Patent Abstract:
A module for a machine used in the tobacco processing industry for processing, assembling, and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles. The machine module includes a vertical conveyor.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority of German Patent Application No. DE 10 2004 063 097.6, filed on Dec. 22, 2004, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a module for a machine used in the tobacco processing industry for conveying, processing, assembling and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles. The present invention further relates to a method for perforating rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry.  
         [0003]     Modules of this type are known, for example, from applicant&#39;s own International Publication No. WO 03/024256 A2, incorporated herein by reference. This reference describes the modules as independent functional units that jointly form an apparatus for assembling groups of filter segments to produce multi-segment filters of the tobacco processing industry in a rod-forming process. As a result, highly variable multi-segment filter production is possible. Even different multi-segment filters can be produced cost-effectively due to the variability of the respective apparatus and/or machine. In addition, little time is required for a changeover of the apparatus and/or machine. Furthermore, the respective apparatus and/or machine saves space.  
         [0004]     German Patent No. 101 45 326 A1, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method and apparatus for producing ventilated cigarettes by means of perforation. Another method and apparatus for perforating cigarettes are disclosed in German Patent No. 102 17 409 A1, incorporated herein by reference.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     It is an object of the present invention to provide one or more modules for use in a highly variable machine of the tobacco processing industry for conveying, processing, assembling and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method that permits efficient perforation of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry.  
         [0006]     According to one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a machine used in the tobacco processing industry for processing, assembling, and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles, the machine comprising at least one module including a vertical conveyor. The machines described in the applicant&#39;s reference Nos. WO 03/024256A2, and PCT/EP2004/007039 (both incorporated herein by reference) can be modified to include the principles of the present invention.  
         [0007]     By using a vertical conveyor, it is possible to obtain a filter-tipping machine or a machine for assembling rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry (e.g., a multi-segment filter producing machine) having a space-saving and highly variable configuration. In particular, the vertical conveyor can provide a variable point of interconnection with other elements of the machine, or with other machines, particularly with respect to height. The transfer of articles of the tobacco processing industry to the vertical conveyor, as well as the discharge from the conveyor, can take place at different heights and locations. Also, the articles can be arranged one above the other.  
         [0008]     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the vertical conveyor is adapted to convey articles of the tobacco processing industry exclusively in the vertical direction, at least in some sections. This can be realized particularly easily if the vertical conveyor comprises a conveying belt. According to an exemplary embodiment, the vertical conveyor preferably comprises a belt-type conveyor. The point of intersection to other conveying elements or machines of this type can be realized particularly easily and with high variability if a vertical conveyor and/or a vertical belt conveyor is used in a filter-tipping machine or a machine for assembling rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry. In addition, such a machine may require very little space for setup.  
         [0009]     The present invention also provides a module for a machine used in the tobacco processing industry for processing, assembling and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles, comprising a vertical conveyor. According to an exemplary embodiment, the module is preferably an independent functional unit as defined in International Publication No. WO 03/024256 A2, incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0010]     The vertical conveyor is advantageously embodied so as to convey the articles exclusively in the vertical direction, at least in some sections. In particular, the vertical conveyor can be a belt conveyor and/or or a vertical belt conveyor. Using a vertical conveyor in a module of this type results in high variability of the module, as does the use of the module in a respective machine. In addition, a module and/or machine of this type can be highly space-saving.  
         [0011]     The vertical conveyor can be arranged downstream, with respect to the article-conveying direction, preferably at the module output. This can create an intersection to other modules or other conveying elements or conveying means, for example, a withdrawing drum. In addition, several drums can be operatively connected to the vertical conveyor, thus resulting in a highly variable intersection. If an element for taking over the articles from the vertical conveyor is provided upstream, with respect to the conveying direction, at the intake, a simple and efficient point of intersection can be provided between two modules, at least one of which comprises a vertical conveyor.  
         [0012]     Particularly advantageous is a module that is designed to be operatively connected to at least one other module. In that case, two modules can be directly connected and placed right next to each other, thereby resulting in a high variability of the respective machines, as well as a particularly space saving arrangement.  
