EP0443982A1 - Method and device of retention for a delivery hopper, especially for delivery of cigarettes - Google Patents

Method and device of retention for a delivery hopper, especially for delivery of cigarettes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0443982A1
EP0443982A1 EP91810053A EP91810053A EP0443982A1 EP 0443982 A1 EP0443982 A1 EP 0443982A1 EP 91810053 A EP91810053 A EP 91810053A EP 91810053 A EP91810053 A EP 91810053A EP 0443982 A1 EP0443982 A1 EP 0443982A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
grids
hopper
cigarette
grid
cigarettes
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
EP91810053A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0443982B1 (en
Inventor
Albert Sigrist
Roberto Rizzolo
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Philip Morris Products SA
Original Assignee
Fabriques de Tabac Reunies SA
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Application filed by Fabriques de Tabac Reunies SA filed Critical Fabriques de Tabac Reunies SA
Publication of EP0443982A1 publication Critical patent/EP0443982A1/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/35—Adaptations of conveying apparatus for transporting cigarettes from making machine to packaging machine
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/14—Machines of the continuous-rod type
    • A24C5/31—Machines of the continuous-rod type with special arrangements coming into operation during starting, slowing-down or breakdown of the machine, e.g. for diverting or breaking the continuous rod
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/04—Arranging, feeding, or orientating the cigarettes

Definitions

  • the cigarettes arrive in a hopper which first forms a buffer stock and then distributes them through appropriate channels to the bodies responsible for packaging. packages.
  • the cigarettes are all arranged parallel to one another and oriented in the same direction, that is to say in the case where one of their ends is provided with a filter, all the filters are arranged on the same side. So that this arrangement is kept inside the hopper, it will have a depth slightly greater than the length of a cigarette so that they can move there without too much friction against the walls.
  • a cigarette distribution hopper comprising means for retaining ill-oriented cigarettes constituted by a first grid placed towards the top of the hopper, retaining the cigarettes arranged at an angle, and a plurality of channels placed towards the bottom of the hopper and retaining the cigarettes presenting longitudinally.
  • the drawback of the device described is that the retaining means consist of two separate parts and that only the second of said parts is provided with means for detecting a misdirected cigarette. Thus, monitoring by the operator is always necessary in order to eliminate a misdirected cigarette retained by the upper grille.
  • a first object of the invention is to propose a retention method in accordance with the characteristics of the first claim.
  • a restraint device comprising the features of claim 2, and whose various embodiments are described in claims 3 to 6, has been developed and constitutes another object of the invention.
  • another object of the invention is to propose two specific uses, first in a hopper for distributing cigarettes, then in a hopper parts distribution for an automatic machine tool; these applications are described from claim 7.
  • FIG. 1 there is a hopper 1 comprising two side walls 10 and 11, the shape of which is adapted to allow good flow of the cigarettes, as well as a bottom wall 12 and a cover wall (not shown) facing the bottom wall 12 and spaced therefrom by a distance slightly greater than the length of a cigarette.
  • the volume of the hopper is mainly determined by the shape and size of the side walls 10 and 11, since the bottom walls 12 and the cover are spaced apart by a constant distance.
  • the cigarettes 13 are brought to the hopper 1 by means not shown and pour into said hopper from the top thereof; as shown in the figure, the cigarettes 13 are in principle all oriented in the same direction, or arranged at the end, between the bottom wall 12 and the cover wall.
  • a distribution grid 14 separates the compact flow of cigarettes into multiple flows where the cigarettes progress one behind the other in distribution channels 15 to be brought for the next operation which can be a packaging operation (not shown).
  • Blades 16, of suitable shape are given a slow reciprocating movement and prevent bridges from forming inside the hopper, obstructing the flow of cigarettes.
  • a cigarette 13A is crooked with respect to the others, it may descend to the distribution grid 14 and obstruct it, interrupting the flow in one or more of the distribution channels 15.
  • the hopper 1 is provided with the retaining device according to the invention, either with a set of grids 2, composed of a first fixed grid 20 and a second movable grid 21 which is superposed on it; these two grids are arranged horizontally well before the distribution channels 15, ie approximately halfway up the hopper and extend over the entire width of passage of the hopper, or between the side walls 10 and 11.
  • the fixed grid 20 is composed of rod elements 22 arranged side by side, parallel to the general orientation of the cigarettes, and are fixed in an adequate manner, at least to the bottom wall 12 by welding or screwing.
  • the rod elements 23 of the movable grid 21 are arranged in the same way as those of the fixed grid 20, except that one of their ends is fixed to a slide 24 sliding horizontally above the fixed grid 20, as explained below.
  • FIG. 2 The driving mode of the movable grid 21 is visible in FIG. 2 where said grid is represented by four of its rod elements 23 which are fixed in an adequate manner, by welding or screwing, on a slide 24 which slides in a groove 14 formed in the bottom wall 12, the slide 24 being driven in an alternating translational movement by drive means 25 which can be any and which are therefore not explained in more detail here.
  • drive means 25 which can be any and which are therefore not explained in more detail here.
  • Detection means 3 are arranged behind a transparent part 12A (see FIG. 2) of the bottom wall 12 and comprise, according to a preferred embodiment, a light source 30 and a photoelectric cell 31 mounted side by side side by side on a support 32 itself fixed to an endless belt 33 stretched between two pulleys 34, so that the support 32, respectively the light source 30 and the photocell 31, move linearly from a side wall 10 to the other 11 and vice versa, under the fixed grid 20, under the action of the belt 33 driven back and forth by the pulleys 34, one of them being driven in rotation by a certain number of turns in one direction then in the opposite direction, by usual means not shown here.
  • the white color of the latter reflects part of the light emitted towards the cell 31 which then sends no signal alarm; on the other hand, when the light beam meets an empty space of cigarettes 13B, the beam is not reflected, the cell 31 is no longer excited and an alarm signal, for example an acoustic signal, is sent to the operator who will then know that he must intervene by opening the cover wall to remove the crooked cigarette 13A, in order to restore the correct flow of said cigarettes.
  • an alarm signal for example an acoustic signal
  • FIGS. 3A and 3B The operating detail of the fixed and mobile grids 21 is visible in FIGS. 3A and 3B where in FIG. 3A there is the mobile grid 21, shown only by three of its rod elements 23, which is in the intermediate position, or exactly superimposed on the fixed grid 20, also represented by three of its rod elements 22, the mobile grid 21 will move, for example in the direction arrow A, to reach the state shown in FIG. 3B where each rod element 23 of the movable grid 21 is located midway between two consecutive rod elements 22 of the fixed grid 20. Subsequently, the movable grid 21 will resume its movement, this time in the direction of arrow B, to reach the superimposed position shown in FIG. 3A and will continue its movement to reach a position symmetrical to that shown in FIG.
  • a preferred embodiment of the detection means 3 has been described, it being understood that other embodiments are possible; in particular in the case where the amount of light reflected by the ends of the cigarettes is insufficient to excite the cell, in the case of cigarettes without filter for example, it would be easy to have a reflective strip on the internal face of the wall opposite to that behind which is the cell, the ray being reflected only when it crosses an empty space of cigarettes 13B, then exciting the cell which will provide the alarm.
  • Other embodiments can also be proposed, for example by replacing the above reflective strip by an elongated light source disposed on the cover wall and occupying the entire width of the hopper; as before, the cell will not be excited and will not transmit the alarm until it has detected a ray crossing an empty space of cigarettes.
  • the bottom wall may be provided with a plurality of photoelectric cells, aligned under the fixed grid, each of them being spaced from the next by a distance less than a length of cigarette, the cover wall being provided as before with an elongated light source; in this case, one or two of the cells are excited when a light beam crosses an empty space of cigarettes. According to this embodiment, it is possible to eliminate the belt and pulley device.
  • the grid device 2 has been described and shown in Figure 1 as stopping a crooked cigarette, but arranged horizontally; in the event that a cigarette is presented obliquely to the horizontal plane of the grids 20 and 21, it will gradually be brought to bed, by the movement of the movable grid 21 and by the weight of the cigarettes which are superimposed.
  • FIG. 3B it can be seen in FIG. 3B that the space remaining between the rod elements 23 of the movable grid 21 and those 22 of the fixed grid 20 does not leave the passage for an element of the diameter of a cigarette; the cigarette in question will therefore be brought back to a horizontal position as previously or else it will fold and obstruct the passage, creating an empty space of cigarettes below it as previously.
  • the method and the device according to the invention are absolutely capable of retaining any cylindrical element, respectively any cigarette, which does not appear correctly in the hopper and of reporting this incident, without the operation of the installations located downstream of the hopper is not affected and therefore without reducing the efficiency of the installation, and this without it being necessary for an operator to be continuously observing the smooth flow of flow in the hopper.

