Apparatus for transporting sections of filter rods

Apparatus for conveying filter rod sections from storage or from a maker to a reservoir or to a filter tipping machine for cigarettes or other rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry has a first conveyor which advances the filter rod sections lengthwise, a second conveyor which advances the sections sideways, and a unit which transfers successive sections of a series of sections delivered by the first conveyor to the second conveyor. The advancement of sections by the first conveyor is interrupted if the spacing between successive sections in the first conveyor is less than required for disturbance-free transfer of sections from the first conveyor into the second conveyor. One or more sensors are provided to minitor the movements of sections at the transfer unit and to generate signals which are utilized to remove sections from the transfer unit when the pattern of movement of sections from the first conveyor to the second conveyor departs from a desired pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to improvements in apparatus for transporting 
rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, such as sections 
of filter rods which are to be assembled with plain cigarettes, cigars or 
other tobacco containing rod-shaped products to jointly form filter 
cigarettes, cigars or other filter-tipped rod-shaped smokers' products. 
The following description will refer, either continuously or primarily, to 
rod-shaped articles which constitute filter rod sections; however, it is 
to be understood that the apparatus of the present invention can be 
utilized with equal or similar advantage for the transport of other types 
of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry. 
As a rule, or at least in many instances, filter rod sections are 
transported longitudinally from a source, such as one or more filter 
making machines, by one or more first conveyors, normally pneumatic 
conveyors which subject successive sections of a long series of such 
sections to the action of a compressed gaseous fluid (such as air) in 
order to propel the sections of the series through shorter or longer 
distances to a transfer station where the nature of advancement of 
successive sections is changed from longitudinal to sidewise movement. The 
conveyor or conveyors which are utilized to advance the filter rod 
sections sideways (i.e., transversely of their length) can be used to 
deliver the sections to a magazine forming part of a filter tipping 
machine, to a reservoir or to any other destination. Similar apparatus are 
or can be utilized for the transport of filter rod sections from a first 
reservoir to one or more second reservoirs or from a first reservoir into 
the magazine or magazines of one or more filter tipping machines. 
The equipment at the transfer station should be capable of changing the 
direction of advancement of filter rod sections from longitudinal to 
transverse without affecting the appearance and/or other desirable 
characteristics of the sections. Moreover, the change of the direction of 
advancement must be carried out at a very high frequency in order to meet 
the requirements of modern high-speed filter tipping and/or other machines 
which are used to store and/or process filter rod sections. It is 
necessary to uniformize the series of sections which advance toward the 
transfer station as well as to provide between successive sections of the 
series gaps or spaces wide or long enough to ensure that each preceding 
section can be transferred from a first path in which it is caused to move 
longitudinally into a second path wherein it is caused to move sideways 
without any obstruction by the immediately following section. This is 
important because, in heretofore known machines, any clogging of and/or 
other malfunction at the transfer station can entail huge losses in output 
due to the need to interrupt the operation of the entire apparatus in 
order to manually remove all damaged sections and to restore the 
operativeness of the equipment at the transfer station. Moreover, any 
prolonged stoppage of the transporting apparatus evidently necessitates 
stoppage(s) of machine(s) receiving filter rod sections from such 
apparatus. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus which can 
transport filter rod sections or other rod-shaped articles of the tobacco 
processing industry more reliably than and at least at the same rate as 
heretofore known apparatus. 
Another object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with novel and 
improved means for reducing the likelihood of clogging of the transfer 
station between a first conveyor which moves the articles lengthwise and a 
second conveyor which moves the articles sideways. 
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is 
designed to ensure early and preferably instantaneous detection of 
malfunctions of at least one of the conveyors. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is 
designed to ensure early and preferably instantaneous detection of 
malfunctions at the transfer station. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can 
automatically eliminate the causes of malfunction of at least one of the 
conveyors. 
