US20060207614A1

US20060207614A1 - Method for producing filter cigarettes

Info

Publication number: US20060207614A1
Application number: US11/375,202
Authority: US
Inventors: Siegfried Schlisio
Original assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau GmbH
Current assignee: Koerber Technologies GmbH
Priority date: 2005-03-17
Filing date: 2006-03-15
Publication date: 2006-09-21
Also published as: PL1702523T3; CN1833552B; DE102005012810A1; ATE412347T1; EP1702523B1; JP2006254911A; CN1833552A; DE502006001912D1; EP1702523A1

Abstract

A method for producing filter cigarettes, which includes cutting double-length cut tobacco rods into single-length cut tobacco rods, spacing apart the cut tobacco rods in a longitudinally axial manner, inserting a double-length filter plug between longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, connecting, with uniting bands, the double-length filter plugs to the longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, and, prior to the inserting of the double-length filter plug, conveying at least one of the double-length cut tobacco rods and the single-length cut tobacco rods with a transverse axial spacing from adjacent cut tobacco rods that is smaller than a length of the uniting bands. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application No. 10 2005 012 810.6, filed on Mar. 17, 2005, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for producing filter cigarettes, in which double-length cut tobacco rods are cut into single-length cut tobacco rods and spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner. Subsequently, respectively one double-length filter plug is inserted between the pairs of cut tobacco rods spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner and the double-length filter plugs are connected respectively to the two single-length cut tobacco rods by casing by a uniting band.
2. Discussion of Background Information
In filter tipping machines respectively one double-length filter or mouthpiece is inserted between cut tobacco rods spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner. Subsequently, a glued uniting band is adhered to a cut tobacco rod/mouthpiece/cut tobacco rod group. The glued uniting band is fed via a suction roller of a tipping device to the cut tobacco rod/mouthpiece/cut tobacco rod group conveyed with a defined dividing spacing.
A defined dividing spacing hereby means the transverse axial spacing between the conveyed articles or article components.
In particular, the term “dividing spacing” means the transverse axial spacing of the receiving flutes of a conveyor drum, in which flutes the groups of smokers' products are arranged and transported. The spacing is measured from the flute center point to the following center point of the fluted conveyor transporting the groups of smokers' products on the surface. The dividing spacing with a flute conveyor is therefore the transverse axial spacing or the length of the (circular) arc between (adjacent) flute center points on the circle perimeter on which the flute center points of the flutes are arranged. With a linear fluted conveyor, the dividing spacing corresponds to the linear spacing in the transverse axial direction between the flute center points or axes.
To finish filter cigarettes conveyed on a filter tipping machine in a transverse axial manner, over time the capacity of the filter tipping machine with respect to the filter cigarettes produced and discharged per unit of time has repeatedly sharply increased or had to be adjusted to the increased performance of the upstream rod maker (rod-making machine).
It is known from WO-A-2004/002246 to feed components of smokers' products comprising cut tobacco rod/double filter/cut tobacco rod groups to a tipping apparatus with a predetermined transverse axial spacing from one another, so that the tipping paper webs are adhered to the groups of smokers' products. The predetermined spacing of the groups of smokers' products corresponds approximately to the length of the tipping paper webs fed from the tipping apparatus. The spacing of the groups of smokers' products, however, is not and must not be smaller than the length of the webs.
Moreover, DE-A-44 22 280 describes a method for producing filter cigarettes in which a succession of tobacco products is conveyed with a transverse axial spacing that is approximately equal to the length of the respective uniting band and no less than this length.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a high product quality of smokers' products even with higher production outputs of a filter tipping machine. The expenditure for retrofitting with a garniture change is to be kept as low as possible, in particular with a change to another smokers' product diameter.
A method for producing filter cigarettes includes cutting double-length cut tobacco rods are cut into single-length tobacco rods and spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner. Subsequently, respectively one double-length filter plug is inserted between the pairs of cut tobacco rods that are spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner and the double-length filter plugs are respectively connected to the two single-length cut tobacco rods by casing by a uniting band. Before the insertion of the filter plug, the double-length cut tobacco rods and/or the single-length cut tobacco rods are conveyed with a transverse axial spacing to the adjacent cut tobacco rods, which spacing is smaller than the length of the uniting, bands.