Abstract

The method of retaining cigarettes consists in halting a cigarette, which is oriented crosswise relative to the other cigarettes running into a hopper, before this cigarette blocks the distribution ducts of the hopper, thus halting the manufacturing process; means make it possible to detect a cigarette which has been halted by the device according to the invention. <??>The distribution hopper, particularly for cigarette distribution, equipped with the device corresponding to the method, comprises a set of grids (2) at half-height, consisting of a fixed grid (20) surmounted by a movable grid (21) to which an alternating translatory movement is imparted. This set of grids can retain any cigarette (13A) which is presented and moving crosswise in the hopper, without this cigarette interrupting the flow of the distribution ducts (15) at the outlet from the hopper. A detection device (3), comprising in particular a photoelectric cell (31) and a light source (30), detects a space empty of cigarettes (13B) which has been caused by the crosswise cigarette retained by the set of grids, and emits an alarm. It is thus possible for the operator to act to withdraw the crosswise cigarette, without the functioning of the equipment situated downstream of the hopper being affected. <??>A hopper provided with such a device may be used for other applications, in particular for an automatic machine-tool feed. <IMAGE>

Description

Dans le processus de fabrication des cigarettes, en particulier lors de leur préparation pour la mise en paquets, les cigarettes arrivent dans une trémie qui tout d'abord forme un stock tampon et ensuite les distribue par des canaux appropriés aux organes chargés de la mise en paquets. Lors de leur transport vers la trémie, les cigarettes sont toutes disposées parallèlement les unes aux autres et orientées dans le même sens, soit dans le cas où une de leur extrémité est munie d'un filtre, tous les filtres sont disposés du même côté. Pour que cette disposition se conserve à l'intérieur de la trémie, celle-ci aura une profondeur légèrement supérieure à la longueur d'une cigarette afin qu'elles puissent s'y déplacer sans trop de frottements contre les parois.In the process of making cigarettes, especially when preparing them for packaging, the cigarettes arrive in a hopper which first forms a buffer stock and then distributes them through appropriate channels to the bodies responsible for packaging. packages. When transported to the hopper, the cigarettes are all arranged parallel to one another and oriented in the same direction, that is to say in the case where one of their ends is provided with a filter, all the filters are arranged on the same side. So that this arrangement is kept inside the hopper, it will have a depth slightly greater than the length of a cigarette so that they can move there without too much friction against the walls.

