EP0514402B1 - Tobacco feed system for cigarette making machine - Google Patents
Tobacco feed system for cigarette making machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0514402B1 EP0514402B1 EP91902965A EP91902965A EP0514402B1 EP 0514402 B1 EP0514402 B1 EP 0514402B1 EP 91902965 A EP91902965 A EP 91902965A EP 91902965 A EP91902965 A EP 91902965A EP 0514402 B1 EP0514402 B1 EP 0514402B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- tobacco
- tobacco particles
- particles
- duct
- airflow system
- 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.)
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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
- A24C5/39—Tobacco feeding devices
- A24C5/392—Tobacco feeding devices feeding pneumatically
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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
- A24C5/14—Machines of the continuous-rod type
- A24C5/18—Forming the rod
Definitions
- a conventional hopper generally comprises a tobacco storage zone and premetering, metering and opening devices which condition the tobacco into a wide thin stream of separated tobacco particles before these tobacco particles are entrained by an air stream and conveyed to the air-permeable suction band. Excess tobacco, trimmed from a continuous tobacco layer on the air-permeable suction band, is mechanically conveyed back to the hopper.
- the remaining function is performed by the hopper apparatus, which functions as a magazine of variable tobacco capacity.
- the tobacco weight per fill of the hopper can vary from zero (in the continuous mode) to the tobacco capacity of the hopper (in the discontinuous mode). In most instances this feature will allow feeding of a high performance cigarette making machine using presently available feeding systems without changing the diameter of the tobacco conveying duct.
- the second air stream 78 is then withdrawn through the air-permeable suction band 84 and the tobacco layer 86 into a vacuum chamber 88, part of the air-permeable suction band apparatus 10.
- the vacuum chamber 88 is divided by a vacuum divider 90 into two zones 92 and 94.
- the position of the divider 90 is determined by a condition that the amount of the airflow through the upper part of the chimney 76 should approximately equal to the amount of the airflow withdrawn from the first zone 92 by the second fan 82.
- the necessary vacuum in the second zone 94 is provided by an additional fan 96.
- the air-permeable suction band 84 conveys the tobacco layer 86 through a duct vacuum seal device 98 to the pair of trimmer discs 48 and finally to a rod forming device (not shown) as best seen in Figure 1.
- the hopper apparatus 12 can be associated with any type of the cigarette making machine which uses an air-permeable suction band for the formation of the tobacco layer.
- this embodiment comprises an air-permeable suction band apparatus (not shown), a column apparatus (not shown), a hopper apparatus 500, and a sender apparatus not otherwise shown, since the hopper apparatus 500 can be associated with any type of the sender apparatus.
- the monitoring device 74 To fill the empty trimmed tobacco metering tube 40 with tobacco, the monitoring device 74, which is set in the manual mode, simultaneously opens the butterfly valve 118 and two way valve 132.
- the induced air stream 102 entrains tobacco particles from the source of opened tobacco 136 and conveys them through the duct 134, two way valve 132 and duct 104 into the trimmed tobacco metering tube 40.
- the monitoring device 74 resets the two way valve 132 to its normally open position and the system is ready for starting the cigarette making machine.
- a tobacco sensor 482 stops the metering drums 414 and the cigarette machine. When the tobacco blockage is removed the system is ready for start-up of the cigarette making machine.
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- Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for feeding tobacco to a cigarette making machine according to the preambles of the independent claims. Such a method and such an apparatus are known from DE-OS 37 44 562. In particular, the invention relates to a method and an apparatus for feeding and conditioning tobacco particles from a source of cut, unopened tobacco to form a continuous tobacco filler on a moving air-permeable suction band in a cigarette making machine.
- In the manufacture of cigarettes, tobacco is usually conveyed pneumatically to the cigarette making machine from a central tobacco storage apparatus supplying a number of cigarette making machines. This tobacco feeding system comprises generally a tobacco sender apparatus, part of the central tobacco storage apparatus, which includes a source of cut tobacco and means for feeding tobacco particles into a conveying air stream which conveys the tobacco particles to a hopper apparatus associated with the cigarette making machine. This sender apparatus is generally operated under vacuum. A central fan acting through a vacuum distribution duct is usually the source of the vacuum. An airlock must be used to isolate the subatmospheric pressure existing in the sender apparatus from the ambient atmospheric pressure prevailing in a conventional cigarette making machine hopper. From the airlock the tobacco is discharged into the hopper apparatus.
- A conventional hopper generally comprises a tobacco storage zone and premetering, metering and opening devices which condition the tobacco into a wide thin stream of separated tobacco particles before these tobacco particles are entrained by an air stream and conveyed to the air-permeable suction band. Excess tobacco, trimmed from a continuous tobacco layer on the air-permeable suction band, is mechanically conveyed back to the hopper.
- The tobacco can be delivered to the cigarette machines intermittently or continuously.
- An intermittent tobacco delivery is the most common practice. Each period of delivery fills a discharge device which acts as the airlock. The discharge device then discharges a set amount of the tobacco into the hopper apparatus when the hopper apparatus calls for tobacco.
- In a continuous tobacco delivery a rotary airlock continuously discharges tobacco into the hopper apparatus at a rate which is controlled by the hopper apparatus. Depending on the location of the rotary airlock device, the hopper device operates under the ambient atmospheric pressure or under a subatmospheric pressure prevailing in the air stream separated from the tobacco particles received from the sender apparatus. In the latter application the hopper apparatus becomes an integral part of the feeding system.
- However, there have been proposals to eliminate the need of an airlock at each cigarette making machine and this invention is more specifically concerned with such systems.
- DE-OS 37 44 562 discloses a tobacco feeding device capable of continuously delivering stocked tobacco to a tobacco metering and opening device. A first air stream delivers stocked tobacco to a hopper apparatus. From there, the tobacco is fed to an opening and premetering device. The system does not comprise an airlock. The air stream and the tobacco particles are separated from each other in the enlargement of the hopper apparatus. When being released from the opening and premetering device, the tobacco particles are further conveyed to the cigarette making machine by a second air stream. This air stream is induced by a second fan which is connected to the atmosphere. This apparatus has the disadvantage that pressure differences resulting from operation or non-operation of the transport mechanism using the first air stream influence the operation of the transport mechanism utilizing the second air stream.
- It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus wherein the proper operation of the transport mechanism using the second air flow is not disturbed by the first air flow transport mechanism.
- This object is solved in accordance with the features of the independent claims. Dependent claims are directed on preferred embodiments of the invention.
- There is provided a method of feeding tobacco to a cigarette making machine comprising conveying premetered and preopened tobacco particles in a first stream of air from a tobacco sender apparatus to a hopper apparatus, disentraining said premetered and preopened tobacco particles from said first air stream, further metering and opening of said disentrained tobacco particles, producing a continuous carpet of said further metered and opened tobacco particles discharging separated tobacco particles from said continuous carpet through the exit out of the hopper apparatus into a second air stream, entraining and conveying said entrained tobacco particles towards an air-permeable suction band for formation, by withdrawal of the second air stream, of a layer of tobacco particles for conveyance to a tobacco rod forming means of the cigarette making machine, wherein said first air stream is induced by a first fan operating in an open airflow system and said second air stream is induced by a second fan operating in a closed airflow system, wherein the hopper apparatus is operated at the pressure existing in said open airflow system at that location, and wherein said open and closed airflow systems are connected only through said passage, and the pressures in the passage at its points of connection to the air flow systems are substantially equal to the pressures in the air flow systems at those points so that airflow through said passage between the air flow systems is limited to leakage of said closed system.
- There is also provided an apparatus for feeding tobacco to a cigarette making machine, comprising a tobacco sender apparatus having means for entraining preopended and premetered tobacco particles into a first air stream, a first duct for receiving and conveying said entrained tobacco particles, a hopper apparatus having an entrance for receiving said entrained tobacco particles from the downstream end of said first duct and including means at the entrance to the hopper apparatus for disentraining them from said first air stream, means for further metering and opening said disentrained tobacco particles, means for producing a continuous carpet of said further metered and opened tobacco particles, means for discharging separated tobacco particles from said continuous carpet through an exit out of the hopper apparatus a second duct for receiving said separated particles into a second stream of air, and an air-permeable suction band receiving the separated tobacco particles and forming them into a bed for conveyance to tobacco forming means of the cigarette making machine, wherein said first air stream is induced by a first fan operating in an open airflow system and said second air stream is induced by a second fan operating in a first closed airflow system, wherein said hopper apparatus further comprises an inclosure for the hopper apparatus to maintain it at a subatmospheric pressure existing in said open airflow system at that location, wherein said closed airflow system has a single pressure equalization connection to said open airflow system at the point of entry of tobacco particles from said hopper apparatus, in that additional airflows caused by leakages into said closed airflow system are passed through said pressure equalization connection into said hopper apparatus and withdrawn by said first fan, and wherein said closed airflow system is operating within the environment of said open airflow system:
- This invention eliminates the need for an airlock at each cigarette making machine and it also provides following advantages:
- Since the first air stream which is conveying the tobacco particles from the sender apparatus through the first duct to the hopper apparatus and the second air stream which is conveying the separated tobacco particles through the second duct to the air-permeable suction band, are induced by different sources of the vacuum, the hopper apparatus can be connected without any changes to any conventional type of discontinuous or continuous sender apparatus which is able to supply sufficient tobacco for continuous operation of the cigarette making machine.
