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.

Abstract: Device and method for processing and measuring properties of a moving rod of tobacco processing industry. Device includes a microwave measurement device in which endless rod is conveyable through microwave resonator from input side to output side. Microwave generator is included to generate a measurement signal having output frequency f0 and to supply measurement signal to input side of microwave resonator. At least one analysis arrangement includes a mixer, a low-pass filter, and an analog-to-digital converter in series, and local oscillator to generate a signal with local frequency fLO. Mixer is connected to port of microwave resonator and to output of local oscillator to generate difference signal of frequency fIM, which is less than f0 and corresponds to a difference of frequencies f0 and fLO. Low-pass filter is structured to pass output signal of mixer with intermediate frequency fIM, and filter higher frequency signal portions.

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: A discharge hopper for a tray discharge station for serially discharging shaft trays filled with rod-shaped products includes a conveying element for carrying away the products flowing from the shaft trays and a connecting device for coupling the shaft trays to be emptied to the conveying element. The connecting device is arranged substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the conveying element to form a channel for the product flow and includes an opening for passage of the products from the shaft tray into the channel. In the region of the connecting device there is provided a closure unit to open and close the opening. The closure device is coupled to a movable actuating element so that the closure device can be opened and closed shaft by shaft in relation to the shaft tray to be emptied.

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: A method is provided to regulate a conveying stream composed of articles of the tobacco-processing industry between at least one tray discharger and connected to at least one feed device by a conveying element that conveys a mass flow of the articles. The feed device has at least one chamber designed to receive the articles, and each chamber has at least two feed units running independently of each other to feed the articles to subsequent apparatuses. Each feed unit has an individual feed rate (P1, P2, . . . Pn). The method includes monitoring a level within the feed device using monitoring elements; sending a signal to each of the at least one tray dischargers for regulating the speed of transport of the conveying element and the feed rate (in articles/min) as a function of a current level within the feed device, and adapting the speed of transport to a desired level.

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: The invention concerns an apparatus for cutting at least one continuously conveyed rod into rod-shaped articles of variable length, in particular cigarettes, filters or the like, including a cutting device, a counter-support and displacing devices for the cutting device and the counter-support for varying the cut length of the articles, which is characterized in that the displacing devices for the cutting device and the counter-support are coupled together to make a functional connection. Furthermore, the invention concerns a corresponding method which is characterized in that, to alter the length of the articles to be cut off the rod, only one component is displaced, namely optionally the cutting device or the counter-support, and the other component is automatically displaced with it as a function of the displaced component.

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: The invention concerns an arrangement for filling and/or emptying receptacles filled and/or to be filled with articles, essentially including at least one handling device for transporting receptacles that have been and/or are to be filled between a reservoir and a device which alters the level of the receptacles, at least one device which alters the level of the receptacles, and at least one reservoir for holding receptacles that have been and/or are to be filled, which is distinguished in that the arrangement is designed as a closed unit, such that the handling device is surrounded in cell fashion by the at least one device altering the level of the receptacles and by the at least one reservoir.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus structured and arranged to transport rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry in a mass flow between an outlet of a first machine and inlets of a plurality of second machines. The apparatus includes guide rails having an inlet side in fixed relation to the outlet of the first machine and a moveable outlet side.

Abstract: A device for processing filter tow material used for producing filters for rod-shaped smoking articles such as cigarettes. The device includes a filter tow supply to provide at least two filter tow strips to at least two filter tow guideways. Each of the at least two filter tow strips is directed within the at least two filter two guideways, respectively. Apparatuses are also provided for processing the filter tow strips. The device includes a separately controllable independent processing apparatus assigned to each filter tow guideway.

Abstract: An apparatus for metering oral tobacco into portions suitable for consumption including a delivery device to hold and deliver the tobacco and a metering device to receive the tobacco from the delivery device. The metering device includes a shaping component operative to shape and press the tobacco into at least one endless tobacco rod and a slicing component operative to slice the endless tobacco rod into pre-defined tobacco portions with respect to shape and weight and to discharge the tobacco portions for subsequent processing. Further, a method for metering oral tobacco in portions suitable for consumption, includes the steps of delivering the tobacco, continuous shaping and pressing the tobacco into at least one endless tobacco rod, slicing the endless tobacco rod into pre-defined tobacco portions with respect to shape and weight, and conveying the tobacco portions to a subsequent processing station.

