EP0244138A1 - Tobacco bale separation - Google Patents

Tobacco bale separation Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0244138A1
EP0244138A1 EP87303461A EP87303461A EP0244138A1 EP 0244138 A1 EP0244138 A1 EP 0244138A1 EP 87303461 A EP87303461 A EP 87303461A EP 87303461 A EP87303461 A EP 87303461A EP 0244138 A1 EP0244138 A1 EP 0244138A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bale
blade
tobacco
separating
conveyor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP87303461A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0244138B1 (en
Inventor
Roy Springthorpe
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
NTM Ltd
Original Assignee
NTM Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by NTM Ltd filed Critical NTM Ltd
Priority to AT87303461T priority Critical patent/ATE64279T1/en
Publication of EP0244138A1 publication Critical patent/EP0244138A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0244138B1 publication Critical patent/EP0244138B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
    • A24B3/00—Preparing tobacco in the factory
    • A24B3/06—Loosening tobacco leaves or cut tobacco

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for separating tobacco from bales thereof.
  • Tobacco is usually supplied to cigarette manufac­turers in the form of bales. These bales are usually layered due to the tobacco leaves having been laid flat one on top of each other and subsequently compressed. It is usual to separate these bales prior to conditioning of the tobacco. The problem with separating out these bales is that it often results in considerable degradation of the tobacco leaves.
  • the conditioning can be carried out on batches of tobacco, but it is preferable to carry out conditioning in a continuous mode.
  • a method of separating tobacco from a bale thereof comprising the steps of presenting a bale of tobacco at a separating location, inserting blade means into the bale, and effecting relative movement between the blade means and the bale at the separating location, whereby to separate a layer of tobacco from the bale.
  • apparatus for separating tobacco from a bale thereof comprising means for presenting a bale of tobacco at a separating location, blade means adapted to enter the bale, and means for effecting rela­tive movement between the blade means and the bale at the separating location, whereby to enable separation of a layer of tobacco from the bale.
  • the blade means is adapted to enter the bale in a direction substantially parallel to the layering of the bale, and comprises at least one rotatable blade assembly and wherein the or each blade assembly is rotat­ably mounted on an axis extending parallel to the layering of the bale.
  • the or each blade assembly may comprise at least one blade peripherally presenting a plurality of arcuate blade members which are similarly curved in the direction of rotation of the blade.
  • the delivery means comprises a con­veyor for delivering the bale to the separating location, and means may be provided for tipping a bale of tobacco onto the conveyor so that the layering is generally at right angles to the conveyor.
  • bales 10 of tobacco are transported on trolleys 12 to a delivery assembly 14 which includes a conveyor 18.
  • Each bale 10 is formed of subst­antially parallel, stacked layers of tobacco, layering being substantially horizontal on the trolley 12.
  • Each bale 10 is then tipped over by a tipper unit 16 onto the conveyor 18 so that the layering is substantially at right angles to the conveyor surface.
  • the bales 10 are carried on the conveyor 18 successivelysively to a location adjacent to a separating assembly 22.
  • the latter comprises a pair of shafts 24 extending subst­antially horizontally at right angles to the movement direction of the conveyor 18, and spaced apart such that the shafts 24 are respectively above and below the bales 10 moving past the delivery end 20 of the conveyor 18.
  • Each of the shafts 24 is driven at a speed equal to that of the conveyor and mounts a plurality of paddles along the shaft, each paddle being in the form of a generally circular blade 26 having, on an outer peripheral section, a plurality of arcuate blade members 28, the latter each being similarly curved in the direction of rotation of the blade 26 and extending into the path of movement of the bales 10.
  • the rotary blades 26 are made of stainless steel and each comprises fifteen blade members 28 which penetrate a maximum of six inches into the bale, producing layers of tobacco two inches thick.
  • the conditioning unit 38 conditions the tobacco in a conventional way, and the conditioned tobacco is delivered onto a discharge conveyor 40.
  • only one shaft 24 with paddles may be provided, selectively above or below the bale 10.
  • a roller may be located on the other side of the bale 10 whereby to engage against the tobacco in the bale at said other side while the paddles operate to separate the layers of tobacco.
  • a shaft with paddles may be located to engage the tobacco from one or both sides of the bale 10, and these paddles may be provided in addition to paddles above and below the bales 10 or instead of paddes above and below the bales.
  • each shaft may have only one paddle for engagement with the tobacco.
  • the or each paddle may comprise a blade having blade members arranged in a star configuration or indeed any other suitable configuration.
  • Fig. 3 Another embodiment is shown in Fig. 3, where like parts to the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2 have like refer­ence numbers.
  • the or each paddle comprises a hub 42 mounting profiled tines 44 which, upon rotary movement, accelerate into and endwise of the bale 10 to hold, penetrate and separate the layers of tobacco in the same way as the previous embodiment.
  • each separating paddle may be moved longitudinally of the bale while the latter remains stationery, so as to separate the tobacco layers.
  • the apparatus may be simply and relatively cheaply prod­uced and is suitable for use with continuous conditioning.
  • rotary blades made from a different material or with different numbers of blade members which may be arranged to penetrate to a different depth and to produce tobacco layers of a different thickness, may be used.
  • the rotary blades may be driven at a speed greater than that of the conveyor or not driven at all.

