Method for manufacturing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco industry, apparatus for manufacturing rod-shaped articles, and system for manufacturing rod-shaped articles

Abstract

The object of the present application is a method for producing rod-shaped products for the tobacco industry, in which a first cut is performed in which a continuous rod (CR) is cut into a series of two-strand rod-shaped products (6) using a first cutting unit (5), the conveying direction of the two-strand rod-shaped products (6) is changed from a first direction (T1) along the axis of the rod-shaped products (6) to a second direction (T2) transverse to the axis of the rod-shaped products (6), and at least two two-strand rod-shaped products (6) are conveyed into the groove of a drum conveyor each time, forming at least two input flows (S1, S2) of two-strand rod-shaped products (6). Furthermore, the method of the present application involves transforming at least two streams (S1, S2) of double rod-like articles (6) into one intermediate stream (S) of double rod-like articles by transferring the double rod-like articles (6) from one of the streams (S1, S2) between two double rod-like articles (6) of the other of the streams (S1, S2), the geometric center (M) of the double rod-like articles (6) in the intermediate stream (S) being located in a plane (k) parallel to the second direction (T2). A second cut is then performed, in which the double rod-like articles (6) conveyed in the intermediate stream (S) of double rod-like articles (6) are cut into two single rod-like articles (9) by means of a second cutting unit (26) to form two product streams (S4, S5) of single rod-like articles (9). The subject of the present application is also an apparatus for producing rod-shaped products of the tobacco industry from continuous rod (CR) and a system for producing rod-shaped products (9).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The object of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a rod-shaped article, a manufacturing apparatus for a rod-shaped article, and a manufacturing system for a rod-shaped article in the tobacco industry.

Background Art

[0002] In the tobacco industry, there are many types of rod-shaped articles in both the form of finished products and semi-finished products obtained at various stages of manufacturing. Some articles in the tobacco industry are made of one type of material, such as filterless cigarettes or filter rods made of one type of material, and such articles may be called single-element articles. However, today, articles in the tobacco industry often consist of several elements or segments and may include either cut tobacco or processed tobacco. Multi-element (multi-segment) articles include cigarettes with filter tips, filter rods containing various types of filter material elements, flavoring materials, and elements having other functions such as directing the airflow. The filter tip itself can be manufactured by cutting a longer rod containing one type of filter material or a multi-element rod containing various types of filter materials. Typically, rod-shaped articles are moved or processed in multiple forms, i.e., some articles are moved in the form of one long rod that is ultimately cut into articles for single use.

[0003] According to U.S. Patent No. 4,538,629, a method for manufacturing cigarettes is known in which two-element articles, in this case two joined cigarettes, are first manufactured and then cut into two single cigarettes without filter tips.

[0004] European Patent No. 0895725B1 provides a method for manufacturing cigarettes with filter tips, in which an article comprising two cigarette portions, which are components of the manufactured cigarette, is first manufactured, and after cutting, a filter tip portion having twice the length of the filter tip of the finished cigarette is placed between them. The formed rod is wrapped in packaging material and cut to form two cigarettes with filter tips.

[0005] European Patent No. 2717726B1 provides public knowledge of a method for manufacturing a cigarette with a filter tip, and an article having four cigarette portions is first manufactured.

[0006] International Publication No. 2015 / 140742A1 provides publicly known a method for manufacturing a cigarette having four tobacco portions which are cut by further processing.

[0007] In known processing machines, a rod to be manufactured is cut into two parts at the start of the process, then separated and moved or rotated in an axial and transverse direction relative to the axis to form a single flow of the article to be processed. For example, the process starts with forming one flow, and the rod is cut to form two flows of half the original length rods. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] The problem that this invention aims to solve is to develop a method for manufacturing rod-shaped articles in the tobacco industry that is highly reliable, fast, highly accurate, simple, cost-effective, produces less waste, and requires less maintenance.