The invention is based on the concept that for various garnitures, in particular, diameters, of cut tobacco rods or smokers' products the same drum operation on a filter tipping machine is used. Thus only the drums have to be replaced for articles of different sizes in diameter, so that no change in the conceptual structure of the filter tipping machine and the geometries of the drums or drum bodies is necessary.
Due to the transverse axial spacing or dividing spacing between two cut tobacco rods or smokers' products conveyed, which spacing is smaller than the length of the tipping paper webs to be adhered, the production output of the filter tipping machine is increased. The concepts of filter cigarette production on a filter tipping machine were hitherto based on the fact that the transverse axial spacing or dividing spacing is or will be set through the length of the uniting band and the production output is thus limited thereby. Now the subject matter of the invention assumes that the cut tobacco rods or smokers' products are conveyed with a predetermined smaller spacing than the length of the uniting band, before a uniting band is adhered to the groups of smokers' products.
To that end, the transverse axial spacing of the double-length cut tobacco rods or the single-length cut tobacco rods, before the insertion of the filter plugs, is changed or reduced to a transverse axial spacing that is smaller than the length of the uniting bands. Through the reduction of the spacing before the insertion of the filter plugs, the filter plugs are also conveyed with a transverse axial spacing which is smaller than the length of the uniting bands during the insertion of the filter plugs. This also results in a gentler handling of the filter plugs, since the filter plugs in the drum operation are conveyed at a lower speed during the transfer.
Furthermore, it is preferred when the transverse axial spacing of the cut tobacco rods of double or single length is reduced after the transfer of the cut tobacco rods from a rod maker to a filter tipping machine.
In particular, before the reduction of the transverse axial spacing, the cut tobacco rods of double or single length are conveyed with a transverse axial spacing that is the same as or greater than the length of the uniting bands.
According to a preferred further development of the invention, the double-length filter plugs during insertion between the pairs of cut tobacco rods spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner are conveyed with a transverse axial spacing from their adjacent filter plugs, which spacing is smaller than the length of the uniting bands. This results in a gentle handling and conveying of the filter plugs during insertion of the filter plugs between the pairs of cut tobacco rods.
In another embodiment, during the insertion of the double-length filter plugs between the pairs of cut tobacco rods spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner, the transverse axial spacing between the pairs of cut tobacco rods is increased. During the formation of the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups, for example, on a conveyor drum, an increase in spacing is thus achieved. During the assembly of the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups, for example, the pairs of cut tobacco rods spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner are accelerated during the transfer to an assembly drum so that the transverse axial spacing from the trailing pair of cut tobacco rods is respectively increased.
It is proposed in an alternative embodiment that, after the insertion of the double-length filter plugs between the pairs of cut tobacco rods spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner, and thus only after the assembly of the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups in another or following transport step, the transverse axial spacing between the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups formed is increased. The increase of the transverse axial spacing can take place, e.g., after the assembly of the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups during the transport of the groups of smokers' products formed on the assembly drum so that the groups of smokers' products are transferred with a greater spacing to following conveyor organs.
To this end, it is further advantageous if, after the increase of the transverse axial spacing, the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups are conveyed with a transverse axial spacing that is equal to or smaller than the length of the uniting bands.
In particular, the cut tobacco rods and/or the filter plugs are conveyed with a transverse axial spacing of 18 mm to 28 mm, in particular 18 mm to 22 mm. As a rule these spacings are smaller than the length of the usual uniting bands, which are typically larger than 32 mm.
Furthermore, the method is further developed in that the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups are respectively fed as articles of a first and second group to a tipping device and respectively provided with a uniting band. Half of the articles (first group with cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups) are thus respectively provided with uniting bands by one tipping apparatus and the other half (second group with cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups) are thus respectively provided with uniting bands by another tipping apparatus.
