DE102018106825A1 - Conveyor for rod-shaped smoking articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A conveyor for rod-shaped smoking articles (1) having a memory (2) in which the rod-shaped smoking articles (1) are stored in a stack with longitudinal axes aligned parallel to each other, and a barrel assembly having at least one first drum (13) to an outside open troughs (14) which for receiving the from the memory (2) supplied, rod-shaped smoking article (1) can be acted upon with negative pressure, between the memory (2) and the drum assembly, a guide channel (11), a sensor device (5 ) and an ejection device (6) are provided, wherein the rod-shaped smoking article (1) in the guide channel (11) are guided in a single-row strip with a length of the rod-shaped smoking article (1) corresponding width with parallel longitudinal axes, wherein the sensor device (5) is directed to the rod-shaped smoking article (1) in the strip and predetermined parameters of the rod-shaped Smoke article (1) detected, wherein the ejection device (6) with respect to the transport movement of the rod-shaped smoking article (1) downstream of the sensor device (5) is arranged and is controlled in response to a signal of the sensor device (5).

Description

The present invention relates to a conveyor device for rod-shaped smoking articles having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Rod shaped smoking articles are e.g. Cigarettes, cigarillos, Heat Not Burn products (HNB products) or similar products intended for inhalation by a consumer. In this case, not only smoke, but instead or in addition, etheric or medicinal substances for inhalation may be provided despite the term. As rod-shaped smoking articles are also precursors of smoking articles to understand such. Filter rods, tobacco sticks with a by a strip strip shape-stabilized tobacco material, segments of HNB products, such as tubular cooling sections, taste-affecting segments or the like to see, which are subsequently connected to other precursors to a finished rod-shaped smoking article.

The rod-shaped smoking articles and precursors of the smoking articles are referred to hereinafter as "products" in the description for the sake of simplicity.

The products are transported in conveyors at a very high transport speed and produced and processed in very large quantities. They are supplied in different parts of the production process from a very large store in a very large flow of individual products and, for. via a drum assembly having a plurality of rotatory drivable drums, such as a removal drum, an accelerator drum, a staggering drum, a sliding drum and finally a dispensing drum for transferring the products removed from the memory, wherein the order of said drums may vary. The drums of the drum assembly are each cylindrical and have a plurality of arranged in the lateral surfaces, acted upon by vacuum, trough-shaped depressions, which are aligned with their longitudinal axes parallel to the axes of rotation of the drums. The products are stored in the stack in a stack of parallel longitudinal axes, the products preferably being oriented so that their faces form mutually parallel planes, and the stack thus has a thickness equal to the length of the products in the reservoir equivalent. If the products themselves are stored in the memory in a multiple length, a cutting device with directed onto the lateral surface of the removal drum and aligned parallel to the direction of rotation of the removal drum cutting blades may be provided on the removal drum, which cut the multiple-length products on the removal drum into simple products. The troughs of the removal drum have to realize the cutting movement grooves, in which immerse the cutting blades and thereby cut the products over the entire cross-section. The cut products of simple length are then staggered by the staggering drum and pushed back into a row on the sliding drum.

The products are taken from the memory in the wells of the removal drum and transported away transversely to their longitudinal axes. To achieve a high transport capacity, the removal drum has a comparatively large diameter with a multiplicity of depressions arranged in the lateral surface, which are arranged at a very small distance, that is to say in a very small pitch. Furthermore, the removal drum is driven to achieve a reliable transfer of the products from the memory to a relatively low speed and a small peripheral speed of the wells. In addition, the removal drum has particularly deep wells or wells with a one-sided enlarged wall, so that the products can be reliably removed from the memory first and secondly, so that an abutment for a clean cut of the products is formed by the cutter.

Since the number of products by the cutting operation on the removal drum over the number of products removed from the memory is also multiplied by leaps and bounds, and the drums following in the transport direction on the removal drum a greater pitch of the wells and a significantly greater peripheral speed of the wells than the Having troughs of the removal drum, the products are considerably accelerated during the transfer, whereby a reliable transfer of the products from the deeper wells of the removal drum in the shallower faster rotating wells of the receiving drum is further complicated.

The small pitch, in conjunction with the increased depth of the troughs of the removal drum and the speed jump in the transfer of the products to the next drum in turn have a collision problem with the wells of the subsequent drum result, so that the rotational movements of the removal drum and the subsequent receiving drum must be coordinated very precisely. Furthermore, static guides for transferring the products, in particular for combing the products from the wells may be required.

The supply of the products from the storage to the removal drum is effected by gravity, by the memory is arranged above the removal drum and having a removal drum facing opening through which the products emerge in the direction of the removal drum. Further, the feeding movement of the products to the picking drum is supported over the direction predetermined bands and rollers.