Il se peut toutefois que lors du transport des cigarettes vers la trémie, une cigarette se mette en travers, soit selon une orientation environ perpendiculaire à l'orientation de l'ensemble des autres cigarettes, et se déplace ainsi à l'intérieur de la trémie pour arriver à proximité de l'embouchure d'un ou de plusieurs des canaux de distribution qu'elle obstruera, vu qu'elle n'est pas orientée pour y pénétrer. Ceci amène à une rupture de l'écoulement dans les canaux de distribution concernés, soit à une importante baisse de rendement de l'ensemble de l'installation. Afin d'y remédier, une possibilité consiste à ce que l'opérateur surveille continuellement le bon écoulement des cigarettes dans la trémie et intervienne avant qu'une cigarette mal orientée ne vienne perturber la sortie de la trémie.However, it may be that during the transport of cigarettes to the hopper, a cigarette is put across, either in an orientation approximately perpendicular to the orientation of all the other cigarettes, and thus moves inside the hopper. to arrive near the mouth of one or more of the distribution channels that it will obstruct, since it is not oriented to enter it. This leads to a break in the flow in the distribution channels concerned, or to a significant drop in efficiency of the entire installation. In order to remedy this, one possibility is for the operator to continuously monitor the good flow of cigarettes through the hopper and intervene before a misdirected cigarette disturbs the exit from the hopper.

Une autre possibilité est décrite dans le brevet US-A-4.174.780, où une trémie de distribution de cigarettes est représentée, comportant des moyens de retenue de cigarettes mal orientées constitués d'une première grille placée vers le haut de la trémie, retenant les cigarettes disposées de travers, et d'une pluralité de canaux placés vers le bas de la trémie et retenant les cigarettes se présentant longitudinalement. L'inconvénient du dispositif décrit est que les moyens de retenue sont constitués de deux parties distinctes et que seule la seconde desdites parties est munie de moyens de détection d'une cigarette mal orientée. Ainsi, une surveillance par l'opérateur est toujours nécessaire afin d'éliminer une cigarette mal orientée retenue par la grille supérieure.Another possibility is described in the US Pat. No. 4,174,780, in which a cigarette distribution hopper is shown, comprising means for retaining ill-oriented cigarettes constituted by a first grid placed towards the top of the hopper, retaining the cigarettes arranged at an angle, and a plurality of channels placed towards the bottom of the hopper and retaining the cigarettes presenting longitudinally. The drawback of the device described is that the retaining means consist of two separate parts and that only the second of said parts is provided with means for detecting a misdirected cigarette. Thus, monitoring by the operator is always necessary in order to eliminate a misdirected cigarette retained by the upper grille.

Afin de pallier à ces inconvénients, un premier but de l'invention est de proposer un procédé de retenue conforme aux caractéristiques de la première revendication. De même, un dispositif de retenue, comportant les caractéristiques de la revendication 2, et dont diverses formes d'exécution sont décrites dans les revendications 3 à 6, a été développé et constitue un autre objet de l'invention. Vu l'universalité d'emploi du procédé ainsi que du dispositif selon l'invention, un autre but de l'invention est d'en proposer deux emplois spécifiques, tout d'abord dans une trémie de distribution de cigarettes, puis dans une trémie de distribution de pièces pour une machine-outil automatique; ces applications sont décrites à partir de la revendication 7.In order to overcome these drawbacks, a first object of the invention is to propose a retention method in accordance with the characteristics of the first claim. Likewise, a restraint device, comprising the features of claim 2, and whose various embodiments are described in claims 3 to 6, has been developed and constitutes another object of the invention. Given the universality of use of the method as well as of the device according to the invention, another object of the invention is to propose two specific uses, first in a hopper for distributing cigarettes, then in a hopper parts distribution for an automatic machine tool; these applications are described from claim 7.

Une forme préférentielle de réalisation du dispositif incorporé dans une trémie de distribution de cigarettes ainsi que son fonctionnement sont particulièrement compréhensibles au vu du dessin d'accompagnement avec les figures où:

  • la figure 1 représente une coupe en élévation d'une trémie de distribution de cigarettes munie d'un dispositif selon l'invention,
  • la figure 2 représente une portion de la partie arrière de la trémie de la figure précédente, et
  • la figure 3 montre le mouvement alternatif de déplacement de la seconde grille par rapport à la première grille et le mouvement des cigarettes qui en résulte.
A preferred embodiment of the device incorporated in a cigarette distribution hopper as well as its operation are particularly understandable in view of the accompanying drawing with the figures where:
  • Figure 1 shows a section in elevation of a cigarette distribution hopper fitted with a device according to the invention,
  • FIG. 2 represents a portion of the rear part of the hopper of the previous figure, and
  • FIG. 3 shows the alternative movement of movement of the second grid relative to the first grid and the movement of cigarettes which results therefrom.