         [0013]     The machine used in the tobacco processing industry according to the present invention can be a filter-tipping machine or an apparatus for assembling groups of filter segments for producing multi-segment filters. The applicant markets a standard filter-tipping machine under the designation “MAX.” An extremely efficient filter-tipping machine is described, for example, in International Application No. PCT/EP2004/007039, incorporated herein by reference. An apparatus for assembling groups of filter segments for producing multi-segment filters is described in detail in the applicant&#39;s International Publication No. WO 03/024256 A2, incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0014]     The present invention also relates to a module on a machine used in the tobacco processing industry for conveying, processing, assembling and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, which comprises at least two perforation devices, arranged one above the other. By arranging the perforation devices one above the other, in particular vertically above each other, it is possible to realize a highly space-saving module. Each perforation device can comprise a conveying element for removing articles from a first conveyor and transferring these to a second conveyor, thus resulting in a highly variable module. The first and/or second conveyor preferably can be a vertical conveyor. A particularly space-saving module is obtained if the vertical conveyor conveys the articles exclusively in the vertical direction, at least in some sections. According to one exemplary embodiment, the vertical conveyor is preferably a belt conveyor, in particular, a vertical belt conveyor.  
         [0015]     A machine used in the tobacco processing industry, with elements for assembling, conveying, processing and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, advantageously comprises one of the aforementioned modules according to the invention. The machine can be a filter-tipping machine or an apparatus for assembling groups of filter segments for producing multi-segment filters.  
         [0016]     The present invention also relates to a method for processing, assembling and/or inspecting rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry, comprising utilizing a vertical conveyor in at least one of a filter-tipping machine or an apparatus for assembling rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry. Preferably, at least some sections of the vertical conveyor convey the rod-shaped articles exclusively in a vertical direction. The vertical conveyor preferentially comprises a conveying belt. With this method a space-saving processing, assembling and/or inspecting of rod-shaped articles becomes possible.  
         [0017]     The present invention also relates to a method for perforating rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry. A sequence of rod-shaped articles is conveyed and divided into at least two partial sequences. The articles of each partial sequence are conveyed to a perforation device for subsequent perforation. The partial sequences are then combined again into a single sequence of perforated articles. An extremely efficient process control is possible with a noticeable increase in the operational throughput when the article sequence is divided into at least two partial sequences.  
         [0018]     A separate perforation device can be assigned to each partial sequence, thus resulting in a highly efficient perforation of the rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry. Little space is required for realizing this method if the sequence is conveyed vertically, at least in some sections.  
         [0019]     The sequence can be conveyed on a vertical conveyor, preferably a belt conveyor and/or vertical belt conveyor. The partial sequences can also be conveyed on a vertical conveyor. The articles in the partial sequences can be perforated while positioned vertically one above the other, for example, by using high-energy radiation, such as laser radiation.  
         [0020]     An exemplary method and apparatus for perforating the rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry is disclosed in German Patent Nos. 101 45 326 A1, and 102 17 409 A1, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. We refer to these references with respect to the type and method of burning holes into the surfaces of rod-shaped articles, for example, into cigarette paper. These references contain detailed descriptions, and are referred to herein for a more detailed description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]     These and other features and advantages of the invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, without restriction of the general inventive idea, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0022]      FIG. 1   a  is a schematic view of an exemplary dual-belt filter-tipping machine according to the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 1   b  is a schematic view of the operation of the dual-line filter-tipping machine of  FIG. 1   a;    
         [0024]      FIG. 2   a  is a schematic view of another exemplary embodiment of a dual-line filter-tipping machine according to the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2   b  is a schematic view of the operation of the dual-line filter-tipping machine of  FIG. 2   a;    
         [0026]      FIG. 3   a  is a schematic view of an exemplary four-line filter-tipping machine according to the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3   b  is a schematic view of the operation of the four-line filter-tipping machine of  FIG. 3   a;    
         [0028]      FIG. 4   a  is a schematic view of another exemplary embodiment of a four-line filter-tipping machine according to the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 4   b  is a schematic view of the operation of the filter-tipping machine of  FIG. 4   a;    
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of exemplary modules according to the present invention, as well as exemplary functional units for augmenting the modules;  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an exemplary perforation device according to the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of another exemplary embodiment of a perforation device according to the present invention; and  
         [0033]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of yet another exemplary perforation device according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]      FIG. 1   a  is a schematic representation of an exemplary basic dual-line filter-tipping machine  10 , comprising relatively few modules and/or elements. A tobacco conveying module  11 , a filter-tipping module  12 , and an inspection and delivery module  13  are arranged one behind the other, and are operatively connected. The tobacco-conveying module  11  is arranged in the filter-tipping machine  10  in the upstream direction with respect to the article flow, while the inspection and delivery module  13  is arranged in the downstream direction.  