- The two main functions of the traditional airlock, that is to separate the subatmospheric pressure existing in the system from the atmospheric pressure and to separate tobacco from the conveying air, are performed by the tobacco layer on the continuously moving air-permeable suction band in cooperation with the vacuum existing in the suction conveyor apparatus.
- The remaining function is performed by the hopper apparatus, which functions as a magazine of variable tobacco capacity. The tobacco weight per fill of the hopper can vary from zero (in the continuous mode) to the tobacco capacity of the hopper (in the discontinuous mode). In most instances this feature will allow feeding of a high performance cigarette making machine using presently available feeding systems without changing the diameter of the tobacco conveying duct.
- The hopper apparatus can be also connected to any type of cigarette making machine using an air-permeable suction band for formation of a tobacco layer without any changes to the existing stem extraction and tobacco layer formation systems. The fans used for these operations, instead of operating in the ambient atmosphere as is the present practice, operate instead under the pressure conditions established in the hopper apparatus. Since the pressure head of the fan is not dependent on the pressure conditions in the surrounding environment, their settings and operation can be unaffected.
- In a preferred arrangement the pressure equalization connection, between the closed airflow system, incorporating the second duct and the suction band, and the hopper, is by means of an intermediate recirculating airflow system within which the stems and heavy particles are separated from the tobacco particles.
- Further features of the invention will be apparent from the following description with reference to the attached drawings.
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- Figure 1 is a schematic front view with parts in section and parts removed for clarity of a first embodiment of a system in accordance with the invention;
- Figure 2 is a schematic vertical section on the line A-A in Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a schematic front view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of a second embodiment of a system in accordance with the invention;
- Figure 4 is a schematic vertical section on the line A-A in Figure 3;
- Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertically transverse sectional detail on line B-B.
- Figure 6 is a schematic front view with parts in section and parts removed for clarity of a third embodiment of the system in accordance with the invention;
- Figure 7 is a schematic vertical section on the line A-A in Figure 6;
- Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertically transverse sectional detail on line B-B.
- Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertically transverse sectional detail on line C-C.
- Figures 10 and 11 are vertically transverse sectional details on the lines D-D and E-E.
- Figure 12 is a schematic front view with parts in section and parts removed for clarity of a fourth embodiment of the system in accordance with the invention.
- Figure 13 is a schematic vertical section on the line A-A in Figure 12.
- Referring to the first embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the system comprises an air-permeable
suction band apparatus 10 associated with a cigarette making machine (not otherwise shown), ahopper apparatus 12, and a sender apparatus not otherwise shown, since thehopper apparatus 12 can be associated with any type of the sender apparatus. - Premetered and preopened
tobacco particles 14 are air-conveyed in an air stream 16 through atobacco duct 18 from the sender apparatus to thehopper apparatus 12. A central fan (not shown) acting through avacuum distribution duct 20 is the source of the vacuum which induces the air stream 16. Thetobacco particles 14 enter thehopper apparatus 12 through a downwardlycurved pipe 22 opening into a zone above the level of tobacco contained in atobacco metering tube 24. Thetobacco particles 14 are disentrained in this zone of thetobacco metering tube 24. The flow of the conveying air 16 fluidizes anupper layer 26 of tobacco in thetobacco metering tube 24 before it is drawn upwardly through ascreen 28. This fluidization distributes thetobacco particles 14 evenly in thetobacco metering tube 24. Thescreen 28 separates thetobacco particles 14 from the conveying air stream 16. - The
tobacco metering tube 24 is equipped with amonitoring device 30 which by monitoring the tobacco level regulates the supply of tobacco from the sender apparatus. Thetobacco metering tube 24 receives the air-conveyedtobacco particles 14 and thereby provides atobacco reservoir 32 of premetered andpreopened tobacco particles 14 for continuous or discontinuous supply of an adequate amount of tobacco required for formation of a cigarette rod. Thetobacco metering tube 24 communicates at its lower end with ahousing 34 containing a pair of counter-rotating metering drums 36 and anopening drum 38. Thehousing 34 communicates also with a trimmed tobacco metering tube 40, which provides a trimmedtobacco reservoir 42 of trimmedtobacco particles 44, as best seen in Figure 1. - The
opening drum 38 showers the metered andseparated tobacco particles transport drum 46 at a total flow rate which is equal to the amount of tobacco required for formation of a cigarette rod plus a predetermined tobacco excess to allow for trimmedtobacco particles 44 cut off by a pair oftrimmer discs 48 in thesuction band apparatus 10 as best seen in Figure 1. The total flow rate is regulated by amonitoring device 50 located at adensity equalizer column 52. Themonitoring device 50 comprises columns of photocells which monitor the tobacco level in theequalizer column 52 and regulate the speed of the metering drums 36 stepwise in accordance with the number of photocells uncovered by tobacco. - The
transport drum 46 carries the separatedtobacco particles magnet 54 which removes any ferrous metal. Thedensity equalizer column 52, which is evenly filled with the separatedtobacco particles tobacco carpet 56 of uniform density onto anouter surface 58 of atransfer drum 60 as best seen in Figure 2. Theouter surface 58 includes a plurality ofradial projections 62 for a positive transfer of the continuously movingtobacco carpet 56 through apassage 64 defined between theouter surface 58, left andright sides walls 66 and anarcuate shell 68 which is coaxial with thetransfer drum 60. Thearcuate shell 68 and left andright side walls 66 are parts of thehousing 34 of thehopper apparatus 12. The distributor of thetobacco particles tobacco carpet 56 correspond to the relative positions of themetering tubes 24 and 40. - A
picker roller 70 removes thetobacco carpet 56 from thetransfer drum 60 and discharges the separatedtobacco particles exit passage 72 at a total flow rate which is equal to the amount of tobacco required for formation of a cigarette rod plus a predetermined tobacco excess to allow for trimmedtobacco particles 44. The total flow rate is regulated by amonitoring device 74 located at the trimmed tobacco metering tube 40, as best seen in Figure 1. - The discharged and separated
tobacco particles exit passage 72 and a stem extraction device (not shown) into achimney 76 are entrained in a second air stream ofair 78. Thechimney 76 is a part of aclosed airflow system 80 where afan 82 induces thesecond air stream 78. The entrainedtobacco particles chimney 76 towards an air-permeable suction band 84, for formation of atobacco layer 86. The locations of thetobacco particles tobacco layer 86 correspond also with the positions of themetering tubes 24 and 40. Thesecond air stream 78 is then withdrawn through the air-permeable suction band 84 and thetobacco layer 86 into avacuum chamber 88, part of the air-permeablesuction band apparatus 10. Thevacuum chamber 88 is divided by a vacuum divider 90 into twozones chimney 76 should approximately equal to the amount of the airflow withdrawn from thefirst zone 92 by thesecond fan 82. The necessary vacuum in thesecond zone 94 is provided by anadditional fan 96. The air-permeable suction band 84 conveys thetobacco layer 86 through a duct vacuum seal device 98 to the pair oftrimmer discs 48 and finally to a rod forming device (not shown) as best seen in Figure 1. As previously mentioned, thehopper apparatus 12 can be associated with any type of the cigarette making machine which uses an air-permeable suction band for the formation of the tobacco layer. - Referring to Figure 1 the pair of
trimmer discs 48 trim off the predetermined amount of the trimmedtobacco particles 44 into acollector 100. Thecollector 100 feeds the trimmedtobacco particles 44 into a conveyingair stream 102 induced by the vacuum existing in thevacuum distribution duct 20. Theair stream 102 conveys the trimmedtobacco particles 44 through a trimmed tobacco duct 104 into aseparation chamber 106, where the trimmedtobacco particles 44 are separated from theair stream 102 by ascreen 108. From theseparation chamber 106 the trimmedtobacco particles 44 are discharged into arotary airlock 110. Avacuum sensor 112, located in theseparation chamber 106, monitors the trimmed tobacco conveying system for possible tobacco blockages, for an unacceptably high pressure loss across thescreen 108 and for an unacceptably high leakage of therotary airlock 110. Therotary airlock 110 discharges the trimmedtobacco particles 44 into the trimmed tobacco metering tube 40, adjacent to thetobacco metering tube 24. Aduct 114 maintains the pressures in bothmetering tubes 24 and 40 at the same level. The width of the trimmed tobacco metering tube 40 is adjustable in order to be able to set a required amount of trimmedtobacco particles 44 cut off by thetrimmer discs 48 from thetobacco layer 86. Themonitoring device 74 regulates then the amount of trimmedtobacco particles 44 to the required amount by monitoring the tobacco level in the trimmed tobacco metering tube 40 . - Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the conveying velocity in the