Sur la figure 1, on a une trémie 1 comportant deux parois latérales 10 et 11 dont la forme est adaptée afin de permettre un bon écoulement des cigarettes, ainsi qu'une paroi de fond 12 et une paroi de couvercle non représentée faisant face à la paroi de fond 12 et espacées de celle-ci d'une distance légèrement supérieure à la longueur d'une cigarette. Le volume de la trémie est principalement déterminé par la forme et la dimension des parois latérales 10 et 11, vu que les parois de fond 12 et de couvercle sont espacées d'une distance constante. Les cigarettes 13 sont amenées à la trémie 1 par des moyens non représentés et se déversent dans ladite trémie par le haut de celle-ci; comme représenté sur la figure, les cigarettes 13 sont en principe toutes orientées dans la même direction, soit disposées en bout, entre la paroi de fond 12 et la paroi de couvercle. Après leur passage dans la trémie 1, une grille de distribution 14 sépare le flot compact de cigarettes en de multiples écoulements où les cigarettes progressent l'une derrière l'autre dans des canaux de distribution 15 pour être amenées pour l'opération suivante qui peut être une opération d'empaquetage (non représentée). Des pales 16, de forme appropriée, sont animées d'un lent mouvement de rotation alternatif et empêchent que des ponts ne se forment à l'intérieur de la trémie, obstruant l'écoulement des cigarettes. Au cas où pour une raison quelconque une cigarette 13A est de travers par rapport aux autres, elle pourra descendre jusqu'à la grille de distribution 14 et l'obstruera, interrompant l'écoulement dans un ou plusieurs des canaux de distribution 15. Afin de remédier à ceci, la trémie 1 est munie du dispositif de retenue selon l'invention, soit d'un jeu de grilles 2, composé d'une première grille fixe 20 et d'une seconde grille mobile 21 qui lui est superposée; ces deux grilles sont disposées horizontalement bien avant les canaux de distribution 15, soit environ à mi-hauteur de la trémie et s'étendent sur toute la largeur de passage de la trémie, soit entre les parois latérales 10 et 11. La grille fixe 20 est composée d'éléments de tiges 22 disposés côte à côte, parallèlement à l'orientation générale des cigarettes, et sont fixés d'une manière adéquate, au moins à la paroi de fond 12 par soudage ou vissage. Les éléments de tiges 23 de la grille mobile 21 sont disposés de la même manière que ceux de la grille fixe 20, si ce n'est qu'une de leur extrémités est fixée à un coulisseau 24 glissant horizontalement au-dessus de la grille fixe 20, de la manière expliquée ci-dessous.In FIG. 1, there is a hopper 1 comprising two side walls 10 and 11, the shape of which is adapted to allow good flow of the cigarettes, as well as a bottom wall 12 and a cover wall (not shown) facing the bottom wall 12 and spaced therefrom by a distance slightly greater than the length of a cigarette. The volume of the hopper is mainly determined by the shape and size of the side walls 10 and 11, since the bottom walls 12 and the cover are spaced apart by a constant distance. The cigarettes 13 are brought to the hopper 1 by means not shown and pour into said hopper from the top thereof; as shown in the figure, the cigarettes 13 are in principle all oriented in the same direction, or arranged at the end, between the bottom wall 12 and the cover wall. After their passage in the hopper 1, a distribution grid 14 separates the compact flow of cigarettes into multiple flows where the cigarettes progress one behind the other in distribution channels 15 to be brought for the next operation which can be a packaging operation (not shown). Blades 16, of suitable shape, are given a slow reciprocating movement and prevent bridges from forming inside the hopper, obstructing the flow of cigarettes. In case for for some reason a cigarette 13A is crooked with respect to the others, it may descend to the distribution grid 14 and obstruct it, interrupting the flow in one or more of the distribution channels 15. In order to remedy this, the hopper 1 is provided with the retaining device according to the invention, either with a set of grids 2, composed of a first fixed grid 20 and a second movable grid 21 which is superposed on it; these two grids are arranged horizontally well before the distribution channels 15, ie approximately halfway up the hopper and extend over the entire width of passage of the hopper, or between the side walls 10 and 11. The fixed grid 20 is composed of rod elements 22 arranged side by side, parallel to the general orientation of the cigarettes, and are fixed in an adequate manner, at least to the bottom wall 12 by welding or screwing. The rod elements 23 of the movable grid 21 are arranged in the same way as those of the fixed grid 20, except that one of their ends is fixed to a slide 24 sliding horizontally above the fixed grid 20, as explained below.

