APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING MULTI-SEGMENT ARTICLES

Abstract

 An apparatus (1) for manufacturing multi-segment articles comprising feeding modules (20), the feeding modules (20) being adapted to cut rods (MA, MB, MC, MD) into segments (A, B, C, D) and to feed the segments (A, B, C, D) to an assembling unit (30). The feeding unit comprises a hopper (21) for storing the rods (MA, MB, MC, MD), a receiving drum (22) for receiving the rods (MA, MB, MC, MD) from the hopper (21), a cutting head (24), situated at the conveying drum (23), for cutting the rods (MA, MB, MC, MD) into individual segments (A, B, C, D), a shifting drum (25) for varying the mutual position of the segments (A, B, C, D), an aligning drum (26) for forming at least one stream of the segments (A, B, C, D). Furthermore, the apparatus comprises an assembling unit (30) provided with assembling drums (31) and conveying drums (32) for receiving the segments (A, B, C, D) from the feeding modules (20) and forming a group (G1) of the segments, and a first wrapping module (40) for feeding a section of a first wrapping material (W1) and wrapping a the segment group (G1) fed from the assembling unit (30) so as to form a multi-segment rod (R). The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the first wrapping module (40) comprises a conveying and pushing together drum (44) which is adapted to receive the group (G1) of the segments (A, B, C, D) with gaps, the first wrapping module (40) being provided with a pushing together mechanism (45, 46, 47, 48) for pushing the group (G1) of the segments (A, B, C, D) together so that the segments (A, B, C, D) in the segment group (G1) after pushing together are in contact with one another, furthermore, the conveying and pushing together drum (44) is adapted to convey the group (G2) of the segments (A, B, C, D) pushed together, along with a section of the first wrapping material (W1).

Description

[0001] The object of this application is an apparatus and a method for manufacturing multi-segment articles.

[0002] Nowadays, the tobacco industry manufactures rod-like articles comprising a variety of elements, namely tobacco elements containing tobacco or material containing processed tobacco, filter elements, elements containing flavouring substances, distance elements used for example to cool tobacco smoke. In this application, such various elements will be referred to as segments, and articles containing such segments as multi-segment articles or multi-segment rods. An apparatus for putting together groups of filter segments disclosed in the document GB2267021A is known in the state of the art. A group of segments manufactured on such an apparatus is formed in such a way that successive delivered segments are axially pushed to previously delivered segments. As a result, there is formed a group wherein all segments in the group are pushed to one another so that they are in contact with one another, i.e. a group without gaps between segments is formed.

[0003] The segments currently used in multi-segment articles are made of various materials, characterised by different elastic properties. This results in variations in the length of individual segments which expand according to different characteristics when pushed together. This makes it difficult to maintain the total dimension of a segment group consisting of segments that have been pushed together if they are transported too long before wrapping with a wrapping material. An uncontrolled variation in the total length of a group of segments that have been pushed together may result, after wrapping with the wrapping material, for example in the outermost segments protruding beyond the edge of the wrapping material in a multi-segment article. This happens when the total length of segments that have been pushed together is greater than the width of the wrapping material before wrapping. In the tobacco industry, there is a need for an apparatus that eliminates undesirable variations in the total length of a group of segments before they are wrapped with a wrapping material. In particular, difficulties in maintaining the length of a group of segments that have been pushed together arise when conveying such group of segments over the drums of individual subassemblies.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus wherein the prepared, pushed together groups of segments are conveyed on as few drums as possible to reduce the risk of uncontrolled shifts between the segments. In addition, there is a need for the prepared group of segments to be wrapped immediately after pushing together so that the correctly formed group of segments that have been pushed together does not lose its parameters, such as, for example, the total length of the group.

