US20050120674A1

US20050120674A1 - Apparatus for manufacturing and packaging cigarettes and arrangement of appropriate apparatuses

Info

Publication number: US20050120674A1
Application number: US11/038,081
Authority: US
Inventors: Nikolaos Georgitsis
Original assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau GmbH
Current assignee: Koerber Technologies GmbH
Priority date: 2002-07-30
Filing date: 2005-01-21
Publication date: 2005-06-09

Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing and packaging cigarettes that includes a cigarette machine including at least one cigarette machine unit, a packaging machine structured and arranged to package the cigarettes one of in packages, in packing units, in cartons, and on pallets; and the packaging machine and the at least one cigarette machine unit being arranged along a substantially straight line. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2003/007467, filed Jul. 10, 2003 and claims priority of German Patent Application No. DE 102 34 761.1, filed on Jul. 30, 2002. Moreover, the disclosure of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2003/007467, filed Jul. 10, 2003 is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing and packaging cigarettes, which includes a cigarette manufacturing machine including at least one cigarette machine unit that is specifically a distributor unit, a strand-forming unit, a filter-producing unit and/or a filter tipping unit, as well as a packaging machine for packaging the cigarettes into packages, packing units, cartons and/or on pallets.
The invention moreover relates to an arrangement of such apparatuses.
2. Discussion of Background Information
German patent DE 40 18 266 C2 discloses a cigarette manufacturing and packaging line. The cigarette manufacturing machine and the packaging machine are disposed in a square cell. The material is supplied there via a separate zone on one side of the cell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In distinction therefrom, the present invention is based on the problem of providing an apparatus of the claimed general type for manufacturing and packaging cigarettes, which requires the smallest floor space possible and simplifies servicing or operation, respectively.
This problem is solved by an apparatus for manufacturing and packaging cigarettes, including a cigarette machine having at least one cigarette machine unit that is specifically a distributing unit, a strand unit, a filter-manufacturing unit and/or a filter-tipping unit, as well as a packaging machine for packaging the cigarettes in packages, packing units, cartons and/or on pallets, with the packaging unit and at least one cigarette machine unit being arranged along a substantially straight line.
The inventive apparatus minimizes the floor space required for the apparatus.
Within the scope of the invention, a packaging machine includes one or several packaging units such as a cigarette block-forming unit that may also provide, in particular, an inner wrapper around the cigarette block, e.g. with tin foil, a collar-attaching unit, by which a collar may be disposed on the block provided with an inner wrapper, a blanks unit by which the blanks are folded and adhesively fastened around the block, a film wrapper unit by which a film may be applied around the completely folded and adhesively fastened cigarette packages, a carton packaging unit by which the cigarette package cartons may be packaged, and a carton-wrapping unit by which the cigarette cartons so produced may be wrapped, for instance by a propylene film. The cigarette machine Includes at least one cigarette machine unit such as a distributing unit in which the tobacco is fed, possibly screened and stacked, in particular, to form several tobacco strands, a strand unit by which the tobacco strand is wrapped with cigarette paper, a filter-manufacturing unit by which the filters are produced, for instance, from a filter tow, and a filter-tipping unit. Appropriate packaging unit and cigarette machine units are substantially known. The cigarette machine of the “Protos” type, made by Hauni Maschinenbau AG, includes, for example, a distributing unit and a strand unit and moreover a filter-tipping unit that is marketed by Hauni Maschinenbau AG by the brand “Max.” Applicant's “Chronos” packaging machine includes a block-forming unit, a collar-attaching unit, a blanks unit, and a film wrapper unit. The Chronos machine may be completed with an appropriate carton packaging unit and a carton-wrapping unit. The tobacco-distributing unit of the “Protos” machine may be preceded by a filter-manufacturing unit upstream along the conveying direction, which includes the well-known “AF” and “KDF” units. The “AF” unit serves to produce a filter strand from filter tow and the “KDF” unit serves to wrap this filter strand by a filter paper. The respective filter-producing unit or filter-producing machine, respectively, is equally marketed by Hauni Maschinenbau AG and is well-known to those skilled in the art.
When the filter-tipping unit is arranged along a substantially straight line relative to the packaging machine an even more space-saving variant of the invention is achieved. When, additionally, the strand unit is disposed along a substantially straight line relative to the packaging machine and the filter-tipping unit even less floor space is required. When, eventually, all of the cigarette machine units of the cigarette machine and the packaging machine are arranged along a substantially straight line only a minimum of floor space is required.
