EP0022943B1 - Device for feeding cigarettes from trays to a packaging machine or the like - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for feeding rod-shaped objects, in particular cigarettes, removed from a tray or similar transport container to a consumer, in particular to a packaging machine, with an intermediate conveyor which extends substantially horizontally below the tray, with a subsequent, also horizontally oriented transfer conveyor for the transport of the cigarettes to the consumer and with a storage upstream of the transfer conveyor in the cigarette flow for receiving and dispensing cigarettes depending on the intermittent delivery of cigarettes. A device of this kind is known from 6B-A-1 284 874.

The cigarettes manufactured by a cigarette manufacturing machine (rod machine) are still predominantly transported in the cigarette factories today in trays, i.e. in flat containers that are open on two sides. These must be emptied in the area of a cigarette packaging machine in such a way that the cigarettes can be fed to the packaging machine in an appropriate manner.

The simplest solution to this practical problem is that the tray is emptied directly into a cigarette magazine assigned to the packaging machine. However, this solution has proven to be inefficient and has also proven disadvantageous in other respects. “Transfer devices” of the type mentioned at the outset are therefore increasingly being used, which take the cigarettes from the trays and then feed them to the packaging machine, in particular the cigarette magazine, in a continuous cigarette flow. The present invention is concerned with such a transfer device, the problem to be solved is to implement the batch transport given by the delivery of the cigarettes in trays in a continuous, continuous stream of cigarettes, while at the same time ensuring that the device is reliable and gentle works for the cigarettes.

• a) Die Schragen werden unter Ausnutzung des Eigengewichts der Zigaretten entleert. Zu diesem Zweck werden die vorgenannten Behälter mit der offenen Schmalseite nach unten weisend auf die Vorrichtung aufgesetzt. Die Zigaretten laufen nach und nach unter Senken eines sich im Schragen aufbauenden «Zigarettenspiegels» aus dem Behälter heraus in die Transfervorrichtung.
• b) Unterhalb des Schragens werden die Zigaretten durch einen Zwischenförderer (Förderband) abtransportiert. Dieser Zwischenförderer wird stillgesetzt, sobald der Schragen entleer ist. Die Überwachung des Abtransports der Zigaretten sowie der Entleerung des Schragen ist so gewählt, dass der Zwischenförderer unverzüglich abgeschaltet wird, wenn der in dem Schragen aufgebaute Zigarettenspiegel eine Lichtschranke unmittelbar an der Unterseite des Schragens freigibt.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the characterizing features of patent claim 1. The following measures are therefore taken in the invention:

• a) The trays are emptied using the weight of the cigarettes. For this purpose, the aforementioned containers are placed on the device with the open narrow side facing downward. The cigarettes gradually run out of the container into the transfer device, lowering a “cigarette mirror” built up in the incline.
• b) Below the incline, the cigarettes are removed by an intermediate conveyor (conveyor belt). This intermediate conveyor is stopped as soon as the tray is empty. The monitoring of the removal of the cigarettes and the emptying of the tray is selected so that the intermediate conveyor is switched off immediately if the cigarette mirror built up in the tray releases a light barrier directly on the underside of the tray.

The reason for this measure is that during the change of the tray - namely when the emptied container is exchanged for the next one filled - the cigarette level within the transfer device is kept at the predetermined level when the emptied tray is removed. When the next filled tray is then brought into the emptying position, its cigarettes are directly connected to the existing cigarette mirror, without any gap having to be bridged by the free fall of the cigarettes. It is an important concern of the device to avoid this free fall of the cigarettes. Rather, an uninterrupted, seamless flow of cigarettes is guaranteed in the spatial sense.

c) The intermediate conveyor arranged below the incline leads in the area of a distribution space, which is equipped with an enlarged receiving volume due to its funnel-shaped design. The “cigarette level” in the area of this distribution room is also monitored, specifically with regard to the functioning of the store.

d) Below the distribution space - lying on one level - the mentioned store on the one hand and a transfer conveyor leading to the packaging machine on the other. The store is designed as a tape store with a movable end wall. The ends, namely the mutually facing deflection points of the storage unit and transfer conveyor, adjoin one another closely. The division is eccentric with respect to the passage of the distribution space from the higher intermediate conveyor to the lower transfer conveyor and storage, in such a way that it is arranged offset to the storage so that the predominant stream of cigarettes reaches the transfer conveyor. The funding volume by the intermediate conveyor is, however, dimensioned in such a way that a «surplus portion» is continuously conveyed to the correspondingly enlarged storage during the transfer phase.

e) An interruption in the flow of cigarettes in the area of the transfer conveyor does not occur during a tray change, that is to say when the intermediate conveyor is stopped. First, the required amount of cigarettes continues to be taken from the distribution room until the cigarette level drops to a set minimum. Then the memory comes into operation. This feeds the transfer conveyor's cigarette needs directly to the transfer conveyor.