[0005] The object of the invention is an apparatus for manufacturing multi-segment articles comprising feeding modules, the feeding modules being adapted to cut rods into segments and to feed the segments to an assembling unit. The feeding module comprises a hopper for storing the rods, a receiving drum for receiving the rods from the hopper, a cutting head, situated at the conveying drum, for cutting the rods into individual segments, a shifting drum for varying the mutual position of the segments, an aligning drum for forming at least one stream of the segments. The apparatus further comprises an assembling unit provided with assembling drums and conveying drums for receiving the segments from the feeding modules and forming a segment group. The apparatus further comprises a first wrapping module for feeding a section of a first wrapping material and wrapping the segment group supplied from the assembling unit so as to form a multi-segment rod. The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the first wrapping module comprises a conveying and pushing together drum which is adapted to receive a group of the segments with gaps, the first wrapping module being provided with a pushing together mechanism for pushing the group of the segments together so that the segments in the segment group after pushing together are in contact with one another, furthermore, the conveying and pushing together drum is adapted to convey the group of the segments that have been pushed together along with the section of the first wrapping material.

[0006] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the pushing together mechanism is a cam mechanism situated on the conveying and pushing together drum, the cam mechanism being provided with supporting elements for holding and conveying the segments in a direction parallel to the axis of the segments.

[0007] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the supporting elements are provided with rollers moving in grooves being drum cams, the grooves being formed in a cylinder situated on the conveying and pushing together drum.

[0008] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the supporting elements are provided with rollers moving in grooves being drum cams, the grooves being formed on the circumferential surface of the conveying and pushing together drum.

[0009] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that that the pushing together mechanism comprises rotational pressure rings adapted to press the outermost segments in the segment group not pushed together.

[0010] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the pushing together mechanism comprises stationary arched elements adapted to press the outermost segments in the segment group not been pushed together.

[0011] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the pushing together mechanism comprises stationary pressure rollers adapted to press the outermost segments in the segment not pushed together.

[0012] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that gaps are maintained between the segments in the segment group not pushed together, assembled in the assembling unit.

[0013] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised by further comprising a cutting unit for cutting the formed rod into half multi-segment rods.

[0014] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised by further comprising an additional feeding module for cutting an additional rod and feeding additional segments between the half multi-segment rods. The additional feeding module comprises a hopper for storing the rods, a receiving drum for receiving the rods from the hopper, a cutting head, situated at the conveying drum, for cutting the rod into individual segments, a shifting drum for varying the mutual position of the segments, an aligning drum for forming at least one stream of the segments.

[0015] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised by further comprising a second wrapping module for feeding a section of a second wrapping material and wrapping two half multi-segment rods and an additional segment.

[0016] The object of the invention is also a method for manufacturing multi-segment articles comprising steps wherein, in the feeding modules, the rods are fed from a hopper for storing the rods by means of a receiving drum for receiving the rods from the hopper. Subsequently, the rods are cut into segments by means of a cutting head, situated at the conveying drum, for cutting the rods into individual segments, then the segments are fed to the assembling unit via the shifting drum for varying the mutual position of the segments, and the aligning drum for forming at least one stream of the segments. Then, in the assembling unit provided with the assembling drums and the conveying drums for receiving the segments from the feeding modules, the segment groups are formed, subsequently a section of the first wrapping material is fed in the wrapping module and the segment group supplied from the assembling unit is wrapped whereby the multi-segment rod is formed. The method according to the invention is characterised in that, in the first wrapping module, the groups of the segments with gaps are received by means of the conveying and pushing together drum, and then, by means of the pushing together mechanism, the groups of the segments are pushed together so that the segments in the group are in contact with one another after pushing together. Then, the groups of the segments pushed together are conveyed along with a section of the first wrapping material by means of the conveying and pushing together drum, then the groups of the segments pushed together are wrapped with the section of the first wrapping material.

[0017] The method according to the invention is further characterised in that the rods formed by wrapping the group of segments are cut into half multi-segment rods, and then additional rods are fed in the additional feeding module, the additional rods are cut and additional segments obtained by cutting the rods are fed between the half multi-segment rods.