[0009] The problem that this invention aims to solve is also to develop an apparatus and system for manufacturing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco industry that is reliable, fast, highly accurate, simple, cost-effective, produces less waste, requires less maintenance, is compact, has a reduced number of components and mechanical parts, is easy to maintain, and is easy to operate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The object of the present invention is a method for manufacturing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco industry, wherein a first cutting is performed in which a continuous rod is cut into a series of two-piece rod-shaped articles using a first cutting unit, the conveying direction of the two-piece rod-shaped articles is changed from a first direction along the axis of the rod-shaped articles to a second direction across the axis of the rod-shaped articles, and at least two two-piece rod-shaped articles are conveyed into the groove of a drum conveyor each time, forming at least two input flows of two-piece rod-shaped articles. In the method according to the present invention, at least two flows of two-piece rod-shaped articles are changed into one intermediate flow of two-piece rod-shaped articles by moving two-piece rod-shaped articles from one flow to two two-piece rod-shaped articles in another flow, the geometric center of the two-piece rod-shaped articles in the intermediate flow is located in a plane parallel to the second direction. Furthermore, in the method according to the present invention, a second cutting is performed in which two-piece rod-shaped articles conveyed in the intermediate flow of two-piece rod-shaped articles are cut into two one-piece rod-shaped articles using a second cutting unit, forming two product flows of one-piece rod-shaped articles.

[0011] As used herein, the term “flow” is used to refer to a series of rod-shaped articles moving parallel to each other and in the same direction.

[0012] As used herein, the term “column” is used to describe a series of rod-shaped articles that move in the same direction, are collinear with one another, and are arranged along their directions of movement.

[0013] Thanks to this invention, several important advantages are achieved.

[0014] By changing the conveying direction of at least two double-rod-shaped articles, and by conveying the at least two double-rod-shaped articles into the grooves of the drum conveyor, the process can be performed at very high speed, with high precision, and with high reliability.

[0015] By changing the conveying direction of at least two pairs of rod-shaped articles, and by conveying the at least two pairs of rod-shaped articles into the grooves of the drum conveyor, the cutting unit can be eliminated, thus reducing additional steps in the process and thereby reducing the number of drum conveyors.

[0016] This improves process speed, accuracy, and reliability. The process becomes simpler and more cost-effective. The reduction in the number of machine components, drum conveyors, and cutting units results in less maintenance and easier operation of the equipment.

[0017] In addition to waste reduction, a decrease in equipment contamination by dirt and dust has also been measured. The equipment is smaller and lighter.

[0018] Preferably, in the method according to the present invention, changing the two flows of a double rod-shaped article includes a rotation in which one of the double rod-shaped articles in the flow of the double rod-shaped article is rotated by 180 degrees.

[0019] Preferably, in the method according to the present invention, changing the two flows of a double rod-shaped article includes moving the double rod-shaped article from one of the flows in a direction transverse to the axis of the double rod-shaped article, and moving the double rod-shaped article between the double rod-shaped articles of the second flow.

[0020] Preferably, in the method according to the present invention, the two rod-shaped articles are moved to the intermediate flow, and then the two rod-shaped articles are positioned in the center.

[0021] Preferably, in the method according to the present invention, the single rod-shaped articles are separated after the second cut, but the single rod-shaped articles continue to move within the flow of two products of the single rod-shaped articles.

[0022] Preferably, in the method according to the present invention, additional rod-shaped elements are placed between spaced-apart single rod-shaped articles.

[0023] Preferably, in the method according to the present invention, a single rod-shaped article and additional rod-shaped elements are joined together with packaging material.

[0024] Preferably, in the method according to the present invention, the velocity of the input flow is slower than the velocity of the product flow.

[0025] Preferably, in the method according to the present invention, the continuous rod and the rod-shaped article comprises a plurality of elements.