tobacco duct 18, which connects the sender apparatus to thehopper apparatus 12, is adjusted by the pressure drop across a partly openedbutterfly valve 116. The conveying velocity in the trimmed tobacco duct 104 is adjusted by the pressure drop across a partly opened butterfly valve 118, located in a duct 120 which connects theseparation chamber 106 with thevacuum distribution duct 20. Since thereservoirs tobacco particles air ducts hopper apparatus 12 with its lower part and maintain the pressures in these areas at the same level. They also divert additional airflows due to the leakages into theclosed airflow system 80 or the lower part of thehopper apparatus 12 into the upper part of thehopper apparatus 12 and from there withdrawn by the central fan. - In the event that for some reason the
tobacco particles 14, discharged from the tobacco sender apparatus, plugged the entry to thetobacco duct 18, the conveying air stream 16 would be interrupted, causing sudden increase of subatmospheric pressure in thehopper apparatus 12, since there would be no pressure loss across the partly openedbutterfly valve 116. To prevent this from happening avacuum sensor 126, located in the upper part of thehopper apparatus 12, closes thebutterfly valve 116 and opens abutterfly valve 128, located at anair duct 130, to bring the subatmospheric pressure in thehopper apparatus 12 to the ambient atmospheric pressure. - Referring to Figure 1
additional valve 132 is needed in order to fill an empty trimmed tobacco metering tube 40 with tobacco. The twoway valve 132, inserted in the trimmed tobacco duct 104 and aduct 134 enable the system to fill the trimmed tobacco metering tube 40 from a source of openedtobacco 136. - Referring to the second embodiment of Figures 3, 4 and 5, the system is identical to the system described and shown in Figures 1 and 2 except that an additional closed airflow system is added to the feeding system. This system allows changing of the sequence of the traditional hopper operations resulting in the following additional advantages:
- There will be a better averaging of tobacco layer height during the tobacco layer formation, since the additional tobacco conveying duct will allow the picker roller to be located very close to the air-permeable suction band. Since there is now no stem extraction operation and the air conveying distance is decreased to the minimum, tobacco layer formation is practically performed by a positive mechanical transfer of the tobacco particles from the transfer drum onto the air-permeable suction band.
- Since the heavy tobacco particles (stem) and non-ferrous foreign particles are separated from the tobacco particles before they reach the tobacco column, any damage to the pins of the metering drum or picker roller is eliminated.
- In this system a column apparatus, comprising the tobacco density equalizer column, transfer drum and picker roller, is associated with the cigarette making machine rather than with the hopper apparatus. The additional tobacco conveying duct will allow a hopper apparatus of one standard width to supply with tobacco a line of cigarette making machines with different widths of their apparatus.
- Assembling the tobacco layer over a longer distance will improve control of the tobacco particles during the tobacco layer assembly, since forces of the same magnitude resulting from the pressurized air velocity control a proportionally smaller mass of the landing tobacco particles. Assembly over a longer distance also improves the averaging of the tobacco height. Both improvements ultimately lead to an improved tobacco height consistency. An improved height consistency allows a decrease in the surplus of tobacco allocated for the trimming and therefore tobacco savings can be realized, since there will be less degradation caused by trimming and recycling of trimmed tobacco.
- This system allows not only decrease of the height of the cigarette making machine but it also simplifies its maintenance by permitting easy access to all parts of the column and hopper apparatus.
- Referring to Figures 3 and 4 the system comprises an air-permeable
suction band apparatus 200 and acolumn apparatus 202 associated with a cigarette making machine (not otherwise shown), ahopper apparatus 204, and a sender apparatus not otherwise shown, since thehopper apparatus 204 can be associated with any type of the sender apparatus. - As in the previous embodiment described and shown in Figures 1 and 2, a
metering tube 206 receives from the sender apparatus air-conveyedtobacco particles 208 and thereby provides atobacco reservoir 210 of the premetered andpreopened tobacco particles 208 for continuous or discontinuous supply of an adequate amount of tobacco required for formation of a cigarette rod. Thetobacco metering tube 206 communicates at its lower end withhousing 212 containing a pair of counter-rotating metering drums 214 and anopening drum 216. Thehousing 212 communicates also with a trimmedtobacco metering tube 218, which provides a trimmedtobacco reservoir 220 of trimmedtobacco particles 222, as best seen in Figure 3. Theopening drum 216 showers the metered andseparated tobacco particles transport drum 224 at a total flow rate which is equal to the amount of tobacco required for formation of a cigarette rod plus a predetermined tobacco excess to allow for trimmedtobacco 222 cut off by a pair oftrimmer discs 226 in thesuction band apparatus 200 as best seen in Figure 3. The total flow rate is regulated by amonitoring device 228 located at adensity equalizer column 230, parts of thecolumn apparatus 202. Themonitoring device 228 comprises columns of photocells which monitor the tobacco level in theequalizer column 230 and regulate the speed of the metering drums 214 stepwise in accordance with the number of photocells uncovered by tobacco. - The
transport drum 224 carries the separatedtobacco particles magnet 232 which removes any ferrous metal. From thetransport drum 224 the separatedtobacco particles belt conveyor 234 which is moving them towards astem extraction device 236 at a constant speed. Thebelt conveyor 234 is provided with a profiled coating of rubber to ensure a positive transfer oftobacco particles stem extraction device 236. - The
stem extraction device 236, which is part of aclosed airflow system 238, comprisesair chambers flotation chamber 244. Theair chamber 240 is connected to the outlet of afan 246 by aduct 248. The outlet of theair chamber 240 is provided with a row of closely adjacentrectangular openings 250 which discharge directed air streams in a direction transversely to the trajectory of thetobacco particles belt conveyor 234. The intensity of deflecting air streams can be adjusted by avalve 252 so thattobacco particles 208 of a desired sizerange tobacco particles 208 are deflected around a deflectingroller 254 into arectangular duct 256. Heavy tobacco particles (stem) and non-ferrous foreign particles are not deflected into theduct 256 and are intercepted by an airflow in aflotation chamber 244. Theflotation chamber 244 is also connected through theair chamber 242 and aduct 258 with the outlet of thefan 246. Thefan 246 is inducing anair stream 260, which is passing through theflotation chamber 244. Since the velocity of theair stream 260 can be adjusted by a valve 262, the amount of extracted stem can be set to a desired level. The extracted stem is then removed from theflotation chamber 244 by ascrew conveyor 264. - The entry into the
rectangular duct 256 is also connected through anair chamber 266 and aduct 268 with the outlet of thefan 246. The additional amount of airflow which can be regulated by avalve 270 will set velocity of anair stream 272 in therectangular duct 256 to the required level. - The stem
free tobacco particles air stream 272 and conveyed through therectangular duct 256. At the top of this duct the flow oftobacco particles ducts 274 of circular cross-section, as best seen in Figure 5. Thetobacco particles ducts 274 and enter thecolumn apparatus 202 through a set of downwardly curvedrectangular ducts 276 into a zone above the level of tobacco contained in thedensity equalizer column 230. Thetobacco particles air stream 272 is drawn through ascreen 278 and aduct 280 into the inlet of thefan 246, parts of theclosed airflow system 238. The centrifugal forces which act on thetobacco particles rectangular ducts 276 will evenly spread the shower of thetobacco particles density equalizer column 230 as best seen in Figure 3 and 4. - Since at the entry into the
rectangular duct 256 theclosed airflow system 238 is connected with the environment of thehopper apparatus 204, the pressure at that point of theclosed airflow system 238 will be equal to the prevailing pressure in thehopper apparatus 204. - The
density equalizer column 230 at its lower end discharges atobacco carpet 282 of uniform density onto an outer surface 284 of atransfer drum 286. The outer surface 284 includes a plurality ofradial projections 288 for a positive transfer of the continuously movingcarpet 282 through apassage 290 defined between the outer surface 284, left andright sides walls 292 and anarcuate shell 294 which is coaxial with thetransfer drum 286. Thearcuate shell 294 and left andright sides walls 292 are parts of the cigarette making machine frame as best seen in Figures 3 and 4. Location of thetobacco particles 222 within thetobacco carpet 282 can be varied and corresponds with the arrangement of theducts 274. - A
picker roller 296 removes thetobacco carpet 282 from thetransfer drum 286 and discharges the separatedtobacco particles arcuate shell 298, coaxial with thepicker roller 296, into a veryshort chimney 300 at a total rate which is equal to the amount of tobacco required for formation of a cigarette rod plus a predetermined tobacco excess to allow for removal of trimmedtobacco particles 222. As in the previous system amonitoring device 302 regulates then the total flow rate to the predetermined level by monitoring the tobacco level in the trimmedtobacco metering tube 218, as best seen in Figure 3. - The region, where the second
