WO2014053527A1

WO2014053527A1 - Apparatus for introducing solid objects into a material flow

Info

Publication number: WO2014053527A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/070508
Authority: WO
Inventors: Diego Ferrazzin; Michele Pagnoni; Ivan Prestia
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2012-10-03
Filing date: 2013-10-02
Publication date: 2014-04-10

Abstract

The apparatus for introducing solid objects into a material flow and the method of transferring a solid object form a first wheel to a second wheel comprise a first wheel (4) being arranged to be rotatable about a vertical axis and being capable of transporting the solid objects to a peripheral portion of the first wheel (4). The apparatus and method further comprise a second wheel (5)mounted beneath the peripheral portion of the first wheel (4) at a transfer location. The second wheel (5) is arranged to be rotatable about a horizontal axis and comprises recesses (11) for receiving the solid objects provided by the first wheel (4) at the transfer location. An at least one ejector pin (8) is slidably arranged between an upper position, in which a solid object may be transported to a location beneath the ejector pin (8), and a lower position, such that movement of the ejector pin (8) from the upper position to the lower position pushes a solid object from beneath the ejector pin (8) into the recess (11) of the second wheel (5) at the transfer location.

Description

Apparatus for introducing solid objects into a material flow

The present invention relates to an apparatus for introducing solid objects into a material flow. For example, the solid objects may be capsules or beads.

For example, US-A-2005/0070409 discloses an apparatus wherein capsules are transferred from a reservoir to a central portion of a rotating horizontal pan. Through rotation of the horizontal pan the capsules are transported to the peripheral portion of the pan. At the peripheral portion of the pan stem lifters are arranged lifting the capsules from the pan up and transferring them into transfer tubes arranged at the periphery of the horizontal pan. The capsules are then further transported through the transfer tubes to a rotating vertical wheel comprising pockets with seats for receiving the capsules. The capsules received in the seats are then transported through rotation of the vertical wheel to an insertion location where the capsules are deposited into a stream of filter material.

In mass production of smoking articles or of parts of smoking articles, for example in mass production of cigarette filters, there is an on-going need for the reliable introduction of solid objects into filter material or into the respective part of a smoking article at high speed.

According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for introducing solid objects into a material flow of for example a smoking article. While in the following specification only embodiments are discussed in which solid objects are inserted into filter material, the invention is applicable for the insertion of solid objects into other parts of a smoking article, for example into the tobacco rod or into a cavity of the smoking article.

According to a first aspect of the invention an apparatus is provided, wherein the apparatus comprises a first wheel being arranged to be rotatable about a vertical axis and being capable of transporting the solid objects to a peripheral portion of the first wheel. The apparatus according to the invention further comprises a second wheel mounted beneath the peripheral portion of the first wheel at a transfer location, the second wheel being arranged to be rotatable about a horizontal axis and comprising recesses for receiving the solid objects provided by the first wheel at the transfer location. The apparatus according to the invention further comprises at least one ejector pin, the at least one ejector pin being slidably arranged between an upper position, in which a solid object may be transported to a location beneath the ejector pin, and a lower position, such that movement of the ejector pin from the upper position to the lower position pushes a solid object from beneath the ejector pin into the recess of the second wheel at the transfer location. Preferably, the second wheel is further capable of transporting and delivering the solid objects received in the recesses to a unit for introducing the solid objects into filter material. The ejector pin provides for a very fast and reliable mechanical transfer of a solid object from the first to the second wheel through a pushing action.

Advantageously, the ejector pin as an active transfer means contributes significantly to the movement of the solid objects which are otherwise acted upon by gravitational forces only. Due to centrifugal forces acting on the solid objects during operation of the first wheel, the gravitational forces are further reduced by frictional forces on the outer perimeter of the first wheel. Accordingly, the use of the ejector pin to support the gravitational forces in the transfer of the solid objects from the first wheel to the second wheel becomes even more advantageous at higher machine speed. The ejector pin also provides for a well-defined guided movement of the solid objects which are to be securely transferred into the recesses of the second wheel. In addition, when the ejector pin is in the lower position it prevents following solid objects, for example the capsule "next in the queue", from being transported into the transfer location. Thus, the risk of clogging or crushing of solid objects can be prevented. Further, in certain embodiments of the invention it can be assured that only one solid object at a time is introduced into a specific location in the filter material, into another part of a smoking article or into a flow of material such as for example a flow of filter tow.

