KR102709576B1 - Improved filter rod manufacturing machine for handling rigid packaging web materials - Google Patents

Abstract

A filter rod manufacturing machine comprises a drive station for forming a packaged filter rod; a cutting blade for cutting the packaged filter rod into rod segments (104); and a conveying device including a rotating drum (100) having a plurality of spaced apart elongated grooves (102), the plurality of spaced apart elongated grooves being formed on an outer surface of the drum, the elongated grooves receiving the rod segments (104) when the drum rotates. The drum comprises a stop means (106) at one end of each elongated groove adjacent to a filter rod when the filter rod is received within the elongated groove. The stop means (106) comprises a pin (108) having a main cylinder having a first diameter (D1), the main cylinder extending along an axis (F) of the elongated groove (102) between first and second ends at which the pin is attached to the drum frame. The pin (108) includes an abutment (118) extending along the axis (F) from a second end of the main cylinder, the abutment (118) having a second diameter (D2) smaller than the first diameter (D1) and providing a substantially flat surface to contact one end of the elongated filter rod.

Description

Improved filter rod manufacturing machine for handling rigid packaging web materials

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a filter rod for use in the manufacture of smoking articles such as filter cigarettes.

A filter cigarette typically comprises a rod of cut filler tobacco wrapped in a paper wrapper, and a cylindrical filter aligned end-to-end with the wrapped tobacco rod and attached with tipping paper. The filter typically comprises one or more plugs of fibrous filter material. One suitable fibrous filter material is cellulose acetate tow, often treated with a plasticizer such as triacetin. The one or more plugs are typically surrounded by a paper material, commonly referred to as a “plug wrap.”

Manufacturing a filter rod from continuous fiber filter tow involves moving the filter tow through successive processing steps that align the tow fibers generally longitudinally, applying a plasticizer and/or other additives to the fibers before the tow is crimped, pressed and formed into a consistent shape, such as a generally circular rod. The manufacturing process also includes wrapping the fiber tow rod in a plug wrap to produce a packaged filter rod.

For this purpose, the filter rod manufacturing machine comprises a wrapping station which receives a rod-shaped fiber tow from a forming station and wraps the rod-shaped fiber tow with filter paper to form a continuous filter rod. The wrapping station comprises an endless belt conveyor (e.g. provided as a garniture tape) configured to advance in a predetermined direction along an endless path, and a feeding device which feeds a filter paper ribbon onto the belt conveyor in a first part of the path. Furthermore, the wrapping station comprises a guide element which gradually transforms the conveyor into a tube in a second part of the path from the first part of the path downstream by moving the side edges of the belt toward each other. A filter rod manufacturing machine of this type is described, for example, in US 4768526.

More specifically, the conveyor typically comprises a belt which is looped around two return rollers. A branch of the belt is slidably operated along a longitudinal groove provided in a guide element or garnish. The groove is continuously variable between the inlet and outlet ends of the guide and has a generally cylindrical cross-section at the outlet end. The belt which slides within the groove forms a garnish tape by means of which a filter paper ribbon advancing from a first path section is guided and wrapped around a fiber tow rod in a second path section. Thus, at the wrapping station, the filter paper ribbon is wrapped around the fiber tow in the rod shape such that the peripheries of the filter paper ribbon overlap.

Additionally, the filter rod making machine comprises a bonding means for applying a suitable adhesive to one or both side edges of the filter paper ribbon so that the side edges are bonded to each other when overlapping. The adhesive may be applied onto the packaging web material in the area of the applicator along the packaging garnish, or alternatively may be applied upstream from the inlet of the packaging web material to the garnish of the packaging station.

As an example, a heat-activatable adhesive may be applied onto one or both side edges of the filter paper ribbon, and the filter rod maker further includes a heat source that activates the adhesive and is positioned at arbitrary locations along the garnish.

Additionally, the filter rod manufacturing machine typically further comprises means for cooling the adhesive to enable it to cure rapidly. In particular, a filter rod manufacturing machine is known which comprises a cooling bar coupled to an endless belt conveyor for operation at any position along the packaging web material downstream of the heat source. Such a cooling bar is typically configured to have a temperature of about -5 degrees Celsius to about 6 degrees Celsius during use. This causes the adhesive to cure as the packaged rod moves along the cooling bar, thereby forming a sealed longitudinal seam.

