameters of the strand of filling material, which increases its plasticity or its ability to envelop the placed objects.

[0015] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised by being adapted to manufacture the rods from the strand of material selected from a group comprising a paper, a fibrous material, a plastic-based material, a material based on a plant material other than cellulose.

[0016] The apparatus according to the invention has the advantage that it reduces or eliminates naturally occurring areas around the objects placed inside the filling material, manufacturing products of better quality. By alternating the parameters or the structure, an even distribution of the filling material around the placed objects can be achieved.

[0017] The object of the invention is also a method of manufacturing the tobacco industry rods comprising the steps of feeding the strand of filling material by means of the feeding assembly, modifying the parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material by means of the parameter modifying apparatus, precompacting the strand of filling material by means of the compacting unit or the folding unit, placing individual objects of at least one type in the strand of filling material by means of the placing apparatus, forming the continuous rod by means of the forming unit by wrapping the strand of filling material in the wrapping material fed from the wrapping material feeding assembly, cutting the continuous rod into the rods by means of the cutting head. The method according to the invention is characterised in that physicochemical parameters of the strand of filling material are set or the structure of the material is modified in alternating sections so that the sections of the strand of filling material have alternating physicochemical parameters or structure, and the movement of the placing apparatus is synchronised with the cycle of setting physicochemical parameters or structure of the strand of filling material such that the objects of one type are placed in the sections of the material strand having the same physicochemical parameters or structure. The method according to the invention is characterised in that the physicochemical parameters are modified or the structure of the strand of filling material is modified by means of the creasing apparatus adapted to set different degrees of creasing for the sections of the strand of filling material.

[0018] The method according to the invention is characterised in that the physicochemical parameters are modified or the structure of the strand of filling material is modified by means of the incising apparatus adapted to incise the sections of the strand of filling material to different degrees.

[0019] The method according to the invention is characterised in that the physicochemical parameters are modified or the structure of the strand of filling material is modified by means of the dosing apparatus for feeding the fluid.

[0020] The method according to the invention is characterised by synchronising the movement of the cutting head with the movement of the placing apparatus.

[0021] The method according to the invention is characterised in that by modifying the physicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material, its plasticity or ability to envelop the placed objects is increased.

[0022] The object of the invention is illustrated in more detail in a preferred embodiment in a drawing in which:

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a machine for manufacturing rods having individual objects inside,

[0024] Fig. 1 a shows the machine of Fig. 1 with a controller shown,

[0025] Fig. 2a shows a state-of-the-art continuous rod with capsules arranged along the continuous rod,

[0026] Fig. 2b shows an example of the continuous rod with capsules arranged along the continuous rod,

[0027] Fig. 2c shows a rod cut from the continuous rod of Fig. 2b,

[0028] Fig. 3a shows the state-of-the-art continuous rod with capsules and tubes arranged along the continuous rod,

[0029] Fig. 3b shows an example of the continuous rod with capsules and tubes arranged along the continuous rod,

[0030] Fig. 3c shows a rod cut from the continuous rod of Fig. 3b, Fig. 4a shows an example of the continuous rod with tubes arranged along the continuous rod,

[0031] Fig. 4b shows a rod cut from the continuous rod of Fig. 4a,

[0032] Fig. 5a shows a compacting unit and a placing apparatus in the first embodiment,

[0033] Fig. 5b shows a creasing apparatus - a parameter modifying apparatus in the first embodiment,

[0034] Fig. 6a shows a folding unit and the placing apparatus in the second embodiment,

[0035] Fig. 6b shows an incising apparatus - the parameter modifying apparatus in the second embodiment,

[0036] Fig. 7 shows a dosing apparatus - the parameter modifying apparatus in the third embodiment.

[0037] The apparatus 1 for manufacturing rods R from a strand of filling material 3 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a feeding assembly 2 for feeding the strand of filling material 3, a parameter modifying apparatus 4 for modifying physicochemical parameters of the areas of the strand of filling material 3, for example a creasing apparatus 4', an incising apparatus 4" or a dosing apparatus 4"' for applying a liquid plasticizer, a compacting unit 5 for pre-compacting the filling material 3, a placing apparatus 6 for placing individual objects, for example capsules 20 or tubes 21, an apparatus 10 for feeding a wrapping material 11, a forming unit 8 for forming a continuous rod CR, a cutting head 9 for cutting the continuous rod CR of the tobacco industry into individual rods R. The strand of filling material 3 is unwound from a bobbin 15. The forming unit 8 comprises a format bar 12, a glue unit 13 and a wrapping unit 14. In addition, the apparatus 1 for manufacturing the rods R is provided with a tensioning device 16 for tensioning the filling material 3.

