The present application relates to a rod article distribution apparatus (10) for distributing rod articles (50) between at least two storage columns. The apparatus (10) has a rod article infeed (20), a rod article distributor (30) having an epicyclic drum arrangement, and at least two rod article receiving channels (41). The rod article distributor (30) is configured to distribute rod articles (50) between the at least two rod article receiving channels (41). The present application also relates to a rod article making apparatus and a method of distributing rod articles between at least two storage columns.

The present application relates to a rod article distribution apparatus (10) for distributing rod articles (50) between at least two storage columns. The apparatus (10) has a rod article infeed (20), a rod article distributor (30) having an epicyclic drum arrangement, and at least two rod article receiving channels (41). The rod article distributor (30) is configured to distribute rod articles (50) between the at least two rod article receiving channels (41). The present application also relates to a rod article making apparatus and a method of distributing rod articles between at least two storage columns.

A method of feeding rod-shaped consumer goods to a packing apparatus is provided, including providing a plurality of rod-shaped consumer goods to an upstream end of a stacking channel, and feeding the plurality of rod-shaped consumer goods along the stacking channel to a downstream end of the stacking channel. The upstream end of the stacking channel is higher than the downstream end in the vertical direction, and at least a portion of the stacking channel extends at an angle of between about 25 degrees and about 75 degrees with respect to the vertical direction. The method further includes receiving the plurality of rod-shaped consumer goods into a hopper from the downstream end of the stacking channel, and distributing the plurality of rod-shaped consumer goods from the hopper into a packing apparatus.

The object of the invention is a feeding apparatus for feeding a single-layer stream of tobacco industry's rod-like articles (2) comprising a first feeding channel (10) adapted to convey the rod-like articles (2) in the form of a mass flow (MF), a second feeding channel (11) provided with a lower conveyor (16), adapted to convey the rod-like articles (2) in the form of the mass flow (MF), whereas the second feeding channel (11) is flow-connected with the first feeding channel (10), a storage container (3) adapted to filling with the rod-like articles (2), flow-connected with the second feeding channel (11), an outlet conveyor (5, 30) provided with a bearing surface (5A, 30A) comprising grooves (23, 31), adapted to take the rod-like articles (2) from the storage container (3) and convey the rod-like articles (2) in the form of a single-layer stream (SF) of rod-like articles (2), characterised in that the bottom of the storage container (3) is formed by the lower conveyor (16) of the second feeding channel (11) and the bearing surface (5A, 30A) of the outlet conveyor (5, 30), and that the second feeding channel (11) is provided with an upper drive element (17, 33) for the mass flow (MF) comprising a bearing surface (17A, 33A) which is at least partially situated convergently to the bearing surface (16A) of the lower conveyor (16) of the second feeding channel (11) in the direction from the first feeding channel (10) to the storage container (3).

A cigarette filter rod boxing machine, including a cigarette filter rod holding mechanism and a cigarette filter rod pushing mechanism. The cigarette filter rod holding mechanism includes a lifting groove and a lifting power mechanism. The cigarette filter rod pushing mechanism includes a bottom plate, a middle push plate, a middle push vertical plate, an upper push plate, and an upper push plate limiting mechanism. The middle push vertical plate is vertically fixed on one side of the middle push plate, and the other side of the middle push vertical plate is precisely opposite to the other side of the U-shaped groove body. The first power mechanism used for controlling the middle push plate and the components on the middle push plate to advance to or return from the inside of the lifting groove is arranged between the bottom plate and the middle push plate.

A cigarette filter rod boxing machine, including a cigarette filter rod holding mechanism and a cigarette filter rod pushing mechanism. The cigarette filter rod holding mechanism includes a lifting groove and a lifting power mechanism. The cigarette filter rod pushing mechanism includes a bottom plate, a middle push plate, a middle push vertical plate, an upper push plate, and an upper push plate limiting mechanism. The middle push vertical plate is vertically fixed on one side of the middle push plate, and the other side of the middle push vertical plate is precisely opposite to the other side of the U-shaped groove body. The first power mechanism used for controlling the middle push plate and the components on the middle push plate to advance to or return from the inside of the lifting groove is arranged between the bottom plate and the middle push plate.

A method of forming groups of smoking articles so that each group forms an individual bundle of smoking articles for receipt in a respective smoking article pack is disclosed. The method includes supplying a receptacle of an apparatus for forming groups of smoking articles with different types of smoking articles such that they mix in the receptacle and each group is formed from the mixture of different types of smoking articles by said apparatus. An apparatus for forming groups of smoking articles and a multipack comprising a plurality of smoking article packs is also disclosed.

A method of forming groups of smoking articles so that each group forms an individual bundle of smoking articles for receipt in a respective smoking article pack is disclosed. The method includes supplying a receptacle of an apparatus for forming groups of smoking articles with different types of smoking articles such that they mix in the receptacle and each group is formed from the mixture of different types of smoking articles by said apparatus. An apparatus for forming groups of smoking articles and a multipack comprising a plurality of smoking article packs is also disclosed.

A cigarette filter rod boxing machine, including a cigarette filter rod holding mechanism and a cigarette filter rod pushing mechanism. The cigarette filter rod holding mechanism includes a lifting groove and a lifting power mechanism. The cigarette filter rod pushing mechanism includes a bottom plate, a middle push plate, a middle push vertical plate, an upper push plate, and an upper push plate limiting mechanism. The middle push vertical plate is vertically fixed on one side of the middle push plate, and the other side of the middle push vertical plate is precisely opposite to the other side of the U-shaped groove body. The first power mechanism used for controlling the middle push plate and the components on the middle push plate to advance to or return from the inside of the lifting groove is arranged between the bottom plate and the middle push plate.

A cigarette filter rod boxing machine, including a cigarette filter rod holding mechanism and a cigarette filter rod pushing mechanism. The cigarette filter rod holding mechanism includes a lifting groove and a lifting power mechanism. The cigarette filter rod pushing mechanism includes a bottom plate, a middle push plate, a middle push vertical plate, an upper push plate, and an upper push plate limiting mechanism. The middle push vertical plate is vertically fixed on one side of the middle push plate, and the other side of the middle push vertical plate is precisely opposite to the other side of the U-shaped groove body. The first power mechanism used for controlling the middle push plate and the components on the middle push plate to advance to or return from the inside of the lifting groove is arranged between the bottom plate and the middle push plate.