Such a conveyor is for example from the document WO 2014/188305 A1 known.

A problem of such conveyors is that the quality of the products exiting the conveyor and, in the case of precursors, also the quality of the finished end products made from the precursors, depending on the quality of the material supplied from the storage Products is. Furthermore, the quality of the products may also be adversely affected by damming of the products in the memory and by collisions of the products when they are run out of memory.

An examination of the products with regard to the quality criteria to be complied with is difficult during the described transport process insofar as an ejection of a defective product from one of the wells of a drum would inevitably result in a subsequently unoccupied trough. An unoccupied trough would in turn result in a defective end product, since in this case, due to the unoccupied trough, one of the end products would not be equipped with the respective precursor. A refilling of the unoccupied dump would only be possible by a considerable extra effort and therefore is ruled out for economic reasons. For this reason, such conveyors quality control takes place only in the finished end products, it is practically accepted that defective end products can be produced, which then have to be sorted out after a quality inspection. By sorting out the conveying capacity of the conveyor is reduced to not defective products.

Against this background, the invention has the object to provide a conveyor for rod-shaped smoking article, which should have an increased delivery capacity of the quality specifications corresponding products.

To achieve the object, a conveyor according to the invention with the features of claim 1 is proposed. Further preferred developments of the invention can be taken from the subclaims, the figures and the associated description.

• -zwischen dem Speicher und der Trommelbaugruppe ein Führungskanal, eine Sensoreinrichtung und eine Auswurfeinrichtung vorgesehen sind, wobei
• -die stabförmigen Rauchartikel in dem Führungskanal in einem einreihigen Streifen mit einer der Länge der stabförmigen Rauchartikel entsprechenden Breite mit parallel zueinander ausgerichteten Längsachsen geführt sind, wobei
• -die Sensoreinrichtung auf die stabförmigen Rauchartikel in dem Streifen gerichtet ist und vorbestimmte Parameter der stabförmigen Rauchartikel detektiert, wobei
• -die Auswurfeinrichtung in Bezug zu der Transportbewegung der stabförmigen Rauchartikel stromabwärts zu der Sensoreinrichtung angeordnet ist und in Abhängigkeit von einem Signal der Sensoreinrichtung angesteuert wird.

According to the basic idea of the invention, it is proposed that

• between the memory and the drum assembly, a guide channel, a sensor device and an ejector are provided, wherein
• the rod-shaped smoking articles in the guide channel are guided in a single-row strip with a width corresponding to the length of the rod-shaped smoking article with longitudinal axes aligned parallel to one another, wherein
• the sensor device is aimed at the rod-shaped smoking articles in the strip and detects predetermined parameters of the rod-shaped smoking articles, wherein
• the ejection device is arranged downstream of the sensor device with respect to the transport movement of the rod-shaped smoking article and is actuated in response to a signal of the sensor device.

The inventive solution is based initially on the fact that between the memory and the drum assembly instead of the previous direct transfer now a guide channel is provided, in which the products are guided in a single-row strip. The single-row guidance of the products in the guide channel in a single position creates the possibility of individually checking the products for compliance with predetermined nominal values of various parameters such as length, diameter, position, head condition, before they are fed to the drum assembly. For this purpose, a sensor device is provided, which is specially designed, set up and arranged for checking the parameters to be maintained. Furthermore, in relation to the transport movement of the products downstream of the sensor device, an ejection device is provided, which is actuated as a function of the signal of the sensor device. The signal of the sensor device is in turn dependent on the undershooting or exceeding of predetermined limit values by the measured measured values of the parameters of the products to be detected. The ejection device is activated or activated only when a product that does not correspond to the predetermined parameters, ie a product of inferior quality, is detected. As a result, the drum assembly is then supplied with products having a lower error rate and improved averaged quality, and as a result, the average quality of the final products produced is improved with a non-reduced conveying capacity of the drum assembly. This is mainly because of the damaged ones Products are ejected prior to feeding to the drum assembly, so that in principle all troughs of the drum assembly are filled with defect-free products, and the delivery capacity is not reduced or increases the delivery capacity of the conveyor with products without defects compared to the known in the prior art solution becomes. Since the products automatically slip in the guide channel by gravity, the gaps created by ejecting the defective products in the guide channel are automatically closed again. A very important feature of the invention is that the products are guided in a row in the guide channel and thereby can be detected individually, and the measurement results are not falsified by a multi-layeredness and a consequent superposition of the products in the measuring direction. It can also reduce the likelihood that products with ruptured longitudinal seams or other serious faults that can result in an emergency stop in the drum assembly will enter the drum assembly. Thus, the probability of failure of the entire conveyor can be significantly reduced by the defective products are discharged in the transport direction upstream of the drum assembly, ie before entering the drum assembly. Between the memory and the drum assembly is to be understood in relation to the transport movement of the products, ie the guide channel, the sensor device and the ejector are arranged so that they are passed during the transport movement of the products on the way from the memory to the drum assembly. The term "between" is thus not limiting as a geometric arrangement to understand.