[0038] Placing an object between the fibres of the filling material 3 involves spreading the fibres to insert the object to be placed. Normally, the objects to be placed are expected to occupy a central position with respect to the continuous rod, and it is also expected that the filling material is easily spreadable and evenly distributed around the object and, furthermore, the voids, i.e. the empty areas just before or just behind the object, are expected to be as small as possible. In order to achieve such effects, according to the invention, the physicochemical parameters or the structure of sections of the strand of filling material are modified. Modifying the parameters makes it easier to achieve the aforementioned effects as the filling material may be elastic, i.e. not plastic enough to fill the area around the placed objects as expected It is possible to modify the parameters of either the sections in which the objects will be placed or both the sections in which the objects will be placed and the sections between the objects. Modifying the parameters of the filling material sections may modify the density of the material.

[0039] In preferred embodiments of the invention, a method of manufacturing tobacco industry rods comprises steps wherein the strand of filling material 3 is fed by means of the feeding assembly 2, the parameters are modified or the structure of the strand of filling material 3 is modified by means of the apparatus 4, the strand of filling material 3 is then pre-compacted by means of the compacting unit 5 or the folding unit 5', individual objects 20, 21 of at least one type are placed into the strand of filling material 3 by means of the placing apparatus 6, the continuous rod CR is formed by means of the forming unit 8 by wrapping the strand of filling material 3 in the wrapping material 11 fed from feeding assembly 10 of the wrapping material 11, the continuous rod CR is then cut into the rods R by means of the cutting head 9. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, physicochemical parameters the strand of filling material 3 are set or the structure of the material 3 is modified in alternating sections so that the sections P1, P2 of the strand of filling material 3 have alternating physicochemical parameters or structure, and the movement of the placing apparatus 6 is synchronised with the cycle of setting physicochemical parameters or structure of the strand of filling material 3 in such a way that objects 20, 21 of one type are placed in the sections P1, P2 of the material strand 3 having the same physicochemical parameters or structure.

[0040] Fig. 1a presents the machine of Fig. 1 with a shown controller 18 synchronising the operation of the apparatus 4 which modifies the parameters of the filling material 3, the placing apparatus 6 and the cutting head 9. The controller 18 ensures synchronisation of all components affecting the properties of the rod R, by adjusting the speed of the individual subsystems of the apparatus 1.

[0041] Fig. 2a shows the continuous rod CR known from the prior art and manufactured on a machine that places capsules 20 between the fibres of the filling material 3 inside the continuous rod CR. The capsules 20 are placed in the continuous rod, preferably along the longitudinal axis X of the continuous rod CR. In the surroundings of the capsule 20, i.e. before or behind the capsule 20 when viewed along the longitudinal axis X, empty areas E are formed. These areas should in principle be minimised as they are considered responsible for an adverse effect on the quality of the gas flow inside the filter when the segment formed from the continuous rod CR is used in the filter of a tobacco industry product.

[0042] Fig. 2b shows a similar continuous rod CR manufactured on a machine according to the invention provided with an apparatus for placing the capsules 20 between the fibres of the filling material 3 inside the continuous rod CR, whereas in the continuous rod CR in Fig. 2b two areas with different physicochemical parameters can be distinguished, a first section P1 marked by a diagonal hatching, and a second section P2 without a diagonal hatching with a clearly visible horizontal hatching reflecting the direction of creasing of the strand of filling material. In the second section P2 of the continuous rod CR, the capsules 20 are placed. The empty areas E' formed before or after the capsule 20 are smaller than the empty areas E shown in Fig. 2a.

[0043] Fig. 2c shows the rod R cut from the continuous rod CR shown in Fig. 2b, whereas the continuous rod CR is cut into the rods R at the cutting places marked as h. In a subsequent production step, the rod R is cut into individual segments S at the cutting places marked as m, k, n. As shown in Fig. 2b and Fig. 2c, the cutting places h, m, k, n occur in the first section P1 with the first physicochemical properties. This means that the apparatus according to the invention maintains synchronisation between the travel speed of the strand of filling material 3 fed from the feeding assembly 2, the unit 4 modifying the physicochemical parameters of the filling material, e.g. the creasing apparatus 4', the incising apparatus 4" or the dosing apparatus 4"', the placing apparatus 6 and the cutting head 9, so that all technological operations carried out on the continuous rod CR lead to the formation of the rods R of desired specification. The rods R may also comprise several different types of placed objects, from a group including a capsule, a tube, a thin rod, a pellet.