In a preferred embodiment of the inventive apparatus provisions are made to permit operation of the apparatus exclusively from a first side of the apparatus whilst provisions for feed of packaging material to the apparatus are made from a second side that is opposite to the first side In particular. With this preferred embodiment of the inventive device, the expenditure in terms of labor of the operators is minimized and moreover the floor space required on the manufacturing floor for the production of cigarettes and cigarette packages is optimized. Within the scope of the present invention, film material, collars, blanks are used as packaging material for packaging machine units, with the requirement that the collars and the blanks must previously have been cut or may be present in the form of bobbins and are then cut. The packaging material is preferably arranged on bobbins and is supplied to the packaging units from the second side.
Logistic provisions are made for automatic feed of the packaging material via a loading device and material-handling stations. The respective packaging materials supplies may be replenished by portal robots, as is described in the German Patent DE 40 18 266 C2. When provisions are made for feed to the apparatus from a second side exclusively it is possible to save path lengths so that stock-keeping may be made highly efficient and extensive in terms of time. Supply of the cigarette machine unit with at least one part of the materials required for handling cigarettes is preferably made possible from the second side. The materials required for producing cigarettes are tobacco, filter tow, filter paper, cigarette paper, and lining paper in particular. A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is provided when the tobacco is fed to the apparatus from the top and the further cigarette machine units are supplied from the second side.
In order to provide for optimized utilization of the floor space on the cigarette production and packaging floor, in accordance with the present invention, an arrangement of the inventive apparatus described above is characterized by the provisions that at least two adjacent apparatuses are spaced from each other in such a way that aisles are formed between the apparatuses, which are exclusively provided for feeding packaging material to the apparatuses or exclusively for operating the apparatuses. Due to the inventive arrangement of the inventive apparatuses, either short path lengths are created for feed to the apparatuses or short walking distances for operating the apparatuses. Moreover, optimum utilization of the floor space or the area, respectively, becomes possible. In the context of the present invention, the term “spacing” is to be understood in the sense, in particular, that a space is provided transversely with respect to the substantially straight line of the apparatuses.
A plurality of apparatuses is preferably so arranged that respectively adjacent apparatuses are spaced from each other by such a distance that aisles are formed along the substantially straight lines that are provided exclusively for feeding packaging materials to the apparatus and/or exclusively for operation of the apparatuses. Due to one preferred embodiment of the inventive arrangement, an even enhanced utilization of floor space available for the apparatuses becomes possible. An arrangement that allows for an even higher feed rate or operating speed, respectively, due to shorter ways to be covered includes aisles formed by spacing apparatuses along the respective substantially straight line, with the aisles being extended along this line of adjacent apparatuses.
One aspect of the invention includes an apparatus for manufacturing and packaging cigarettes that includes a cigarette machine including at least one cigarette machine unit, a packaging machine structured and arranged to package the cigarettes one of in packages, in packing units, in cartons, and on pallets; and the packaging machine and the at least one cigarette machine unit being arranged along a substantially straight line.
In a further aspect of the invention, the at least one cigarette machine unit can include at least one of a distributing unit, a strand unit, a filter-manufacturing unit, and a filter-tipping unit. Moreover, the at least one cigarette machine unit can include a filter-tipping unit arranged along a substantially straight line with the packaging machine. Furthermore the at least one cigarette machine unit can further include a strand unit arranged along a substantially straight line with the packaging machine and the filter-tipping unit. Additionally, the at least one cigarette machine unit can further include a distributing unit and a filter-manufacturing unit, and the distributing unit, the filter-manufacturing unit, the strand unit, the filter-tipping unit, and the packaging machine are arranged along a substantially straight line. Moreover the cigarette machine and the packaging machine can be structured and arranged for operation exclusively from one side of the cigarette machine and the packaging machine; and wherein the packaging machine is structured and arranged for supply of packaging material to the packaging machine exclusively from a second side that is opposite to the first side. Furthermore the at least one cigarette machine unit can be structured and arranged such that at least one part of the materials required for manufacturing cigarettes is suppliable from the second side. Additionally the at least one cigarette machine unit can be structured and arranged such that tobacco is suppliable from above, and the at least one cigarette machine unit comprises a plurality of cigarette machine units, in which each of the plurality of cigarette machine units is suppliable from the second side. Moreover an arrangement composed of a plurality of apparatuses can include at least two adjacent apparatuses are arranged such that aisles are formed between the at least two adjacent apparatuses, wherein the aisles are formed by the first sides of the two adjacent apparatuses or the second sides of the two adjacent apparatuses. Additionally, the arrangement can include a plurality of apparatuses arranged such that respective adjacent apparatuses are spaced from each other such that aisles are formed by sides of adjacent apparatuses. Furthermore, the arrangement can include additional apparatuses arranged to continue the aisles formed by the arrangement of apparatuses along the substantially straight line.