Le mode d'entraînement de la grille mobile 21 est visible sur la figure 2 où ladite grille est représentée par quatre de ses éléments de tiges 23 qui sont fixés d'une manière adéquate, par soudage ou vissage, sur un coulisseau 24 qui glisse dans une rainure 14 aménagée dans la paroi de fond 12, le coulisseau 24 étant entraîné selon un mouvement alternatif de translation par des moyens d'entraînement 25 pouvant être quelconques et quine sont donc pas expliqués plus en détail ici. En se référant à nouveau à la figure 1, on voit le mode de fonctionnement du système de grilles 2 lorsqu'une cigarette 13A est de travers; dans ce cas, elle restera bloquée contre la grille mobile 21, empêchant le passage normal des cigarettes dans les espaces des grilles mobile 21 et fixe 20 qu'elle surplombe. Il s'ensuivra un espace vide de cigarettes 13B. Des moyens de détection 3 sont disposés en arrière d'une partie transparente 12A (voir figure 2) de la paroi de fond 12 et comprennent, selon une forme d'exécution préférentielle, une source lumineuse 30 et une cellule photo-électrique 31 montées côte à côte sur un support 32 fixé lui-même à une courroie sans fin 33 tendue entre deux poulies 34, de manière que le support 32, respectivement la source lumineuse 30 et la cellule photo-électrique 31, se déplacent linéairement d'une paroi latérale 10 à l'autre 11 et vice versa, sous la grille fixe 20, sous l'action de la courroie 33 entraînée dans un mouvement de va-et-vient par les poulies 34, l'une d'entre elles étant entraînée en rotation d'un certain nombre de tours dans un sens puis dans le sens opposé, par des moyens usuels non représentés ici. Lorsque la lumière émise par la source 30 rencontre des extrémités de cigarettes, en particulier des extrémités munies d'un filtre à cigarettes, la couleur blanche de ce dernier réfléchit une partie de la lumière émise vers la cellule 31 qui n'envoie alors aucun signal d'alarme; par contre, lorsque le rayon lumineux rencontre un espace vide de cigarettes 13B, le rayon n'est pas réfléchi, la cellule 31 n'est plus excitée et un signal d'alarme, par exemple un signal acoustique, est envoyé à l'opérateur qui saura alors qu'il doit intervenir en ouvrant la paroi de couvercle pour retirer la cigarette de travers 13A, afin de rétablir l'écoulement correct desdites cigarettes.The driving mode of the movable grid 21 is visible in FIG. 2 where said grid is represented by four of its rod elements 23 which are fixed in an adequate manner, by welding or screwing, on a slide 24 which slides in a groove 14 formed in the bottom wall 12, the slide 24 being driven in an alternating translational movement by drive means 25 which can be any and which are therefore not explained in more detail here. Referring again to Figure 1, we see the operating mode of the grid system 2 when a cigarette 13A is crooked; in this case, it will remain blocked against the movable grid 21, preventing the normal passage of cigarettes in the spaces of the movable grids 21 and fixed 20 that it overhangs. There will follow an empty space for cigarettes 13B. Detection means 3 are arranged behind a transparent part 12A (see FIG. 2) of the bottom wall 12 and comprise, according to a preferred embodiment, a light source 30 and a photoelectric cell 31 mounted side by side side by side on a support 32 itself fixed to an endless belt 33 stretched between two pulleys 34, so that the support 32, respectively the light source 30 and the photocell 31, move linearly from a side wall 10 to the other 11 and vice versa, under the fixed grid 20, under the action of the belt 33 driven back and forth by the pulleys 34, one of them being driven in rotation by a certain number of turns in one direction then in the opposite direction, by usual means not shown here. When the light emitted by the source 30 meets the ends of cigarettes, in particular the ends provided with a cigarette filter, the white color of the latter reflects part of the light emitted towards the cell 31 which then sends no signal alarm; on the other hand, when the light beam meets an empty space of cigarettes 13B, the beam is not reflected, the cell 31 is no longer excited and an alarm signal, for example an acoustic signal, is sent to the operator who will then know that he must intervene by opening the cover wall to remove the crooked cigarette 13A, in order to restore the correct flow of said cigarettes.

Le détail de fonctionnement des grilles fixe 20 et mobile 21 est visible sur les figures 3A et 3B où sur la figure 3A on a la grille mobile 21, représentée seulement par trois des ses éléments de tiges 23, qui est en position intermédiaire, soit exactement superposée à la grille fixe 20, elle aussi représentée par trois de ses éléments de tiges 22, la grille mobile 21 va se déplacer, par exemple dans le sens de la flèche A, pour atteindre l'état représenté sur la figure 3B où chaque élément de tige 23 de la grille mobile 21 se trouve à mi-distance entre deux éléments de tiges 22 consécutifs de la grille fixe 20. Par la suite, la grille mobile 21 reprendra son déplacement, cette fois dans la direction de la flèche B, pour atteindre la position superposée représentée à la figure 3A et poursuivra son déplacement pour atteindre une position symétrique à celle représentée à la figure 3B, d'où elle reviendra dans le sens de la flèche A et ainsi de suite. On remarque sur les figures 3A et 3B l'importance de la forme et des dimensions des éléments de tiges 22 et 23; lors du mouvement de translation de la grille mobile 21 sur la grille fixe 20, les cigarettes situées entre les éléments de tiges 22 et 23 doivent rouler autour desdits éléments sans être blessées par une quelconque arête, ce qui fait que les éléments de tiges 22 et 23 sont de manière préférentielle arrondis. Si une forme généralement ovale ou une forme de pale peut être admise pour les éléments de tiges 22 et/ou 23, la forme d'exécution préférentielle choisie et représentée pour ce mode d'exécution est une forme circulaire, de diamètre correspondant au diamètre d'une cigarette, de manière que les cigarettes roulent facilement autour des éléments de tiges 23 lors de leur déplacement, comme représenté par la flèche C. D'autre part, le pas d'espacement entre deux éléments de tiges consécutifs des grilles fixe 20 ou mobile 21 est compris entre une fois et deux fois le diamètre d'une cigarette afin de ne permettre le passage facile que d'une seule cigarette à la fois par le système de grilles 2.The operating detail of the fixed and mobile grids 21 is visible in FIGS. 3A and 3B where in FIG. 3A there is the mobile grid 21, shown only by three of its rod elements 23, which is in the intermediate position, or exactly superimposed on the fixed grid 20, also represented by three of its rod elements 22, the mobile grid 21 will move, for example in the direction arrow A, to reach the state shown in FIG. 3B where each rod element 23 of the movable grid 21 is located midway between two consecutive rod elements 22 of the fixed grid 20. Subsequently, the movable grid 21 will resume its movement, this time in the direction of arrow B, to reach the superimposed position shown in FIG. 3A and will continue its movement to reach a position symmetrical to that shown in FIG. 3B, from which it will return in the direction of arrow A and so on. Note in Figures 3A and 3B the importance of the shape and dimensions of the rod elements 22 and 23; during the translational movement of the movable grid 21 on the fixed grid 20, the cigarettes located between the rod elements 22 and 23 must roll around the said elements without being injured by any edge, which means that the rod elements 22 and 23 are preferably rounded. If a generally oval shape or a blade shape can be accepted for the rod elements 22 and / or 23, the preferred embodiment chosen and shown for this embodiment is a circular shape, with a diameter corresponding to the diameter d 'A cigarette, so that cigarettes roll easily around the rod elements 23 during their movement, as shown by the arrow C. On the other hand, the spacing between two consecutive rod elements of the fixed grids 20 or mobile 21 is between once and twice the diameter of a cigarette in order to allow easy passage of only one cigarette to both by the grid system 2.