The ejection device can preferably be formed by a pneumatic blow-off device, which blows out the defective products from the strip of products in the guide channel. By the pneumatic blowing out of the defective products, the discharge without intervention in the series of products can be realized virtually contactless, so that damage to the adjacent products can be excluded.

Alternatively, the ejection device may also be formed by a hollow drum, which has recordings which can be acted upon with underpressure or overpressure, the underpressure or overpressure in the receptacles preferably being controllable. The products are first taken up in the receptacles of the trough drum, wherein the taking up of the products in the receptacles, e.g. can be supported by an applied negative pressure in the recordings. The products are then ejected by transporting the defective products from the transport chain of the products to an ejection point. This can e.g. be done by the negative pressure in the recordings, in which not defective products are kept off at a first point and the non-defective products are thereby discharged and form the further transport chain to the drum assembly. The recordings, in which defective products are kept, are subjected to negative pressure beyond the first point, so that the products are transported further to the ejection point. The ejection of the defective products is then carried out in the ejection point either by switching off the negative pressure only passively and / or additionally by applying the recordings with overpressure, so that the products are actively ejected from the recordings. For this purpose, the control of the negative pressure or overpressure in the receptacles is preferably designed such that the underpressure or overpressure in the various receptacles is independently controllable, i. the negative pressure or overpressure in a recording can be controlled independently of the negative or positive pressure in the two adjacent recordings.

It is further proposed that a rolling device is provided which rotates the rod-shaped smoking article located in a detection region of the sensor device about its longitudinal axes. By means of the rolling device, the smoking articles which are currently in the detection range of the sensor device, ie the smoking articles which are being detected by the sensor device, can be intentionally rotated about their longitudinal axes during the measurement, so that the parameters such as. e.g. the surface condition, roundness, seam course and the closure of the seam can be fully detected.

Further, the created guide channel can be used in addition to the arrangement of a arranged between the ejector and the drum assembly cutting device for cutting the products. As a result, depressions of normal depth can be provided for the first drum of the drum assembly and all other drums of the drum assembly, since no cutting process must be performed on any of these drums, so that the troughs provided on the drums do not have to form an abutment for realizing the cutting process , This can be a major, so far to be solved problem of the drum barrel, namely the transfer of products from deeper wells of the drum with the cutter in troughs of an acquiring drum are avoided with a normal depth. Furthermore, the drum run can be simplified by cutting the products before the products enter the drum barrel takes place, so that due to the cutting speed jumps in the known from the prior art drum assembly can also be avoided or reduced in number.

It is also proposed that a plurality of reservoirs are provided, each with a guide channel, from which the rod-shaped smoking articles are supplied to the drum assembly. Although the proposed single-layer guide of the products in the guide channels has the advantage that the quality of the products can be detected prior to entry into the drum assembly, but the solution is disadvantageous in that the flow of products, which is supplied to the drum assembly due the limited feed rate of the products is limited in the guide channel. This disadvantage can be compensated by providing a plurality of memories with associated guide channels from which the products are fed in a parallel guide of the drum assembly. Thereby, the flow rate of the products, which is supplied to the drum assembly, be multiplied according to the number of memories and the guide channels.

In this case, the delivery of the rod-shaped smoking article from the guide channels into the wells of the first drum of the drum assembly preferably takes place in a fixed predetermined rhythm, so that the memory emptied according to a predetermined feed characteristic and the wells of the first drum in a prior art distribution with the products of the various memory be filled. In this case, the fixed predetermined rhythm can preferably be designed so that the products are supplied with identical flow rates from the various memories and taken in a uniform distribution in the wells of the first drum.

The supply of the products from the various stores can be further improved by a control device is provided which controls the supply of the rod-shaped smoking articles from the various feed channels in the wells of the first drum. The control means may e.g. be configured to control the delivery of the products from the various guide channels into the troughs in a coupling such that the products are successively inserted into the adjacent troughs of the first drum, the time offset being preferably adapted to the rotational movement of the first drum, whereby the delivery of the products from the various guide channels to the rotational movement of the first drum can be synchronized.

