Filter tipping machine with double tipping paper feed

Abstract

Method and machine for joining article components. The method include feeding articles of a first and second group to a first tipping apparatus, transferring a uniting band to the articles of the first group from the first tipping apparatus, feeding the articles of the first and second groups to a second tipping apparatus, transferring a uniting band to the articles of the second group from the second tipping apparatus, and wrapping the uniting bands around the articles of the first and second group in a rolling device. 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.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for joining article components, comprising: 
 feeding articles of a first and second group to a first tipping apparatus;    transferring a uniting band to the articles of the first group from the first tipping apparatus;    feeding the articles of the first and second groups to a second tipping apparatus;    transferring a uniting band to the articles of the second group from the second tipping apparatus; and    wrapping the uniting bands around the articles of the first and second group in a rolling device.    
     
     
         2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rolling device is a common rolling device for the first and second groups.  
     
     
         3 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the article components comprise smoking article components.  
     
     
         4 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second groups are composed of cigarette/tip/cigarette groups.  
     
     
         5 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the uniting bands are transferred to the articles while the first and second groups are conveyed on a conveyor device.  
     
     
         6 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising, after the uniting band is transferred to a respective article, partially applying the uniting band to the respective article.  
     
     
         7 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein, before the uniting bands are transferred to the articles of the first and second group, the articles of the first and second group are arranged in an alternating manner on a conveyor device.  
     
     
         8 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the uniting bands are transferred to the articles of the first and second groups at a constant speed.  
     
     
         9 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the articles of the first and second group are conveyed with a same spacing at least between the first tipping apparatus and the rolling device.  
     
     
         10 . A filter tipping machine structured to perform the process of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . A machine of the tobacco processing industry, comprising: 
 a first and second tipping apparatus arranged one behind the other in a conveying direction; and    a common rolling device.    
     
     
         12 . The machine in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said machine is a filter tipping machine.  
     
     
         13 . The machine in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising a conveyor device arranged to convey articles of a first and second article group, in which said article groups are alternatingly arranged on said conveyor device in a conveying direction.  
     
     
         14 . The machine in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said first and second tipping apparatuses are arranged on said conveyor device.  
     
     
         15 . The machine in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said conveyor device comprises a plurality of equidistantly spaced seats.  
     
     
         16 . The machine in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said conveyor device comprises one of a grooved drum or belt conveyor.  
     
     
         17 . The machine in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising at least one application device structured and arranged to apply at least one free end of a uniting band to the articles of the first and second group.  
     
     
         18 . The machine in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said at least one application device comprises at least one application device for each article group.  
     
     
         19 . The machine in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein each of said first and second tipping apparatuses comprises a feed drum having a spacing for the uniting bands that is twice as long as a spacing of the respective conveyor device.  
     
     
         20 . The machine in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein a length of the uniting band is adjustable at each tipping apparatus.  
     
     
         21 . The machine in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said machine comprises a single-track.  
     
     
         22 . A method for joining article components, comprising: 
 alternatingly conveying articles of at least a first and second article group in a conveying direction;    transferring uniting bands to the articles of the first group from the first tipping apparatus;    transferring uniting bands to the articles of the second group from the first tipping apparatus; and    wrapping the uniting bands around the articles of the first and second group in a common rolling device.    
     
     
         23 . The method in accordance with  claim 22 , after transferring the uniting bands to the articles of the first group, ends of the uniting bands are connected to the article.  
     
     
         24 . The method in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the first and second article groups are conveyed in the conveying direction on a conveyor device, and the first and second tipping apparatuses are arranged along the conveyor device.  
     
     
         25 . The method in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the articles of the first and second article groups are fed with a same spacing on the conveyor device.  
     
     
         26 . The method in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein the article of the first and second article groups are fed with a same spacing through the first and second tipping apparatuses.  
     
     
         27 . A machine for joining article components, comprising: 
 a conveyor device structured and arranged to alternatingly convey articles of at least a first and second article group in a conveying direction;    a first tipping apparatus arranged along a conveyor path of said conveyor device structured to transfer uniting bands to the articles of the first group; and    a second tipping apparatus arranged along said conveyor path of said conveyor device structured to transfer uniting bands to the articles of the second group.    
     
     
         28 . The machine in accordance with  claim 27 , further comprising a rolling device positioned to receive the articles from said conveyor device.  
     
     
         29 . The machine in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein the articles of the at least first and second article groups are successively rolled in the rolling device to connect the uniting bands to the articles.  
     
     
         30 . The machine in accordance with  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 a first folding star arranged downstream, with respect to the conveying direction, from the first tipping apparatus; and    a second folding star arranged downstream, with respect to the conveying direction, from the second tipping apparatus.    
     
     
         31 . The machine in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the second tipping apparatus is arranged downstream from said first folding star.  
     
     
         32 . The machine in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the conveyor device comprises seats for the articles of the first and second article groups having a same spacing.