DRUM CONVEYOR AND METHOD TO ROTATE ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES

Abstract

The invention relates to a drum conveyor defining a drum rotational axis and an outer peripheral surface, the drum conveyor comprising: o a first seat and a second seat, each of the first seat and second seat being adapted to transport a rod-shaped article, the first seat and the second seat being located at the outer peripheral surface of the drum conveyor; o a first shaft and a second shaft, wherein the first shaft defines a first shaft longitudinal axis and the second shaft defines a second shaft longitudinal axis, the first shaft longitudinal axis and the second shaft longitudinal axis being substantially perpendicular to the drum rotational axis, the first seat being attached to the first shaft and the second seat being attached to the second shaft, so that a rotation of the first shaft around the first shaft longitudinal axis and of the second shaft around the second shaft longitudinal axis cause the first seat and the second seat to rotate; o a pusher coupled with the first shaft and the second shaft by mechanical coupling, the pusher being adapted to linearly move along a pusher direction and engage with the first shaft and second shaft while moving; o an actuator adapted to move the pusher along the pusher direction while the drum conveyor rotates around the drum rotational axis so as to rotate the first shaft and the second shaft and the attached first seat and second seat at the same time. The invention also relates to a method to rotate rod-shaped articles.

Claims

1. A drum conveyor defining a drum rotational axis and an outer peripheral surface, the drum conveyor comprising: a first seat and a second seat, each of the first seat and second seat being adapted to transport a rod-shaped article, the first seat and the second seat being located at the outer peripheral surface of the drum conveyor; a first shaft and a second shaft, wherein the first shaft defines a first shaft longitudinal axis and the second shaft defines a second shaft longitudinal axis, the first shaft longitudinal axis and the second shaft longitudinal axis being substantially perpendicular to the drum rotational axis, the first seat being attached to the first shaft and the second seat being attached to the second shaft, so that a rotation of the first shaft around the first shaft longitudinal axis and a rotation of the second shaft around the second shaft longitudinal axis cause the first seat and the second seat to rotate; a pusher coupled with the first shaft and the second shaft by mechanical coupling, the pusher being adapted to linearly move along a pusher direction and engage with the first shaft and second shaft while moving; an actuator adapted to move the pusher along the pusher direction while the drum conveyor rotates around the drum rotational axis so as to rotate the first shaft and the second shaft and the attached first seat and second seat at the same time.

2. The drum conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a cam, the cam pushing the pusher along the pusher direction while the drum conveyor rotates around the drum rotational axis.

3. The drum conveyor according to claim 2, wherein the drum conveyor comprises a first wall and a second wall, located at two opposite sides of the outer peripheral surface, and wherein the cam is defined by a portion of the first wall.

4. The drum conveyor according to claim 3, wherein the first wall is stationary.

5. The drum conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the pusher comprises a first end and a second end, and the first end of pusher is adapted to engage with the actuator.

6. The drum conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the pusher is provided with an elastic element.

7. The drum conveyor according to claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises a cam, the cam pushing the pusher along the pusher direction while the drum conveyor rotates around the drum rotational axis, and wherein the elastic element is adapted to bias the pusher towards the cam for maintaining a contact between the pusher and the cam.

8. The drum conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the pusher is telescopic and comprises an inner tubular element and an outer tubular element, the inner tubular element being slidable in the outer tubular element along the pusher direction.

9. The drum conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling between the first shaft and second shaft and the pusher comprises a rack and a pinion.

10. The drum conveyor according to claim 9, wherein the pusher comprises a first rack and a second rack, and the first shaft comprises a first pinion and the second shaft comprises a second pinion; the pusher being positioned so that the first rack engages with the first pinion and the second rack engages with the second pinion.

11. The drum conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the linear movement of the pusher defines an amplitude and wherein the amplitude is so selected that the first seat and the second seat rotate at least of 90 degrees.

12. The drum conveyor according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of N seats and a plurality of N shafts, and N/2 pushers, wherein each k-th, where k=1 . . . N/2, pusher of the N/2 pusher is coupled to two nearest neighbour shafts (i, i+1), where i=1, 3, 5 . . . N−1 according to one or more of the preceding claims.

