EP0539324A1 - Alignement method and device for a delivery hopper, especially for delivery of cigarettes - Google Patents

Alignement method and device for a delivery hopper, especially for delivery of cigarettes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0539324A1
EP0539324A1 EP92810748A EP92810748A EP0539324A1 EP 0539324 A1 EP0539324 A1 EP 0539324A1 EP 92810748 A EP92810748 A EP 92810748A EP 92810748 A EP92810748 A EP 92810748A EP 0539324 A1 EP0539324 A1 EP 0539324A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hopper
rods
alignment
elements
alignment device
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
EP92810748A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0539324B1 (en
Inventor
Roberto Rizzolo
Albert Sigrist
Michael Lauenstein
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Philip Morris Products SA
Original Assignee
Fabriques de Tabac Reunies SA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fabriques de Tabac Reunies SA filed Critical Fabriques de Tabac Reunies SA
Publication of EP0539324A1 publication Critical patent/EP0539324A1/en
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Classifications

    • 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
    • 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
    • A24C5/32—Separating, ordering, counting or examining cigarettes; Regulating the feeding of tobacco according to rod or cigarette condition
    • A24C5/322—Transporting cigarettes during manufacturing
    • A24C5/325—Transporting cigarettes during manufacturing from a hopper
    • 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
    • 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 present invention relates to a method for aligning cylindrical elements arranged obliquely in a flow of elements arranged generally parallel to each other and circulating in a direction perpendicular to the general direction of alignment of said cylindrical elements, as well as the device allowing the application of this process.
  • the method as well as the device according to the invention also make it possible to automatically eject one of said cylindrical elements which could not align properly.
  • the present invention is in particular intended for use in a hopper for the distribution of cigarettes or other products of the tobacco industry, but can also be applied to other elements of generally cylindrical shape, despite the fact that the description which follows is applied to a cigarette distribution hopper.
  • 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 around without too much friction against the walls.
  • a cigarette is placed crosswise, either in an oblique orientation relative 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.
  • one possibility is that the operator continuously monitors the good flow of cigarettes in the hopper and intervenes before a badly oriented cigarette disturbs the exit from the hopper.
  • a first object of the invention therefore consists in proposing a method and a device comprising alignment means by which a cigarette placed at an angle is no longer stopped, but where it is automatically realigned.
  • Another object of the invention consists in proposing a method and a device by which a cigarette arranged at an angle and which could not be realigned by the preceding alignment means is automatically ejected from the stream, this without interrupting the operation of the production machine.
  • FIG. 1 there is a hopper 1 having two side walls 10 and 11 whose shape is adapted to allow good flow of cigarettes 13, as well as a bottom wall 12 and a cover wall not shown in this figure making 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).
  • the hopper 1 may also be provided with blades 16, of suitable shape, driven by a slow reciprocating movement, which prevent bridges from forming inside the hopper, obstructing the flow of cigarettes.
  • a cigarette 13A In the event that, for whatever reason, a cigarette 13A is crooked relative to the others, it may, in the absence of the alignment device 2 according to the invention, descend to the distribution grid 14 and obstruct it, interrupting the flow in one or more of the distribution channels 15.
  • the alignment device 2 comprises a plurality of alignment rods 20 forming a grid, arranged side by side along a horizontal plane, respectively perpendicular to the flow of flow of cigarettes 13, the alignment rods 20 being parallel to cigarettes 13 correctly aligned.
  • the plane containing said grid, respectively the alignment rods 20 is situated very clearly above, respectively well before the distribution channels 15, that is to say approximately halfway up the hopper 1 and extends over the entire width of the hopper passage, ie between the walls 10 and 11.
  • Each of the alignment rods 20 is separated from its neighbors by a distance equivalent to approximately two times the diameter of a cigarette 13.
  • the alignment rods 20 are driven in an alternating rotational movement, represented by the arrow C, a preferred embodiment of the drive device 21 being shown schematically in Figures 2 and 3.
  • the alignment rod 20 is made up of two parts, a first front part 20A, the shape of which will be explained below, and a rear fixing part 20B which is fixed on a drive axis 22 pivoting in a bore formed in a support 17 fixed to the rear of the hopper 1.
  • the rear part of each axis 22 is provided with a pinion 23, coaxial with said axis.