[0044] Fig. 3a shows the continuous rod CR known from the prior art in which objects in the form of the capsules 20 and the tubes 21 are situated. The continuous rod CR has uniform parameters along its length and empty areas E1, E2 are formed around the placed objects. It is expected to reduce the empty areas E1, E2 in order to improve the quality of the gas flow in a filter containing a segment manufactured from the continuous rod.

[0045] Fig. 3b shows the continuous rod CR with two sections with different physicochemical parameters, the first section P1 marked respectively with a right hatching (in Fig. 3a, upward right hatching) and the second section P2 marked with a left hatching (in Fig. 3a, upward left hatching). The sections P1 and P2 are arranged alternately one after the other. In the first section P1 with the right hatching, objects in the form of the capsules 20 are placed, while in the area with the left hatching, objects in the form of the tubes 21 are placed. In place of the tube, a thin rod of any cross-section can be used. The parameters of the section P1 and the section P2 differ because the filling material is arranged differently around the capsules 20 and the tubes 21. Furthermore, reducing the empty areas E1, E2 for each of these objects requires different physicochemical parameters or a different structure, which improves the quality of the gas flow in the filter containing the segment thus produced. The sections P1 and P2 have different plasticity adapted to obtaining reduced empty areas E1', E2' before and behind the capsules 20 as well as before and behind the tubes 21, and the plasticity of the sections P1 and P2 can be adapted to the shape of the object and / or to its size.

[0046] Fig. 3c shows the rod R resulting from cutting the continuous rod CR at the places marked as m, k, n. As can be seen in Fig. 3c, the cuts occur at the sections P2 within the placed tube 21 at the places m and n, as well as at the sections P1 in the area between the capsules 20 at the place k. The cutting of the rod R shown in Fig. 3c results in the segments S containing the capsule 20 and a half of the tube 21 , the segments being oppositely directed. Fig. 4a shows another example of a configuration of the continuous rod CR wherein only the tubes 21 are placed. In this example, the continuous rod CR with two sections P1 and P2 with different physicochemical parameters, marked by a left hatching for P1 (upward left hatching) and a right hatching for P2 (upward right hatching), respectively, is shown. In the first section of P1, objects in the form of the tubes 21 are placed, while in the section P2 the continuous rod CR remains without placed objects.

[0047] Fig. 4b shows the rod R formed by cutting the continuous rod CR of Fig. 4a at the places marked as h. Fig. 4b shows the places of cutting m, k, n of the rod R into individual segments S. The cutting of the continuous rod CR into the rods R may take place in the sections P2, symmetrically between the placed objects 21, for example when these objects are not susceptible to cutting, e.g. when they are capsules or non-cuttable objects (NCO). However, the cutting place may also be within the placed object when the placed object 21 is cuttable and has the form of, for example, a soft tube.

[0048] In the first embodiment, the parameter modifying apparatus 4 which sets the physicochemical parameters or modifies the structure of the strand of filling material 3 is in the form of a creasing apparatus 4' adapted to longitudinally crease the sections P1, P2 of the strand of filling material 3 to different degrees. The creasing apparatus 4' may comprise two multi-groove drums with a matched pitch of grooves and discshaped surfaces such that the grooves and the disc-shaped surfaces interpenetrate to cause a longitudinal creasing of the filling material 3. The degree of creasing may be defined as a percentage and may range from zero to 100% for a maximum permissible creasing assumed for a given type of material. The creasing can cause transverse stretching of the filling material, especially for a paper strand. For a fibrous material, the creasing apparatus 4' may cause for part of the fibres to crush and join the fibres to each other and for the rest of the fibres to increase the distance between the fibres.

[0049] In the second embodiment, the parameter modifying apparatus 4, which sets the physicochemical parameters or modifies the structure of the strand of filling material 3, is in the form of the incising apparatus 4" adapted to longitudinally incise sections of the strand of filling material 3 to varying degrees. The incising apparatus 4" may comprise two multi-blade drums with matched axial pitch of circular knives whose cutting edges overlap and cause a longitudinal incision of the filling material 3. The degree of incision may be specified in millimetres and may range from zero to the maximum permissible degree of incision assumed for the type of material, for example it may be 1 mm.

[0050] In the third embodiment, the parameter modifying apparatus 4, which sets the physicochemical parameters or modifies the structure of the strand of filling material 3 is in the form of a dosing apparatus 4"' for the application of a liquid plasticizer. The presence of the plasticizer increases the plasticity of the filling material 3 and adapts the filling material to adhere to the objects and envelop the objects.