Moreover, it is advantageous if the articles of the first and second group are fed to a joint rolling device and the articles of the first and second group are wrapped by the uniting bands in the rolling device. A subsequent single-lane rolling of the articles (cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups) renders possible a simple design with a compact construction at the same time. By providing a single rolling device for all the groups of articles, material and costs are saved.
To this end, the articles of the first and second group are first fed to a first tipping device, where the articles of the first group are provided with a uniting band by the first tipping device. Subsequently, the articles of the first and second group are fed on different conveyor paths to the joint rolling device, whereby the articles of the second group are fed to a second tipping device on their conveyor path and provided with a uniting band.
In particular, the conveyor speed of the articles of the first and/or second group on a conveyor before and/or after the transfer of the respective uniting band are varied. An adjustment of the speed conditions of the transported articles for tipping feed is thus possible through a targeted control of the speed of the tobacco articles. The adjustment can take place before and/or after the sticking process or the adhesion of the uniting band, regardless of the speed in the remaining production flow and the paper travel speed in the filter tipping machine. During the speed change, the tobacco articles or cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups are combined and moved individually, in pairs or any desired multiple. Not only does the speed thereby change, but also the spacing between the groups of tobacco products.
In an advantageous embodiment, the articles are braked in the first and/or second group before the transfer of the uniting band.
Furthermore, the articles of the first and/or second group are accelerated after the transfer of the uniting band.
Another improvement is achieved in that the uniting bands after the transfer are partially applied to the articles of the first and/or second group. A folding star or a so-called rolling star is provided for the application of the one free end of a uniting band to a tobacco article. In particular, the leading free end of the uniting bands is applied to the articles.
In a further development, the articles of the second group are removed from the joint conveyor drum for the articles of the first and second group. The articles of the first and second group are hereby fed before the removal of the articles of the second group to the tipping apparatus for the first group.
Furthermore, advantageously the articles of the first and second group are arranged alternately on a conveyor drum during the combination of the article groups so that the articles are fed to the joint rolling device.
In particular, the uniting bands are transferred to the articles of the first and/or second group at a constant speed.
The present invention is directed to a method for producing filter cigarettes. The method includes cutting double-length cut tobacco rods into single-length cut tobacco rods, spacing apart the cut tobacco rods in a longitudinally axial manner, inserting a double-length filter plug between longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, connecting, with uniting bands, the double-length filter plugs to the longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, and, prior to the inserting of the double-length filter plug, conveying at least one of the double-length cut tobacco rods and the single-length cut tobacco rods with a transverse axial spacing from adjacent cut tobacco rods that is smaller than a length of the uniting bands.
According to a feature of the invention, the transverse axial spacing from adjacent cut tobacco rods before the insertion of the filter plugs can be changed to a transverse axial spacing that is smaller than the length of the uniting bands.
Further, the transverse axial spacing from adjacent cut tobacco rods may be reduced after the transfer of the cut tobacco rods from a cigarette rod maker to a filter tipping machine. The at least one of the double-length and the single-length cut tobacco rods before the reduction of the transverse axial spacing can be conveyed with a transverse axial spacing that is the same as or greater than the length of the uniting bands.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, during the insertion of the double-length filter plug between the longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, the process may include conveying the double-length filter plugs with a transverse axial spacing from their adjacent filter plugs that is smaller than the length of the uniting bands.
Moreover, during the insertion of the double-length filter plugs between the longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, the transverse axial spacing between the pairs of cut tobacco rods can be increased.
After the insertion of the double-length filter plugs between the longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, the transverse axial spacing between the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups may be increased. Further, after the increase of the transverse axial spacing between the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups, the process can further include conveying the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups with a transverse axial spacing that is the same as or smaller than the length of the uniting bands.