         [0035]     Double-length tobacco rods  60  (shown in  FIG. 1   b ), are deposited on the takeover drum  30  and are transferred thereby to a conveying drum  31  where they are cut by a cutting element  32  into two single-length tobacco rods, and are transferred to a conveying/separating drum  33 . The single-length tobacco-rods  61  (shown in  FIG. 1   b ) are pulled apart on the drum  33  and are then transferred to a vertical conveyor  34 . At an intersecting point with the filter-tipping module  12 , double-length filters  62  (shown in  FIG. 1   b ) are also transferred to the vertical conveyor  34 , shown as a vertical belt conveyor. Multiple-length filter rods are removed from a filter magazine  36 , and then cut into double-length filters on a removal drum  37  using one or several knives (not shown). The filters are staggered on a staggering drum  38 , inserted into a sequence of filters on a pusher drum  38   a,  and are subsequently transferred by an accelerating drum  39  to the vertical conveyor  34 . As shown schematically in  FIG. 1   b,  the double-length filter rods  62  are deposited in correspondingly provided receptacles (not shown), at the location of vertical conveyor  34 , and at a location that corresponds to the location of the single-length tobacco rods  61 , which are supplied later on. Subsequently, the tobacco rod/filter/tobacco rod group  63  is transferred to the takeover drum  41 .  
         [0036]     A tipping paper tape  43  is cut with the aid of an apparatus  42  into tipping-paper sections  64  ( FIG. 1   b ), which are then affixed with adhesive to the tobacco rod/filter/tobacco rod groups  63 . This process will not be explained in further detail herein since it is known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Subsequently, the tobacco rod/filter/tobacco rod group  63 , provided with the tipping paper sections  64 , is transferred to the conveying drum  44 . On the conveying drum  44 , the tipping paper section  64  is wrapped around the tobacco rod/filter/tobacco rod group  63  and a double-length filter cigarette  65  ( FIG. 1   b ) is produced. Following the transfer of the double-length filter cigarette  65  onto the conveying drum  45 , the double-length filter cigarette  65  is cut by a cutting element  32 ′ into two filter cigarettes  66  ( FIG. 1   b ), which are conveyed on a vertical conveyor  34 ′, in this case a vertical belt conveyor. The vertical belt conveyor  34 ′ is operatively connected to a removal drum and/or a conveying drum  46  which takes over the filter cigarettes  66 , respectively arranged coaxial inside a receptacle, and transfers these to a conveying drum  47 . Following this process, the filter cigarettes  66  are transported to a delivery drum  48  where they are separated and/or pulled apart, so that they are positioned at a distance to each other.  
         [0037]     The pulled-apart filter cigarettes  66  are transferred to a vertical conveyor  34 ″, for example, a vertical belt conveyor. From the vertical belt conveyor  34 ″ the filter cigarettes  66  are removed by a takeover drum  50  and are transferred to an inspection drum  51 . The cigarettes  66  on the inspection drum  51  are tested with an inspection device  53 . Defective cigarettes can be removed later on, for example, by ejecting them below the vertical conveyor  34 ″, as shown with the arrow starting at the vertical conveyor  34 ″ and extending at a slant downward to the left. The inspected cigarettes  66  are transferred from the inspection drum  51  to a delivery drum  52  and travel via the vertical conveyor  34 ″ and a conveying drum  54  to a turning drum  55  and then back again to the vertical conveyor  34 ″. The uniformly oriented cigarettes  66  are then transferred by a delivery drum  56  to a conveying belt  57 .  