Une forme d'exécution préférentielle des moyens de détection 3 a été décrite, étant bien entendu que d'autres formes d'exécution sont possibles; en particulier au cas où la quantité de lumière réfléchie par le bout des cigarettes serait insuffisante pour exciter la cellule, dans le cas de cigarettes sans filtre par exemple, il serait aisé de disposer une bande réfléchissante sur la face interne de la paroi opposée à celle derrière laquelle se trouve la cellule, le rayon n'étant réfléchi que lorsqu'il traverse un espace vide de cigarettes 13B, excitant alors la cellule qui fournira l'alarme. D'autres formes d'exécution peuvent encore être proposées, par exemple en remplaçant la bande réfléchissante ci-dessus par une source lumineuse allongée disposée sur la paroi de couvercle et occupant toute la largeur de la trémie; comme précédemment, la cellule ne sera excitée et ne transmettra l'alarme que lorsqu'elle aura détecté un rayon traversant une espace vide de cigarettes.A preferred embodiment of the detection means 3 has been described, it being understood that other embodiments are possible; in particular in the case where the amount of light reflected by the ends of the cigarettes is insufficient to excite the cell, in the case of cigarettes without filter for example, it would be easy to have a reflective strip on the internal face of the wall opposite to that behind which is the cell, the ray being reflected only when it crosses an empty space of cigarettes 13B, then exciting the cell which will provide the alarm. Other embodiments can also be proposed, for example by replacing the above reflective strip by an elongated light source disposed on the cover wall and occupying the entire width of the hopper; as before, the cell will not be excited and will not transmit the alarm until it has detected a ray crossing an empty space of cigarettes.

Selon une autre forme d'exécution, la paroi de fond peut être munie d'une pluralité de cellules photo-électriques, alignées sous la grille fixe, chacune d'entre elles étant espacée de la suivante d'une distance inférieure à une longueur de cigarette, la paroi de couvercle étant munie comme précédemment d'une source lumineuse allongée; dans ce cas, une ou deux des cellules sont excitées lorsqu'un rayon lumineux traverse un espace vide de cigarettes. Selon cette forme d'exécution, il est possible de supprimer le dispositif de courroie et de poulies.According to another embodiment, the bottom wall may be provided with a plurality of photoelectric cells, aligned under the fixed grid, each of them being spaced from the next by a distance less than a length of cigarette, the cover wall being provided as before with an elongated light source; in this case, one or two of the cells are excited when a light beam crosses an empty space of cigarettes. According to this embodiment, it is possible to eliminate the belt and pulley device.

Dans toutes les formes d'exécution, il est nécessaire de prévoir une temporisation entre le moment où la cellule photo-électrique détecte un vide et le moment où l'alarme est transmise afin que les petits vides apparaissant normalement entre les cigarettes de forme circulaire ne déclenchent pas des alarmes intempestives.In all forms of execution, it is necessary to provide a time delay between the moment when the photocell detects a vacuum and the moment when the alarm is transmitted so that small voids that normally appear between circular cigarettes do not trigger nuisance alarms.

Le dispositif de grille 2 a été décrit et représenté sur la figure 1 comme arrêtant une cigarette de travers, mais disposée horizontalement; dans le cas où une cigarette se présenterait en oblique par rapport au plan horizontal des grilles 20 et 21, celle-ci serait petit à petit amenée à se coucher, de par le mouvement de la grille mobile 21 et par le poids des cigarettes qui lui sont superposées. Dans le cas où elle se présenterait verticalement au-dessus de la grille mobile 21, on voit sur la figure 3B que l'espace restant entre les éléments de tiges 23 de la grille mobile 21 et ceux 22 de la grille fixe 20 ne laisse pas le passage pour un élément du diamètre d'une cigarette; la cigarette en question sera donc comme précédemment ramenée en position horizontale ou alors se pliera et obstruera le passage, créant un espace vide de cigarettes au-dessous d'elle comme précédemment.The grid device 2 has been described and shown in Figure 1 as stopping a crooked cigarette, but arranged horizontally; in the event that a cigarette is presented obliquely to the horizontal plane of the grids 20 and 21, it will gradually be brought to bed, by the movement of the movable grid 21 and by the weight of the cigarettes which are superimposed. In the case where it would appear vertically above the movable grid 21, it can be seen in FIG. 3B that the space remaining between the rod elements 23 of the movable grid 21 and those 22 of the fixed grid 20 does not leave the passage for an element of the diameter of a cigarette; the cigarette in question will therefore be brought back to a horizontal position as previously or else it will fold and obstruct the passage, creating an empty space of cigarettes below it as previously.