[0026] The object of the present invention is also a device for manufacturing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco industry from a continuous rod, comprising a conveying unit for moving the continuous rod in a direction along the axis of the continuous rod, and a first cutting unit for cutting the continuous rod into a series of rod-shaped articles for two. The device according to the invention is configured to move the rod-shaped article for two in a first direction along the axis of the rod-shaped article for two and to move the rod-shaped article for two in a second direction transverse to the axis of the rod-shaped article for two, and further comprises a conveying mechanism for conveying at least two rod-shaped articles for two each time from a conveying unit configured to supply the rod-shaped article for two into a groove on a drum conveyor. The device according to the invention further comprises a drum conveyor unit for conveying the first input stream and the second input stream of the rod-shaped article for two, and a moving unit for moving the rod-shaped article for two from one stream and arranging such a rod-shaped article between the rod-shaped articles of the second stream to form an intermediate stream of the rod-shaped article for two. The device according to the invention also comprises means for arranging the rod-shaped article for two in the center so that the geometric center of the rod-shaped article for two in the intermediate stream is arranged in a plane parallel to the second direction, a conveying unit for conveying the intermediate stream formed by combining the first stream and the second stream of the rod-shaped article for two, and a second cutting unit for cutting the rod-shaped article for two into two single rod-shaped articles.

[0027] Thanks to the present invention, several important advantages are achieved.

[0028] By changing the conveying direction of at least two rod-shaped articles for two and conveying the at least two rod-shaped articles for two into the grooves of the drum conveyor, the process can be carried out very quickly, with high precision and high reliability.

[0029] By changing the conveyance direction of at least two rod-shaped articles for two and conveying the at least two rod-shaped articles for two into the groove of the drum conveyor, the cutting unit can be eliminated. Thus, additional processes in the process can be reduced, and thereby the number of drum conveyors can be decreased.

[0030] As a result, the speed, accuracy, and reliability of the process are improved. The process is more simplified and more cost-effective. With the reduction in the number of mechanical components, drum conveyors, and cutting units, the need for maintenance is reduced, and the operation of the device becomes easier.

[0031] Not only the reduction of waste but also the reduction of contamination of the device by dirt and dust has been measured. The device is miniaturized and lightweight.

[0032] Preferably, the device according to the present invention further comprises a separating unit for separating rod-shaped articles for one.

[0033] Preferably, the device according to the present invention comprises a positioning unit for arranging additional rod-shaped elements between the separated rod-shaped articles for one.

[0034] Preferably, the device according to the present invention is provided with a unit for combining a rod-shaped article for one and an additional rod-shaped element with a packaging material.

[0035] The object of the present invention is also a system for manufacturing a rod-shaped article comprising a supply unit for supplying rod-shaped elements, wherein a rod-shaped element or a part of a rod-shaped element is provided to a multi-element rod-shaped article. This system further comprises a conveyance unit for conveying the rod-shaped elements, a supply unit for supplying a packaging material, a conveyance device for conveying the rod-shaped elements onto a strand of the packaging material from the conveyance unit, a forming unit for forming a continuous multi-element rod composed of rod-shaped elements wrapped with the packaging material, and a device for manufacturing a rod-shaped article.

[0036] Preferably, in the system according to the present invention, a single rod-shaped article comprises at least two different rod-shaped elements.

