Apparatus for making and treating rod-shaped articles

Abstract

The apparatus of the present invention is utilized to treat a wrapped rod-like filler, particularly that consisting of a tow of filamentary filter material which is impregnated with droplets of triacetin of another softening agent that sets more rapidly and/or more reliably in response to heating. The wrapped filler is severed to yield a series of discrete sections, such as filter mouthpieces for use in filter cigarettes. In accordance with the invention, the wrapped filler is or successive sections of the wrapped filler are heated upstream or downstream of the severing station, preferably in a casing containing an elongated guide for the running wrapped filler or for successive discrete sections of the wrapped filler.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for treating elongated rods wherein a tubular envelope surrounds a rod-like filler, comprising: 
 means for advancing the filler lengthwise in a predetermined direction along a predetermined path;    means for draping the filler into a flexible web in a first portion of said path to convert the thus draped web into said tubular envelope of the thus obtained rod; and    means for heating the filler in a second portion of said path downstream of said first portion, as seen in said predetermined direction.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filler contains a material of the tobacco processing industry.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for subdividing the rod into a series of rod-shaped sections in a third portion of said path downstream of said first portion, one of said second and third portions being located upstream of the other of said second and third portions, as seen in said direction.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said advancing means includes means for moving successive rod-shaped sections sideways transversely of said predetermined direction.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said moving means is disposed downstream of said second portion of said path, as seen in said predetermined direction.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a housing for said moving means, said housing including means for thermally insulating the interior of said housing from the surrounding atmosphere.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said insulating means includes at least one of (a) an insulating material and (b) an air conditioner.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said heating means includes guide means for confining the rod to lengthwise movement in said second portion of said path.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said guide means is stationary and said advancing means includes means for moving the rod relative to said guide means.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said guide means includes a track for the rod.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said track includes upper and lower sections disposed at least close to the rod advancing along said second portion of said path.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said lower section provides a substantially concave surface for the rod advancing along said second portion of said path.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said lower section of the track includes a plurality of spaced-apart rod-contacting components.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said components is in at least substantial point contact with the rod in said second portion of said path.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said components is in at least substantial linear contact with the rod in said second portion of said path.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said upper section of said track is in at least substantial point contact with the rod in said second portion of said path.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said upper section of said track is in substantially linear contact with the rod in said second portion of said path.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said guide means is elongated as seen in said predetermined direction.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of elongated guide members.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said guide members include elongated bars extending in said predetermined direction.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said guide means includes a track having upper and lower sections disposed at least close to the rod advancing along said second portion of said path, said upper section including at least one elongated bar extending in said predetermined direction.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said guide means includes at least one rod-contacting bar having an at least substantially circular cross-sectional outline.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said at least one bar extends in said predetermined direction.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 8  for treating an elongated rod having a predetermined diameter, wherein said guide means includes an elongated track having a lower section and an upper section, said lower section including at least two elongated rod-supporting bars spaced apart from each other a distance less than said diameter.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of said guide means consists of a heat-resistant material.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said material is a ceramic material.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of said guide means consists of a low-friction material.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said heating means further comprises a casing confining said guide means, said casing having a portion movable between an open position in which said guide means is exposed and a closed position.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said portion of said casing is a cover.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said portion of said casing is pivotable between said positions thereof.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said portion of said casing is pivotable about an axis which is at least substantially parallel to said second portion of said path.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said guide means includes a section which is accessible in the open position of said portion of said casing.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said heating means has an operative condition and an inoperative condition, and further comprising a safety device arranged to change the condition of said heating means from operative to inoperative in response to movement of said portion of said casing to said open position thereof.