Abstract: A device for sorting spherical objects, the device comprising: a feeder for feeding the spherical objects; and a sorting plate comprising a receiving region for receiving the spherical objects and a sorting region comprising a good objects transferring region for transferring good spherical objects and a defective objects transferring region for transferring defective spherical objects.

Abstract: A method for reducing stress of a garniture belt in a tobacco industry machine for manufacturing rods from a continuous rod comprising a filling material wrapped by a wrapper, the continuous rod being formed on the garniture belt being driven in a garniture channel of a garniture device, wherein the garniture device comprises a filling material receiving section, a rod diameter setting section and a rod stabilizing section, wherein the machine comprises at least one feeding unit for feeding the filling material onto the wrapper being transported on the garniture belt, a glue feeding unit, a cutting head for cutting the continuous rod into the rods, the method comprising adjusting a resistance of motion of the garniture belt by: reducing the resistance of motion of the garniture belt in the filling material receiving section by adjusting positions of guiding bars for guiding the garniture belt so that a width of the garniture channel in the filling material receiving section is greater than a width of the garn

Abstract: A machine for producing multi-segment rods for use in tobacco industry, the machine comprising: at least one feeding module for placing segments in a train, one after the other, on a collecting transporter for transporting the segments along a predefined transporting path in a direction towards a garniture transporter; a transferring module for transferring the segments from the collecting transporter onto the garniture transporter; the garniture transporter for transporting segments on a wrapper; a garniture device for wrapping the wrapper around the train of the segments to form a continuous rod; a cutting head for cutting the continuous rod into multi-segment rods; and a shifting mechanism for dislocating the collecting transporter with respect to the predefined transporting path to a cleaning position, wherein the segments while being transported on the collecting transporter are not in contact with any of the feeding modules.

Abstract: Method of emptying a container filled with rod-like articles manufactured in the tobacco industry comprising the following stages: the container to be emptied is delivered to the entrance area of an intermediate store comprising adjacent channels separated from one another by walls; the rod-like articles are transferred by supporting plates from the container to the channels of the intermediate store; the channels of the intermediate store are filled with the rod-like articles; characterised in that during the transfer of the rod-like articles from the container to the channels of the intermediate store the intermediate store makes a reciprocating motion in the horizontal direction, transversely to the axis of the rod-like articles.

Abstract: A method of emptying trays filled with rod-shaped articles produced in the tobacco industry, which consist of the following stages: the trays designated for emptying are conveyed to the input area of a hopper containing adjacent channels separated by dividers; the rod-shaped articles are transferred from the tray to the channels of the hopper using support plates; the channels of the hopper are filled with the rod-shaped articles; the support plates are retracted from the channels of the hopper; the channels of the hopper are successively emptied into a chute adapted to move between channel outlets of the hopper; finally, the rod-shaped articles are transferred from the channels of the hopper and through the chute to the discharge conveyor moving towards the receiving device.

Abstract: Apparatus for determination of the position of an insert in rod-like articles (1) used in the tobacco industry, provided with a conveyor (2) for rod-like articles (1) adapted for transporting rod-like articles (1) in a direction of transporting (T) perpendicular to the lengthwise axis (Z) of the rod-like article (1) in a predetermined plane of transporting (A), a radiation source (6), and at least one detector (7, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E, 7F), characterised in that the apparatus is provided with a set of at least two sections (F1, F2) of a detector (7, 7A, 7B, 14) and/or two detectors (7C, 7D, 7E, 7F), where the sections (F1, F2) of the detector (7, 7A, 7B, 14) or two detectors (7C, 7D, 7E, 7F) are placed one behind the other in the direction of transporting (T) on the conveyor (2) of rod-like articles (1) in a predetermined spatial orientation in which the radiation (R) hitting on the sections (F1, F2) of the detector (7, 7A, 7B, 14) or the detectors (7C, 7D, 7E, 7F) passes through the rod-like article (1) at dif

Abstract: A method for manufacturing rod-like articles for tobacco industry, the rod-like articles comprising longitudinal inserts located in a filling material, the method comprising: feeding a continuous tape-like wrapper; feeding a strand of the filling material onto the moving wrapper; feeding an insert material, in a form of a tape having weakenings, into the strand of the filling material; forming a continuous rod by wrapping the wrapper around the strand of the filling material with the insert material; cutting the moving continuous rod into discrete rod-like articles by a cutting head at a cutting plane that traverses the weakening in the tape of the insert material; the method being characterized by: inspecting ends of the insert in the rod like article cut from the continuous rod and comparing the ends with a predefined model to obtain a measure of similarity; and depending on the similarity, adjusting the action of the cutting head with respect to the movement of the continuous rod such as to increase the si

