CZ282163B6 - Apparatus and process of filling a cigarette-producing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The cigarette making machine is arranged in three main sectors: one or more tobacco mixtures (2), tobacco distribution (3) and tobacco production (4) sectors. The tobacco distribution sector (3) is provided with at least one mobile container (30) which slides into the tobacco supply sector (2) under the hopper neck (21) and after tobacco filling into the tobacco distribution sector (4) above the hopper (40). ŕ

Description

Technical field

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for filling a tobacco machine, in particular cigarettes, comprising, on the one hand, a tobacco supply device with at least one conveyor and, on the other hand, a tobacco distribution device to at least one tobacco product machine with at least one hopper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

EP 390 732 discloses a known device for filling several tobacco machine 12 simultaneously, as shown in FIG. 1. Tobacco is transported by a fourth conveyor 1 and unfolded on a vibrating belt 10 from which it is sucked through the second conduit 11 via a chamber with a third partition 13 to the tobacco manufacturing machines 12. The air is discharged through a third duct 14 which opens into a single duct 15 at the end of which a fan 16 is installed.

Transporting tobacco from the trays to the tobacco machine 12 is an important workflow, since the tobacco must not be damaged and the tobacco machine 12 must be filled regularly to avoid production downtime.

The disadvantage of this device is, in particular, the lengthy transport of tobacco on the vibrating belt 10. Due to the vibration, the tobacco spontaneously sorts according to the vein size. Long veins tend to aggregate in the upper layer, while shorter veins fall into the bottom of the transported raw material. As a result, the tobacco is dispensed and distributed irregularly through the second conduit 11. The sockets of the second conduit 11 open above the surface of the vibrating belt 10 in succession, which also causes irregular filling of the tobacco machine 12. This effect is accentuated when the operation of one tobacco machine 12 is stopped and the tobacco is not sucked in. In such a case, the quality of the tobacco sucked through the second conduit 11 to the other tobacco machine 12 changes. It can be stated that the operation or stopping of one tobacco machine 12 will cause changes in the quality of the tobacco processed by the tobacco machine 12. Thus, the method described above does not allow the continuous filling of tobacco machines 12 with tobacco, which reduces their performance and leads to damage to the veins of the tobacco. A further disadvantage of this apparatus lies in the relatively difficult regulation of the filling of the tobacco machine 12 with the tobacco mixture when one mixture is followed by another. Such a change in production requires the addition of an additional vibration belt 10. dismantling a portion of the second conduit 11 and adjusting it above another vibrating belt 10. Removing and relocating the second conduit 11 is lengthy and complicates the flow of the tobacco machine 12.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To a large extent, these devices are remedied by a device for filling a tobacco machine, in particular cigarettes, comprising, on the one hand, a tobacco supply device with at least one conveyor and, on the other hand, a tobacco distribution device to at least one tobacco machine with at least one hopper. characterized in that the tobacco feeding device and the tobacco distributing device are connected to a controlled tobacco distribution device comprising a guide device on which the support is slidably mounted. along the circumference of which the support arms with the tobacco transfer containers are fixed between the tobacco feeding device and the hopper. The outlet of each container is provided with second means for closing and / or opening the container.

- 1 GB 282163 B6

According to a preferred embodiment, the tobacco supply device is provided with at least one container for filling tobacco from the conveyors.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the outlet of the first container is provided with first means for closing and / or opening the first container.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the facing surfaces between containers and containers are provided with a first seal. The facing surfaces between the containers and the hoppers are provided with a second seal.

According to a further preferred embodiment, first vents are formed in the walls of the container opening into a first outer chamber provided with a first dust filter. In the walls of the hoppers there are formed second vents opening into the second outer chamber provided with a second dust filter.

According to a further preferred embodiment, third vents are formed in the walls of the first containers, leading to a third outer chamber provided with a third dust filter.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the support arms are designed to be telescopic to move the containers away from the support.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the tobacco control devices and the tobacco control devices are connected to a control means comprising a control unit to which the first and second level detecting and low-level signaling devices are connected in at least one hopper and signaling the unloading of the container into the hopper, and third sensors for controlling the movement of the container to the hopper and the tobacco feeding device and for detecting the position of the at least one container and filling it.

