Garniture tongue of a garniture device

Abstract

Garniture tongue of a garniture device of a rod machine arranged for compressing a material. The garniture tongue includes a rod guide surface and the garniture tongue being composed at least in part of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content. 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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application No. 102 02 847.8, filed on Jan. 24, 2002, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a garniture tongue (or a forming and compression surface of a compression mold) of a garniture (forming) device of a rod machine (or a rod maker or a rod making machine) for compressing a rod of a material processed in the tobacco processing industry, e.g., tobacco, during its conveyance along a rod guide surface of the garniture tongue. The invention further relates to a garniture device of a rod machine of the tobacco processing industry.

[0004] 2. Discussion of Background Information

[0005] The garniture tongue (forming and compression surface of a compression mold) of the garniture device is used to compress or shape the rod of a material processed in the tobacco processing industry, e.g., tobacco or another smokeable material. In this manner, the compression and shaping occurs during the conveyance of the rod along the garniture tongue with a reduction of the rod cross section.

[0006] To produce a cigarette rod, isolated and loosened tobacco fibers are usually combined into a fiber rod on a rod conveyor circulating in a tobacco channel. The fiber rod is continuously discharged out of the rod assembly area and evened out before it is deposited on a wrapper material strip moved with a circulating forming belt in a garniture device and wrapped in the garniture device with the wrapper material strip, e.g., a cigarette paper strip. The wrapper material strip, which at first enters the intake area of the garniture device flat, is then formed into a u-shape around the fiber rod while passing through the garniture device, before it is completely wrapped around the rod and is closed around the rod, as a rule by adhesion, to form a cylindrical wrapper along an overlapping seam.

[0007] A garniture device for a cigarette machine is described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,165. With intense compression of the rod along the garniture tongue, the quality of the tobacco rod can deteriorate considerably. This deterioration of the quality of the tobacco rod can be because congestions can occur due to the friction of the tobacco material with the guide surfaces that are assigned to the garniture tongue, which in turn can lead to fluctuations in density. With correspondingly high friction values, the garniture tongues abrade relatively quickly due to a relatively high mechanical stress, so that they have a short service life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides improvement of the rod quality compared with existing garniture tongues. In this manner, the service life of such devices can be increased.

[0009] In accordance with the invention, a garniture tongue of a garniture (shaping) device of a rod machine for compressing a rod of a material processed in the tobacco processing industry, especially of tobacco, during its conveyance along a rod guide surface of the garniture tongue is disclosed in that the garniture tongue is made at least in part of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.

[0010] Long service lives are achieved for the garniture tongue of the instant invention by using a steel alloy with a high titanium carbide content because, surprisingly, tobacco or tobacco particles slide along the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content very well, so that in particular at high rod speeds of over 100 m/min, there is a very low friction coefficient between the garniture tongue and the tobacco particles, even with differing moisture values. A lower wear of the garniture tongue results from the high sliding properties or the low friction coefficient.

[0011] Preferably at least a part of the rod guide surface is made of the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content. With this embodiment of the invention it is possible, e.g., to equip a smaller part of the garniture tongue with the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content, so that costs can be saved. To this end preferably a solid piece having the rod guide surface is soldered or compound sintered onto another part of the garniture tongue. Alternatively to this, it is possible to produce a relatively thin layer of the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content by laser ablation or by thermal vaporization or, e.g., electron beam vaporization.

[0012] A particularly abrasion-resistant steel alloy can be obtained when the steel alloy is a steel alloy produced by powder metallurgy.

[0013] In the exemplary embodiment, the titanium carbide content of the steel alloy is more than 20% by weight. Preferably, the titanium carbide content of the steel alloy is between 31% by weight and 35% by weight, and, more preferably, is between 32% by weight and 34% by weight.

[0014] The binder phase is preferably martensite or austenite. Steel alloys that can be processed very well are obtained with a binder phase of martensite, featuring a high corrosion resistance depending on their carbon content. The following, e.g., are possible components of the martensite and their percentages: C: 0.5-0.65% by weight, Cr: 3.0-19.5% by weight, Mo: 2.0-3.0% by weight, Cu: 1.0-1.5% by weight, Ni: 0-0.25% by weight, the balance being Fe.