The above measures convert the discontinuous, batch-wise supply of the cigarettes into a continuous cigarette flow, the relative position of the individual conveying elements, in particular the transfer conveyor and the storage belt, and the distribution space playing a special role in the described sequence of functions. During the emptying of a tray, ie when the intermediate conveyor is driven, there is a constant division of the cigarette flow in the area of the passage mentioned. This current division is ensured by the relative position of the funding bodies involved. During a change of tray, the storage becomes “promotional”, so that a constant, continuous flow of cigarettes is obtained with careful handling of the cigarettes.

From DE-A-2 500 526 a device for supplying a stream of cigarettes to a further processing production machine is known which is very similar to the device according to the invention. In the known device, however, there is a fundamental difference from the invention in that the cigarettes are not delivered in batches, namely in trays, but in an already specified, continuous cigarette stream. For this purpose, a conveyor belt of the known device is connected to the cigarette manufacturing machine (filter attachment machine). Such solutions have found their way into practice, but they are raised due to the lack of flexibility due to the rigid connection. The Schragen operation enables a better adaptation to the performance of the individual machines than the solution described in the cited document. In the sense of the differences described above, the memory provided in the known device, represented by a base band and a movable rear wall, has a different function than in the invention.

It is not a question of permanently taking in cigarettes and dispensing them again in the orderly process. Rather, the memory in the known device only comes into play when the cigarette manufacturing machine fails temporarily. The memory is therefore intended as an exclusively error-oriented device.

The different functions of the comparison devices are also reflected in the constructive design. For example, the known construction lacks measures for “smoothing” the flow of cigarettes during the cyclical changes thereof. Also, the relative arrangement of the conveying members cannot be equated with that of the invention due to a different goal. In particular, there is no measure to arrange the mutually facing deflection points of the storage belt and transfer conveyor belt towards the storage unit, so that the predominant stream of cigarettes reaches the transfer conveyor belt.

Preferred constructive developments of the device according to the invention discussed in more detail above are described in claims 2-6, the measure according to claim 4 being known per se from FR-A-2 321 436, which, however, shows nothing else in common with the device according to the invention.

• Fig. 1. Eine Vorrichtung zur Entnahme von Zigaretten aus einem Schragen usw., Transport derselben in schematischer Seitenansicht,
• Fig. 2. einen Teilbereich der Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 2, ebenfalls in Seitenansicht, bei vergrössertem Massstab.
• Fig. 3. einen Querschnitt durch die Vorrichtung im Massstab der Fig. 2, und
• Fig. 4. einen Querschnitt-IV in Fig. 2.

An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

• 1. A device for removing cigarettes from a tray, etc., transporting the same in a schematic side view,
• FIG. 2 shows a partial area of the device according to FIG. 2, likewise in a side view, on an enlarged scale.
• 3 shows a cross section through the device on the scale of FIG. 2, and
• 4. a cross-section IV in Fig. 2nd

In the device shown, trays 11 filled with cigarettes 10 are fed in manually or mechanically and arranged so that the cigarettes can flow out of the tray 11 downward.

Below the incline 11 there is an intermediate conveyor 12 in the form of a conveyor belt within the device. The cigarettes 10 are accommodated on the upper run of the intermediate conveyor 12 and are removed to the left in relation to FIG. 1. Above the intermediate conveyor 12, movable swivel bodies 15 with a triangular cross-section are arranged between the side walls 12 and 14, which are intended to ensure a proper outflow of the cigarettes 10 in this area.

The intermediate conveyor 12 forms a relatively long conveying path following the area of the incline 11. At the end of the intermediate conveyor 12 there is a distribution space 16 for the cigarettes 10. The distribution space 16 is inclined on the side opposite the end of the intermediate conveyor 12 through a funnel wall 17 limited downward arrangement, such that a narrower passage 18 is formed in the area between the deflection point of the intermediate conveyor 12 and the hopper wall 17. This is delimited on the side opposite the hopper wall 17 by the end of the intermediate conveyor 12, namely by its deflection roller 40.