The packaged filter rod thus produced can then be cut into segments having a predetermined length to obtain filter plug elements. In particular, the filter manufacturing machine comprises a cutting assembly at any location downstream of the cooling bar for cutting the packaged continuous filter rod leaving the packaging station into filter rod segments having a length corresponding to a plurality of filter plug elements. These filter rod segments can then be conveyed to a filter combiner or to a tipping device for attachment to a tobacco rod. For this purpose, the outlet station of the filter rod manufacturing machine comprises a conveying drum, which comprises a plurality of elongated flutes configured to receive the filter rod segments leaving the packaging station and to convey the filter rod segments to another operating unit.

For certain applications, it may be desirable to use a stiffer, thicker wrapping web material, for example to provide greater stiffness to the filter. However, this can make it difficult to form a filter rod having a low ovality. Additionally, friction along the wrapping web material between the stiffer wrapping web material and parts of the filter rod making machine increases, which can generate more heat and affect the sealing efficiency of the cooling bar.

At the same time, due to the inherent tendency of the stiff and thick packaging web material to elastically return to its original flat state, a larger amount of adhesive is required to accurately seal the overlapping side edges of the packaging web material around the rod-shaped fiber tow. However, this can have the undesirable effect that excess adhesive accumulates on the surface of the transport drum receiving the packaged filter rod section at the outlet of the packaging station. Because of this, the filter rod making machine may have to be stopped frequently and the machine downtime is thus undesirably increased.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a device for manufacturing a filter rod used in the manufacture of smoking articles so as to effectively remedy the above-mentioned disadvantages. In particular, it would be desirable to provide such a device which can significantly reduce machine downtime and at the same time ensure that the filter rod obtained by the device satisfies the manufacturing requirements required in terms of, for example, sealing quality, ovality, visual impact, etc.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a filter rod manufacturing device for use in the manufacture of smoking articles is provided. The device comprises a drive station for receiving a filter plug material and a packaging web material and forming a packaged filter rod from the filter plug material and the packaging web material. The device also comprises at least one cutting blade for cutting the packaged filter rod into elongated rod segments. The device also comprises a conveying device comprising a rotating drum having a plurality of spaced elongated grooves on its outer surface, the elongated grooves being constructed and arranged to receive the elongated rod segments when the drum rotates. The drum further comprises a stop means at one end of each elongated groove in which the elongated filter rod is positioned when received within the elongated groove. The stop means comprises a pin having a main cylinder having a first diameter (D1), the main cylinder extending along the axis (F) of the elongated groove between a first end to which the pin is attached to the drum frame and a second end opposite the first end. Additionally, the pin includes an abutment extending along the axis (F) from a second end of the main cylinder, the abutment having a second diameter (D2) smaller than the first diameter (D1) and providing a substantially flat surface to contact one end of the elongated filter rod.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing details of a transport device of a device according to the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the drum frame of the transport device of Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of the stopping means of the transport device of Figure 1.
Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the garnish and heating bar of the drive station of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention.
Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a cooling bar of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention.
Figure 6 shows a schematic side view of a compression means of a preferred embodiment of a device according to the present invention.

The term “ovality” is used herein to describe the shape of the cross-section of a filter rod, in particular to describe the degree of deviation from a true circle. In the present application, ovality can be expressed in length and the mathematical definition of ovality is as follows.

To determine the ovality of a portion of the filter rod, one end along the length of the filter rod is viewed. For example, the end of the filter rod may be positioned on a transparent stage such that an image of the end of the filter rod is recorded by a suitable imaging device positioned beneath the stage. Dimension "a" is taken to be the minimum outer diameter of the portion at its downstream end and dimension "b" is taken to be the maximum outer diameter of the portion at its downstream end. This process is repeated for a total of ten filter rods of the same design, and the average of the ten ovality measurements is recorded as the ovality for that design of filter rod.

In contrast to the known devices, a filter rod manufacturing machine having an improved transfer device for transferring newly formed filter rod segments is provided. The transfer device comprises a rotating drum having a plurality of spaced apart elongated grooves on its exterior surface, the elongated grooves being constructed and arranged to receive elongated rod segments when the drum rotates. The drum comprises a stop means at one end of each of the elongated grooves adjacent an elongated filter rod when the elongated filter rod is received within the elongated grooves. The stop means comprises a pin providing a substantially flat surface for contacting one end of the elongated filter rod. The pin comprises a portion at one end which, when in use, contacts the elongated filter rod and has a reduced diameter compared to the main cylindrical body of the pin.

