Patent ID: 8496569

Claim:
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.