A device for manufacturing multi-segment rod-like

Abstract

A device for manufacturing multi-segment rod-like articles (R), the device comprising: a feeding unit (5) for feeding a train of segments (S1, S2, S3), the feeding unit (5) comprising a feeding wheel (8), a transporter (9) for transporting a wrapper (10) having a form of a tape and the segments (S1, S2, S3) on the belt (13) along a guide (14) provided with an inlet part (14-I), a forming unit (11) for forming a continuous rod (CR) from the segments (S1, S2, S3), a cutting head (12) for cutting the continuous rod (CR) into individual multi-segment rod-like articles (R), wherein the feeding wheel (8) is located above the inlet part (14-I) of the guide (14). At least one rotary pressing element (21, 23, 27, 32) having a peripheral pressing surface (22, 24, 30, 31, 35, 36) is positioned above the inlet part (14-I) of the guide (14) and before the forming unit (11), downstream the feeding wheel (8) in a direction of movement of the belt (13), the rotary pressing element (21, 23, 27, 32) being configured to adjust axial alignment of segments (S1, S2, S3).

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A device for manufacturing multi-segment rod-like articles, the device comprising:
 a feeding unit for feeding a train of segments, the feeding unit, comprising
 a transporter for transporting a wrapper having a form of a tape and the segments on a belt along a guide provided with an inlet part; 
 a forming unit for forming a continuous rod from the segments; 
 a cutting head for cutting the continuous rod into individual multi-segment rod-like articles; 
 a feeding wheel located above the inlet part of the guide; and 
 at least one rotary pressing element having a peripheral pressing surface positioned above the inlet part of the guide and downstream the feeding wheel and upstream of the forming unit in a direction of movement of the belt, the rotary pressing element being configured to adjust axial alignment of segments. 
   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the rotary pressing element has a form of a roller with a cylindrical pressing surface. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the rotary pressing element has a form of a roller with a concave pressing surface. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the rotary pressing element has a form of two rollers, wherein each roller has a concave pressing surface. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the rotary pressing element has a form of two rollers, wherein each roller has a conical pressing surface. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one second rotary pressing element with a concave pressing surface. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one second rotary pressing element with two coaxial rollers, each coaxial roller independently selected from a group consisting of a roller having a concave pressing surface and a roller having a conical pressing surface. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the first rotary pressing element has a diameter smaller than the second rotary pressing element. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , further comprising two first rotary pressing elements and three second rotary pressing elements. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising two first rotary pressing elements and three second rotary pressing elements and a longitudinal stationary pressing element located in parallel to the direction of movement of the belt of the belt transporter between the rollers of the second rotary pressing element. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the feeding wheel of the feeding unit is located above an inlet section of the transporter. 
     
     
         24 . The device according of  claim 13 , wherein the rotary pressing element is located above the inlet section of the transporter. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one second rotary pressing element with a concave pressing surface. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , further comprising at least one second rotary pressing element with two coaxial rollers wherein each roller has a concave pressing surface or two coaxial rollers wherein each roller has a conical pressing surface. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the first rotary pressing element has a diameter smaller than the second rotary pressing element. 
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 27 , further comprising two first rotary pressing elements and three second rotary pressing elements. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the feeding wheel of the feeding unit is located above an inlet section of the transporter. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising two first rotary pressing elements and three second rotary pressing elements and a longitudinal stationary pressing element located in parallel to the direction of movement of the belt of the belt transporter between the rollers of the second rotary pressing element. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the rotary pressing element has a form of a roller with a concave pressing surface. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one second rotary pressing element with two coaxial rollers, each coaxial roller independently selected from a group consisting of a roller having a concave pressing surface, and a roller having a conical pressing surface.