DE3019382A1 - CONVEYOR DEVICE FOR ROD-SHAPED ITEMS - Google Patents

Description

: ■ _ '' ■ '. ■'. ■; ■ - '■ - ■■■ - -7 Description:

The "invention relates to conveyors for rod-shaped objects, in particular cigarettes or other similar objects of the tobacco processing industry.

A common filter cigarette making machine produces two ■ parallel ". Flows of filter cigarettes, their filters in opposite Show directions. Therefore, before the streams can be combined, the cigarettes of the one stream usually become so rotated their filters in the same direction as each other's Show current. This process is usually called turning a cigarette. The conveyor according to the present invention is especially, if not exclusively, for turning cigarettes usable.

According to one aspect of the present invention is a conveyor designed for rod-shaped objects according to the claim. The movement path defined by the transfer conveyor can be horizontal or - after up or down — sloped, or it can be vertical.

The transfer conveyor can consist of spaced belts, which are kept under tension so that they detect opposite sides of the current. The ribbons on either side of the stream can be separate endless belts or dreams of a single continuous Be endless belt around spaced rollers at the ends of the transfer conveyor are running. Thus, a lower conveyor belt at the "upstream part of the transfer conveyor

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be the top conveyor belt adjacent to the union area, and vice versa, whereby the movement path on the transfer conveyor is a "Twist" (twist) of 180 ° is obtained. Additional guides that follow the course of the tapes can be used for the sides and / or Ends of the objects in the stream are provided.

The second conveyor is preferably designed so that it Promotes objects in stack formation. The merging area can go from an input conveyor (which is not the transfer conveyor heard) are supplied with objects; the input conveyor can be an upstream part of the second conveyor.

The first and second conveyors are preferably parallel endless conveyors carrying continuous stacks of rod-shaped objects * The transition to the transfer conveyor and the merging area can each contain a relatively small change in the lateral conveying direction, so that the transfer conveyor is diagonal extends between the first and second conveyors. The angle of change of direction can expediently be up to approximately 15. Where the transfer conveyor is inclined, there may be a chute or chute for the items at each end of the Transfer conveyor are provided so that the transfer conveyor extends from an area just below the first conveyor to an area just above the second conveyor. ..- ■ -.

Adjacent to the upper part of the transfer conveyor can be a sensor be provided, which will be used to start the first ' rer to control, possibly to stream on from a single layer

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to form a stacked stream for the first conveyor. A feeler can also be provided in the merging area to control the transfer conveyor.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a conveyor device for rod-shaped objects is according to claim 15 trained. In a preferred embodiment, each stream is rotated by approximately 90, so that the objects are initially essentially horizontal in the stream and then essentially vertical at the end.

Preferably a combined stream is formed in the union area, the objects preferably lying vertically. The combined stream can in turn be rotated by 90 °, e.g. so, that the objects become horizontal again.

The two streams can consist of individual rows of items or multi-layer stacks. The combined stream exists preferably from a multi-layer stream. Thus, a moving Stack of substantially vertical articles made up of two single ply streams of substantially horizontal articles are formed.

The two streams can consist of filter cigarettes emerging from a conventional filter attachment machine. In these In the stream, the filter ends of the cigarettes are adjacent to each other, i.e., in the streams, the filter ends are on opposite ends Pages relative to their direction of movement. The streams of cigarettes can be twisted in opposite directions, so

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that the filter ends of each stream are lowered until streams with essentially vertical cigarettes are created with the filters at the bottom. Preferably the streams are combined in this state; this helps to prevent tobacco loss. The combined stream can then be turned back to a conventional one to form a horizontal flow, which is fed to further processing, e.g. a tray filler or a cigarette packaging machine. Another possibility is that the cigarettes remain in a vertical orientation in the combined stream; this can be an advantage if the current has to be moved around a curve in a horizontal plane.

In this embodiment, the currents can flow through twisted ribbons can be promoted in the same way as in the above-defined embodiment according to the first aspect of the present invention. In the same way, the combined stream can be conveyed through such twisted belts. Alternatively, you can twisted guides, preferably made of material with a low coefficient of friction, are used, so that the conveying of the current over or through the guides by upstream and / or downstream driven conveyors and / or gravity. For example parallel, essentially horizontal streams can be conveyed over polished guide surfaces that are 90 in opposite directions Directions are twisted so that the respective inner ends of the objects in the streams fall down and unite can. Somewhat more complex twisting guides can also be provided, e.g. corresponding to those in GB-PS 1 430 061.