[0051] A modification of the parameters of the strand of the filling material 3 as a result of the action of the parameter modifying apparatus 4 leads to a modification of the physicochemical parameters of the strand of filling material 3. The filling material 3 demonstrates a certain elasticity, which results in empty areas around the objects in the continuous rod CR. A modification of the parameters of the filling material 3 by adding a plasticizer leads, among other things, to an increase in its plasticity and / or its ability to envelop the placed objects 20, 21. The above-described modification of the physicochemical parameters of the filling material 3 reduces the size of the empty areas E, which has a favourable effect on the quality of the manufactured continuous rod CR and the rods R.

[0052] The apparatus 1 is adapted to manufacture rods from a strand of material selected from a group comprising a paper, a fibrous material, a plastic-based material, for example an acetate-based material, a material based on a plant material other than cellulose, for example a tobacco-based material. The strand of material may have filtration properties. The strand of material may be composed of fibres forming a cross-linked permanent structure, i.e. fibres that do not move relative to each other, as opposed to strands composed of non-cross-linked fibres with a loose structure allowing individual fibres to move relative to each other.

[0053] The creasing apparatus 4' may be replaced by the incising apparatus 4" or the dosing apparatus 4"', these apparatuses being designed to modify the parameters of the strand of filling material 3 and / or to modify the structure of the strand of filling material 3. The compacting unit 5 may be replaced by the folding unit 5' which is adapted to fold the filling material 3 in a controlled manner and to compact this material at the same time.

[0054] The strand of filling material 3 is unwound from a bobbin 15, is fed to the creasing apparatus 4', then passes through a tensioning device 16 and then is directed to the compacting unit, 5 in which the filling material 3 is folded and compacted. The compacted strand of filling material 3 is formed into a cylindrical shape and is wrapped with a wrapping material 11 so as to form the continuous rod CR, whereas glue from the glue unit 13 is fed to glue the wrapping material 11. The continuous rod CR is cut into individual rods R by means of the cutting head 9. The resulting rods R are used in the manufacture of tobacco industry articles, being cut into individual mouthpieces or segments for multi-segment filters.

[0055] In the embodiment shown, the rod making apparatus comprises the feeding assembly 2 for feeding the strand of filling material 3, the parameter modifying apparatus 4 for setting parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material 3, the compacting unit 5 or the folding unit 5' for pre-compacting the strand of filling material 3, the placing apparatus 6 for placing individual objects 20 of at least one type in the strand of filling material 3, the assembly 10 for feeding the wrapping material 11, the forming unit 8 for forming the continuous rod CR, the cutting head 9 for cutting the continuous rod CR into the rods R. The parameter modifying apparatus 4 for setting the physicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material 3 is adapted for setting the physicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material 3 in alternating sections so that the sections P1, P2 of the strand of filling material 3 have alternating physicochemical parameters or structure, and the movement of the placing apparatus 6 is synchronized with the cycle of setting physicochemical parameters or structure of the strand of filling material 3 such that objects 20, 21 of one type are placed in the sections P1, P2 of the strand of filling material 3 having the same physicochemical parameters or structure. A repeating structure of the continuous rod is thus obtained.

[0056] Fig. 5a diagrammatically shows a fragment of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in the first embodiment using the creasing apparatus 4' that periodically modifies the physicochemical properties of the filling material 3. The apparatus according to this embodiment is shown in Fig. 5b. The creasing apparatus 4' is provided on the circumference of the drums 30 with alternately arranged working areas 31, 32 with different properties of acting on the strand of filling material 3. The working areas 31, 32 of Fig. 5b are alternately provided on the circumference of the drums 30 of the creasing apparatus 4' and are arranged substantially perpendicular to the direction T of displacement of the filling material 3. The working areas 31, 32 may form circumferential equal sections, the working areas 31, 32 may form circumferential sections of different lengths. The drums 30 of the creasing apparatus 4' provided with the working areas 31 , 32 form a characteristic pattern of alternately situated sections P1, P2 with different physicochemical properties on the strand of filling material 3. In the embodiment of Figs. 5a, 5b, there is presented the pattern formed by the working areas 31, 32, whereas the section P1 is the result of the action of the drums 30 of the creasing apparatus 4' on the strand of filling material 3 of the working area 31, while the section P2 is a section having unmodified physicochemical properties of the filling material 3. The section P1 in the preferred embodiment has a complex internal structure, which makes the plasticity of the filling material, understood in the mechanical sense as deformability, increased in this area. A reverse configuration is possible, i.e. the section P2 has increased plasticity relative to the section P1. This allows obtaining a further technical effect of the filling material 3 more tightly enveloping the object 20 placed in the formed continuous rod CR, which leads to a further technical effect of improving the quality of the manufactured rods R, in terms of smoke filtration capacity, by eliminating from the continuous rod CR the empty areas before and behind the placed objects 20. In order to obtain further technical effects, there must be synchronised operation between the creasing apparatus 4' and the placing apparatus 6. This means that the placing apparatus 6 places the objects 20 in the sections P1 (or P2, respectively) of the filling material 3, preferably in its central part. In this embodiment, the apparatus 4 for setting physicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the material strand is the creasing apparatus 4' adapted to set different degrees of creasing for the sections P1, P2 of the strand of filling material 3.

