DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A MATERIAL WEB

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for wrapping a rod-shaped article and for providing a material web for the tobacco processing industry, comprising a material web provision device providing a material web comprising a first feed roller pair and a second feed roller pair for conveying the material web along a conveying path. To guarantee the wrapping process even when using thick wrapping papers or hydrophobic papers, the material provision device comprises a first restoring force reduction unit, wherein the first restoring force reduction unit is located downstream of the first feed roller pair along the conveying path and is located upstream of the second feed roller pair along the conveying path.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wrapping rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry including multi-segment articles, multi-segment smoking articles, or multi-segment intermediate products, and/or for providing a material web for the tobacco processing industry, comprising: a material web provision device providing a material web, the material web provision device comprising a first feed roller pair and a second feed roller pair conveying a material web along a conveying path; a cutting assembly comprising a cutting drum cutting the material web into material web sections; a tacking device comprising: a conveying drum comprising a suction roller conveying the cut material web sections, and a conveying device conveying a segment group of article rod segments, the conveying device having a holding fixture comprising a trough; and a rolling drum comprising a rolling hand, a rolling belt, or a rolling cam, wherein the tacking device connects the material web sections and the segment group to provide a tacked segment group; and wherein the material provision device has a first restoring force reduction unit comprising a crusher for crushing the material web wherein the first restoring force reduction unit is located downstream of the first feed roller pair along the conveying path and is located upstream of the second feed roller pair along the conveying path.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first restoring force reduction unit is a laser processing unit, a mechanical processing unit comprising a crimping roller pair producing crimp lines transversely to the conveying path, a brush device, an embossing device, or a plasma treatment unit.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material provision device comprises a second restoring force reduction unit or surface treatment unit comprising a crusher for crushing the material web, wherein the second restoring force reduction unit or surface treatment unit is located downstream of the first feed roller pair along the conveying path and is located upstream of the second feed roller pair along the conveying path and the second restoring force reduction unit or surface treatment unit is arranged downstream of the first restoring force reduction unit along the conveying path.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second restoring force reduction unit or surface treatment unit is a laser processing unit, a mechanical processing unit comprising a crimping roller pair producing crimp lines transversely to the conveying path, a brush device, or embossing device, or a plasma treatment unit.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material web provision device comprises a first gluing device having a tank for applying an adhesive to provide the material web with cold glue, wherein the first gluing device is located downstream of the second feed roller pair along the conveying path.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the material web provision device comprises a second gluing device for applying an adhesive to provide the material web with hot glue, wherein the second gluing device is located downstream of the second feed roller pair and downstream of the first gluing device along the conveying path.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material web provision device comprises an activation and curing unit which by heating, cooling, UV lighting, or application of auxiliary substances, activates the adhesive applied using the first or second gluing device and accelerates the curing.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second restoring force reduction unit or surface treatment unit process the material web exclusively on one side, such that the material web is only processed or altered on one side.

9. A method for processing a material web and for wrapping a segment group of article rod segments of the tobacco processing industry using an apparatus for wrapping a rod-shaped article and/or for providing a material web for the tobacco processing industry according to claim 1, comprising providing a material web on a bobbin, pulling the material web along a conveying path, changing the restoring forces or treating the surface of the material web using one-sided mechanical processing of the material web or using a one-sided alteration of the surface structure of the material web, cutting the web material into material web sections having a rectangular shape, providing a segment group, conveying the material web sections into a connection region for connecting the material web sections to the segment group, conveying the segment group into a connection region for connecting the material web sections to the segment group, connecting the material web sections to the segment group at a planar contact region, rolling the tacked segment group in order to wrap the tacked segment group with the material web section.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein depressions are made in the material web, wherein the material web has a thickness and the depressions in the material web are made to a depth of at most 5%, 10%, 30%, or 50% of the thickness of the material web to change the restoring forces of the material web transverse to a longitudinal direction of the material web.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the depressions are at equal distances in the longitudinal direction of the material web or at least 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, or more than 12, depressions are at equal distances.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the material web has a width and the depressions extend at least over 80% or 90% or 95% or 100% of the width of the material web.

13. The method according to at least one of claim 9, wherein the material web sections comprise hydrophobic paper, wherein the contact angle of water is between 100 and 140.

14. A rod-shaped smoking product or rod-shaped intermediate product of the tobacco processing industry having at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or more than 6 rod-shaped article rod segments, wherein the rod-shaped smoking product or the rod-shaped intermediate product is an aerosol-forming segment wrapped at least partially with a wrapping material, wherein the wrapping material, on the inner face, comprises depressions in the direction of the longitudinal axis LA of the smoking product or intermediate product, preferably at least or exactly 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, or 20 and wherein the two longitudinal edges of the wrapping material are connected to one another so as to overlap, wherein the wrapping material is located at least in sections on an outer face of a lateral surface of the smoking product or intermediate product and is not covered by a further wrapping material.

15. The rod-shaped smoking product or rod-shaped intermediate product according to claim 14, wherein the wrapping material has a thickness and the depressions are made to a depth of at most 5%, 10%, 30%, or 50% of the thickness of the wrapping material, and the depressions are at equal distances and the wrapping material has a width in the direction of the longitudinal axis LA of the smoking product or intermediate product and the depressions extend at least over 80% or 90% or 95% or 100% of the width and the wrapping material comprises hydrophobic paper, wherein the contact angle of water is between 100 and 140.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The invention is described in more detail below with respect to embodiments illustrated in the following drawings, in which schematically:

[0031] FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C show a machine for producing multi-segment articles,

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a part of the tacking device,

[0033] FIGS. 3 to 6 show images of the conveying device P,

[0034] FIG. 7 shows a detailed representation of the material web provision device,

[0035] FIGS. 8A, 8B show a cross-section of a tacked and wrapped segment group with a crimped material web section,

[0036] FIG. 9 shows a cross-section of a crimped material web,

[0037] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a crimping roller of a crimping unit,

[0038] FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of a crimping roller of a crimping unit,

[0039] FIG. 12 shows a plan view of a processed material web,

[0040] FIG. 13 shows a cutting device with an unpressurized cut,

[0041] FIG. 14 shows a cutting device with a pressurized cut,

[0042] FIG. 15 shows a cutting device with an unpressurized cut in the first wrapping module,