         [0038]     The steps and elements described above are shown schematically in  FIG. 1   b.  Since the operational steps were previously described with reference to  FIG. 1   a,  they are not explained again with reference to  FIG. 1   b.  The respective elements shown in  FIG. 1   b,  for example, the drums  30 ,  31 ,  33 ,  41 ,  44 , the vertical conveyors  34 ,  34 ′,  34 ″, and the articles  60 - 66 , are shown schematically to illustrate the successive operational steps (in the directions of the arrows in  FIG. 1   a ).  
         [0039]      FIG. 2   a  shows an alternative embodiment of a filter-tipping machine according to the present invention, comprising four modules. According to this exemplary embodiment, a tobacco rod and filter-conveying module  14 , a filter-tipping module  12 , a perforation module  15 , and an inspection and delivery module  13  are arranged downstream from one another.  
         [0040]     The tobacco rod and filter conveying module  14  shown in  FIG. 2   a  differs from the tobacco rod conveying module  11  shown in  FIG. 1   a,  in that a functional filter conveying unit  26  (see  FIG. 5 ) is additionally provided in the upper region of the module  14 . The filter conveying unit  26  can comprise a filter magazine  36 ′, a takeover drum  37 ′, a staggering drum  38 ′, a pusher drum  38   a′,  and an acceleration drum  39 ′. According to this exemplary embodiment, two different types of filter elements  67  and  68  (see  FIG. 2   b ) can be assembled on the vertical conveyor  34  and placed between the single-length tobacco rods  61 . The filter-tipping module  12  corresponds to the one shown in  FIG. 1   a.  Also, the inspection and delivery module  13  corresponds to the one shown in  FIG. 1   a.    
         [0041]     A perforation module  15  can be provided between the inspection and delivery module  13  and the filter-tipping module  12 . The filter cigarettes  66 , which are arranged coaxially inside a respective receptacle on the transfer drum  70 , are initially transferred one after another to a vertical conveyor  34 ′″, by the vertical conveyor  34 ′ and the transfer drum  70 . The single sequence of cut, double-length filter cigarettes  65  and/or coaxially arranged filter cigarettes  66  (arranged transverse and successively in the conveying direction) is divided into two partial sequences by the vertical conveyor  34 ′″ (e.g., a partial sequence from the perforation drum  81 , and a partial sequence from the perforation drum  81 ′). The cigarettes are then perforated in the standard manner by perforation devices  80  and/or  80 ′, and are subsequently transferred to a vertical conveyor  34 ″″, from which the perforated filter cigarettes  66  are transferred to the conveying drum  46 . The laser perforation will be described in further detail below with reference to FIGS.  6  to  8 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 2   b  schematically shows the operational steps for the machine shown in  FIG. 2   a.  The conveying path for the articles  60 - 66  of the tobacco industry is indicated schematically with an arrow in the upper region of  FIG. 2   b.  Initially, double-length tobacco rods  60  are transferred to the takeover drum  30 . The tobacco rods are then transferred to a conveying drum  31  where they are cut into single-length tobacco rods  61 . Following the transfer to the conveying/separating drum  33 , the single-length tobacco rods  61  are pulled apart and/or separated in the axial direction. The separated single-length tobacco rods  61  are then transferred to the vertical belt conveyor  34 . On the vertical belt conveyor  34 , a double-length filter element  68  from the filter-tipping module  12  is added. The filter element  68  is deposited in the center of a respective receptacle and/or holding receptacle (not illustrated) in the vertical belt conveyor  34 . Two filter elements  67  are deposited on each end of the filter element  68  in the respective receptacles of the vertical belt conveyor  34 , so that following the transfer of the single-length tobacco rods  61  to the vertical belt conveyor  34 , each receptacle contains a sequence of components, comprising a single-length tobacco rod  61 , a filter element  67 , a filter element  68 , a filter element  67 , and a single-length tobacco rod  61 . Means for pushing these components together can also be provided, for example, in the region of the vertical belt conveyor  34 , or in the region of the takeover drum  41 .  