13. A system for turning rod-shaped articles, the system comprising: a drum conveyor according to claim 1; an inspection apparatus adapted to inspect rod-shaped articles positioned on the first seat or on the second seat.

14. A method to rotate rod-shaped articles having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising: providing a drum conveyor defining a drum rotational axis and an outer peripheral surface, the drum conveyor comprising: a first seat and a second seat located at the outer peripheral surface of the drum conveyor; a first shaft and a second shaft, wherein the first shaft defines a first shaft longitudinal axis and the second shaft defines a second shaft longitudinal axis, the first shaft longitudinal axis and the second shaft longitudinal axis being substantially perpendicular to the drum rotational axis, the first seat being attached to the first shaft and the second seat being attached to the second shaft; a pusher forming a mechanical coupling with the first shaft and the second shaft; positioning a rod-shaped article in the first seat and in the second seat; rotating the drum conveyor around the drum conveyor rotational axis; moving the pusher linearly along a pusher direction while rotating the drum conveyor; transforming the linear movement of the pusher into a rotational movement of the first shaft and of the second shaft around the first shaft longitudinal axis and the second shaft longitudinal axis so as to rotate the longitudinal axes of the rod-shaped articles in the first seat and second seat.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of rotating the drum conveyor comprises: rotating the drum conveyor around the drum rotational axis by 360 degrees; and wherein, in the same 360 degrees rotation of the drum conveyor, the step of rotating the first shaft and the second shaft comprises: rotating the first shaft and the second shaft from a configuration where the longitudinal axes of the rod-shaped articles in the first seat and in the second seat are perpendicular to the drum rotational axis to a configuration where the longitudinal axes of the rod-shaped articles in the first seat and in the second seat are parallel to the drum rotational axis; rotating the first shaft and the second shaft from the configuration where the longitudinal axes of the rod-shaped articles in the first seat and in the second seat are parallel to the drum rotational axis back to the configuration where the longitudinal axes of the rod-shaped articles in the first seat and in the second seat are parallel to the drum rotational axis.

Description

[0142] Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which:

[0143] FIG. 1 is a schematic lateral view with some elements removed of a conveyor drum realized according to the invention;

[0144] FIG. 2 is a perspective view with some more elements removed of the conveyor drum of FIG. 1;

[0145] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 1 or 2;

[0146] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are perspective views in a dismounted configuration of another detail of the conveyor drum of FIGS. 1-2 in an extended configuration and in a contracted configuration, respectively;

[0147] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view in a dismounted configuration of another detail of the drum conveyors of FIGS. 1-2;

[0148] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a system to inspect rod-shaped articles according to the invention, with some elements removed for clarity; and

[0149] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are perspective views of different details of FIG. 7, with some elements removed for clarity.

[0150] With reference to FIGS. 1-3 and 9, a conveyor drum adapted to rotate rod-shaped articles is globally indicated with 1.

[0151] A rod-shaped article 2 suitable to be transported and rotated by the conveyor drum 1 is visible in a simplified form in FIG. 3. The rod-shaped article 2 includes a first end 3 and a second end 4 and defines a longitudinal axis 5. Furthermore, the rod-shaped article 2 includes an outer surface 6, substantially cylindrical.

[0152] The conveyor drum 1 is adapted to rotate around a drum rotational axis 7. The conveyor drum includes an outer peripheral surface 8, substantially cylindrical in shape and having as a centre the drum rotational axis 7. The conveyor drum 1 includes a first wall 9 and a second wall 10, facing each other and positioned at the two opposite sides of the outer peripheral surface 8. First wall 9 is stationary, that is, it does not rotate together with the rest of the conveyor drum 1 around the drum rotational axis 7, while second wall 10 rotates integral to the rest of the conveyor drum. The outer peripheral surface 8 has been removed from the drum conveyor 1 in FIG. 1 to better show the structure underneath.