arcuate shell 298 tangentially merges into a wall of thechimney 300, comprises series of verticallyinclined slots 304, defining a plurality of airflow passages. Theslots 304, which connect anair chamber 306 with thechimney 300, may be inclined in the direction of the movement of atobacco layer 308. Since thechimney 300 andair chamber 306 are parts of aclosed airflow system 310, where afan 312 induces anair stream 314, theslots 304 will discharge a plurality of directedair streams 316 which will deflect thetobacco particles tobacco layer 308. The deflectedtobacco particles permeable suction band 318 for formation of thetobacco layer 308. The location of thetobacco particles 222 within thetobacco layer 308 corresponds with their position in thetobacco carpet 282. The air streams 316 are then withdrawn through the air-permeable suction band 318 and thetobacco layer 308 into avacuum chamber 320, part of the air-permeablesuction band apparatus 200. Thevacuum chamber 320 is divided by adivider 322 into twozones divider 322 is determined by a condition that the amount of the airflow through the upper part of thechimney 300 is approximately equal to the amount of the airflow withdrawn from thefirst zone 324 by thefan 312. - At the entry into the
chimney 300, theclosed airflow system 310 is connected with the environment of thecolumn apparatus 202 and therefore the pressure at that point of theclosed airflow system 310 will be equal to the prevailing pressure in thecolumn apparatus 202. Since the tobacco in thedensity equalizer column 230 performs as a barrier, aduct 328 connects the upper part of thecolumn apparatus 202 with its lower part and maintains the pressures in these areas at the same level. It also diverts additional airflows due to leakages into theclosed airflow system 310 or from the lower part of thecolumn apparatus 202 into its upper part and from there through thefan 246 into theclosed airflow system 238. From there these airflows together with additional airflows, this time due to leakages into theclosed airflow system 238 or the lower part of thehopper apparatus 204, are diverted throughducts hopper apparatus 204 and thence withdrawn by the central fan. - As in the previous system the conveying velocity in a
tobacco duct 334, which connects the sender apparatus to thehopper apparatus 204, is adjusted by the pressure drop across a partly openedbutterfly valve 336. In the event that for some reason thetobacco particles 208 plug the entry to thetobacco duct 332, avacuum sensor 338, located in the upper part of thehopper apparatus 204, closes thebutterfly valve 336 and opens abutterfly valve 340, to bring the subatmospheric pressure in thehopper apparatus 204 ambient atmospheric pressure, as best seen in Figure 4. The necessary vacuum in thesecond zone 326 of thevacuum chamber 320 is provided by anadditional fan 342. The air-permeable suction band 318 conveys thetobacco layer 308 through a duct vacuum seal device 344 to the pair oftrimmer discs 226 and finally to a rod forming device (not shown) as best seen in Figure 3. The handling of the trimmedtobacco particles 222 and adjustment of the velocity in the trimmed tobacco duct are the same as in Figures 1 and 2. - In the event that for some reason the
tobacco particles ducts 274, one of tobacco sensors 344, located at these inlets, stops the metering drums 214 and thetransfer drum 286 to prevent plugging of therectangular duct 276, as best seen in Figure 5. - Referring to the third embodiment shown in Figures 6-11, this system is identical to the previous system described and shown in Figures 3-5 except that it permits variation of the rate of tobacco supply to the suction band along the short chimney. This system has the following advantages:
- A significantly higher rate of tobacco supply to the suction band at the beginning of tobacco layer formation makes economical use of available vacuum, whilst a significantly lower rate of delivery of well separated tobacco particles during the final stages of tobacco layer assembly will improve the height consistency of the layer. This will lead to tobacco savings through reduced tobacco degradation due to less tobacco being trimmed off.
- A significantly lower rate of tobacco supply in the final stages of tobacco layer formation also allows increasing the velocity of the suction band without any effect on the quality of the tobacco layer, since forces of the same magnitude due to velocity and pressure drop across the layer will control a significantly smaller mass of landing tobacco particles. Increased production speed leads to savings in production cost.
- The performance of the hopper can be comparable with a conventionally operated hopper of greatly increased width. This embodiment can provide a solution for increasing the performance of existing hoppers, since there is always a practical design limitation upon hopper width and also a practical limit to the magnitude of the vacuum in the suction conveyor.
- The system comprises an air-permeable
suction band apparatus 400 and acolumn apparatus 402 associated with a cigarette making machine (not otherwise shown), ahopper apparatus 404, and a sender apparatus not otherwise shown, since thehopper apparatus 404 can be associated with any type of sender apparatus. - As in previous systems shown and described in Figures 1-2 and Figures 3-5, a
metering tube 406 receives from the sender apparatus air-conveyedtobacco particles 408 and thereby provides atobacco reservoir 410 of premetered andpreopened tobacco particles 408 for continuous or discontinuous supply of an adequate amount of tobacco required for formation of a cigarette rod. Themetering tube 406 communicates at its lower end withhousing 412 containing a pair of counter-rotating metering drums 414 and anopening drum 416. Thehousing 412 communicates also with a trimmedtobacco metering tube 418, which provides a trimmedtobacco reservoir 420 of trimmedtobacco particles 422, as best seen in Figure 6. Theopening drum 416 showers the metered andseparated tobacco particles belt conveyor 424 at a total flow rate which is equal to the amount of tobacco required for formation of a cigarette rod plus a predetermined tobacco excess to allow for trimming oftobacco particles 422. The flow rate is regulated by amonitoring device 426 located at a firstdensity equalizer column 428, in thecolumn apparatus 402. Themonitoring device 426 comprises columns of photocells which monitor the tobacco level in the firstdensity equalizer column 428 and regulate the speed of the metering drums 414 stepwise in accordance with the number of photocells uncovered by tobacco, as best seen in Figures 9 and 11. - Referring to Figures 8-11, the stem
free tobacco particles air stream 430, conveyed through arectangular duct 432 at the top of which the flow of thetobacco particles ducts 434 of circular cross-section as best seen in Figure 8. Thetobacco particles ducts 434 and enter thecolumn apparatus 402 through a set of downwardly curvedrectangular ducts 436 into two zones above the level of tobacco contained in the firstdensity equalizer column 428 and a seconddensity equalizer column 438. Thetobacco particles columns air stream 430 is drawn through ascreen 440 and aduct 442 into an inlet of afan 444, forming parts of aclosed airflow system 446. The centrifugal forces which act on thetobacco particles curved ducts 436 will evenly spread the shower of thetobacco particles density equalizer columns - The
density equalizer columns tobacco particles tobacco carpets coaxial picker rollers tobacco carpets transfer drums tobacco particles arcuate walls chimney 464, at a total flow rate which is equal to the amount of tobacco required for formation of a cigarette rod plus a predetermined excess to allow for thetobacco 422 removed by trimming. As in the system shown and described in Figures 1 and 2, amonitoring device 466 regulates then the total flow rate to the required level by monitoring the tobacco level in the trimmedtobacco metering tube 418 as best seen in Figure 6. It should be noted that the speeds of the transfer drums 452 and 454 are different and are proportional to the required intensities of the tobacco supply to the air-permeable suction band 470. - The
tobacco particles air streams 468 and conveyed through thechimney 464 towards an air-permeable suction band 470 for formation of a tobacco layer 472. The air streams 468 are induced by afan 474, which is part of anclosed airflow system 476. Location of thetobacco particles 422 within thecarpets ducts 434, as best seen in Figures 6 and 7. - The discharge flow rate of the
tobacco particles density equalizer column 438 is also regulated by amonitoring device 478. Themonitoring device 478 comprises columns of photocells which monitor the tobacco level in the seconddensity equalizer column 438 and increases or decreases the speed of thetransfer drum 454 in relation to thetransfer drum 452 stepwise in accordance with the number of photocells uncovered by tobacco. Thepicker rollers tobacco particles - In the event that for some reason the
tobacco particles tobacco sensor 482 stops the metering drums 414 and the cigarette making machine, as best seen in Figure 7. - The air-permeable
suction band apparatus 400, stem separation, and handling of the trimmedtobacco particles 422 are also conceptually identical to those previously described and shown in Figures 3-5. - Procedures for adjusting the air-conveying velocities of
tobacco particles - Referring to the fourth embodiment shown in Figures 12 and 13, this is identical to the previous embodiment shown in Figures 6-11 except that the control of the predetermined tobacco excess, to allow for trimmed tobacco removed by trimming, is omitted and the trimmed tobacco is evenly spread over the width of a belt conveyor.