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can 
automatically eliminate the cause or causes of malfunction at the transfer 
station between the first and second conveyors and which can eliminate 
such cause or causes of malfunction within short intervals of time. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method 
of transporting rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry 
along a composite path wherein the orientation of articles changes on 
their way from the inlet to the outlet of the composite path. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is embodied in an apparatus for transporting elongated 
rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, for example, 
rod-shaped (unit length or multiple unit length) filters for tobacco 
smoke. The improved apparatus comprises a fluid-operated (such as 
pneumatic) first conveyor having means for advancing successive articles 
of a series of articles longitudinally along a first path, a second 
conveyor (e.g., a mechanical conveyor) for advancing articles along a 
second path wherein the articles move transversely of their length, means 
for transferring successive articles of the series from the first path 
into the second path in accordance with a predetermined pattern (at the 
very least, such pattern ensures that each preceding article of the series 
is not interfered with by the immediately following article during 
transfer from the first path into the second path), means for monitoring 
the transferring means and for generating signals denoting eventual 
departures of the transfer of articles from the predetermined pattern, and 
signal processing control means connected with the monitoring means. 
At least one of the paths is or can be an at least substantially horizontal 
path. 
The transferring means preferably includes a guide (e.g., a lever-shaped 
member) for successive articles which are advanced by the first conveyor. 
The guide is or can be designed in such a way that it has an open side 
confronting the second conveyor, and the transferring means employing such 
guide preferably further comprises means (e.g., a cam or ramp) for 
deflecting successive articles advancing longitudinally of the guide 
sideways through the open side of the guide and into the second conveyor. 
The guide is preferably mounted in such a way that it is movable between a 
first position in which the articles advancing along the guide are 
directed into the range of (e.g., directly against) the deflecting means 
and at least one second position in which the guide establishes at least 
one outlet for articles having been advanced by the first conveyor so that 
the articles which enter the outlet cannot reach the deflecting means. The 
guide can be mounted in such a way that it is pivotable in and counter to 
the direction of advancement of articles by the second conveyor. The 
apparatus wherein the transferring means utilizes the aforementioned guide 
preferably further comprises means (e.g., a fluid-operated motor) for 
moving the guide from the first position to the at least one second 
position in response to signals which are generated by the monitoring 
means and are processed and thereupon transmitted to the moving means by 
the aforementioned control means. The means for moving the guide is 
preferably designed to move the guide from the at least one second 
position back to the first position upon termination of transmission of 
processed signals from the control means. The arrangement is preferably 
such that the means for moving the guide is operative to automatically 
return the guide to its first position in response to termination of the 
transmission of processed signals from the control means. 
The second conveyor can comprise at least one conveying element (e.g., a 
pair of endless belts and/or a pair of driven rollers) which is arranged 
to be driven in a predetermined direction to advance the articles away 
from the transferring means, and in a second direction at least 
substantially counter to the predetermined direction. Such second conveyor 
preferably further comprises means for driving the at least one conveying 
element in the predetermined direction in the absence of signal generation 
by the monitoring means, and in the second direction in response to 
signals which are generated by the monitoring means and are processed and 
transmitted to the driving means by the control means. 
The advancing means of the first conveyor can comprise at least one 
conveying element (e.g., one or more pairs of rollers) arranged to be 
driven to advance articles along the first path toward the transferring 
means, and the apparatus can further comprise means for arresting the at 
least one conveying element in response to transmission of processed 
signals from the control means. 
The apparatus can further comprise one or more brakes for articles in the 
first path and means for activating the brake or brakes--to thus 
automatically interrupt the advancement of articles toward the 
transferring means--in response to transmission of processed signals by 
the control means. 
The monitoring means can comprise at least one optoelectrical sensor or 
transducer and/or one or more proximity detectors and/or any other 
suitable means for inspecting the operation of the transferring means and 
for generating signals in response to detection that the pattern of 
transfer of articles from the first path into the second path departs from 
the predetermined (optimum) mode or pattern. 
As already mentioned hereinbefore, successive articles of the series of 
articles are separated from each other by clearances or gaps or spaces 
during advancement along the first path, at least during advancement along 
that portion of the first path which is adjacent to (e.g., immediately 
upstream of) the transferring means. Such apparatus preferably further 
comprises means for ascertaining the length of spaces between successive 
articles of the series (e.g., in the aforementioned portion of the first 
path) and for transmitting to the control means second signals in response 
to detection of spaces having a length below a predetermined length (as 
seen in the direction of advancement of articles along the first path). 