[0018] The method according to the invention is further characterised in that sections of the second wrapping material are fed in a second wrapping module and two half multi-segment rods and the additional segments are wrapped.

[0019] An advantage of the apparatus according to the invention is maintaining the total length of the group of segments that have been pushed together just before the wrapping stage, which has a favourable effect on maintaining the quality parameters of the finished product. The resulting wrapped rod-like articles do not lose their parameters such as, for example, the total length of the group.

[0020] The object of the invention is described in more detail on the basis of the embodiments shown in the drawing wherein:

Fig. 1

shows an apparatus for manufacturing multi-segment articles,

Fig. 1a

shows an embodiment of forming of a stream of segments in a feeding module,

Fig. 1b

shows an embodiment of forming of two streams of segments in the feeding module,

Fig. 1c

shows an assembling unit along with streams of segments from the feeding modules,

Fig. 1d

shows the stream of segments in the assembling unit,

Fig. 2a

shows, in simplified terms, the process steps for manufacturing multi-segment articles in the first embodiment,

Fig. 2b

shows, in simplified terms, the process steps for manufacturing multi-segment articles in the second embodiment,

Figs. 3, 4

pushing together mechanism of the wrapping module in the first embodiment,

Fig. 5

pushing together mechanism of the wrapping module in the second embodiment,

Fig. 6

pushing together mechanism of the wrapping module in the third embodiment,

Fig. 7

pushing together mechanism of the wrapping module in the fourth embodiment.

[0021] The apparatus 1 for manufacturing multi-segment articles comprises an assembling apparatus 10, a first wrapping module 40, a cutting unit 50, a reorienting unit 60, an additional feeding unit 70 and a second wrapping module 80 (Fig. 1).

[0022] The assembling apparatus 10 comprises at least two feeding modules 20 and an assembling unit 30, in the embodiment shown, the assembling apparatus 10 comprises four feeding modules 20, 20', 20", 20‴. The feeding module 20, 20', 20", 20‴ is adapted to cut a rod of at least one type and to feed segments of at least one type. Feeding modules which are adapted to cut rods of two types and to feed segments of two types are known.

[0023] The feeding module 20 comprises a hopper 21 for rods MA, a receiving drum 22 provided with circumferentially arranged flutes in which the rods MA from the hopper 21 are situated, and drums for forming a stream of segments A formed by cutting the rods MA. The receiving drum 22 receives the rods MA from the hopper 21 and transfers the rods to a conveying drum 23. At the conveying drum 23, there is situated a cutting head 24 which is provided with one or more circular knives for cutting the rods MA. The feeding module 20 comprises at least one shifting drum 25 and at least one aligning drum 26. The shifting drum 25 may also be referred to as a cascading drum, where successive segments are arranged in successive flutes of this drum. On the aligning drum 26, the segments A are arranged to move along a single path of movement, in the view of the lateral surface of the drum along a single line. The feeding module 20 supplies the segments A in the form of at least one stream. In the embodiment shown, in the feeding modules 20, 20', 20", 20''', the rod MA, MB, MC, MD is cut into segments A, B, C, D respectively, whereas the segments are fed in the form of streams to the assembling unit 30. An example of the stream of segments B formed as a result of cutting of the rod MB is shown in Fig. 1a, whereas the drums are not shown, and only the rods MB and the segments B situated successively on the receiving drum 22, on the conveying drum 23, on the shifting drum 25 and on the aligning drum 26 are represented. Fig. 1b shows the forming of two streams of the segments D resulting from the cutting of the rods MD.