Another aspect of the invention includes a method of arranging an apparatus for manufacturing and packaging cigarettes, the apparatus comprising a cigarette machine having at least one cigarette machine unit and a packaging machine structured and arranged to package the cigarettes one of in packages, in packing units, in cartons, and on pallets. The method includes arranging the packaging machine and the at least one cigarette machine unit along a substantially straight line.
In a further aspect of the invention, at least one cigarette machine unit can include at least one of a distributing unit, a strand unit, a filter-manufacturing unit, and a filter-tipping unit. Moreover, the at least one cigarette machine unit can include a filter-tipping unit arranged along a substantially straight line with the packaging machine. Furthermore, the at least one cigarette machine unit can further include a strand unit arranged along a substantially straight line with the packaging machine and the filter-tipping unit. Additionally, the at least one cigarette machine unit can further include a distributing unit and a filter-manufacturing unit, and the distributing unit, the filter-manufacturing unit, the strand unit, the filter-tipping unit, and the packaging machine are arranged along a substantially straight line. Moreover, the method can further include arranging the cigarette machine and the packaging machine for operation exclusively from one side of the cigarette machine and the packaging machine, and arranging the packaging machine for supply of packaging material to the packaging machine exclusively from a second side that is opposite to the first side. Additionally, the method can include arranging the at least one cigarette machine unit such that at least one part of the materials required for manufacturing cigarettes is suppliable from the second side. Moreover, the at least one cigarette machine unit can be structured and arranged such that tobacco is suppliable from above, and the at least one cigarette machine unit comprises a plurality of cigarette machine units, in which each of the plurality of cigarette machine units is suppliable from the second side. Furthermore, the method can include arranging at least two adjacent apparatuses such that aisles are formed between the at least two adjacent apparatuses, wherein the aisles are formed by the first sides of the two adjacent apparatuses or the second sides of the two adjacent apparatuses. Additionally, the method can include arranging a plurality of apparatuses such that respective adjacent apparatuses are spaced from each other such that aisles are formed by sides of adjacent apparatuses. Furthermore, the aisles formed by the arrangement of apparatuses along the substantially straight line can be continued by apparatuses adjacent along the direction of the line.
In a further aspect of the invention the apparatus for manufacturing and packaging cigarettes can include a cigarette machine comprising a plurality of components, a packaging machine structured and arranged to package the cigarettes in one of packages, packing units, cartons, and on pallets, and the packaging machine and at least one of the components being arranged along a substantially straight line.
In a further aspect of the invention at least one of the components can include at least one of a distributing unit, a strand unit, a filter-manufacturing unit, and a filter-tipping unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be described by embodiments, without any restriction of the general inventive idea, with reference to the drawings. As far as all inventive details are concerned that are not explained in more details in the text, explicit reference is made to the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of an inventive apparatus for manufacturing and packaging cigarettes;
FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic plan view of another inventive apparatus;
FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a third inventive apparatus;
FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic plan view of a still further inventive apparatus;
FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of an arrangement of inventive apparatuses;
FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of another arrangement of inventive apparatuses;
FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a third arrangement of inventive apparatuses;
FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic plan view of another arrangement of the inventive apparatuses; and
FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of another arrangement of inventive apparatuses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In the following figures, the same elements are identified by the same reference numerals so that a repeated discussion of the respective elements may be dispensed with.
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an inventive cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatus 60. The cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatus 60 includes a packaging machine 9 and a cigarette machine 10. The cigarette machine 10 includes a conventional tobacco distributor 11 that is known from the German Patent DE 36 19 579 C2. In this distributing unit 11, tobacco is screened, for instance, for subsequent separation and final feed to two suction strand conveyors on which tobacco strands are formed. Downstream of the tobacco distributor 11, a strand unit 12 is provided in which the tobacco strands so created are formed in a forming-fittings set (forming garniture) into the shape envisaged for the cigarette and are then wrapped up in cigarette paper. The cigarette paper is withdrawn from a cigarette paper supply 21 that may include cigarette paper bobbins in this example. A materials-handling station 41 is provided in order to permit perfect withdrawal. A loading device 31 serves to replenish the cigarette paper supply 21. The production of the cigarette strand is described, for example, in the European Patent EP 0 582 136 B1 in the name of Hauni Maschinenbau AG. That document equally discloses also the formatting apparatus for the creation of the cigarette shape in an appropriate form.