The term "solid objects" as used in connection with the present invention denote objects that have a geometrical shape with well-defined boundaries, in contrast to liquids or gases. By way of example, solid objects include objects which are entirely made of solid state substances, objects having a shell made of a solid substance enclosing a liquid or gaseous core, and objects like gelatine capsules also having well- defined boundaries. For the avoidance of doubt, the solid object according to the invention may be elastic, deformable and crushable if a sufficiently high force is applied.

An embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention further comprises a reservoir for providing a plurality of solid objects, the reservoir comprising an outlet at its lower end. Preferably, the first wheel is mounted beneath the outlet of the reservoir. Solid objects may be transferred from the reservoir to the first wheel by gravitational force. In one embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the ejector pin comprises an outer surface section with a reduced circumference at its side facing the solid objects. Preferably, the reduced outer dimensions section has a length which is at least as long as a lifting height of the ejector pin between the upper position and the lower position of the movement of the ejector pin. The reduced dimensions section prevents the solid objects remaining on the first wheel from being damaged or crushed by the downward movement of the ejector pin. Preferably, the cross-section of the ejector pin in the reduced dimensions section is about 20 percent smaller than the average diameter of the solid objects handled by the apparatus according to the invention.

Preferably, the bottom end face of the tip of the ejector pin at least partially comprises a concave shape. Such a concave shaped tip end face, which may especially have a spherical shape or may have any other suitable concave shape, minimizes the impact force on the respective solid object to be transferred to the second wheel due to the matching outer shape of the tip end face. In addition, the concave shape of the tip end face allows solid objects having different sizes to be securely transferred to the second wheel. Overall, the concave shaped tip end face provides for a reliable and secure transfer of the solid objects to the second wheel without damaging or crushing the solid objects. Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous where the solid objects are crushable flavour release capsules.

A further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention comprises a plurality of ejector pins and a corresponding plurality of frame elements. Each ejector pin is fixedly mounted to a corresponding frame element. The frame elements are arranged to be synchronously rotatable with the first wheel about the vertical axis of rotation of the first wheel. Each of the frame elements is provided with a fixedly attached cam follower. Further, a stationary circumferential cam is provided that is mounted such that the cam follower is guidable by the circumferential cam. According to the invention, the circumferential cam comprises a passive cam portion and an active cam portion. The active cam portion comprises a lowermost point at the transfer location .

The term "active cam portion" refers to a portion of the circumferential cam that is adapted to create a displacement of the sliding pin when the cam follower is moved through the active portion of the circumferential cam. In particular, the active cam portion comprises a descending portion starting at the level of the passive cam portion of the circumferential cam and extending downward to a lowermost point, and a subsequent ascending portion starting at the lowermost point and extending upward back to the level of the passive cam portion of the cam channel such that the sliding pin is displaced from the upper position to the lower position and back upon passing through the active cam section. Accordingly, the term "passive cam portion" is used to indicate the portion of the circumferential cam that does not provide for a displacement of the sliding pin. Alternatively, the cam may move the ejector pin first upwards out of an intermediate position such that a solid object can move under the sliding pin, then move downward to eject the solid object in the transfer zone and finally move back into an intermediate position that blocks the end of the radial channels.

Preferably, the cam follower comprises an elastic element such that the elastic element elastically biases the cam follower towards the circumferential cam. This allows for the cam follower to follow the cam in the active cam portion in an upward and downward direction. Further, this allows the use of a single sided cam as opposed to a cam channel. Alternatively, a cam channel may be provided that may guide the cam follower in both upward and downward directions.

Preferably, all cam followers of the apparatus are mounted on a detachment means, such that all cam followers are detachable from the cam against the elastic element by the detachment means. This allows for disengagement between the followers and the cam which may provide the possibility to lower all sliding pins into the lower position, irrespective of their position with respect to the transfer zone. This can be advantageous for alignment or maintenance of the apparatus according to the invention.

In a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the first wheel has a conical shape defining a surface sloping downwardly from a central portion of the first wheel towards a peripheral portion. The conical shape of the first wheel assists in the distribution of the centrally supplied solid objects due to gravitational forces adding to the centrifugal forces acting on the solid objects upon rotation of the first wheel, so that the capsules and beads are guided to the peripheral portion of the first wheel.

In order to further improve the distribution from the central portion of the first wheel to the peripheral portion, in accordance with another aspect of the apparatus according to the invention the first wheel comprises a plurality of individual radially outwardly extending channels adapted to guiding the solid objects to the peripheral portion. In a specific variant of this aspect, the outlet of the reservoir comprises a cylindrical wall extending down to a predefined distance above the first wheel. This predefined distance is selected such that it allows solid objects to be transported to the peripheral portion only in the individual radially outwardly extending channels. The cylindrical wall thereby prevents the solid objects from being transported to the peripheral portion of the first wheel other than in the channels, so that solid objects may not reach the peripheral portion of the first wheel at a position not intended for the transfer.

