Abstract: An apparatus for inserting one or more objects into a filter component of a tobacco rod includes a storage apparatus that stores a plurality of the objects, each object having a predetermined volume; an inserter wheel that receives the objects stored in the storage apparatus, and inserts the objects into a band of filter material, the inserter wheel having an outer periphery with a plurality of pockets defined in the outer periphery and distributed about the outer periphery. Each pocket has a shape configured to support one of the objects with between about one quarter and about one half of the volume of the object received in the pocket. The remainder of the volume of the object protrudes from the pocket above the outer periphery of the inserter wheel. A method of inserting one or more objects into a filter component of a tobacco rod is also described.

Abstract: A device of the tobacco processing industry and method for supplying ground or cut tobacco material having at least 35% moisture content. The device includes a conveyor, a portioner, and a homogenizer device including a needle roller and a picker roller. The needle roller is located downstream, relative to a tobacco conveying direction, of the conveyor and is structured and arranged to receive tobacco material from the conveyor, and the picker roller is structured and arranged to expel tobacco material out of the needle roller in a direction of the portioner.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for metering tobacco in portions suitable for packaging. The apparatus includes a feeding element for the tobacco and a device for forming and discharging at least one tobacco portion suitable for packaging. The device comprises a wiping element for wiping tobacco into a portioning chamber. The portioning chamber is variable in volume for compressing the tobacco and releasing the compressed tobacco portion. The portioning chamber is also displaceable relative to the wiping element for displacing from a filling position into a dispensing position and vice versa. An element for discharging the compressed tobacco portion is disposed in the area of the dispensing position.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting one or more objects into a filter component of a tobacco rod includes at least one storage apparatus that stores a plurality of the objects, each object having a predetermined volume. At least one inserter wheel receives the objects stored in the storage apparatus, and inserts the objects into at least one band of filter material. Each of the at least one inserter wheels has an outer periphery with a plurality of pockets and distributed about the outer periphery. Each pocket has a shape configured to support one of the objects with between about one quarter and about one half of the volume of the object received in the pocket. The remainder of the object protrudes from the pocket above the outer periphery of the inserter wheel. A method of inserting one or more objects into a filter component of a tobacco rod is also described.

Abstract: Apportioning apparatus for apportioning moist cut or ground tobacco material with moisture content of at least 35%. Apportioning apparatus includes metering unit; weighing cell; and control unit coupled via a first data link to the metering unit and via a second data link to weighing cell. Metering unit is configured to add a predetermined portion of tobacco material to a receptacle, and metering unit and weighing cell are arranged relative to each other such that, while receptacle is being filled by metering unit, a weight of the added tobacco material is detected by weighing cell, and data relative to the detected weight is communicated via first data link to the control unit. Control unit is configured to control metering unit via second data link on the basis of received data relative to weight of added tobacco material such that a predetermined portion of tobacco material is added to receptacle.

Abstract: A storage hopper which is designed and adapted for interim storage of snus bags between a bag production apparatus and a transport device comprises two side walls, a rear wall and a front wall, shaft walls running parallel to the side walls and spaced apart from one another, wherein the storage hopper has, on its side facing towards the transport device, a lower closure element for storing a defined number of snus bags in each shaft and for joint discharge of the defined number of snus bags to the transport device, and wherein the storage hopper has, on the side facing towards the bag production apparatus, an upper closure element which is independent of the lower closure element.

Abstract: Device for processing and measuring properties of a moving rod of material of the tobacco processing industry includes a microwave resonator structured and arranged so that the rod of material is conveyable through the microwave resonator. Includes microwave generator with output frequency f0, and frequency stabilized oscillator to generate intermediate frequency fIM that is less than f0. Single sideband modulator supplies microwave resonator with a sideband signal having a sideband frequency shifted with respect to output frequency f0 by intermediate frequency fIM, and at least one analysis arrangement includes single sideband demodulator, low-pass filter, and analog to digital converter arranged in series. Single sideband demodulator receives a measurement signal of the sideband frequency transmitted or reflected from the microwave resonator, and receives output frequency f0.

Abstract: Method and device for removing foreign bodies from a first tobacco stream that is conveyed via an air flow in a region of a first foreign body detection device. Method includes detecting, with a first foreign body detection device, the foreign bodies in the first tobacco stream based on at least one property, and removing, with a jet of compressed air, the foreign bodies from the first tobacco stream. In this manner, a foreign body freed tobacco stream and a second tobacco stream including tobacco particles and the foreign bodies entrained by the jet of compressed air are formed. Method also includes at least one of: accelerating the second stream at a distance from the first tobacco stream; and detecting, with a second foreign body detector, foreign bodies in the second stream based on at least one property and removing the detected foreign bodies with a second jet of compressed air.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a multi-segmented cylindrical product is described. The apparatus can include a feeder adapted to supply segments of a pliable material; and a rotating drum having an outer periphery and a plurality of fixtures distributed around the outer periphery, each fixture adapted to support a substantially cylindrical object, and wrap a segment of the pliable material around the substantially cylindrical object and a portion of the fixture to form a fill tube defining a pocket in the pliable material. Other features and related methods are also described.

Abstract: A volumetric metering device includes a hopper adapted to hold a supply of granular material, the hopper having an outlet; a rotating wheel located in communication with the outlet, the rotating wheel having an outer periphery and a plurality of metering cavities distributed around the outer periphery, each metering cavity having an open bottom portion; and a plurality of metering valves located around the outer periphery of the rotating wheel with each metering valve located in registry with one of the metering cavities. Each metering valve is movable between a loading position wherein the metering valve blocks the open bottom portion of the metering cavity, and an unloading position wherein the granular material dispenses from the metering cavity through the metering valve. Other features and related methods are also described.