In accordance with feature of the instant invention, at least one of the cut tobacco rods and the double-length filter plugs may be conveyed with a transverse axial spacing of 18 mm to 28 mm, and preferably with a transverse axial spacing of 18 mm to 22 mm.
According to still another feature of the invention, the method can further include feeding the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups as articles of a first and second group to a tipping device and providing the articles of the first and second groups with uniting bands. The method may also include feeding the articles of the first and second group to a joint rolling device, and wrapping the articles of the first and second group with the uniting bands in the rolling device.
In accordance with a further feature of the instant invention, the method can include feeding the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups as articles of a first and second group, feeding the articles of the first and second group to a first tipping device, in which the articles of the first group are provided with a uniting band, feeding the articles of the first and second group on different conveyor paths to a joint rolling device, and feeding the articles of the second group to a second tipping device, in which the articles of the second group are provided with uniting bands.
In accordance with still yet another feature of the present invention, a conveyor speed of the articles of the first and second group at least one of before and after a transfer point at which the uniting bands are provided may varied. Further, the articles of the first and second group can be braked before being provided with the uniting bands. The articles of the first and second group can be accelerated after being provided with the uniting bands. Moreover, when the uniting bands are provided to the articles of the first and second groups, the uniting bands can be partially applied to the articles of the first and second group. Still further, the articles of the first group can be are removed from a joint conveyor drum for the articles of the first and second group. The articles of the first and second group before the uniting bands are provided to the first group can be arranged alternately on a conveyor drum. The articles of the first and second group may be arranged alternately on a conveyor drum during a combined conveyance of the article groups. Further, the uniting bands can be transferred to the articles of the first and/or second group at a constant speed.
Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates a filter tipping machine with two tipping paper units in a diagrammatic front view in section;
FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement of drums according to the invention in section;
FIG. 3 illustrates another drum arrangement according to the invention in section; and
FIG. 4 illustrates a third drum arrangement according to the invention according to a preferred exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.
In the drawings respectively the same or same kind of elements and/or parts are provided with the same reference numbers so that a renewed introduction has been respectively omitted.
FIG. 1 shows a filter tipping machine in a front view in section, whereby the filter tipping machine via a drum arrangement T for feeding cut tobacco rods receives cut tobacco rods of double unit length from a diagrammatically drawn cigarette rod maker P. A cigarette rod maker is known under the label “PROTOS” from the owner of the instant patent application.
On their conveyor path to an assembly drum 21, the cut tobacco rods of double unit length are cut and spread. Double-length filter plugs are transported on the assembly drum 21 via another drum arrangement M, and the filter plugs are respectively inserted between two cut tobacco rods spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner. A series of cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups arranged one behind the other in a transverse axial manner is thus formed on the assembly drum 21.
The assembled groups of articles are transferred from the assembly drum 21 to a conveyor drum 22 and transported to a tipping apparatus 10.1 for a first group 50 to assembled cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups. In DE-C-39 18 137, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, a tipping apparatus is described in detail.
A tipping paper strip 11.1 glued and conveyed in the tipping apparatus 10.1 is cut by the knives of a cutting drum 13.1 into tipping webs or uniting bands 40.1. The cut uniting bands 40.1 are transferred or adhered to the article groups of a first group 50 on the conveyor drum 22.
European patent application EP-A-1 466 535 describes a method for combining components of smokers' products, whereby products of a first and products of a second group are indicated in the drawings (cf. FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 a, FIG. 4 b). In this European patent application, the products of the first group, comprising respectively cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups, are labeled with reference number 50. Products of the second group, likewise comprising cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups are labeled with reference number 60. The disclosure of the cited EP 1 466 535 is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