[0153] Conveyor drum 1 includes a plurality of seats, preferably N seats with N≥2. Among the seats, which are preferably all having the same geometrical shape, a first seat and a second seat are indicated with 12 and 13, respectively. First seat 12 and second seat 13 are nearest neighbour seats. All N seats, including first seat 12 and second seat 13, are located at the outer peripheral surface 8 and are equally spaced around the outer peripheral surface 8. Each seat of the plurality is adapted to hold and transport at least one rod-shaped article 2, as visible for example in FIGS. 2 and 9. In the following, all elements of the conveyor drum, if not mentioned otherwise like for the first wall 9, such as the outer peripheral surface 8 and the N seats, are integral in rotation with the second wall 10, thus when drum conveyor 1 rotates, these elements of the conveyor drum rotate as well around the drum rotational axis 7.

[0154] With reference to FIG. 3, an enlarged view of the first seat 12 and second seat 13 is shown. In order to hold the rod-shaped article 2 while transporting the same, preferably each seat of the plurality includes an aperture 14 connected to a pneumatic system (not shown in the drawings). The pneumatic system, via aperture 14, is adapted to perform a suction action on the rod-shaped article 2 positioned in the seat. Each seat also includes a receiving surface 15 in contact with the outer surface 6 of the rod-shaped article 2, when the rod-shaped article 2 is transported in the seat. The receiving surface 15 is at least partially curved, for example it comprises a cylindrical surface, and it defines a seat axis. The seat axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis 5 of the rod-shaped article 2 when the rod-shaped article is transported in the seat. As depicted, the seat axis of the first seat 12 is indicated with 16 and the seat axis of the second seat 13 is indicated with 17.

[0155] The drum conveyor 1 comprises a plurality of shafts. The number of shafts is equal to the number of seats. To each shaft, a seat is associated. The drum conveyor 1 thus comprises a first shaft 18 and a second shaft 19 associated respectively with first seat 12 and second seat 13. Shafts are better visible in FIGS. 8 and 9. Each shaft is adapted to rotate around a shaft longitudinal axis. The first shaft 18 is thus adapted to rotate around a first shaft longitudinal axis 20 and the second shaft 19 is adapted to rotate around a second shaft longitudinal axis 21. The shaft longitudinal axes of all shafts are perpendicular to the drum rotational axis 7. Each shaft longitudinal axis extends along a radius of the circumference defined by a cross section of the drum conveyor 1 taken along a plane perpendicular to the drum rotational axis 7. Each shaft further defines a first end 22 and a second end 23, the first end 22 being attached to the seat. The attachment between seat and shaft is such that rotations of the shaft around the shaft rotational axis correspond to rotations of the seat axis around the shaft rotational axis. Preferably, shaft rotational axis and seat axis are perpendicular to each other.

[0156] Further, each shaft comprises a pinion. With now reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 where only the first shaft 18 and second shaft 19 are shown, first shaft 18 comprises first pinion 24 and second shaft 19 comprises second pinion 25. First pinion 24 and second pinion 25 are integral in rotation with first shaft 18 and second shaft 19, respectively. Therefore, the first pinion 24 and second pinion 25 are adapted to rotate around the first shaft longitudinal axis 20 and second shaft longitudinal axis 21, respectively.

[0157] The drum conveyor 1 comprises a plurality of pushers, all indicated with 26. Each pusher is interposed between two nearest neighbour shafts. As shown in detail in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, pusher 26 is interposed between the first shaft 18 and the second shaft 19. The pusher 26 is rod-shaped and it comprises a first end 27 and a second end 28. The first end 27 is in abutment to the first wall 9, while the second end 28 is attached to the second wall 10. The second end 28 is integral in rotations with the second wall 10, while the first end 9 can slide on the first wall 9. The pusher 26 also defines a pusher direction 29, which preferably corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the pusher. Preferably the pusher direction 29 is parallel to the drum rotational axis 7. The pusher 26 is telescopic and includes an outer tubular member 30 and an inner tubular member 31, the inner tubular member 31 being slidable inside the outer tubular member 30 along the pusher direction 29. The pusher 29 therefore has a first extended configuration where the inner tubular member 31 is outside the outer tubular member 30 for a given length L1, so that the total length of the pusher 26 along the pusher direction 29 is at its maximum, and a second contracted configuration where the inner tubular member 31 is outside the outer tubular member 30 for a given length L2 with L2<L1 so that the total length of the pusher 26 along the pusher direction is at its minimum (see FIG. 1). The pusher 26 is adapted to perform linear movement, and more particularly reciprocation movement, along the pusher direction 29, moving from the contracted configuration depicted in FIG. 5 to the extended configuration depicted in FIG. 4, and vice versa.