[0024] The assembling unit 30 comprises assembling drums 31 and conveying drums 32 which are provided with flutes in which the segments are received and conveyed. The assembling drum 31, 31', 31", 31‴ is adapted to receive and convey a stream of segments A, B, C, D, respectively. The first assembling drum 31 is adapted to receive only the segments A, while the assembling drum 31' is adapted to receive the stream of segments A from the feeding module 20 via the conveying drum 32 and to receive the stream of segments B from the feeding module 20', the streams of the segments A and B being assembled on the assembling drum 31'. Similarly, on the assembling drum 31' the streams of segments A, B are received together, and the stream of segments C is received from the feeding module 20". On the assembling drum 31", the streams of segments A, B, C are received together, and from the feeding module 20" the stream of segments D is received. The above described feeding of the assembling unit 30 with the segments A, B, C, D is shown in simplified terms in Fig. 1c, while Fig. 1d shows the process of assembling of these segments in the direction T showing how the segments are added on successive assembling drums 31 to form a segment group G1. The figure shows the paths of movement TA, TB, TC, TD of the segments A, B, C, D respectively, with the paths of movement TA, TB, TC, TD running parallel to one another. In the assembling unit 30, the streams of segments A, B, C, D are arranged and conveyed such that adjacent segments in the flutes maintain a gap H, whereas the gap H may have a similar value between the individual segments. It is possible to embody a process wherein the gap H has a different value for different adjacent segments. The assembling unit 30 is adapted to feeding to the first wrapping module 40 for wrapping the group G1 comprising the segments A, B, C, D between which the gaps H are maintained. By adapting the assembling unit 30 to form a group of segments with the gaps H, the segments A, B, C, D may be fed in any order, the examples of forming processes being described below in this description. It is possible to embody a process wherein on the assembling drums 31 or the conveying drums 32 the segments A, B, C, D are moved axially in the flutes so that at least some adjacent segments are in contact with one another. Such embodiment is possible by adding pushing together mechanisms on the assembling drums 31 and/or the conveying drums 32.

[0025] The first wrapping module 40 comprises a feeding unit 41 for feeding the first wrapping material MW1, a cutting unit 42 for cutting a strand of the first wrapping material MW1 into sections of the first wrapping material W1 and a rolling unit 43 for wrapping the group of segments. The first wrapping module 40 comprises a conveying and pushing together drum 44 which is adapted to receive the group G1 of segments with gaps, whereas the first wrapping module 40 is provided with a mechanism for pushing the group G1 of segments together so that the segments in the group are in contact when pushed together. Fig. 3 representing an enlarged fragment of the first wrapping module 40 shows the pushing together mechanism 45 comprising stationary arched pushing elements 45A, 45B which press on two sides against the outermost segments of the segment group G1 as shown in Fig. 4. The pushing elements 45A, 45B push the segments A, B, C, D together from the moment when the segment group G1 is placed in the flute 44A of the drum 44 (step d, the steps of the manufacturing process are described below in the description) until the segment group G2 is formed (stage e) when all segments have been pushed together and the gaps have been eliminated. The pushing elements 45A, 45B are shown in a developed view in Fig. 4, this is a view like that of the lateral surface of the drum 44. Just after pushing the segments together, a section of the first wrapping material W1 is fed (stage f). In another embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the pushing together mechanism 46 comprises pushing elements in the form of rotational pressure rings 46A, 46B rotating together with the drum conveyor 44, whereas they may also be in the form of movable elements moving in a reciprocating motion parallel to the axis of the segments. The rolling module 43 is provided with a rolling drum 43A which is adapted to convey the group G2 of segments A, B, C, D that have been pushed together, along with a section of the first wrapping material W1. The rolling module 43 is also provided with a rolling unit 43B which is adapted to wrap a section of the first wrapping material W1 around the group G2 on the rolling drum 43A. The rod thus formed is designated as R (stage g).

[0026] In the third embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the pushing together mechanism 47 comprises two sets of pushing rollers 47A which press against the outermost segments in the group G1. In the fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the pushing together mechanism 48 in the cross-section A-A marked in Fig. 1 comprises supporting elements 48A provided with rollers 48B moving in grooves 49 being drum cams for the rollers 48B, the grooves 49 being formed in a cylinder 49A situated on the conveying and pushing together drum 44, the grooves 49 may be formed on the circumferential surface of the conveying and pushing together drum 44. In this embodiment, the supporting element 48A has a cylindrical cavity 48C which may contain a segment, whereas the supporting element 48A for a single segment moves independently of the other supporting elements for the other segments. The segments A, B, C, D with the gaps H are conveyed so that they move from the stage d to the stage e where they come into contact with one another, whereas successive cross-sections in Fig. 7 show the pushing together mechanism 48 as the conveying and pushing together drum 44 rotates and moves to the stage e.

