Arrangement for producing filter cigarettes

Abstract

Arrangement and process for producing filter cigarettes. The arrangement includes a rod formation device structured and arranged to form a tobacco rod, a filter tipping device structured and arranged to apply filter plugs to at least a portion of the tobacco rod, and an assembly device structured and arranged to assemble multi-segment filter plugs from at least three filter segments. 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 arrangement for producing filter cigarettes, comprising: 
 a rod formation device structured and arranged to form a tobacco rod;    a filter tipping device structured and arranged to apply filter plugs to at least a portion of the tobacco rod; and    an assembly device structured and arranged to assemble multi-segment filter plugs from at least three filter segments.    
   
   
       2 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the filter plugs are applied to cut tobacco rods cut from the tobacco rod.  
   
   
       3 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a cutting device structured and arranged to divide the tobacco rod into cut tobacco rods, 
 wherein the filter plugs are applied to the cut tobacco rods.    
   
   
       4 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the assembly device comprises at least one tipping device for multi-segment filter plugs.  
   
   
       5 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the assembly device comprises at least one of at least one test unit and a processing unit for multi-segment filter plugs.  
   
   
       6 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the assembly device comprises a plurality of independent functional units.  
   
   
       7 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of functional units respectively provides one filter segment piece.  
   
   
       8 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rod formation device, the filter tipping device and the assembly device are arranged in a T-shaped manner.  
   
   
       9 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rod formation device, the filter tipping device and the assembly device are arranged in an L-shaped manner.  
   
   
       10 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising at least one tipping device structured and arranged to wrap multi-segment filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups.  
   
   
       11 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising at least one of at least one test unit and a processing unit for multi-segment filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups.  
   
   
       12 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the assembly device is arranged in the filter tipping device.  
   
   
       13 . A process for producing filter cigarettes, the process comprising: 
 forming a tobacco rod;    forming a multi-segment filter plug;    applying the multi-segment filter plug to at least a portion of the tobacco rod.    
   
   
       14 . The process in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the multi-segment filter plug comprises at least three filter segment pieces.  
   
   
       15 . The process in accordance with  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 cutting the tobacco rod;    separating adjacent ends of the cut tobacco rods,    wherein the applying the multi-segment filter plug comprises inserting the multi-segment filter plug between the separated ends of the cut tobacco rods.    
   
   
       16 . The process in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the multi-segment filter plug is not wrapped when it is inserted between the separated ends of the cut tobacco rods.  
   
   
       17 . The process in accordance with  claim 15 , further comprising wrapping the multi-segment filter plug before it is inserted between the separated ends of the cut tobacco rods.  
   
   
       18 . The process in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising processing the wrapped multi-segment filter plug with a laser.  
   
   
       19 . The process in accordance with  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 supplying each filter segment piece of the multi-segment filter plug from a respective functional unit of a multi-segment filter plug assembly device.    
   
   
       20 . The process in accordance with  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 wrapping a cut tobacco rod/multi-segment filter plug/cut tobacco rod group; and    dividing the cut tobacco rod/multi-segment filter plug/cut tobacco rod group.