A machine for producing multi-segment rods and a method for cleaning a machine for producing multi-segment rods

Abstract

A machine for producing multi-segment rods for use in tobacco industry, the machine comprising: at least one feeding module for placing segments in a train, one after the other, on a collecting transporter for transporting the segments along a predefined transporting path in a direction towards a garniture transporter; a transferring module for transferring the segments from the collecting transporter onto the garniture transporter; the garniture transporter for transporting segments on a wrapper; a garniture device for wrapping the wrapper around the train of the segments to form a continuous rod; a cutting head for cutting the continuous rod into multi-segment rods; and a shifting mechanism for dislocating the collecting transporter with respect to the predefined transporting path to a cleaning position, wherein the segments while being transported on the collecting transporter are not in contact with any of the feeding modules.

1 - 20 . (cancel) 
     
     
         21 . A machine for producing multi-segment rods for use in tobacco industry, the machine comprising:
 at least one feeding module for sequentially placing segments in a train on a collecting transporter along a predefined transporting path;   a transferring module for transferring the segments from the collecting transporter onto a garniture transporter;   a garniture device for wrapping a wrapper around the train of the segments to form a continuous rod;   a cutting head for cutting the continuous rod into multi-segment rods; and   a shifting mechanism for dislocating the collecting transporter with respect to the predefined transporting path to a cleaning position having an increased distance between the collecting transporter and the feeding modules.   
     
     
         22 . The machine according to  claim 21 , wherein the collecting transporter in cleaning position is distanced from the transferring module separating the in-transit segments on the collecting transporter from the transferring module. 
     
     
         23 . The machine of  claim 21 , wherein the collecting transporter is arranged along all the feeding modules. 
     
     
         24 . The machine of  claim 21 , wherein the collecting transporter is configured to be dislocated by changing its position with respect to the predefined transporting path by a distance in a range from 4 to 200 mm. 
     
     
         25 . The machine of  claim 21 , wherein the collecting transporter is configured to be dislocated by changing its position with respect to the predefined transporting path in a downward direction. 
     
     
         26 . The machine of  claim 21 , wherein the collecting transporter is mounted on at least one articulated arm. 
     
     
         27 . The machine of  claim 21 , wherein the shifting mechanism comprises at least two guides arranged angularly with respect to each other and a supporting element cooperating with the guides, wherein the supporting element is linearly movable. 
     
     
         28 . The machine of  claim 21 , wherein the supporting element is movable by means of a cylinder. 
     
     
         29 . The machine of  claim 21 , further comprising a removing device for removing the segments from transferring devices. 
     
     
         30 . The machine of  claim 21 , wherein the removing device is configured to blow compressed air. 
     
     
         31 . The machine of  claim 21 , further comprising a controller for activating the shifting mechanism after a predetermined operation-interrupting event. 
     
     
         32 . A method for cleaning a machine for producing multi-segment rods for use in tobacco industry, the machine comprising:
 sequentially placing a plurality of segments in a train on a collecting transporter by at least one feeding module;   transporting the segments on the collecting transporter along a predefined transporting path in a direction towards a garniture transporter;   transferring the segments from the collecting transporter onto the garniture transporter by a transferring module;   transporting the segments on a wrapper by the garniture transporter;   wrapping the wrapper around the train of the segments by the garniture device to form a continuous rod;   cutting the continuous rod into multi-segment rods with a cutting head;   dislocating the collecting transporter with respect to the predefined transporting path to a cleaning position distancing the segments in transport on the collecting transporter from the feeding modules; and   removing the segments from the collecting transporter.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising activating movement of the collecting transporter ( 6 ). 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein segments in transit, are distanced from the transferring module. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein collecting transporter is dislocated with respect to the predefined transporting path by a distance in a range from 4 to 200 mm. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the dislocation of the collecting transporter with respect to the predefined transporting path is in a downward direction. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising removing the segments from transferring devices. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the removal of the segments from the transferring devices occurs before removal of the segments from the collecting transporter. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising removing the segments from the transferring devices by means of compressed air. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising activating the shifting mechanism after interruption of operation of the machine by a predefined event.