  • the drive wheel 26 being driven in a regular rotational movement, as represented by arrow A, by any means not shown, for example an electric motor, this rotational movement is transformed, by means of the connecting rod 25, into a longitudinal back and forth movement of the rack 24 , as shown by arrow B, this last movement acting to drive the axes 22, respectively the alignment rods 20, according to an alternating or reciprocating movement of rotation, by the intermediary pinions 23, as shown by the last arrow C.
  • all the alignment rods 20 are simultaneously driven in an alternating rotational movement at a low speed, of the order of 1 t / sec.
  • the rotation of each alignment rod is approximately one turn in one direction, followed by one turn in the other direction.
  • the mechanism by which a misaligned cigarette 13A is realigned is visible on the right side of FIG. 1.
  • the cigarette 13A which is presented above the alignment rods 20 not directly perpendicular to the normal alignment, but obliquely according to an angle considerably less than 90 ° with respect to the alignment, will first of all be retained by at least two adjacent alignment rods 20, the alternating rotational movement of said rods, combined with the pressure exerted on the cigarette 13A the other cigarettes which follow it, tending to straighten it in order to allow its passage between the two alignment rods; from this moment, the lateral pressure exerted by the other cigarettes that surround it tends to perfectly align the previously misaligned cigarette.
  • the alignment rod 20 shown in this figure is of an embodiment such that its front part 20A consists of three portions, a cylindrical central portion limited by two portions of ends slightly tapered in truncated cones.
  • the total length of the front part 20A is greater than that of a cigarette, so that its ends slightly protrude from the outer faces of the cover wall 19 and the bottom wall 12 of the hopper 1.
  • a misaligned cigarette 13A which occurs, for example, over the central cylindrical part of a few adjacent alignment rods 20 will be blocked by these rods, since it cannot pass through one of the spaces that separate them.
  • the alternating rotational movement of the alignment rods 20, combined with the pressure of the cigarettes 13 correctly aligned and which follow it, if it cannot straighten the cigarette as indicated above, tends to advance said cigarette 13A either towards the front or back of the alignment rods 20.
  • a misaligned cigarette 13A if it cannot be straightened and realigned by the alignment rods 20, is automatically ejected from the hopper 1, by the same alignment rods 20 then operating as ejection means, avoiding this clogs and / or stops the production chain.
  • a collecting tray (not shown), arranged below the ejection openings, makes it possible to recover the ejected cigarettes.
  • FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C represent various embodiments of an alignment rod 20 adapted to the method and to the device according to the invention.
  • FIG. 4A represents a preferred embodiment identical to that shown in FIG. 3, the front part 20A consisting of three sections, a cylindrical central section, the diameter of which is between the value of one diameter and that of two diameters of cigarette and two other ends which are slightly tapered in the shape of truncated cones, tapering towards the ends.
  • the partial lengths of these sections are determined as a function of the products to be realigned, respectively to be ejected.
  • the rear part 20B comprises a means for fixing the alignment rod 20 to the drive axis 22, for example a cylindrical portion provided with an axial bore as well as a radial thread intended to receive a fixing screw as shown.
  • the alignment rods 20 have been described and shown as being of circular section, other shapes may also be provided for these rods.
  • the front part 20A of the alignment rod 20 shown in FIG. 4B consists of a single tapered portion in a truncated cone, the ejection of the cigarettes taking place in this case only towards the front.
  • the angle at the top of the different cones must be chosen so that a misdirected cigarette is always ejected forward, which allows, when a hopper 1 is equipped with alignment rods according to these last two embodiments, to remove the ejection opening 12A in the bottom wall 12.
  • the method and the device according to the invention are absolutely capable of straightening, realigning respectively and if necessary automatically ejecting any cylindrical element, respectively any cigarette, which does not appear correctly in the hopper, without the step of the installations located downstream of the hopper are not affected thereby and therefore without reduction in the efficiency of the installation, and this without it being necessary for an operator to be continuously observing the smooth running of the flow in the hopper .
  • This method 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 their manufacturing process should be aligned; for example, a refueler in elongated parts of an automatic machine tool or of a machine of the food industry can just as easily be equipped with this device, which will realign or eject a part arranged askew, without the production rate is not interrupted.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)