- As in the previous embodiment shown and described in Figures 6-11, this embodiment comprises an air-permeable suction band apparatus (not shown), a column apparatus (not shown), a
hopper apparatus 500, and a sender apparatus not otherwise shown, since thehopper apparatus 500 can be associated with any type of the sender apparatus. - The hopper apparatus comprises in this embodiment only one
metering tube 502 which receives air-conveyedtobacco particles 504 and thereby provides atobacco reservoir 506 for continuous or discontinuous supply of an adequate amount of tobacco required for formation of a cigarette rod. Themetering tube 502 communicates at its lower end withhousing 508 containing a pair of counter-rotating metering drums 510 and anopening drum 512. Theopening drum 512 showers the metered andseparated tobacco particles 504 onto abelt conveyor 514 at a flow rate which is equal to the amount of tobacco required for formation of a cigarette rod, as best seen in Figure 13. As in the previous system the flow rate is regulated by a monitoring device (not shown) and located at a first density equalizer column (not shown). In addition to thetobacco particles 504 thebelt conveyor 514 conveys also trimmedtobacco particles 516. A vibratingconveyor 518 showers the trimmedtobacco particles 516 evenly across thebelt conveyor 514 at a flow rate which is equal to the predetermined tobacco excess to allow for trimmedtobacco particles 516 cut-off. Thebelt conveyor 514 discharges thetobacco particles stem extraction device 520 at a total flow rate, which is equal to the amount of tobacco required for formation of a cigarette rod plus a predetermined excess to allow fortobacco 516 removed by trimming. - As in the previous system, the stem
free particles air stream 522 through arectangular duct 524 and set of ducts (not shown) into the column apparatus (not shown). From the column apparatus thetobacco particles tobacco particles 516 cut-off. The flow rate is set manually or it may be regulated by a device (not shown) monitoring the weight of the finished cigarette rod. - As in the system shown and described in Figures 1 and 2 the trimmed
tobacco particles 516 are air-conveyed in anair stream 524 through aduct 526 into aseparation chamber 528, where they are separated from theair stream 526 by ascreen 530. From theseparation chamber 528 the trimmedtobacco particles 516 are discharged into arotary airlock 532. Avacuum sensor 534, located in theseparation chamber 528, monitors the trimmed tobacco conveying system for possible tobacco blockages, for an unacceptably high pressure loss across thescreen 530 and for an unacceptably high leakage at therotary airlock 532 Therotary airlock 532 discharges the trimmedtobacco particles 516 onto the vibratingconveyor 518 which, as mentioned above, showers the trimmedtobacco particles 516 onto thebelt conveyor 514. - Procedures for adjusting the air-conveying velocities of
tobacco particles - The air-permeable suction band apparatus (not shown) and column apparatus (not shown) may be identical to those shown and described in Figures 6-11. The
stem separation device 520 may be identical with that shown and described in Figures 3-5. It should be noted that the trimmedtobacco particles 516 are now evenly distributed within the tobacco layer (not shown). - In a simple modification to the fourth embodiment of the invention, the trimmed tobacco particles are directly spread over the width of the second density equalizer column. This modification has the advantage of reducing degradation of the trimmed tobacco particles because they bypass the metering, opening and stem extraction operations. Monitoring of the tobacco levels in the first and second density equalizer columns and a subsequent evaluation of the movements of the respective tobacco levels can be used as a feed-back signal for regulating the amount of the trimmed tobacco to the required amount. The trimmed tobacco particles will be evenly distributed but only in the portion of the tobacco layer cross-section which is adjacent to the air-permeable suction band.
- It should be noted that the hopper apparatus can permanently operate under atmospheric pressure. In this arrangement the tobacco supply is discharged into the hopper apparatus through an airlock either continuously or discontinuously, or the required amount of tobacco is manually directly into the hopper.
- Whilst exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be appreciated that, where alternative techniques of performing a given function have been disclosed, these are in many instances interchangeable.
- Operation of the apparatus described above will now be summarized.
- Referring to the embodiment in Figures 1-2, under normal production condition the
butterfly valves butterfly valve 128 is closed. If the tobacco feed system delivers tobacco to the cigarette making machine continuously, thebutterfly valve 116 is open. The vacuum created by the central fan (not shown) induces the air stream 16 in which thetobacco particles 14, discharged from the sender apparatus (not shown), are entrained and conveyed through thetobacco duct 18 into thetobacco metering tube 24 of thehopper apparatus 12. The rate of the discharge of thetobacco particles 14 is regulated by themonitoring device 30. As a result the tobacco level in thetobacco metering tube 24 oscillates around a predetermined level. If the tobacco system delivers tobacco to the cigarette making machine discontinuously, themonitoring device 30 sends a signal to the logic device (not shown) of the tobacco sender apparatus when the tobacco level in thetobacco metering tube 24 drops to a predetermined level. When the tobacco sender apparatus is available for the tobacco delivery, the logic unit simultaneously opens thebutterfly valve 116, closes thebutterfly valve 128 and starts discharge of thetobacco particles 14 into the air stream 16, which conveys them through thetobacco duct 18 into thetobacco metering tube 24. When the allocated feeding time elapses, the logic unit stops first the discharge of thetobacco particles 14 and after a suitable purge interval has elapsed (so as to empty thetobacco duct 18 of the tobacco particles 14) it closes thebutterfly valve 116 and opens thebutterfly valve 128. The system is then ready for a following operation, when the tobacco level in thetobacco metering tube 24 again drops to the predetermined level. - From the
metering tubes 24 and 40 the metered and openedtobacco particles transport drum 46, carried past themagnet 54 which removes any ferrous metal, and subsequently fed into thedensity equalizer column 52. The feeding rate of tobacco particles fromtubes 24 and 40 is regulated by themonitoring device 50 which controls the tobacco level in thedensity equalizer column 52. Thedensity equalizer column 52 discharges theuniform tobacco carpet 56 onto thetransfer drum 60. Thepicker roller 70 then discharges the separatedtobacco particles tobacco carpet 56 through theexit passage 72 and the stem extraction device (not shown) into thesecond air stream 78. The discharging rate oftobacco particles 24 and 40 is regulated by themonitoring device 74 which controls the tobacco level in the trimmed tobacco metering tube 40. The stemfree tobacco particles chimney 76, which is part of theclosed airflow system 80, onto the air-permeable suction band 84, which then conveys alayer 86 of the accumulatedtobacco particles chimney 76 through the duct vacuum seal device 98, past the pair of thetrimmer discs 48, and into the rod forming device (not shown) of the cigarette making machine. The trimmedtobacco particles 44 are fed into the conveyingair stream 102 and conveyed through the trimmed tobacco duct 104 to therotary airlock 110 which discharges the trimmedtobacco particles 44 into the trimmed tobacco metering tube 40, part of thehopper apparatus 12. - During the cigarette making machine start-up, the cigarette making machine opens the butterfly valve 118, if it was not previously open, which stays permanently open until the cigarette making machine is shut-off or a trimmed tobacco blockage occurs in the trimmed tobacco return system. If the tobacco feed system delivers tobacco to cigarette making machine continuously, the
monitoring device 30 simultaneously opens thebutterfly valve 116, closes thebutterfly valve 128 and starts the discharge of thetobacco particles 14 from the tobacco sender apparatus into the air stream 16. The system then operates under normal production conditions. - If the cigarette making machine, including the moving parts of the
hopper apparatus 12, stops for any reason and the tobacco feed system is arranged to deliver tobacco to the cigarette making machine continuously, themonitoring device 30 detects a rise in the tobacco level in thetobacco metering tube 24 and interrupts the discharge oftobacco particles 14 from the sender apparatus into the conveying air steam 16. When a suitable purge interval has elapsed (so as to empty thetobacco duct 18 of tobacco particles 14) then thebutterfly valve 116 closes and thebutterfly valve 128 opens. The system is then ready for restarting of the cigarette making machine. - In the event that the
tobacco particles 14, discharged from the tobacco sender apparatus, have for some reason plugged the entry of thetobacco duct 18, thevacuum sensor 126 simultaneously interrupts the discharge of thetobacco particles 14 from the sender apparatus, closes thebutterfly valve 116, opens thebutterfly valve 128 and stops the cigarette making machine. When the tobacco blockage is removed and the system is ready for operation, a logic unit starts the system commencing with the purge interval. When the purge interval has elapsed the system is ready for start-up of the cigarette making machine. - An unacceptably high pressure loss across the
screen 28 or an unacceptably high leakage of air from the atmosphere into the system will decrease the subatmospheric pressure in thehopper apparatus 12. The velocity of the conveying air stream 16 may not then reach the required velocity for safe conveyance of thetobacco particles 14. Thus when the vacuum in thehopper apparatus 12 decreases to a critical level, thevacuum sensor 126 simultaneously interrupts the discharge of thetobacco particles 14 from the sender apparatus and stops the cigarette making machine. When the purge time elapses, thebutterfly valve 116 closes and thebutterfly valve 128 opens. Upon re-establishing the vacuum, the system is ready for restarting the cigarette making machine. - In the event that trimmed