[0015] An outstanding corrosion resistance and excellent wear resistance are obtained with austenite as binder phase. With austenite, the components are preferably as follows: Cr: approx. 18% by weight, Ni: approx. 12% by weight, Mo: approx. 2% by weight, Cu: approx. 1% by weight, Nb: approx. 0.85% by weight, the balance being Fe.

[0016] In particular steel alloys with the brand name “FERRO-TITANIT” by Thyssen Stahl AG, Oberschlesienstra&bgr;e 16, Krefeld, are preferably suitable as the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content. With a structure of titanium carbide and martensite, the preferable alloys are called FERRO-TITANIT-C-Spezial (33.0% by weight titanium carbide content) and FERRO-TITANIT-S (with a content of 32% by weight titanium carbide). A preferable alloy with a structure of titanium carbide and austenite is called “FERRO-TITANIT-U” by Thyssen Stahl AG, and comprises a content of 34% by weight titanium carbide.

[0017] Preferably, the steel alloy is hardened, which results in a very high abrasion resistance. The hardening is hereby carried out according to the heat treatment specified by its manufacturer, Thyssen Stahl AG.

[0018] A garniture device of a rod machine of the tobacco processing industry preferably includes a garniture tongue according to the invention or a preferred garniture tongue, as described above.

[0019] Moreover, if a device for removing tobacco particles from a rod conveyor of a cigarette machine during the transfer of a tobacco rod from the rod conveyor to the garniture device is further developed such that at least a part of a rod guide surface of the removal device is made of the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content, the service life of such a removal device will also be noticeably increased. Such a removal device is arranged in the rod intake area of the garniture device. Regarding the removal device, reference is made to, e.g., European Patent No. EP 0 582 136 B1, in which a corresponding removal device is described in detail and the disclosure of which is included in this application in its entirety. In the cited European printed patent specification, a surface of great hardness formed by imbedding at least one layer of a fine-grained, abrasion-resistant material is provided in the area of a removal edge that interacts with the rod conveyor, at least while removing the tobacco particles. In the cited printed patent specification, this surface is preferably coated with polycrystalline diamond.

[0020] The base body of the removal device also features a rod guide surface that according to the invention is provided at least in part with the corresponding steel alloy with high titanium carbide content. The rod guide surface is aligned in the garniture device in the rod travel direction with the rod guide surface of the garniture tongue and, together with at least one other rod guide surface of the garniture device running opposite, forms a longitudinal section of a rod channel. Through the further development of the garniture device, such that at least a part of the rod guide surface of the removal device is made of the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content, the service life of the removal device is also increased.

[0021] The steel alloy with high titanium carbide content preferably corresponds to the rod guide surface of the garniture tongue of the removal device. Thus, identical steel alloys can preferably be used.

[0022] Furthermore, a rod machine of the tobacco processing industry is preferably provided with a corresponding garniture device according to the invention or a further development of the garniture device according to the invention, as described above.

[0023] The present invention is directed to a garniture tongue of a garniture device of a rod machine arranged for compressing a material. The garniture tongue includes a rod guide surface and the garniture tongue being composed at least in part of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content. The garniture tongue can be structured and arranged in a tobacco processing apparatus. Further, the garniture tongue can be structured and arranged to compress a rod of tobacco.

[0024] In accordance with a feature of the invention, at least a part of the rod guide surface can include the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.

[0025] According to still another feature of the present invention, the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content may be a steel alloy produced by powder metallurgy.

[0026] A titanium carbide content of the steel alloy may be over 20% by weight. Further, the titanium carbide content of the steel alloy can be between 31% by weight and 35% by weight, and, preferably, the titanium carbide content of the steel alloy is between 32% by weight and 34% by weight.

[0027] In accordance with still another feature of the instant invention, the binder phase of the steel alloy may be martensite or austenite.

[0028] According to still another feature, the steel alloy can be hardened.