The trajectories which the two streams and the united

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Following currents do not need to be horizontal, but can be inclined. Especially where there is a part of the movement paths Guide surfaces are used, it is appropriate to incline these trajectories downwards. In this context it should be noted that the term "essentially horizontal "axes inclined up and down, up to approximately 45 e.g. should include.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a conveyor device for rod-shaped objects is according to claim 24 trained. The forward directions of these preferably run Streams essentially horizontal (as defined above). The conveyor speed the flow of vertical objects can be different from that of the flow of horizontal objects, so that the heights of the currents can be different. For example the stream of horizontal objects can be a single-layer stream, whereas the flow of vertical objects can consist of a multilayered, stack-shaped flow. Two or more streams of im essential horizontal objects can be twisted and turned into one single stream of vertical objects in a common union area be united.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated using the drawings explained in more detail. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a conveyor for rod-shaped Objects;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the conveyor device according to FIG. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic representation to illustrate the path of movement of the cigarettes in another conveying

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ORIGINAL INSPECTED

dereinrichtung;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of part of the conveyor according to Fig. 4.

The conveyor shown in Figs. 1 and 2 forms part a system for conveying filter cigarettes out of a filter cigarette manufacturing machine such as the applicant's "Molins PA8". This machine uses double-length filter cigarettes made and cut through in the middle, so that two parallel streams of individual filter cigarettes arise, their Filter ends are facing each other. These streams of cigarettes are in a stack formation with a reduction in their conveying speed moved (as shown e.g. in GB-PS 1 453 191), and they are conveyed separately on parallel endless belt conveyors 2, 4. Around to produce a combined stream in which the filter ends of the Cigarettes all point in the same direction, the cigarettes are fed onto the conveyor 2 to a transfer conveyor 6, the the cigarettes transferred to the conveyor 4 and thereby their orientation changes accordingly.

The path of movement for the cigarettes on the conveyor 2 ends in a curved guide 8 and a short chute 10, which lead to a short horizontal conveyor section consisting of laterally spaced belts 12. Guide 8, the fall shaft 10 and the bands 12 form a path of movement that is below runs at a small angle to the path of movement on the conveyor 2. The belts 12 lead to the transfer conveyor 6 with which they are aligned are. The bands 12 and the. Conveyors 6 extend at an angle of approximately 15 with respect to the conveyor 2, so that the

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Cigarettes are rotated laterally through this angle while they get from the conveyor 2 to the conveyor 6. The guide 8 and the chute 10 can be employed at this angle so that most or all of the change in direction takes place at once, or they can be set at a slightly smaller angle, so that the change in direction is gradual, or they may be tortuous so that the change in direction is gradual.

The transfer conveyor 6 has at its adjoining conveyor 2 End of upper and lower belts 14, 16 which run around rollers 18 and 20, respectively. The belt 16 runs from the lower roller 20 to an upper roller 22 at the other end of the conveyor 6. In the same way, the upper belt 14 extends from the upper roller 18 to the lower roller 24 opposite the roller 22. The rollers 22,24 are driven such that they take the belts 14,16 from the conveyor 2 move away in the direction of the conveyor 4.

The belts 14, 16 can be separate belts that wrap around the rollers 18, 24 and 20, 22, respectively, or they can run across the upper parts of the rollers 18, 20 and across the lower parts of the rollers 20,24 be connected to one another so that the belts 14,16 actually form a single endless belt. To return the tapes 14, 16 guides (not shown) can be provided. Each of the belts 14, 16 is over the length of the conveyor 6 by one Twist angle of 180 °. Fixed laterally spaced guide strips 26, 28, which are held by fastening means (not shown), are arranged on either side of the straps 14 and 16, respectively and are wounded in the same way so that they are with

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the belts define the path of movement for the cigarettes on the conveyor 6. The guide strips 26, 28 can have at least one Part of the guide for the returning parts of the bands 14,16 form.

In the same manner as the transfer conveyor 6 made by a horizontal angle of about 15 ° with respect to the conveyors 2,4 ', it is inclined upwardly so as to extend at the interface with the conveyor 4 above the level of the conveyor 4 is located. A curved guide 30 therefore leads from the end of the conveyor 6 into a short chute 32 above the conveyor arranged at the same angle as the conveyor 6, but they may be inclined slightly or twisted so that the angular change of the cigarettes required for transfer to the conveyor 4 takes place gradually or continuously.

Cigarettes on the conveyor 2, typically in stack formation with a depth of about six cigarettes are conveyed through the guide 8, the chute 10 and the belts fed to the transfer conveyor 6 between the belts 14, 16. The trajectories of the bands 14,16 together with the parallel Guides 26,28 turn the cigarette stream by 180 ° so that they are on the other end of the conveyor 6 can be discharged into the chute 32 and onto the flow of the conveyor 4. The movement in Transfer conveyor 6 is such that the cigarettes which are deposited on the stream of conveyor 4, their filters on the same

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Ends like the cigarettes that are already on the conveyor 4 are located. The sensor 34 monitors the cigarettes in the area above the area of union with the conveyor 4 and controls the drive of the transfer conveyor 6 accordingly. It can it may also be necessary to provide a sensor in the vicinity of the guide 8 to the conveyor 2 at the entrance to the transfer conveyor 6 control.

