Method and apparatus for producing a rod-shaped filler from several types of smokable material

In a machine for the making of rod-shaped smokers' articles, apparatus for producing a continuous rod-like filler of fibrous material, particularly a tobacco filler, comprising means for accumulating fibrous material of a first type into a row of spaced apart batches;

• means for conveying the row of batches in a predetermined direction and along a predetermined path;
• means for delivering fibrous material of a second type onto and/or into the spaces between the batches in said path so that the two types of fibrous material together form a rod-like filler;
• means for generating first signals which are indicative of at least one parameter of the batches in said path;
• a first unit for converting said first signals into first control signals;
• means for influencing at least one parameter of the batches as a function of said first control signal;
• means for monitoring at least one parameter of the filler in said path and for generating second signals which are indicative of such parameter of the filler;
• a second unit for converting said second signals into second control signals;
• and means for influencing at least one parameter of the filler as a function of said second control signals.

A method of producing a continuous rod-like filler of fibrous material, especially a tobacco filler, comprising the steps of accumulating fibrous material of a first type into a row of spaced apart batches and conveying the row along a predetermined path, said accumulating step including delivering fibrous material of the first type into an endless second path and attracting the thus delivered fibrous material of the first type by suction to selected portions of said second path;

• delivering fibrous material of a second type onto and/or into the spaces between the batches of the row so that the two types of fibrous material together form a rod-like filler;
• generating first signals which are indicative of at least one parameter of the batches in said path;
• converting the first signals into first control signals;
• and utilizing the first control signals to influence at least one parameter of the batches, including regulating the suction in said selected portions of the second path.

In a machine for the making of rod-shaped smokers' articles, apparatus for producing a continuous rod-like filler of fibrous material, particularly a tobacco filler, comprising means for accumulating fibrous material of a first type into a row of spaced apart batches;

• means for conveying the row of batches in a predetermined direction and along a predetermined path;
• means for delivering fibrous material of the second type onto and/or into the spaces between the batches in said path so that the two types of fibrous material together form a rod-like filler, said conveying means including an endless foraminous conveyor having a portion extending along said path and a suction chamber adjacent to one side of said portion of said conveyor, said accumulating means being arranged to deliver successive batches of said row to the other side of said portion of said conveyor in a first portion of said path and said delivering means being arranged to admit fibrous material of the second type to the other side of said portion of said conveyor in a second portion of said path downstream of said first portion;
• means for generating first signals which are indicative of at least one parameter of the batches in said path, including a pneumatic monitoring device adjacent to said first portion of said path and arranged to monitor the density of successive increments of said portion of said conveyor and of the batches thereon;
• a first unit for converting said first signals into first control signals;
• means for influencing at least one parameter of the batches as a function of said first control signals;
• second monitoring means for generating second signals denoting the density of successive increments of the filler downstream of said second portion of said path;
• a second unit for converting said second signals into second control signals;
• and means for influencing at least one parameter of the filler as a function of said second signals.

In a machine for the making of rod-shaped smokers' articles, apparatus for producing a continuous rod-like filler of fibrous material, particularly a tobacco filler, comprising means for accumulating fibrous material of a first type into a row of spaced apart batches;

• means for conveying the row of batches in a predetermined direction and along a predetermined path;
• means for delivering fibrous material of a second type onto and/or the spaces between the batches in said path so that the two types of fibrous material together form a rod-like filler;
• means for generating first signals which are indicative of at least one parameter of the batches in said path;
• an evaluating circuit including a first unit for converting said first signals into first control signals and means for monitoring the times of arrival of the leaders of successive batches of said row into a predetermined portion of said path;
• means for comparing such times with anticipated times;
• and means for influencing at least one parameter of the batches as a function of said first control signals.

In a machine for the making of rod-shaped smokers' articles, apparatus for producing a continuous rod-like filler of fibrous material, particularly a tobacco filler, comprising means for accumulating fibrous material of a first type into a row of spaced apart batches;

• means for conveying the row of batches in a predetermined direction and along a predetermined path;
• means for delivering fibrous material of a second type onto and/or into the spaces between the batches in said path so that the two types of fibrous material together form a rod-like filler;
• means for generating first signals which are indicative of at least one parameter of the batches in said path;
• a first unit for converting said first signals into first control signals, including first averaging means for generating third signals each of which is indicative of the average value of all first signals pertaining to a batch, second averaging means for generating fourth signals each of which is indicative of the average value of a predetermined number of successively generated third signals, and means for comparing each third signal with one of said fourth signals and for generating said first control signals when the deviation of a third signal from the fourth signal exceeds a preselected value;
• and means for influencing at least one parameter of the batches as a function of said first control signals.