The distribution room 16 has several tasks. Monitoring devices for the respectively available amount of cigarettes are arranged in this area, namely a light barrier 21 formed by sensors 19 and 20 (transmitter and receiver), which extends in an inclined plane across the cigarettes 10. This light barrier 21 is used to monitor a minimum level of the cigarettes 10 in the distribution space 16. If the light barrier 21 is released by falling below a corresponding level, the device is switched off.

With a corresponding function, a light barrier 22 directed from the side wall 13 to the side wall 14 is installed transversely to the device. These monitors a maximum permissible cigarette level within the distribution space 16 at a suitable point, with the result that the cigarette supply is interrupted when the light barrier 22 is exceeded and is thereby interrupted.

A memory 23 is formed more or less exactly below the intermediate conveyor 12. This consists of a back and forth movable storage tape 24 and an end wall 25 arranged thereon. The latter can be moved back and forth between the end positions shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, forming correspondingly large storage spaces for holding cigarettes 10. The upper limit of this storage space is an upper wall 26 immediately below the intermediate conveyor 12.

Exactly in the plane of the memory 23 or the storage belt 24, a transfer conveyor 27 extends in continuation of the same, namely a conveyor belt through which the cigarettes 10 or the like in the horizontal plane of the packaging machine (not shown). are fed. The cigarettes 10 therefore arrive at the packaging machine on a horizontal transport path. They are usually given to a magazine.

The device described so far works in such a way that the intermediate conveyor 12 is switched off immediately after emptying the tray 11 in order to avoid a further drop in the cigarette level in this area. For this purpose, the cigarette level directly below the incline 11 is monitored by a transverse or horizontal light barrier 28.

During the standstill phase of the intermediate conveyor 12, cigarettes 10 are removed from the (more or less) filled store 23, namely by moving the end wall 25 in the direction of the transfer conveyor 27. The amount of cigarettes 10 emerging from the store 23 is preferably greater than the absorption capacity of the transfer conveyor 27. Cigarettes 10 also step back into the distribution space 16 until a maximum level monitored by the light barrier 22 is reached.

After placing a filled tray 11, the intermediate conveyor 12 is started again. The quantity of cigarettes now fed is greater than the transport capacity of the transfer conveyor 27. Accordingly, part of the cigarettes 10 passes from the distribution space 16 directly to the transfer conveyor 27. Another part is fed to the store 23, namely with opposite movement of the end wall 25. The store 23 can be filled up to its maximum capacity.

The emptying of the accumulator 23 can be carried out continuously or discontinuously, depending on the take-off capacities, that is, with the end wall 25 temporarily stopped in intermediate positions.

In the illustrated embodiment, the space above the intermediate conveyor 12 including the distributor space 16 is laterally delimited by the side walls 13, 14. The side wall 14 is designed as a supporting structural part and connected to a machine frame or the like. The opposite side wall 13 is preferably made of transparent material, in particular plastic. This side wall 13 is divided into two sections. In the area below the incline 11 and in an adjoining area (vertical section according to FIG. 3), only the space above the intermediate conveyor 12 with the side wall 13 is limited. The memory 23 is here without limitation on the side opposite the side wall 14. In the area of the distributor space 16 and in the adjoining area, the side wall 13 extends over the full height, that is to say including the store 23 (FIG. 4).

The side wall 13 in the area outside the distribution space 16 is pivotally supported by hinge 29 (FIG. 3). The side wall 13 can also be pivoted in the region of the distributor space 16 by a hinge 30 arranged in the upper region. The side wall 13 here performs a pulsating swiveling movement with the purpose of thereby aligning the cigarettes 10 within the distribution space 16.

For this purpose, the side wall 13 is pretensioned by a tension spring 31 which connects the two side walls 13 and 14 to one another. At the lower edge of the side wall 13, a support roller 32 is mounted, which receives 33 on a circumferential curve piece. The design of the curve piece 33 causes the side wall 13 to be lifted off and pressed on.