[0037] In the tobacco industry, it is common to manufacture rod-shaped articles that are twice or four times longer than the original length, but the first processing step after manufacturing the article is cutting it. The method according to the present invention eliminates the need for this initial cutting. The advantageous technical effect of the present invention is the elimination of a cutting unit and a reduction in the number of drum conveyors in the processing machine. The object of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0038] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows a top view of a production system for manufacturing multi-element rod-shaped articles. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows a top view of another production system for manufacturing multi-element rod-shaped articles. [Figure 3] Figure 3 schematically shows the manufacturing process of an exemplary rod-shaped article in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows a diagram of a production machine that performs the process shown in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 schematically shows the manufacturing process of a rod-shaped article in the second embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows a diagram of a production machine that performs the process shown in Figure 5. [Figure 7] Figure 7 schematically shows the manufacturing process of a rod-shaped article in the third embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows a diagram of a production machine that performs the process shown in Figure 7. [Figure 9a] An example of a pair of two-element rod-shaped articles for use with two components is shown. [Figure 9b] An example of a two-element rod-shaped article is shown. [Figure 10a] An example of a pair of single-element rod-shaped articles for use with two components is shown. [Figure 10b] An example of a single-element rod-shaped article is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0039] The production system 1 for manufacturing rod-shaped articles shown in Figure 1 comprises a production machine 2 for manufacturing rods and a processing machine 3 for processing the rods manufactured by production machine 2. Specifically, the rods manufactured by production machine 2 are multi-element rod-shaped articles 6 of a length for two rods, and the rods manufactured by processing machine 3 are multi-element rod-shaped articles 9 of a length for one rod. During processing of the multi-element rod-shaped articles 6 for two rods in processing machine 3, they are transformed into multi-element rod-shaped articles 9 for one rod that can be further processed. For example, additional elements may be attached to the multi-element rod-shaped articles 9 for one rod.

[0040] The production machine 2 is equipped with supply units 2A, 2B, and 2C for supplying three types of rod-shaped elements A, B, and C, respectively. The rod-shaped elements A, B, and C are arranged on a conveyor belt. The production machine 2 is equipped with a known forming unit for forming a multi-element continuous rod CR. As shown in Figure 1, the continuous rod CR is moved in a direction along the axis of the continuous rod using a transport unit 4 which can be integrated with the forming unit. Exemplary rod-shaped elements A, B, and C are arranged in a predetermined order on a strand of packaging material and wrapped in such material to form a continuous multi-element rod CR composed of rod-shaped elements, in which rod-shaped elements A, B, and C are arranged successively coaxially. The rotary cutting head 5 of the production machine 2 constitutes a first cutting unit that performs a first cutting in the same manner as the method according to the present invention. As a result of the first cutting, a two-rod-shaped multi-element article 6 containing A, B, and C type elements or fragments thereof is cut from the continuous multi-element rod CR (one element is cut, and half of the cut element becomes a component of the adjacent article), while the continuous rod CR moves in a first direction T1 at a first transport speed v1 along its axis. The two-rod-shaped article 6 has a structure formed by combining two single-rod-shaped articles 9. The two-rod-shaped article 6 comprises two halves of A type elements, two B type elements, and one C type element (Figure 2).

[0041] Production machine 2 may be a machine for manufacturing two-piece tobacco rods that manufacture filter tip cigarettes. Furthermore, for convenience, in this specification the term “two-piece rod articles” may refer to both multi-element and single-element filter articles, smoking or heating articles, tobacco rods or articles containing tobacco or processed tobacco.

[0042] Between the production machine 2 and the processing machine 3, a conveying device 8 is positioned to change the longitudinal direction of movement of the two rod-shaped articles 6 to a direction that crosses the axis of the two rod-shaped articles 6.

[0043] Within production machine 2, the two-piece rod-shaped article 6 moves in a direction along its axis parallel to the first direction T1. After transport, within processing machine 3, the two-piece rod-shaped article 6 moves in a second direction T2 that crosses the axis of the two-piece multi-element rod-shaped article 6, and the second direction T2 crosses the first direction T1. In the machine configuration shown in Figure 1, the second direction T2 of the movement of the two-piece rod-shaped article 6 and the one-piece rod-shaped article 9 in processing machine 3 is represented by a second direction T2 perpendicular to the first direction T1. Within processing machine 3, the two-piece multi-element rod-shaped article 6 and the one-piece multi-element rod-shaped article 9 formed during the process are transported in direction T2, and they are transported into the grooves of a continuous drum conveyor. It is possible to have a machine configuration in which an obtuse angle exists between the second direction T2 and the first direction T1. Figure 2 shows a production machine 2' for manufacturing tobacco rods, which is connected to a processing machine 3' by a conveying device 8', with a 180° angle maintained between the second direction T2 and the first direction T1, so that the two tobacco rods are further rotated during conveying.

