Method and machine for producing a nonwoven for the filter rod production

Abstract

A method for producing a nonwoven for the manufacture of filter rods in the tobacco industry includes separating fibers of at least one type of filter material in at least one separating device having at least one separating element rotating about a rotational axis. The separated fibers are fed to a conveyor moving in a conveying direction such that the separated fibers form the nonwoven.

What is is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for producing a nonwoven for the manufacture of filter rods in the tobacco industry, comprising: 
 separating fibers of at least one type of filter material in at least one separating device having at least one separating element rotating about a rotational axis; and    feeding the separated fibers to a conveyor moving in a conveying direction such that the separated fibers form the nonwoven.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rotational axis of the separating device of the separating step is oriented essentially parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the separating step includes separating fibers of at least two types of filter material in two of the separating devices, respectively.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising combining the two types of separated fibers prior to the feeding step.  
     
     
         5 . A method for producing a nonwoven for the production of filter rods in the tobacco industry, comprising: 
 separating fibers of at least two types of filter materials in separate separating devices;    combining the separated fibers; and    feeding the separated fibers to a conveyor moving in a conveying direction such that the separated fibers form the nonwoven.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the separating devices of the separating step comprise respectively one separating element that rotates around a rotational axis oriented essentially parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the feeding step includes feeding the separated fibers from above the conveyor.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least two types of filter material is a multi-component fiber.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least two types of filter material is a bi-component fiber.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding at least one of granulate and powder to the separated fibers before the feeding step.  
     
     
         11 . An arrangement for producing a nonwoven for the production of filter rods in the tobacco industry, comprising: 
 at least one separating device for separating fibers of at least one type of filter material, wherein the at least one separating device includes a rotating separating element; and    a conveyor for receiving the separated fibers from the at least one separating device.    
     
     
         12 . The arrangement according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one separating device comprises two separating devices arranged above the conveyor.  
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the separating element has a rotational axis essentially oriented parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor.  
     
     
         14 . The arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one separating device comprises at least two separating devices, the at least two separating devices being separate from one another.  
     
     
         15 . The arrangement according to  claim 14 , further comprising conveying chutes respectively arranged downstream of each separating device.  
     
     
         16 . The arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the conveying chutes converge with one another to form a chamber upstream of the conveyor.  
     
     
         17 . An arrangement for producing a nonwoven for the manufacture of filter rods in the tobacco industry, comprising: 
 at least two separating devices for respectively separating fibers of at least one type of filter material; and    a conveying chute provided for each separating device, wherein each of the separating devices have different designs.    
     
     
         18 . The arrangement of  claim 17 , further comprising a conveyor downstream of the separating devices such that the fibers are provided to the conveyor to form a nonwoven, wherein the separating devices each comprise at least one separating element having a rotational axis oriented essentially parallel to a conveying direction of the conveyor.  
     
     
         19 . The arrangement of  claim 18 , wherein the conveying chutes converge in a downstream direction to form a chamber.  
     
     
         20 . The arrangement according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least two separating devices are arranged above the conveyor.