Abstract: A processing unit for processing at least one filter tow strip to produce filters for rod-shaped smoking articles includes at least one tow guidance section along which the filter tow strip is moved in a direction of a longitudinal extension of the filter tow strip. The tow guidance section includes processing devices used for processing the filter tow strip. The processing devices are arranged in a sequence essentially one above the other, so that at least a segment of the tow guidance section that is located in a region of the processing devices is oriented at an angle to a horizontal line.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for filling an empty shaft tray with rod-shaped products. The shaft tray has shaft walls which form a plurality of shafts. The apparatus includes a filling hopper having a receiving region for a mass flow composed of the products, and a storage region for products comprising a front wall, a rear wall, side walls and a bottom wall. The storage region includes partitions that form a plurality of shafts adjacent to each other, wherein the partitions substantially extend over a full height of the storage region, and wherein the rear wall of the storage region includes openings for passage of the shaft walls of the shaft tray. A delivery element delivers the empty shaft tray into the receiving region of the filling hopper to be filled with the products. A removal element removes a filled shaft tray from the filling hopper.

Abstract: A receive device of a conveyor unit, an apparatus including the receive device and a method for transporting rod-like articles for tobacco-processing. The receive device includes a deceleration device to decelerate the rod-like articles and an acceleration device to accelerate the rod-like articles. The acceleration device is arranged downstream from the deceleration device. A conveyor speed limit device is located between the deceleration device and the acceleration device. 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.

Abstract: The application concerns a measuring apparatus for determining a dielectric property, in particular the moisture and/or density, of a product, in particular tobacco, Cotton or some other fibrous product, having a measuring capacitor, a device for generating a high-frequency field in the measuring capacitor, which is influenced by a product which is arranged in a measuring volume of the measuring apparatus, and having a circuit device which includes the measuring capacitor and which is designed to determine suitable measurable variables of the high-frequency field influenced by the product, and is distinquished in that the circuit device is substantially non-resonant at the measuring frequency of the high-frequency field that is used, and measurement is based on the propagation of a travelling high-frequency wave in the measuring capacitor, and the circuit device is designed to determine two mutually independent measurable variables which are dependent on the amplitude and phase of the high-frequency wave infl

Abstract: The invention concerns a measuring apparatus for the detection of foreign bodies in a product, in particular in tobacco, cotton or some other fibrous product, having a measuring device, a device for generating an alternating electromagnetic field in the measuring device, which is influenced by a product which is arranged in a measuring volume of the measuring apparatus, a circuit device which includes the measuring device and which is designed to determine at least one suitable measurable variable of the alternating field influenced by the product, and an evaluating device which is designed for detection of the foreign body by suitable evaluation of the measurable variable determined with the circuit device, and is distinguished in that the measuring device is a measuring capacitor and the frequency of the alternating field is in the high-frequency range below the microwave range. The application further concerns a corresponding measuring method.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for the contactless cleaning of a conveying element which is designed to receive rod-shaped articles in the tobacco-processing industry, including at least one ionising element for removing electrostatic charges on the surfaces of the conveying element to be cleaned, at least one rotating compressed-air nozzle for loosening and removing contaminants located on surfaces of the conveying element, and a suction device for extracting the contaminated outgoing air, characterized in that associated with the apparatus is a housing for forming a cleaning chamber at least partially shielded from the environment, whereby the cleaning chamber has an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the conveying element to be cleaned, such that upper side and lower side of the conveying element are surrounded. Furthermore, the invention concerns an arrangement for transporting and/or storing rod-shaped articles with an apparatus for contactless cleaning with the above-mentioned characteristics.

Abstract: Method for testing the filling of a container with rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry and filling test device for the container, in which a depth of the container is at least as great as a length of a rod-shaped article. The process includes detecting at least one property of the content of the container, comparing the at least one property with a predetermined desired content of the container, and when a deviation from the desired content is greater than a predetermined tolerance value, generating a signal corresponding to a defective filling. 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.