The apparatus preferably further comprises means for removing from the 
first path articles immediately following those spaces the length of which 
is below the predetermined length, and such removal takes place in 
response to processed second signals transmitted to the removing means by 
the control means. The removing means can comprise means for pneumatically 
expelling articles from the first path, e.g., by resorting to one or more 
nozzles designed to discharge one or more jets or blasts or streams of 
compressed air. 
Still further, the apparatus can comprise means for evacuating articles 
from the first path in response to processed signals which are generated 
by the monitoring means and/or by the length ascertaining means. Such 
evacuating merans can comprise one or more pneumatically operated 
evacuating devices. 
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention 
are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus 
itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, 
together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best 
understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain 
presently preferred specific embodiments with reference to the 
accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a dual or twin apparatus 1 for 
transporting two series of elongated rod-shaped articles 4 of unit length 
or multiple unit length. The articles 4 can constitute filter rod sections 
which are being transported from a reservoir (not shown), from a single 
maker (such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,007 granted Aug. 
10, 1976 to Heinz Greve for "Method and apparatus for the production of 
filter rod sections or the like"), or from a plurality of makers to at 
least one tipping machine wherein the filter rod sections are assembled 
with tobacco-containing rod sections to form therewith filter cigarettes, 
filter cigarillos or other rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing 
industry. 
Each individual apparatus of the twin apparatus 1 comprises a first 
conveyor 2, 3 which is a fluid-operated (pneumatic) conveyor and serves to 
advance the sections 4 lengthwise in a direction toward a transferring 
unit 8 which, in turn, introduces successive sections 4 into one of two 
second conveyors 21 wherein the sections 4 are advanced sideways (arrow 
47), i.e., transversely of their length to enter a magazine 24, e.g., a 
reservoir or the hopper or an analogous storage facility of a tipping 
machine. 
The fluid-operated first conveyors 2 and 3 respectively comprise conduits 
6, 7 wherein the sections 4 are propelled lengthwise by a compressed 
gaseous fluid (e.g., air) through normally open (idle) braking devices 39, 
41 and into arcuate conduits 9 wherein the pneumatic propelling action is 
replaced or assisted by advancing means here shown as including three 
pairs of driven rollers 11, 12 and 13. 
Since the construction of the first conveyor 2 is or can be identical with 
that of the first conveyor 3, only one of these conveyors will be 
described in full detail. The same holds true for the construction and the 
mode of operation of the two section transferring units 8 and of the two 
second conveyors 21. 
The purpose of the pairs of rollers 11, 12 is to ensure that each section 
which advances beyond the respective pair of rollers 12 is caused to move 
longitudinally at a preselected speed. The rollers 13 accelerate 
successive sections 4 beyond the speed which was imparted to such sections 
by the rollers 12 to thus develop between successive sections clearances a 
of sufficient width to ensure that the transfer of a preceding section 4 
from the first path defined by the conveyor 2 or 3 into the second path 
(arrow 47) defined by the respective second conveyor 21 is not interfered 
with by the immediately following section. A section 4 which has been 
propelled by the third pair of rollers 13 is caused to move through 
another path portion 14 which immediately precedes the respective 
transferring unit 8. The path portion 14 is followed by an additional path 
portion 16 which can be said to be within the confines of the respective 
transferring unit 8 and wherein successive sections continue to advance 
longitudinally or lengthwise or axially in a direction to the left, as 
viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, partially within the confines of an elongated 
guide 17 which forms part of the respective unit 8 and cooperates with a 
deflector 18 in the form of a ramp or cam serving to expel successive 
sections 4 through an open side of the associated guide 17 and in the 
direction of the arrow 47, i.e., into the range of the respective second 
conveyor 21. The open side of the guide 17 faces toward the respective 
second conveyor 21. 