In the present case, the tension spring 31 is connected to a magnet 34 seated on the side wall 13, namely via a metal piece 35. The magnetic force is dimensioned such that the connection is held against the retaining force of the tension spring 31 during the pulsating movements. In order to open the space, the entire side wall 13 can be swiveled out, namely by manually tearing off the magnet 34.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the curve piece 33 is arranged on a deflecting roller 36 for the storage belt 24, and is accordingly driven with the latter.

In order to separate cigarettes 10 pointing in the transport direction, that is to say in a disorderly manner, at least in the lateral region of the intermediate conveyor 12, edge slits 37 and 38 running in the conveying direction are formed in addition to the latter. This allows the aforementioned cigarettes 10 to fall downward onto a baffle 39 directed obliquely to the side.

The relative position of the three conveyors with respect to one another or with respect to the distributor space 16 is of particular importance. slightly offset from a middle vertical plane to the memory 23. Storage belt 24 and transfer conveyor 27 lie essentially in a common horizontal plane. The cigarette flow from the distribution space 16 is thereby deflected accordingly when it is taken up by the memory. A predominant stream of cigarettes 10, however, reaches the transfer conveyor 27 directly.

The end wall 25 of the accumulator 23 is provided with an inclined end surface 42. With this design of the end wall 25, the reservoir 23 can be completely emptied. In the emptying position (left in FIG. 1), the end wall 25 with the inclined end surface 42 extends from the end of the intermediate conveyor 12 to the beginning of the transfer conveyor 27.

Claims (6)

1. Apparatus for supplying rod-shaped articles, particularly cigarettes (10) taken from a tray (11) or similar container to a consuming means, particularly a packing machine, with a substantially horizontally extending intermediate conveyor (12) positioned below the tray (11) and, following onto the same, an also horizontally oriented transfer conveyor (27) for conveying the cigarettes to the consuming means and with a reservoir (23) positioned upstream of the transfer conveyor (27) in the cigarette flow for receiving and delivering cigarettes, as a function of the synchronized supply thereof, characterized in the following features:

a) the reservoir (23) comprises a reservoir belt (24) with a reciprocatable end wall (25) arranged thereon,

b) reservoir (23) is positioned below intermediate conveyor (12) in a plane substantially parallel thereto,

c) transfer conveyor (27) extends substantially horizontally and approximately in the plane of reservoir (23) in the extension thereof,

d) at the free end of intermediate conveyor (12) is provided a distribution chamber (16), from which the cigarettes (10) can be supplied by means of a downwardly leading passage (18), alternatively in partial flows to transfer conveyor (27) and to reservoir (23), whose reception ends are linked to passage (18),

e) the facing reception ends of transfer conveyor (27) and reservoir (23) are slightly displaced from a central vertical plane of passage (18) towards reservoir (23), so that the preponderant flow of cigarettes (10) passes onto transfer conveyor (27),

f) the level of the cigarettes in the distribution chamber (16) is monitored with respect to a minimum level by a light barrier (21), which slopes with respect to the vertical and is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of cigarettes (10), as well as a maximum level by a light barrier (22) in the longitudinal direction of the cigarettes (10),

g) the level of the cigarettes (10) in tray (11) can be monitored by a horizontally directed light barrier (28) positioned immediately below the same,

h) the intermediate conveyor (12) can be switched off by a signal of light barrier (28) when tray (11) is empty, whereas transfer conveyor (27) continues to run.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the end of intermediate conveyor (12) is set back with respect to the reception end of reservoir (23) and one end wall (25) of reservoir (23) is constructed with a sloping end face (42).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a downwardly converging hopper wall (17) defines the distribution chamber (16) on the side facing the end of intermediate conveyor (12).

4. Apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the spaces for receiving the cigarettes (10) are bounded by side walls (13, 14), at least in the vicinity of intermediate conveyor (12) and distribution chamber (16) and at least one of these side walls can be reciprocated in pulsating manner in the longitudinal direction of cigarettes (10) in the vicinity of distribution chamber (16). -

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that side wall (13) is pivotably mounted on one side, particularly at its upper edge and is movable in pulsating manner in the pivoting sense.

6. Apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least in the vicinity of intermediate conveyor (12) and laterally alongside the same is formed an edge slot (37, 38) bounded by side walls (13, 14) and extending in the longitudinal direction of intermediate conveyor (12), whilst below the same is provided an outwardly sloping deflector (39) for the collected cigarettes (10).

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