CH701396B1

CH701396B1 - Compound filter formation equipment.

Info

Publication number: CH701396B1
Application number: CH10512010A
Authority: CH
Inventors: Stefano Bertoldi; Umberto Zanetti
Original assignee: Gd Spa
Priority date: 2009-07-02
Filing date: 2010-06-29
Publication date: 2014-03-31
Also published as: DE102010025853A1; ITBO20090426A1; IT1394492B1; CH701396A2

Abstract

An apparatus of formation of compounds filters has a plurality of units (4, 5) for supplying respective filter plugs to a forming conveyor of clips groups; for each unit (4, 5) is provided a feed conveyor (37) for feeding a mass of filter plugs to a unit input hopper (21) (4, 5) itself; each unit (4, 5) is movable transversely to the conveyor to control of respective recording means (33); between the output of each conveyor (37) and the input of the respective hopper (21) is interposed a connecting element (48), and shaped like a bridge integral with the hopper (21), for the transfer of the mass of filter plugs from the conveyor (37) to the hopper (21) regardless of the position of the hopper (21) with respect to the conveyor (37).

Description

Description [0001] The present invention relates to a composite filters forming apparatus.

[0002] According to what is known to reduce the harmful effects of smoking cigarettes are provided with filters compounds, i.e. of filters obtained by the combination of two or more filter plugs from different filtering characteristics.

[0003] The compounds filters can be obtained by means of machines known under the name of "combiners filters", to which the present discussion makes explicit reference.

[0004] In these machines, in case, for example, of compounds filters by two filter plugs with different characteristics, the segments of each of the two types are fed by means of respective power supply unit within the recesses of a forming conveyor of groups of filter plugs, movable below those units.

[0005] In this way, within these alveoli are progressively to form, in the course of the feed conveyor, determined according to a direction D, of the axially aligned portions groups among them which are in turn fed to a beam formation of a silkworm filter.

[0006] In correspondence with this beam the succession of groups of filters in contact end and advancing in a longitudinal direction is wrapped in a strip of wrapping material for the formation of a continuous rod of filter, which is split into individual compounds by filters of the rotating cutting means arranged in correspondence with the final end of the beam.

[0007] More in particular, each aforementioned unit, fueled by a mass of filter plugs by respective tape conveying means, comprises, mounted on a frame or a substantially parallelepiped box, a hopper of accumulation, within which flow into the tape conveying means power of the mass of clips, and a plurality of conveying drums interposed between the hopper and the conveyor of the groups formation.

[0008] Always according to what is known each unit, in order to impart flexibility to the apparatus of formation of compounds filters, it is slaved to means for registration of its position along a direction parallel to the axis of the drums and transverse to the direction of advancement D of the conveyor of clips forming groups.

[0009] In other words a result of this, the said apparatus is able, through simple recording operations of the individual units, to adapt to the production of filters consisting of different longitudinal dimensions and to modify the mutual arrangement of the various components clips the filters.

[0010] According to the above-mentioned known recording means comprise, for each unit, attuatoli means and a pair of fixed guides, along which there are slidingly engaged the support unit of the aforementioned cases.

[0011] According to what is known, after each recording operation, and then displacement of such units along the guides, for the maintenance of a correct connection between the conveying means to the feed belt of the mass of clips and the respective hoppers is done on the means conveyors themselves. Is then adjusted from time to time, depending on the position assumed by each case on the respective guide means, the position of deflection rollers and tensioning rollers arranged at least in correspondence with the exit end portion of the aforementioned conveying means of the mass of filter plugs.

[0012] Such a regulation of the link methodology between the conveying means and the relative hoppers is evidently complex, laborious, in particular in the case of use of conveyors modular link means, normally used in such equipment for the mass transport of the filter plugs . The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide an apparatus of the compounds filters training which allows to eliminate the drawbacks described above with reference to prior art.