[0029] The garniture tongue can further include a first tongue part and a second tongue part, which are coupled to each other. Further, the second tongue part can include the rod guide surface. The first tongue part may be composed of a steel alloy, and the first tongue part and the second tongue part can be soldered together. The second tongue part may be composed of the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content. Moreover, the first and second tongue parts can be composed of different steel alloys. Alternatively, the first and second tongue parts may be composed of same steel alloys.

[0030] According to the invention, the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content is structured so as not to effect taste of the material.

[0031] The present invention is directed to a garniture device of a rod machine of a tobacco processing industry with the above-described garniture tongue.

[0032] According to a feature of the invention, the garniture device can further include a garniture intake area, a rod conveyor structured and arranged to convey the material to the garniture intake, and a removal device structured and arranged to remove and transfer particles of the material from the rod conveyor to the garniture intake area. The removal device may include a rod guide surface in which at least a part of the rod guide surface of the removal device is composed of the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content. The steel alloy with high titanium carbide content of the rod guide surface of the removal device can correspond with that of the rod guide surface of the garniture tongue. The rod guide surface of the removal device is aligned with the rod guide surface of the garniture tongue.

[0033] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the removal device may be coupled to the garniture tongue.

[0034] Moreover, the removal device may include a removal edge. The removal edge can be composed of a hard ceramic material with embedded polycrystalline diamond. Further, the removal edge can be covered with an abrasion resistant layer, and the abrasion resistant layer can include a polycrystalline diamond layer sintered into an underlying metal.

[0035] The present invention is directed to a rod machine of a tobacco processing industry that includes the above-described garniture device.

[0036] The present invention is directed to a compression surface of a compression mold that includes a guide surface arranged to contact a material to be compressed, and the guide surface is at least in part composed of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.

[0037] The instant invention is directed to a compression mold that includes a compression surface having a guide surface structured and arranged to contact a material to be compressed, a compression channel into which the material is compressed by the guide surface, and a removal device structured and arranged to transfer particles into the compression channel. The compression surface is at least in part composed of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.

[0038] In accordance with still yet another feature of the present invention, the removal device can include a guide surface, and the guide surface of the compression surface and the guide surface of the removal device may each at least in part composed of the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content. The guide surface of the removal device may be aligned with the guide surface of the compression surface. Further, the compression channel may include a guide surface arranged opposite the guide surfaces of the removal device and the compression surface. Moreover, each of the guide surfaces can include a u-shaped channel arranged to compress the material into a cylindrical form. The removal device and the compression surface can be coupled to each other. A titanium carbide content of the steel alloy may be over 20% by weight, and preferably, between 31% by weight and 35% by weight, and most preferably, between 32% by weight and 34% by weight. The binder phase of the steel alloy is martensite or austenite. Still further, the steel alloy is hardened.

[0039] The present invention is directed to a process for compressing a material in a garniture device of a rod machine. The process includes guiding the material along a rod guide surface of a garniture tongue that, at least in part is composed of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content. The material becomes compressed as it is guided along the rod guide surface.

[0040] Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates a longitudinal section through a garniture intake of a cigarette rod machine;

[0043] FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a garniture tongue viewed in direction II depicted in FIG. 1; and

[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a removal device viewed approximately in the direction III depicted in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0045] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.

[0046] FIG. 1 illustrates the garniture (forming) intake of a cigarette rod machine 1. It shows a discharge end 2 of a suction rod conveyor 3 and a garniture device 4 with a garniture bed 6, a garniture tongue 7 and a garniture section 8. Suction rod conveyor 3 circulates in a direction of arrow 11 in a tobacco channel 9 and conveys a fiber rod of tobacco fibers (not shown) from a rod assembly zone (likewise not shown) to transfer to garniture device 4. The fiber rod is conveyed hanging on suction rod conveyor 3 in tobacco channel 9, whereby it is held on suction rod conveyor 3 by an induced suction acting throughout suction rod conveyor 3. Garniture bed 6 features a rod guide surface 12 (not shown in detail) that forms a rod channel, which is curved in cross section, having a curvature radius which continuously narrows from intake cone 13 to garniture section 8 in a rod travel direction and which discharges the desired formed rod shape, into a rod channel 14 of garniture section 8. A garniture belt 17, circulating in a direction of arrow 16, is guided in intake cone 13, along rod guide surface 12 and into rod channel 14. Garniture belt 17 also carries wrapper material strip 18 through garniture device 4. As the technology of such machines is sufficiently known, more detailed representation and description is not necessary here.

