Hauni Maschinenbau Ag

Manfred Dombek

Helmut Voss

Berthold Maiwald

Karl-Heinz Pawelko

Konrad Popp

Andreas Rinke

Michael Haul

Matthias Jahnke

Manfred Folger

Franz Rottmann

Ralf Meyer

Johann Elges

Matthias Overath

Carsten Eggers

Bernd Hartmann

Matthias Kelm

Conveyor drum for receiving axially aligned articles that are conveyed in a cross-axial direction toward the conveyor drum. Conveyor drum includes a separation device for changing a longitudinal axial spacing of the articles by a predetermined longitudinal axial separation, and an adjustment device structured and arranged to adjust the predetermined longitudinal axial separation. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Multifunctional conveyor drum

An apparatus for transferring rod-like articles from a longitudinal conveyor that longitudinal-axially conveys the articles onto a transverse conveyor that transverse-axially conveys the articles. Moreover, the apparatus includes a conveyor that receives the articles from the longitudinal conveyor and delivers the articles to the transverse conveyor, the conveyor comprising at least a first conveying element and a separate second conveying element which are configured to be in functional connection with one another. Additionally, the first conveying element being structured and arranged to rotate the articles by a predetermined angle. Furthermore, the second conveying element being structured and arranged to reduce the transport speed of the articles. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Apparatus and method for the delivery of rod-shaped articles

An apparatus for the transfer of rod-shaped articles from a longitudinal conveyor that longitudinal axially conveys the articles onto a transverse conveyor that transverse axial conveys the articles transversely to their axes, a direction of transport of the longitudinal conveyor and the transverse conveyor being transverse to each other. The apparatus includes a conveyor having receptacles structured to receive articles from the longitudinal conveyor and to discharge the received articles onto the transverse conveyor. Moreover, the conveyor is structured and arranged to receive at least two pairs of articles, which are delivered to the conveyor on separate tracks of the longitudinal conveyor. Additionally, the conveyor is further structured and arranged to discharge the pairs of articles to two separate tracks of the transverse conveyor. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Apparatus and method for the transfer of rod-shaped articles

Adhesive-coated bands of paper, tipping paper or plastic foil are convoluted around discrete one-piece or composite rod-shaped articles, such as coaxial plain cigarettes and filter mouthpieces, during travel through a rolling zone bounded by a pair of surfaces at least one of which moves relative to the other. The inlet of the rolling zone receives articles, each of which carries a non-convoluted band, from a conveyor which forms part of a pressing device operative immediately ahead of the inlet of the rolling zone and serving to press successively delivered bands against the respective articles and to effect an at least slight flattening of the articles immediately prior to entry into the rolling zone. The width of the path for the articles increases at the outlet of the rolling zone or immediately downstream of such outlet.

Method of and apparatus for convoluting bands around rod-shaped articles

A magazine for rod-shaped articles comprises a storage unit having at least one inlet for receiving at least one of the articles supplied to the storage unit and at least one outlet for discharging at least one of the articles positioned in the storage unit. A variable length belt element disposed in the storage unit has a length which defines a fixed storage unit for accommodating a predetermined number of articles. The length of the belt element is expandable for defining a working storage unit, the volume of which can be changed with the expansion of the belt element.

Magazine for rod-shaped articles, in particular filter rods, in the tobacco-processing industry

An method for increasing the permeability of tubular wrappers of a succession of cigarettes by at least one pulsed beam of coherent radiation issuing from a laser has a hollow drum-shaped conveyor cooperating with a rolling member to define an arcuate channel wherein successive cigarettes roll while advancing sideways past a perforating station. Each beam of coherent radiation is generated in or is caused to enter the interior of the conveyor prior to being influenced by one or more deflecting and/or focussing elements to be propagated substantially radially and through an opening of the hollow conveyor and to impinge upon the wrapper of a cigarette rolling at the perforating station.

Method of and apparatus for making perforations in the wrappers of rod-shaped products

A filter-attachment machine in the tobacco-processing industry is provided. The machine has a plurality of conveying devices for products in the tobacco-processing industry, and at least one main drive that drives the plurality of conveying devices. The machine also has a pull-off device for pulling a cover tape ribbon from a cover tape supply, a cover-tape cutting device for cutting the cover tape ribbon into sections of a predetermined length, and at least one secondary drive that drives the pull-off device and the cover-tape cutting device. The cover tape ribbon is conveyed from the pull-off device to the cover-tape cutting device, and the sections of cover tape ribbon are transferred to the products on one of the plurality of conveying devices.

Filter-attachment machine and method of operating a filter-attachment machine

Filter cigarettes of unit or multiple unit length are produced in a tipping machine wherein successive groups of coaxial plain cigarettes and filter rod sections are caused to roll within a channel bounded by surfaces at least one of which moves relative to the other(s). This results in the conversion of uniting bands, which are carried by successive groups into the inlet of the channel, into tubular sleeves connecting the tubular wrapper(s) of the filter rod section(s) to the plain cigarette(s) of the respective group. The wrappers, and normally also the uniting bands, are perforated in the channel subsequent to, or in part simultaneously with, the conversion of uniting bands into the respective sleeves. Each filter cigarette can be provided with one or more arrays, such as annuli, of perforations, e.g., by mutually inclined laser beams. Rolling movements of successive groups can be accelerated in several stages during and subsequent to entry into the channel, and this also applies for the deceleration of rolling movement ahead of, at and downstream of the outlet of the channel.