tobacco particles 44 plug the entry into the trimmed tobacco duct 104, then thevacuum sensor 112 simultaneously closes the butterfly valve 118 and stops the cigarette making machine. When the trimmed tobacco blockage is removed, the system is ready for start-up of the cigarette making machine. - An unacceptably high pressure loss across the
screen 108 or an unacceptably high leakage of therotary airlock 110 will decrease the subatmospheric pressure in theseparation chamber 106. The velocity of the conveyingair stream 102 may not then reach the required velocity for safe conveying of the trimmedtobacco particles 44, and thus when the vacuum in the separatingchamber 106 decreases to a critical level, thevacuum sensor 112 stops the cigarette making machine. When the cigarette making machine comes to a full stop (so as to empty the trimmed tobacco duct 104 from trimmed tobacco particles 44), the butterfly valve 118 closes. Upon re-establishing the vacuum in the trimmed tobacco return system, the system is ready for the restarting the cigarette making machine. - To fill the empty trimmed tobacco metering tube 40 with tobacco, the
monitoring device 74, which is set in the manual mode, simultaneously opens the butterfly valve 118 and twoway valve 132. The inducedair stream 102 entrains tobacco particles from the source of openedtobacco 136 and conveys them through theduct 134, twoway valve 132 and duct 104 into the trimmed tobacco metering tube 40. When the tobacco level reaches the nominal level themonitoring device 74 resets the twoway valve 132 to its normally open position and the system is ready for starting the cigarette making machine. - In the event that one of the tobacco levels in the
metering tubes 24 and 40 reaches the maximum level or recedes to the minimum level then one of thecorresponding monitoring devices metering tube 24 or 40, the system is ready for the restarting the cigarette making machine. - The embodiment shown in Figures 3-5 operates similarly as the embodiment shown in Figures 1-2 except that the stem extraction operation is performed before the
tobacco particles density equalizer column 230. Thestem extraction device 236 is now located within the additionalclosed airflow system 238, which connects thehopper apparatus 204 with thecolumn apparatus 202. - If for some reason the
tobacco particles ducts 274 which are now parts of theclosed airflow system 238, one oftobacco sensors 334 stops simultaneously the metering drums 214, thefan 246 and the cigarette making machine. When the tobacco blockage is removed and the airflow through theclosed airflow system 238 is reestablished, the system is ready for start-up of the cigarette making machine. - The embodiment shown in Figures 6-11 operates similarly as the embodiment shown in Figures 3-5 except that the single
density equalizer column 230 in the Figure 3 is substituted by twodensity equalizer columns suction band 470 to be varied along thechimney 464. - The total feeding rate of
tobacco particles density equalizer columns monitoring device 426 which controls the tobacco level in the firstdensity equalizer column 428. The total discharge rate of thetobacco particles chimney 464 is regulated by themonitoring device 466 which controls the tobacco level in the trimmedtobacco metering tube 418. The possibility of imbalance in the magnitudes of the above mentioned tobacco flow rates is avoided by themonitoring device 478 which by controlling the tobacco level in the seconddensity equalizing column 438, increases or decreases the speed of thetransfer drum 454 in relation to the speed of thetransfer drum 452. - In the event that the
tobacco particles tobacco sensor 482 stops the metering drums 414 and the cigarette machine. When the tobacco blockage is removed the system is ready for start-up of the cigarette making machine. - The embodiment shown in Figures 12-13 operates similarly to the embodiment shown in Figures 6-11 except that the trimmed
tobacco metering tube 418 with itsmonitoring device 466, shown in Figure 6, is eliminated. The total discharge rate of thetobacco particles tobacco particles 516 are discharged from therotary airlock 532 onto the vibratingconveyer 518 which the distributes them evenly across thebelt conveyor 514.
Claims (49)
- A method of feeding tobacco to a cigarette making machine, comprising the steps of- conveying preopened and premetered tobacco particles from a tobacco sender apparatus to a hopper apparatus in a first air stream induced by a first fan operating in an open airflow system,- disentraining said preopened and premetered tobacco particles from said first air stream,- further opening and metering said disentrained tobacco particles and producing a continuous carpet from said further opened and metered tobacco particles,- discharging tobacco particles separated from said continuous carpet through a passage into a second air stream
and- entraining and conveying said discharged tobacco particles towards an air-permeable suction band for forming a layer of tobacco particles to be conveyed to a tobacco rod forming means of the cigarette making machine,characterised in that- said second air stream is circulated in a closed airflow system induced by a second fan,- said hopper apparatus is operated at the pressure existing in said open air flow system at that location
and- said open and closed air flow systems are connected only through said passsage and the pressures in said passage at its points of connection to the air flow systems are substantially equal to the pressures in the airflow systems at those points so that airflow through said passage between said open and closed airflow systems is limited to air leakage of said closed airflow system. - A method according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the passage comprises one or more further closed airflow systems, the pressures existing in the further airflow system or systems at the points of connection to the first closed air flow system and the open airflow system being substantially equal to the pressure in those air systems at those points. - A method according to claim 2,
characterized in that
any additional airflow caused by leakages into the additional airflow system or systems is passed into the open airflow system. - A method according to one of the claims 1 to 3,
characterized in that it comprises the further step of- feeding unopened cut tobacco into a tobacco sender, located remote from said cigarette making machine, to provide a source of preopened and premetered tobacco particles suitable for air conveying,
and in that- the hopper apparatus is enclosed to maintain a sub-atmospheric pressure existing in said open airflow system at that location,- at the step of further metering and opening the tobacco particles are conveyed into a density equalizer column for producing a density equalized and continuous carpet of tobacco particles,- the density equalized carpet of tobacco particles are transferred to the periphery of a transfer drum from said density equalizer column and to a picker roller, and the tobacco particles from said continuous carpet are discharged by the picker roller into a second duct or the second air stream through the opening. - A method according to claim 4,
characterized in that
the tobacco particles from the sender apparatus form a fluidized bed at the entrance to the hopper apparatus, from which bed the particles are disentrained. - A method according to claim 4,
characterized in that
the tobacco particles are conveyed into the density equalizer column by a transport drum. - A method according to claim 4,
characterized in that
the picker roller discharges the tobacco particles through a stem extraction device into the second duct and wherein said stem extraction device separates stems and non-ferrous foreign particles from the tobacco particles. - A method according to claim 4 or 5,
characterized in that
the tobacco particles are conveyed into the density equalizer column by discharging them through a stem extraction device into an additional air stream induced in an additional closed airflow system by an additional fan. - A method according to claim 8,
characterized in that
the additional air stream and the tobacco particles are split in equal portions and conveyed through a set of ducts of the additional closed airflow system into a column apparatus, and wherein the column apparatus is enclosed to maintain it at the pressure existing in the additional closed airflow system at that location. - A method according to claims 8 or 9,
characterized in that
the equal portions of the tobacco particles are evenly distributed across the width of the density equalizer column within the column apparatus. - A method according to claims 4, 5, 8 or 9,
characterized in that
the density equalizer column is divided into two compartments and predetermined portions or the tobacco particles are evenly distributed across the width of each of the two compartments for producing two density equalized carpets. - A method according to claim 11,
characterized in that
the tobacco flow rates through the two compartments are different and are proportional to the predetermined portions of the tobacco particles supplied to each compartment. - A method according to claim 4 or 5,
characterized in that
the picker roller discharges the tobacco particles into the second duct for entraining and conveying the tobacco particles towards the air-permeable suction band for formation of the tobacco layer, wherein the tobacco particles are conveyed into separate compartments of the density equalizer column at two different flow rates towards the air-permeable suction band, and wherein the rates are proportional to the ratios of the compartment widths and each compartment is supplied with a predetermined proportion of the tobacco particles. - A method according to any of claims 4-13,
characterized in that
excess tobacco particles are trimmed off by trimmer discs from the tobacco layer formed on the air-permeable suction band and are discharged into an air stream induced in an additional open airflow system by the first fan, said air stream entrains and conveys the trimmed tobacco particles to a separation chamber for separation of the trimmed tobacco particles from the air stream and for discharging them into a rotary airlock, and wherein the rotary airlock separates the subatmospheric pressure in the additional open airflow system from fluctuating pressures in the first open airflow system during the discontinuous discharge of the pre-opened and premetered tobacco particles from the sender apparatus. - A method according to claim 14,