Each second conveyor 21 comprises a pair of rollers 21a, 21b (see also FIG. 
4) whose axes are parallel to the direction of advancement of successive 
sections 4 along the path portion 16. The deflecting ramp or cam 18 of the 
respective unit 8 is positioned in such a way that it causes an oncoming 
section 4 to begin to move sideways and into the range of the respective 
rollers 21a, 21b which, in turn, propel successive sections 4 sideways 
between two pairs of endless belts 23 also forming part of the respective 
second conveyor 21. The reference character 22 denotes in FIG. 4 all of 
the conveying elements (21a, 21b and 23) forming part of the lower second 
conveyor 21. The second conveyors 21 deliver filter rod sections 4 
sideways into the receptacle 24 which, as already mentioned above, can 
constitute a magazine in a filter tipping machine or a reservoir for a 
shorter- or longer-lasting storage of filter rod sections. The paths which 
are defined by the second conveyors 21 shown in FIG. 4 are at least 
substantially horizontal. On the other hand, the first paths defined by 
the first conveyors 2 and 3 can be in part horizontal and in part inclined 
or vertical, depending on the availability of space for the transport of 
filter rod sections 4 from one or more sources to one or more receptacles 
24. 
FIG. 2 shows only certain details of the first conveyor 3, of the 
corresponding transferring unit 8 and of the corresponding second conveyor 
21. The construction and the mode of operation of the transferring unit 8 
constitute highly important features of the improved apparatus because any 
departures of the actual mode of transferring sections 4 from that portion 
of the first path which is shown at 14 from a desired or optimal or 
predetermined pattern or mode can entail longer-lasting interruptions of 
delivery of sections from the first conveyor 3 into the receptacle 24 as 
well as loss of substantial numbers of sections 4, e.g., due to defacing 
and/or partial or even complete destruction. 
One important factor which determines the mode of operation of a 
transferring unit 8 is the spacing or clearance or gap between each 
section 4 arriving into the respective guide 17 and the immediately 
following section 4. If such spacing a is below a predetermined value, the 
next-following section 4 is likely to interfere with sidewise diversion of 
the preceding section 4 by the respective deflecting device 18 through the 
open side of the guide 17 and into the range of the rollers 21a, 21b 
forming part of the respective second conveyor 21. The actual spacing a 
between successive sections 4 as well as certain other variable parameters 
which can influence the mode of operation of a transferring unit 8 are 
monitored, scanned and/or otherwise detected and evaluated by a composite 
regulating system 26 which comprises (a) two detectors 27, 28 which 
ascertain the length of successive spaces a downstream of the respective 
pair of rollers 13, (b) monitoring means 36 at the respective guide 17, 
and (c) a signal processing control circuit 29 having inputs for signals 
from the detectors 27, 28 and from the monitoring means 36. 
The detectors 27, 28 can constitute optoelectrical sensors, and they 
transmit to the control circuit 29 signals when they detect the ends of 
the sections 4 advancing therealong in the first path defined by the 
respective conveyor 2 or 3. The control circuit 29 processes such signals 
in any well known manner to determine the length of successive spaces a. 
If the length of a space a is less than a predetermined minimum acceptable 
length, the circuit 29 transmits a defect signal which results in the 
ejection from the first path of that section (4b in FIG. 1) which 
immediately follows a section (4a in FIG. 1) preceding a space a of less 
than the predetermined mimimum length. 
The expulsion of filter rod sections (4b) following spaces a having a 
length less than the minimum acceptable length can take place, for 
example, in the first path at least slightly upstream of the respective 
transferring unit 8. FIG. 3 shows that the first conveyor 3 has a lateral 
opening or outlet 31 which can receive one or more jets or blasts or 
streams of a compressed gaseous fluid (such as air) from a port 32 
machined into or otherwise formed in the conveyor 3 at the upstream end of 
the lateral opening 31. The port 32 can be connected to a suitable source 
34 of compressed gaseous fluid by a valve 33 which receives processed 
signals from the corresponding output of the control circuit 29. Each of 
the aforementioned defect signals from the control circuit 29 entails an 
opening of the valve 33 so that the jet or jets of compressed fluid 
entering the lateral opening 31 of the conveyor 3 of FIG. 2 can expel the 
respective section 4b from the first path and into a collecting 
receptacle, not shown. This ensures that a section 4b cannot interfere 
with the deflection of the immediately preceding section 4a during 
advancement of the section 4a through the respective transferring unit 8 
on its way into the corresponding second conveyor 21. 
