A REPLENISHING DEVICE, AN APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING MULTISEGMENT RODS AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING MULTI-SEGMENT RODS

摘要

A replenishing device (12, 12', 12", 12"', 12" ") for replenishing a flute (8) of a transporter (6, 31) with a rod- like element (2, 2A), wherein the transporter (6, 31) comprises multiple flutes (8) located transversally with respect to a transporting direction and adapted to transport rod-like elements (2), the replenishing device (12, 12', 12", 12"', 12" ") comprising: a feeding duct (15) for feeding the rod- like element (2, 2A); a rotary replenishing element (13, 25, 28, 45) having an axis of rotation (X, V, W), comprising at least one transferring seat (14, 14', 29, 46) for receiving the rod-like element (2, 2A) from the feeding duct (15) in a receiving zone (26) and for transferring the rod- like element (2, 2A) to the flute (8) of the transporter (6, 31) in a transferring zone (27), wherein the rotary replenishing element (13, 25, 28, 45) is adapted to repeatedly pass the same rod-like element (2, 2A) through the transferring zone (27) before transferring that rod-like element (2, 2A) to the flute (8) of the transporter (6, 31); and a transferring mechanism (30, 38, 39, 40) for effecting the transfer of the rod-like element (2, 2A) from the transferring seat (14, 14', 29, 46) to the flute (8) of the transporter (6, 31).