characterized in that
the rotary airlock discharges the trimmed tobacco particles into a trimmed tobacco reservoir for accumulation and subsequent reprocessing, and wherein the required amount of the excess particles is regulated by adjusting the width of the trimmed tobacco reservoir and by monitoring the tobacco level in the trimmed tobacco reservoir. - A method according to claim 14 or 15,
characterized in that
the location of the trimmed tobacco particles within the tobacco layer is controlled by positioning ducts discharging the trimmed tobacco particles into the densitiy equalizer. - A method according to claim 14,
characterized in that
the rotary airlock discharges the trimmed tobacco particles onto a vibrating conveyor for equally spreading them over the width of a belt conveyor conveying particles forming the carpet of the hopper apparatus within the hopper apparatus. - A method according to any of claims 4-17,
characterized in that
the premetered and preopened tobacco particles are discharged from the sender apparatus as required to supply a necessary amount of tobacco for continuous running of the cigarette making machine, and wherein the discharge of the particles is controlled by the level of the accumulated tobacco particles in the tobacco reservoir. - A method according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
pressure is monitored at one or more points in the airflow systems to produce one or more signals for controlling valves which operate to relieve abnormal pressure conditions caused by the tobacco plugging a duct or an abnormally high leakage of atmospheric air into the system, and wherein tobacco levels in the hopper apparatus are monitored to produce signals for controlling the rate of tobacco discharge from the hopper. - Apparatus for feeding tobacco to a cigarette making machine, comprising- a tobacco sender apparatus having means for entraining preopened and premetered tobacco particles (14; 208) into a first air stream (16) induced by a first fan operating in an open airflow system,- a first duct (18; 334) for receiving and conveying said entrained tobacco particles,- a hopper apparatus (30; 206) receiving said entrained tobacco particles from a downstream end of of said first duct and including means for disentraining said tobacco particles from said first air stream disposed at an entrance to said hopper apparatus,- means (36, 38, 46, 60, 72; 214, 216, 224, 234) for further opening and metering said disentrained tobacco particles,- a second duct (76; 256) for receiving said disentrained tobacco particles through a passage (72) to entrain them into a second air stream (78)
and- an air-permeable suction band apparatus including an air-permeable suction band (84; 318) receiving said tobacco particles separated from said second air stream and forming them into a tobacco layer to be conveyed to a tobacco rod forming means of the cigarette making machine,characterised in that- said second air stream (78) is induced by a second fan (82; 246) operating in first closed airflow system,- said hopper apparatus (30; 206) further comprises an enclosure to maintain it at a subatmospheric pressure existing in said open airflow system at that location,- said closed air flow system has a single pressure equalization connection (72) to said open airflow system at the point of entry of tobacco particles from said hopper apparatus (30; 206)
and- additional airflows caused by leakages into said closed airflow system are passed through said pressure equalization connection (72) into said hopper apparatus (30; 206) and withdrawn by said first fan. - Apparatus according to claim 20,
characterised in that
at least one additional closed airflow system is provided between the open airflow system and the closed airflow system, the pressure equalization connection between the open and first closed systems being through at least one additional closed airflow system. - Apparatus according to claim 21,
characterized in that
additional airflows caused by leakages into each said additional closed airflow system are passed directly through the pressure equalization connection (250, 330, 332) into the open airflow system and withdrawn by the first fan, and wherein each additional closed airflow system is operating within the environment of the airflow system to which its additional airflows are passed. - Apparatus according to claim 20, 21 or 22,
characterized in that
the hopper apparatus comprises a tobacco reservoir defined within the enclosure which has a top entrance portion in which the first duct from the sender apparatus terminates, and which forms a fluidization chamber in which the premetered and preopened tobacco particles separate from the first air stream, two counter rotating metering drums (214, 216) beneath the tobacco reservoir for advancing the tobacco particles therefrom at the required rate, and an opening drum (224) beneath the metering drums for separation of the metered tobacco particles. - Apparatus according to claim 23,
characterized in that
the top entrance portion of the tobacco reservoir comprises a downwardly curved duct forming the downstream end of the first duct from the sender apparatus, oriented to direct the first air stream towards the upper surface of said premetered and preopened tobacco particles accumulated in the tobacco reservoir so that the first air stream penetrates and fluidizes the uppermost portion of the tobacco particles, and a screen above the downstream end of the first duct to separate the first air stream from the tobacco particles. - Apparatus according to claim 23 or 24,
characterized in that
a bypass duct (332) connects the upper and lower part of the hopper apparatus to equalize the pressures in these areas and to direct the additional airflows caused by leakages into the closed airflow system and the lower part of the hopper apparatus to the first fan. - Apparatus according to claim 23, 24 or 25,
characterized in that
it further comprises a transport drum receiving the further metered and separated tobacco particles from the opening drum, a density equalizing column for receiving tobacco particles delivered by the transport drum and for producing a density equalized and continuous carpet, a transfer drum for transferring the continuous carpet from the density equalizing column, and a picker roller for discharging the tobacco particles from the continuous carpet out of the hopper apparatus into the second duct of the closed airflow system for entraining the tobacco particles into the second air stream. - Apparatus according to any one of claims 23 to 26,
characterized in that
stem extraction means are located at the exit of the hopper appartus for separating stems and non-ferrous foreign particles from the tobacco particles, and wherein the second air stream conveys stem free tobacco particles upwards through the second duct to the continuously moving air-permeable suction band whilst the stems and foreign particles are directed downward through the second duct for collection and removal. - Apparatus according to any one of claims 23 to 25,
characterized in that
the opening drum of the hopper apparatus discharges the separated tobacco particles onto a belt conveyor for conveying them out of the hopper apparatus through a stem extraction device into an additional duct, the additional duct forming part of an additional closed airflow system for receiving and entraining stem free tobacco particles in an additional air stream and conveying them to a divider for dividing an air stream within the additional airflow system and the tobacco particles entrained therein into equal portions, a column apparatus, and a set of ducts for conveying the equal portions into the column apparatus, the column apparatus comprising an enclosure to maintain it at a pressure existing in the additional closed airflow system at that location. - Apparatus according to claim 28,
characterized in that
the stem extraction device is located at the exit of the hopper apparatus for separating stems and non-ferrous foreign particles from the tobacco particles and wherein the extraction device comprises a belt conveyor (234) for establishing a thin carpet of the tobacco particles moving at a predetermined speed, an air chamber issuing through vertical slots a curtain of air and directing it transversely to the trajectory of the tobacco particles leaving the belt conveyor for deflecting upwards a desired size range of the tobacco particles into the second duct, a flotation chamber for obtaining a required level of stem extraction by adjustment of velocity of an airflow through the flotation chamber, and a screw conveyor for collecting and removal of the stems and foreign particles. - Apparatus according to claim 28 or 29,
characterized in that
the additional closed airflow system further comprises duct means and an additional fan for establishing the additional closed airflow system through the additional duct, the set of ducts, said enclosure of the column apparatus, and wherein the additional closed airflow system has two pressure equalization connections, a first one to the open airflow system at the exit from the hopper apparatus and a second one to the first closed airflow system at the exit from the column apparatus. - Apparatus according to claim 28, 29 or 30,
characterized in that
the column apparatus comprises a top entrance chamber at which the set of ducts terminates, a screen above the termination of the ducts which separates said tobacco particles from the additional air stream, each duct of the set comprising a downwardly curved duct changing its cross-section from circular at an entrance to oblong rectangular at its termination, such that centrifugal forces acting on the tobacco particles along the curved ducts produce directed curtains of the tobacco particles. - Apparatus according to claim 31,
characterized in that
a bypass duct connects upper and lower parts of the column apparatus to maintain the pressures therein at the same level and directs additional airflows caused by leakages into the lower part of the column apparatus and thence through the pressure equalizing connection to the first fan, such that the additional closed airflow system is operating in the pressure environment of the hopper apparatus, regardless of the pressure conditions under which the hopper apparatus operates. - Apparatus according to claim 31 or 32,
characterized in that