In this case, the wells of the first drum can preferably be subdivided into different groups assigned to the feed channels. The proposed subdivision of the wells of the first drum, the wells can be subdivided according to the supply of the products from the memories, both in the geometric arrangement and in the adaptation of the ratios of the number of wells to the size ratios of the memory. In this case, the number of wells of the different groups can be identical, provided that the flow rates of the products supplied from the stores are also identical. Furthermore, the products of the various guide channels can be introduced by the proposed development at the same time in the wells first drum.

In this case, the wells of the various groups may preferably be arranged alternately successively. The products are introduced through the various guide channels in different angular portions of the circumference of the first drum in the troughs, or in other words, the guide channels are passed by the troughs in succession. By on the circumference of the first drum alternately successively arranged troughs of the various groups, the delivery of products from the guide channels in the adjacent troughs when circulating the first drum can be carried out successively, the point of delivery of the products from a guide channel always the filling position of the troughs corresponds to this assigned group.

In this case, the filling of the wells of a group can be effected very simply by the control device controlling the supply of the rod-shaped smoking articles from the respective guide channels into the wells of the associated groups.

• 1 eine erfindungsgemäße Fördereinrichtung mit einem Speicher, einem Führungskanal und einer ersten Trommel einer Trommelbaugruppe; und
• 2 eine Auswurfeinrichtung in Form einer pneumatischen Ausblaseinrichtung; und
• 3 eine Auswurfeinrichtung in Form einer Muldentrommel; und
• 4 eine Fördereinrichtung mit mehreren Führungskanälen und einer Steuereinrichtung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform; und
• 5 eine Fördereinrichtung mit mehreren Führungskanälen und einer Steuereinrichtung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform; und
• 6 eine Schneideinrichtung mit zwei einseitigen Schneidmessern und einem einseitigen, angetriebenen Band in einer ersten Ansicht; und
• 7 eine Schneideinrichtung mit zwei einseitigen Schneidmessern und zwei angetriebenen Bändern in einer ersten Ansicht; und
• 8 eine Schneideinrichtung mit zwei einseitigen Schneidmessern und zwei angetriebenen Bändern in einer zweiten Ansicht; und
• 9 eine Schneideinrichtung mit zwei einseitigen Schneidmessern und einem einseitigen, angetriebenen Band in einer zweiten Ansicht.

The invention will be explained below with reference to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. It shows

• 1 a conveyor according to the invention with a memory, a guide channel and a first drum of a drum assembly; and
• 2 an ejection device in the form of a pneumatic blow-out device; and
• 3 an ejection device in the form of a trough drum; and
• 4 a conveyor having a plurality of guide channels and a control device according to a first embodiment; and
• 5 a conveyor having a plurality of guide channels and a control device according to a second embodiment; and
• 6 a cutting device with two single-sided cutting blades and a one-sided, driven belt in a first view; and
• 7 a cutting device with two single-sided cutting blades and two driven belts in a first view; and
• 8th a cutting device with two single-sided cutting blades and two driven belts in a second view; and
• 9 a cutting device with two single-sided cutting blades and a single-sided, driven belt in a second view.

In the 1 is a conveyor according to the invention with a memory 2 with a plurality of rod-shaped smoking articles disposed therein 1 to recognize which in a stack with parallel aligned longitudinal axes in the memory 2 are stored. The rod-shaped smoking article 1 are aligned so that their faces complement each other in parallel aligned planes and the stack thus one of the length of the smoking article 1 corresponding thickness. The rod-shaped smoking article 1 are hereinafter referred to as products for the sake of simplicity 15 designated.

The products 15 arrive via a shaft with laterally arranged, vibratable sidewalls 3 in a guide channel 11 , which is such that the products 15 with longitudinal axes arranged parallel to each other, in a single-layer strip with one of the lengths of the products 15 corresponding width be performed. The products 15 slip out of the store 2 due to gravity in the guide channel 11 , where the vibrations of the sidewalls 3 support this movement and prevent the products 15 jam or wed against each other.

At the guide channel 11 are in opposite arrangement, a sensor device 5 and a rolling device 4 intended. The rolling device 4 comprises a plurality of individual rollers which can be driven in a rotational movement and is arranged in such a way that, in the case of an activation, they are located in the detection area of the sensor device 5 located products 15 turns around its longitudinal axes. This allows the products 15 over its entire peripheral surface of the sensor device 5 be scanned. In this case, the sensor device 5 designed so that they different parameters, such as the length, the roundness, the surface texture or a seam or the closing state of a seam of the products 15 detected. If desired, the data of the products can be determined 15 be logged in a memory for later evaluation or quality control. Because the products 15 can be scanned individually due to the single-layer guide, the data collected can each be a single product 15 in particular, due to the single-layered guidance, the data obtained can not be attributed to inadvertent scanning of products below or above it 15 be falsified.