In a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the first wheel and the second wheel are synchronously driven by a common drive. This is advantageous in that the transfer location at the peripheral portion of the first wheel and a corresponding receiving position on the periphery of the second wheel exactly match at any time. However, as an alternative to achieve an exact match of the transfer location at the peripheral portion of the first wheel and the receiving position on the periphery of the second wheel, it is also possible to use individual drives or motors for the wheels and to use synchronization means known in the art .

In further embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention, the apparatus may comprise one or more of the following displacement means:

- First displacement means for generating a maintenance space between the second wheel and a unit for introducing the solid objects into a smoking article. The first displacement means enable a relative movement between a zone where the material, for example filter tow, flows and the apparatus for introducing the solid objects into the said material. This is advantageous with respect to a convenient maintenance, especially cleaning or repair, of the zone where the material flows .

- Second displacement means for generating a maintenance space between the first wheel and the second wheel. These second displacement means allow for a relative movement between the first horizontally rotating and the second vertically rotating wheel. These second displacement means enable a convenient cleaning of the transfer zone between the first and the second wheel or for the inspection of the ejector pins.

- Third displacement means for generating a maintenance space between the outlet of the reservoir and the first wheel. With the aid of these third displacement means an access space may be created which allows for example for a cleaning of the first wheel, especially the cleaning of the radially outwardly extending channels, and also allows for an emptying of the reservoir, for example during maintenance.

In the apparatus according to the invention, the introduction of a solid object such as the above-mentioned capsules or beads into the smoking article and in particular into a flow a filter material via the second vertical wheel may be performed in a manner known in the art. For example, it can be performed as disclosed in the international patent application WO-A-2010/055120. In WO-A-2010/055120 the solid objects to be introduced into a flow of filter material are transported in recesses of a vertical transfer wheel to a position where the solid objects are introduced into the flow of filter material. The second wheel is arranged such that it partially extends through a slit into the interior space of a guiding cone through which the filter material flows. The solid objects are released from the recesses of the transfer wheel with the aid of a scraper. According to a second aspect of the invention, a method of transferring a solid object from a first wheel to a second wheel is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a first wheel being arranged to be rotatable about a vertical axis and being capable of transporting solid objects to a peripheral portion of the first wheel and providing a second wheel mounted beneath the peripheral portion of the first wheel at a transfer location, the second wheel being arranged to be rotatable about a horizontal axis and having recesses for receiving the solid objects provided by the first wheel at the transfer location. The method further comprises providing at least one ejector pin, the at least one ejector pin being slidably arranged between an upper position, in which a solid object may be transported to a location beneath the ejector pin, and a lower position. According to the method the solid objects are transferred preferably from a reservoir to the first wheel and further transported to the periphery of the first wheel by centrifugal forces. In a further step, at least one solid object is transferred from the first wheel to the second wheel by pushing the solid object with the ejector pin into a recess of the second wheel at the transfer location. The advantages of the method have already been discussed in relation to the features of the apparatus according to the invention above.

Preferably, a reservoir comprising an outlet at its lower end is provided for providing a plurality of solid objects and the first wheel is mounted beneath the outlet of the reservoir. Solid objects provided in the reservoir are then transferred through the outlet of the reservoir to the first wheel.

Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of blocking the path of the at least one solid object to the periphery outside the transfer location of the first wheel with the ejector pin.

Further advantageous aspects of the apparatus and method according to the invention become apparent from the following description of embodiments with the aid of the drawings in which :

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a machine for forming filter rods including an apparatus for introducing solid objects according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the reservoir and of the position where the transfer of the solid objects from the first wheel to the second wheel occurs ;

Fig. 3 is an embodiment of a cam drum having a cam channel including a passive cam portion and an active cam portion;

Figs. 4-6 are enlarged side views of the ejector pin in an upper position, in an intermediate position and in a lower position; and Fig. 7 shows an apparatus according to the invention including displacement means.