the column apparatus further comprises a density equalizing column for receiving the curtains of the tobacco particles and producing a density equalized and continuous carpet, a transfer drum for transferring the continuous carpet from the density equalizing column, and a picker roller, for discharging the tobacco particles from the continuous carpet from the transfer drum out of the column apparatus into the second duct of the first closed airflow system for entraining the tobacco particles into the second air stream. - Apparatus according to claim 33,
characterized in that
the density equalizing column is divided into two compartments, each compartment receiving a predetermined number of the equal portions of the tobacco particles in the form of the curtains, the particles from the two compartments producing two density equalized continuous carpets, and wherein the column apparatus comprises two transfer drums for transferring the two continuous carpets from the two density equalizing compartments to two picker rollers, the two picker rollers discharging the tobacco particles from the two continuous carpets from the column apparatus into the second duct of the closed airflow system for entraining the tobacco particles into the second air stream. - Apparatus according to claim 34,
characterized in that
it includes means to set up flow rates of the tobacco particles through the two compartments which are different and are proportional to the ratio of the number of ducts supplying each compartment with the tobacco particles, and means to drive the two transfer drums at different circumferential speeds proportional to the ratios of the widths of the compartments and the number of ducts supplying each compartment with tobacco particles. - Apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 22,
characterized in that
the first closed airflow system comprises a second air chamber into which the second airstream issues through vertically inclined slots to entrain the tobacco particles in the direction of the continuously moving suction band, the second duct conveying the entrained and deflected tobacco particles upwards to the air-permeable suction band of the air-permeable suction band apparatus. - Apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 22 and 36,
characterized in that
the air-permeable suction band apparatus comprises two vacuum chambers, a first vacuum chamber operated at a subatmospheric pressure set up in the first closed airflow system at that location for assembling the tobacco layer on the suction band by withdrawal of the second air stream from the second duct through the tobacco layer and air-permeable suction band into the first vacuum chamber, and a second vacuum chamber operated at a subatmospheric pressure set up in a second open airflow system adjacent the air-permeable suction band for conveyance of the tobacco layer on the band from the second duct to the rod-forming means of the cigarette making machine. - Apparatus according to claim 37,
characterized in that
the first closed airflow system comprises duct means for establishing the first closed airflow system through the air chamber, the second duct, the first vacuum chamber and the second fan. - Apparatus according to claim 37 or 38,
characterized in that
the second open airflow system comprises duct means establishing the second open airflow system through the second vacuum chamber and a fan. - Apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 39,
characterized in that
a pair of trimmer discs is located to trim the excess tobacco particles from the tobacco layer formed on the continuously moving suction band, and a collector of an additional open airflow system is located to collect and entrain the trimmed tobacco particles into an air stream induced by the first fan. - Apparatus according to claim 40,
characterized in that
the additional open airflow system comprises a trimmed tobacco duct for continuously conveying the trimmed tobacco particles to a separation chamber for separation of the trimmed tobacco particles from the air stream, a rotary airlock for separation of a subatmospheric pressure existing in the second open airflow system at this location from the pressure existing in the first open airflow system at that location and duct means for connecting the separation chamber with the first fan. - Apparatus according to claim 41,
characterized in that
the rotary airlock discharges the separated trimmed tobacco particles into a trimmed tobacco reservoir for accumulating and subsequent reprocessing, wherein a common wall separates the tobacco and trimmed tobacco reservoir, wherein the wall is movable so as to provide a required proportion of the trimmed tobacco particles, and wherein a monitoring device regulates the amount of the tobacco particles to the required proportion by monitoring the level of the tobacco particles accumulated in the trimmed tobacco reservoir. - Apparatus according to claim 41 or 42,
characterized in that
the location of the trimmed particles within the tobacco layer is controlled by the disposition of ducts through which the tobacco particles are conveyed between the hopper and the air permeable band. - Apparatus according to any one of claims 40 to 43,
characterized in that
it comprises an additional source of trimmed tobacco, and a two way valve operable to permit the filling of the trimmed tobacco reservoir with open tobacco from the addition source in place of the collector. - Apparatus according to claim 41,
characterized in that
the hopper comprises a vibratory conveyor and a belt conveyor, and in that the rotary airlock discharges the separated trimmed tobacco particles onto the vibrating conveyor, which is located to spread the particles over the width of the belt conveyor, which conveys the further metered and opened particles to the second duct. - Apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 22,
characterized in that
it comprises at least one additional bypass airflow duct, and means disposed to open the duct in abnormal pressure conditions caused by blockages or excessive leakage of atmospheric air into the apparatus. - Apparatus according to claim 46,
characterized in that
the means to open the at least one bypass duct is at least one valve controlled by a vacuum sensor. - Apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 47,
characterized in that
the rate of tobacco discharge into the hopper apparatus is controlled by means sensing the level of accumulated tobacco in the hopper apparatus. - Apparatus according to any one of claims 26 or 28 to 35,
characterized in that
the rate of tobacco discharge into the column is controlled by means sensing the level of accumulated tobacco in the column.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9002103A GB2240459A (en) | 1990-01-31 | 1990-01-31 | Tobacco feed system |
GB9002103 | 1990-01-31 | ||
PCT/CA1991/000028 WO1991011120A1 (en) | 1990-01-31 | 1991-01-28 | Tobacco feed system for cigarette making machine |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0514402A1 EP0514402A1 (en) | 1992-11-25 |
EP0514402B1 true EP0514402B1 (en) | 1996-10-09 |
Family
ID=10670151
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP91902965A Expired - Lifetime EP0514402B1 (en) | 1990-01-31 | 1991-01-28 | Tobacco feed system for cigarette making machine |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0514402B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH05506567A (en) |
AU (1) | AU7152391A (en) |
DE (1) | DE69122607T2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2240459A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1991011120A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0587958A1 (en) * | 1992-09-14 | 1994-03-23 | Fabriques De Tabac Reunies S.A. | Method and apparatus for the velocity regulation of a product conveyed in a conveyor pipe and cigarette making machine with such an apparatus |
JP3431716B2 (en) * | 1995-02-16 | 2003-07-28 | 日本たばこ産業株式会社 | Chopped tobacco feeder for cigarette making machine |
JP3398503B2 (en) * | 1995-02-16 | 2003-04-21 | 日本たばこ産業株式会社 | Chopped tobacco feeder for cigarette making machine |
DE102004031935A1 (en) * | 2004-06-26 | 2006-01-12 | Hauni Primary Gmbh | Separating device for separating tobacco fibers flowing through a flow path |
DE102010007593A1 (en) * | 2010-02-04 | 2011-08-04 | Hauni Maschinenbau AG, 21033 | Viewing means for viewing a product flow within a distributor device |
CA3114582A1 (en) * | 2010-12-22 | 2012-06-28 | Syqe Medical Ltd. | Method and system for drug delivery |
DE102014210719B3 (en) | 2014-06-05 | 2015-08-20 | Hauni Maschinenbau Ag | Machine arrangement of the tobacco processing industry |
EP3851102A1 (en) | 2016-01-06 | 2021-07-21 | Syqe Medical Ltd. | Low dose therapeutic treatment |
GB201904680D0 (en) * | 2019-04-03 | 2019-05-15 | British American Tobacco Investments Ltd | Apparatus for manufacturing a rod of aerosolisable material and method of manufacturing a rod of aerosolisable material |
MX2022004568A (en) * | 2019-10-19 | 2022-05-06 | Kyle Loucks | Cigarette rolling machine. |
CN113974207A (en) * | 2021-11-09 | 2022-01-28 | 浙江中烟工业有限责任公司 | Self-adaptive control method of wind power wire feeding system based on fuzzy control |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
LU74814A1 (en) * | 1976-04-21 | 1977-01-12 | ||
IT1193290B (en) * | 1979-11-16 | 1988-06-15 | Gd Spa | CONTINUOUS TYPE CIGARETTES PACKAGING MACHINE |
CA1250204A (en) * | 1985-05-15 | 1989-02-21 | Rothmans Of Pall Mall Limited | Hopperless cigarette making machines |
GB8700025D0 (en) * | 1987-01-02 | 1987-02-11 | Hrboticky K | Tobacco feed system |
DE3876182T2 (en) * | 1987-05-22 | 1993-05-27 | Souza Cruz Ind & Com | TOBACCO SUPPLY. |
-
1990
- 1990-01-31 GB GB9002103A patent/GB2240459A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1991
- 1991-01-28 DE DE69122607T patent/DE69122607T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-01-28 AU AU71523/91A patent/AU7152391A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1991-01-28 EP EP91902965A patent/EP0514402B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-01-28 WO PCT/CA1991/000028 patent/WO1991011120A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1991-01-28 JP JP91503015A patent/JPH05506567A/en active Pending
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2240459A (en) | 1991-08-07 |
DE69122607T2 (en) | 1997-05-07 |
JPH05506567A (en) | 1993-09-30 |
DE69122607D1 (en) | 1996-11-14 |
WO1991011120A1 (en) | 1991-08-08 |
GB9002103D0 (en) | 1990-03-28 |
AU7152391A (en) | 1991-08-21 |
EP0514402A1 (en) | 1992-11-25 |
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