Downstream of the strand unit, a filter-tipping unit 13 is provided by which the filter elements of double useful length are carried between two tobacco stocks wrapped up in cigarette paper for subsequently wrapping with lining paper and gluing. Then, the filter elements of double length are severed in the middle so that complete filter cigarettes are produced. A lining paper supply 22 is associated with the filter-tipping unit 13, which is fed to the filter-tipping unit 13 by a materials-handling unit 42. A loading device 32 is provided for charging the lining paper supply 22. The cigarette machine 10 includes a tobacco distributor 11, the strand unit 12, and the filter-tipping unit 13. Packaging material is arranged downstream of the cigarette machine 10, which is composed of six units in this example. These units are a block-forming unit 14, a collar-attaching unit 15, a blanks unit 16, a film wrapper unit 17, a carton-packaging unit 18, and a carton-wrapping unit 19. It is equally possible to provide more or fewer units in the packaging machine 9.
Initially, blocks are formed from a desired number of filter cigarettes in the block-forming unit 14, which are then wrapped with an inner wrapper such as a tin foil. To this end, an inner-wrapper supply 23 is provided that is fed to the block-forming unit by a materials-handling station 43. A loading device 33 is provided for replenishing the inner-wrapper supply 23. Subsequently, a collar-attaching unit 15 is provided that attaches a collar to or under the block provided with an inner wrapper. In this embodiment, the collar-attaching unit 15 is provided with a collar supply 24 available in the form of bobbins. The respective collar material, for example cardboard, is withdrawn from a bobbin by the materials-handling station 44 and cut into an appropriate collar shape, if necessary punched for providing folding lines. A loading device 34 is provided for replenishing the collar supply 24.
The wrapped cigarette blocks provided with a collar are then conveyed to a blanks unit 16 in which a cigarette package blank is folded around the cigarette block provided with a collar, and is then appropriately adhesively fastened. The blanks are available from a blanks supply 25 and fed by a materials-handling station 45. The blanks supply 25, is appropriately replenished by a loading device 35. Then the cigarette package arrives in a film wrapper unit 17 where, for instance, a transparent polypropylene film is wrapped around the cigarette package. A package wrapper supply 26 is associated with the film wrapper unit 17, with the wrapping paper being supplied to the film wrapper unit 17 by a materials-handling station 46. The package wrapper supply 26 is replenished by a loading device 36. Then, the cigarette packages provided with a carton wrapper in groups of 2×5 cigarette packages, for example, and provided with a folded blank for forming a carton. This is done by a carton packaging unit 18. A carton blanks supply 27 is associated with the carton packaging unit 18. The carton blanks are fed from the carton blanks supply 27 by a materials-handling station 47 to the carton packaging unit 18. The carton blanks supply 27 is replenished by a loading device 37.
Finally, the cigarette cartons arrive in a carton-wrapping unit 19 where, for instance, transparent polypropylene film is wrapped around the cartons. To this end, a carton wrapper supply 28 is provided. The carton-wrapping material is fed to the carton-wrapping unit 19 by a materials-handling station 48. The carton wrapper supply 28 is 28 is replenished by a loading device 38.
FIG. 1 moreover illustrates a tobacco inlet 52 that roughly indicates a tobacco supply from above at the tobacco distributor 11.
FIG. 2 shows another inventive cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatus 61. The distinction from FIG. 1 is in that the tobacco distributor 11 is not arranged along a straight line with the packaging machine 9 but rather crosswise relative to it. To this end, two units of the cigarette machine 10 are arranged along a line with the packaging machine 9, i.e. the strand unit 12 and the filter-tipping unit 13. Actually, however, all the supplies of the cigarette machine, are arranged along a substantially straight line directly on the cigarette machine and the packaging machine.
FIG. 3 is another schematic plan view of an inventive cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatus 62. This embodiment is in essential correspondence with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Here, merely a filter producing unit 20 is arranged ahead of the tobacco distributor. The filter producing unit 20 produces a rod-shaped filter from a filter tow arranged in a filter tow supply 50. To this end, initially the filter tow is fed to a filter tow conveyor device by a filter tow stripper 51 and is then provided with a filter paper in a format in a manner known per se for being then conveyed into an endless filter strand. The endless filter strand is then cut into filter segments of a desired length. The filter paper is made available from a filter paper supply to the filter producing unit 20 by a materials handling station 49. The filter paper supply 29 is replenished by a loading device 39.