Monitoring of the lengths of spaces a between successive sections 4 in the 
first conveyors contributes significantly to reliability of the transfer 
of sections from the respective guides 17 into the respective second 
conveyors 21. Nevertheless, the sections 4 are still likely to be caught 
in the transferring units 8 and to cause the accumulations of a series of 
successive arriving sections which not only results in damage to such 
sections but also interrupts the advancement of sections into the 
receptacle 24. Thus, a lengthier interruption of delivery of sections 4 
into the receptacle 24 could necessitate a stoppage of the machine or 
machines which receive articles from the receptacle 24. Modern filter 
tipping machines turn out huge quantities of filter cigarettes or like 
rod-shaped articles per unit of time so that any, even short lasting, 
interruption of operation invariably results in substantial losses in 
output. 
It has been found that, even if the length of spaces a is entirely 
satisfactory, pronounced slowing down of articles passing through a 
transferring unit 8 is likely to interrupt the advancement of sections 
into the range of and within the respective second conveyor 21. 
Analogously, pronounced slowing down of articles 4 which have entered a 
second conveyor 21 or which were about to enter such second conveyor can 
also lead to pronounced departures from the desired mode or pattern of 
operation of a transferring unit 8 and/or a second conveyor 21. Any such 
disturbances which develop in a conventional apparatus necessitate a 
stoppage of the apparatus and tedious lengthy manual removal of sections 
which happen to come to a halt and/or to be damaged or destroyed at a 
transferring station and/or in a second conveyor. 
The aforementioned monitoring device 36 at each of the transferring units 8 
renders it possible to automatically compensate or correct for eventual 
deviations or departures of the transfer of articles 4 from the 
predetermined or desired or optimum pattern or mode. Each of the 
illustrated monitoring devices 36 can constitute an optoelectrical sensor 
which, as already mentioned before, is also connected to the respective 
control circuit 29. The latter processes the signals from the respective 
monitoring device 36 and transmits processed signals to a moving means 38 
(such as a fluid-operated cylinder and piston assembly) for the 
corresponding guide 17. Each guide 17 is movable by the respective 
assembly 38 between a first or operative position (shown in FIG. 2 by 
solid lines) and a second or retracted position 17a (shown in FIG. 2 by 
phantom lines). The guides 17 of the illustrated transferring units 8 are 
pivotable (as at 37) between their first and second positions and FIG. 2 
shows that such pivoting takes place toward or away from the respective 
second conveyor 21, i.e., in or counter to the direction indicated by the 
arrow 47. 
FIG. 4 shows that the rollers 21a, 21b of the lower second conveyor 21 
receive motion from a prime mover 19, e.g., a reversible electric motor. 
This motor also receives signals from the respective control circuit 29. 
The motor for the rollers of the upper second conveyor of FIG. 4 has been 
omitted for the sake of clarity. 
If the mode of operation of the improved apparatus at one of the 
transferring units 8 departs from the desired mode or pattern, the 
respective monitoring device 36 transmits a signal to the corresponding 
control circuit 29. For example, a monitoring device 36 can detect an 
arrested filter rod section 4 or a section advancing at a speed less than 
the expected speed. Such deceleration of one or more sections 4 is 
particularly likely to occur in the range of the rollers 21a, 21b forming 
part of the respective second conveyor 21. The control circuit 29 
generates a defect signal which is immediately transmitted to the prime 
mover(s), not shown, for the pairs of rollers 11, 12 in the corresponding 
first conveyor 2 or 3. The defect signal from the control circuit 29 
further serves to immediately arrest the prime mover (not shown) for the 
respective accelerating rollers 13 in the first conveyor 2 or 3. This 
results in immediate interruption of the delivery of additional sections 4 
into the respective transferring unit 8, i.e., into the path section 16 
which is defined by the respective pivotable guide 17. 