[0043] FIG. 16 shows a cutting device with an unpressurized cut in the second wrapping module,

[0044] FIG. 17 shows a cleaning drum,

[0045] FIG. 18 shows a cross-section of a cleaning drum,

[0046] FIG. 19 shows a side view of a cross-section of a cleaning drum,

[0047] FIG. 20 shows a side view of a cleaning drum,

[0048] FIG. 21 shows a supply module with a collecting pan, and

[0049] FIG. 22 shows a detail view of a drum with a collecting pan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] FIG. 1A - 1C show a machine 1 for producing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, namely multi-segment articles 530, multi-segment smoking articles 531, or multi-segment intermediate products. The machine 1 comprises an assembly module 100, a first wrapping module 200, a second wrapping module 300, and an inspection-transfer module 400. The machine 1 comprises a control unit 10. The control unit 10 comprises a data connection to the assembly module 100, to the first wrapping module 200, to the second wrapping module 300, and to the inspection-transfer module 400.

[0051] The assembly module 100 comprises a supply module 120 and a supply module 130 for providing article rod segments 520 and 521, respectively. In FIG. 1B, only two supply modules 120 and 130 are shown, but a machine 1 of this kind may also have more than two supply modules 120, 130, for example 2 to more than 4 supply modules.

[0052] The supply module 120 comprises a magazine 121 and a sampling drum 122, which samples article rods 540 from the magazine 121 and divides them into article rod segments 541 using knives 123. On a subsequent grading drum 124, the article rod segments 541 are graded and transferred to the transport drum 125. A subsequently arranged shifting drum 126 shifts the graded article rod segments 541 into a single-row arranged transversely to the axial direction one behind the other. Subsequently, on the cutting drum 127 a further cut can be made with the circular knife 126M or 127M, such that a pair of article rod segments 520 is formed. Instead of the article rods 540 being cut into article rod segments 541 using circular knives 123 on the sampling drum, this can take place using the cutting drum 126 or 127, which is a serial shifting-cutting drum, of the type disclosed in German patent application DE 10 2018 113 891 A1.

[0053] Transfer of the double-length article rod segments 541 from the drum 126 takes place via the drum 127, which may either be a transport drum or a cutting drum, to cut the double-length article rod segments 541 into two single-length article rod segments 520. This cutting of the double-length article rod segments 541 into two single-length article rod segments 520 only takes place after the transfer to the assembly drum 128 with the circular knife 128M, such that the double-length article rod segments 541 are transferred to the assembly drum. A sampling device 120S for taking samples or a discharge device for discharging substandard article rod segments 520 or substandard article rod segments 541 may be arranged on the assembly drum 128.

[0054] Sensor devices S1 and S2 are located in the supply module 120. The sensor devices S1 and S2 are configured to measure properties of the article rod segments or segment groups of article rod segments such as the segment number, segment lengths, article rod segment lengths, the frontal areas of the article rod segments, the surface area of the article rod segments, and the diameter. The sensor device S1 is located on the transport drum 125. The sensor device S2 is located on the cutting drum 127.

[0055] Transfer of the article rod segments 520 arranged one next to the other takes place from the assembly drum 128 to the separating drum 139 to space the two article rod segments 520 apart from one another. On the assembly drum 138, two single-length article rod segments 521 or one double-length article rod segment 544 can be inserted into the gap produced between the article rod segments 520. The inserted article rod segments 521 or the inserted article rod segment 544 can be provided by the magazine 131.

[0056] The supply module 130 comprises a magazine 131, and a sampling drum 132, which samples article rods 543 from the magazine 131 and divides them into article rod segments 544 using knives 133. On a subsequent grading drum B 134, the article rod segments 544 are graded and transferred to the transport drum 135. A subsequently located shifting drum 136 shifts the graded article rod segments 544 into a single-row apparatus positioned transversely to the axial direction one behind the other. Subsequently, on the cutting drum 137 or on the drum 136, a further cut can be made with the circular knife 136M or 137M, such that a pair of article rod segments 521 is formed.

[0057] As an alternative to the article rods 543 being cut into article rod segments 544 using circular knives 133 on the sampling drum, cutting drums 136 or 137 can be used to cut the article rods 543. Cutting drums 136 or 137 can be serial shifting-cutting drums of the type disclosed in the German patent application DE 10 2018 113 891 A1. The double-length article rod segments 544 are transferred from the drum 136 to the drum 137, which may either be a transport drum or as a cutting drum, to cut the double-length article rod segments 544 into two single-length article rod segments 521. Cutting of the double-length article rod segments 544 into two single-length article rod segments 521 can only take place after transfer of the double length article rod segments to the assembly drum 138 with the circular knife 138M. A sampling device 130S for taking samples or a discharge device for discharging substandard article rod segments 521 or substandard article rod segments 544 may be located on the assembly drum 138.

[0058] Sensor devices S3 and S4 are located in the supply module 130. The sensor devices S3 and S4 are configured to measure properties of the article rod segments or segment groups of article rod segments, such as the segment number, segment lengths, article rod segment lengths, the frontal areas of the article rod segments, the surface area of the article rod segments, or the diameter. The sensor device S3 is located on the transport drum 135. The sensor device S4 is located on the cutting drum 137.

[0059] A swash-plate assembly may be located on the drum 138, 139, or 128 to tumble and align the article rod segments of the segment group 501, 502 or to create a segment group 501, 502 in which the article rod segments 520, 521 contact one another at their narrow ends. Narrow-end contacting of the article rod segments can be disadvantageous for the production method, since the end faces of the article rod segments are stressed, which can result, for example, in damage, visible anomalies or loss of tobacco particles, and may cause the article rod segments to fall out.

[0060] Article rod segments, preferably the four article rod segments (520, 521), are transferred from the assembly drum 138 to the first wrapping module 200 via a turning-separating drum 299. The turning-separating drum is designed according to any one of the embodiments disclosed in German patent application number DE 10 2020 111 946 A1.The segment group 502 is turned and spaced apart using the turning-separating drum in such a way that at least the two outer article rod segments of one end of the segment group 502 and at least the two outer article rod segments of the other end of the segment group 502 lie in the center of the segment group and are facing one another after the turning. After the turning, there is a gap in center of the segment group for inserting a further article rod segment of a single or double working length. Turning and spacing apart or of producing the gap takes place at the same time.

