Line for processing rod-shped articles

Abstract

Described is a method for managing a processing line (L) for processing rod-shaped articles comprising a step of transversely feeding a succession of articles along a main feed line (100) on which processing stations (S) are positioned. The main feed line (100) is associated with a bypass line (200) extending between a pickup zone (P) and a re-entry zone (R) downstream of the pickup zone (P). The method comprises a step, at the pickup zone (P), of diverting all the articles towards the bypass line (200). The method also comprises a step of subjecting the diverted flow to a step of processing and / or inspecting not present on the main feed line (100) and / or excluding the diverted flow of articles from a step of processing and / or inspecting present on the main feed line (100) not present on the bypass line (200). The method also comprises a step of re-entering the diverted flow on the main feed line (100) and a step of temporarily storing the diverted flow by temporary stopping in the bypass line (200).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] LINE FOR PROCESSING ROD-SHPED ARTICLES

[0003] Technical field

[0004] This invention relates to the tobacco industry and relates to a method for managing a line for processing rod-shaped articles.

[0005] Background art

[0006] The invention also relates to a line for processing rod-shaped articles.

[0007] In this specification, the rod-shaped articles are, by way of a non-limiting example, smoking articles or articles for generating aerosols. These articles may be semi-finished products (tobacco, filter, tubular and other segments or combinations of them) or finished articles (for example, single or double length cigarettes).

[0008] In the reference sector of this invention, the articles are emptied from the processing line if problems occur (for example, jamming) along the line and / or if it is necessary to perform maintenance operations.

[0009] In this situation, the conveyors, usually drums, of the processing line are completely emptied and the articles rejected.

[0010] In other words, the processing line must be completely emptied of the articles in such a way as to allow an intervention by operators and a subsequent restoration of normal operations.

[0011] Disadvantageously, this method for managing and emptying the processing line means that all the articles being processed must be rejected.

[0012] In this situation, even compliant articles which could resume the processing process from where it was interrupted must be rejected. This results in an increase in the costs and times associated with the processing of the articles.

[0013] In particular, this management method requires long ramp-up times as well as long emptying times.

[0014] Moreover, the traditional lines require structural modifications to vary the operations performed on the articles. In particular, if a different operation is necessary, one operating unit must be replaced with another different one. This is onerous in terms of time and consequent machine stoppages.

[0015] On the other hand, in the case of periodic or sample inspections, the articles to be inspected are removed from the line and cannot subsequently be re-introduced, and are therefore rejected.

[0016] The technical purpose of the invention is therefore to provide a method for managing a line for processing rod-shaped articles and a line for processing rod-shaped articles which are able to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0017] Disclosure of the invention

[0018] The aim of the invention is therefore to provide a method for managing a line for processing rod-shaped articles which allows an easy and convenient handling of the articles.

[0019] A further aim of the invention is to provide a line for processing rod-shaped articles which is flexible and efficient.

[0020] The technical purpose indicated and the aims specified are substantially achieved by a method for managing a line for processing rod-shaped articles and a line for processing rod-shaped articles comprising the technical features described in one or more of the appended claims. The dependent claims correspond to possible embodiments of the invention.

[0021] Further features and advantages of the invention are more apparent in the non-limiting description which follows of a non-exclusive embodiment of a method for managing a line for processing rod-shaped articles and a line for processing rod-shaped articles.

[0022] Brief description of drawings

[0023] The description is set out below with reference to the accompanying drawings which are provided solely for purposes of illustration without restricting the scope of the invention and in which:

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a line for processing rod-shaped articles according to the invention;

[0025] Figures 2 to 4 show the processing line of Figure 1 in different operating moments;

[0026] Figure 5 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a line for processing rod-shaped articles according to the invention.

[0027] Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

[0028] This invention relates to a method for managing a line “L” for processing rod-shaped articles, such as, for example, smoking articles or articles for generating aerosols.

[0029] The processing line “L” comprises a main feed line 100 on which processing stations “S” are positioned each configured to perform a respective processing operation on the articles. Non-limiting examples of processing operations performed in the processing stations are: perforating, rolling, cutting, rotating, centring.

