DE60107125T2 - gumming - Google Patents

Abstract

A gumming unit (10) is equipped with at least one gumming device (9) having a nozzle (13) and a relative applicator (15) delivering an adhesive, also an occluding and cleaning device (12) by which the orifice of the applicator (15) is closed and wiped during pauses in the gumming operations; the gumming device (9) is power driven so as to render the applicator (15) capable of movement back and forth along a first path (P1) between an operating position (A) and an at-rest position (B), whilst the occluding and cleaning device (12) is capable of movement in one direction (V) only, along a second path (P2) merging with the first path (P1) in the neighbourhood of the at-rest position (B). The occluding and cleaning device (12) is passive, its movement induced by the applicator (15) when assuming the at-rest position (B). <IMAGE>

Description

The The present invention relates to a gumming unit.

The Invention finds particularly advantageous application in the field of machines for the manufacture of tobacco products, namely cigarettes and the like, to which with the help of the following description express reference is taken, although the application is no limit.

It In such machines, there is a need for an adhesive substance on a longitudinal To apply edge of a continuous paper strip, the Finally, wrapped around a band of tobacco filling to one continuous, cylindrical cigarette rod to form.

It is common practice in machines of the type in question, to use a gumming unit arranged facing a passageway is, along which the previously mentioned continuous paper strip precedes; contains such a unit at least one gumming device with a nozzle connected to one Circle, through which the adhesive substance is supplied, and which has an opening, which serves as an applicator element from which the adhesive substance itself is delivered.

Gummierungseinheiten of the conventional one described above Type have the disadvantage that the nozzles require frequent cleaning, attributed in particular to the fact that the remnants of the adhesive substance tend to to dry the applicator element whenever during operation of the machine a temporary one Stopping takes place.

In most cases The cleaning work is carried out by an operator by hand, and while while shutdowns when the machine is at a standstill.

The known technique also includes Gummierungseinheiten provided with devices through which the corresponding gumming devices be cleaned automatically. These units are however of disadvantages affected, attributed to especially on the scope and complexity of automatic cleaning devices. For example, the known technique includes gumming units of a type containing at least one gumming device provided with an element for closing the applicator of the Device serves; the closure element is from the applicator element on and on every break in gumming moved to this, being between a position in which the opening of the applicator is closed when one at one end of the Closure element attached tampon in contact with the applicator itself is assigned, and a position in which the applicator element open when the tampon is sprayed through an atomized, liquid substance sprayed onto its surface is cleaned, moves.

at This type of gumming unit is a special device required to the atomized liquid Add substance to clean the tampon. This device is rather expensive and extensive, as it contains a set of nebulizers that to a supply circuit for the liquid Substance are connected, which is in stock in a container and by a pump is supplied.

Also this type of gumming unit is unsuitable for machinery conventional Design for the production of cigarettes, in which the room is round to the applicator element is generally not sufficient, a movable Tampon from the above Type.

Out Document DE 19639260A discloses an applicator nozzle for adhesive comprising a Dab or give off a line of adhesive substance. It is a catcher for glue assigned after a break or before the gumming device is re-used, positioned so that it directly with the application nozzle interacts, which is activated with cleaning pulses. The application nozzle and the Collecting device for The adhesive are arranged so that they are relative to each other Move to a cleaning position before the device again is used. The cleaning position of the nozzle can correspond to their normal working position.

The Document US A 5853812 describes a device containing a Nozzle for Dispensing a process substance on a support material, which on a Underlay is arranged, means for moving the nozzle between one of the carrier material remote waiting position and an operating position, an endless belt, that stretched between the waiting position and the operating position of the nozzle with the endless belt moving in relation to the nozzle that will be a solution adheres to the tape in the waiting position and the adhering solution with the process substance is brought into contact, which is present at the discharge opening for the nozzle is so that the process substance can be delivered and simultaneously in the delivery opening the nozzle existing process substance is removed.

Also is from document US A 5766356 a coating device known, comprising a slot die for applying a liquid on a synthetic resin film. The slot die has a die body, which is rotatable between an operating position at which a spray nozzle of the slot die a carrier roll for feeding the synthetic resin film faces, and a rest position in which you nozzle is removed from the synthetic resin film or the film. A cleaning device is provided, which has a roll with a cleaning film, a Pick-up roller for receiving the cleaning sheet and a cleaning roller, over which the cleaning foil is running. The cleaning foil on the cleaning roller is the nozzle of the slot die facing, when the latter is in its rest position to to carry out a cleaning process. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a gumming unit, which are equipped with an automatic cleaning device can, being relatively simple and economical and of compact dimensions.