[0158] With now reference to FIGS. 1 and 6, the drum conveyor 1 further includes a cam 32. Cam 32 is defined by the first wall 9. Cam 32 is preferably an end cam. Cam 32 comprises a rim portion 33 of the first wall 9 having a variable thickness. The rim portion 33 faces second wall 10. The rim portion 33 comprises ridges 34 and valleys 35. Thus the distance between a point in the rim portion 33 and the second wall 10 along a direction parallel to the drum rotational axis 7 changes depending on where in the rim portion this point is located, for example whether this point is located in the ridges 34 or in the valleys 35. The distance between a point on the rim portion 33 and the second wall 10 goes from a minimum, for example on the peak of a ridge, to a maximum, for example on the bottom of a valley. In the schematic lateral view of FIG. 1, the difference in the total length of the pusher 26 when the first end 27 is on top of a ridge 34 or on the bottom of a valley 35 is exaggerated in order to show it clearly.

[0159] The pusher 26 has its first end 27 in abutment to the first wall 9 and in particular to the rim portion 33 and extends parallel to the drum rotational axis 7. Therefore, when the first end 27 is in abutment to the point of the rim portion 33 at the minimum distance (top of ridge 35) to the second wall 10, the pusher 26 is in the contracted configuration of FIG. 5. When the first end 27 is in abutment to the point of the rim portion 33 at the maximum distance (bottom of valley 35) to the second wall 10, the pusher 26 is in the extended configuration of FIG. 4.

[0160] The difference between the maximum distance and the minimum distance between points on the rim portion 33 and the second wall 10 is equal to the amplitude of the movement of the pusher 26 along the pusher direction 29.

[0161] The drum conveyor 1 further comprises a spring 40, preferably a spring for each pusher 9. The spring 40 is inserted on the inner tubular element 31 of the pusher 9 in a compressed state at the second end 28 of the pusher 26. Due to the compressed state, the spring 40 biases the pusher 26 toward an extended configuration, exerting an elastic force directed along the pusher direction 29 towards the first wall 9.

[0162] With reference back to FIGS. 4 and 5, the pusher 26 comprises a first rack 36 and a second rack 37. First rack 36 faces the first shaft 18 while second rack 37 faces the second shaft 19. More in detail, the first rack 36 engages the first pinion 24 and the second rack 37 engages the second pinion 25. Due to the rack/pinion engagement, during the linear movement of the pusher 26 from the contracted configuration to the extended configuration or vice versa, the first pinion 24 and second pinion 25 are forced into rotation. The first shaft 18 and the second shaft 19 in turn rotate around the first shaft longitudinal axis 20 and the second shaft longitudinal axis 21.

[0163] The functioning of the drum conveyor 1 is as follow, with now reference back to FIGS. 1-3. At time t=0, the first seat 12 and second seat 13 are arranged on the outer peripheral surface 8 so that the first seat axis 16 and the second seat axis 17 are perpendicular to the drum rotational axis 7. This configuration is shown in FIG. 2 considering as first seat 12 and second seat 13 two seats on the left side of the figure (indicated by the t=0 label). In this configuration, the pusher 26 is in the contracted configuration of FIG. 5 because the first end 27 of the pusher 26 is in contact with a peak of a ridge 34. As soon as the rotation of the drum conveyor 1 around the drum rotational axis 7 starts, the pusher 26 is transported in rotation together with the drum conveyor 1 (with the exception of the first wall 9) and the first end 27 of the pusher 26 slides on the rim portion 33, which remains stationary. The point of contact between the first end 27 of the pusher 26 and the rim portion 33 moves from ridge 34 towards valley 35. The contact between the first end 27 and the rim portion 33 is maintained thanks to the elastic force exerted by the spring 40 urging the first end 27 in abutment against the rim portion 33. Moving down the valley 35 allows the spring 40 to push the pusher 26 towards the first wall and the inner tubular element 31 slides outside the outer tubular element 30, increasing the total length of the pusher 26. The relative sliding of the inner tubular element 31 and outer tubular element 30 causes the linear movement of the first rack 36 and second rack 37 engaged in the first pinion 24 and second pinion 25, respectively. First shaft 18 and second shaft 19 thus rotates around the first rotational axis 20 and the second rotational axis 21. The first shaft 18 and the second shaft rotate 19 in opposite directions. For example, the first shaft 18 rotates clockwise, while the second shaft rotates counter-clockwise 19. This causes a rotation of the first seat axis 16 and the second seat axis 17.