[0030] The processing line “L” also comprises a bypass line 200 alongside the main feed line 100 and extending between a pickup zone “P” and a reentry zone “R” positioned downstream of the pickup zone “P” (that is to say, positioned after the pickup zone “P” in the feed direction of the articles on the main feed line 100).

[0031] According to the invention, a succession of rod-shaped articles is fed along the main feed line 100.

[0032] According to a possible embodiment, the bypass line 200 may be retrofitted to a main feed line 100 of an existing machine.

[0033] The main feed line 100 and the bypass line 200 are defined by respective trains of conveyors, that is to say, conveyors in sequence tangential to each other.

[0034] Preferably, the main feed line 100 is defined, between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “R”, by one or more drums which are tangential to each other whilst the bypass line 200 is defined by at least three drums.

[0035] In this situation, the bypass line 200 comprises a pickup drum 200a tangential to the main feed line 100 to divert the products from the main feed line 100 to the bypass line 200, and a re-entry drum 200b tangential to the main feed line 100 to cause the products to re-enter the main feed line 100 from the bypass line 200. The bypass line 200 also comprises at least one main drum 200c, interposed between the pickup drum 200a and the re-entry drum 200b.

[0036] Preferably, the main drum 200c has a number of seats for retaining respective articles greater than that of the pickup drum 200a and the reentry drum 200b.

[0037] Even more preferably, the number of retaining seats of the main drum 200c is twice as high as the number of retaining seats of the pickup and re-entry drums 200a and 200b.

[0038] Even more preferably, the number of retaining seats of the main drum 200c is three times as high as the number of retaining seats of the pickup and re-entry drums 200a and 200b. This is linked to the fact that the main drum 200c may define a storage drum for receiving and storing a predetermined number of articles, where preferably the articles are stored only on the main drum 200c but not on the adjacent drums (pickup drums 200a and re-entry drums 200b).

[0039] According to the embodiments illustrated, the main drum 200c has a diameter greater than the diameter of the pickup drum 200a and of the reentry drum 200b.

[0040] According to the embodiments illustrated, the pickup drum 200a and the re-entry drum 200b have the same diameter.

[0041] According to the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the bypass line 200 could also comprise at least a first auxiliary drum 200d interposed between the pickup drum 200a and the main drum 200c and at least a second auxiliary drum 200e interposed between the main drum 200c and the re-entry drum 200b.

[0042] Preferably, the number of first auxiliary drums 200d is identical to the number of second auxiliary drums 200e.

[0043] According to the embodiment shown in Figure 5, there is a first auxiliary drum 200e and a second auxiliary drum 200e.

[0044] Preferably, the first auxiliary drum 200e and the second auxiliary drum 200e also have diameters and / or numbers of seats less than the main drum 200c.

[0045] According to a method actuated according to the invention, there is a step of diverting, at the pickup zone “P” and in a controlled manner (that is to say, following a specific command, without which the articles are not subjected to diversion), all the articles of the succession of articles towards the bypass line 200 for a predetermined time in such a way that a diverted flow of the articles is fed along the bypass line 200.

[0046] In other words, the articles advancing along the main feed line 100 are all diverted, starting from the pickup zone "P", towards the bypass line 200 in such a way as to be fed along the bypass line 200.

[0047] In this situation, the flow of articles along the main feed line 100 is interrupted since they are all diverted towards the bypass line 200. In this situation there is no longer any article, or part of it, which passes beyond the pickup zone "P" in the direction of the main feed line 100.

[0048] Preferably, the above-mentioned feeding and diverting steps are selectively obtained or can be obtained by switching respective pneumatic suction devices at the pickup zone “P”.

[0049] In more detail, at the pickup zone "P", the pneumatic suction devices of the trains of conveyors of the main feed line 100 are interrupted in favour of actuating the pneumatic suction devices of the trains of conveyors of the bypass line 200.

[0050] In use, therefore, the flow of articles is diverted, starting from the pickup zone "P" towards the bypass line 200. In this situation, all the articles advancing on the main feed line 100 upstream of the pickup zone “P” are diverted by means of the pickup drum 200a towards the main drum 200c (Figure 1 ).