According to another preferred embodiment, the control unit is connected to the second means for closing and / or opening the at least one container.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the control unit is provided with a control device for controlling the supply of a certain tobacco mixture from the tobacco supply device to a certain hopper for filling at least one tobacco machine.

According to a further preferred embodiment, fourth sensors are connected to the control unit for detecting the level of tobacco in the at least one first container.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the control unit is connected to the first means for closing and / or opening the at least one first container.

The advantage of the proposed solution is that the device according to the invention ensures both the filling of tobacco production machines with constant quality tobacco whose veins are not degraded by transport and secondly the exchange of the tobacco mixture fed to one or more tobacco production machines.

A further advantage is that the device according to the invention fills the machines for the manufacture of tobacco products, in particular cigarettes, evenly with tobacco, the quality of which does not change during the filling of the machines for production of tobacco products. Operating or shutting down one tobacco machine will not affect the quality of the tobacco delivered to the other tobacco machines. The device will also allow a rapid transition of one or more tobacco manufacturing machines to the processing of another kind of tobacco blend.

-2GB 282163 B6

Overview of the drawings

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a prior art apparatus for filling a tobacco machine, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a first example 5 of an embodiment of a device for filling a tobacco machine; Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of an air extraction device; Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of an air extraction device; manufacture of tobacco products.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a device for filling a tobacco machine 12, in particular of cigarettes, consisting of a tobacco supply device 2 under which a tobacco control device 3 is placed, under which a tobacco distributor 4 is placed . The tobacco machine 12 is shown in FIG. 1.

The tobacco feed device 2 comprises two first cartridges 21. A conveyor is located above the left cartridges 21. formed by a belt conveyor 20 with a first type of tobacco blend.

and above the right first container 21 is a conveyor. formed by a second conveyor 20A with a second type of tobacco blend. The first containers 21 may be in the form of a tube to facilitate the fall of individual tobacco blends into the tobacco control device 3, separated from the tobacco delivery device 2 by the first baffle 22. thereby preventing the spread of tobacco dust from the tobacco delivery device 2 to the other two. The outlet of the first containers is provided with first means 23 for closing and / or opening the first container 21.

The tobacco control device 3 consists of a guide device 32 on which the containers 30 are displaceably supported. Each container 30 is provided with a drive mechanism 33 30 for moving the container 30 along the guide device 32 and secondly with a second closure means at its outlet. or opening the container 30.

The tobacco distribution device 4 consists of three hoppers 40. To the outlet of each hopper 40 is connected a first chamber 42A with a closed interior 42 in which a third 35 conveyor 41 is located. The first chamber 42A is provided with an air outlet 42B on the one hand on the other hand, two tobacco discharge pipes 43 formed on either side of the first chamber 42A. In the intermediate hopper 40, the first chamber 42A is rotated 90 ° to facilitate its description.

The second means 31 of the containers 30 and the first means 23 of the first containers 21 are designed as flaps folding downwards. The means 23, 31 can also be designed as sliders or baffles and can be operated remotely or automatically.

The transverse profile of the first containers 21, the containers 30 and the hoppers 40 must in particular correspond to the requirement of their suitable connection, in order not to damage the tobacco veins when they fall from one part of the device to the other.

The whole apparatus of Fig. 2 may be provided with various means for sealing its individual components through which the tobacco passes. The outlet of the first containers 21 is provided with a first seal 29 50 to seal the outlet of the first container 21 and the inlet of the container 30. Each hopper 40 is provided with a second seal 49 to seal the outlet of the container 30 and the inlet of the hopper 40. tobacco veins and dust outside the equipment. The gasket 29, 49 has an annular shape and can be disposed on the facing surfaces of the inlet or outlet of one or both of the handling means which are connected during operation of the device. Yippee

It is suitable that the gaskets 29, 49 be formed of a resilient material.