By providing such a stop means which provides a reduced surface area for direct contact with the newly formed filter rod portion, the likelihood of adhesive accumulating on the stop means is advantageously and significantly reduced. Without being bound by theory, it will be appreciated that the proximal end of the pin contacts the diametrically central portion of the filter rod portion where no adhesive would normally be expected to be present. At the same time, since the adhesive is applied to form a seal between the overlapping longitudinal side edges of the packaging web material, a small gap remains between the stop means and the periphery of the filter rod portion, which is the portion of the filter rod portion where adhesive is most likely to be found.

Thus, the number and frequency of downtimes of the filter rod manufacturing machine are significantly reduced, and thus the overall machine downtime is advantageously reduced. The filter rod manufacturing machine according to the invention is therefore particularly useful for the production of filter rods comprising rigid and thick packaging, or whenever higher amounts of adhesive are required for reliably and safely sealing the packaging web material around the filter plug material. As will become apparent from the description below, in some preferred embodiments, additional advantageous improvements with respect to the properties of the filter rod, such as sealing quality, ovality and visual impact, can be achieved.

The device according to the present invention comprises a drive station for receiving a filter plug material and a packaging web material and for forming a packaged filter rod from the filter plug material and the packaging web material. The device further comprises at least one cutting blade for cutting the packaged filter rod into elongated rod segments. The device further comprises a transport device for transporting the newly formed elongated rod segments. The transport device comprises a rotating drum having a plurality of spaced elongated grooves on its outer surface, the elongated grooves being constructed and arranged to receive the elongated rod segments when the drum rotates. The drum further comprises a stop means at one end of each elongated groove in which the elongated filter rod is positioned when received into the elongated filter rod. The stop means comprises a pin having a main cylinder having a first diameter (D1), the main cylinder extending along the axis (F) of the elongated groove between a first end at which the pin is attached to the drum frame and a second end opposite the first end. Additionally, the pin includes an abutment extending along the axis (F) from a second end of the main cylinder, the abutment having a second diameter (D2) smaller than the first diameter (D1) and providing a substantially flat surface to contact one end of the elongated filter rod. Preferably, the abutment has a cylindrical shape.

The second diameter (D2) is preferably less than about 80% of the first diameter (D1). Additionally or alternatively, the second diameter is at least about 50% of the first diameter (D1). These values are advantageous because a sufficiently wide annular region around the filter load portion does not contact the flat surface of the stop means, thereby minimizing the possibility that the adhesive could be smeared by the drum. In some specific preferred embodiments, the second diameter (D2) is about 75% of the first diameter. For example, the first diameter (D1) can be 8 mm and the second diameter (D2) can be 6 mm.

Preferably, the length (L) of the abutment measured along the axis (F) of the long groove is at least about 0.5 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the length (L) of the abutment measured along the axis (F) of the long groove is less than about 2 mm. These values are advantageous since a sufficiently large axial gap remains between the peripheral area of the filter rod portion and the flat surface of the stop means. This also contributes to minimizing the possibility that the adhesive may be buried by the drum. In some specific preferred embodiments, the length (L) of the abutment measured along the axis (F) of the long groove is about 1 mm.

The drive station of the device typically comprises a garnish coupled to the endless belt conveyor, the garnish configured to receive a filter plug material and a packaging web material and further configured to wrap the packaging web material around the filter plug material such that first and second longitudinal edges of the packaging web material overlap to form a packaged filter rod. The drive station also comprises an applicator for supplying a heat-activated adhesive to seal the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the packaging web material. The heat-activated adhesive may be applied to one or both longitudinal side edges of the packaging web material.

The drive system further comprises a heat source for activating the adhesive, the heat source being positioned at any location along the garnish. More specifically, the garnish is preferably operatively coupled with a heating bar configured to supply heat to the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the packaging web material while supporting a longitudinal side edge of an endless belt conveyor slidably advancing within the garnish. The heating bar preferably comprises a groove having an arcuate profile for at least partially receiving a packaged filter rod to be sealed.

More preferably, the heating bar comprises a pair of heating bar ridges, each of which delimits a heating bar groove on one side and provides a support surface on the other side, such that the support surfaces of the ridges are configured to support a longitudinal side edge of the endless belt conveyor in a V-shaped arrangement (when viewed in cross section) as the belt slidably advances along the garnish.