In the cigarette manufacturing and packaging device 62, all the units of the cigarette machine, which includes also the filter producing unit 20 in this embodiment, all the units of the packaging machine 9 are arranged substantially along a straight line.
FIG. 4 illustrates another inventive embodiment of a cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatus 63 wherein one part of the filter producing unit 20 is arranged at an angle of substantially 90° relative to the substantially straight line of the other units. This angled unit is the known AF unit marketed by Hauni Maschinenbau AG. This unit is joined by a KDF unit of Hauni Maschinenbau AG, which, in this embodiment, extends along a substantially straight line relative to the other units.
Elements shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 1 to 4 are envisaged to indicate doors that can be opened and closed in correspondence with the manipulation of the device.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of an arrangement of six inventive cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatuses 60 according to FIG. 1. With this inventive arrangement, very small floor space is required for the installation of the cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatuses 60. Apart therefrom, the operation of the cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatuses 60 is simplified and eventually the feed of packaging material and the material required for cigarette manufacture to the apparatus or the latter's supply with these materials is facilitated.
The inventive apparatuses 60 are arranged in such a way that respective operating sides 70 of the cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatuses 60 are adjacent to each other and that supply or servicing sides 71 are adjacent to each other. This arrangement creates operator aisles 73 and supply aisles 72. In the present embodiment, two respective operator aisles 73 are aligned on each other whilst two respective supply aisles 72 are aligned on each other. An operator is now only required to move in an operator aisle 73 in order to supervise two or even four cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatuses 60. Appropriate automatic apparatuses or robots, respectively, for supplying the cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatuses 60 must move only in a supply aisle 72 so that the path length covered to supply of the apparatus can be minimized, with the result that possibly a smaller number of supply robots or automatic supply machinery may be utilized with the same output of the cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatuses 60.
In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, an additional intermediate aisle 74 is provided between the cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatuses 60, which intermediate aisle 74 extends transversely with respect to the substantially straight line of the arrangement of the units of the cigarette machines 10 and the packaging machines 9.
FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of another inventive arrangement of six cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatuses 61 according to FIG. 2. In this case, corresponding supply aisles and intermediate aisles 74 are created. The same applies to FIG. 7 illustrating a schematic plan view of an inventive arrangement of a cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatuses 62 according to FIG. 3.
FIG. 8 accordingly illustrates another inventive arrangement of six cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatuses 63 in correspondence with FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the preferred operator aisles 73 and supply aisles 72 are created. The inventive arrangements according to FIGS. 6 and 8 require already a smaller floor space. The inventive arrangements according to FIGS. 5 and 7 require even less floor space.
In a further inventive arrangement according to FIG. 9, four cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatuses 64 are shown which, compared against the cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatuses 60 to 63 described above are different. In this case, the wrapper supplies or materials supplies for the tobacco production, respectively, are not directly adjacent to the units of the packaging machine and the cigarette machine but are rather spaced therefrom. The feed of the respective materials is realized in this embodiment via supply lines 40 that are located above the heads of the operators or underneath the operators. In this embodiment, two supply aisles 72 are disposed between the respective supplies for alignment on each other. This permits a very rapid and efficient replenishment of the supplies by respective automatic feeders or robots, respectively. One respective supply aisle 73 for the operators is provided per cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatus 64, from where there is simple access to the supply side 70 of the cigarette machine and the respective packaging machine. Two respective supply sides 71 can be handled in the supply aisles 72.
The arrangement according to FIG. 9, permits a very efficient utilization of the available space or of the given floor space made available.
It is possible to provide common logistics systems for coupling the individual cigarette machine units 11, 12, 13, 20 and packaging machine units or packaging machine elements 14 to 19, which may also include buffer storages for completely finished or partly finished products. The well-known logistics systems may be mass flow systems, storage systems or rack systems. An optimum utilization of the installation area is achieved, however, when the apparatus are coupled to each other directly, as far as this is possible, without installing appropriate logistics components or systems between them.