Below the outlet of the first container 21 is a mobile container 30 whose inlet is adjacent to the output of the first container 21. The second means 31 in Figure 2 is closed and tobacco falls from the first 5 conveyor 20 through the first container 21 into the container 30 and fills it. The first conveyor 20 is moved as a function of placing the mobile container 30 below the outlet of the first container 21. The filled container 30, after actuation of the drive mechanism 33, moves along the guide 32 to the tobacco distributor 4. In the right part of FIG. 2 there is shown a mobile container 30, placed below the hopper 40, the second means 31 of which is open and the tobacco falls freely into the hopper 40. The lower hopper 40 is not closed and opens above the third conveyor 41 chamber 42A, from where it is sucked and driven by the discharge line 43 in a known manner to the tobacco machine 12. Such a device makes it possible to fill two tobacco-making machines 12 from one hopper 40. This makes it possible to suck tobacco from the first chamber 42A and guide it to the tobacco-making machines 12. From this part of the description, it is apparent that the proposed apparatus supplies tobacco machines 12 with original and unchangeable quality, since it does not undergo spontaneous sorting during transport, as in the prior art.

The introduction of the second tobacco mixture into the on-going production is provided by the tobacco supply device 2 having at least one second conveyor 20A which feeds the second tobacco mixture to the respective first container 21 and feeds the mobile container 30 as described above. placed under the first container 21 after the second conveyor 20A has started. The mobile container 30 is then moved to a hopper 40 from which one or more tobacco making machines 12 are filled. However, it is possible to process more than 25 two tobacco blends. In such a case, the tobacco feeder 2 is supplemented with the required number of second conveyors 20A and first cartridges 21. A plurality of second conveyors 20A and first cartridges 21 can also be used to feed the same tobacco mixture for all tobacco machine 12.

The tobacco supply device 2 can also be provided in other variants, for example, the first container 21 in FIG. 2 on the right is provided with a first means 23 by which its lower throat can be closed or opened. In such a case, the second conveyors 20A may operate continuously, i. not to start supplying the tobacco until after delivery of the mobile container 30. The first container 21. provided with the first means 23, can be used as a device for temporarily and bursting tobacco 35. It will be appreciated that the internal volume of the first container 21 with the first means 23 must be determined with respect to the volume of the mobile container 30.

FIG. 3A shows a second embodiment of a tobacco supply device 2 comprising at least one supply line 24 that opens into a second chamber 25, the outlet of which is connected to a container inlet 30 having a second partition 26 for sealing the top opening of the container 30.

The feed line 24 feeds tobacco by suction into a second chamber 25 in which tobacco is separated from the intake air in a known manner. In this embodiment, the tobacco 45 falls directly from the feed line 24 into the container 30.

FIG. 3B shows a third embodiment of a tobacco supply device 2 comprising at least one second funnel-shaped container 28 passing through the first partition 22. Two first conduits 27 are disposed above the second container 28.

5 °

In this embodiment, the tobacco falls by its own weight through the first conduits 27 directly into the second container 28.

All of the above embodiments of the tobacco feed device 2 can be combined with each other, and the selection of the examples is selected taking into account the manufacturing requirements and the space conditions in which the tobacco feed device 2 will be installed.

The tobacco falling by its own weight into the container 30 is a compact mass which, as a piston, compresses air in the respective container 30 or in the hopper 40.

Figures 4A and 4B illustrate examples of a device for extracting this air which are located on the side walls 34 of the containers 30 or on the side walls 44 of the hopper 40. Figures 4A and 4B show an enlarged and cross-sectional part of the wall 34 of the container 30 and a portion of the wall 44 of the hopper 40. The wall 34 of the container 30 is provided in its regular lengths with first vents 35 which may enter into the surrounding environment, or more preferably into the first outer chamber 36 surrounding the container 30. At the outlet In the first outer chamber 36, a first dust filter 37 or an air outlet device is located. The wall 44 of the hopper 40 15 is provided with second vents in regular sections over its entire length and circumference.