[0013] In accordance with the invention there is provided a forming apparatus comprising the features of the filters compounds present in the independent claim: [0014] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, in which: fig. 1 illustrates in schematic front view and an apparatus for the formation of composite filters; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a detail of Figure 1; Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a detail of Figure 1; Fig. 4 illustrates in perspective view and in an enlarged scale a detail of Figure 3; Fig. 5 illustrates an increased scale a detail of Figure 4.

[0015] With reference to fig. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety an apparatus for the formation of composite filters.

[0016] In the discussion that follows will be described, by way of example, an apparatus 1 for the production of 2, consisting of composite filters, for example, by two F filter plugs from different filtering characteristics, intended to be fed to a machine a user of a known type, schematized with the block A.

[0017] The apparatus 1, the base of which is indicated by 3, comprises two units 4 and 5 in the filter plugs power supply, substantially equal to one another, mounted, side by side, on a upper horizontal wall 3a of the base 3. Each unit 4, 5 is adapted to supply, respectively in correspondence of a station 6 and a station 7, of filter plugs F1, F2 (indicated below also generically F) to a conveyor 9 .

[0018] The conveyor 9 can be defined by a succession of drums arranged in a cascade, with their axes parallel and transverse to a direction of conveying F of the filter plugs, or, as shown for the sake of simplicity in the example shown, by a belt conveyor, closed in a loop around end rollers 10 (only one of which shown in fIG. 1), which define an upper branch 8 on the conveyor horizontal transport, extending through the stations 6 and 7.

[0019] The conveyor 9 is adapted to the formation, within alveoli 11, transverse to its direction of advancement D, which is fitted externally, the G groups of filter plugs, each composed by a portion F1 and F2 by one chunk.

[0020] Downstream of the conveyor 9, schematically shown in the block 12, means are provided for transferring the G groups from the respective receptacles 11 to a beam 13 of the formation of a worm 14 the continuous filter, arranged transversely with respect to the conveyor 9.

[0021] In a known manner means 12 transfer are adapted to arrange the said G groups longitudinally aligned according to a sequence continues on the beam 13, along which, in a known manner the G groups succession is wrapped in a strip 15 of material d 'wrapping for the formation of the continuous rod 14, which is divided by a rotating cutting device 16 into single composite filters 2, destined to the user machine A.

[0022] In fig. 3 shows the said unit 4 for feeding the F1 clips, and only partially the unit 5 of the F2 clips power, as said substantially equal to the unit 4.

[0023] It is part of each unit 4, 5 a frame 17 mounted on the base 3 and the lower part consists of a case 18 substantially parallelepiped, supporting, through an upright 19 a vertical plate 20 which extends in cantilever fashion transversely to the direction D of the conveyor 9 of G. forming groups

[0024] The unit 4 and 5 comprise a hopper 21 of accumulation of a mass of F clips integral filter to the plate 20 and, supported by the case 18, a plurality of drums 22 treatment aspirants and transfer of F clips, mounted on axes 22a horizontal and transverse to the said direction D of the conveyor 9.

[0025] The said drums 22, driven by a mechanism internal to the respective speakers 18, are equipped with 23 parallel peripheral grooves to 22a of rotation and communicate axes, in known manner not shown, with suction means for holding the blanks F descendants from hoppers 21 and feed them within the recesses 11 in correspondence with the stations 6:07 conveyor belt 9.

[0026] The hopper 21 is constituted by an upper portion 24, an intermediate portion 25, defined by a spiral wall 26, within which the orientation of the clips F is changed according to a direction parallel to the axis 22a of the said drums 22, and a lower discharge mouth 27, facing the upper end of a first roller 28 of said plurality of drums 22.

[0027] With reference also to fig. 4, the upper portion 24 or the hopper inlet 21, which is defined, parallel to the axes of the F filter plugs from the side walls 29 and 30 and covered by an upper wall 31, present in correspondence with the wall 29, an opening 32, adapted to permit the feeding of the mass of filter plugs F.

[0028] Each unit 4, 5 is interlocked with adjustment means 33 of its position comprising guides 34, formed on the upper wall 3 to the base 3 and directed transversely to the direction D of advancement of the conveyor 9.