[0044] The process performed in the processing machine 3 is illustrated in a simplified manner in Figure 3 in the form of rod-shaped articles in a series of stages of the process. In the exemplary fragment of machine 3 shown in Figure 4, the first drum conveyor 11 receives two rod-shaped articles 6 from the conveying device 8 and conveys them at a second conveying speed v2. On this conveyor and on subsequent conveyors, the two rod-shaped articles and single rod-shaped articles are held in place within the grooves by a vacuum created by holes at the bottom of the grooves. The two multi-element rod-shaped articles 6 are conveyed onto the drum conveyor 12. On the drum conveyors 11 and 12, the two rod-shaped articles 6 are conveyed in the form of two input flows S1 and S2 (Figure 3) and move at a second conveying speed v2, while the two rod-shaped articles 6 remain in their first configuration, i.e., are arranged coaxially with each other. The conveyor 12 may have long grooves and may consist of two coaxial drum conveyors. The first flow S1 and the second flow S2 of the two-rod-shaped articles 6 are then transported by a drum conveyor 15 and then onto a drum conveyor 16 equipped with a rotatable support 18 and a non-rotatable support 19. The supports 18 and 19 are provided with grooves for transporting the two-rod-shaped articles 6. One flow S1 of the two-rod-shaped articles 6 is transported into the groove of the rotatable support 18, and the second flow S2 of the two-rod-shaped articles 6 is transported into the groove of the non-rotatable support 19. While the drum conveyor 16 is rotating, the configuration of the two-rod-shaped articles is changed. Specifically, the two-rod-shaped articles 6 of the second flow S2 are rotated 180 degrees and positioned between the two-rod-shaped articles 6 of the first flow S1. As a result of the rotation of the two-rod-shaped article 6, the first input flow S1 and the second input flow S2 are interconnected, forming an intermediate flow S of the two-rod-shaped article 6 which is then transported onto another drum conveyor 17. In the second configuration, the two-rod-shaped article is moved so that its geometric center M is located in a plane k parallel to the second direction T2, and it moves within this plane. In this configuration, the two-rod-shaped article 6 also moves on the drum conveyor 17 and subsequent drum conveyors.Quality control of the rod-shaped articles 6 for two is performed while an intermediate flow S of such articles is being transported on a drum conveyor 17 at a second transport speed v2. A radiation source 20 is positioned inside the drum conveyor, and the radiation passes through the individual rod-shaped articles 6 for two and enters a receiver 21. The receiver may be, for example, a camera that records an image formed by the radiation passing through the individual rod-shaped articles 6 for two. A groove provided in the drum conveyor 17 is wide enough to inspect such articles to the maximum extent with radiation. Quality control may relate to the dimensions of the rod-shaped articles or components of the rod-shaped articles, and the contents of such articles. The rod-shaped articles 6 for two are transported from drum conveyor 17 onto drum conveyor 22. Drum conveyor 22 works in cooperation with drum conveyor 23 and can be used to transport rod-shaped articles 6 for two selected as samples for another quality control or random quality control, while the articles 6 to be inspected are dropped into a container 10. If a defect is detected in a rod-shaped article 6 for two, the defective article 6 can be transported onto a drum conveyor 23 and then removed from production. The rod-shaped articles 6 for two are transported on a drum conveyor 22 at a speed v2 and spaced apart on the outer circumference of the drum conveyor 22 at a pitch t2. The rod-shaped articles 6 for two are transported from the supply drum conveyor, drum conveyor 22, onto the receiving drum conveyor, drum conveyor 24. On the drum conveyor 24, the rod-shaped articles 6 are transported at a pitch t3 that is greater than the pitch t2 of the drum conveyor 22, and the transport speed v3 on the (receiving) drum conveyor 24 is greater than the transport speed v2 on the (supply) drum conveyor 22. The ratio of pitch t3 to t2 may be 2:1, in which case the ratio of speed v3 to v2 will also be 2:1. The ratio of pitch t3 to t2 may be in the range of 1.5 to 2.5, similar to the ratio of speed v3 to v2. Due to the above-mentioned relationship between the transport speeds, the transport speed can be adjusted after the rotation process to the speed required for the second cutting. The two rod-shaped articles 6 are transported onto the drum conveyor 25 and transported at a third transport speed v3.On the conveyor 25, a double rod-shaped article 6 is placed in the center, and a third cut is performed, i.e., cutting from the double rod-shaped article 6 to a single rod-shaped article 9 using a rotating knife 26 attached to the second cutting unit 42, the cutting being performed by cutting a C-shaped element. The third cut is performed at a conveying speed v3, and when cutting easily meltable material, the rotating knife 26 can be cooled by a cooling system 27 with a flow of cold air directed towards the cutting edge of the rotating knife 26. As with the rotating knife 13, the cooling of the rotating knife 26 may be performed behind the sheath that guides the article to be cut, generally on the opposite side of the cutting point. As a result of the cutting, two product flows S4 and S5 of the single rod-shaped article 9 are formed. Product flows S4 and S5 move at a higher speed than the input flows S1 and S2. On the conveyor 28, the basic rod-shaped parts 9 moving in product flows S4 and S5 are axially separated according to a solution disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 7,296,579B1, and then the fourth and fifth flows S4 and S5, in which the parts are separated, are conveyed onto the drum conveyor 29. Using drum conveyors 30 and 31, D-type rod-shaped articles are conveyed onto the drum conveyor 29, although D-type rod-shaped articles may be made of a material that is difficult to cut into very short fragments, for example, fragments that are close in length to the diameter of the manufactured part. Groups 36 comprising two single rod-shaped articles 9 and rod-shaped elements D are conveyed onto the drum conveyor 32, where they are pushed together and centered. On the subsequent drum conveyors 33 and 34, rectangular packaging material is further wrapped around all the rod-shaped parts constituting the group to connect them.