[0047] In the area of intake cone 13, suction rod conveyor 3 converges to rod guide surface 12 of garniture bed 6 and deposits the tobacco rod combined and evened in the usual manner in a rod assembly zone (not shown) onto wrapper material strip 18 moving through garniture device 4. As it passes through intake cone 13, the tobacco rod is strongly compressed due to the action of suction rod conveyor 3 and deformed according to a cross sectional change of intake cone 13 in conveyor direction 16 of garniture belt 17. In this manner, the tobacco rod can enter rod channel 14 partially enclosed by rod guide surface 12 of garniture bed 6. Garniture tongue 7 is arranged with a scraper 25 next to garniture bed 6 in the area of rod guide surface 12 to act as another rod guiding device. Moreover, scraper 25, together with rod guide surface 12 of garniture bed 6, forms a rod guidance unit further compressing and forming the fiber rod.

[0048] Scraper 25 is attached, e.g., by screws 22 or other suitable manners of attachment on a face side to garniture tongue 7 of garniture device 4. Scraper 25 can also be embodied in one piece with garniture tongue 7. Scraper 25 includes a base body 19, having an underside embodied as or forming rod guide surface 21. In its installed position, scraper 25 is located opposite rod guide surface 12 of garniture bed 6, so that both rod guide surfaces 12 and 21 enclose a rod guide channel 28. To this end, rod guide surface 21, when viewed in the direction III shown in FIG. 1, is curved in a concave manner, as depicted by the front view of scraper 25 in FIG. 3, and is aligned with rod guide surface 23 which is embodied or formed on an underside of garniture tongue 7. In interaction with the other parts of garniture intake 1, this embodiment of rod guide surfaces 12, 21 and 23 causes, in a known manner, the formation of an arriving tobacco rod into a cylindrical fiber rod with the simultaneous wrapping of this fiber rod with wrapper material strip 18.

[0049] The diagrammatic section of garniture tongue 7, viewed in the direction II in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2. According to the invention, garniture tongue 7 includes a steel alloy 30. In this regard, steel allow 30 can be connected to garniture tongue 7 by a soldered seam 31. Moreover, rod guide surface 23, which is curved, is shown formed within steel alloy 30. Thus, in accordance with the invention, garniture tongue 7 is formed by soldering steel alloy 30 to a conventional steel alloy 32. A suitable conventional steel alloy 32, which is customarily used, is marketed by Engineer Precision, New Jersey, USA, under the product number 9.0406. Another suitable material, which is formed by sintering from powder material into section 32 of garniture tongue 7, is marketed by Zapp GmbH & Co. KG, Ratingen, Germany, under the name CPM 10 V. Of course, other steels or sintered metals are also suitable for realizing steel alloy 32 of garniture tongue 7. Moreover, it is also contemplated that garniture tongue 7 can also be made completely of steel alloy 30.

[0050] A front view of scraper 25, when viewed in the direction III depicted in FIG. 1, is illustrated in FIG. 3. Intake end 24 of scraper 25 and an abrasion-resistant layer 27 are recognizable. Abrasion-resistant layer 27 can include a diamond layer, as described in detail in European Application No. EP 0 582 136 B1. Removal edge 26 of scraper 25 is arranged on intake end 24 of the scraper (see FIG. 1), is oriented crosswise to travel direction 11 of rod conveyor 3, and is positioned close to the surface of rod conveyor 3 or adjacent to it. At least one layer 27 of a fine-grained abrasion-resistant material is embedded in the surface of removal edge 26. Layer 27 includes, e.g., polycrystalline diamond and is sintered into an underlayer of hard metal. Removal edge 26 can also be made of a hard ceramic material in which polycrystalline diamond is embedded in its surface. Diamond layer 27 extends on removal edge 26 over an entire width of rod conveyor 3 and, thus, reliably removes all tobacco fibers from rod conveyor 3. In this way, the tobacco rod is transferred reliably and completely from rod conveyor 3 onto wrapper material strip 18. By embodying or forming removal edge 26 of hard metal and a coating with, e.g., polycrystalline diamond, wear-resistance of removal edge 26 is substantially increased, which considerably extends its service life.