45, which may discharge into the environment, or more preferably into the second outer chamber 46 surrounding the hopper 40. At the outlet of the second outer chamber 46 is located a second dust filter 47 or an air outlet device. The number of vents 35, 45, their shape and dimensions cannot be accurately determined, but their criterion is their functionality. The vents 35, 45 in both Figures 4A. 4B are oblique and in FIG. 4B are provided with wings that direct the air flow. On the left, FIG. 4A. 4B, the air is compressed by the falling tobacco mass in the container 30 or the hopper 40 and escapes through the vents 35, 45 into the outer chamber 36, 46 and through the dust filter 37, 47 into the environment. Third vents may be formed in the walls of the first containers 21, leading to a third outer chamber provided with a third dust filter.

The tobacco supply device 2, the tobacco distribution device 3 and the tobacco distribution device 4 are connected to the actuating means 5, consisting of a dilution unit 50 to ensure accurate operation and a symmetrical flow of the filling / emptying operations. The control unit 50 may be a computer. Each hopper 40 is provided with a first sensor 51 and a second sensor 30 52. Each container 30 is provided with a third sensor 53 and each first container 21 is provided with a fourth sensor 54. All sensors 51, 52, 53, 54 are connected to the control unit 50, which is provided with a control device for controlling the supply of a certain tobacco mixture from the tobacco supply device 2 to a certain feed pipe 40 for filling at least one tobacco product machine 12.

The control unit 50 processes the information of the first and second sensors 51, 52 about the level in the hoppers 40. These sensors 51, 52 send the following signals: hopper 40 is filled, hopper 40 is almost empty, and container 30 is unloaded into hopper 40. Third sensors 53 send signals about the current position of each mobile container 30 on the guide device 32 and its filling. As soon as the control unit 50 receives the minimum tobacco level signal in the hopper 40, it processes it by an internal program and commands the one or more mobile containers 30 below the first container 21. If the first container 21 is not filled with tobacco mixture, the control unit 50 starts the first and second conveyors 20, 20A. Upon filling of the mobile container 30, i.e. after the programmed time has elapsed, or upon signaling of the third sensor 53, the drive mechanism 33 is activated by the control unit 50 and the mobile container 30 is moved over the empty hopper 40 and filled with tobacco mixture. The control unit 50 can also control the speed of the third conveyors 41 with respect to the number of tobacco machines 12 currently operating. The means 23, 31 may also be controlled automatically or by the control unit 50 to which they are connected. The fourth sensors 54 detect the level of tobacco in the at least one first container 21. The control unit 50 should be supplemented with an anti-collision program if the movement of several mobile containers 30 on the guide device 32 is to be controlled. an effective operation of the device for filling tobacco machines 12. In the program of the control unit 50, all the data necessary for the operation of the entire plant, in particular the data relating to the distribution of the tobacco mixture and the filling of the tobacco product machines 12, are based.

- 5 GB 282163 B6

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of a device for filling a tobacco machine 12, which also comprises a tobacco supply device 2, a tobacco distribution device 3 and a tobacco distribution device 4.

The tobacco feed device 2 consists of three first cartridges 21. A first conveyor 20 is provided at each first cartridge 21. These three first conveyors 20 allow the delivery of one, two or three different tobacco mixtures. In practice, however, the number of first containers 21 and first conveyors 20 corresponds to the production requirements.

The tobacco distribution device 4 comprises five hoppers 40 for filling ten tobacco making machines 12 with tobacco. Here again, the number of hoppers 40 is limited by the number of tobacco machines 12. In contrast to FIG. 2, the first cartridges 21 and hoppers 40 are not positioned one above the other, but vertically spaced in parallel planes.

The tobacco control device 3 consists of a guide device 32 on which a slide 38 with a drive mechanism 33 is displaceably mounted to move the slide 38 along a guide device 32, which can be formed of one rail or two rails. The support 38 is provided with four support arms 39. At the end of each support arm 39, a container 30 is mounted. The support 38 moves 20 in an axis parallel to the planes in which the first containers 21 and the hoppers 40 are located.

Each support arm 39 is provided with a retractable device 39A upon actuation of which the telescopic support arms 39 extend or shorten and thereby move or move each container 30 away from the support 38 which is provided with a mechanism for rotating them. In this exemplary embodiment, the containers 30 are rotated one quarter of a turn such that each container 30 gradually moves 25 below the first container 21 to fill, or above the hopper 40 to empty.