[0045] Figure 5 shows a simplified representation of the process performed by the processing machine in the second embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, two input flows S1 and S2 are formed and combined to form an intermediate flow S, and after cutting the two rod-shaped articles, two product flows S4 and S5 are formed. Similarly, the first drum conveyor 11 receives the two rod-shaped articles 6 from the conveying device 8 and conveys them at a second conveying speed v2. The two rod-shaped articles 6 are conveyed onto the drum conveyor 12. On the drum conveyor 12, the two rod-shaped articles 6 are conveyed in the form of two input flows S1 and S2 (Figure 5), remaining in the first configuration, i.e., they are arranged coaxially with each other. The two rod-shaped articles 6 are conveyed onto drum conveyors 43 and 44, where one of the rod-shaped articles 6 is displaced in a direction across the axis of the article relative to the other article. Next, after the two rod-shaped articles are transported onto the drum conveyor 45, the two rod-shaped articles 6 of the second input flow S2 are moved axially between the rod-shaped articles 6 of the first input flow. Thus, an intermediate flow S is formed from the two input flows S1 and S2. In the intermediate flow, the two rod-shaped articles 6 are in a second configuration, that is, their geometric center M is located in a plane k parallel to the second direction T2.

[0046] The present invention can be implemented in which three or more two-pronged rod-shaped articles are transported from the manufacturing machine 2. In the process shown in Figure 7, three two-pronged rod-shaped articles 6' are transported simultaneously. A part of the processing machine 3 that performs this process is shown in Figure 8. The two-pronged rod-shaped article 6' comprises half of a rod-shaped element G, two rod-shaped elements J, and a rod-shaped element H. The three two-pronged rod-shaped articles 6' are transported onto a drum conveyor 11, where they are held in a first configuration, i.e., arranged coaxially. The continuously supplied two-pronged rod-shaped articles 6' are arranged in three flows S1, S2, and S3. The rod-shaped articles 6' are transported onto a drum conveyor 50 and then onto a drum conveyor 51, so that they are transported in a direction transverse to the axis of the rod-shaped articles 6', and then onto a drum conveyor 52 along the axis of the rod-shaped articles 6'. On the drum conveyor 52, the rod-shaped articles 6' are further conveyed in a single intermediate flow S in a second configuration in which the geometric centers of the two rod-shaped articles 6 are positioned in a plane k parallel to the second direction T2. ​​Furthermore, the process is carried out in the same manner as in the previous embodiment. That is, the rod-shaped articles 6' are cut, two product flows S4, S5 are formed, and after the one rod-shaped article 9' is separated, another rod-shaped element D is placed between the separated articles. In the case of short rod-shaped articles, four two rod-shaped articles can also be conveyed.

[0047] In another possible embodiment of the method according to the present invention, four or more types of rod-like elements, or just two types of rod-like elements, are supplied. It is also possible to carry out the method according to the present invention in which a continuous rod made of a single type of material is supplied.

[0048] Figure 9a shows a pair of two rod-shaped articles 47, including two single rod-shaped articles 48 composed of two types of elements E and F, the single rod-shaped article 48 shown in Figure 9b comprises half of an E-type element and half of an F-type element.

[0049] Figure 10a shows a pair 53 of double rod articles 54, including two single rod articles 55 made of the same material as shown in Figure 10b. By placing another rod element made of filter material or some other type of material between the two articles 55 made of tobacco, a cigarette of twice its length can be obtained.