Next are in relation to the transport direction of the products 15 downstream of the sensor device 5 So here below the sensor device 5 an ejection device 6 and a spring-loaded flap 7 intended. The ejection device 6 is then activated when passing through the sensor device 5 a value of a parameter of a product 15 has been determined, which lies outside a predetermined tolerance band to a setpoint value of the parameter, causing a defective product 15 can be closed. The ejection device 6 is here by a in the 2 in an enlarged view to be recognized pneumatic blower 16 formed, which when activated a compressed air jet in the direction of the strip of products 15 sending out. The blow-out device 16 is positioned in this case, and it is precisely controlled so that the emitted compressed air jet, taking into account the product 15 from the sensor device 5 to the blower 16 traveled distance to that of the sensor device 5 as defective detected product 15 and thus the defective product 15 ejects. The flap 7 can by a spring-loaded plate or only by two spring arms 20 be realized and make a guide for the products 15 via one of the blow-off device 16 opposite opening 17 time. Will the blower 16 activated, the emitted compressed air impact causes the defective product 15 against the flap 7 or the spring arms 20 is urged. This will shut the door 7 or are the spring arms 20 by overcoming the spring force pivoted outward, leaving the opening 17 is released and the defective product 15 out of the opening 17 ejected and as ejection 8th over ramps 21 is discharged into a collecting container. By the emission of the defective product 15 formed gap in the strip of products 15 in the guide channel 11 is due to the slipping products 15 automatically closed again.

In the 3 is an alternative embodiment of the ejector 6 to recognize, at which the ejection of the defective products 15 over a bowl drum 31 is realized, which several acted upon with under- or overpressure recordings 32 having. The tub drum 31 is either by the transport pressure of the products 15 passive or driven by an unillustrated drive means actively to a rotary motion. The products 15 be from the top of the guide channel 11 fed and continue over a first edge 35 of the guide channel 11 in the direction of the bowl drum 31 or the recordings 32 distracted. As a result, a product occurs in each case 15 in a recording 32 and gets over the rotating drum 31 transported further. Is about the sensor device 5 a defective product 15 is detected, again taking into account the life of the product 15 from the sensor device 5 to the drum 31 out the recording 32 in which the product 15 held, subjected to negative pressure and held therein defective product 15 over a second edge 34 out of the transport chain from the guide channel 11 executed and in a plane 33 as ejection 8th discharged, wherein for discharging the negative pressure in the respective recording 32 either switched off or replaced by a slight overpressure.

Next is in relation to the transport direction of the products 15 downstream to the ejector 6 a cutting device 17 provided, which in the 6 to 9 is shown enlarged in two different embodiments.

The cutting device 17 includes two cutting blades each 43 , which with their cutting parallel to the transport direction of the products 15 and thus perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the products 15 are aligned stationary. Furthermore, the cutting blades 43 arranged so that they are at a predetermined position in the transport path of the products 15 protrude so that in the guide channel 11 Passed by products 15 be cut automatically during the transport movement. The cutting knife 43 can according to the in the 1 . 6 . 7 and 8th shown embodiments as a circular blade or according to the embodiment of 9 be designed as a knife with a straight Schnittkannte.

Furthermore, the cutting device comprises 17 one or two flexible bands 41 and 44 , which are stretched around two rollers and with a guide portion parallel to the guide channel 11 are aligned and laterally in the guide channel 11 protrude. This will get in the guide channel 11 located products 15 during the cutting process laterally frictionally to rest on bands 41 and 44 , where the products 15 by the cutting process in addition against the opposite the cutting blades 43 lying bands 41 be urged. The products 15 are then by the frictional contact with the tapes 41 and 44 rotated during the cutting process about their longitudinal axes. So it's enough if the cutting blades 43 the products 15 cut only half the diameter or slightly beyond while the products 15 turn around their longitudinal axes. The products 15 lead practically a relative rotational movement to the cutting blades 43 and are thus cut across the circumference, similar to the "pipe cutting principle". In doing so, the products become 15 ideally rotated by at least a complete revolution about its longitudinal axes, and the cutting blades 43 protrude at least as far in the guide channel 11 in that the products are cut to at least half their diameter. This results in a complete revolution automatically a complete cut of the products 15 ,

If the described rotary motion of the products 15 not only passive but also actively brought about and controlled, the bands can 41 and 44 also be actively driven. In the event that only one band 41 according to the embodiment of the 6 and the 9 is provided, the tape can 41 be driven arbitrarily, as far as in the guide channel 11 protruding guide portion of the tape 41 only with one of the transport speed of the products 15 different speed is moved. This relative speed between the products 15 and the band 41 is enough to get the products 15 to drive a rotary motion about their longitudinal axes.