In practice, the heating bars are arranged with the heating bar grooves facing the upper surface of the belt advancing within the grooves of the garnish. As the belt advances along the garnish, the longitudinal side edges of the belt slide against the (outer) supporting surfaces of the heating bar ridges, and the sealed, packaged filter rods are substantially enclosed within the volume formed between the upper surface of the belt and the surface of the heating bar grooves. This is advantageous in that it prevents the belt from moving away from its centered position within the garnish. Furthermore, this is advantageously suitable for forming filters having low ovality.

Preferably, the heating bar ridges have a substantially triangular cross-section and the support surfaces are inclined such that the longitudinal side edges of the belt form an angle of at least about 30 degrees between the supports (in a V-shaped arrangement). More preferably, the support surfaces are inclined such that the longitudinal edges of the belt form an angle of about 45 degrees between the support surfaces. In some preferred embodiments, the support surfaces are inclined such that the longitudinal edges of the belt form an angle of about 60 degrees.

Additionally, the drive station preferably includes a cooling bar that is thermally coupled to and operable with the garnish and the endless belt conveyor and that allows the adhesive to cure. The cooling bar is positioned downstream of the heat source. In a preferred embodiment, the cooling bar is positioned directly downstream of the heating bar and can be mounted on the same bracket.

The heating bar comprises a longitudinal groove extending between the cooling bar inlet and the cooling bar outlet, and is arranged with the longitudinal groove facing the upper surface of the belt advancing within the groove of the garnish so as to at least partially receive the packed filter rod. Preferably, at the cooling bar inlet, the cross-section of the groove is substantially semicircular.

In practice, the cooling bars are positioned at any distance from the garnish so that a passage of the belt is defined between the garnish and the cooling bars. The grooves are preferably limited on the left and right by side ridges providing respective outer abutting surfaces configured to cooperate with longitudinal side edges of the belt advancing between the cooling bars and the garnish, the cross-sectional surface area of the grooves being preferably reduced between the cooling bar inlet and the cooling bar outlet.

Thus, as the belt advances along the garnish, the distance between the opposing faces of the longitudinal edges of the belt increases as the belt reaches the cooling bar inlet and the longitudinal edges of the belt come into contact with the side ridges of the cooling bar grooves. This is advantageous because it prevents the cooling bars from being heated by friction of the belt against the cooling bars by preventing the belt from sliding further against the remainder of the cooling bars. Meanwhile, the packaged filter rod having a heat-activated adhesive sealing the overlapping side edges of the packaging web material is maintained and advanced between the upper face of the belt and the surface of the cooling bar grooves. Thus, the adhesive provided between the overlapping longitudinal side edges of the packaging web material and preheated by the heat source can be cooled to realize rapid curing of the adhesive.

In some preferred embodiments, the device further comprises a compressing means operatively coupled to the garnish, disposed downstream of the garnish, and configured to cooperate with the wrapped filter rod at any location along the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the wrapping web material. The compressing means is constructed and arranged to apply a compressive load to the wrapped filter rod substantially along the radial direction of the wrapped filter rod. This is particularly advantageous when using a solid, thick web material, since by providing such a compressing means it counteracts the inherent tendency of the wrapped wrapping web material to move away from a perfectly cylindrical arrangement around the filter plug material, which is understood to be one of the major factors in ovality.

Preferably, the compression means comprises a cooperating member having a substantially spherical shape. This is advantageous in that it provides a substantially smooth cooperation between the compression means and the outer surface of the packaged filter rod, so that the surface finish of the packaged filter rod is not significantly affected while at the same time the ovality is reduced. Thus, the overall visual impact of the packaged filter rod is advantageously improved.

The present invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the figures of the attached drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates details of a transport device according to the present invention. The transport device comprises a rotating drum (100) having a plurality of spaced elongated grooves (102) on an outer surface of the drum (100). The elongated grooves (102) are constructed and arranged to receive an elongated rod portion (104) when the drum (100) rotates. The drum (100) further comprises a stop means (106) at one end of each elongated groove (102) in which an elongated filter rod portion (104) is positioned when the elongated filter rod portion is received within the elongated groove (102).