[0050] One embodiment of the present invention also includes a system for manufacturing a rod-shaped article 9 comprising, for example, at least two different rod-shaped elements A, B, C, E, F, G, H, J. The system comprises supply units 2A, 2B, 2C for supplying the rod-shaped elements A, B, C, while the multi-element rod-shaped article 9 is provided with rod-shaped elements A, B, C or a portion of the rod-shaped elements. In the embodiment described, the system also comprises a transport unit for transporting the rod-shaped elements A, B, C, and a unit for supplying packaging material, such as cigarette paper. The system in this embodiment also comprises a transport device for transporting the rod-shaped elements A, B, C from the transport unit onto a strand of packaging material, a molding unit for forming a continuous multi-element rod CR formed from the rod-shaped elements (A, B, C) wrapped in packaging material, and an apparatus for manufacturing a rod-shaped article similar to one of the embodiments described above.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco industry, A first cut is performed, and the continuous rod (CR) is cut into a series of two-piece rod-shaped articles (6) using a first cutting unit (5). The conveying direction of the two rod-shaped articles (6) is changed from a first direction (T1) along the axis of the two rod-shaped articles (6) to a second direction (T2) that crosses the axis of the two rod-shaped articles (6), so that at least two two rod-shaped articles (6) are conveyed into the groove of the drum conveyor (11) each time, and at least two input flows (S1, S2) of the two rod-shaped articles (6) are formed. By moving the two rod-shaped articles (6) from one of the at least two input flows (S1, S2) to the other two two rod-shaped articles (6) of the at least two input flows (S1, S2), the at least two input flows (S1, S2) of the two rod-shaped articles (6) are changed to one intermediate flow (S) of the two rod-shaped articles (6), and the geometric center (M) of the two rod-shaped articles (6) in the intermediate flow (S) is located in a plane (k) parallel to the second direction (T2). A method comprising: performing a second cutting, wherein the two rod-shaped articles (6) conveyed in the intermediate flow (S) of the two rod-shaped articles (6) are cut into two single rod-shaped articles (9) using a second cutting unit (26), forming two product flows (S4, S5) of single rod-shaped articles (9).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that changing the at least two input flows (S1, S2) of the two rod-shaped articles (6) includes a rotation in which one of the at least two input flows (S1, S2) of the two rod-shaped articles (6) is rotated by 180 degrees.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that changing the at least two input flows (S1, S2) of the two rod-shaped articles (6) includes moving the two rod-shaped articles (6) from one of the at least two input flows (S1, S2) in a direction transverse to the axis of the two rod-shaped articles (6), and moving the two rod-shaped articles (6) between the other two input flows (S1, S2).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that after moving the two rod-shaped articles (6) to the intermediate flow (S), the two rod-shaped articles (6) are positioned in the center.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the single rod-shaped article (9) is separated after the second cutting, while the single rod-shaped article (9) continues to move within the two product flows (S4, S5) of the single rod-shaped article (9).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that another rod-shaped element (D) is positioned between the spaced-apart single rod-shaped articles (9).