[0057] In all embodiments, the movement of the cutting head 9 is synchronised with the movement of the placing apparatus 6.

[0058] Fig. 6a diagrammatically shows a fragment of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in the second embodiment using the incising apparatus 4" which periodically modifies the physicochemical properties of the filling material 3. The incising apparatus 4" according to this embodiment is shown in Fig. 6b. In this embodiment, the drums 40 of the incising apparatus 4" are provided with two working areas 41, 42, whereas both working areas 41, 42 modify the physicochemical properties of the filling material 3 in terms of its plasticity. The strand of filling material thus prepared is adapted to be fed by the placing apparatus 6 with two different types of objects 20, 21, for example the capsules 20 and the tubes 21. The synchronisation of movement of the placing apparatus 6 and the incising apparatus 4" ensures that the capsules 20 are always placed in the section P1 and the tubes 21 are always placed in the section P2. This solution allows obtaining beneficial technical effects both directly (better enveloping of the placed object by the filling material) and in the further process (eliminating empty areas before and behind the object, and improving the quality of obtained filter in terms of smoke filtration).

[0059] In this embodiment, the parameter modifying apparatus 4 for setting the physicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the material strand is the incising apparatus 4' adapted to set different degrees of incision for the sections P1, P2 of the strand of filling material 3.

[0060] Fig. 7 diagrammatically shows the dosing apparatus 4"' which periodically modifies the physicochemical properties of the filling material 3 by spraying the filling material 3 locally with a chemical agent. The spraying, or wetting of the filling material 3 with the chemical agent is carried out by means of spray nozzles 51 arranged on the drum 50 of the dosing apparatus 4"'. As a result of using the spray nozzles 51 arranged on the working drum 50 of the dosing apparatus 4", the sections P2 are formed with unmodified parameters and the sections P1 are coated with a liquid, e.g. a liquid chemical agent or a physically active substance, e.g. steam or warm water, so that the sections P1 have physicochemical parameters different from the sections P2.

[0061] The chemical agent may be a plasticizer which, by reacting with the filling material, increases its plasticity. The action of the plasticiser can be either a permanent or intermittent action, for example, the plasticizer can volatilize at the operating temperature of the apparatus 1 and / or be vaporized after the object 20, 21 is placed in the filling material 3 so as to restore its original mechanical properties.

[0062] In this embodiment, the parameter modifying apparatus 4 for setting the physicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material 3 is the dosing apparatus 4"' for feeding the fluid.