List of Reference Numerals

9 packaging machine
10 cigarette machine
11 tobacco distributor
12 strand unit
13 filter-tipping unit
14 block-forming unit
15 collar-attaching unit
16 blanks unit
17 film wrapper unit
18 carton-packaging unit
19 carton-wrapping unit
20 filter-manufacturing unit
21 cigarette paper supply
22 lining paper supply
23 inner-wrapper supply
24 collar supply
25 blanks supply
26 package wrapper supply
27 carton blanks supply
28 carton wrapper supply
29 filter paper supply
31 to 39 loading device
40 supply line
41 to 49 materials-handling station
50 filter tow supply
51 filter tow stripper
52 tobacco inlet
60 to 65 cigarette manufacturing and packaging apparatus
70 operating side
71 supply side
72 supply aisle
73 operator aisle
74 intermediate aisle

Claims

1. An apparatus for manufacturing and packaging cigarettes, comprising:

a cigarette machine comprising at least one cigarette machine unit;

a packaging machine structured and arranged to package the cigarettes one of in packages, in packing units, in cartons, and on pallets; and

said packaging machine and said at least one cigarette machine unit being arranged along a substantially straight line.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cigarette machine unit comprises at least one of a distributing unit, a strand unit, a filter-manufacturing unit, and a filter-tipping unit.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cigarette machine unit comprises a filter-tipping unit arranged along a substantially straight line with said packaging machine.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said at least one cigarette machine unit further comprises a strand unit arranged along a substantially straight line with said packaging machine and said filter-tipping unit.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said at least one cigarette machine unit further comprises a distributing unit and a filter-manufacturing unit, and said distributing unit, said filter-manufacturing unit, said strand unit, said filter-tipping unit, and said packaging machine are arranged along a substantially straight line.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cigarette machine and said packaging machine are structured and arranged for operation exclusively from one side of said cigarette machine and said packaging machine; and