[0051] After the step of diverting the flow of the articles, the method may comprise a step of subjecting the diverted flow of articles to a step of processing and / or inspecting not present on the main feed line 100 between the pickup zone “P” and re-entry zone “R”.

[0052] According to the embodiment illustrated by way of example in Figure 1 , the main drum 200c of the bypass line 200 is associated with at least one processing and / or inspecting unit “U”.

[0053] In this situation, the articles in transit along the bypass line 200 are inspected and / or subjected to a processing operation whilst they travel on the main drum 200c.

[0054] In other words, during the transit of the articles along the bypass line 200, the articles may be subjected to a processing and / or an inspection operation which is not performed between the processing / inspection operations of the main feed line 100.

[0055] The method also comprises, alternatively or in addition to the step of subjecting the diverted flow of articles to a step of processing and / or inspecting, a step of excluding the diverted flow of articles from a step of processing and / or inspecting present on the main feed line 100 between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “R” and not present on the bypass line 200.

[0056] In the latter solution, during the transit of the articles on the bypass line 200, the articles are in fact excluded from any processing (and, if necessary, control) which is performed along the main feed line 100 between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “I”. In that way, the articles diverted along the bypass line 200 do not receive the processing (by a processing station “S”) which they would otherwise have received if they had passed between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “R” along the main feed line 100 (Figures 1 and 2).

[0057] Summing up, the diverting of the flow of the articles from the main feed line 100 to the bypass line 200 may occur:

[0058] - if along the bypass line 200 there is no processing and / or inspection unit “U”, simply to prevent the articles from being subjected to a processing by a processing station “S” interposed between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “R” of the main feed line 100;

[0059] - if along the bypass line 200 there is a processing and / or inspection unit “U”, to prevent the articles from being subjected to a processing by a processing station “S” interposed between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “R” of the main feed line 100 and to guarantee that the articles are subjected to processing / inspection by the unit “U” of the bypass line 200;

[0060] - if along the bypass line 200 there is a processing and / or inspection unit “U” whilst between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “R” along the main feed line 100 there is no processing station “S”, to guarantee that the diverted articles are subjected to processing / inspection by the unit “U” of the bypass line 200.

[0061] Subsequently, the method comprises a step of re-entering the diverted flow of articles on the main feed line 100 at the re-entry zone “R”.

[0062] According to the embodiment of Figure 2, at the moment of re-entry, the articles in transit along the bypass line 200 are re-entered into the re-entry zone “R” which is downstream of the pickup zone “P”.

[0063] In this situation, as mentioned above, the articles which have passed along the bypass line 200 have not been subjected to the processing / control which may have been performed by a processing station “S” positioned along the main feed line 100 between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “R” and / or an inspection.

[0064] At the moment of re-entry, therefore, the articles are fed from the main drum 200c to the re-entry drum 200b until reaching the main feed line 100 in the re-entry zone “R” which, being downstream of the processing station “S” at which the articles are not to be processed, allows the articles to continue along the main feed line 100 downstream of the re-entry zone “R”.

[0065] Alternatively to the step of subjecting the diverted flow of articles to a step of processing and / or inspection along the bypass line 200, the method could comprise a step of temporarily storing the diverted flow of articles by temporarily stopping the bypass line 200.

[0066] Preferably, the step of temporarily storing the diverted flow of articles by temporarily stopping the bypass line 200 and the step of subjecting the diverted flow of articles to a step of processing and / or inspecting not present on the main feed line 100 between the pickup zone “P” and the reentry zone “R” and / or excluding the diverted flow of articles from a step of processing and / or inspecting present on the main feed line 100 are performable selectively, in particular following a manual or automatic command.

[0067] In other words, it is possible to select whether to divert the flow of articles towards the bypass line 200 in such a way that they are fed along the bypass line 200 to be subjected to a processing and / or an inspection and / or to avoid a processing and / or an inspection performed between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “R” on the main feed line 100 or whether to store the articles along the bypass line 200 by temporarily stopping the bypass line 200.

[0068] Preferably, the step of temporarily storing the diverted flow of articles is performed by storing the articles on a single storage drum.

[0069] Even more preferably, as shown in Figure 3, the main drum 200c of the bypass line 200 defines the storage drum.