As illustrated in more detail in FIG. 3, the stop means (106) comprises a pin (108) having a main cylinder (110) having a first diameter (D1) of about 8 mm, the main cylinder extending along an axis (F) of the elongated groove between a first end (112) that is attached to a drum frame (116) (see FIG. 2) mounted on the drum (100) and a second end (114) opposite the first end (112). The pin (108) also comprises an abutment (118) extending along the axis (F) from the second end (114) of the main cylinder (110). The abutment (118) has a second diameter (D2) of about 6 mm. The abutment (118) provides a substantially flat surface (120) for contacting one end of the elongated filter rod portion (104). In the implementation examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the adjacent portion (118) has a cylindrical shape and a length (L) measured along the axis (F) of about 1 mm.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a garnish (200) and a heating bar (202) of a drive station of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention. The garnish (200) is operatively coupled with an endless belt conveyor (204). Furthermore, the garnish (200) is configured to receive a filter plug material and a packaging web material and is further configured to wrap the packaging web material around the filter plug material such that first and second longitudinal edges of the packaging web material overlap to form a packaged filter rod. The garnish (200) is operatively coupled with a heating bar (202) which supplies heat for activating an applied adhesive at an upstream position on one or both longitudinal side edges of the packaging web material. At the same time, the heating bar supports the longitudinal side edges of an endless belt (204) which slides forward within the garnish (200). The heating bar (202) includes a groove (206) having an arcuate profile for at least partially accommodating a packaged filter rod to be heat-sealed. As shown in FIG. 4, the heating bar (202) includes a pair of heating bar ridges (208, 210), each of which delimits the heating bar groove (206) on one side and provides a supporting surface (212, 214) on the other side. The supporting surfaces (212, 214) of the heating bar ridges (208, 210) are configured to support longitudinal side edges of the belt in a V-shaped arrangement as the belt slidably advances within the garnish (200). A volume defined by the upper surface of the belt (204) and the surfaces of the heating bar grooves (206) substantially encloses the packaged filter rod to be sealed. This prevents the belt (204) from shifting from its centered position during use and helps form a packaged filter load with low ovality. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the hopper ridges (208, 210) have a substantially triangular cross-section and the support surfaces (212, 214) are inclined so that the longitudinal side edges of the belt form at least about a 60 degree angle (α) between the supports.

The drive station of the device according to the present invention preferably further comprises a cooling bar thermally coupled to the garnish and the endless belt to cool and cure the adhesive supplied to the longitudinal side edge of the packaging web material to seal around the filter plug material. The cooling bar is positioned immediately downstream of the heating bar. Details of such a cooling bar (300) are shown in FIG. 5 . The cooling bar (300) comprises a longitudinal groove (302) extending between a cooling bar inlet (304) and a cooling bar outlet (306). The cooling bar groove (302) is configured to receive at least a partially packaged filter rod. In use, the cooling bar (300) is positioned with the longitudinal groove (302) facing the upper surface of the belt advancing within the groove of the garnish, and is positioned at any distance from the garnish (not shown) such that a passage of the belt is defined between the garnish and the cooling bar. At the cooling bar inlet (304), the cross-section of the cooling bar groove (302) is substantially semicircular. The cooling bar groove (302) is limited laterally by side ridges (306, 308) which provide respective outer abutting surfaces configured to cooperate with longitudinal side edges of the belt advancing between the cooling bar (300) and the garnish. The cross-sectional surface area of the groove (302) decreases between the cooling bar inlet (304) and the cooling bar outlet (306). Thus, as the belt advances along the garnish, the distance between the opposing surfaces of the longitudinal edges of the belt increases as the belt reaches the cooling bar inlet (304) and the longitudinal edge of the belt contacts the side ridges (306, 308) of the cooling bar (300). Thus, the belt is advantageous in that sliding against the remainder of the cooling bar (300) downstream of the cooling bar inlet (304) is restricted, or at least cooperation between the belt and the cooling bar (300) is significantly restricted. This is advantageous in that the cooling bar (300) is not significantly heated by friction between the belt and the cooling bar (300). At the same time, the packaged filter rod advances between the belt and the surface of the cooling bar, so that the adhesive activated by the heating bar is thermally bonded to the cooling bar, and rapid curing of the adhesive can be achieved.

A compression means (400) for use in a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 6. The compression means (400) is operatively coupled to the garnish, is disposed downstream of the garnish, and is configured to cooperate with the packaged filter rod at any location along the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the packaging web material. More specifically, the compression means (400) is configured and arranged to apply a compression load to the packaged filter rod substantially along the radial direction of the packaged filter rod. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the compression means (400) includes a cooperating member (402) having a substantially spherical shape.

The compression means is advantageous in that it counteracts the tendency of the hard or thick packaging web material, which is understood to be the cause of the ovality, to move away from a completely cylindrical arrangement around the filter plug material in a newly packaged filter rod. Furthermore, due to its spherical shape, the compression means (400) provides a smooth cooperation between the compression means (400) and the outer surface of the packaged filter rod. Accordingly, the surface finish of the packaged filter rod is substantially unaffected, so that the overall visual impact of the packaged filter rod is advantageously improved.