Landscapes

  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
  • Preliminary Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
  • Breeding Of Plants And Reproduction By Means Of Culturing (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Tobacco Products (AREA)
  • Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)

Abstract

For tobacco bale separation, a bale (10) is presented by a conveyor (18) at a separating location between spaced separating paddles. Each of the latter comprises a blade (26) mounting arcuate blade members (28) which are curved in a direction of rotation of the blade (26). The blade members (28) extend into the path of movement of the bale (10) in a direction substantially parallel to the layering so as to penetrate behind a layer (34). Continued movement of the bale (10) and rotation of the blades (26) causes further penetration of the blade members (28), the curvature being such that the outer ends of the blade members (28) accelerate in a direction endwise of the bale (10) to separate the layer (34) therefrom. The layer (34) continues to be accelerated away from the bale (10) into a conditioning unit.

Description

  • This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for separating tobacco from bales thereof.
  • Tobacco is usually supplied to cigarette manufac­turers in the form of bales. These bales are usually layered due to the tobacco leaves having been laid flat one on top of each other and subsequently compressed. It is usual to separate these bales prior to conditioning of the tobacco. The problem with separating out these bales is that it often results in considerable degradation of the tobacco leaves. The conditioning can be carried out on batches of tobacco, but it is preferable to carry out conditioning in a continuous mode.
  • It is an object of this invention to provide a method, usable with continuous tobacco conditioning, of separating bales of tobacco in such a manner as to reduce degradation of the tobacco leaves. It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus for use with the above method.
  • According to the present invention there is provided a method of separating tobacco from a bale thereof, the method comprising the steps of presenting a bale of tobacco at a separating location, inserting blade means into the bale, and effecting relative movement between the blade means and the bale at the separating location, whereby to separate a layer of tobacco from the bale.
  • Preferably the bale is delivered to the separating location, and the blade means is inserted at the separat­ing location into the bale in a direction substantially parallel to the layering of the bale, and adjacent to one end thereof.
  • According to the present invention there is also provided apparatus for separating tobacco from a bale thereof, the apparatus comprising means for presenting a bale of tobacco at a separating location, blade means adapted to enter the bale, and means for effecting rela­tive movement between the blade means and the bale at the separating location, whereby to enable separation of a layer of tobacco from the bale.
  • Preferably the blade means is adapted to enter the bale in a direction substantially parallel to the layering of the bale, and comprises at least one rotatable blade assembly and wherein the or each blade assembly is rotat­ably mounted on an axis extending parallel to the layering of the bale.
  • The or each blade assembly may comprise at least one blade peripherally presenting a plurality of arcuate blade members which are similarly curved in the direction of rotation of the blade.
  • Preferably also the delivery means comprises a con­veyor for delivering the bale to the separating location, and means may be provided for tipping a bale of tobacco onto the conveyor so that the layering is generally at right angles to the conveyor.
  • An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which :-
    • Fig. 1 is a side view of part of a separating appar­atus according to one embodiment of the invention;
    • Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of an arrangement including the apparatus of Fig. 1; and
    • Fig. 3 is a side view of part of a separating appar­atus according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • Referring to the drawings, bales 10 of tobacco are transported on trolleys 12 to a delivery assembly 14 which includes a conveyor 18. Each bale 10 is formed of subst­antially parallel, stacked layers of tobacco, layering being substantially horizontal on the trolley 12. Each bale 10 is then tipped over by a tipper unit 16 onto the conveyor 18 so that the layering is substantially at right angles to the conveyor surface.
  • The bales 10 are carried on the conveyor 18 succes­sively to a location adjacent to a separating assembly 22. The latter comprises a pair of shafts 24 extending subst­antially horizontally at right angles to the movement direction of the conveyor 18, and spaced apart such that the shafts 24 are respectively above and below the bales 10 moving past the delivery end 20 of the conveyor 18. Each of the shafts 24 is driven at a speed equal to that of the conveyor and mounts a plurality of paddles along the shaft, each paddle being in the form of a generally circular blade 26 having, on an outer peripheral section, a plurality of arcuate blade members 28, the latter each being similarly curved in the direction of rotation of the blade 26 and extending into the path of movement of the bales 10.
  • When a respective one of the bales 10 has been moved along the conveyor 18 to the location of the separating assembly 22, an outer end of a respective blade member 28 of each of the blades 26 enters the bale 10 at a location 30 towards the forward end, in a direction substantially parallel to the layering so as to penetrate behind a layer 34. Continued movement of the bale 10 by the conveyor 18, with consequent rotation of the blades 26, causes the respective blade members 28 to accelerate and penetrate further into the bale 10 (see location 32). At the same time the following blade members 28 initially penetrate the bale 10. Upon further movement of the bale 10, the curvature of the respective blade members 28 is such that the outer ends of the latter accelerate in a direction endwise of the bale 10 to separate the layer 34 of tobacco from the bale 10, and subsequently continue to accelerate the layer 34 away from the bale 10 into a conveyor feeding into a conditioning unit 38.
  • In the apparatus shown, the rotary blades 26 are made of stainless steel and each comprises fifteen blade members 28 which penetrate a maximum of six inches into the bale, producing layers of tobacco two inches thick. The conditioning unit 38 conditions the tobacco in a conventional way, and the conditioned tobacco is delivered onto a discharge conveyor 40.
  • As an alternative, only one shaft 24 with paddles may be provided, selectively above or below the bale 10. When a single shaft 24 is provided, a roller may be located on the other side of the bale 10 whereby to engage against the tobacco in the bale at said other side while the paddles operate to separate the layers of tobacco. In a further alternative a shaft with paddles may be located to engage the tobacco from one or both sides of the bale 10, and these paddles may be provided in addition to paddles above and below the bales 10 or instead of paddes above and below the bales.
  • In a modification the or each shaft may have only one paddle for engagement with the tobacco.
  • In yet another modification, the or each paddle may comprise a blade having blade members arranged in a star configuration or indeed any other suitable configuration.
  • Another embodiment is shown in Fig. 3, where like parts to the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2 have like refer­ence numbers. In this embodiment the or each paddle comprises a hub 42 mounting profiled tines 44 which, upon rotary movement, accelerate into and endwise of the bale 10 to hold, penetrate and separate the layers of tobacco in the same way as the previous embodiment.
  • It is also envisaged that separation of the tobacco layers may be achieved without the provision of paddles, by using a supporting conveyor having upstanding spikes spaced along at least part of the length of the conveyor. With this arrangement it is preferred that a further conveyor with similar spikes is located above the bale. The tobacco can be tipped on to the supporting or lower conveyor with the spikes thereof penetrating the bale, the upper conveyor then being so located relative to the bale that the spikes of the upper conveyor penetrate the respective upper side of the bale. The engagement of the respective spikes in the tobacco initiates separating of the tobacco layers so that when the bale reaches the end of the lower conveyor, the partly separated layers of tobacco will successively fall away from the bale.
  • It is further envisaged that the or each separating paddle may be moved longitudinally of the bale while the latter remains stationery, so as to separate the tobacco layers.
  • There is thus provided a method and apparatus for separating out bales of tobacco along the layers inherent in such bales, thus reducing degradation of the tobacco. The apparatus may be simply and relatively cheaply prod­uced and is suitable for use with continuous conditioning.
  • Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example rotary blades made from a different material or with different numbers of blade members which may be arranged to penetrate to a different depth and to produce tobacco layers of a different thickness, may be used. The rotary blades may be driven at a speed greater than that of the conveyor or not driven at all.