[0063] List of designations 16 tensioning device

[0064] 1 rod making machine 18 controller

[0065] 2 feeding assembly 20 capsule

[0066] 3 filling material 21 tube

[0067] 4 parameter modifying apparatus

[0068] 4' creasing apparatus E, E1, E2 empty area

[0069] 4" incising apparatus P1 , P2 areas of modified parameters

[0070] 4"' dosing apparatus 31 , 32 working areas in the first embodiment

[0071] 5 compacting unit 41 , 42 working areas in the second embodiment

[0072] 5' folding unit 51 spray nozzles in the third embodiment

[0073] 6 placing apparatus

[0074] 8 forming unit h, m, n, k place of cutting of continuous rod and rods

[0075] 9 cutting head X longitudinal axis

[0076] 10 wrapping material feeding assembly R rod

[0077] 11 wrapping material S segment

[0078] 12 format bar CR continuous rod

[0079] 13 glue unit T direction of transport of material strand

[0080] 14 folding unit

[0081] 15 bobbin of material strand

Claims

Patent claims1 . An apparatus for manufacturing tobacco industry rods comprising a feeding assembly (2) for feeding a strand of filling material (3), a parameter modifying apparatus (4) for setting parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material (3), a compacting unit (5) or a folding unit (5') for pre-compacting the strand of filling material (3), a placing apparatus (6) for placing individual objects (7) of at least one type in the strand of filling material (3), a wrapping material (11) feeding assembly (10), a forming unit (8) for forming a continuous rod (CR), a cutting head (9) for cutting the continuous rod (CR) into rods (R), characterised in that the parameter modifying apparatus (4', 4", 4"') for setting physicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material (3) is adapted for setting physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters of the strand of filling material (3) or modifying the structure of the material in alternating sections so that the sections (P1 , P2) of the strand of filling material (3) have alternating physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters or structure, and the movement of the placing apparatus (6) is synchronised with the cycle of setting the physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters or the structure to the strand of filling material (3) in such a way that objects (20, 21 ) of one type are placed in sections (P1 , P2) of the material strand (3) having the same physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters or structure.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 , characterised in that the parameter modifying apparatus (4) for setting physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material (3) is a creasing apparatus (4') adapted to set different degrees of creasing for the sections (P1 , P2) of the strand of filling material (3).

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 , characterised in that the parameter modifying apparatus (4) for setting physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material (3) is an incising apparatus (4") adapted to incise the sections (P1 , P2) of the strand of filling material (3) to different degrees.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1 , characterised in that the parameter modifying apparatus (4) for setting physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material (3) is a dosing apparatus (4"') for feeding the fluid.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1 , characterised in that the movement of the cutting head (9) is synchronised with the movement of the placing apparatus (6).

6. The apparatus as in any of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the placing apparatus (6) is adapted to place an object (20, 21) selected from a group comprising a capsule, a tube, a thin rod, a pellet.

7. The apparatus as in any of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the placing apparatus (6) is adapted to place objects (20, 21) of at least two types selected from a group comprising a capsule, a tube, a thin rod, a pellet.

8. The apparatus as in any of the claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the parameter modifying apparatus (4) is adapted to modify physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters of the strand of filling material (3), which increases its plasticity or its ability to envelop the placed objects (20, 21).

9. The apparatus as in any of the claims 1 to 8, characterised by being adapted to manufacture the rods from the strand of material selected from a group comprising a paper, a fibrous material, a plastic-based material, a material based on a plant material other than cellulose.

10. A method of manufacturing tobacco industry rods comprising the steps of feeding the strand of filling material (3) by means of the feeding assembly (2), modifying the parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material (3) by means of the parameter modifying apparatus (4), pre-compacting the strand of filling material (3) by means of the compacting unit (5) or the folding unit (5'), placing individual objects (20, 21) of at least one type in the strand of filling material (3) by means of the placing apparatus (6), forming the continuous rod (CR) by means of the forming unit (8) by wrapping the strand of filling material (3) in the wrapping material (11) fed from feeding assembly (10) of the wrapping material (11), cutting the continuous rod (CR) into the rods (R) by means of the cutting head (9), characterised in that physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters of the strand of filling material (3) are set or the structure of the material (3) is modified in alternating sections so that the sections (P1 , P2) of the strand of filling material (3) have alternating physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters or structure, and the movement of the placing apparatus (6) is synchronised with the cycle of setting physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters or structure of the strand of filling material (3) such that the objects (20, 21) of one type are placed in the sections (P1, P2) of the material strand (3) having the same physicochemicalphysicochemical parameters or structure.

11. The method as in claim 10, characterised in that physicochemicalphysicochemical are modified or the structure of the strand of filling material (3) is modified by means of the creasingapparatus (4') adapted to set different degrees of creasing for the sections (P1, P2) of the strand of filling material (3)12. The method as in claim 10, characterised in that physicochemical physicochemical parameters are modified or the structure of the strand of filling material (3) is modified by means of the incising apparatus (4") adapted to incise the sections (P1 , P2) of the strand of filling material (3) to different degrees.

13. The method as in claim 10, characterised in that physicochemical physicochemical parameters are modified or the structure of the strand of filling material (3) is modified by means of the dosing apparatus (4") for feeding the fluid.

14. The method as in any of the claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the movement of the cutting head (9) is synchronised with the movement of the placing apparatus (6).

15. The method as in any of the claims 10 to 14, characterised in that by modifying physicochemical physicochemical parameters or modifying the structure of the strand of filling material (3), its plasticity or ability to envelop the placed objects (20, 21) is increased.

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