100: Drums
102: Long Home
104: Long filter load area
106: Stopping means
108: pin
110: Main cylinder
112: 1st stage
114: 2nd stage
116: Drum Frame
118: Adjacent
120: Flat surface
200: Garnish
202: Heating bar
204: Unauthorized belt conveyor
206: Heating bar home
208, 210: Heating bar ridge
212, 214: Support surface
300: Cooling Bar
302: longitudinal groove
304: Cooling bar inlet
306: Cooling bar outlet
306, 308: Side ridges
400: Compression means
402: Cooperation Department
D1: First diameter
D2: Second diameter
F: Axis
L: length
α: angle

Claims (12)

A device for manufacturing a filter rod used in the manufacture of smoking articles,
A drive station for receiving a filter plug material and a packaging web material and forming a filter load packaged from the filter plug material and the packaging web material;
At least one cutting blade for cutting the above-mentioned packaged filter rod into elongated rod segments;
A transport device comprising a rotary drum, wherein the rotary drum has a plurality of elongated grooves spaced apart on an outer surface, the elongated grooves being configured and arranged to receive the elongated rod portion as the drum rotates, and the drum further comprises a stop means at one end of each of the elongated grooves where the elongated filter rod is located when the elongated filter rod is received within the elongated groove,
The above stopping means comprises a pin having a main cylinder having a first diameter (D1), the main cylinder extending along an axis (F) of an elongated groove between a first end to which the pin is attached to the drum frame and a second end opposite the first end,
A device wherein said pin includes an abutting portion extending along an axis (F) from a second end of said main cylinder, said abutting portion having a second diameter (D2) smaller than said first diameter (D1) and providing a substantially flat surface to contact one end of said elongated filter rod. A device in the first aspect, wherein the second diameter (D2) is smaller than 80% of the first diameter (D1). A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second diameter (D2) is at least 50% of the first diameter (D1). A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the length (L) of the adjacent portion measured along the axis (F) of the long groove is at least 0.5 mm. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the length (L) of the adjacent portion measured along the axis (F) of the long groove is less than 3 mm. In claim 1 or 2, the driving station
A garnish configured to be operatively coupled with the stepless belt conveyor and configured to receive said filter plug material and said packaging web material, and further configured to wrap said packaging web material around said filter plug material such that first and second longitudinal edges of said packaging web material overlap to form said packaged filter rod; and
A device comprising an applicator for supplying adhesive to seal the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the packaging web material. In the sixth aspect, the garnish is further coupled to a heating bar operatively to supply heat to the overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of the packaging web material and to support longitudinal side edges of the endless belt conveyor slidably advancing within the garnish, wherein the heating bar includes a groove having an arcuate profile for at least partially receiving the packaged filter rod to be sealed. In the seventh aspect, the heating bar comprises a pair of heating bar ridges, each of the heating bar ridges limiting the groove on one side and providing a support surface on the other side, such that the support surfaces of the ridges are configured to support a longitudinal side edge of the endless belt conveyor in a V-shaped arrangement when viewed in cross section, the edge of the endless belt conveyor being slidably advanced outside the groove so that the belt is maintained in a substantially central position within the garnish. In the 8th paragraph, the heating bar protrusion has a substantially triangular cross-section and the support surfaces are inclined so that the longitudinal side edges of the belt form an angle of at least 30 degrees between the support surfaces. In claim 6, the device further comprises a cooling bar operatively and thermally coupled to the garnish to cool and induce curing of the adhesive, the cooling bar including a longitudinal cooling bar groove extending between a cooling bar inlet and a cooling bar outlet and arranged with a longitudinal groove opposing an upper surface of the belt advancing within the garnish to define a passageway for the belt, the groove being configured to at least partially receive the packaged filter rod; the cooling bar groove being bounded laterally by lateral ridges providing respective outer abutting surfaces configured to cooperate with longitudinal edges of the belt, the cross-sectional surface area of the groove decreasing between the cooling bar and the cooling bar outlet. A device in accordance with claim 6, comprising a compressing means operatively coupled to said garnish, disposed downstream of said garnish, and further configured to cooperate with said packaged filter rod at any position along said overlapping first and second longitudinal edges of said packaging web material, for applying a compressive load to said packaged filter rod substantially directed along a radial direction of said packaged filter rod. A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the compression means comprises a cooperating member having a substantially spherical shape.