Fig. 1 shows a portion of a machine for forming filter rods including an embodiment of an apparatus 1 for introducing solid objects according to the invention. In the shown embodiment, the solid objects are inserted into a flow of filter material, for example filter tow. The filter material is typically supplied in the form of a continuous strand. The continuous strand of filter material is drawn through a guiding cone 2 in which the solid objects are introduced into the filter material at predetermined spaced intervals with the aid of the apparatus 1 according to the invention. Apparatus 1, details of which are shown in a cross-sectional view in Fig. 2, comprises a reservoir 3 for holding and supplying solid objects to be introduced into the strand of filter material, a first wheel 4 being horizontally rotatable about a vertical axis, and a second wheel 5 being vertically rotatable about a horizontal axis. As already mentioned above, solid objects to be introduced may be capsules, beads or other suitable solid objects depending on the purpose they serve. By way of example, in the following only capsules are discussed representing the solid objects to be introduced. The capsules are supplied from reservoir 3 to a central portion of first wheel 4 and are then transported from the central portion to a peripheral portion 4 by the centrifugal forces caused by rotation of first wheel 4. In the embodiment shown, the transport of the capsules from the central portion of first wheel 4 to the peripheral portion is further assisted by gravitational forces. These gravitational forces are caused by the conical shape of first wheel 4 defining a surface sloping downwardly from the central portion to the peripheral portion of first wheel 4. First wheel 4 further comprises a plurality of radially outwardly extending transport channels 21 along the downward slope of the conical surface for guiding the capsules 9 during their transport to the peripheral portion of first wheel 4. The lower portion of reservoir 3 comprises a cylindrical wall forming a collar 17 that extends down to a predefined distance above first wheel 4. This distance is such that capsules 9 can only pass beneath collar 17 towards the peripheral portion of first wheel 4 when the capsules 9 are arranged inside a respective transport channel 21.

At a transfer location where the peripheral portions of the first wheel 4 and of the second wheel 5 meet, the capsules are transferred from the peripheral portion of first wheel 4 into recesses 11 provided at the circumferential portion of the second wheel 5. This transfer of the capsules from the peripheral portion of first wheel 4 into the recesses 11 of second wheel 5 is performed with the aid of an ejector pin 8. In preparation of the transfer of a capsule from first wheel 4 to second wheel 5, the capsule that is arranged outermost in each transport channel 21 is positioned beneath the tip of a respective ejector pin 8 while ejector pin 8 is in its upper position. If the respective capsule reaches the transfer location by rotation of first wheel 4, the capsule is transferred through a downward movement of ejector pin 8 into recess 11 of second vertical wheel 5.

In addition, three handles 6 are shown in Fig. 1 which are parts of respective displacement means serving for an easy maintenance of the apparatus, as will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 7 below.

In the following the transfer of a capsule arranged outermost in the transport channel 21 of first wheel 4 into a recess 11 of second wheel 5 will be explained with the aid of Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Fig. 4 shows a situation where the first wheel 4 has not yet reached the transfer location. Ejector pin 8 is in the upper position such that the outermost capsule 99 of a row of capsules 999 arranged in a transport channel 21 is positioned beneath the tip 42 of ejector pin 8. The other capsules 999 arranged in the row cannot reach the outermost position due to this position being occupied by capsule 99.

Ejector pin 8 has a lower end section 49 having reduced outer dimensions. The length of lower end section 49 is at least as long as the vertical displacement of ejector pin 48 between the upper position and the lower position of ejector pin 8. This prevents subsequent capsules 999 from getting damaged or crushed as ejector pin 8 is moved from the upper position to the lower position.

Fig. 5 shows the first wheel 4 and the second wheel 5 at the transfer location, in which a recess 11 of the second wheel 5 is located underneath ejector pin 8. Ejector pin 8 is no longer in the upper position but is in an intermediate position on its way down to the lower position. Through the downward movement of ejector pin 8 the outermost capsule 99 which is arranged beneath the tip of ejector pin 8 is pushed downwards towards the recess 11 of second wheel 5. The recess 11 of second wheel 5 is connected to a suction channel 45 to which an underpressure may be applied. This underpressure assists in sucking capsule 99 into recess 11 during the transfer from the first wheel 4 to the second wheel. Also, the underpressure helps to retain capsule 99 within recess 11 once the transfer is complete.

In order to more uniformly distribute the displacing force onto the outer surface of capsule 99, the end face 43 of the ejector pin is concave or partly concave. Particularly, end face 43 has a spherical shape. As shown in Fig. 5, different sizes of capsules may be used in the apparatus according to the invention. Exemplary diameters of capsules may be in the range of between about 2.0 mm and about 4.5 mm. In Fig. 6 the ejector pin 8 is in its lower position. In the lower position of ejector pin 8, capsule 99 has been completely transferred into recess 11 and is held in recess

11 by the suction force caused by the underpressure applied to suction channel 45.

