Apparatus and method for assembly of multi-segment rod-like articles

An apparatus for assembly of multi-segment rod-like articles, particularly cigarette filters, comprising:

• a filter segment intercalating unit, a filter assembly unit and a filter segment transfer unit coupled to the intercalating unit and the assembly unit,
• the intercalating unit further comprising at least one modular filter rod delivery unit and a filter segment transporting device, said filter rod delivery unit further comprising a hopper, a rotating drum having a plurality of transverse flutes and a plurality of circumferential slits defined in the surface thereof, a cutting device disposed adjacent to said rotating drum, said cutting device having a plurality of blades received within said slits of said rotating drum, a transfer wheel with a vertical axis of rotation, a chain with a plurality of pushing fingers to facilitate transfer of said rod-like articles from said rotating drum to said transfer wheel, a delivery wheel with a horizontal axis of rotation, and a transfer locus wherein a circumferential edge of said transfer wheel and a circumferential edge of said delivery wheel meet at said transfer locus to transfer said rod-like articles from said transfer wheel to said delivery wheel while maintaining a motion vector at said transfer locus;
• the transfer unit further comprising a guiding device, a first wheel operatively engaged with said guiding, a second wheel operatively engaged with said first wheel, and a third wheel operatively engaged with said second wheel, each of said first, second and third wheels having a plurality of fingers defined on the circumference thereof said first wheel and said third wheel are vertically offset relative to each other;
• and
• the assembly unit further comprising a garniture operatively engaged with said third wheel, a filter rod gap sensor and a filter rod cutting device.