The device shown in FIG. 5 carries out the supply of tobacco to the filling machines 12 for the manufacture of tobacco products in the following manner: the support 38 stops against the first container 21, respectively. the hopper 40 rotates the containers 30, two of which by means of their extenders 39A 30 move away from the support 38 so that the empty container 30 abuts under the first container 21 to be filled, and then the filled container 30 abuts the hopper 40 to empty. The remaining two containers 30, which can be empty or filled, are kept close to the support 38 by their pull-out devices 39A. After filling and emptying, the containers 30 return to their original position towards the support 38, which rotates one quarter turn and moves relative to another. 21, respectively. the hopper 40 and the operation is repeated in the same manner with the other two containers 30.

Also in this embodiment, all operations are controlled and controlled by the control unit 50. In particular, the contents of each container 30 are monitored by the program to always feed the filled container 30 over the hopper 40. In case the number of first cartridges 21 is different from the number of hoppers 40 5), it is advisable to position a portion of these handling units against each other to minimize the travel of the support 38. Such an arrangement also makes it possible, in some positions, to simultaneously load and empty the opposite containers 30. In the present example, the support 38 is provided with four containers. In practice, the number of containers 30 will be determined relative to the number of the first containers 21 and hoppers 40 so that the operation of the device is smooth. It is also not necessary for the support arms 39 to be extensible. If the first cartridges 21 and the hoppers 40 are sufficiently spaced from each other, the containers 30 on the fixed arm can be moved to them by rotating the support 38. The contents of the hoppers 40 and the containers 30 are determined by the number of tobacco machines 12 to be If the cycle is completed in about 20 seconds, then each hopper 40 will be filled with tobacco in an amount 50 that the tobacco machine 12 will process several times. .minut.

Claims (11)

PATENT CLAIMS An apparatus for filling a tobacco machine, in particular cigarettes, comprising, on the one hand, a tobacco supply device with at least one conveyor and, on the other hand, a tobacco distribution device to at least one tobacco machine with at least one hopper, that the tobacco supply device (2) and the tobacco distribution device (4) are connected to a controlled tobacco distribution device (3) comprising a guide device (32) on which a support (38) is displaceably mounted on its periphery supporting arms (39) with containers (30) for transferring tobacco between the tobacco supply device (2) and the hopper (40) are fixed, the outlet of each container (30) being provided with a second means (31) for closing and / or opening the container (30). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the tobacco supply device (2) is provided with at least one container (21, 28) for filling tobacco from the conveyors. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the outlet of the first container (21) is provided with first means (23) for closing and / or opening the first container (21). Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the facing surfaces between the containers (30) and the containers (21, 28) are provided with a first seal (29) and the facing surfaces between the containers (30) and the hoppers (40). are provided with a second seal (49). Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in the walls (34) of the containers (30) are formed first vents (35) opening into a first outer chamber (36) provided with a first dust filter (37 ) and second vents (45) are formed in the walls (44) of the hoppers (40). opening into a second outer chamber (46) provided with a second dust filter (47). Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that third vents are formed in the walls of the first containers (21) leading to a third outer chamber provided with a third dust filter. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support arms (39) are designed to be telescopic to move the containers (30) away from the support (38). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the tobacco control devices (3) and the tobacco control device (4) are connected to a control means (5) consisting of a control unit (50) to which they are connected on the one hand first and second level detectors (51, 52) for detecting low level of tobacco in at least one hopper (40) and for indicating container unloading (30) into the hopper (40), and third sensors (53) for displacement control a container (30) to the hopper (40) and a device (2) for supplying tobacco and for detecting and filling the position of at least one container (30). Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the control unit (50) is connected to the second means (31) for closing and / or opening the at least one container (30). Device according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the control unit (50) is provided with a control device for controlling the supply of a certain tobacco mixture from the tobacco supply device (2) to a certain hopper (40) for filling at least one machine (40). (12) for the manufacture of tobacco products. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that fourth sensors (54) for detecting the level of tobacco in at least one first container (21) are connected to the control unit (50). Device according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the control unit (50) is connected to the first means (23) for closing and / or opening the at least one first container (21).