On voit donc que le procédé et le dispositif selon l'invention sont absolument aptes à retenir tout élément cylindrique, respectivement toute cigarette, ne se présentant pas correctement dans la trémie et à signaler cet incident, sans que la marche des installations situées en aval de la trémie n'en soit affectée et par conséquent sans diminution du rendement de l'installation, et ceci sans qu'il soit nécessaire qu'un opérateur soit continuellement à observer le bon déroulement de l'écoulement dans la trémie. Ce procédé ainsi que ce dispositif ont été décrits s'appliquant à une étape de fabrication de cigarettes, mais il est bien entendu qu'il peut tout aussi bien s'appliquer à la fabrication d'autres objets de forme généralement cylindrique qui à un moment donné de leur processus de fabrication doivent être alignés; par exemple un ravitailleur en pièces longilignes d'une machine outil automatique peut tout aussi bien être équipé de ce dispositif, qui signalera une pièce disposée de travers, sans que la cadence de fabrication ne soit interrompue.It can therefore be seen that the method and the device according to the invention are absolutely capable of retaining any cylindrical element, respectively any cigarette, which does not appear correctly in the hopper and of reporting this incident, without the operation of the installations located downstream of the hopper is not affected and therefore without reducing the efficiency of the installation, and this without it being necessary for an operator to be continuously observing the smooth flow of flow in the hopper. This process and this device have been described applying to a cigarette manufacturing step, but it is understood that it can just as easily be applied to the manufacture of other objects of generally cylindrical shape which at one time given of their process manufacturing should be aligned; for example, a refueler for elongated parts of an automatic machine tool can just as easily be equipped with this device, which will signal a part arranged at an angle, without the production rate being interrupted.

Claims (8)