[0061] The apparatus 600 for wrapping a rod-shaped article may include the first wrapping module 200 and second wrapping module 300 in their entirety or only part of these modules. The apparatus 600 for wrapping a rod-shaped article may include the machine 1 in its entirety or only parts of machine 1 such as the assembly module 100, supply modules 120, 130, wrapping modules 200, 300, and inspection-transfer module 400.

[0062] In the first wrapping module 200, further article rod segments are provided and supplied to the assembly drum 298 via a transport path. The segment group 503 that is created is transferred to the conveying device 240, which is a component of the tacking device 280. The supply module of the first wrapping module 200 comprises a magazine 291, preferably comprising a hopper and a sampling drum on which the article rods 546 are cut into article rod segments 547. The sections of sampling drum 292 engage with one or more knives, a grading drum 294, a transport drum 295, a shifting drum 296, and a transport drum 297. In another embodiment of the supply module, the grading drum 294 may be a transport drum and the article rods 546 are cut into article rod segments on a serial shifting-cutting-grading drum 296. In this embodiment, the supply module of the first wrapping module 200 comprises a cutting assembly comprising the sampling drum 292 and the knives 293, or a cutting assembly comprising the serial shifting-cutting-grading drum 296.

[0063] The first wrapping module 200 comprises a first material provision device 210, which provides a material web 211. FIG. 7 shows a material web provision device 310 of the second wrapping module 300. All embodiments of the material web provision device 310 shown and described are possible embodiments for the material web provision device 210 of the first wrapping module 200.

[0064] The material web provision device 310 comprises an unwinding device for unwinding a material web 311 that is wound up on a bobbin and is guided via one or more guide bolts or guide rollers and can be conveyed along a conveying path FM1 FM321. A first feed roller pair 301 conveys the material web 311 along the conveying path FM1 FM321. A first restoring force reduction unit 302 comprising a crusher is located downstream of the first feed roller pair 301. The restoring force reduction unit 302 reduces the bending stresses of the material web 311. The material web sections 321 are cut from the material web 311 so that the restoring forces of the material web 311 or material web sections 321 are reduced after the wrapping process.

[0065] The material web provision device 310 comprises a surface treatment unit 307 which is the second restoring force reduction unit for treating the surface of the material web 311 when thicker, hydrophobic, or coated material is used to treat material webs 311. Surface treatment unit 307 treats or roughens the surface of the material web 311 so that glue or adhesive can be applied to provide the material web 311 with a crimped or embossed structure. A feed roller pair 303 is located downstream of the surface treatment unit 307, 307C, 307L in order to convey or guide the material web. In addition to the surface treatment unit 307, 307C, 307L or in lieu of surface treatment unit 307, 307C, 307L, a surface treatment unit 313 or 314 may be provided as the second restoring force reduction unit. This second restoring force reduction unit is a brush unit or a plasma treatment unit.

[0066] The surface treatment units 307, 307L, 307C, 313, 314 are configured for the one-sided treatment of the surface of the material web 311 or simultaneous two-sided treatment of the surface of the material web 311. The material web provision device 310 comprises a first gluing device 305 for applying glue or adhesive K1 such as cold glue to a surface of the material web 311. The first gluing device 305 comprises a tank 306 which supplies an application roller or a nozzle with glue or adhesive K2. In another embodiment, the material web provision device 310 comprises a second gluing device 308 for applying glue or adhesive such as hot glue to a surface of the material web 311.

[0067] In a preferred embodiment, the material web provision device 310 comprises the first and second gluing device 305 and 308 for applying hot glue and cold glue to allow for the use of a quick-setting adhesive, hot glue and a slow-setting adhesive, or cold glue. As a result, in this embodiment initial connection can be made between the material web section 321 and the segment group 504 and long-term connection can be made between the material web section 321 and the segment group 504. Also, in this embodiment, the material web provision device comprises an activation and curing device 309 located adjacent to the material web 311. When special adhesives or glues are used, the adhesive or glue can be activated to give the adhesive or glue excellent adhesion properties before connecting the material web section 321 to the segment group 504. This can be achieved, for example, by use of a heating device, by use of a UV light irradiation unit, or by use of a spraying unit for spraying a further adhesive component of a two-component adhesive.

[0068] In one embodiment the surface treatment unit 307, 313, 314 is a crimping unit 307C, 313, 314 comprising a crimping roller 307C-1, 307C-2 and an opposing roller, as shown in FIG. 10 or 11. The opposing roller is a smooth roller, so that the material web 311 is only crimped on one side. FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal section of the material web 311 along the longitudinal axis LA. The material web 311 has a thickness D. Due to the action of the crimping roller and opposing roller, depressions 312 are created in the material web 311. The depressions are located at regular intervals at a right angle to the longitudinal axis. The depressions 312 may be positioned obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the material web 311 or extend over the entire width of the material web 311. In another embodiment, the depressions do not extend over the entire width and have an edge region of more than 1 mm, 2 mm, or 3 mm or between 0.5 mm and 4 mm in width, preferably between 1.5 mm and 3 mm or namely, for example, with an edge region of more than 10%, 20%, or 30% of the material web width of the material web 311. In a preferred embodiment, the edge region has a width between 1.5 mm and 3 mm. Exemplary embodiments of the depressions are shown in FIG. 12.

[0069] Exemplary crimping units for producing crimp lines transversely to the conveying direction of a material web are represented, for example, in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,526 with exemplary patterns, shown in FIG. 10 to 12 of this application. If a crimped material web 311 produced using the drum-based surface treatment device 307C is cut into material web section 321 and pinned or tacked to a segment group 504, the restoring forces are reduced by introducing the crimp lines. FIG. 8A shows a segment group 504 that is provided with a pretreated material web section 321. The crimp lines are sized in such a way that the crimp lines do not adversely affect one another when the end sections of the material web sections 321 are laid one on top of the other. For example, crimp lines are located one above the other (represented by way of example in FIG. 8B). Here, a non-equidistant arrangement of the crimp lines may be present on the material web section 321.