[0070] The storing step ends when the pickup drum “P” is free of the articles which are all housed on the main drum 200c (Figure 3).

[0071] At the end of the storing step, the main drum 200c sees part of its seats occupied by the articles picked up from the main feed line 100 whilst the pickup drum 200a and the re-entry drum 200b are clear of the articles.

[0072] In this situation, upstream of the pickup zone "P" along the main feed line 100, the processing line "L" is emptied, that is to say, there are no articles housed therein in such a way as to act on it with maintenance operations. At the time of restoring operation of the processing line "L", as shown in Figure 3, the main feed line 100, upstream of the pickup zone "P", receives new articles, whilst the articles which have been stored in the bypass line 200 are returned on the main feed line 100.

[0073] The step of temporarily storing the diverted flow of articles by temporarily stopping the bypass line 200 is in fact followed by a step of re-entry of the articles stored in the main feed line 100.

[0074] In this situation, the articles which have been stored in the bypass line 200 have not been subjected to at least one processing operation performed by the processing station “S” positioned along the main feed line 100 between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “R”.

[0075] At the time of restarting the operation of the bypass line 200, if the articles stored therein are to be subjected to the processing and / or control performed by the processing station “S” of the main feed line 100 between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “R”, the articles are fed by the main drum 200c to the pickup drum 200a.

[0076] Preferably, the step of re-entering the articles stored in the main feed line 100 is performed at the pickup zone "P" (Figure 4).

[0077] In particular, the articles are fed backwards along the bypass line 200, returning the articles towards the pickup drum 200a. This may be done by rotating the main drum 200c in the same direction as before but using the opposite zone of the main drum 200c until it reaches the pickup drum 200a again. In this situation, the pickup drum 200a acts as a re-entry drum since it re-enters the articles on the main feed line 100 in the pickup zone "P". In that way, the articles which had been diverted and stored in the bypass line 200 are reintroduced into the main feed line 100 at the same point at which they had been picked up in such a way as to be able to feed along the main feed line 100 and be subjected to the processing of the processing station “S” interposed between the pickup zone “P” and the reentry zone “R”. Alternatively, where the articles are to be subjected to this processing, according to a possible embodiment, it is possible to provide the bypass line 200 with the same processing and / or control station located along the main feed line 100 between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “R”. In that way, the articles stored along the bypass line 200 are subjected to the same processing and / or control as the articles which pass along the main feed line 100 upon the restarting of operation of the processing line “L” so that, at the time of reintroducing them into the re-entry zone “R”, they are identical to the articles in transit on the main feed line 100.

[0078] If, on the other hand, the articles are not to be subjected to processing or inspection by the processing station “S” interposed, along the main feed line 100, between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “R”, the articles are fed from the main drum 200c to the re-entry drum 200b until reaching the main feed line 100 in the re-entry zone “R” which, being downstream of the processing station, allows the articles to continue along the main feed line 100 downstream of the re-entry zone “R”.

[0079] Preferably, the processing line “L” comprising a control unit connected to the main feed line 100 and to the bypass line 200 to divert in a controlled manner and for a predetermined length of time all the articles of the succession of articles, travelling along the main feed line 100, towards the bypass line 200 so that a diverted flow of the articles is fed along the bypass line 200 and the flow of other articles along the main feed line 100 downstream of the pickup zone “P” is interrupted.

[0080] In other words, the control unit ensures that the flow of articles in transit on the main feed line 100 is diverted, starting from the pickup zone "P", towards the bypass line 200. In this way, the flow of articles is interrupted along the main feed line 100 downstream of the pickup zone "P.

[0081] In this situation, the flow of articles may be diverted in such a way that:

[0082] - it is not subjected to a processing and / or control located along the main feed line 100 between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “R”; - it is not subjected to a processing and / or control located along the main feed line 100 between the pickup zone “P” and the re-entry zone “R” and is subjected to a processing and / or inspection (for example, a processing or an inspection not performed along the main feed line 100) along the bypass line 200 since it is possible to associate the main drum 200c with at least one processing and / or inspection unit “U”;

[0083] - it is stored on the bypass line 200 by means of a temporary stoppage of the bypass line 200 in accordance with the methods described above.