Procédé de retenue d'éléments cylindriques disposés de travers (13A) par rapport à un écoulement d'éléments cylindriques (13) disposés côte à côte et parallèles entre eux, caractérisé en ce que des moyens de retenue (2), constitués d'une pluralité de grilles superposées (20,21), l'une au moins (21) desdites grilles étant animée d'un mouvement alternatif de translation, sont prévus afin que la retenue ait lieu en amont d'un endroit (14) où lesdits éléments cylindriques disposés de travers obstrueraient au moins une canalisation (15) conduisant lesdits éléments à une étape ultérieure du processus de fabrication et en ce qu'un élément cylindrique de travers, retenu par lesdits moyens de retenue, crée au-dessous de lui, dans le sens d'écoulement, un espace vide d'éléments cylindriques (13B), ledit espace vide étant détecté par des moyens de détection (3).Method for retaining cylindrical elements arranged sideways (13A) with respect to a flow of cylindrical elements (13) arranged side by side and parallel to each other, characterized in that retaining means (2), consisting of a plurality of superimposed grids (20,21), at least one (21) of said grids being driven by an alternating translational movement, are provided so that the retention takes place upstream of a place (14) where said elements cylindrical arranged obliquely obstruct at least one pipe (15) leading said elements to a later stage of the manufacturing process and in that a cylindrical element crooked, retained by said retaining means, creates below it, in the direction of flow, an empty space of cylindrical elements (13B), said empty space being detected by detection means (3). Dispositif de retenue pour l'application du procédé selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend des moyens de retenue constitués d'une pluralité de grilles superposées, constituées d'éléments de tiges (22,23) de section circulaire et de diamètre équivalent au diamètre de l'un desdits éléments cylindriques, espacés les uns des autres d'un pas d'espacement supérieur au diamètre d'un desdits éléments cylindriques et inférieur au double du diamètre d'un desdits éléments cylindriques, placés parallèlement aux éléments cylindriques s'écoulant librement, lesdites grilles étant disposées transversalement audit écoulement d'éléments cylindriques et l'une d'entre elles au moins étant animée d'un mouvement alternatif de translation dont l'amplitude vaut un demi-pas d'espacement dans un sens et un demi-pas d'espacement dans l'autre sens et comprenant en outre des moyens de détection constitués de moyens de cellule photo-électrique (31) et de source lumineuse (30), disposés sous la grille inférieure (20) et aptes à détecter une interruption de l'écoulement desdits éléments cylindriques.Retaining device for the application of the method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises retaining means consisting of a plurality of superimposed grids, consisting of rod elements (22,23) of circular section and diameter equivalent to the diameter of one of said cylindrical elements, spaced from each other by a spacing greater than the diameter of one of said cylindrical elements and less than twice the diameter of one of said cylindrical elements, placed parallel to the elements cylindrical flowing freely, said grids being arranged transversely to said flow of cylindrical elements and at least one of them being driven by an alternating translational movement whose amplitude is equal to half a step spacing in one direction and half a spacing pitch in the other direction and further comprising detection means consisting of photocell means (31) and light source (30), arranged under the grid lower (20) and capable of detecting an interruption in the flow of said cylindrical elements. Dispositif selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de retenue sont constitués de deux grilles, chacune des deux grilles étant animée d'un mouvement alternatif de translation en opposition au mouvement de l'autre grille, et en ce que les moyens de cellule photo-électrique comprennent une seule cellule photo-électrique animée d'un mouvement de translation sur toute la largeur desdits moyens de retenue, dans un plan parallèle au plan desdites grilles.Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said retaining means consist of two grids, each of the two grids being driven by an alternative movement of translation in opposition to the movement of the other grid, and in that the means of photocell comprises a single photocell driven in a translational movement over the entire width of said retaining means, in a plane parallel to the plane of said grids. Dispositif selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de retenue sont constitués de deux grilles, la grille située en aval selon le sens d'écoulement étant fixe, alors que la grille située en amont selon le sens d'écoulement est animée d'un mouvement alternatif de translation, et en ce que les moyens de cellule photo-électrique comprennent une seule cellule photo-électrique animée d'un mouvement de translation sur toute la largeur desdits moyens de retenue, dans un plan parallèle au plan desdites grilles.Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said retaining means consist of two grids, the grid located downstream in the direction of flow being fixed, while the grid located upstream in the direction of flow is animated by 'an alternating translational movement, and in that the photocell means comprise a single photocell animated with a translational movement over the entire width of said retaining means, in a plane parallel to the plane of said grids. Dispositif selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de retenue sont constitués de deux grilles, chacune des deux grilles étant animée d'un mouvement alternatif de translation en opposition au mouvement de l'autre grille, et en ce que les moyens de cellule photo-électrique comprennent une pluralité de cellules photo-électriques, espacées d'un pas d'espacement inférieur à la longueur d'un desdits éléments cylindriques et disposées dans un plan parallèle au plan desdites grilles.Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said retaining means consist of two grids, each of the two grids being driven by an alternating movement of translation in opposition to the movement of the other grid, and in that the photocell means comprise a plurality of photocells, spaced apart at a spacing less than the length of one of said cylindrical elements and arranged in a plane parallel to the plane of said grids. Dispositif selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de retenue sont constitués de deux grilles, la grille située en aval selon le sens d'écoulement étant fixe, alors que la grille située en amont selon le sens d'écoulement est animée d'un mouvement alternatif de translation, et en ce que les moyens de cellule photo-électrique comprennent une pluralité de cellules photo-électriques, espacées d'un pas d'espacement inférieur à la longueur d'un desdits éléments cylindriques et disposées dans un plan parallèle au plan desdites grilles.Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said retaining means consist of two grids, the grid located downstream in the direction of flow being fixed, while the grid located upstream in the direction of flow is animated by 'a reciprocating translational movement, and in that the photocell means comprise a plurality of photocells, spaced apart at a spacing less than the length of one of said cylindrical elements and arranged in a plane parallel to the plane of said grids. Application du dispositif selon l'une des revendications 3 à 6, à une trémie de distribution de cigarettes.Application of the device according to one of claims 3 to 6, to a cigarette distribution hopper. Application du dispositif selon l'une des revendications 3 à 6, à une trémie de distribution de pièces pour une machine-outil automatique.Application of the device according to one of claims 3 to 6, to a parts distribution hopper for an automatic machine tool.
EP91810053A 1990-02-20 1991-01-25 Method and device of retention for a delivery hopper, especially for delivery of cigarettes Expired - Lifetime EP0443982B1 (en)

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CH54690 1990-02-20

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DE3609094A1 (en) * 1985-04-13 1986-10-23 Maschinenfabrik Fr. Niepmann GmbH u. Co, 5820 Gevelsberg DEVICE FOR CHECKING THE QUALITY OF ROD-SHAPED, CYLINDRICAL ITEMS, PREFERABLY CIGARETTES
DE3620735A1 (en) * 1986-06-20 1987-12-23 Focke & Co METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DISCONNECTING DEFECTIVE CIGARETTES IN CONNECTION WITH A CIGARETTE PACKING MACHINE
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US4174780A (en) * 1977-06-30 1979-11-20 Molins Limited Feeding cigarettes and similar rod-like articles
FR2586172A1 (en) * 1985-08-17 1987-02-20 Molins Plc FILTER ROD SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR CIGARETTES
EP0241789A2 (en) * 1986-03-31 1987-10-21 Tokyo Automatic Machinery Works Limited Bar-like article supplying apparatus in hopper

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0539324A1 (en) * 1991-10-22 1993-04-28 Fabriques De Tabac Reunies S.A. Alignement method and device for a delivery hopper, especially for delivery of cigarettes
EP0545724A1 (en) * 1991-12-04 1993-06-09 Philip Morris Products Inc. Cigarette hopper vane jam prevention device
US5259402A (en) * 1991-12-04 1993-11-09 Philip Morris Incorporated Cigarette hopper vane jam prevention device
CN105584663A (en) * 2016-03-16 2016-05-18 江苏中烟工业有限责任公司 Cigarette discharging diverting device for thin cigarette packaging machine
EP3678942B1 (en) 2017-09-06 2021-07-14 G.D Società per Azioni Hopper for smoking articles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0443982B1 (en) 1993-11-03
DE69100570T2 (en) 1994-05-11
DE69100570D1 (en) 1993-12-09
US5224811A (en) 1993-07-06

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