Manufacturing machine for producing combination cigarette filters

A manufacturing machine (1) for producing combination filters (2) for cigarettes, and comprising:

• a group-forming unit (6) for forming groups (3) of filter portions (4), each comprising at least two different filter portions (4) aligned axially and contacting at the ends;
• a winding unit (7) which receives a succession of groups (3) of filter portions (4) from the group-forming unit (6), winds a strip (8) of wrapping material about the succession of groups (3) of filter portions (4) to form a continuous filter rod, and cuts the combination filters (2) off the continuous filter rod by cyclically cutting the continuous filter rod transversely;
• and
• a transfer unit (9) which transfers the groups (3) of filter portions (4) from the group-forming unit (6), in which the groups (3) of filter portions (4) travel transversely, to the winding unit (7), in which the groups (3) of filter portions (4) travel axially, and comprises at least one spider (21), which feeds the groups (3) of filter portions (4) successively into a forming beam (20) of the winding unit (7) by changing the travel of the groups (3) of filter portions (4) from a transverse travel to an axial travel, and at least one release drum (25) which releases the groups (3) of filter portions (4) successively directly to the spider (21);
• wherein the release drum (25) is mounted to rotate about a first axis of rotation between a work position, in which the release drum (25) is adjacent and connected to the spider (21), into a maintenance position, in which the release drum (25) is detached a good distance from the spider (21), the first axis of rotation being different than a second axis of rotation about which the release drum rotates in the work position and the first axis of rotation being disposed in a plane intersected by the second axis.