Abstract: A filling system for a machine used, in a tobacco industry for filling trays with rod-shaped articles that are dispensed from a dispenser, the filling system comprising a filling unit comprising rotary rollers for facilitating the passing or traversing of the rod-shaped articles from the dispenser to the tray below the filling system and a blocking unit for blocking passing or traversing of the rod-shaped articles from the dispenser to the tray. In an embodiment, the blocking unit may comprise pressing elements movable in a direction of axes of the rotary rollers between a blocked position, in which the pressing elements are located at a first distance, not greater than a length of the rod-shaped articles, from a back wall of the dispenser and an unblocked position, in which the pressing elements are located at a second distance, greater than the length of the rod-shaped articles, from the back wall of the dispenser.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing of multi-element rods of the tobacco industry comprising a feeding apparatus, a transferring apparatus, and a forming apparatus, comprising a first rotational element provided with lugs immobile relative to the first rotational element, a second rotational element provided with lugs immobile relative to the second rotational element, a third rotational element provided with lugs immobile relative to the third rotational element, used to convey rod-like elements. The rotational elements having notches between the lugs adapted to receive and convey the rod-like elements, whereas the rotational elements are arranged and adapted to guide the rod-like elements successively through the rotational elements. The apparatus comprises the forming apparatus designed to form a continuous multi-element rod, and a cutting apparatus. The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the third lugs have a thickness smaller than the thickness of the first lugs.

Abstract: A feeding device for feeding spherical objects (3) for tobacco industry applications, comprising: a mass chamber (2, 2?) for storing a plurality of the spherical objects (3); at least one single layer chamber (10, 10?) located below the mass chamber (2, 2?) and connected with the mass chamber (2, 2?) such that the spherical objects (3) may flow from the mass chamber (2, 2?) to the single layer chamber (10, 10?), wherein the single layer chamber (10, 10?) comprises an outlet (15) having multiple outlet ducts (16) for outputting the spherical objects (3) to a receiving device; at least one roller (17, 18) located next to the outlet duct (16), wherein a circumferential surface (17A, 18A) of the roller (17, 18) constitutes a wall of the outlet duct (16).

Abstract: The object of the invention is an apparatus for filling transport containers (1) with rod-like articles of the tobacco industry, provided with an area (2) receiving the rod-like articles in the form of a mass flow, a rod-like article storage area (3) comprising at least two sidewalls, a filling unit (4) constituting the bottom wall of the storage area for transferring the rod-like articles from the storage area to the transport container, a lowering conveyor (5) working together with the filling unit (4), adapted to lower the transport container while filling with the rod-like articles. The apparatus is characterised by being further provided with a counting module (6) designed to count the rod-like articles in the transport containers, adapted so that the individual rod-like articles being in the transport container are counted.

Abstract: An apparatus (10, 20, 30, 40) for shifting of rod-shaped articles (4, 4?) of different lengths or rod-shaped article groups (6) of different total lengths on a drum conveyor (2), comprising a pushing unit (5, 25, 35) mounted angularly to the axis of rotation of the drum conveyor (2), forcing the movement of the rod-shaped articles (4, 4?), whereas the pushing unit (5, 25, 35) comprises rotational pushing elements (11, 21, 31) for shifting of the rod-shaped articles (4, 4?), characterised in that the pushing unit (5, 25, 35) is movably mounted in a direction being substantially transverse to the axis of the flute (3) of the drum conveyor (2) so as to shift the rod-shaped-articles (4, 4?) or the rod-shaped article groups (6) inside the flute (3) of the drum conveyor (2) by the pressure of surfaces (11A, 21A, 31A) of the pushing unit (5, 25, 35) directly on the ends of the rod-shaped article (4, 4?).

Abstract: Rotary conveyor drum (19, 119, 219, 319, 419, 519, 59) for use in tobacco industry machines, for transferring a stream of rod-like elements (S), the drum having a first front base and a second front base and a lateral surface (20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 50) onto which the rod-like elements (S) are delivered successively one by one, the lateral surface (20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 50) being provided with spacer projections (22, 122, 222, 322, 422, 522, 52) between which the rod-like elements (S) are conveyed, the drum (19, 119, 219, 319, 419, 519, 59) being equipped with guiding means (21, 51) forcing the rod-like elements (S) to travel from the first front base to the second front base of the drum (19, 119, 219, 319, 419, 519, 59) during the rotation of the drum while the rod-like elements (S) are oriented substantially transversally to the spacer projections (22, 122, 222, 322, 422, 522, 52).