[0027] The cutting unit 50 situated downstream of the first wrapping module 40 in the direction T of the process flow in the manufacture of multi-segment articles is provided with a circular knife 51 for cutting the multi-segment rod R into two halves, i.e. into two half multi-segment rods designated as R1 and R2 (stage h in Figs. 2a and 2b). The cutting is effected so that the segment B of the multi-segment rod R is cut into two halves.

[0028] The reorienting module 60 is adapted to vary the orientation of the half multi-segment rods R1 and R2 to each other, i.e. to vary the mutual position of the rods R1 and R2 when they are conveyed. The reorienting module 60 may be provided with reorienting drums known in the tobacco industry which, in addition to circumferential conveying, reorient the conveyed rod-like articles axially and/or transversely to the axis of such articles. The reorienting module 60 may be provided with rotating drums known in the tobacco industry which, in addition to circumferential conveying, rotate the conveyed rod-like articles around axes substantially perpendicular to the circumferential surface. The reorienting module 60 is adapted to vary the initial coaxial positioning of the rods R1 and R2 to such in which the axes of the rods R1 and R2 are coaxially and inversely oriented to each other, with a gap between the rods R1 and R2 being maintained. As a result of the operation of the reorienting module 60, the rods R1 and R2 are reoriented so that the segments D being the ends of the rods R1 and R2, initially oriented away from each other, are oriented towards each other, while the half segments B, located opposite to the segments D in the rods R1 and R2, initially oriented towards each other, are oriented away from each other.

[0029] The additional feeding module 70 comprises a hopper 71, a receiving drum 72 provided with circumferentially arranged flutes in which the rods ME from the hopper 71 are placed. The rods ME are transferred to the conveying drum 73. At the conveying drum 73, there is situated a cutting head 74 which is provided with one or more circular knives for cutting the rods. The additional feeding module 70 comprises at least one shifting drum 75 and at least one aligning drum 76. The additional feeding module 70 is adapted to feed a stream of additional segments E. After feeding the additional segment E, a group S1 comprising a half multi-segment rod R1, a segment E and a half multi-segment rod R2 with gaps.

[0030] The second wrapping module 80 comprises a feeding unit 81 for feeding the second wrapping material MW2, a cutting unit 82 for cutting the second wrapping material MW2 into sections of the second wrapping material W2, and a rolling unit 83. The second wrapping module 80 comprises a conveying and pushing together drum 84 which is adapted to receive a group S1 which comprises a half multi-segment rod R1, a segment E and a second half multi-segment rod R2, with gaps between the rods R1, R2 and the segment E being maintained, whereas the conveying and pushing together drum 84 is provided with a mechanism for pushing the elements of the group S1 together so that the rods R1, R2 and the additional segment E are in contact after pushing together. The group of elements R1, E, R2 without gaps is designated as S2. The conveying and pushing together drum 84 is adapted to convey the group S2 of elements R1, E, R2 that have been pushed together, along with a section of the second wrapping material W2. The rolling unit 83 is adapted to wrap a section of the second wrapping material W2 around the group S2 on the rolling drum 83A. The rod thus formed is designated as P. In other embodiments, the segments may be pushed together gradually with intermediate steps wherein, for example, an additional quality control process takes place. In other not shown embodiments, only selected segments are pushed together, and the group of segments that have been pushed together maintains at least one gap between the segments.