After the adhering of the uniting bands 40.1 to the articles 50 of the first group, the articles of the first (50) and the second (60) group are transported further, whereby the front end of the uniting band 40.1 projects on the article groups 40.1. In FIGS. 2 through 4 the article groups of the first group are labeled with reference number 50 and the article groups of the second group with reference number 60. The uniting bands for the article group 50 are labeled with the reference number 40.1.
The articles 50, 60 are conveyed to an application and removal drum 24 so that through the application and removal drum 24 the article groups 60 not provided with a uniting band are removed and the front end of the uniting band 40.1 is applied respectively to the articles 50. The application and removal drum 24 thus has combined at the same time the function of a folding star (for the article groups 50) and of a removal drum (for the article groups 60).
The application and removal drum 24 transfers the removed articles 60 of the second group to a conveyor drum 25 that transports the articles 60 of the second group to a tipping apparatus 10.2 in which a tipping paper strip 11.2 is conveyed. The second tipping apparatus 10.2 has a blade drum 13.2 that cuts the tipping paper strip 11.2 in cooperation with a suction roller 12.2.
The uniting bands cut off from the tipping paper strip 11.2 are transferred and adhered to the tobacco articles or cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups 60. The front end of the uniting band is subsequently applied to the articles 60 on the conveyor drum 25 by a folding star 23.2. In this connection reference is expressly made to FIG. 3 of European patent application EP-A-1 466 535 in which this process is shown and described.
The conveyor drum 25 conveys the articles 60 of the second group to a drum 26. At the same time the conveyor drum 26 accepts the articles 50 of the first group transported further on the conveyor drum 22 so that the articles of the first (50) and the second (60) group are arranged alternately on the drum.
Subsequently, the articles of the first and second groups 50, 60 are transported to a rolling device 27 with a rolling block so that the uniting bands are fully wound around the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups 50, 60. The completely wound articles 50, 60 are subsequently transferred to a conveyor drum 28 and a further conveyor drum 29 and made available for the further processing operation on a filter tipping machine. In particular filter cigarettes of single unit length are produced from the double-length filter cigarettes.
FIGS. 2 through 4 show exemplary embodiments for the drum arrangements T and M (cf. FIG. 1) according to the invention, by means of which drum arrangements it is possible to transport smokers' products or cut tobacco rods or groups of smokers' product components with a transverse axial spacing to the adjacent article components, whereby the transverse axial spacing is smaller than the length of the uniting bands that are cut off from the tipping paper strips 11.1 or 11.2.
To feed double-length filter plugs, filter rods are removed from a magazine by a removal drum 200 and cut once or several times by one or more cutting knives 205 on the removal drum 200 and transferred to a staggering drum 210. On the staggering drum 210 the cut filter plugs are staggered and transferred to a pusher drum 220 on which the filter plugs are formed into a row of filter plugs arranged one behind the other in a transverse axial manner. Subsequently, the filter plugs are transferred from the pusher drum 220 to an accelerating drum 230, so that the filter plugs are deposited on a feed drum 150.
With the drum arrangement T, the double-length cut tobacco rods transferred from a filter rod maker (cf. reference P in FIG. 1) are accepted by a transfer drum 100 and transported to a braking drum 110. With the transfer of the double-length cut tobacco rods from the transfer drum 100 to the braking drum 110, the transverse axial spacing between the double-length cut tobacco rods is reduced to a size that is smaller than the length of the uniting bands that are produced on the tipping apparatuses (cf. FIG. 1, reference number 10.1, 10.2).
Subsequently, the double-length cut tobacco rods are transferred from the braking drum 110 to a cutter drum 120 on which the double-length cut tobacco rods are cut in the middle by a cutting knife 125 so that cut tobacco rods of single unit length are produced on the cutter drum 120. The cut tobacco rods are transferred from the cutter drum 120 to a spreader drum 130 on which the cut tobacco rods of single length are spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner, through which a gap is produced between the pairs of cut tobacco rods spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner into which subsequently a filter plug is inserted.