Method of and apparatus for making and processing rod-shaped articles

Apparatus for increasing the permeabilities of central portions of tubular wrappers which form part of successive filter cigarettes of double unit length being turned out by a tipping machine. The central portions of the wrappers include adhesive-coated uniting bands which are convoluted around filter mouthpieces in a first portion of a rolling channel for successive filter cigarettes. A perforating unit which employs laser beams is set up to simultaneously perforate the central portions of the wrappers of several successive cigarettes in a second portion which immediately follows or partially overlaps the first portion of the channel. Each wrapper can be provided with two or more annular arrays of perforations.

Method of and apparatus for increasing the permeability of wrappers of rod-shaped articles

An apparatus for increasing the permeability of tubular wrappers of a succession of cigarettes by at least one pulsed beam of coherent radiation issuing from a laser has a hollow drum-shaped conveyor cooperating with a rolling member to define an arcuate channel wherein successive cigarettes roll while advancing sideways past a perforating station. Each beam of coherent radiation is generated in or is caused to enter the interior of the conveyor prior to being influenced by one or more deflecting and/or focussing elements to be propagated substantially radially and through an opening of the hollow conveyor and to impinge upon the wrapper of a cigarette rolling at the perforating station.

Apparatus for making perforations in the wrappers of rod-shaped products

Successive cigarettes of a series of cigarettes, such as filter cigarettes, are transported sideways in the axially parallel peripheral flutes of a rotary drum-shaped conveyor to the inlet(s) of a straight or V-shaped rolling channel or of two successive straight channels defined by the rolling surface(s) of one or two stationary block-shaped rolling members and the external surface of an endless belt trained over several rollers and being at least partially confined in a recess or groove of the conveyor in such a way that the surface(s) of the rolling member(s) cooperate with the surface of the belt to roll successive cigarettes in the channel or channels about their longitudinal axes while one or more beams issuing from one or more lasers or other radiation source(s) impinge upon the wrappers of the cigarettes rolling in the channel or channels. The belt lifts successive cigarettes out of the respective flutes at the inlet and permits successive treated cigarettes to enter oncoming empty flutes at the outlet of the single rolling channel or each rolling channel.

Apparatus for perforating tubular wrappers of rod-shaped articles

An apparatus, such as a filter tipping machine, wherein groups of coaxial rod-shaped articles are connected to each other end-to-end by adhesive-coated uniting strips or bands, employs two endless conveyor belts having parallel stretches defining an elongated rolling channel and moving in the same direction but at different speeds. A first rotary drum-shaped conveyor is employed to deliver successive groups, each of which can carry a uniting band, sideways into the inlet of the channel wherein the groups are caused to roll and the uniting bands are convoluted around them. A second rotary drum-shaped conveyor receives successive groups of interconnected rod-shaped articles from the outlet of the rolling channel and delivers them to a processing station, such as a severing or packing station, or to a magazine. One of the endless conveyor belts is trained over the drum-shaped conveyors.

Apparatus for convoluting strips around groups of coaxial rod-shaped articles

The invention concerns a perforating apparatus for producing openings in a peripheral surface of a substantially elongate, cylindrical object, in particular a cigarette, comprising a light source for producing at least one high-energy light beam, by means of which the openings can be produced in the object, an operative zone which can be produced by a guidance tracking means for guided tracking of the light beam and within which the light beam acts on an object moving through the operative zone, to produce the openings, rolling means for producing a rotary movement of the objects about their longitudinal axis while the objects are moving through the operative zone in order to expose the peripheral surface to the light beam, and transport means for conveying the object through the operative zone. The invention is characterised by a light-refracting means through which the light beam is passed before reaching the operative zone so that upon guided tracking of the light beam the light beam remains focused substantially everywhere within the operative zone.

Perforating apparatus

An elongated strip of tipping paper is advanced in a tipping machine for the making of filter cigarettes. The strip advances past a perforating unit and thereupon past a cutting unit which subdivides the perforated strip into a series of uniting bands ready to be convoluted around abutting ends of plain cigarettes and filter rod sections. One side of the strip is coated with a film of an adhesive which can be inactivated by exposing it to coherent radiation. The perforating and cutting steps are carried out by one or two beams of coherent radiation which can further serve to inactivate the adhesive around each perforation and along the edges which extend across the strip to thus reduce the likelihood of penetration of active adhesive into the perforations and/or a contamination of the products by active adhesive being expelled beyond the marginal portions of the uniting bands. A single source can suffice to furnish coherent radiation for the carrying out of the perforating, cutting and inactivating operations.

Method of and apparatus for treating webs of wrapping material

A running web of tipping paper (one side of which is coated with a film of adhesive) in a filter cigarette making machine is subdivided into discrete uniting bands and/or is perforated by resorting to a single source or to two discrete sources of coherent radiation. Each source is associated with a control unit which initiates the emission of short-lasting flashes of coherent radiation. Such radiation is caused to impinge upon a diffractive focusing lens which focuses coherent radiation upon one or more masks having openings for coherent radiation which is to sever the web along transversely extending linear zones and/or to provide the web with desired arrays of perforations. The perforations permit atmospheric air to enter the column of tobacco smoke in a filter cigarette wherein the tobacco-containing portion and the filter mouthpiece are united by a perforated adhesive-coated uniting band.

Growing community of inventors

Dassendorf, Germany

Manfred Dombek