[0070] The material web 311 may be processed using a surface treatment unit 313, 314, 307 that is a brush unit. In this embodiment, the surface of the material web 311 is roughened to improve the connection with the glue or adhesive. A brush is located adjacent to the material web 311 and rotates counter to the conveying direction or in the conveying direction.

[0071] The material web 311 may be processed using a laser-based surface treatment unit 313, 314, 307. In this embodiment, the surface of the material web 311 is treated using a laser unit provided with depressions to reduce the restoring forces of the material web section 321 of the wrapped segment group 504. For example, a grooved material web as shown in FIG. 9 can be produced. The laser-based surface treatment unit 313, 314, 307L ican be a laser cutting unit as disclosed in DE 10 2019 006 932, DE 20 2020 000 354 U1, DE 20 2021 002 279 U1, or DE 10 2017 216 133.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment, the surface treatment unit 307, 313, 314 is a plasma treatment unit. The plasma treatment unit generates atmospheric-pressure plasma, gas plasma, or low-pressure plasma. The plasma treatment unit performs the plasma treatment over the entire surface or in sections or at points of the material web. In one embodiment, the plasma treatment is applied at the lateral edge regions of the material web in a range of at most 15 mm, 10 mm, 8 mm, or 5 mm The plasma treatment unit cleans or coats the surface of the material web 311. The plasma treatment unit comprises a tank or other device for providing a process gas such as compressed air or air, hydrogen, argon, hydrogen-argon, methane, acetylene, hexafluoroethane, helium, nitrogen, or oxygen.

[0073] In a preferred embodiment, the plasma treatment unit generates helium plasma, oxygen plasma or air plasma or nitrogen plasma. The plasma nozzle is configured to process from 40 l/min to 70 l/min, preferably 50 l/min to 60 l/min of process gas and for operation at a pressure of from 2 bar to 10 bar, preferably 4 bar to 7 bar, for example 5 bar. In this embodiment, the plasma treatment unit comprises an extraction system 307A, 313A, 314A located opposite the plasma nozzle in relation to the conveying path. The plasma nozzle is spaced apart from the conveying path, at a distance from the surface of the material web of between 0.3 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 0.8 mm and 2.5 mm, for example exactly 1.5 mm.

[0074] The method utilizes plasma treatment to reduce the contact angle when using hydrophobic papers, to a contact angle of less than 100 or less than 90. The plasma nozzle is configured for a processing width of between 4 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 6 mm and 10 mm. he segment group comprises an NWA (not wrapped acetate) segment. The plasma treatment unit is located downstream of a crusher and upstream of a gluing device. The material web is guided over the crusher at an angle of between 80 and 150, preferably between 90 and 120, preferably substantially 100. The pressing force of the material web onto the crusher is between 30N and 60N, preferably between 40N and 50N, for example 45N. For example, a plasma nozzle PFW100 from the company Plasmatreat can be used, in combination with nitrogen, ozone, or compressed air.

[0075] In another embodiment, the surface treatment unit 307, 313, 314 is a corona treatment unit. The corona treatment unit operates over the entire surface and has an electrode for ionizing the surrounding air and is spaced apart from the material web 311 by a distance of between 0.8 mm and 4 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 3 mm, particularly preferably between 1.4 mm and 2 mm, for example 1.524 mm.

[0076] The material web provision unit 310 conveys the material web 311, in particular the processed material web 311, to the tacking device 380 or conveying device 330. In a similar manner, the material web provision unit 210 conveys the processed material web 211, to the tacking device 280 or conveying device 230. The reference signs for the material web provision device 210 and 310 are similar and are not all explicitly indicated in the figures.

[0077] The first wrapping module 200 comprises a conveying device 230, which is a suction roller 230 such as a troughed suction roller 230, and a cutting assembly 220, which is a rotating knife roller. The cutting assembly 220 and the conveying device P 230 are shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 of German patent application number 10 2024 101 973.5 and as described in the passages from page 15, line 21 to page 20, line 18. The material web 211 passes over the suction roller 230 and is cut into material web sections 221 using the cutting assembly 220 such as a knife roller. The suction roller, conveys the material web sections 221 in the troughs of the holding fixtures, to a transfer point or pressure point at which the material web sections 221 on the conveying device 220 are tacked or adhered onto a segment group 503 consisting of article rod segments 520, 521, 522D (shown in FIG. 2 with reference numerals of the second wrapping module 300). The pressure gap size 245 is the minimum distance between the trough of the conveying device 230 and the trough of the conveying device 240.

[0078] While the material web sections 221 are located in the holding fixture 232 of the conveying device 230, the material web sections 221 are pushed or pulled by pulling or pushing device 246 into the troughs of the conveying device 230. The material web sections 221 are pushed or pulled in such a way that the material web sections 221 are positioned on the holding fixture base of the holding fixture 232. The pulling or pushing device 246 may be a rotation device having dies positioned radially on the circumference to push the material web sections 221 into the holding fixtures of the conveying device 230. Alternatively, the pulling or pushing device 246 may be a pivot device having one or more extendable dies to push the material web sections 221 into the holding fixtures of the conveying device 230.

[0079] As another alternative, the pulling or pushing device 246 may be a suction air device to pull the material web sections 221 into the holding fixtures of the conveying device 230. In this embodiment, the holding fixtures 232 have suction air openings, which are connected via a line to a vacuum source. Pulling or pushing device 246 is shown in FIG. 2 but is explicitly numbered with the reference signs from the second wrapping module 300. The configuration shown in FIG. 2 is also a possible embodiment that can be used in the first wrapping module 200. The pulling and pushing devices 246 and 346 are not explicitly shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, but constitute a preferred embodiment, when integrated in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 2 the material web sections 221 are pushed or pulled onto the holding fixture base of the holding fixture 232. The material web sections 221 are pushed onto the holding fixture base using the segment group 503.

[0080] The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is a preferred embodiment of the first and second wrapping module 200, 300 with the corresponding reference signs, for example 221, 230, 240, 246, 245, 241, 242, 2411, 2411, 243, 503 and, for example, the similar reference signs of the second wrapping module 300, namely 321, 330, 340, 346, 345, 341, 342, 3411, 3411, 343, 504, respectively.