[0031] In the process of manufacturing the multi-segment rod shown in simplified terms in Fig. 2a, the feeding module 20 cuts the rods MA into the segments A and feeds two segments A to the assembling unit 30 (stage a), the feeding module 20' cuts the rods MB and feeds the segment B (stage b), the feeding module 20" cuts the rods MC and feeds two segments C (stage c), the feeding module 20‴ cuts the rods MD and feeds two segments D (stage d). The segments A, B, C, D are conveyed in the assembling unit 30 with gaps. The assembling unit 30 delivers a group G1 comprising the segments A, B, C, D with gaps to the first wrapping module 40. Within the wrapping module 40, the segments A, B, C, D are pushed together, then the segments A, B, C D form a group G2 in which there are no gaps between the segments (stage e). In the wrapping module 40, sections of the first wrapping material MW1 are cut from the strand of the first wrapping material W1 and are wrapped around the group G2 (stage f), after wrapping on the rolling drum 43A by means of the rolling unit 43B the R is formed (stage g). The rod R is cut by the cutting unit 50 into two half multi-segment rods R1 and R2 (stage h), with the rods R1 and R2 being adjacent to each other with the half segments B and being coaxially positioned. The rods R1 and R2 are reoriented in the reorienting unit 60 (stages i, j, k, l, m, n) so that, after reorienting, they are again positioned coaxially, with a gap, with opposite ends than initially, namely the half segments B are oriented away from each other, while the segments D are oriented towards each other. In the process of reorienting the rods R1 and R2 shown in Fig. 2a, the reorientation is carried out by rotating the rods R1 and R2 shown in the stage k, the stages j and I represent the movement of the rods before and after rotation, whereas these stages may be omitted. The additional feeding module 70 cuts the rods ME into the segments E and feeds the segments E between the rods R1 and R2, after pushing the segment E together, there is formed a group S1 comprising the rod R1, the segment E and the rod R2 (stage o), with gaps between the rods R1, the rods R2 and the segment E being maintained. After pushing the rods R1, R2 and the segment E together, there is formed a group S2 with no gaps between the rods R1, R2 and the segment E (stage p). In the second wrapping module 80, sections of the second wrapping material W2 are cut from the strand of the second wrapping material MW2 and are wrapped around the group S2 (stage r), after wrapping on the rolling drum 83A by means of the rolling unit 83, a rod P is formed (stage s).

[0032] In the process of manufacturing the multi-segment rod in the second embodiment shown in simplified terms in Fig. 2b, the feeding module 20 cuts the rods MB into segments B and feeds the segment B to the assembling unit 30 (stage a in Fig. 2), the feeding module 20' cuts the rods MA and feeds two segments A (stage b), the feeding module 20" cuts the rods MD and feeds two segments D (stage c), the feeding module 20'" cuts the rods MC and feeds two segments C (stage d). The process stages e to h take place as described for the first embodiment. At the stages i, j the half multi-segment rods R1 and R2 are displaced transversely to the axis of the rods R1, R2, at the stages k, l, m the rods R1, R2 are reoriented so that after the axial displacement of the rods R1, R2 the half segments B are oriented away from each other, while the segments D are oriented towards each other. At the stages m and n, the rods R1 and R2 are displaced transversely to their axes so that the rods R1 and R2 are coaxially positioned. The further process takes place as in the first embodiment.