wherein said packaging machine is structured and arranged for supply of packaging material to said packaging machine exclusively from a second side that is opposite to said first side.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said at least one cigarette machine unit is structured and arranged such that at least one part of the materials required for manufacturing cigarettes is suppliable from said second side.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said at least one cigarette machine unit is structured and arranged such that tobacco is suppliable from above, and said at least one cigarette machine unit comprises a plurality of cigarette machine units, in which each of said plurality of cigarette machine units is suppliable from said second side.

9. An arrangement composed of a plurality of apparatuses according to claim 6, wherein at least two adjacent apparatuses are arranged such that aisles are formed between said at least two adjacent apparatuses,

wherein the aisles are formed by said first sides of said two adjacent apparatuses or said second sides of said two adjacent apparatuses.

10. The arrangement according to claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of apparatuses arranged such that respective adjacent apparatuses are spaced from each other such that aisles are formed by sides of adjacent apparatuses.

11. The arrangement according to claim 10, further comprising:

additional apparatuses arranged to continue said aisles formed by the arrangement of apparatuses along said substantially straight line.

12. A method of arranging an apparatus for manufacturing and packaging cigarettes, the apparatus comprising a cigarette machine having at least one cigarette machine unit and a packaging machine structured and arranged to package the cigarettes one of in packages, in packing units, in cartons, and on pallets, comprising:

arranging the packaging machine and the at least one cigarette machine unit along a substantially straight line.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one cigarette machine unit comprises at least one of a distributing unit, a strand unit, a filter-manufacturing unit, and a filter-tipping unit.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one cigarette machine unit comprises a filter-tipping unit arranged along a substantially straight line with the packaging machine.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one cigarette machine unit further comprises a strand unit arranged along a substantially straight line with the packaging machine and the filter-tipping unit.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one cigarette machine unit further comprises a distributing unit and a filter-manufacturing unit, and the distributing unit, the filter-manufacturing unit, the strand unit, the filter-tipping unit, and the packaging machine are arranged along a substantially straight line.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising:

arranging the cigarette machine and the packaging machine for operation exclusively from one side of the cigarette machine and the packaging machine; and

arranging the packaging machine for supply of packaging material to the packaging machine exclusively from a second side that is opposite to the first side.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

arranging the at least one cigarette machine unit such that at least one part of the materials required for manufacturing cigarettes is suppliable from the second side.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the at least one cigarette machine unit is structured and arranged such that tobacco is suppliable from above, and the at least one cigarette machine unit comprises a plurality of cigarette machine units, in which each of the plurality of cigarette machine units is suppliable from the second side.

20. A method arranging a plurality of apparatuses according to claim 17, further comprising:

arranging at least two adjacent apparatuses such that aisles are formed between the at least two adjacent apparatuses,

wherein the aisles are formed by the first sides of the two adjacent apparatuses or the second sides of the two adjacent apparatuses.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

arranging the plurality of apparatuses such that respective adjacent apparatuses are spaced from each other such that aisles are formed by sides of adjacent apparatuses.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the aisles formed by the arrangement of apparatuses along the substantially straight line are continued by apparatuses adjacent along the direction of the line.

23. An apparatus for manufacturing and packaging cigarettes arranged according the method of claim 12.

24. An apparatus for manufacturing and packaging cigarettes, comprising:

a cigarette machine comprising a plurality of components;

a packaging machine structured and arranged to package the cigarettes in one of packages, packing units, cartons, and on pallets; and

the packaging machine and at least one of the components being arranged along a substantially straight line.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein at least one of the components comprises at least one of a distributing unit, a strand unit, a filter-manufacturing unit, and a filter-tipping unit.