[0081] FIG. 2 shows a conveying device 330 and a conveying device 340 as well as pulling or pushing device 346 for pulling or pushing the material web sections 321 into the holding fixtures 332 of the conveying device 330. The conveying device 330 rotates clockwise and conveys the material web sections 321 to a transfer point or pressure point. The conveying device 340 rotates counter-clockwise and conveys the segment group 504 to a transfer point or pressure point. The conveying device 340 comprises protuberances 341 having holding fixtures 342 comprising troughs, in which the article rod segments 520, 521, 522, 523D or the segment group 504 are received and held. The material web section 321 including a glued paper strip, is pinned to the segment group 504 at the transfer point or pressure point and a tacked segment group 504T is formed. The segment group 504 and the material web section 321 are interconnected by a planar contact region 504K by via the trough of the holding fixture 332 of the conveying device 330. The segment group 504 has a round, preferably circular, cross-section, such that the planar contact region 504K of the segment group 504 has an angular range of the segment group 504 in relation to the cross-section of from 5 to 170, preferably 10 to 130, 20 to 100, or 45 to 75, and the planar contact region 504K of the segment group 504 has an extent along the circumference of the cross-section of the segment group 504 or in the transport direction of the conveying device S 340 of more than 1.5 mm, 2 mm, 2.5 mm, or more than 3 mm, or between 1 mm and 4 mm, preferably between 1.5 mm and 3.5 mm.

[0082] To implement a secure connection by tacking or pinning, a pressure gap size 345 that is smaller than the diameter of the article rod segments 520, 521, 522, 523 or the segment group 504 is provided. As a result, the tacking process takes place at a pressure, such that the glued paper strip of the material web section 321 is connected to the segments even if the material sections 321 are particularly thick, rough, smooth, coated, or hydrophobic. The pressure gap size 345 for pressing the material web sections 321 onto the segment group 504 between the conveying device 330 and the conveying device 340, in particular between the holding fixture base of the holding fixture of the conveying device 330 and the holding fixture base of the conveying device 340, is between 7 mm and 7.8 mm, preferably between 7.3 mm and 7.7 mm, or in particular less than 7.6 mm, preferably less than 7.7 mm, particularly preferably less than 7.5 mm.

[0083] The diameters of article rod segments 520, 521, 522, 523 or of a segment group 504 are, for example, 7.9 mm. Using an overpressing of a few tenths of a millimeter, the material web section 321 is adhered to the segment group 504 in an advantageous manner, such that the conveying device 340 can continue to convey the tacked segment group 504T without the material web section 321 being shifted, becoming detached, or without any other incorrect positioning taking place. Overpressing is implemented using a pressure gap size that is 0.1 mm or 0.2 mm or 0.3 mm or 0.4 mm or 0.5 mm or 0.6 mm or 0.7 mm or 0.8 mm or 0.9 mm or 1.0 mm or 1.2 mm or 1.4 mm or 1.5 mm or at least 1.5 mm smaller than the diameter of the segment group 504.

[0084] A compression device 348 and/or a pre-folding star 348 are located adjacently to the conveying device 340 and downstream of the conveying device 330 in the conveying direction. The pressure gap size between the compression device and the conveying device 340 may be similar to the above-described pressure gap size 345, such that overpressing takes place during the tacking process or during the interaction of the compression device 348 and the holding fixture of the conveying device 340.

[0085] The conveying device 340 comprises protuberances 341 on holding fixtures 342 positioned radially on the outside. The protuberances comprise a leading lateral boundary 3411 and a trailing lateral boundary 3412. Since, during the overpressing or during the tacking process, a planar contact region is created, a part of the material web section 321 of the tacked segment group 504T is bent and requires free space so that that part of the material web section 321 does not touch and contaminate the lateral surface of the conveying device 340. For this reason, the protuberances have a height to form a free space for the part of the material web section 321.

[0086] The protuberances 341 are formed radially on the outside of the conveying device, on which a holding fixture 342 for the segment group 504 is located, have a height of at least 5 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, or from 5 mm to 50 mm, preferably from 10 mm to 25 mm. The height of the protuberances 341 is sized in accordance with to the diameter of the article rod segments and the segment group 504. Spacers 343 are located at the trailing lateral boundary of the protuberances 341 and prevent the glued paper strips of the material web sections 321 from adhering to the conveying device and reduce contamination. The spacers 343 are radially outwardly extending grooves or ribs that are located one next to the other in the direction of the axis of rotation of the conveying device 340. From 5 to 25 grooves or ribs are arranged in the direction of the axis of rotation. In another embodiment, other spacers may also be present that form a contact surface or contact line in sections such that a contact line or contact surface is always present for the trailing end of the material web section 321 regardless of the length of the material web section 321.

[0087] The tacking device 380 only comprises one conveying device 340 for the segment group 504. The tacking device 380 is designed to lay the material web section 321 by a maximum of 180 around the segment group 504 or the tacked segment group 504T. The tacking device 380 does not include a rolling device, such as a rolling hand, a rolling belt, or rolling cam.

[0088] FIGS. 3 to 6 show various embodiments for pinning the material web section 321 to the segment group 504 for forming a tacked segment group 504T. The circle shown in FIG. 3 to 6 represents the cross-section of the segment group 504 to which the material web section 321 is pinned, tacked, or adhered, such that the tacked segment group 504T is created. The holding fixture 332, in particular trough, of the conveying device 330 is shown, wherein the material web section 321 may be arranged on the trough base, for example positioned using the means 346, or not on the trough base, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0089] FIGS. 3 and 4 show an offset between the holding fixture 332 of the conveying device 330 and the trough of holding fixture 342 of the conveying device 340. The trough of holding fixture 332 comprises a leading flank and a trailing flank. Due to the offset of the holding fixtures 332 and 342, a pressure region 347 is created at which the material web section 321 is pressed particularly strongly onto the segment group 504. According to FIG. 3, said pressure region 347 is on the trailing flank of the holding fixture 332 and, according to FIG. 4, said pressure region 347 is on the leading flank of the holding fixture 332.