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the single rod-shaped article (9) and the other rod-shaped element (D) are joined together with packaging material.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further characterized in that the moving speed (v2) of the at least two input flows (S1, S2) is lower than the moving speed (v3) of the product flow (S4, S5).

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the continuous rod (CR) and the rod-shaped article (6) for two rods comprise a plurality of elements.

10. An apparatus for manufacturing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco industry from continuous rods (CRs), A transport unit (4) for moving the continuous rod (CR) in a direction along the axis of the continuous rod (CR), A first cutting unit (5) for cutting the continuous rod (CR) into a series of two rod-shaped articles (6), A conveying mechanism (8) for conveying at least two rod-shaped articles (6) each time from a conveying unit (4) configured to supply the rod-shaped articles (6) to a groove on a drum conveyor (11) configured to move the rod-shaped articles (6) in a first direction (T1) along the axis of the rod-shaped articles (6) and in a second direction (T2) across the axis of the rod-shaped articles (6), A drum conveyor unit (11, 12, 15, 43, 44, 50) for transporting the first input flow (S1) and the second input flow (S2) of the two rod-shaped articles (6), A moving unit (16, 45, 51, 52) for moving a double rod-shaped article (6) from one of the first input flow and the second input flow (S1, S2), and positioning such a rod-shaped article (6) between the other double rod-shaped article (6) in the first input flow and the second input flow (S1, S2), thereby forming an intermediate flow (S) of the double rod-shaped article (6), Means for positioning the two rod-shaped articles (6) for the intermediate flow (S) in the center such that the geometric center (M) of the two rod-shaped articles (6) is located in a plane (k) parallel to the second direction (T2), A transport unit (17, 22, 24, 52) for transporting the intermediate flow (S) formed by combining the first input flow (S1) and the second input flow (S2) of the two rod-shaped articles (6), An apparatus comprising: a second cutting unit (42) for cutting the aforementioned two rod-shaped articles (6) into two single rod-shaped articles (9).

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a separating unit for separating the single rod-shaped article (9).

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a positioning unit for arranging an additional rod-shaped element (D) between the spaced-apart single rod-shaped articles (9).

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a unit for joining the single rod-shaped article (9) and the additional rod-shaped element (D) with packaging material.

14. A system for manufacturing rod-shaped articles (9), A supply unit (2A, 2B, 2C) for supplying rod-shaped elements (A, B, C), wherein a multi-element single rod-shaped article (9) is provided with the rod-shaped elements (A, B, C) or a part of the rod-shaped elements (A, B, C), and A transport unit for transporting the rod-shaped elements (A, B, C), A supply unit for supplying packaging materials, A conveying device for conveying the rod-shaped elements (A, B, C) from the conveying unit onto the strand of the packaging material, A molding unit for forming a multi-element continuous rod (CR) formed by the rod-shaped elements (A, B, C) wrapped in the packaging material, A system comprising an apparatus for manufacturing the rod-shaped article described in any one of claims 10 to 13.

15. The system according to claim 14, characterized in that the single rod-shaped article (9) comprises at least two different rod-shaped elements (A, B, C, E, F, G, H, J).

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