[0029] In this way, the transfer position of the stations 6:07 of F1 clips, F2 within the recesses 11 of the conveyor 9 can be adjusted, under the command of attuatoli means, schematized in the block 35, depending on the longitudinal dimensions of F1 clips , F2 forming the same group G.

[0030] With 36 is indicated as a whole, relatively to the unit 4, an end portion of the conveying means 37, supported by a vertical wall 38 integral with the base 3, closed in a loop around end rollers 39, only one of which shown in fig. 4 and 5, and around tension rollers, not shown.

[0031] The conveyor means 37, of the type composed of modular meshes, indicated with 40, fed, via their upper branch 37a, in the direction indicated by arrow A a mass of F1 filter plugs to the hopper 21 through said opening 32 .

[0032] In particular, a wall 41, fixed with respect to the wall 38 relative to the terminal portion 36 of said conveying means 37 is inserted in sliding manner, in a direction transverse to the direction D, in an opening or window 42 of the plate 20 to support the hopper 21.

Claims

[0033] With 43 are indicated the actuator means for actuating the conveying means 37. With 44 is indicated an upper conveyor closed in a loop around end rollers with parallel axes to the axis of the rollers 39, whose lower branch 45 is to contraffacciato branch 37a of the conveying means 37, so as to define a channel 46, along which the mass of filter plugs F is pushed toward the inside of the hopper 21. [0034] the upper conveyor 44 may either be supported by the wall 38 and therefore integral to the conveying means 37, is mounted on the plate 20 and thus integral with the frame 17. [0035] With reference in particular to fIG. 4 and to FIG. 5, at an edge of the wall 29 defining the bottom opening 32 of the hopper 21 is fixed, via its intermediate portion 47, a bridge element 48 U-shaped, which extends the side arms 49 on both sides of the terminal portion of the branch 37a coplanar to the latter. [0036] In particular, the lateral arms 49 extend at right angles from the intermediate portion 47 and are arranged side by side, on opposite sides, to the terminal portion of the branch 37a, with respect to which the entire bridge element 48 is coplanar [0037] This element bridge 48 ensures the continuity of the connection between the conveying means 37 and the hopper 21 in the case of their mutual spacing as a result of displacements of the units 4, 5 along the guides 34. [0038] it should be noted that the upper conveyor 44 may take the its motion by the same actuating means 43 of the conveying means 37, or be equipped with independent actuation means, not shown. [0039] In the case in which the upper conveyor 44 is integral with the wall 38 of the base 3 is conveniently provided with a second U-shaped element 50, of connection, similar to the element 48, fixed to the edge 30a of the wall 30 which defines the upper part l ' opening 32. [0040] L 'element 50 has the task of superiorly regularize the flow of the mass of F clips in the case of relative displacements, resulting from logging operations, between the hopper 21 and wall 38. claims

1. An apparatus of formation of composite filters comprising a plurality of units (4, 5) for feeding lengths (F1, F2) filter to a group (G forming conveyor (9)) of said pieces (F1, F2) and conveying means (37) for feeding a mass of lengths (F1, F2) filter to an input hopper (21) of each said units (4, 5), said unit (4, 5) being adjustable transversely to the said conveyor (9), characterized in that between the output of said conveying means (37) and the input of said hopper (21) are interposed connecting means (48) for the transfer of said mass of filters clips (F1, F2) by conveying means (37) to the hopper (21) irrespective of the position of said unit (4, 5) with respect to said conveying means (37).

2. Training Equipment composite filters according to claim 1, characterized in that said connecting means (48) comprise a bridge element U-shaped, integral with the hopper (21) and whose side arms (49) protrude , coplanar to a transport branch (37a) of the conveying means (37).

3. Training Equipment composite filters according to claim 2, characterized in that said lateral arms (49) extend at right angles from an intermediate portion (47) attached to said hopper (21) and are arranged side by side, on opposite sides, to the terminal portion of said conveying branch (37a), with respect to which the entire bridge element (48) is coplanar.

4. training apparatus of composite filters according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises second conveyor means (44) overlying the conveyor means (37) and defining with it a supply channel of the lengths (F1, F2) to the hopper (21).