If considered necessary by the designer of the improved apparatus, the 
defect signal from the control circuit 29 (in response to a signal from 
the respective monitoring device 36) can further serve to effect the 
activation or actuation of the respective braking device 39 or 41. This 
ensures that no further sections 4 tend to enter that part of the first 
conveyor 2 or 3 which is actually shown in FIG. 1. Brakes for filter rod 
sections which can be utilized at 39 and/or 41 in FIG. 1 are disclosed, 
for example, in commonly owned German Pat. No. 34 17 483 A1. 
The defect signal from one of the control circuits 29 can also be 
transmitted to a suitable display to facilitate detection of the 
malfunction by the attendant or attendants. Thus, the attendant or 
attendants are informed that no further sections 4 are being delivered 
into the respective transferring unit 8 and know that it is necessary to 
undertake certain corrective measures. 
However, the preferred embodiment of the improved apparatus is designed in 
such a way that, in addition to or in lieu of displaying defect signals on 
a screen or the like, the apparatus automatically initiate and complete 
corrective measures in order to reestablish proper mode of operation in 
the region of the one or the other transferring unit 8. 
To this end, a defect signal which is transmitted by the control circuit 29 
in response to a defect signal which is generated by one of the monitoring 
devices 36 is used to pivot the respective guide 17 from the first 
position to the second position 17a by way of the corresponding cylinder 
and piston assembly 38. This enables the pivoted guide 17 to establish an 
outlet for evacuation of trapped sections 4 from the respective 
transferring unit 8, i.e., such sections can bypass the respective 
deflecting ramp or cam 18 and be expelled or evacuated from the apparatus. 
The deflecting ramp or wedge or cam 18 can share the movement of the 
adjacent guide 17 from a first or operative to a second or inoperative 
position. If the deflecting member 18 is movable between such positions, 
its second or inoperative position is selected in such a way that the 
member 18 is unlikely or even less likely to interfere with the expulsion 
of trapped section or sections 4 from the respective transferring unit 8 
by way of the outlet or opening which is established by the guide 17 as 
soon as the latter reaches its second position 17a. 
The defect signal from the control circuit 29 is further transmitted to the 
corresponding motor 19 which starts the respective rollers 21a, 21b in 
reverse so that these rollers then advance trapped sections 4 counter to 
the direction of the arrow 47 and from the apparatus through the outlet 
established by the guide 17 which is then maintained in the second 
position 17a. It has been found that the just described mode of expelling 
stuck sections 4 from a transferring unit 8 is effective even if one or 
more sections have undergone pronounced deformation and/or other damage at 
the rollers 21a, 21b of the respective second conveyor 21. Filter rod 
sections 4 are apt to be deformed during advancement along the path 
section 16 (i.e., within the respective open-sided guide 17), along the 
deflecting member 18 and into the range of the respective rollers 21a, 
21b. 
Each of the first conveyors 2, 3 is further equipped with means for 
evacuating sections 4 from the respective path. As shown in FIG. 2, such 
evacuating means comprises two pneumatically operated evacuating devices 
42, 43 in the form of ports provided in the respective first conveyor and 
designed to transmit blasts of compressed gaseous fluid (such as air) 
which can expel articles 4 from the respective first path. The ports 42, 
43 are respectively connected with the aforementioned source 34 of 
compressed gaseous fluid by valves 44 and 46 which are responsive to 
defect signals from the corresponding outputs of the control circuit 29. 
The ports 42, 43 effect the evacuation of articles 4 from the respective 
first path to thus ensure highly predictable entry of the leader of a 
series of successive articles 4 into the respective first path when the 
admission of articles 4 into such path is resumed. 