If two tapes 41 and 44 are provided, as in the embodiment of 7 and 8th It can be seen, it is also sufficient if the tapes 41 and 44 , in the sections, which are in the guide channel 11 protrude, move at different speeds and / or in different directions. By using two bands 41 and 44 can the rolling motion of the products 15 More precisely controlled, and in particular a predetermined number of revolutions of the products 15 about their longitudinal axes while passing the cutter 17 will be realized. The bands 41 and 44 may be formed of a flexible material, such as a fabric or an elastomer, so that they can deflect laterally and only limited compressive forces on the products 15 exercise. This can prevent the products 15 through the tapes 41 and 44 applied contact forces are damaged. Furthermore, the bands can 41 and 44 in addition to be elastic in itself, so that they can be stretched around the rollers while applying a bias, whereby the drive of the bands 41 and 44 can be simplified via the roles. Furthermore, the bands can 41 and 44 a surface texture and surface structure, such as a profiling with cams and recesses, supporting or influencing the rotational movement and the transport of the products. Here, the special surface texture can be increased both by a friction-increasing and by a friction reducing surface be realized to bring about the rolling effect by the products 15 on one side by a friction-increasing surface deliberately taken or braked and opposite the opposite band 41 or 44 can rotate more easily through a friction reducing surface provided thereon. The bands 41 and 44 Thus, they can consciously have a different surface structure and / or surface finish, so that the products 15 on one of the bands 41 or 44 cling or deliberately roll while facing each other's band 41 or 44 can consciously perform a relative movement.

After passing through the cutter 17 become the cut products 15 a first drum 13 supplied to a drum or a drum assembly, and from this via acted upon by vacuum troughs 14 dissipated transversely to their longitudinal axes in a rotary motion.

Next to the guide channel 11 the conveyor has two further guide channels 11 on, from which further products 15 from additional stores 2 supplied in the same manner and via a control device 12 into the hollows 14 the first drum 13 be introduced. The first drum 13 can also be referred to as a removal drum, which the products 15 not directly from the stores 2 but instead from the provided therebetween guide channels 11 , The advantage of this development is the fact that the total flow of the products 15 , which is the first drum 13 is fed, thereby can be multiplied.

In the 4 and 5 is the first drum 13 with the three guide channels 11 and the products supplied from it 15 with two different embodiments of the control device 12 to recognize in an enlarged view. In the embodiment of 4 is the controller 12 through each of the guide channels 11 assigned insert wheels 81 educated. The insert wheels 81 itself can be designed rotatably driven and serve the separation of the products 15 before loading into the hollows 14 the first drum 13 , This allows the insertion of the products 15 from the various guide channels 11 be simplified and controlled in particular. Unless the Einlegräder 81 are actively driven, it is also possible to insert the products 15 from the various guide channels 11 to control each other at the times, in the order and in the time intervals. Furthermore, the filling of the troughs 14 thereby in the event of a fault in the feed from one of the guide channels 11 to the extent that the products 15 from one of the guide channels 11 not anymore and instead only from the remaining channels 11 but be supplied in increased flow rates. As a result, the operation of the conveyor can be maintained even in the event of a fault in the feed to the extent that the wells 14 the first drum 13 nevertheless completely with products 15 be filled.

In the embodiment of 5 is the controller 12 through a multi-joint mechanism 70 with one through an eccentric 73 driven linkage 72 and in each case the different guide channels 11 assigned insertion stamps 71 educated. The delivery of the products 15 from the guide channels 11 into the hollows 14 the first drum 13 is hereby controlled by the first drum 13 facing openings of the guide channels 11 through the movement of the insertion stamp 71 closed in one position and opened in another position. The rhythmic movement of the insertion stamp 71 is due to the rotational movement of the eccentric 73 triggered and over the linkage 72 transmitted or controlled. Because the movement of the insertion stamp 71 here by a single eccentric 73 is driven and over the linkage 72 is coupled, is also the opening of the guide channels 11 and thus the delivery of the products 15 from the various guide channels 11 coupled to each other, wherein by the interpretation of the linkage 72 and the thereby enforced opening and closing movement of the insertion dies 71 also the order, the time offset as well as the time window of the openings of the guide channels 11 can be controlled.