Abstract

The alignment method and device according to the invention make it possible to align a cylindrical element (13A) moving transversely relative to a stream of cylindrical elements (13) which are generally mutually parallel and to eject an element arranged in such a manner that it cannot be realigned. This problem is generally encountered in a delivery hopper (1) and especially in a cigarette delivery hopper or in a feed hopper for an automatic machine tool, or alternatively in a hopper of a machine in the foodstuffs industry, which is then blocked in the event that a transversely arranged element happens to obstruct an outlet channel (15) from the said hopper. The alignment device comprises a grid composed of regularly spaced rods (20) arranged parallel to the generally well aligned elements, the plane of the said grid being perpendicular to the flow of elements. Each of the said rods is caused to undertake an alternating rotational movement (C), the result of which is that an element appearing above one or more of the said rods is realigned by this rotational movement or is then ejected through an aperture (12A, 19A) made in one wall (12, 19) of the hopper in the event that it cannot be realigned. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention concerne un procédé permettant d'aligner des éléments cylindriques disposés de travers dans un flux d'éléments disposés généralement parallèlement entre eux et circulant selon une direction perpendiculaire à la direction générale d'alignement desdits éléments cylindriques, ainsi que le dispositif permettant l'application de ce procédé. Le procédé ainsi que le dispositif selon l'invention permettent en outre d'éjecter automatiquement un desdits éléments cylindriques qui ne pourrait pas s'aligner correctement. La présente invention est notamment destinée à être utilisée dans une trémie de distribution de cigarettes ou d'autres produits de l'industrie du tabac, mais peut également s'appliquer à d'autres éléments de forme généralement cylindrique malgré que la description qui suit est appliquée à une trémie de distribution de cigarettes.The present invention relates to a method for aligning cylindrical elements arranged obliquely in a flow of elements arranged generally parallel to each other and circulating in a direction perpendicular to the general direction of alignment of said cylindrical elements, as well as the device allowing the application of this process. The method as well as the device according to the invention also make it possible to automatically eject one of said cylindrical elements which could not align properly. The present invention is in particular intended for use in a hopper for the distribution of cigarettes or other products of the tobacco industry, but can also be applied to other elements of generally cylindrical shape, despite the fact that the description which follows is applied to a cigarette distribution hopper.

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 around 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 oblique par rapport 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 placed crosswise, either in an oblique orientation relative 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 that the operator continuously monitors the good flow of cigarettes in the hopper and intervenes before a badly oriented cigarette disturbs the exit from the hopper.

Divers procédés ou dispositifs ont été décrits afin d'éviter cet inconvénient; en particulier l'invention décrite dans la demande CH 546/90-7, correspondant à la demande EP-A-0.443.982 et à la demande US-07/649.912. L'invention décrite dans ces documents permet de bloquer une cigarette mal alignée par rapport à l'écoulement avant que celle-ci n'obstrue un ou plusieurs des canaux d'écoulement et de signaler à l'opérateur qu'une cigarette est ainsi bloquée. Dans certains cas, où par exemple plusieurs cigarettes restent bloquées, ce système peut engendrer un arrêt de la machine de production diminuant d'autant la productivité de cette machine.Various methods or devices have been described in order to avoid this drawback; in particular the invention described in application CH 546 / 90-7, corresponding to application EP-A-0.443.982 and to application US-07 / 649.912. The invention described in these documents makes it possible to block a cigarette misaligned with respect to the flow before the latter obstructs one or more of the flow channels and to signal to the operator that a cigarette is thus blocked. . In some cases, where, for example, several cigarettes remain blocked, this system can cause the production machine to stop, thereby reducing the productivity of this machine.

Un premier but de l'invention consiste donc à proposer un procédé et un dispositif comportant des moyens d'alignement par lesquels une cigarette disposée de travers n'est plus arrêtée, mais où elle est automatiquement réalignée.A first object of the invention therefore consists in proposing a method and a device comprising alignment means by which a cigarette placed at an angle is no longer stopped, but where it is automatically realigned.

Un autre but de l'invention consiste à proposer un procédé et un dispositif par lesquels une cigarette disposée de travers et qui ne pourrait pas être réalignée par les moyens d'alignement précédents est automatiquement éjectée du flux, ceci sans interruption du fonctionnement de la machine de production.Another object of the invention consists in proposing a method and a device by which a cigarette arranged at an angle and which could not be realigned by the preceding alignment means is automatically ejected from the stream, this without interrupting the operation of the production machine.