[0164] While the rotation of the drum conveyors 1 continues, the first end 27 of the pusher 26 continues to slide on the rim portion 33 till the bottom of the valley 35 is reached. In this configuration, the total length of the pusher 26 is at its maximum, the pusher is in the extended configuration of FIG. 4. In this extended configuration, the first shaft 18 and the second shaft 19 have been rotated by 90 degrees so that the first seat axis 16 and the second seat axis 17 are both parallel to the drum rotational axis 7. This configuration is depicted in the right portion of the drum conveyor in FIG. 2 (indicated with t=t1).

[0165] Preferably, after the rotation of 90 degrees has been obtained, while the drum conveyor 1 continues to rotate, the first end 27 of the pusher 26 continues to slide on the rim portion 33 and leaves the valley 35 to reach another ridge 34. Another rotation by 90 degrees of the first shaft 18 and second shaft 19 takes place, so that at the end of a 360 degrees rotation of the drum conveyor 1, the first seat 12 and second seat 13 have again the first seat axis 15 and second seat axis 16 perpendicular to the drum rotational axis 7.

[0166] The drum conveyor 1 can be used in a system 100 for the inspection of one or both of the first end 3 and second end 4 of the rod-shaped article 2.

[0167] With initial reference to FIG. 7, the system 100 includes a first conveyor drum and a second conveyor drum, each of the first conveyor drum and second conveyor drum being constructed as described with reference to FIGS. 1-6 and 9. In order to differentiate the first conveyor drum and the second conveyor drum, they are referred to 1 and 50, respectively, although they are both constructed identically to the conveyor drum identified with 1 described above. Each of the first conveyor drum 1 and the second conveyor drum 50 comprises a plurality of seats on the outer peripheral surface 8 of the conveyor drum and rotate around its first drum rotational axis 7 or second drum rotational axis 70, respectively. Each seat of the plurality extends longitudinally along the seat axis. Each of the first conveyor drum 1 and second conveyor drum 50 is adapted, while rotating, to receive a rod-shaped article 2 at an input station 102 (for the first conveyor drum 1), 104 (for the second conveyor drum 50) and to convey the rod-shaped article 2 to an output station 103 (for the first conveyor drum 1), 105 (for the second conveyor drum 50).

[0168] The system 100 further includes a first linear conveyor 109 transporting the rod-shaped articles 2 along a first conveying direction 110. The first conveying direction 110 is indicated by an arrow in FIG. 7. The first linear conveyor 109 is adapted to transport the rod-shaped articles 2 along a path where the orientation of the longitudinal axes 5 of the rod-shaped articles 2 is parallel to the first conveying direction 110. The rod-shaped articles 2 are positioned in the first linear conveyor 109 in a row one after the other and they can be in abutment relationship, or a gap may be present between two adjacent rod-shaped articles.