Like in the 4 it can be seen, are the hollows 14 the first drum 13 in three groups I . II and III divided, which are each arranged alternately in a fixed rhythm. The hollows 14 of the groups I . II and III are for filling with products 15 from a respective dedicated guide channel 11 intended. The hollows 14 the group III become out of the in the representation of the 4 left guide channel 11 with products 15 filled. During the further circulation of the first drum 13 become the hollows 14 the group II from the middle guide channel 11 and finally the hollows 14 the group I from the right guide channel in the illustration 11 with products 15 filled. The hollows 14 the first drum 13 become so after a fixed rhythm by the control device 12 filled, causing a collision of the products 15 when inserting into the hollows 14 can be prevented. Furthermore, by the controlled, rhythmic filling of the hollows 14 prevents the hollows 14 not with products 15 be filled and continue running empty. If the production capacity is to be further increased, the number of troughs 14 increased and more memory 2 With associated guide channels 11 be provided.

The hollows 14 of the groups I . II and III are alternately arranged in a fixed rhythm, ie at one according to the direction of the arrow in the 4 clockwise rotating drum 13 follows a hollow 14 the group III always follows a hollow 14 the group II and this is always followed by a hollow 14 the group I until the rhythm with a hollow 14 the group III is repeated. The first drum 13 has an identical number of wells 14 of the respective groups I . II and III on. Furthermore, the feed rate of the flow rates of the products 15 from the various guide channels 11 identical, whereby the flow rates of the products 15 the number of hollows 14 of the groups I . II or III each revolution of the first drum 13 correspond.

In the 6 to 9 is the cutting device 17 enlarged in different embodiments to recognize. The cutting device 17 includes two cutting blades each 43 which in the 6 to 8th as a circular blade and in the 9 as a cutting knife 43 are formed with linear cutting edges.

The bands 41 and 44 each protrude with a parallel to the transport direction of the products 15 aligned guide sections in the guide channel 11 and thereby form lateral contact surfaces for in the guide channel 11 guided products 15 , The cutting knife 43 also protrude with their cutting edges in the guide channels 11 in one of the transport direction of the products 15 parallel or to the longitudinal axes of the products 15 vertical orientation. The cutting knife 43 so far protrude into the guide channel 11 in that they are up to at least half the diameter of the products contained therein 15 extend.

In the embodiment of 6 are two cutting blades 43 in the form of rotating or standing circular blades and one opposite the cutting blades 43 arranged band 41 intended. The circular blade can be rotatably mounted, or be actively driven by a drive device to a rotary motion. In both cases, the cutting movement is carried out by a rolling movement of the cutting blade 43 opposite the products 15 with a very low load on the products 15 during the cutting process. The ribbon 41 is formed by a flexible fabric tape or by a self-elastic elastomeric tape and can thereby yield slightly laterally, so that it is the contour of the products 15 can adapt. The ribbon 41 is stretched around two rollers and can be driven by an unrecognizable drive device to a Endlostrieb. Furthermore, the band points 41 a friction-enhancing surface finish, so that there is a higher coefficient of friction than the remaining inner walls of the guide channel 11 having.

The products 15 arrive at the passage through the guide channel 11 laterally to the plant to the tape 41 and thereby become in the case of a non-driven belt 41 braked. In the case of a driven band 41 The products can be driven in the opposite direction to the transport direction of the products 15 even more braked or accelerated in a drive movement in the direction of transport. The definition of the movement of the band 41 always refers to the in the guide channel 11 protruding guide section. What is important for the cutting movement is that the band 41 a relative movement to the transport movement of the supplied products 15 performs, so the products 15 be driven to a rotational movement about their longitudinal axes and thereby against the rotating or stationary cutting blades 43 unroll and cut completely over its circumference. Unless the cutting knife 43 can be actively driven by a drive device to a rotational movement, the direction of rotation of the cutting blade 43 consciously counteracted by the tape 41 forced relative rotational movement of the products 15 be directed, whereby the cutting speed can be further increased. The length of the in the guide channel 11 protruding guide portion of the tape 41 and the relative speed of the guide portion are chosen so that the products 15 while passing the cutting blade 43 at least once around its longitudinal axis, ie to a full revolution in relation to the cutting blades 43 are driven. This will be the products 15 in a very high quality cutting process with one over the cutting edges of the cutting blade 43 rolling product 15 realized, with the particular advantage of the cutting process in addition to the rolling process additionally consists in that the cutting edge while only up to just over half of the cross section in the product 15 penetrates. This will be the product 15 During the cutting process significantly less burden than in a section with a cutting across the entire cross-sectional edge, as in conventional cutting operations with not rotating about their longitudinal axes products 15 the case is. The ribbon 41 is designed so that it with the in the guide channel 11 projecting guide portion at a defined distance from the cutting edges of the cutting blade 43 is arranged so that the products rotating on it 15 be urged against the cutting edges and during the cutting process in the band 41 find an abutment. In the event that the cutting forces increase abruptly during the cutting process, the solution according to the invention offers moreover, the advantage that the products due to the flexibility of the tape 41 can dodge and the cutting forces can be lowered.