         [0043]     On the takeover drum  41 , tipping paper sections  64  can be respectively affixed and/or glued to the tobacco rod/filter/tobacco rod groups  63 . The respective tipping paper section  64  can be wound around the group  63  on the drum  44  to produce double-length filter cigarettes  65 , which are positioned in the discharge area for drum  44  and on the conveying drum  45 . On the conveying drum  45 , the double-length filter cigarettes  65  can be cut in the center to form two cigarettes  66  which are then transferred to a vertical belt conveyor  34 ′.  
         [0044]     The cigarettes  66 , which are arranged next to each other in the axial direction, are subsequently transferred to a drum  70 , and from there are transferred to a vertical belt conveyor  34 ′″.  
         [0045]     The cigarettes  66 , which are arranged adjacent to one another in a receptacle of the vertical belt conveyor  34 ′″, are conveyed in a single cigarette sequence on the vertical belt conveyor  34 ′″ until they reach the drum  81 ′. The drum  81 ′ removes a partial sequence from the sequence by removing the cigarettes  66  from every second receptacle. The remaining cigarettes  66  on the vertical belt conveyor  34 ′″ are removed by the drum  81 . The cigarettes  66  are subsequently perforated while positioned on the drums  81  and  81 ′. The perforated cigarettes  66  are transferred to the vertical belt conveyor  34 ″″ and conveyed via drums  46 ,  47 ,  48  to the vertical belt conveyor  34 ″. Prior to transfer to the vertical belt conveyor  34 ″, the cigarettes  66  can be pulled apart while on the drum  48 , as indicated schematically in  FIG. 2   b.    
         [0046]     Referring to  FIG. 2   a,  the pulled-apart cigarettes  66  can be transported successively past an inspection device  53  while positioned on the inspection drum  51  in the drawing plane, and inspected thereby. The inspected cigarettes subsequently travel via a drum  52  back to the vertical belt conveyor  34 ″, and from there, travel via a drum  54  to a turning drum  55  on which one partial sequence of the cigarettes is turned. As a result, all cigarettes  66  can have the same orientation from that point forward. The cigarettes  66 , conveyed with uniform orientation, can be transferred from the vertical belt conveyor  34 ″ via a removal drum  56  to a conveying belt  57 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 3   a  is a schematic representation of another alternative embodiment of a four-line filter-tipping machine according to the present invention. As compared to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1   a,  the tobacco-rod conveying module  11 ′ is different in that it comprises a functional unit  21  for feeding tobacco-rods. The tobacco-rod feeding unit  21  can comprise a takeover drum  30 ′, a conveying drum  31 ′, a cutting element  32 ′, a conveying/separating drum  33 ′, as well as the beginning and/or a section of a conveying belt  90 .  
         [0048]     Thus, two cut and pulled-apart, single-length tobacco rods  61  can be alternately deposited onto the vertical conveyor  34  by the conveying/separating drums  33 ,  33 ′. One sequence of the single-length, pulled-apart tobacco rods  61  is transferred from the conveying/separating drums to the conveying belt  90 , while another sequence of single-length, pulled-apart tobacco rods  61  is further processed in the filter-tipping module  12 ′. Initially, double-length filter cigarettes  65  are produced, then single-length filter cigarettes  66  are produced coaxially, which are respectively arranged inside a receptacle, as previously described with reference to  FIGS. 1   a,    1   b,    2   a,  and  2   b.    
         [0049]     An exchange occurs between the cigarettes  66  coming from above, and the single-length tobacco rods  61  conveyed from below, by the conveying belt  90 , in the region of the vertical conveyor  34 ′ for the upstream-positioned filter-tipping module  12 ′. The single-length tobacco rods  61  together with the double-length filters  62 , supplied from the filter magazine  36 ″ to the single-length tobacco rods  61 , are initially formed into double-length filter cigarettes  65  inside the downstream-positioned filter-tipping module  12 ′, and are then separated into individual filter cigarettes  66 . This operation takes place as explained above in connection with the previous embodiments.  