The bands 14, 16 are flat on the sides that touch the cigarettes; on the other hand, however, they are provided with teeth which are in driving engagement with at least one of the rollers 18, 20, 22, 24. The belts 14, 16 are kept under tension, for example by one or more of the rollers 18, 20 , 22,24 are elastically mounted, or by additional tension rollers in the return strand of the belts to ensure sufficient drive contact and also to exert a weak pressure on the cigarettes in the flow of the conveyor 6, so that the probability that cigarettes due to gravity in the middle of the flow on the conveyor is only slightly * Another possibility is to assign swiveling pressure rollers to each of the rollers 18, 20, 22, 24 in order to exert a slight pressure on the belts 14, 16 and to keep them relatively taut. Another possibility of keeping the flow on the conveyor 6 under control is to provide low-friction guide surfaces for the ends of the cigarettes. These surfaces should run on a winding path which is a small distance from the ends of the cigarettes on the conveyor 6. ■ " ^:

The bands 14, 16 do not need to be flat on the side of the cigarettes

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to be. Instead, they can be provided with ribs or protrusions (as e.g. in GB-PS 1 453 191), or they can be in be made substantially symmetrical by placing drive teeth on provided on both sides. Another possibility is that the bands have a round cross-section. It could be more than one Tape used; for example laterally spaced belts, possibly with a central stationary guide, be used. A conveyor corresponding to the transfer conveyor 6 could be used in other ways as a conveyor for rod-shaped objects, used in particular as an elevator (essentially as in GB-PS 1 453 191) or as a vertically controlled chute when rod-shaped objects are to be rotated (twisted) during an upward or downward movement. In this case the conveyor can be designed so that it rotates the objects by angles which are smaller than the usual when turning cigarettes Are 180 °.

The conveyor shown in Figs. 3 and 4 forms part of a system for conveying filter cigarettes from a filter cigarette manufacturing machine, such as the "Molins PA8 be ^ir the applicant. As with the conveyor of FIG. 1 and 2 double length filter cigarettes produced and cut through in the middle to form two parallel streams of single filter cigarettes with their filter ends facing each other form common stream 70. The cigarette streams 40, 50 are each supplied as individual rows 40A, 50A and, by reducing their speed,

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can be moved in stack formation at 4OB or 5OB. The direction of movement the stream is essentially horizontal at 40B, 5OB. Each of the streams 4OB, 5OB is about a substantially horizontal axis 4OC and 5OC, respectively, are wound in the opposite direction so that the filter ends of the cigarettes are moved downward in each stream. the Cigarettes in each stream are rotated 90 to form streams 4OD, 5OD in which the cigarettes are arranged vertically and the filter ends are at the bottom.

The streams 4OD, 5OD are merged in the merging area 60, so that they form a common stream 70A. As shown at 70B, the common stream is wound around an essentially horizontal axis, so that a stream moving essentially horizontally 70C arises in stack formation. The area adjoining the union area 60 is shown in FIG. 4. The stream 40 is from upper and lower driven, twisted endless belts 42 are moved through positions 4OB, 4OC and 4OD. In the same way it will the stream 50 of twisted endless belts 52 is conveyed. The conveyors formed by belts 42 and 52 can be used in the essentially like the transfer conveyor 6 of FIGS. 1 and 2, apart from the fact that the cigarettes by 90 instead of around 180 rotated. In particular, the bands 42, 52 can be somewhat narrower than those in FIG. 4, and guide elements which are laterally spaced similar to the guides 26, 28 can also be provided.

In the union area, an insert 62 is adjacent at the end of the inner conveyor 42,52 arranged. Stream 70 is withdrawn from the merge area by parallel powered conveyors 72.

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Although not shown in the drawing, the conveyors 72 can be twisted in the same way as the conveyors 42, 52, see above that the stack 70 can be withdrawn from the union area by the same conveyor belts and rotated by 90 °.

In and around the union area, the filter ends of the cigarettes can rest on a polished or other low-friction guide surface that absorbs all or part of its weight. The width of the stack 10 can be such that it is no greater than that of each of the stacks 40, 50. For example, the outer bands 42, 52 can be lengthened and / or the angle of convergence of the streams 40, 50 can be increased, so that a narrower union region 60 is created. The streams 40, 50 need not contain sections in which the articles are moved in stack formation; for example, single-row streams 40, 50 can be rotated 90 and fed to a merging area in which a stack is formed directly from single-row streams of vertical cigarettes. In or next to the merging area 60 sensors can be provided which control the speed at which the stack 70 is withdrawn from the merging area. A sensor suitable for this purpose (for example as in GB-PS 1 529 961) would consist of an element such as a band which responds to the pressure of the cigarettes in or adjacent to the union area 60.