[0090] In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, the pressure gap size 345 is smaller than the diameter of the cross-section of the segment group 504, such that the pressure region 347 is formed on the holding fixture base. FIG. 6 shows an asymmetrically formed trough of holding fixture 332, wherein the pressure region 347 is formed by a protuberance in the holding fixture 332 or by the shape of the holding fixture. The pressure region 347 in this case is formed centrally, on a leading flank, or on a trailing flank. In preferred embodiments, multiple pressure regions 347 are present in the trough of the holding fixture.

[0091] The embodiments of FIGS. 3 to 6 and the described variations may additionally be combined with one another, such that, for example, the conveying device 330 comprises an asymmetric holding fixture from FIG. 6 and the holding fixtures 332 have an offset with respect to the holding fixtures of the conveying device 340. All further combinations, including multiple combinations, are also possible and disclosed as possible embodiments.

[0092] The tacked segment group 504T is transferred from the conveying device 340 to the rolling drum 350. A discharge device 352 is located on the rolling drum 350 located directly downstream of or adjacent to the transfer point from the conveying device 340. The discharge device 352 is located upstream of a rolling hand or rolling cam of the rolling device 351. The discharge device 352 is an ejection device and comprises a collecting pan 353 for receiving the discharged tacked segment groups 504T.

[0093] A discharge device of this kind is particularly advantageous when using thicker material web sections 321, as wrapping with double-layer material web sections 321 and splice points of the material web sections 321 lead to errors during the rolling process. The tacked segment groups 504T with double-layer material web sections 321 are discharged upstream of the rolling device. On the rolling drum 350, the tacked segment group 504T is wrapped using the rolling device 351, such that the segment group 505 or 503U is created.

[0094] The machine 1, apparatus 600, or tacking device 280, 380 comprises a control unit 10 of a splicing device which is connected to a material web provision device 210 or 310, to identify or track a splice in a material web 211, 311 and to discharge the tacked segment group 503T or 504T comprising at least part of the splice using the discharge device 252, 352. The apparatus 600 comprises a splicing device which is designed to connect a moving material web 211, 311 to a new material web 211, 311N, at an overlapping region of the two material webs 211, 211N, 311, 311N, and the apparatus comprises a control unit 10 that controls the discharge device such that the tacked segment group 503T, 504T comprising at least part of the overlapping region is discharged.

[0095] The machine 600 comprises a sensor unit 11 such as an optical sensor unit which detects substandard tacked segment groups 503T, 504T, in the overlapping region. The sensor unit 11 is connected to the discharge device to discharge the substandard tacked segment groups 503T, 504T. The sensor unit 11 is located adjacent to the conveying device 240, 340 or adjacent to the rolling drum 250, 350. In FIGS. 1A-1C, the sensor unit 11 in the second wrapping module 300 is not explicitly shown but is present in the second wrapping module 300.

[0096] Since the embodiments of the first and second wrapping device 200, 300 have been described based on the reference signs of the second wrapping device 300, the production method and production device will now be described from the rolling drum 250 of the first wrapping unit 200 onwards.

[0097] After being transported via the rolling drum 250, the wrapped segment groups 503U are decelerated on the decelerating drum 255 and the pitch is reduced and transported using further drums 255 and 256 to a cutting drum 260 to divide the wrapped segment group 503 into two symmetrical subgroups 503TG.

[0098] The circular knife 262 and the grinding wheel 263 are located adjacent to the cutting drum 260. The wrapped segment group 503, 503U is divided into two subgroups 503TG using the circular knife. The cut on the cutting drum 260 can be made as a pressurized cut as shown in FIG. 14 or as a depressurized cut as shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 15. In the case of the depressurized cut, the segment group is held in the trough of the cutting drum 260 using suction air in so that the two subgroups 503TG are displaced along the longitudinal axis using the circular knife 262 during or after the cut. On account of this axial displacement, the cut can be made in a very sparing manner and the subgroups 503TG are not squashed or pressed onto the circular knife 262.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 13, after the segment group 503U is cut into the two subgroups 503TG, a gap SP200 is created between the two subgroups, such that the end faces of the two subgroups 503TG do not contact one another and are spaced apart from one another. The gap SP200 is between 0.1 mm and 1 mm and approximately corresponds to the maximum thickness of the part of circular knife 262 that contacts the end faces of the two subgroups during the cutting process.

[0100] FIG. 14 shows a further embodiment of the pressurized cut. The segment group 503U is conveyed transversely to the axial direction on the cutting drum 260 and is divided into two subgroups 503TG using the circular knife 262. While the circular knife is engaged with the segment group 503U and contacts the end faces of the two subgroups 503TG, the segment group 503U and the two subgroups 503TG are guided using two lateral guides SF1 and SF2 such that no axial shifting of the two subgroups 503TG can take place. A swash-plate assembly 261B provides guidance. As soon as the subgroups become disengaged from the cutting knife 262, the end faces of the subgroups are in contact with one another. A cutting process of this kind is advantageous in particular applications, for example to cut a tobacco-containing segment, a segment consisting of loose fibers to prevent fibers, or tobacco pieces from falling out of the end faces. The axial position of the subgroups 503TG in relation to the axial position of the segment group 503U remains unchanged in this cutting process. A pressurized cut is advantageous when processing filter rods or robust segments.

[0101] After the cutting drum 260, transportation takes place via drums 273, 274, and 276 to the turning-separating drum 399. The drum 276 is an accelerating drum to accelerate the two subgroups 503TG to increase the pitch distance. The second wrapping module 300 has already been described in detail in the above section of the application from the turning-separating drum 399 to the rolling drum 350, and therefore a detailed description of the second wrapping module 300 is not included here. The first and second wrapping module 200, 300 can be configured with or without a supply for article rod segments 522, 522D, 523, 523D. All disclosed embodiments for the first and second wrapping module 200, 300 can be implemented in any desired combinations of the first wrapping module 200 and second wrapping module 300 in the machine 1 or apparatus 600 as disclosed in this application. The first and second wrapping module 200, 300 can be configured differently or substantially identically.