Abstract: A processing machine for rod-shaped articles includes a base frame including a back plate extending upward from the base frame; and a plurality of function modules each adapted to perform a manufacturing function on a rod-shaped article. Each function module includes a mounting plate adapted to removably attach the function module to the back plate as a unit, and a dedicated drive motor supported on the mounting plate and adapted to move at least a portion of the function module. The plurality of function modules includes at least one of a rod infeed module, a hopper module, a drum module, a knife module, and a gluing module. A method of configuring a modular processing machine for rod-shaped articles is also described.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for producing an endless filter rod of the tobacco processing industry. An embodiment of the apparatus includes a transport nozzle loadable with compressed air, a guide tube, an elongated rod, which is arranged in the guide tube, having a rod projection, and an infeed roller, which is non-driven and freely rotatable, positioned immediately at an end of the transport nozzle and at a distance to the rod, and has a bearing surface that defines in sections a conveying path of a filter material web. The apparatus also includes a guide element positioned between the infeed roller and the rod by which a cross-section of the filter material web is reduced between the rod and the guide element in a region of the rod projection.

Abstract: A method for demand-controlled supply to and disposal away from production stations. Self-propelled transport vehicles are moved on a rail within an overhead storage and transport system. A transport unit is requested by a transfer unit which forms a linking member between the storage and transport system and an associated production station. A transport task is assigned by a material flow control to a transport vehicle. The transport vehicle is moved in the transport plane on the rail from a start position to the transfer unit of a production station initiating the transport task. The transport unit is transferred to the transfer unit. The full or empty transport unit is lowered by a lift into a transfer plane located below a transport plane. The transport vehicle is released for the next transport task after the transfer of the full or empty transport unit to the transfer unit.

Abstract: A measuring device for determining a measured variable at one end of a rod-shaped product includes an optical displacement sensor which includes a light source producing light that is scanned across an entire end face of the rod-shaped product to be examined and a light detector for detecting light that is reflected at the end face of the rod-shaped product to generate a measuring signal. A processing device is coupled to receive the measuring signal to determine a quantitative profile of the entire end face of the rod-shaped product.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating and inserting objects into at least one material rod of tobacco-processing industry. Method includes receiving objects from object supply volume into an annular groove on outer perimeter of accelerator wheel rotating around an axis of rotation, supplying annular groove with suction air to hold objects in annular groove, accelerating objects in a course of the rotation of accelerator wheel, conveying objects to a take-over device having discrete object receptacles for objects, receiving at least some of objects in a receiving section along a conveying path of objects in object receptacles of take-over device, conveying, downstream of receiving station, objects in object receptacles, and inserting objects into material rod through one of take-over device or an insertion device arranged downstream in conveying direction of objects. Excess objects are discharged after leaving the receiving section and returned to the object supply volume.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting one or more objects into a filter component of a tobacco rod. The apparatus includes: a storage apparatus that stores a plurality of the objects; an inserter wheel that inserts the objects into a band of filter material; and an acceleration chamber that transfers the objects from the storage apparatus to the inserter wheel. The acceleration chamber includes: a vortex chamber defining a periphery and an opening in the periphery; a source of air that accelerates the objects around the periphery of the vortex chamber; and a metering drum that rotates around the vortex chamber, the metering drum having metering holes movable into alignment with the opening in the periphery of the vortex chamber. The metering holes receive the objects through the opening in the periphery of the vortex chamber, and transfer the objects to the inserter wheel.

Abstract: Method and device for inserting objects into at least one endless material rod of the tobacco processing industry. The method includes removing objects from an object supply, and accelerating the removed objects in at least one receiving unit in a conveyance direction into a receiving path in a section of an insertion belt guided by at least two redirection rollers, the insertion belt having receptacles for the objects successively arranged in at least one row to reduce a speed difference between the receptacles of the insertion belt and the objects. The method also includes receiving the objects in the receptacles along the receiving path, holding the objects in the receptacles of the insertion belt by suction air, and conveying the held objects to an insertion position at the endless material rod, and inserting the objects from the receptacles into the endless material rod at the insertion position.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting one or more objects into a filter component of a tobacco rod includes a storage apparatus that stores a plurality of the objects, each object having a predetermined volume; an inserter wheel that receives the objects stored in the storage apparatus, and inserts the objects into a band of filter material, the inserter wheel having an outer periphery with a plurality of pockets defined in the outer periphery and distributed about the outer periphery. Each pocket has a shape configured to support one of the objects with between about one quarter and about one half of the volume of the object received in the pocket. The remainder of the volume of the object protrudes from the pocket above the outer periphery of the inserter wheel. A method of inserting one or more objects into a filter component of a tobacco rod is also described.

Abstract: A device for combining groups of at least two different types of filter segments for producing multi-segment filters in the tobacco industry in a continuous process includes a plurality of independent functional units that are each designed as a module.

Abstract: Method for sampling individual rod-like articles of the tobacco-processing industry from an article massflow via a sampling unit. The article massflow includes a plurality of rod-like articles arranged longitudinally and axially parallel to each other and is conveyed along a conveying section at a predetermined conveyor speed. The method includes moving the sampling unit parallel to a conveyor direction of the article massflow, capturing at least one individual rod-like article from the article massflow with the sampling unit, and removing the captured at least one individual rod-like article from the article massflow in a direction at an angle to the conveyor direction of the article massflow.