Apparatus for manufacturing rod-shaped tobacco products with a filter, in particular filter cigarettes

Abstract

Apparatus for making rod-shaped tobacco products with a filter that includes a tobacco stick delivery device, a filter delivery device, a covering paper delivery device, a cigarette making device, a cigarette testing device, and a cigarette dispensing device. All the devices, in which each device includes at least one drum, are arranged to form a drum course. A drive element is structured and arranged to drive at least some of the drums of the drum course in positional synchronization with the transport of the rod-shaped tobacco products, and a drum unit is composed of at least one drum, which is not one of the at least some drums, and a bearing and control flange. At least one separate additional drive element is structured and arranged to drive the at least one drum, and a drive unit is composed of the separate drive element and the drum unit. 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.

1 . An apparatus for making rod-shaped tobacco products with a filter, comprising: 
 a tobacco stick delivery device;    a filter delivery device;    a covering paper delivery device;    a cigarette making device;    a cigarette testing device;    a cigarette dispensing device, wherein all said devices, in which each device includes at least one drum, are arranged to form a drum course;    a drive element structured and arranged to drive at least some of the drums of said drum course in positional synchronization with the transport of the rod-shaped tobacco products;    a drum unit composed of at least one drum, which is not one of said at least some drums, and a bearing and control flange;    at least one separate additional drive element structured and arranged to drive said at least one drum; and    a drive unit composed of said separate drive element and said drum unit.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rod-shaped tobacco products comprise a rod-shaped tobacco product with a filter.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the rod-shaped tobacco product with a filter comprises filter cigarette.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said separate additional drive comprises a plurality of additional drives, and each drum of said drum course, with a bearing and control flange, forms a drum unit, and 
 wherein each additional drive is associated with a respective drum unit of said drum course to form independent drive units.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said separate additional drive element and said drum unit have a common through-shaft.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said common through-shaft forms a common drive and a drum shaft and includes a receptacle for said drum.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said common through-shaft is double-mounted within the bearing and control flange.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said drive element is arranged on said common through-shaft in a region of a free end of said shaft.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said common through-shaft is cantilever-mounted on a side facing towards said drive element.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said common through-shaft is cantilever-mounted at an end of said drive element.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said separate drive element comprises is a servo motor.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said servo motor comprises a rotor, a stator, and a shaft encoder.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said drive element is shielded by a housing.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said housing is smaller in its external dimensions than an opening within a partition wall of said apparatus.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said housing has a substantially rectangular profile.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a common control system coupled to all of said drive elements.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein said control system comprises an integrated single-turn absolute value device.  
   
   
       18 . A drive unit for a rod shaped product producing apparatus, comprising: 
 a drum unit composed of a bearing and control flange; and    at least one drive element coupled to said drum unit.    
   
   
       19 . The drive unit in accordance with  claim 18 , further comprising a shaft extending through said bearing and control flange and into said at least one drive element.  
   
   
       20 . The drive unit in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said at least one drive element comprises a stator, a rotor, and a shaft encoder.  
   
   
       21 . The drive unit in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said drum unit further comprises a drum mounted on said bearing and control flange.  
   
   
       22 . A rod-shaped tobacco product production apparatus comprising the drive unit in accordance with  claim 18 .  
   
   
       23 . The rod-shaped tobacco product production apparatus in accordance with  claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of drums, wherein said plurality of drums are arranged to form a drum course, and one of said plurality of drums is coupled to said bearing and control shaft as part of said drum unit.  
   
   
       24 . The rod-shaped tobacco product production apparatus in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein each drum forms part of a separate drum unit coupled to a respective drive unit.