Once capsule 99 has been completely transferred into recess 11 of second wheel 5, ejector pin 8 is again moved upwards into an upper position (see Fig. 4) . It is now possible for the next outermost capsule in the row to enter the space beneath ejector pin 8, so that once first wheel 4 with this capsule reaches the transfer location again, the capsule that has entered the space beneath ejector pin 8 is transferred to a recess of second wheel 5 in the manner described above.

While generally the movement of ejector pin 8 from the upper position to the lower position can be controlled by any suitable means (for example, position detection means can be provided triggering and controlling the movement of ejector pin 8), in one embodiment the movement of ejector pin 8 is controlled by a cam drum 12 comprising a circumferentially running cam channel 15.

Such cam drum 12 comprising the afore-mentioned circumferentially running cam channel 15 is shown in Fig. 3. Cam channel 15 comprises a passive cam portion 10 and an active cam portion 20 having a lowermost point 18. Cam drum

12 is fixedly arranged in the apparatus, so that it is not rotatable (see Fig. 2) . Each ejector pin 8 is fixedly mounted to an individual frame element 14 (see Fig. 2), and each individual frame element 14 in turn is provided with a fixedly attached cam follower in the form of roller 19. The rollers 19 of the individual frame elements 14 are slidably arranged within cam channel 15 of cam drum 12. In operation, the rollers 19 and the frame elements 14 to which they are fixedly attached are rotating around the cam drum 12 with the rollers 19 being guided in cam channel 15.

Cam drum 12 is mounted to the apparatus in a stationary manner and houses a stationary arranged outer ring 160 of a bearing 16. An inner ring 161 of bearing 16 is mounted to a circumferentially running downwardly sloped cover 40 of first wheel 4. Inner ring 161 of bearing 16 is rotatable together with cover 40. At a horizontally arranged radial outer end portion of cover 40 individual support elements 41 are fixedly attached to cover 40. Each individual support element 41 comprises axial bearings 410 and 411. Axial bearings 410 accommodate a guiding pin 13 the upper end of which is fixedly attached to the corresponding individual frame element 14. Axial bearings 411 accommodate the respective ejector pin 8, the upper end of which is also fixedly mounted to the corresponding individual frame element 14. Thus, as first wheel 4 rotates the individual support elements 41 and the individual frame elements 14 are rotated together with first wheel 4. This rotational movement is controlled by the cam channel 15 of cam drum 12 and the rollers 19 arranged and guided in cam channel 15.

As the rollers 19 are guided in the horizontal portion 10 of cam channel 15 (see Fig. 3) the ejector pins 8 fixedly mounted to the frame elements 14 are in the upper position (see Fig. 4) . As a particular roller 19 reaches the active cam portion 20 it approaches the transfer location which corresponds to the location of the lowermost point 18 of active cam portion 20. The roller 19 then slides downwardly along the descending part of active cam portion 20. When sliding along the descending part of active cam portion 20 the ejector pin 8 is in the intermediate position (see Fig. 5) until it reaches the lowermost point 18 of active cam portion 20 corresponding to lower position of ejector pin 8 in which the capsule is completely transferred into recess 11 of the second wheel 5 (see Fig. 6) . After having passed the lowermost point 18, roller 19 slides upward again along the ascending part of active cam portion 20 until it reaches the circumferential portion 10 of cam channel 15 in which ejector pin 8 is in the upper position again, and the next capsule can enter the space beneath the end face of ejector pin 8 (see Fig. 4) .

In Fig. 7 a cross-sectional view of an apparatus according to the invention including maintenance means is shown. The apparatus is mounted to a frame 75 including three displacement means 71, 72, 73. The displacement means are three vertically movable linear guides provided for maintenance purposes. The vertical movements are indicated by double arrows, respectively.

For manual operation of the displacement means 71, 72, 73, handles may be provided of which only handle 771 of the first maintenance means is shown. The other handles are shown in Fig. 1. Preferably, for safety reasons a manual blocking system must first be released before the maintenance system can be operated. Of course, it is also possible to operate the maintenance system automatically with the aid of one or more drive means.

First displacement means 71 are provided for generating a maintenance space between the second wheel (not shown) and a unit (for example the guiding cone) for introducing the solid objects into the filter material. With such first displacement means a relative movement, for example a vertical movement in a range of 20 mm and 30 mm, between a tow zone 200 and the apparatus for introducing the capsules into the filter material is possible. Such a maintenance space is advantageous for a convenient maintenance, especially cleaning or repair, of the components arranged in the tow zone 200.