Claims (10)

1. A method of separating tobacco from a bale thereof, the method comprising the steps of presenting a bale of tobacco at a separating location, characterised by insert­ing blade means (26,28) into the bale (10), and effecting relative movement between the blade means (26,28) and the bale (10) at the separating location, whereby to separate a layer (34) of tobacco from the bale (10).
2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the bale (10) is delivered to the separating location, and the blade means (26,28) is inserted at the separating location into the bale (10) in a direction substantially parallel to layering of the bale (10), and adjacent to one end thereof.
3. A method according to claim 2, characterised in that the blade means (26,28) is accelerated in a direction towards said one end of the bale (10).
4. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the blade means (26,28) is inserted into one side or a plurality of sides of the bale (10).
5. Apparatus for separating tobacco from a bale thereof, the apparatus comprising means for presenting a bale of tobacco at a separating location, characterised by blade means (26,28) adapted to enter the bale (10) and means (24) for effecting relative movement between the blade means (26,28) and the bale (10) at the separating location, whereby to enable separation of a layer (34) of tobacco from the bale (10).
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that the blade means is adapted to enter the bale (10) in a direction substantially parallel to the layering of the bale (10), and comprises at least one rotatable blade assembly (26,28), and the or each blade assembly (26,28) is rotatably mounted on an axis extending parallel to the layering of the bale.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterised in that the or each blade assembly comprises at least one blade (26) peripherally presenting a plurality of arcuate blade members (28) which are simlarly curved in the direction of rotation of the blade (26).
8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the bale presenting means comprises a conveyor (18) for delivering the bale (10) to the separating location, and means (16) are provided for tipping a bale of tobacco onto the conveyor (18) so that the layering is generally at right angles to the conveyor (18).
9. Apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the bale presenting means is stationery, and the blade means is movable relative thereto in a longitudinal direction of the bale.
10. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that the blade means comprises a plurality of blades mounted on and projecting from bale presenting means in the form of a conveyor, the latter being adapted to deliver a bale to the separating location whereat the bale moves beyond the conveyor and a layer of tobacco falls away from the bale to effect separation.
EP87303461A 1986-04-26 1987-04-21 Tobacco bale separation Expired - Lifetime EP0244138B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT87303461T ATE64279T1 (en) 1986-04-26 1987-04-21 RELEASING TOBACCO BALLS.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB868610283A GB8610283D0 (en) 1986-04-26 1986-04-26 Tobacco bale separation
GB8610283 1986-04-26