[0084] The invention also relates to a kit for modifying a processing line for processing rod-shaped articles “L”, in particular smoking articles or articles for generating aerosols, in particular for making a processing line “L” as described above.

[0085] The kit comprises a pickup drum 200a, having a first number of retaining seats for respective articles, and a re-entry drum 200b, having a second number of retaining seats for respective articles.

[0086] The kit comprises at least one main drum 200c having a third number of retaining seats for respective articles.

[0087] The third number is higher than the first and second numbers. Preferably, the third number is greater than twice the first and second numbers.

[0088] More preferably, the third number is more than three times greater than the first and second numbers.

[0089] Preferably, the first and second numbers are equal.

[0090] Preferably, the main drum 200c occupies, in a configuration in which it is mounted on the processing line “L”, a central position relative to the pickup drum 200a and the re-entry drum 200b.

[0091] Lastly, the invention relates to a method for modifying a processing line for processing rod-shaped articles “L”, in particular smoking articles or articles for generating aerosols, in particular for making a processing line as described above. The method comprises a step of providing a kit as described above and a step of installing the pickup drum 200a, the re-entry drum 200b and the main drum 200c on the same side of a main feed line “L” of an existing machine so that the pickup drum 200a and the re-entry drum 200b are tangent to the main feed line 100 and the main drum 200c is interposed between the pickup drum 200a and the re-entry drum 200b.

[0092] The invention achieves the preset aims overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0093] In particular, this invention allows a simpler and more efficient management of the line for processing rod-shaped articles, allowing the exclusion of specific processing operations or the performance of specific processing or operations only for some articles, as well as a temporary storage, in particular in the case of maintenance of one of the drums of the main feed line positioned between the pickup zone and the re-entry zone.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for managing a processing line (L) for processing rod-shaped articles, in particular smoking or aerosol generating articles, comprising the following steps:- feeding a succession of rod-shaped articles transversely along a main feed line (100) on which processing stations (S) are located, each configured to perform a respective process on the articles, the main feed line (100) having associated with it a bypass line (200) located alongside the main feed line (100) and extending between a pickup zone (P) and a re-entry zone (R) downstream of the pickup zone (P);- at the pickup zone (P), controlledly diverting all the articles of the succession of articles into the bypass line (200) for a predetermined length of time so that a diverted flow of the articles is fed along the bypass line (200); the method then comprises one of the following steps:- subjecting the diverted flow of articles to a step of processing and / or inspecting not present on the main feed line (100) between the pickup zone (P) and the re-entry zone (R) and / or excluding the diverted flow of articles from a step of processing and / or inspecting present on the main feed line (100) between the pickup zone (P) and the re-entry zone (R) and not present on the bypass line (200) and then causing the diverted flow of articles to re-enter the main feed line (100) at the re-entry zone (R);- temporarily storing the diverted flow of articles by temporarily stopping the bypass line (100).

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of temporarily storing the diverted flow of articles by temporarily stopping the bypass line (200) and the step of subjecting the diverted flow of articles to a step of processing and / or inspecting not present on the main feed line (100) between the pickup zone (P) and the re-entry zone (R) and / or excludingthe diverted flow of articles from a step of processing and / or inspecting present on the main feed line (100) are performable selectively, in particular following a manual or automatic command.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the steps of feeding a succession of rod-shaped articles transversely along a main feed line (100) and controlledly diverting the articles of the succession of articles into the bypass line (200) are performed by respective trains of conveyors, in particular, drums, and are selectively obtained or obtainable by switching respective pneumatic suction devices at the pickup zone (P).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of temporarily storing the diverted flow of articles by temporarily stopping the bypass line (200) is followed by a step of causing the diverted flow of articles to re-enter the main feed line (100), the step of causing the diverted flow of articles to re-enter the main feed line (100) being preferably performed at the pickup zone (P).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of temporarily storing the diverted flow of articles is carried out by storing the articles on a single storage drum.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bypass line (200) is defined by at least three drums comprising:- a pickup drum (200a), tangent to the main feed line (100) to divert the products from the main feed line (100) to the bypass line (200) and a re-entry drum (200b), tangent to the main feed line (100) to cause the products to re-enter the main feed line (100) from the bypass line (200);- at least one main drum (200c), interposed between the pickup drum (200a) and the re-entry drum (200b).