[0169] The system 100 further comprises a first transfer drum 101 adapted to rotate around a first drum axis 111. The first transfer drum 101 is adapted to transfer rod-shaped articles 2 conveyed in the first linear conveyor 109 to the first conveyor drum 1, and in particular to first input station 102, maintaining the longitudinal axes 5 of the rod-shaped articles 2 aligned with the first conveying direction 110 (transfer drum does not rotate the rod-shaped articles). The first conveyor drum 1 is adapted to transport the rod-shaped articles 2 received from the first transfer drum 101 at the first input station 102 to the first output station 103 while rotating around its first drum longitudinal axis 7. During rotation around its first drum rotational axis 7, the first conveyor drum 1 is adapted to rotate the longitudinal axes 5 of the transported rod-shaped articles 2 by 90 degrees so that the longitudinal axes 5 of the transported rod-shaped articles 2 become parallel to the first drum rotational axis 7 at the first output station 103. The system 100 further comprises an inspection drum 112 adapted to rotate around an inspection drum axis 113 and to receive rod-shaped-articles 2 at the first output station 103 conveyed by the first conveyor drum 1. The inspection drum 112 can receive the rod-shaped articles 2 when the rod-shaped articles 2 have their longitudinal axes 5 parallel to the drum rotational axis 7. The transfer of the rod-shaped articles 2 takes place at the output station 103. Further, the inspection drum 112 is adapted to maintain the longitudinal axes 5 orientation unchanged. The system 100 further comprises a second conveyor drum 50 adapted to receive the rod-shaped articles 2 from the inspection drum 112 at the second input station 104 and to rotate the longitudinal axes 5 of the rod-shaped articles 2, while rotating around the second drum rotational axis 70, by 90 degrees so that the longitudinal axes 5 of the rod-shaped articles 2 are parallel again to the first conveying direction 110 when the rod-shaped articles 2 reaches the second output station 105. The system 100 further comprises a second transfer drum 130 and a second linear conveyor 140. The second transfer drum 130 is adapted to rotate around a second drum axis 131. The second transfer drum 130 is adapted to transfer rod-shaped articles 2 conveyed by the second conveyor drum 50 at the second output station 105 to the second linear conveyor 140. The second transfer drum 130 is also adapted to maintain the orientation of the longitudinal axes 5 of the rod-shaped articles 2 identical to the orientation they had at the second output station 105. Therefore, when the transfer to the second linear conveyor 140 takes place, the longitudinal axes 5 of the rod-shaped articles 2 are aligned with the first conveying direction 110.

[0170] The second linear conveyor 140 transports the rod-shaped articles 2 along a second conveying direction 141 indicated by an arrow in FIG. 7. The second conveying direction 141 is preferably parallel to the first conveying direction 110. The second linear conveyor 140 is adapted to transport the rod-shaped articles 2 along a path where the orientation of the longitudinal axes 5 of the rod-shaped articles 2 is parallel to the second conveying direction 141. The rod-shaped articles 2 are positioned in the second linear conveyor 141 in a row one after the other and they can be in abutment relationship, or a gap may be present between two adjacent rod-shaped articles.

[0171] The system further comprises an inspection device 150 to inspect the first end 3 or the second end 4, or both of the rod-shaped articles 2. The inspection device 150 may include one or more cameras. The inspection device 150 is positioned at the inspection drum 112, preferably at one side of the inspection drum. In the inspection drum, preferably the ends 3, 4 of the rod-shaped articles 2 are inspected.

[0172] The first transfer drum 101 and second transfer drum 130 are known in the art. Preferably, they are substantially identical to each other. Each one of the first transfer drum 101 and second transfer drum 130 includes a plurality of flutes, all indicated with 107, which are adapted to engage with the rod-shaped articles 2. The first transfer drum 101 rotates around the first drum axis 111 which is preferably perpendicular to the first conveying direction 110 and the second transfer drum rotates around second drum axis 131, also perpendicular to the first conveying direction 110. The flutes 107 are so designed to hold the rod-shaped articles 2 with the longitudinal axes 5 in substantial alignment with the first conveying direction 110 during their rotation.