Afin d'atteindre ces buts, un procédé d'alignement répondant aux caractéristiques de la revendication 1, ainsi qu'un dispositif comportant des moyens d'alignement répondant aux caractéristiques des revendications 2 à 8 ont été développés.In order to achieve these aims, an alignment method meeting the characteristics of claim 1, as well as a device comprising alignment means meeting the characteristics of claims 2 to 8 have been developed.

Le procédé et le dispositif selon l'invention sont plus facilement compréhensibles lors de l'examen du dessin en annexe, comprenant les figures où:

  • la figure 1 représente une coupe en élévation d'une trémie de distribution de cigarettes munie d'un dispositif d'alignement et d'éjection selon l'invention,
  • la figure 2 représente une coupe partielle en élévation latérale de la trémie de la figure précédente,
  • la figure 3 représente une vue partielle schématique du dispositif d'entraînement des tiges d'alignement, et
  • les figure 4A, 4B et 4C représentent trois formes d'exécution différentes des tiges d'alignement.
The method and the device according to the invention are more easily understood when examining the appended drawing, comprising the figures where:
  • FIG. 1 represents a section in elevation of a cigarette distribution hopper provided with an alignment and ejection device according to the invention,
  • FIG. 2 represents a partial section in lateral elevation of the hopper of the previous figure,
  • FIG. 3 represents a partial schematic view of the device for driving the alignment rods, and
  • Figures 4A, 4B and 4C show three different embodiments of the alignment rods.

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 13, ainsi qu'une paroi de fond 12 et une paroi de couvercle non représentée sur cette figure faisant face à la paroi de fond 12 et espacées de celle-ci d'une distance légèrement supérieure à la longueur d'une cigarette. Afin de mieux distinguer les divers éléments composant le dispositif selon l'invention, toutes les cigarettes 13 contenues dans la trémie 1 n'ont pas été représentées. 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). La trémie 1 peut en outre être munie de pales 16, de forme appropriée, animées d'un lent mouvement de rotation alternatif, qui 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, en l'absence du dispositif d'alignement 2 selon l'invention, descendre jusqu'à la grille de distribution 14 et l'obstruera, interrompant l'écoulement dans un ou plusieurs des canaux de distribution 15.In Figure 1 there is a hopper 1 having two side walls 10 and 11 whose shape is adapted to allow good flow of cigarettes 13, as well as a bottom wall 12 and a cover wall not shown in this figure making facing the bottom wall 12 and spaced therefrom by a distance slightly greater than the length of a cigarette. In order to better distinguish the various elements making up the device according to the invention, not all of the cigarettes 13 contained in the hopper 1 have been represented. 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). The hopper 1 may also be provided with blades 16, of suitable shape, driven by a slow reciprocating movement, which prevent bridges from forming inside the hopper, obstructing the flow of cigarettes. In the event that, for whatever reason, a cigarette 13A is crooked relative to the others, it may, in the absence of the alignment device 2 according to the invention, descend to the distribution grid 14 and obstruct it, interrupting the flow in one or more of the distribution channels 15.

Le dispositif d'alignement 2 comprend une pluralité de tiges d'alignement 20 formant une grille, disposées côte à côte selon un plan horizontal, respectivement perpendiculaire au flux d'écoulement des cigarettes 13, les tiges d'alignement 20 étant parallèles aux cigarettes 13 correctement alignées. Le plan contenant ladite grille, respectivement les tiges d'alignement 20 est situé très nettement au-dessus, respectivement bien avant les canaux de distribution 15, soit environ à mi-hauteur de la trémie 1 et s'étend sur toute la largeur du passage de la trémie, soit entre les parois 10 et 11. Chacune des tiges d'alignement 20 est séparée de ses voisines d'une distance équivalent environ à deux fois le diamètre d'une cigarette 13.The alignment device 2 comprises a plurality of alignment rods 20 forming a grid, arranged side by side along a horizontal plane, respectively perpendicular to the flow of flow of cigarettes 13, the alignment rods 20 being parallel to cigarettes 13 correctly aligned. The plane containing said grid, respectively the alignment rods 20 is situated very clearly above, respectively well before the distribution channels 15, that is to say approximately halfway up the hopper 1 and extends over the entire width of the hopper passage, ie between the walls 10 and 11. Each of the alignment rods 20 is separated from its neighbors by a distance equivalent to approximately two times the diameter of a cigarette 13.