Following the spreader drum 130, the cut tobacco rods spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner are transferred to a conveyor drum 140 that transfers the cut tobacco rods to the feed drum 150 so that article groups comprising cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups are formed on the feed drum 150. The groups of smokers' products formed are transferred from the feed drum to the conveyor drum 22 so that uniting bands are respectively adhered to the groups of smokers' products in the manner described above.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, after transfer from the transfer drum 100 to the braking drum 110 until the transfer from the conveyor drum 140 to the feed drum 150, the cut tobacco rods are conveyed with a shortened transverse axial spacing that is smaller than the length of the uniting bands (e.g., 40.1).
With the transfer of the single-length cut tobacco rods from the conveyor drum 140 to the feed drum 150, the transverse axial spacing between the cut tobacco rods is increased by accelerating the conveyed cut tobacco rods during the transfer so that the transverse axial spacing of the cut tobacco rods and the filter plugs on the feed drum 150 is greater than the transverse axial spacing of the conveyed cut tobacco rods on the drum 140 or the filter plugs on the accelerator drum 230.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the cut tobacco rods or the filter plugs, as already stated above, are transported via the drum arrangement M or T. In this embodiment—in contrast to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2—the single-length cut tobacco rods are not accelerated during the transfer from the removal drum 140 to the feed drum 150, but are transferred to the feed drum 150 with the same shortened transverse axial spacing. To this end the filter plugs are likewise conveyed by the accelerator drum 230 to the feed drum 150 with the same transverse axial spacing as the cut tobacco rods in the area between the braking drum 110 up to the removal drum 140.
After the formation of cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups on the feed drum 150, the spaces from the neighbors in the transverse axial direction are increased so that during the transfer of the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups from the feed drum 150 to the conveyor drum 22, the article groups are transferred in the transverse axial direction with an increased spacing, whereby the increased transverse axial spacing is greater than the length of the uniting bands that are adhered to the groups of smokers' product components.
In particular with the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3 the feed drum 150 is embodied as a drum in which the transverse axial spacing between the articles conveyed can be altered. Preferably the feed drum 150 is embodied with cam-controlled arms or the like, through which the transverse axial spacing between the articles conveyed can be altered. In the conveyor area between the acceptance of the cut tobacco rods by the removal drum 140 up to the transfer of the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups formed to the conveyor drum 22, the transverse axial spacing is increased. In the area after the transfer of the articles to the conveyor drum 22 up to the acceptance of the filter plugs by the accelerator drum 230 the spaces between the empty seats are reduced so that the filter plugs conveyed with constant spacing are inserted.
Alternatively, in the area after the transfer of the articles to the conveyor drum 22 up to the acceptance of the filter plugs by the accelerator drum 230, the spaces between the empty seats is first kept constant and reduced after the acceptance of the filer plugs by the accelerator drum 230.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the cut tobacco rods in the area between the acceptance of the double-length cut tobacco rods on the braking drum 110 up to the transfer of the groups of smokers' products 60 to the application and removal drum 24 are conveyed with a constant transverse axial spacing that is smaller than the length of the uniting bands 40.1 that are adhered to the groups of tobacco articles 50.
Only after the removal of the article groups 60 from the conveyor drum 22 is the spacing of the groups of smokers' products 50 increased on the conveyor drum 22.
In FIGS. 2 through 4 the areas of the different dividing spacings are shown diagrammatically.
The transfer area is labeled with reference number U in the Figs. After the transfer of the cut tobacco rods from the transfer drum to the braking drum 110, the cut tobacco rods are conveyed with a transverse axial spacing that is smaller than the length of the uniting bands adhered or to be adhered. This area is labeled with reference number B1.
After the transverse axial spacing between the adjacent article groups or cut tobacco rods has been increased, the smokers' product components are conveyed with a transverse axial spacing from one another that is greater than the transverse axial spacing in the area B₁. This transport area is labeled with the reference number B₂.
Preferably the transverse axial spacing in the transport area B₁has a size of 18 mm to 28 mm, in particular 18 mm to 22 mm and in the transport area B₂a size of 24 mm to 32 mm.
Through the present invention a high product quality of smokers' products is achieved with a filter tipping machine, whereby the drum arrangements T are embodied such that numerous different garnitures, in particular diameters, of cut tobacco rods or smokers' products are conveyed. The expenditure for a retrofit during a garniture change, preferably during a change to a different smokers' product diameter, with such a filter tipping machine is thus kept low.