[0173] As the first transfer drum 101 rotates about its first drum axis 111, the flutes 107 holding the rod-shaped articles 2 reach the first input station 102 for the first conveyor drum 1. The rod-shaped articles 2 are thus delivered to the first conveyor drum 1 still with their longitudinal axes 5 parallel to the first conveyor direction 110. This transfer is depicted in the enlarged view of FIG. 9. Only few element of the first conveyor drum 1 are depicted for clarity purpose. In order to obtain a transfer, the first conveyor drum 1 is mounted with respect to the first transfer drum 101 so that at the first input station 102, the first seat 12 and the second seat 13 of the first conveyor drum 1 receiving the rod-shaped articles 2 have their first seat axis 16 and second seat axis 17 parallel to the first conveyor direction 110. First drum axis 111 and drum rotational axis 7 are parallel to each other. The transfer between first transfer drum 101 and first conveyor drum 1 is known in the art and not further detailed herewith.

[0174] As already detailed, in the rotation of the first conveyor drum 1 around the drum rotational axis 7, the first seat 12 and second seat 13 rotate and therefore also the longitudinal axes 5 of the rod-shaped articles present in the first seat and second seat rotate. When the longitudinal axes of the rod-shaped articles 2 reaches a configuration where they are parallel to the drum rotational axis 7, the rod-shaped articles 2 are transferred to the inspection drum 112. This transfer is depicted in detail in FIG. 2. The inspection drum 112 includes a plurality of inspection flutes 114 configured to keep the rod-shaped articles 2 with their longitudinal axes 5 perpendicular to the first conveying direction 110 which in turn means that their longitudinal axes 5 are parallel to the inspection drum axis 113. The inspection flutes 114, each of which receives a rod-shaped article 2, preferably have the geometrical shape of notches formed on a disc (the inspection drum), so that there is no element covering the first end and second end of the rod-shaped articles.

[0175] During the rotation of the inspection drum 112, the first end 3 or the second end 4 or both of the rod-shaped articles 2 located in the inspection flutes 114 pass in front of the inspection device 150 (not shown in FIG. 2). Preferably, the inspection device 150 is located at one or both sides of the inspection drum 112 to inspect the status of the first end 3 or second end 4 of the rod-shaped articles 2. Due to the orientation of the longitudinal axes 5 of the rod-shaped articles 2 in the inspection flutes 114, the first end 3 or second end 4 faces the inspection device 150 and thus inspection is relatively easy.

[0176] As the inspection drum 112 rotates about its inspection drum axis 113, the inspection flutes 114 holding the rod-shaped articles 2 reaches the second input station 104 to be transferred to the second conveyor drum 50. The rod-shaped articles 2 are thus delivered to the second conveyor drum 50 with their longitudinal axes 5 perpendicular to the first conveying direction 110. This transfer is depicted in the enlarged view of FIG. 8. Only few element of the second conveyor drum 50 are depicted for clarity purpose. In order to obtain a transfer, the second conveyor drum 50 is mounted with respect to the inspection drum 112 so that at the second input station 104, the first seat 12 and the second seat 13 of the second conveyor drum 50 receiving the rod-shaped articles 2 have their first seat axis 16 and second seat axis 17 perpendicular to the first conveying direction 110. Inspection drum axis 113 and second drum rotational axis 70 are parallel to each other.

[0177] During the rotation of the second conveyor drum 50 around the second drum rotational axis 70, the first seat 12 and second seat 13 rotate and therefore also the longitudinal axes 5 of the rod-shaped articles 2 present in the first seat and second seat rotate. When the longitudinal axes 5 of the rod-shaped articles 2 reach a configuration where they are perpendicular to the second drum rotational axis 70, the rod-shaped-articles 2 are transferred to the second transfer drum 130, at second output station 105. This transfer is depicted in detail in FIG. 8. The second transfer drum 130 includes a plurality of flutes 107 configured to keep the rod-shaped articles 2 with their longitudinal axes 5 parallel to the first conveying direction 110 which in turn mean perpendicular to the second drum axis 131. The flutes 107, each of which receives a rod-shaped article, preferably have the same shape of the flutes in the first transfer drum 101.

[0178] From the second transfer drum 130, the rod-shaped articles 2, oriented with their longitudinal axes 5 parallel to the first conveying direction 110 are transferred in a known manner to the second linear conveyor 140. The second linear conveyor 140 conveys the rod-shaped articles 2 without changing their orientation along the second conveying direction 141, parallel to the first conveying direction.

[0179] For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A ±10 percent of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A represents. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.