[0033] The description of embodiments of the invention concerning the apparatus also discloses a method of manufacturing multi-segment articles comprising steps wherein, in the first feeding modules 20, the rods MA, MB, MC, MD are fed from the hopper 21 for storing the rods MA, MB, MC, MD by means of a receiving drum 22 for receiving the rods MA, MB, MC, MD from the hopper 21, the rods MA, MB, MC, MD are cut into segments A, B, C, D by means of the cutting head 24, situated at the conveying drum 23, for cutting the rods MA, MB, MC, MD into individual segments A, B, C, D. Subsequently, the segments A, B, C, D are fed to the assembling unit 30 via the shifting drum 25 for varying the mutual position of the segments A, B, C, D and the aligning drum 26 for forming at least one stream of the segments A, B, C, D. In the assembling unit 30 provided with the assembling drums 31 and the conveying drums 32 for receiving the segments A, B, C, D from the feeding modules 20, the segment groups G1 are formed. Subsequently, in the wrapping module 40, a section of the first wrapping material W1 is fed and the segment group G1 supplied from the assembling unit 30 is wrapped whereby the multi-segment rod R is formed. Furthermore, in the first wrapping module 40, by means of the conveying and pushing together drum 44, the groups G1 of segments A, B, C, D are received with gaps and then by means of the pushing together mechanism 45, 46, 47, 48 the groups G1 of segments A, B, C, D are pushed together so that the segments A, B, C, D in the group G1 are in contact with one another after pushing together. Subsequently, groups G2 of the segments A, B, C, D that have been pushed together, along with a section of the first wrapping material W1 are conveyed by means of the conveying and pushing together drum 44, and then groups G2 of the segments A, B, C, D that have been pushed together are wrapped with the section of the first wrapping material W1.

[0034] Furthermore, in the method according to the invention, the wrapped segment groups G2 are cut into half multi-segment rods R1, R2, and then additional rods ME are fed in the additional feeding module 70, the additional rods ME are cut and additional segments E obtained by cutting the rods ME are fed between the half multi-segment rods R1, R2.

[0035] In the second wrapping module 80 there may also take place further steps of the method wherein sections of the second wrapping material W2 are fed and two half multi-segment rods R1, R2 and the additional segments E are wrapped.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for manufacturing multi-segment articles comprising feeding modules (20, 20', 20", 20"), the feeding modules (20, 20', 20", 20") being adapted to cut rods (MA, MB, MC, MD) into segments (A, B, C, D) and to feed the segments (A, B, C, D) to an assembling unit (30), the feeding module (20, 20', 20", 20") comprising

a hopper (21) for storing the rods (MA, MB, MC, MD),

a receiving drum (22) for receiving the rods (MA, MB, MC, MD) from the hopper (21),

a cutting head (24), situated at the conveyor drum (23), for cutting the rods (MA, MB, MC, MD) into individual segments (A, B, C, D),

a shifting drum (25) for varying mutual position of the segments (A, B, C, D),

an aligning drum (26) for forming at least one stream of the segments (A, B, C, D),

an assembling unit (30) provided with assembling drums (31) and conveying drums (32) for receiving the segments (A, B, C, D) from the feeding modules (20, 20', 20", 20") and forming a segment group (G1),

a first wrapping module (40) for feeding a section of a first wrapping material (W1) and wrapping the segment group (G1) supplied from the assembling unit (30) so as to form a multi-segment rod (R),

characterised in that
the first wrapping module (40) comprises a conveying and pushing together drum (44) which is adapted to receive the group (G1) of the segments (A, B, C, D) with gaps, the first wrapping module (40) being provided with a pushing together mechanism (45, 46, 47, 48) for pushing the group (G1) of the segments (A, B, C, D) together so that the segments (A, B, C, D) in the segment group (G1) after pushing together are in contact with one another, furthermore, the conveying and pushing together drum (44) is adapted to convey the group (G2) of the segments (A, B, C, D) pushed together, along with the section of the first wrapping material (W1).

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, characterised in that the pushing together mechanism is a cam mechanism (48) situated on the conveying and pushing together drum (44), the cam mechanism (48) being provided with support elements (48A) for holding and conveying the segments (A, B, C, D) in a direction parallel to the axis of the segments (A, B, C, D).

3. The apparatus as in claim 2, characterised in that the supporting elements (48A) are provided with rollers (48A) moving in grooves (49) being drum cams, the grooves (49) being formed in a cylinder (49A) situated on the conveying and pushing together drum (44).

4. The apparatus as in claim 2, characterised in that the supporting elements (48A) are provided with rollers (48A) moving in grooves (49) being drum cams, the grooves (49) being formed on the circumferential surface of the conveying and pushing together drum (44).