Second displacement means 72 are provided for generating a maintenance space between the first wheel 4 and the second wheel (not shown) . These second displacement means 72 allow for a relative movement between the first horizontal wheel 4 and the second vertical wheel 5 (not shown) , for example a vertical movement in a range of 20 mm and 30 mm. Creating such maintenance space is advantageous in that it allows for the cleaning and maintenance of the transfer zone where the first wheel 4 and the second wheel 5 meet.

Third displacement means 73 are provided for generating a maintenance space between the outlet of reservoir 3 and first wheel 4. Through this movement an access space of for example 100 mm is created which allows for a cleaning of the first wheel 4, of the transport channels 21 of the first wheel 4, and also allows for an emptying of reservoir 3.

Claims

1. Apparatus for introducing solid objects into a material flow, comprising:

- a first wheel being arranged to be rotatable about a vertical axis and being capable of transporting the solid objects to a peripheral portion of the first wheel;

- a second wheel mounted beneath the peripheral portion of the first wheel at a transfer location, the second wheel being arranged to be rotatable about a horizontal axis and comprising recesses for receiving the solid objects provided by the first wheel at the transfer location; and

- at least one ejector pin, the at least one ejector pin being slidably arranged between an upper position, in which a solid object may be transported to a location beneath the ejector pin, and a lower position, such that movement of the ejector pin from the upper position to the lower position pushes a solid object from beneath the ejector pin into the recess of the second wheel at the transfer location.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reservoir for providing a plurality of solid objects, the reservoir comprising an outlet at its lower end, wherein the first wheel is mounted beneath the outlet of the reservoir.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ejector pin comprises an outer surface section with a reduced circumference at its side facing the solid objects.

4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bottom end face of the tip of the ejector pin at least partially comprises a concave shape.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, com^¬ prising a plurality of ejector pins and a corresponding plurality of frame elements, each ejector pin being fixedly mounted to a corresponding frame element, wherein the frame elements are arranged to be synchronously rotatable with the first wheel about the vertical axis of rotation of the first wheel, each of the frame elements being provided with a fixedly attached cam follower and a stationary circumferential cam, the cam follower being guidable by the circumferential cam, the circumferential cam comprising a passive cam portion and an active cam portion, wherein the active cam portion comprises a lowermost point, the lowermost point of the active cam portion being arranged at the transfer location.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the cam follower comprises an elastic element, wherein the elastic element elastically biases the cam follower towards the circumferential cam.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein all cam followers of the apparatus are mounted on a detachment means, such that all cam followers are detachable from the cam against the elastic element by the detachment means.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first wheel comprises a plurality of individual radially outwardly extending channels, wherein the channels are adapted to guiding the solid objects to the peripheral portion .

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising first displacement means for generating a maintenance space between the second wheel and a unit for introducing the solid objects into the smoking article.

10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising second displacement means for generating a maintenance space between the first wheel and the second wheel .

11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to the preceding claims, further comprising third displacement means for generating a maintenance space between the outlet of the reservoir and the first wheel.

12. Method of transferring a solid object from a first wheel to a second wheel, the method comprising the steps of

- providing a first wheel being arranged to be rotatable about a vertical axis and being capable of transporting the solid objects to a peripheral portion of the first wheel;

- providing a second wheel mounted beneath the peripheral portion of the first wheel at a transfer location, the second wheel being arranged to be rotatable about a horizontal axis and having recesses for receiving the solid objects provided by the first wheel at the transfer location;

- providing at least one ejector pin, the at least one ejector pin being slidably arranged between an upper position, in which a solid object may be transported to a location beneath the ejector pin, and a lower position,

- transporting at least one solid object to the periphery of the first wheel by centrifugal forces, transferring the at least one solid object from the first wheel to the second wheel by pushing the solid object with the ejector pin into a recess of the second wheel at the transfer location.

13. Method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of blocking the path of the at least one solid object to the periphery outside the transfer location of the first wheel with the ejector pin.

14. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 13, further comprising the steps of

- providing a reservoir comprising an outlet at its lower end for providing a plurality of solid objects,

- providing the first wheel mounted beneath the outlet of the reservoir,

- providing solid objects in the reservoir,

- transferring solid objects through the outlet of the reservoir to the first wheel.

15. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the step of providing at least one ejector pin further comprises providing the bottom end face of the tip of the ejector pin at least partially with a concave shape.