When the evacuation of deformed or undeformed sections 4 from a 
transferring zone 8 is completed, the cylinder and piston assembly 38 
automatically returns the corresponding guide 17 to its first or operative 
position so that the thus pivoted guide is ready to again direct sections 
4 into the range of the respective deflecting member 18. Furthermore, the 
direction of operation of the motor 19 is automatically reversed so that 
this motor again drives the respective rollers 21a, 21b to advance 
successive sections 4 from the corresponding guide 17 into the space 
between the respective pairs of belt conveyors 23. The normal operation 
can be resumed as soon as the brake 39 or 41 is deactivated, i.e., as soon 
as the conduit 6 or 7 is again free to advance successive sections 4 of a 
series of such sections into the range of the corresponding rollers 11. 
As can be seen on the basis of the preceding description of the mode of 
operation of the improved apparatus, the invention renders it possible to 
automatically resume the normal operation of a transferring unit 8 as soon 
as the evacuation of sections 4 which were arrested or clamped or gripped 
or deformed in such unit is reliably and predictably completed. The length 
ascertaining means 27, 28 cooperate with the monitoring means 36 to ensure 
that the control circuit 29 can generate defect signals which can reliably 
initiate all undertakings necessary to ensure rapid and predictable 
evacuation of sections 4 from the respective first path, to ensure the 
activation of the respective brake 39 or 41, to ensure the movement of the 
respective guide 17 to its second position, to ensure a reversal in the 
direction of operation of the respective motor 19, and to immediately 
reestablish the normal operating conditions as soon as the disturbance in 
the region of a transferring unit 8 is eliminated. 
Those portions of the first paths which are denoted by the characters 9 are 
preferably closed, i.e., they need not be provided with lateral outlets, 
longitudinally extending slots or the like. 
An important advantage of the improved apparatus is that it can immediately 
react to a number of different disturbances including a shortening of the 
spaces a below a predetermined minimum length and/or improper operation of 
a transferring unit 8 and/or a second conveyor 21. All this can be 
accomplished within an extremely short interval of time and the apparatus 
can automatically reset all of its constituents for normal operation as 
soon as the cause of malfunction at the one or the other transferring unit 
8 is eliminated. Thus, it is no longer necessary to manually remove any 
filter rod sections 4 which happen to be caught in a transferring unit 8 
because all necessary undertakings which must be carried out to restore 
the operability of a unit 8 can be carried out by the control circuit in 
cooperation with the respective monitoring device 36 and in cooperation 
with the respective length ascertaining means 27, 28. The provision of 
monitoring means 36 at each of the transferring stations 8 constitutes a 
novel feature which renders it possible to dispense with manual evacuation 
of filter rod sections 4 from a transferring unit 8. It is no longer 
necessary to interrupt the operation of the apparatus for prolonged 
intervals of time because not only the stoppage but also the restarting of 
the parts is effected automatically in response to signals from the length 
ascertaining means 27, 28 and/or from the monitoring means 36. 
The deflecting members 18 at the transfer units 8 are particularly likely 
to undergo extensive wear as a result of repeated contact with the leading 
ends of successive sections 4 advancing along the respective guides 17. 
The pivotability of the guides 17 renders it possible to gain ready access 
to the respective deflecting members 18 for the purposes of inspection or 
replacement. This, too, contributes to longer useful life of the improved 
apparatus. 
Another important advantage of the improved apparatus is its simplicity and 
its reliability. The regulating system is simple, reliable and 
inexpensive. Also, proper mounting of the guide 17 and of the deflecting 
member 18 at each of the transferring units 8 presents no problems and can 
be selected in dependency on the nature of the sections 4 or other 
rod-shaped articles which are to be conveyed to the receptacle 24 or to 
another destination. 
Still another advantage of the improved apparatus is that the disturbances 
which are likely to develop as a result of the development of spaces a 
which are shorter than necessary for reliable operation of the 
transferring units 8 can be readily prevented even before they develop, 
i.e., by ascertaining the length of the spaces a before the corresponding 
sections 4a and 4b reach the respective transferring unit 8. 
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of 
the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, 
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, 
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential 
characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of the above outlined 
contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are 
intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of 
the appended claims.