Of the desired Purpose is achieved by a gumming unit according to the present Invention comprising the one expressed in claim 1 Characteristics.

The The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example and with the help of the accompanying drawings, of which:

1 shows a preferred embodiment of the gumming unit according to the present invention, seen in a schematic plan view with some parts in section and others removed for clarity, and shown in a first particular operating condition;

2 indicates the gumming unit 1 in a second specific operating condition;

3 indicates the gumming unit 2 in a schematic frontal elevation and with some parts removed for clarity;

4 indicates the gumming unit 1 in a schematic lateral elevation, with certain parts in section and others removed for clarity.

With reference to the 1 the drawings is with 1 in its entirety denotes a section of a machine (not shown) for the production of cigarettes. More specifically, the machine is a cigarette machine of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,336,812 and by which two cigarette rods are formed simultaneously.

As advantageously in 4 can be seen, contains the section shown 1 a bed 2 that a beam 3 carries on which two continuous cigarette rods 4 be formed.

The bar 3 follows a straight and substantially horizontal path P, along which the cigarette strands 4 be formed, and has two channels 5 of variable cross section, each of which has a respective strand 4 receives.

Every channel 5 describes a pass line along which a respective cigarette rod 4 in a predetermined direction D is supplied and shaped.

A continuous strip 6 Paper is going along each channel 5 is passed and follows the passage direction D, in a conventional manner, and a continuous strand of tobacco filling (not shown) is deposited on the leading paper. While the paper strips 6 are fed along the two molding lines, each is through the gradually changing cross-section of the corresponding channel 5 forced, again in a conventional manner, to wrap around the respective tobacco filling (not shown) and finally adopt a cylindrical shape. Immediately before it takes on the final cylindrical shape, every strip of paper runs 6 with a longitudinal edge 7 up through a vertical slot 8th in the beam 3 outstanding and comes into contact with a respective gumming device 9 who are part of one in their entirety 10 designated gum unit is.

How clearly in 4 shown, occupy the gumming unit 10 and the beam 3 Positions that are substantially symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane S, which lies between the two pass lines along which the strands 4 advanced and shaped. More specifically, the two inner surfaces of the side edges 7 and the corresponding gumming devices 9 oriented in opposite directions on each side of the plane S, respectively.

For the sake of simplicity, only the section of the gumming unit 10 described in the molding of one of the two cigarette rods 4 is involved.

The aforementioned section of the gumming unit 10 is in its entirety with 11 designated and in addition to the gumming device 9 a device 12 through which the gumming device 9 closed and gerei during the interruptions of the Gummiervorgänge is being made.

The gumming device 9 is at the bed 2 mounted and includes a nozzle 13 passing over a pipeline 14 is connected to a circle (not shown) from which an adhesive substance is supplied, and has an opening serving as the applicator head 15 serves, through which the adhesive substance is metered and along the aforementioned side edge 7 of the respective strip 6 is applied.

The device 9 is rigid on a substantially cylindrical body 16 mounted, which is about a substantially vertical axis 17 rotatable and on the output shaft 18 a motor (not shown) is keyed in such a way that the device 9 a given revolution about the axis 17 can perform and thus causes the applicator head 15 along a first predetermined path P1 between an active gumming position A ( 1 and 4 ) and a rest position B ( 2 and 3 ) can move. More specifically, the gumming device 9 on the cylindrical body 16 positioned in such a way that when the application head 15 the gum position A occupies the axis 19 the nozzle 13 is arranged at right angles to the direction of passage D, substantially angled horizontally and slightly downwards in a direction transverse to the same direction D.

The closing and cleaning device 12 is at the bed 2 mounted and alongside the beam 3 positioned, in relation to the passage direction D at a point behind the gumming device 9 ,

The device 12 consists essentially of a tubular tampon 20 of spongy material, preferably impregnated with water or any substance for dissolving the adhesive substance, and serving to provide the corresponding applicator head 15 when it occupies the rest position B ( 2 and 3 ), as well as from a wheel 21 , rotatable about an axis 22 parallel to the axis 17 of the body 16 is arranged, whose circumferential cylindrical surface 23 a holder for the tampon 20 forms. Like from the 2 can be seen is the wheel 21 free and in one direction around the corresponding axis 22 along a second predetermined path P2 rotatable in a direction V opposite to the direction of rotation of the gumming device 9 when it moves along the first predetermined path P1 from the gumming position A to the rest position B.