[0102] The rolling drum 350 transfers the wrapped segment group 505 to the drum 370. The segment group 505 is formed from the two subgroups 503TG, a centrally inserted double segment 523, and the tacked-on material web section 321. The material web section 321 encloses the segment group 505.

[0103] The drum 370 is a laser supply drum that transports the segment groups 505 to the laser drums 371, 371 transversely to the axial direction. The laser drums 371, 371 each comprise a rolling cam 372, 372, respectively, such that the segment group can be perforated over the entire circumference. The laser drums 371, 371 can be laser drums of different types, such as laser drums according to German patent application numbers 10 2022 134 675.7 or 10 2022 134 674.9.

[0104] A drum 364 is a transport drum 364Tr or swash-plate drum 364Tm for aligning the segment group 505 for the subsequent cutting drum 360 or a cleaning drum 364R is located immediately downstream of the laser drum 371, 371 or laser supply drum 370. The embodiments of the cleaning drum 364 are described below.

[0105] After transport by the rolling drum 350 or the drum 364, the wrapped and perforated segment groups 505 are tumbled on the drum 364, 364Tm or cleaned on the drum 364, 364R and transported to a cutting drum 360 to divide the wrapped segment group 505 into two symmetrical subgroups, multi-segment smoking articles 531, or multi-segment articles 530. The tumbling or alignment of the segment group 505 can achieved using the swash-plate drum 364Tm or, in addition to the swash-plate drum 364Tm, by using swash-plate device 361 on the cutting drum 360 located upstream of the cutting knife 362.

[0106] The circular knife 362 and the associated grinding wheel 363 are located adjacent to the cutting drum 360. The wrapped segment group 505 is divided into two subgroups, multi-segment articles 530, or multi-segment smoking articles 531 by use of the circular knife 362. The cut of the cutting drum 360 can be made as a pressurized cut according to FIG. 14 or as a depressurized cut according to FIG. 13 and FIG. 15. In the case of the depressurized cut, the segment group 505 is held in the trough of the cutting drum 360 using suction air in such a way that the two subgroups, multi-segment articles, or multi-segment smoking articles 531 are shifted along the longitudinal axis using the circular knife 362 during or after the cut. On account of this axial displacement, the cut can be made in a very sparing manner and the subgroups, multi-segment articles 530, multi-segment smoking articles 531 are not squashed or pressed onto the circular knife 362.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 16, after the segment group 505 is cut into the two subgroups, multi-segment articles 530, or multi-segment smoking articles 531, a gap SP300 is created between the two subgroups, such that the end faces of the two subgroups, multi-segment articles 530, or multi-segment smoking articles 531 do not contact one another and are spaced apart from one another. The gap SP300 is between 0.1 mm and 1 mm or, particularly preferably, between 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm. The gap SP300 approximately corresponds to the maximum thickness of the part of that contacts the end faces of the two subgroups during the cutting process.

[0108] In FIG. 14, a further embodiment illustrating a pressurized cut is shown The segment group 505 is conveyed transversely to the axial direction on the cutting drum 360 and is divided into two subgroups, multi-segment articles 530, or multi-segment smoking articles 531 using the circular knife 362. While the circular knife is engaged with the segment group 505 and contacting the end faces of the two subgroups, multi-segment articles 530, or multi-segment smoking articles 531, the segment group 505 and the two subgroups, multi-segment articles 530, or multi-segment smoking articles 531 are guided using two lateral guides SF1 and SF2, preferably continuously or in sections, such that no axial shifting of the two subgroups 503TG can take place.

[0109] In another embodiment, lateral guidance takes place using a swash-plate assembly 361B at the circular knife 362. As soon as the subgroups, multi-segment articles 530, or multi-segment smoking articles 531 become disengaged from the cutting knife 362, the end faces of the subgroups are in contact with one another. A cutting process of this kind can be advantageous in cutting a tobacco-containing segment, a segment consisting of loose fibers to prevent fibers, or tobacco pieces from falling out of the end faces. The axial position of the subgroups, multi-segment articles 530, or multi-segment smoking articles 531 in relation to the axial position of the segment group 505 remains unchanged in this cutting process. A pressurized cut can be advantageous when processing filter rods or robust segments.

[0110] The cut subgroups, multi-segment articles 530, or multi-segment smoking articles 531 are transferred from the cutting drum 360 to the subsequent drums 373, 373R, 374, 374R, 375 and conveyed further. The drum 373 is a transport drum or a cleaning drum 373R. The drum 374 is a cone spreader drum or a cleaning drum 374R or a combination of both drums. The drum 375 is a cone spreader drum or a cleaning drum 374R or a combination of both drums. The two subgroups, multi-segment articles 530, or multi-segment smoking articles 531 are axially spaced apart from one another using the cone spreader drums for the transfer to the inspection-transfer module 400.

[0111] The inspection-transfer module 400 is configured to inspect the single-layer article flow and to forward the same to the subsequent machine, for example an RTS section designed to transport a multi-layer mass flow on a conveyor belt or a packer for packaging rod-shaped articles in a packaging.

[0112] The inspection-transfer module 400 comprises a transfer drum 401, which is a transport drum 401 or a cleaning drum 401R. A measuring drum 402 for measuring properties of the rod-shaped article such as the subgroups, multi-segment articles 530, or multi-segment smoking articles 531, is located downstream of the transfer drum 401. An end face inspection or surface inspection of the wrapping of the articles takes place. The inspection-transfer module 400 comprises an inspection drum 403, downstream of which two sensor drums 406 and 407 are located. The sensor drums 406 and 407 are configured to carry out at least one of the following measuring tasks: end face inspection, surface inspection of the wrapping of the articles or multi-segment smoking articles, completeness check, or missing segment check.

[0113] The inspection drum 403 is shown schematically in a side view in FIG. 17. On the inspection drums 403, rod-shaped articles such as multi-segment smoking articles 531, 530, are transferred into the receiving troughs 4012 at a transfer point 4013. The inspection drum 403 rotates in the direction of rotation and in the conveying direction 4015. The inspection drum 403 comprises three inspection stations 4016, 4018, 4017. After the inspection the rod-shaped articles are transferred to the subsequent drum 406 at the discharge point 4014. If a rod-shaped article does not meet the inspection requirements, it is discharged.