Abstract: A station (2) for trays filled with rod-like articles (R), in a tobacco industry apparatus, provided with a receiving part (2A) to receive filled trays (3, 13); and a storage and conveying unit (2C) containing the filled trays (3, 13), provided with a conveyor (4) to convey the filled trays (3, 13) and a tray separation mechanism (4A) to separate the first tray (3?, 13?) from other trays (3, 13) collected on bearing elements (4D) of the conveyor (4), whereas the tray separation mechanism (4A) is provided with lifting elements (51, 51?, 63, 63?) adapted to lift the trays (3, 13) from the bearing elements (4D) of the conveyor (4); characterised in that further the station (2) is provided with lateral belts (56, 56?) adapted to support the sidewalls (3L, 3R, 13L, 13R) of the tray (3, 13), whereas the lateral belts (56, 56?) are adapted to perform a movement corresponding to the movement of the lifting elements (51, 51?, 63, 63?) when lifting the trays (3, 13) from the bearing elements (4D) and putting the trays

Abstract: An intermediate hopper (30) in a tobacco industry apparatus (1) for vertical conveying of a mass-flow of rod-like articles (R) comprising sidewalls (31, 32) and multiple partitions (34) partitioning the intermediate hopper (30) into vertical channels (35, 36) which are adapted to receive the rod-like articles (R) from above, whereas the intermediate hopper (30) is provided with a movable transferring element (37) being slidable relative to the partitions (34) of the intermediate hopper (30), in addition, the transferring element (37) is built of supporting plates (35A, 36A) which support the mass-flow of the rod-like articles (R) in the vertical channels (35, 36) of the intermediate hopper (30) above the supporting plates (35A, 36A), whereas the supporting plates (35A, 36A) are adapted to move downwards (A) within the vertical channels (35, 36) and to move upwards (C) outside the vertical channels (35, 36), in addition, the supporting plates (35A, 36A) are adapted to be inserted (D) into the channels (35, 36)

Abstract: An apparatus (10, 20, 30, 40) for shifting of rod-like articles (4, 4?) with different lengths or rod-like article groups (6) with different total lengths on a drum conveyor (3), comprising slidably mounted pusher elements (7, 27, 37) acting on at least one rod-like article (4, 4?) or at least one rod-like article group (6) so as to vary their position in the flute (3) of the drum conveyor (2), with the pusher elements (7, 27, 37) being 5 slidable in a direction substantially corresponding to the axis of the rod-like articles, and a pushing unit (5, 25, 35) mounted angularly relative to the pusher elements (7, 27, 37) forcing the movement of the pusher elements (7, 27, 37), whereas the pushing unit comprises rotational pushing elements for pushing against the pusher elements (7, 27, 37).

Abstract: A carrier for a container for rod-like articles of the tobacco industry, the carrier interior having a cuboid-like shape, the carrier having a bottom wall, a middle sidewall and two outer sidewalls=adjoining it, while from the side of the remaining walls of the abovementioned cuboid the carrier is open. An external movable element is attached to the carrier and extending along the middle sidewall. The height of the middle sidewall is lower than the height of the outer sidewalls, so that between the outer sidewalls and the upper edge of the middle sidewall there is a void space. The movable element is movable between a first position, in which it lies opposite to the middle sidewall, and a second position, in which it lies at least partially opposite to the void space or at least partially is situated within the void space above upper edge of the middle sidewall.

Abstract: A method and device for detection of rotated segments in a continuous multi-segment rod transferred in a machine used in tobacco industry. A signal of an error of the shape of said continuous multi-segment rod is generated, the rod including a plurality of segments arranged one after another in a common wrapping, in which the rod that is transferred in a direction along its axis is simultaneously scanned by optical sensors, the directions of scanning of the optical sensors being oriented at an angle other than 90° to each other. The rod diameter is measured by repeated scans such that the shortest segment of the rod is scanned at least once, the results of the scans being compared with a predetermined reference value, and each difference between the results of the scans and the predetermined value is converted into the signal of the error of shape.

Abstract: A protective member for rod-like elements, in particular rod sections and/or an endless rod, travelling within a measuring head used in tobacco industry, the measuring head including at least two neighboring sensor units enabling to take measurements of the parameters of the rod-like elements by the radiation emitted and received by the sensor units, the protective member extending through the operation zones of the specific sensor units. The protective member includes compartments defined therein, each compartment corresponding to the operation zone of one sensor unit and each compartment including at least one first opening enabling percolation of the radiation. A measuring head including the protective member is also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and system for arranging rod-like elements, in particular cigarettes, on a longitudinal aligning conveyor (11) along the direction of movement of the conveyor, comprising a container (5) for unordered rod-like elements (6), a feeding conveyor (1), a chute (8) and the aligning conveyor (11), wherein the rod-like elements (6) fed from the container (5) are transported by the feeding conveyor (1) to the chute (8), the rod-like elements (6) being arranged on the feeding conveyor (1) transversally to the direction of movement, the bottom of the chute (8) being downwardly slanted at an angle (a) to the horizontal, the intake end of the longitudinally grooved aligning conveyor (11) being located downstream the outlet end (8C) of the chute (8), the aligning conveyor (11) being upwardly slanted at an angle (?) to the horizontal and being adapted to convey the rod-like elements (6) from the outlet end (8C) of the chute (8) upward the aligning conveyor (11) with a speed enabling passing the rod-like elements (6)