The second web P2 is running at one point for one certain route with the first track P1 together, the resting position B corresponds.

Finally, the closing and cleaning device 12 with a doctor blade 24 provided, arranged in tangential contact with the tampon 20 at one of the beams 3 and the gumming device 9 distant point. The operation of the gumming unit 10 will now be described starting from a state in which the two gumming devices 9 their active gumming positions A ( 1 and 4 ) and the order heads 15 in contact with the inner surfaces of the margins 7 located by the respective strips 6 as they advance along the pass direction D, each in the respective channel 5 ,

Whenever an interruption in the operation of the cigarette making machine occurs, a controller (not shown) causes the gumming devices 9 in such a way around the respective axes 17 turn that every job head 15 along the corresponding path P1 to the rest position B is aligned.

Upon reaching the home position B where the first and second predetermined paths P1 and P2 converge, each application head catches 15 the corresponding tampon 20 and pulls him into the turn around the corresponding axis 22 in the direction indicated by V.

When they are in rest position B, both are heads of order 15 through the respective tampons 20 closed, more precisely, every order head 15 partially submerged in the relatively soft, spongy material from which the tampon 20 is made.

When the machine resumes operation, the control unit (not shown) causes the gumming devices 9 in the opposite direction around the respective axes 17 rotate, or in such a way that the order heads 15 go back into their respective predetermined paths P1 in the direction of the original Gummierposition A.

During the transition from the rest position B to the gumming position A, each applicator head brushes 15 against the corresponding tampon 20 who, on this occasion, remains motionless in the previously assumed position for the reasons described above. It follows that every tampon 20 wipes the effect of which it is the application head 15 to clean.

It can be observed that with each further interruption of the operation of the machine for the production of cigarettes the single tampon 20 a certain angular movement about the respective axis 22 in the predetermined direction of rotation V off leads, wherein a cleaning section of the outer surface 25 placed in a position ready to catch the applicator head 15 when the next interruption occurs.

During each revolution also the outer surface becomes 25 of the tampon 20 through the doctor blade 24 cleaned.

Even though the gumming unit according to the present invention in the frame a machine for the production of cigarettes described and shown is intended to carry out two cigarette rods, it becomes obvious that same unit with equal success in one machine for one single strand can be used, or rather in one Machine for the production or packaging of products of any kind always.

Claims (7)

Gumming unit, comprising at least one gumming device ( 9 ) with a nozzle ( 13 ) with a corresponding order header ( 15 ), from which an adhesive substance is dispensed, as well as closure and cleaning agents ( 12 ), which serve the opening of the applicator head ( 15 ) during the interruptions of gumming operations and to clean, whereby the gumming device ( 9 ) and the corresponding application head ( 15 ) is thus able to perform a movement along a first predetermined path (P1) between an active gumming position (A) and a rest position (B); where the unit ( 10 ) Drive means ( 18 ) by which the order header ( 15 ) is moved between the gumming and resting positions (A, B); and wherein the sealing and cleaning agents ( 12 ) are capable of performing a movement along a second predetermined path (P2), of which a certain distance merges with the first path (P1) and coincides with said rest position (B), the device ( 9 ) characterized in that the movement of the closing and cleaning means ( 12 ) along the second path (P2) through the applicator head (FIG. 15 ) is determined. Unit according to claim 1, wherein the closure and cleaning means ( 12 ) are capable of performing a device movement along the second path (P2) in a predetermined direction (V). Unit according to claim 2, in which the movement of the closing and cleaning means ( 12 ) along the second path (P2) in the predetermined direction (V) when the application head ( 15 ) assumes its rest position (B). Unit according to claim 3, wherein the closure and cleaning means ( 12 ) a tampon ( 20 ) through which the opening of the applicator head ( 15 ) when the latter is in its rest position (B) and means ( 21 ) through which the tampon ( 20 ), both being capable of performing a movement along the second path (P2) in the predetermined direction (V). Assembly according to claim 4, in which the second path (P2) is a circular path, the tampon ( 20 ) is substantially tubular and the retaining means ( 21 ) from a wheel ( 21 ) passing through a tampon ( 20 ) supporting circumferential cylindrical surface ( 23 ) is limited. Unit according to claim 4 or 5, in which the closing and cleaning means ( 12 ) Stripping agent ( 24 ) whose job it is to use the tampon ( 20 ) to clean. Unit according to claims 4 to 6, in which the tampon ( 20 ) is impregnated with a substance, suitable to dissolve the adhesive substance.