In the 7 is a cutting device 17 to recognize, in addition to the, the cutting blades 43 opposite bands 41 additionally on the side of the cutting blade 43 more bands 44 are provided, which are aligned in the same manner, each with a guide portion parallel to the transport direction and with this guide portion in the guide channel 11 protrude. The products 15 become so in the area of the cutting device 17 laterally only over the bands 41 and 44 guided and aborted to the rotational movement. Like in the 7 can be clearly seen, include the bands 41 and 44 in each case a plurality of individual, spaced strands and are thus strip-shaped on the products 15 at. On the one hand, this has the advantage that the cutting blades 43 between the bands 44 through the guide channel 11 can protrude and the products 15 on both sides of the cutting edges of the cutting blade 43 through the tapes 41 and 44 are guided. In addition, the products 15 guided by the strip-shaped guide over a smaller surface and thus a total of a lower contact force. Further, the shorter products 15 simple length led after cutting improved. As in the 8th It can be seen, are the two cutting blades 43 in the longitudinal direction of the products 15 ie transverse to the transport direction of the products 15 arranged at a distance from each other, so that the products 15 in three individual products 15 be cut with a correspondingly shorter length. The length of the cut products 15 can by the distance of the cutting blade 43 to each other and the distance of the cutting blade 43 to the end faces of the supplied products 15 in the longitudinal direction of the products 15 To be defined.

It turns out for the skilled person by itself that both the quality check by the the guide channel 11 associated sensor device 5 in conjunction with the ejector 6 as well as the described the guide channel 11 associated cutting device 17 and finally the delivery of the products 15 over the different guide channels 11 with the associated control device 12 develop the described conveyor independently.

Furthermore, the cutting process, the resulting cut quality and finally dimensional accuracy of the cut products 15 in terms of their length further by a fine lapping of the products 15 be improved at their ends before the cutting process through which the products 15 can be aligned within a very narrow tolerances with respect to a to be observed during the cutting process target position

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2014/188305 A1 [0009]

Claims (11)

A smoking article conveyor (1) comprising: a reservoir (2) in which the rod-shaped smoking articles (1) are stored in a stack of parallel longitudinal axes, and a barrel assembly having at least one first barrel (13) to an outside open troughs (14), which for receiving the from the memory (2) supplied, rod-shaped smoking article (1) can be acted upon with negative pressure, characterized in that between the memory (2) and the drum assembly a guide channel (11), a Sensor means (5) and an ejection device (6) are provided, wherein the rod-shaped smoking article (1) in the guide channel (11) in a single-row strip with a length of the rod-shaped smoking article (1) corresponding width are guided with parallel longitudinal axes in which the sensor device (5) is directed onto the rod-shaped smoking articles (1) in the strip and predetermined Parameters of the rod-shaped smoking article (1) detected, wherein the ejection device (6) in relation to the transport movement of the rod-shaped smoking article (1) downstream of the sensor device (5) is arranged and is controlled in response to a signal of the sensor device (5). Conveyor after Claim 1 , characterized in that the ejection device (6) is formed by a pneumatic blow-out device (16). Conveyor after Claim 1 , characterized in that the ejection device (6) is formed by a depression drum (31), which has recordings (32) which can be acted upon by underpressure or overpressure, wherein the underpressure or overpressure in the receptacles (32) can be controlled. Conveying device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that -a rolling device (4) is provided which rotates the rod-shaped smoking article (1) located in a detection region of the sensor device (5) about its longitudinal axes. Conveying device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the ejection device (6) and the drum assembly, a cutting device (10) intersecting the rod-shaped smoking article (1) is provided. Conveying device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of reservoirs (2) each having a guide channel (11) are provided, from which the rod-shaped smoking article (1) of the drum assembly are supplied. Conveyor after Claim 6 characterized in that the order of feeding the rod-shaped smoking articles (1) from the different guide channels (11) into the troughs (14) of the first drum (13) of the barrel assembly is at a fixed predetermined rhythm. Conveyor according to one of Claims 6 or 7 , characterized in that -a control device (12) is provided, which controls the supply of the rod-shaped smoking article (1) from the various feed channels (11) in the wells (14) of the first drum (13). Conveyor according to one of Claims 6 to 8th , characterized in that the troughs (14) of the first drum (13) are subdivided into different groups (I, II, III) associated with the feed channels (11). Conveyor after Claim 9 , characterized in that the troughs (14) of the different groups (I, II, III) are each arranged alternately successively. Conveyor after Claim 8 and after one of the Claims 9 or 10 Characterized in that -the control device (12) controls the supply of rod-shaped smoking articles (1) from the respective guide channels (11) in the troughs (14) with respect to the associated groups (I, II, III).

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