5. The apparatus as in claim 1, characterised in that the pushing together mechanism (46) comprises rotational pressing rings (46A, 46B) adapted to press the outermost segments in the segment group (G1) not pushed together.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1, characterised in that the pushing together mechanism (45) comprises stationary arched elements (45A, 45B) adapted to press the outermost segments in the segment group (G1) not pushed together.

7. The apparatus as in claim 1, characterised in that the pushing together mechanism (47) comprises stationary pushing rollers (47A) adapted to press the outermost segments in the segment group (G1) not pushed together.

8. The apparatus as in any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that gaps are maintained between the segments (A, B, C, D) in the segment group (G1) not pushed together, assembled in the assembling unit (30).

9. The apparatus as in any of claims 1 to 8, characterised by further comprising a cutting unit (50) for cutting the formed rod (R) into half multi-segment rods (R1, R2).

10. The apparatus as in any of claims 1 to 9, characterised by further comprising an additional feeding module (70) for cutting an additional rod (ME) and feeding additional segments (E) between the half multi-segment rods (R1, R2), the additional feeding module (70) comprising

a hopper (71) for storing the rods (ME),

a receiving drum (72) for receiving the rods (ME) from the hopper (71),

a cutting head (74), situated at the conveyor drum (73), for cutting the rod into individual segments (E),

a shifting drum (75) for varying mutual position of the segments (E),

an aligning drum (76) for forming at least one stream of the segments (E).

11. The apparatus as in any of the claims 1 to 10, characterised by further comprising a second wrapping module (80) for feeding a section of a second wrapping material (W2) and wrapping two half multi-segment rods (R1, R2) and an additional segment (E).

12. A method of manufacturing multi-segment articles comprising steps wherein

in feeding modules (20', 20", 20‴),

rods (MA, MB, MC, MD) are fed from a hopper (21) for storing the rods (MA, MB, MC, MD) by means of a receiving drum (22) for receiving the rods (MA, MB, MC, MD) from the hopper (21),

the rods (MA, MB, MC, MD) are cut into segments (A, B, C, D) by means of a cutting head (24), situated at the conveyor drum (23), for cutting the rods (MA, MB, MC, MD) into individual segments (A, B, C, D),

the segments (A, B, C, D) are fed to the assembling unit (30) via the shifting drum (25) for varying mutual position of the segments (A, B, C, D), and the aligning drum (26) for forming at least one stream of the segments (A, B, C, D), then

in the assembling unit (30) provided with the assembling drums (31) and the conveying drums (32) for receiving the segments (A, B, C, D) from the feeding modules (20), the segment groups (G1) are formed, then

a section of the first wrapping material (W1) is fed in the wrapping unit (40) and the segment group (G1) supplied from the assembling unit (30) is wrapped thus forming the multi-segment rod (R),

characterised in that
in the first wrapping module (40), by means of the conveying and pushing together drum (44), the groups (G1) of the segments (A, B, C, D) with gaps are received, and then, by means of the pushing together mechanism (45, 46, 47, 48), the groups (G1) of the segments (A, B, C, D) are pushed together so that the segments (A, B, C, D) in group (G1) are in contact with one another after pushing together, then the groups (G2) of the pushed together segments (A, B, C, D) are conveyed along with a section of the first wrapping material (W1) by means of the conveying and pushing together drum (44), and then the groups (G2) of the segments (A, B, C, D) pushed together are wrapped with the section of the first wrapping material (W1).

13. The method as in claim 12, further characterised in that the rods (R) formed by wrapping the group (G2) of the segments (A, B, C, D) pushed together are cut into half multi-segment rods (R1, R2), and then additional rods (ME) are fed in the additional feeding module (70), the additional rods (ME) are cut and additional segments (E) obtained by cutting the rods (ME) are fed between the half multi-segment rods (R1, R2).

14. The method as in claim 13, further characterised in that sections of the second wrapping material (W2) are fed in a second wrapping module (80) and two half multi-segment rods (R1, R2) and the additional segments (E) are wrapped.

Drawing