7. The method according to claim 6 when dependent on claim 5, wherein the main drum (200c) defines the storage drum.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the main drum (200c) has a number of article retaining seats greater than the pickup drum(200a) and re-entry drum (200b), preferably twice as many as the pickup drum (200a) and re-entry drum (200b) and, more preferably, three times as many as the pickup drum (200a) and re-entry drum (200b).

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the articles are subjected to at least one process and / or step of inspecting as they travel on the main drum (200c).

10. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the bypass line (200) comprises at least one first auxiliary drum (200d), interposed between the pickup drum (200a) and the main drum (200c), and at least one second auxiliary drum (200e), interposed between the main drum (200c) and the pickup drum (200a), the number of first auxiliary drums (200d) being preferably the same as the number of second auxiliary drums (200e).11 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bypass line (200) is retrofitted to a main feed line (100) of an existing machine.

12. A processing line (L) for processing rod-shaped articles, in particular smoking or aerosol generating articles, in particular to implement a method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a main feed line (100) on which processing stations (S) are located, each configured to perform a respective process on the articles, and a bypass line (200) located alongside the main feed line (100) and extending between a pickup zone (P) and a re-entry zone (R) downstream of the pickup zone (P); the processing line (100) comprising a control unit connected to the main feed line (100) and to the bypass line (200) to divert into the bypass line (200) controlledly and for a predetermined length of time all the articles of the succession of articles travelling along the main feed line (100) so that a diverted flow of the articles is fed along the bypass line (200) and the flow of other articles along the main feed line (100) downstream of the pickup zone (P) is interrupted.

13. The processing line according to claim 12, wherein the main feed line(100) is defined, between the pickup zone (P) and the re-entry zone (R), by one or more drums which are tangent to each other, and wherein the bypass line (200) is defined by at least three drums comprising:- a pickup drum (200a), tangent to the main feed line (100) to divert the products from the main feed line (100) to the bypass line (200) and a re-entry drum (200b), tangent to the main feed line (100) to cause the products to re-enter the main feed line (100) from the bypass line (200);- at least one main drum (200c), interposed between the pickup drum (200a) and the re-entry drum (200b).

14. The processing line according to claim 13, wherein the main drum (200c) has a number of article retaining seats greater than the pickup drum (200a) and re-entry drum (200b), preferably twice as many as the pickup drum (200a) and re-entry drum (200b) and, more preferably, three times as many as the pickup drum (200a) and re-entry drum (200b).

15. The processing line according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the bypass line (200) comprises at least one first auxiliary drum (200d), interposed between the pickup drum (200a) and the main drum (200c), and at least one second auxiliary drum (200d), interposed between the main drum (200c) and the pickup drum (200a), the number of first auxiliary drums (200d) being preferably the same as the number of second auxiliary drums (200e).

16. The processing line according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the main drum (200c) is associated with at least one processing and / or inspecting unit (U).

17. A kit for modifying a processing line for processing rod-shaped articles, in particular smoking or aerosol generating articles, in particular for making a processing line (L) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:- a pickup drum (200a), having a first number of retaining seats for respective articles;- a re-entry drum (200b), having a second number of retaining seats for respective articles;- at least one main drum (200c), having a third number of retaining seats for respective articles;- wherein the third number is greater than the first and second numbers, preferably twice as large as the first and second numbers, more preferably three times as large as the first and second numbers; and wherein the first and the second number are preferably the same.

18. A method for modifying a processing line for processing rod-shaped articles, in particular smoking or aerosol generating articles, in particular for making a processing line (L) according to any one of claims, comprising the following steps:- providing a kit according to claim 17;- installing the pickup drum (200a), the re-entry drum (200b) and the main drum (200c) on the same side of a main feed line (L) of an existing machine so that the pickup drum (200a) and the re-entry drum (200b) are tangent to the main feed line (100) and the main drum (200c) is interposed between the pickup drum (200a) and the re-entry drum (200b).

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