[0051] Moreover, in accordance with the invention, rod guide surface 21 can also be provided with steel alloy 30, which has high titanium carbide content. In this manner, the surface life of scraper 25 can also be clearly increased. Further, by extending the replacement intervals, the cost-effectiveness of the machine's use is thus increased.

[0052] Preferable and acceptable examples of steel alloy 30 have been described above. Further above discussion relates to, in particular, a structure of titanium carbide and martensite or a structure of titanium carbide and austenite. Preferable compounds of the corresponding and preferable steel alloys according to the invention are sold by Thyssen Stahl AG, Krefeld, Germany, under the trade name “FERRO-TITANIT.” The titanium carbide content is preferably over 20% by weight and in particular between 31% by weight and 35% by weight.

[0053] The above-noted materials also provide an additional advantage in that they do not change the taste during the processing of tobacco. In particular, the corresponding components of the disclosed steel alloy are not reactive with tobacco or the flavor of tobacco.

[0054] According to the invention, garniture tongue 7 and/or scraper 25 can feature channels (not shown in the Figures) from which a sliding fluid and/or cleaning fluid can be emitted so that rod guide surfaces 23 and 21 are even more sliding or can be cleaned. Moreover, it is additionally possible to also have flavor emitted from the channels so that the flavor of the tobacco can be improved. Further, the sliding and/or cleaning fluid can preferably additionally also improve the taste of the tobacco.

[0055] The geometric design of garniture tongue 7 can also be different from that depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this regard, it is contemplated that garniture tongue 7 can have alternative shapes, including, but not limited to, the shape depicted in FIG. 6 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,165, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0056] It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0057] List of Reference Numbers

[0058] 1 Rod machine

[0059] 2 Discharge end

[0060] 3 Suction rod conveyor

[0061] 4 Garniture device

[0062] 6 Garniture bed

[0063] 7 Garniture tongue

[0064] 8 Garniture section

[0065] 9 Tobacco channel

[0066] 11 Arrow direction

[0067] 12 Rod guide surface

[0068] 13 Intake cone

[0069] 14 Rod channel

[0070] 16 Arrow direction

[0071] 17 Garniture belt

[0072] 18 Wrapper material strip

[0073] 19 Base body

[0074] 21 Rod guide surface

[0075] 22 Screw

[0076] 23 Rod guide surface

[0077] 24 Intake end

[0078] 25 Scraper

[0079] 26 Removal edge

[0080] 27 Abrasion-resistant layer

[0081] 28 Rod guide channel

[0082] 30 Steel alloy

[0083] 31 Soldered seam

Claims

1. A garniture tongue of a garniture device of a rod machine arranged for compressing a material, comprising:

a rod guide surface; and

said garniture tongue being at least in part composed of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.

2. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 1, wherein said garniture tongue is structured and arranged in a tobacco processing apparatus.

3. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 2, wherein said garniture tongue is structured and arranged to compress a rod of tobacco.

4. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least a part of said rod guide surface comprises the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.

5. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 1, wherein said steel alloy with high titanium carbide content is a steel alloy produced by powder metallurgy.

6. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 1, wherein a titanium carbide content of said steel alloy is over 20% by weight.

7. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 6, wherein said titanium carbide content of said steel alloy is between 31% by weight and 35% by weight.

8. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 6, wherein said titanium carbide content of said steel alloy is between 32% by weight and 34% by weight.

9. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 1, wherein the binder phase of said steel alloy is martensite or austenite.

10. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 1, wherein said steel alloy is hardened.

11. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a first tongue part and a second tongue part, which are coupled to each other.

12. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 11, wherein said second tongue part includes said rod guide surface.

13. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 11, wherein said first tongue part is composed of a steel alloy.

14. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 13, wherein said first tongue part and said second tongue part are soldered together.

15. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 14, wherein said second tongue part is composed of said steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.

16. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 15, wherein said first and second tongue parts are composed of different steel alloys.

17. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 15, wherein said first and second tongue parts are composed of same steel alloys.

18. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 1, wherein said steel alloy with high titanium carbide content is structured so as not to effect taste of the material.

19. A garniture device of a rod machine of a tobacco processing industry with a garniture tongue in accordance with claim 1.

20. The garniture device in accordance with claim 19, further comprising:

a garniture intake area;

a rod conveyor structured and arranged to convey the material to said garniture intake; and

a removal device structured and arranged to remove and transfer particles of the material from said rod conveyor to said garniture intake area.

21. The garniture device in accordance with claim 20, wherein said removal device comprises a rod guide surface in which at least a part of said rod guide surface of said removal device is composed of said steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.

22. The garniture device in accordance with claim 21, wherein said steel alloy with high titanium carbide content of said rod guide surface of said removal device corresponds with that of the rod guide surface of said garniture tongue.

23. The garniture device in accordance with claim 22, wherein said rod guide surface of said removal device is aligned with said rod guide surface of said garniture tongue.

24. The garniture device in accordance with claim 19, wherein said removal device is coupled to said garniture tongue.

25. The garniture device in accordance with claim 19, wherein said removal device comprises a removal edge.

26. The garniture device in accordance with claim 25, wherein said removal edge is composed of a hard ceramic material with embedded polycrystalline diamond.

27. The garniture device in accordance with claim 25, wherein said removal edge is covered with an abrasion resistant layer.

28. The garniture device in accordance with claim 27, wherein said abrasion resistant layer comprises a polycrystalline diamond layer sintered into an underlying metal.

29. A rod machine of a tobacco processing industry comprising a garniture device in accordance with claim 19.

30. A compression surface of a compression mold comprising:

a guide surface arranged to contact a material to be compressed; and

said guide surface being at least in part composed of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.

31. A compression mold comprising:

a compression surface comprising a guide surface structured and arranged to contact a material to be compressed;

a compression channel into which the material is compressed by said guide surface; and

a removal device structured and arranged to transfer particles into said compression channel,

wherein said compression surface is at least in part composed of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.

32. The compression mold in accordance with claim 31, wherein said removal device comprises a guide surface, and said guide surface of said compression surface and said guide surface of said removal device are each at least in part composed of the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.

33. The compression mold in accordance with claim 32, wherein said guide surface of said removal device is aligned with said guide surface of said compression surface.

34. The compression mold in accordance with claim 32, wherein said compression channel comprises a guide surface arranged opposite said guide surfaces of said removal device and said compression surface.

35. The compression mold in accordance with claim 34, wherein each of said guide surfaces include a unshaped channel arranged to compress the material into a cylindrical form.

36. The compression mold in accordance with claim 32, wherein said removal device and said compression surface are coupled to each other.

37. The compression mold in accordance with claim 32, wherein a titanium carbide content of said steel alloy is over 20% by weight.

38. The compression mold in accordance with claim 37, wherein said titanium carbide content of said steel alloy is between 31% by weight and 35% by weight.

39. The compression mold in accordance with claim 37, wherein said titanium carbide content of said steel alloy is between 32% by weight and 34% by weight.

40. The compression mold in accordance with claim 32, wherein the binder phase of said steel alloy is martensite or austenite.

41. The compression mold in accordance with claim 32, wherein said steel alloy is hardened.

42. A process for compressing a material in a garniture device of a rod machine, said process comprising:

guiding the material along a rod guide surface of a garniture tongue that, at least in part is composed of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content,

wherein the material becomes compressed as it is guided along the rod guide surface.