         [0050]     The exchange between the vertical conveyor  34 ′ of the upstream-positioned filter-tipping module  12 ′, and the conveying belt  90  takes place such that the respective holding receptacles on the conveying belt  90  for the rod-shaped articles alternately contain and/or are supplied with the articles which are processed in the upstream positioned filter-tipping module  12 ′ into single filter cigarettes  66 .  
         [0051]     Following this, the produced filter cigarettes  66  are correspondingly inspected in the inspection and delivery module  13 ′, which in contrast to the inspection and delivery module  13  according to  FIG. 1   a,  comprises a functional inspection unit  23 , an inspection drum  51 ′, a delivery drum  52 , and an inspection device  53 ′. Two inspection devices  53  and  53 ′ can be provided for this embodiment to satisfy the increased throughput of filter cigarettes  66  to be inspected. The sequence of filter cigarettes, moved via the delivery drum  48  to the vertical conveyor  34 ″, is also divided into partial sequences, wherein one partial sequence comprises filter cigarettes with one orientation and the other partial sequence comprises filter cigarettes with the opposite orientation. A separating out from the filter cigarette flow in this case also occurs in the lower region of the vertical conveyor  34 ″.  
         [0052]      FIG. 3   b  schematically illustrates the respective operational steps of the exemplary four-line filter-tipping machine shown in  FIG. 3   a,  for which the respective explanations have already been provided above. The exemplary embodiment with four belts can be achieved with the aid of cooperating conveying elements  30 ,  30 ′;  31 ,  31 ′;  33 ,  33 ′;  34 ″,  91 ;  51 ,  51 ′; and  34 ″,  52 , which are arranged below each other. For illustration purposes, the conveying belt  90  is shown in  FIG. 3   a  below the conveying elements, positioned vertically above.  
         [0053]     An exemplary filter-tipping machine of the present invention having a comprehensive expansion stage is shown schematically in  FIG. 4   a.    
         [0054]     In contrast to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 3   a,  the tobacco-rod conveying module  11 ′ is replaced with a tobacco-rod and filter-conveying module  14 ′. Module  14 ′ can comprise a filter-conveying unit  26  with a filter magazine  36 ′″, a takeover drum  37 ′″, a staggering drum  38 ′″, a pusher drum  38   a′″,  and an accelerating drum  39 ′″ in the filter-conveying module  16 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, this is a separate module which comprises a vertical conveyor  34 ′ that is operatively connected to an accelerating drum  39 ″, the accelerating drum  39 ′″, the conveying belt  90 , and a takeover drum  41 ″ of the downstream positioned filter-tipping module  12 ′. Thus, in contrast to  FIG. 3   a,  double-length filter cigarettes can be produced in four lines. Also provided is an additional functional unit  26  for conveying filters, which comprises a filter magazine  36 ′, a takeover drum  37 ′, a staggering drum  38 ′, a pusher drum  38   a′,  and an acceleration drum  39 ′.  
         [0055]     The perforation module  15 ′ can comprise four laser perforation devices  80 ,  80 ′,  80 ″, and  80 ′″, as well as four perforation drums  81 ,  81 ′,  81 ″, and  81 ′″. The filter cigarettes can thus be divided into four partial flows for perforating. The filter cigarettes are taken over by the vertical conveyor  34 ′″ and transferred to the vertical conveyor  34 ″″, so that the perforated filter cigarettes can again be merged into a single sequence of filter cigarettes. The module  13 ′ shown in  FIG. 4   a  can correspond to that shown in  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0056]      FIG. 4   b  schematically shows the operation of the exemplary four-line filter-tipping machine of  FIG. 4   a . The operation will be self-explanatory to the person of ordinary skill in the art in view of the above-provided description.  