[0114] The inspection drum 403 has a pitch 4019 that is preferably 4, 6, 8, or 10 (millimeters) or an integer multiple of pi (millimeters). The first inspection station 4016, which is between the third inspection station 4018 and the second inspection station 4017, serves to measure the degree of ventilation of the rod-shaped articles. The third inspection station 4018, which is downstream of the first inspection station 4016 in the conveying direction 4015, serves to measure the airtightness of the rod-shaped articles. The second inspection station 4017, which is upstream of the two inspection stations 4016 and 4018, serves to measure the pressure drop of the rod-shaped articles. At very high conveying speeds of the inspection drum 403 and thus with little time in the respective inspection stations, a corresponding pressure, for example an overpressure, is built up in the rod-shaped article within a short space of time. The quality of the measurement of the degree of ventilation and airtightness is significantly improved if a corresponding pressure is applied to the ends or to one end of the rod-shaped articles beforehand, for example in the second inspection station 4017. The pressure can be applied within one pitch 4019, that is, within a spacing from a receiving trough to the next receiving trough 4012, but also within multiple pitches 4019, preferably at least or exactly 2 or 3 or 4.

[0115] The second inspection station 4017 extends over multiple receiving troughs 4012, in particular over at least 2, 3, or 4. When the rod-shaped articles 531, 530 have perforations and have paper segments or thick wrapping paper, dust particles are blown out of the perforation openings or holes in the inspection stations 4017, 4016, 4018. These dust particles can contaminate the inspection drum 403 or the subsequent device components such as the sensor and inspection devices. An extraction device 4020 is provided with an extractor hood that covers the region above the inspection stations 4017, 4016, 4018. The extraction device 4020 comprises at least one extraction region 4021, 4022, 4023 to extract the dust particles.

[0116] In another embodiment, the drum 403 is merely a cleaning drum 403R and the inspection stations are not present in such an embodiment. An inspection drum 403 with a cleaning function is also known as a cleaning drum. A cleaning drum 403R, 364R, 373R, 374R, 375R comprises a device to blow the dust out of the inside of the rod-shaped article perforation openings to extract dust.

[0117] FIG. 18 shows a cross-section of a cleaning (403R, 364R, 373R, 374R, 375R) and inspection drum 403 having an extraction device 4020. Compressed air is applied to the narrow ends of the rod-shaped articles 530, 531 in the receiving troughs 4012 to clean the rod-shaped articles. The emerging dust particles are extracted using the extraction device 4020. The extraction device 4020 may be connected by at least one extraction region 4021, 4022, 4023 to a vacuum source. The extraction device 4020 is designed such that the extraction device can draw air to generate an extraction air flow.

[0118] FIGS. 19 and 20 show the device shown in FIG. 18 from two other perspectives, wherein certain details are not shown for clarity. The extraction device is located adjacent to the perforations of the articles to be cleaned and inspected. The extraction device is segmented. The cleaning and inspection drum has two tracks two rows of holding fixtures troughs located one next to the other for receiving and inspecting and cleaning the rod-shaped articles. Each row comprises its own extraction device 4020. The first row 4051 and the second row 4052 each comprise an extraction device 4020. The extraction devices of the first row 4051 and the extraction device of the second row 4052 are separated from one another.

[0119] Collecting pans AFB are other devices provided to prevent contamination. Collecting pan AFB.sub.S is located adjacent to a cutting drum and collecting pan AFB.sub.T is located adjacent to a drum, in particular a drum located immediately downstream of the cutting drum.

[0120] FIG. 21, a detail from FIG. 1B, shows the supply modules 120, 130 with the collecting pans AFB.sub.T and AFB.sub.S. The collecting pans are located adjacent to the drums 122 and 124. Similar collecting pans may also be located in the supply module 130 or in the supply modules of the wrapping units 200 and 300 but are not explicitly shown in FIG. 21.

[0121] FIG. 22 shows, by way of example, a drum 122, 124, wherein a collecting pan AFB, AFB.sub.T, AFB.sub.S is located adjacent to the drum 122, 124. The collecting pan AFB is a pan that is open on one side with the opening OE_AFB, which faces the lateral surface of the drum 122, 124. The drum comprises holding fixture troughs for receiving rod-shaped articles. The opening of the collecting pan is has an angular range .sub.AFB, which is 80 in this representation. Given such an extensive opening, corresponding article rod segments or particles can be captured. The distance A_AFB between the drum 122, 124 and the collecting pain AFB is the minimum distance between the drum and collecting pan and, in the embodiment shown here, corresponds to approximately 4 cm. Given such a distance, article rod segments and particles can be captured by the collecting pan without missing the opening of the collecting pan due to a long trajectory. The collecting pan is a pull-out drawer for easy emptying the captured article rod segments and particles or to perform cleaning. The collecting pan comprises an extraction unit to empty or clean the collecting pan.

[0122] The inspection-transfer module 400 comprises an ejection drum 408, which conveys the multi-segment articles 530 or multi-segment smoking articles 531 transversely to the axial direction, wherein a sampling drum 409 is located adjacent to the ejection drum 408 and is configured to sample and discharge individual multi-segment articles 530 or multi-segment smoking articles 531. The transfer-inspection module 400 comprises an inserter drum 410 to convert the two-track single-layer conveyed flow of multi-segment articles 530 or multi-segment smoking articles 531 using a reorientation drum 411.

[0123] The reorientation drum is a conical turning unit or other type of tip-turning drum, to provide a single-track single-layer conveyed flow of multi-segment articles 530 or multi-segment smoking articles 531. In the process, the pitch of the holding fixtures, conveyed multi-segment articles 530, or multi-segment smoking articles 531 is halved. If the ejection drum 408 has a pitch (trough spacing) of, for example, 8, the pitch of the inserter drum 410 is, for example, 4. To guarantee upward transportation of the multi-segment articles 530 or multi-segment smoking articles 531, the inspection-transfer module 400 comprises transport drums 412 to 418. The single-layer conveyed flow of multi-segment articles 530 or multi-segment smoking articles 531 is converted into a multi-layer conveyed flow using the transfer-discharge drum 420 and is transported to the subsequent machine or subsequently located reservoir.