Method and machine for the production of composite filter mouthpiece

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the material of at least one of said filter plugs is different from the material of said filter disk.

Claim 4

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said moving step comprises moving the prefabricated tube sideways along an endless path and the material of said first filter plug is identical with the material of said second filter plug but different from the material of said filter disk.

Claim 5

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said second introducing step comprises moving said filter disk axially into abutment with one end of said first plug and said third introducing step comprises moving said second filter plug into the tube to a position in which the second filter plug is spaced apart from said filter disk.

Claim 6

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said second introducing step comprises moving said filter disk into the moving tube to a position in which the disk is spaced apart from said first filter plug and said third introducing step comprises moving one end of said second filter plug into abutment with said filter disk.

Claim 7

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising a fourth placing step of positioning a second filter disk in axial alignment with the moving tube, a fourth introducing step of inserting the thus aligned second disk into the moving tube so that said first and second disks are located at the opposite sides of said second plug, a fifth placing step of positioning a third filter plug in axial alignment with the Moving tube, and a fifth introducing step of inserting the thus aligned third plug into the moving tube so that said second disk is located between said second and third plugs.

Claim 8

A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said second and third introducing steps comprise locating said first disk and said second plug in such axial positions that said first disk abuts against one but is spaced apart from the other of said first and second filter plugs.

Claim 9

A method as defined in claim 7, wherein said fourth and fifth introducing steps comprise locating said second disk and said third plug in such axial positions that said second disk abuts against one but is spaced apart from the other of said second and third filter plugs.

Claim 10

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the axial length of one of said filter plugs is a multiple of the axial length of the other filter plug.

Claim 11

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of continuously moving an elongated filter rod section sideways, severing said filter rod section to form said first filter plug, and severing said filter rod section to form said second filter plug.

Claim 12

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of moving an elongated strip of filter material lengthwise and severing said moving strip to form said filter disk.

Claim 13

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said second introducing step comprises pushing said filter disk into the moving tube by way of said second filter plug in the course of said third introducing step.

Claim 14

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising a fourth placing step positioning a second filter disk in axial alignment with the moving tube, a fourth introducing step of inserting the thus aligned second disk into the moving tube so that the second plug is located between said first and second disks, a fifth placing step of positioning a third filter plug in axial alignment with the moving tube, and a fifth inserting step of introducing the thus aligned third plug into the moving tube so that said second disk is located between said second and third plugs, said fourth introducing step comprising pushing said second disk into the moving tube by way of said third plug in the course of said fifth introducing step.

Claim 15

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of moving an elongated filter rod section sideways and severing said filter rod section to form said second filter plug, said second placing step comprising locating said filter disk in axial alignment with said severed second plug and said second introducing step taking place simultaneously with said third introducing step.

Claim 16

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and third placing steps comprises moving an elongated filter rod section sideways in axial alignment with the moving tube and severing the filter rod section to form the respective filter plug, and further comprising the step of moving the thus severed filter rod section out of axial alignment with said tube prior to introduction of said respective filter plug.

Claim 17

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said moving step comprises continuously moving a plurality of prefabricated tubes sideways along an endless path, at least one of said first and third placing and introducing steps comprising moving a plurality of elongated filter rod sections sideways so that each thereof registers with a moving tube, severing said filter rod sections to form the respective filter plugs, and simultaneously introducing the thus formed plugs into the respective tubes.

Claim 18

In a machine for the making of composite mouthpieces of the type wherein a prefabricated tube confines a plurality of self-supporting plug- and disk-shaped gas-permeable filter elements, a combination comprising first conveyor means having at least one continuously moving receptacle for removably retaining and moving a prefabricated tube sideways; second conveyor means having continuously moving holdEr means for repeatedly placing a filter rod section into axial alignment with a tube in said receptacle; first feeding means for supplying elongated filter rod sections to said holder means; severing means for se vering the filter rod section in said holder means so that the section yields discrete filter plugs; at least one second feeding means for supplying filter disks into axial alignment with a tube in said receptacle; and inserting means actuatable to alternatingly introduce axially aligned filter plugs and filter disks into a tube in said re ceptacle.

Claim 19

In a machine for the making of composite mouthpieces of the type wherein a prefabricated tube confines a plurality of self-supporting plug- and disk-shaped gas-permeable filter elements, a combination comprising first conveyor means having at least one continuously moving receptacle for removably retaining and moving a prefabricated tube sideways; second conveyor means having continuously moving holdEr means for repeatedly placing a filter rod section into axial alignment with a tube in said receptacle; first feeding means for supplying elongated filter rod sections to said holder means; severing means for se vering the filter rod section in said holder means so that the section yields discrete filter plugs; at least one second feeding means for supplying filter disks into axial alignment with a tube in said receptacle; and inserting means actuatable to alternatingly introduce axially aligned filter plugs and filter disks into a tube in said re ceptacle.

Claim 20

A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said first and second conveyor means are coaxial rotary conveyors and further comprising drive means for moving said holder means relative to said conveyors, said inserting means comprising a third conveyor coaxial with said rotary conveyors and having a ram coaxial with a tube in said receptacle and second drive means for moving said ram axially to thereby introduce filter plugs and filter disks into the tube in said receptacle.

Claim 21

A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said second feeding means comprises a source of strip-shaped filter material, advancing means for drawing the material from said source and for continuously moving the thus withdrawn material along a predetermined path, stamping means for removing from the moving material in said path a succession of filter disks, and transfer means for transporting filter disks from said path to said first conveyor means.

Claim 22

A combination as defined in claim 19, wherein said transfer conveyor means comprises a rotary member having apertures for reception of filter disks.

Claim 23

A combination as defined in claim 19, further comprising drive means for repeatedly moving said holder means into and from axial alignment with said receptacle, receptacle said inserting means being operative to transfer filter plugs from said holder means into said receptacle while said holder means is aligned with the receptacle.

Claim 24

A combination as defined in claim 17, further comprising drive means for moving said holder means relative to said first conveyor means and for maintaining said holder means in axial alignment with said receptacle while said severing means severs a filter rod section in said holder means.

Claim 25

A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said severing means comprises at least one knife located in a plane which is normal to the axis of a filter rod section in said holder means.

Claim 26

A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said inserting means comprises a ram which is in axial alignment with a tube in said receptacle and drive means for moving said ram axially prior to transport of a filter rod section in said holder means past said severing means.

Claim 27

A combination as defined in claim 24, wherein said drive means comprises a cam and follower means operatively connected with said ram and arranged to track said cam.

Claim 28

A combination as defined in claim 17, further comprising drive means for moving said holder means into and from register with said receptacle, said drive means comprising cam means and follower means operatively connected with said holder means and arranged to track said cam means.

Claim 29

A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said first conveyor means comprises at least one set of parallel receptacles and said second conveyor means comprises discrete holder means for each receptacle of said set, said inserting means comprising discrete axially movable rams in register with said receptacles.