It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.



List of Reference Numbers

10.1	Tipping apparatus
10.2	Tipping apparatus
11.1	Tipping paper strip
11.2	Tipping paper strip
12.1	Suctioning drum
12.2	Suctioning drum
13.1	Blade drum
13.1	Blade drum
13.2	Blade drum
21	Assembly drum
22	Conveyor drum
23.2	Folding star
24	Application and removal drum
25	Conveyor drum
26	Drum
27	Rolling device
28	Drum
29	Drum
40.1	Uniting band
50	Group of tobacco articles
	(cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod group
60	Group of tobacco articles
	(cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod group
100	Transfer drum
110	Braking drum
120	Cutter drum
125	Cutting knife
130	Spreader drum
140	Removal drum
150	Feed drum
200	Removal/cutter drum
205	Cutting knife
210	Staggering drum
220	Pusher drum
230	Accelerator drum
M	Drum arrangement (filter plugs)
T	Drum arrangement (cut tobacco rods)
P	Cigarette rod maker
U	Transfer area
B₁	Transport area
B₂	Transport area

Claims

1. A method for producing filter cigarettes, comprising:

cutting double-length cut tobacco rods into single-length cut tobacco rods;

spacing apart the cut tobacco rods in a longitudinally axial manner;

inserting a double-length filter plug between longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods;

connecting, with uniting bands, the double-length filter plugs to the longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods; and

prior to the inserting of the double-length filter plug, conveying at least one of the double-length cut tobacco rods and the single-length cut tobacco rods with a transverse axial spacing from adjacent cut tobacco rods that is smaller than a length of the uniting bands.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transverse axial spacing from adjacent cut tobacco rods before the insertion of the filter plugs is changed to a transverse axial spacing that is smaller than the length of the uniting bands.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transverse axial spacing from adjacent cut tobacco rods is reduced after the transfer of the cut tobacco rods from a cigarette rod maker to a filter tipping machine.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the at least one of the double-length and the single-length cut tobacco rods before the reduction of the transverse axial spacing are conveyed with a transverse axial spacing that is the same as or greater than the length of the uniting bands.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein during the insertion of the double-length filter plug between the longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, the process further comprises conveying the double-length filter plugs with a transverse axial spacing from their adjacent filter plugs that is smaller than the length of the uniting bands.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein during the insertion of the double-length filter plugs between the longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, the transverse axial spacing between the pairs of cut tobacco rods is increased.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein after the insertion of the double-length filter plugs between the longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, the transverse axial spacing between the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups is increased.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein after the increase of the transverse axial spacing between the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups, the process further comprises conveying the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups with a transverse axial spacing that is the same as or smaller than the length of the uniting bands.

9. The method in accordance with claim 5, wherein at least one of the cut tobacco rods and the double-length filter plugs are conveyed with a transverse axial spacing of 18 mm to 28 mm.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the at least one of the cut tobacco rods and the double-length filter plugs are conveyed with a transverse axial spacing of 18 mm to 22 mm.

11. The method in accordance with claim 7, further comprising feeding the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups as articles of a first and second group to a tipping device and providing the articles of the first and second groups with uniting bands.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising:

feeding the articles of the first and second group to a joint rolling device; and

wrapping the articles of the first and second group with the uniting bands in the rolling device.

13. The method in accordance with claim 7, further comprising:

feeding the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups as articles of a first and second group;

feeding the articles of the first and second group to a first tipping device, in which the articles of the first group are provided with a uniting band;

feeding the articles of the first and second group on different conveyor paths to a joint rolling device; and

feeding the articles of the second group to a second tipping device, in which the articles of the second group are provided with uniting bands.

14. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein a conveyor speed of the articles of the first and second group at least one of before and after a transfer point at which the uniting bands are provided is varied.

15. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the articles of the first and second group are braked before being provided with the uniting bands.

16. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the articles of the first and second group are accelerated after being provided with the uniting bands.

17. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein when the uniting bands are provided to the articles of the first and second groups, the uniting bands are partially applied to the articles of the first and second group.

18. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the articles of the first group are removed from a joint conveyor drum for the articles of the first and second group.

19. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the articles of the first and second group before the uniting bands are provided to the first group are arranged alternately on a conveyor drum.

20. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the articles of the first and second group are arranged alternately on a conveyor drum during a combined conveyance of the article groups.

21. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the uniting bands are transferred to the articles of the first and/or second group at a constant speed.