         [0057]     Exemplary embodiments of the modules according to the present invention are shown in the upper region of  FIG. 5 , namely a tobacco-rod conveying module  11 , a filter-tipping module  12 , an inspection and delivery module  13 , a perforation module  15 , and a filter-conveying module  16 . Not shown is a tobacco-rod and filter-conveying module  14  which comprises a combination of a tobacco-rod conveying module  11  and a functional unit  26  for conveying filters. The various functional units which can be installed in the respective modules are further shown in the lower region of  FIG. 5 . Provided, for example, is a functional unit  23  for inspection, which can be installed in the inspection and delivery module  13 . To install the functional unit  23  in the inspection and delivery module  13 , the conveying drum  54  and the turning drum  55  can be removed. Also provided is a functional unit  25  for the perforation, which comprises two laser perforation devices  80 ″ and  80 ′″, two perforation drums  81 ″ and  81 ′″, as well as a functional unit for transporting  27 , comprising a conveying belt  90 , and/or a section of a conveying belt  90 . Finally, a functional unit  21  for feeding tobacco rods is provided, which comprises a takeover drum  30 ′, a conveying drum  31 ′, a cutting element  32 ′, and a conveying/separating drum  33 ′.  
         [0058]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a perforation device. The vertical conveyor  34 ′″ can be provided with receptacles  95  in the conveying belt on the vertical conveyor  34 ′″. Arrows are used in  FIG. 6  to indicate the conveying direction. The cigarettes  66  are deposited at the article intake location  100  into the respective receptacles  95  on the conveying belt. In the exemplary embodiment shown, one receptacle is alternately left empty and one is filled. In the region where the perforation drum  81 ′ is located, one filter cigarette  66  is removed from the vertical conveyor  34 ′″, while the adjacent filter cigarette  66  remains on the conveying belt. The division of the receptacles on the perforation drum  81 ′ is thus twice that on the vertical conveyor  34 ′″. The remaining partial sequence of filter cigarettes  66  on the vertical conveyor  34 ′″ is transferred to the perforation drum  81 . The filter cigarettes  66  are then perforated in the standard manner in the region of perforation devices  80 ,  80 ′. A grooved drum  92  and/or  92 ′ is provided by means of which the filter cigarettes  66  are rotated around their axes. In the process, high-energy radiation  98  is focused onto the filter paper to burn small holes into it. Reference is made to German Patent No. 101 45 326 A1, incorporated herein by reference, to explain the mode of operation of the perforation device  80 ,  80 ′,  80 ″ and  80 ′″.  
         [0059]     The perforated filter cigarettes are conveyed to the vertical conveyor  34 ″″, so that a corresponding sequence of filter cigarettes  66  is formed and delivered to the article delivery region  101 .  
         [0060]      FIG. 7  is a schematic representation of another exemplary perforation device according to the present invention. According to this exemplary embodiment, the number of receptacles  95  increases four-fold between the vertical conveyor  34 ′″ and  34 ″″ and the perforation drums  81  to  81 ′″. Thus, for this exemplary embodiment, four laser perforation devices  80  to  80 ′″ and four perforation drums  81  to  81 ′″ are provided instead of the two shown in  FIG. 6 . The method of perforating and picking up and/or delivering the filter cigarettes corresponds to the method illustrated in  FIG. 6 . However, the throughput is doubled while the speed of the moving elements remains the same.  
         [0061]     As compared to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the throughput of filter cigarettes can be doubled when using the exemplary perforation arrangement depicted in  FIG. 8 . According to this exemplary embodiment, the perforation devices  80  and  80 ′ can be used which respectively comprise two optic systems  93  and  94 , and/or  93 ′ and  94 ′. These optic systems function to focus high-energy radiation  98  (e.g., laser radiation) onto the cigarettes  66 . The exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 8  can additionally be provided with a roller belt  96  and/or  96 ′. The cigarettes  66  are positioned between the roller belt  96  and/or  96 ′, and the rolling block  97  and/or  97 ′, thereby causing a rotation of the corresponding cigarettes  66 . With respect to the configuration of the perforation device  80  and/or  80 ′, we refer to the full content of German Patent No. 102 17 409 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0062]     It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0