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Claims (1)

Expectations 1. Conveyor device for rod-shaped objects, with a first Conveyor for conveying the objects in the transverse axial direction, a transfer conveyor for conveying away a continuous one Stream of the items in stack formation from the first conveyor, a merging area to which the items are fed by the transfer conveyor, and a second conveyor that takes the items from the merging area withdraws, characterized in that the transfer conveyor (6) spaced a path of movement for the stream forming Conveying elements (14, 16), which the flow around a substantially parallel to its conveying direction Axis twisted 1 twisted). 2. Conveyor device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer conveyor opposite strands at least 0 30049/0811 an endless belt (14,16), which the stream on opposite Capture pages. 3. Conveyor device according to claim 2, characterized in that that the transfer conveyor has at least two opposing twisted (twisted) belts (14,16). 4. Conveyor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by stationary guides (26, 28) for the objects on the trajectory. 5. Conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer conveyor (6) so is arranged that it rotates the current by approximately 180 °. 6. Conveyor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second conveyor (4) is designed is that it promotes the objects in stack formation. 7. Conveyor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a third conveyor (4) for feeding of items in the union area. 8. Conveyor device according to claim 7, characterized in that the third conveyor with respect to the second conveyor (4) is continuous runs. 9. Conveyor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first conveyor (2) and the 030049/0811 second conveyors (4) run essentially parallel to each other .. ■■ "■; 10. Conveyor according to claim 9, characterized in that the transfer conveyor (6) extends laterally between the first conveyor (2) and the second conveyor (4). 1!. Conveyor device according to claim 10, characterized in that the transfer conveyor (6) and at least the first conveyor (2) or the second conveyor (4) are designed so that the Objects in transfer to or from the transfer conveyor about an axis transverse to their length by a small amount Angle can be rotated. 12. Conveyor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the movement path formed by the transfer conveyor (6) with respect to the first conveyor (2) and the second conveyor (4) is inclined. 13.Fördereinrichtung according to claim 12, characterized by a downward track section (10) between the first Conveyor (2) and the transfer conveyor (6) and another downward track section (32) between the transfer conveyor (6) and the second conveyor (4). 14. Conveyor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a sensor (34) associated with the merging area to determine the conveying speed of the transfer conveyor (6) control. 030049/081 1 15. Conveyor device for rod-shaped objects, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a device (2) for conveying a first stream (40) rod-shaped objects in the transverse axial direction, a device (4) for conveying a second stream (50) of rod-shaped Objects in the transverse axial direction, means (6; 42, 52) for rotating the objects in at least one stream a substantially horizontal axis transverse to the axis of the objects, and means for combining the Streams with a region of union in which the objects of both streams are parallel. Ö.Fördereinrichtung according to claim 15, characterized in that each stream (40, 50) is twisted (twisted) by essentially the same angle. 17. Conveyor according to claim 16, characterized in that Each stream (40, 50) initially lies essentially horizontally and, after turning, essentially vertically Contains items. 18. Conveyor device according to one of claims 15, 16 or 17, characterized by a first conveyor (72) for withdrawing the combined stream (70) from the pooling area, the Conveyor means a device for twisting (twisting) the combined stream around a stream running parallel to its conveying direction Having axis. ^. Conveyor according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized characterized in that the first stream (40) and / or the second Stream (50) consists of a single-layer stream of objects. 20. Conveyor device according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized characterized in that the first stream (40) and / or the second stream (50) consists of a multi-layer stream of objects. 21. Conveyor device according to one of claims 15 to 20, characterized characterized in that the combined stream (70) consists of a multilayered stream of articles. 22. Conveyor device according to one of claims 15 to 21, characterized characterized in that the device for twisting from opposite twisted strands consists of at least one endless belt (42,52). 23. Conveyor device according to one of claims 15 to 22, characterized characterized in that the device for rotating is stationary Has guides. 24. Conveyor device for rod-shaped objects, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a device for conveying at least one stream (40, 50) of substantially horizontal rod-shaped objects, a device (42,52) for rotating the stream by one axis running transversely to the objects and a device (72) for the subsequent conveying of the flow with essentially objects lying vertically. ■ '030049/081 ί - 6 - 3013382 25. Conveyor device according to claim 24, characterized in that the conveying direction of the streams (40, 50, 70) with horizontal objects and vertical objects is essentially horizontal. 26. Conveyor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that it is designed so that sje filter cigarettes receives in parallel streams (2,4,40,50) in which the filter ends of the cigarettes of the two streams in opposite directions Directions and that it unites the cigarettes of the streams in a common stream (70) at which the filter ends all cigarettes are on the same side of the combined stream. 0 30049/0811