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0244138A1 true EP0244138A1 (en) 1987-11-04
EP0244138B1 EP0244138B1 (en) 1991-06-12

Family

ID=10596932

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87303461A Expired - Lifetime EP0244138B1 (en) 1986-04-26 1987-04-21 Tobacco bale separation

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0244138B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE64279T1 (en)
DE (2) DE3770689D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2022345B3 (en)
GB (1) GB8610283D0 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1254606A1 (en) 2001-05-04 2002-11-06 Philip Morris Products S.A. Apparatus and method for delaminating parcels of tobacco
EP1415552A1 (en) * 2002-11-04 2004-05-06 Philip Morris Products S.A. Apparatus and method for delaminating parcels of tobacco
CN105668207A (en) * 2016-03-30 2016-06-15 红云红河烟草(集团)有限责任公司 Cut tobacco block stripping and subdividing system
CN112042988A (en) * 2020-09-27 2020-12-08 云南中烟工业有限责任公司 Vertical cross-connecting carrier type bundle dividing device and tobacco leaf bundle dividing method

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1027577B (en) * 1955-06-04 1958-04-03 Reemtsma H F & Ph Method and device for dissolving tobacco
DE1139419B (en) * 1960-09-20 1962-11-08 Reemtsma H F & Ph Device for severing slices from a tobacco bale
US4532946A (en) * 1984-04-12 1985-08-06 Philip Morris Incorporated Method and apparatus for tipping tobacco leaves packed in bales
EP0159836A1 (en) * 1984-04-02 1985-10-30 W.H. Dickinson Engineering Limited Sliced bale conditioning

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1027577B (en) * 1955-06-04 1958-04-03 Reemtsma H F & Ph Method and device for dissolving tobacco
DE1139419B (en) * 1960-09-20 1962-11-08 Reemtsma H F & Ph Device for severing slices from a tobacco bale
EP0159836A1 (en) * 1984-04-02 1985-10-30 W.H. Dickinson Engineering Limited Sliced bale conditioning
US4532946A (en) * 1984-04-12 1985-08-06 Philip Morris Incorporated Method and apparatus for tipping tobacco leaves packed in bales

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1254606A1 (en) 2001-05-04 2002-11-06 Philip Morris Products S.A. Apparatus and method for delaminating parcels of tobacco
WO2002089614A1 (en) * 2001-05-04 2002-11-14 Philip Morris Products S.A. Apparatus and method for delaminating parcels of tobacco
RU2289289C2 (en) * 2001-05-04 2006-12-20 Филип Моррис Продактс С.А. Apparatus and method for delamination of tobacco bale
US7810506B2 (en) 2001-05-04 2010-10-12 Philip Morris Usa Inc. Apparatus and method for delaminating parcels of tobacco
US7987855B2 (en) 2001-05-04 2011-08-02 Philip Morris Usa Inc. Apparatus and method for delaminating parcels of tobacco
EP1415552A1 (en) * 2002-11-04 2004-05-06 Philip Morris Products S.A. Apparatus and method for delaminating parcels of tobacco
CN105668207A (en) * 2016-03-30 2016-06-15 红云红河烟草(集团)有限责任公司 Cut tobacco block stripping and subdividing system
CN112042988A (en) * 2020-09-27 2020-12-08 云南中烟工业有限责任公司 Vertical cross-connecting carrier type bundle dividing device and tobacco leaf bundle dividing method
CN112042988B (en) * 2020-09-27 2023-06-16 云南中烟工业有限责任公司 Vertical type delivery carrier type bundle dividing device and tobacco bundle dividing method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE64279T1 (en) 1991-06-15
GB8610283D0 (en) 1986-05-29
EP0244138B1 (en) 1991-06-12
DE3770689D1 (en) 1991-07-18
ES2022345B3 (en) 1991-12-01
DE244138T1 (en) 1990-08-16

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