System and method for transferring rod-shaped articles and arrangement and method for retaining rod-shaped articles in a conveyor band

Method for transferring rod-shaped articles, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a rod-shaped article in a reservoir;
• arranging a conveyor band adjacent to the reservoir;
• transferring the rod-shaped article from the reservoir to the conveyor band;
• varying a speed of a portion of the conveyor band and
• compensating the speed variation of the portion of the conveyor band, thereby keeping constant a speed of another portion of the conveyor band.

Arrangement for retaining rod-shaped articles in a conveyor band, the arrangement comprising

• a conveyor band comprising at least one seat adapted to receive a rod-shaped article;
• a conveyor wheel, wherein the at least one seat is guidable in the conveyor band around the conveyor wheel;
• an offset conveyor band arranged in parallel and at a distance to the conveyor band along a section of the conveyor band,
• wherein the distance is adapted such that the offset conveyor band is to contact a rod-shaped article in the seat of the conveyor band along the section of the conveyor band, and wherein the section of the conveyor band comprises at least the part of the conveyor band that is being guided around the conveyor wheel.