Les tiges d'alignement 20 sont animées d'un mouvement de rotation alternatif, représenté par la flèche C, une forme d'exécution préférentielle du dispositif d'entraînement 21 étant représentée schématiquement aux figures 2 et 3. A la figure 2, on voit que la tige d'alignement 20 est constituée de deux parties, une première partie avant 20A, dont la forme sera commentée plus bas, et d'une partie arrière 20B de fixation qui vient se fixer sur un axe d'entraînement 22 pivotant dans un alésage formé dans un support 17 fixé à l'arrière de la trémie 1. La partie postérieure de chaque axe 22 est munie d'un pignon 23, coaxial audit axe. Comme on le voit à la figure 3, où seulement cinq pignons 23 sont représentés côte-à-côte, lesdits pignons étant alignés selon un plan horizontal, ils engrènent tous sur une crémaillère 24 qui peut coulisser sur une coulisse horizontale 18 aménagée dans le support 17. Une extrémité de la crémaillère 24 est entraînée par une bielle 25 dont l'autre extrémité est fixée de manière pivotante à une roue d'entraînement 26. Ainsi, la roue d'entraînement 26 étant animée d'un mouvement de rotation régulière, comme représenté par la flèche A, par un moyen quelconque non représenté, par exemple un moteur électrique, ce mouvement de rotation est transformé, par l'intermédiaire de la bielle 25, en un mouvement longitudinal de va-et-vient de la crémaillère 24, comme représenté par la flèche B, ce dernier mouvement agissant pour entraîner les axes 22, respectivement les tiges d'alignement 20, selon un mouvement de rotation alternatif ou de va-et-vient, par l'intermédiaire des pignons 23, comme représenté par la dernière flèche C. De cette manière toutes les tiges d'alignement 20 sont simultanément entraînées selon un mouvement de rotation alternatif à une faible vitesse, de l'ordre de 1 t/sec. La rotation de chaque tige d'alignement est d'environ un tour dans un sens, suivi d'un tour dans l'autre sens.The alignment rods 20 are driven in an alternating rotational movement, represented by the arrow C, a preferred embodiment of the drive device 21 being shown schematically in Figures 2 and 3. In Figure 2, we see that the alignment rod 20 is made up of two parts, a first front part 20A, the shape of which will be explained below, and a rear fixing part 20B which is fixed on a drive axis 22 pivoting in a bore formed in a support 17 fixed to the rear of the hopper 1. The rear part of each axis 22 is provided with a pinion 23, coaxial with said axis. As seen in Figure 3, where only five pinions 23 are shown side-by-side, said pinions being aligned in a horizontal plane, they all mesh on a rack 24 which can slide on a horizontal slide 18 arranged in the support 17. One end of the rack 24 is driven by a connecting rod 25, the other end of which is pivotally attached to a drive wheel 26. Thus, the drive wheel 26 being driven in a regular rotational movement, as represented by arrow A, by any means not shown, for example an electric motor, this rotational movement is transformed, by means of the connecting rod 25, into a longitudinal back and forth movement of the rack 24 , as shown by arrow B, this last movement acting to drive the axes 22, respectively the alignment rods 20, according to an alternating or reciprocating movement of rotation, by the intermediary pinions 23, as shown by the last arrow C. In this way all the alignment rods 20 are simultaneously driven in an alternating rotational movement at a low speed, of the order of 1 t / sec. The rotation of each alignment rod is approximately one turn in one direction, followed by one turn in the other direction.

Le mécanisme par lequel une cigarette mal alignée 13A est réalignée est visible sur la partie droite de la figure 1. La cigarette 13A qui se présente au-dessus des tiges d'alignement 20 non pas directement perpendiculairement à l'alignement normal, mais obliquement selon un angle passablement inférieur à 90° par rapport à l'alignement, sera tout d'abord retenue par au-moins deux tiges d'alignement 20 voisines, le mouvement de rotation alternatif desdites tiges, combiné avec la pression qu'exercent sur la cigarette 13A les autres cigarettes qui la suivent, tendant à la redresser afin de permettre son passage entre les deux tiges d'alignement; dès cet instant, la pression latérale qu'exercent les autres cigarettes qui l'entourent tend à aligner parfaitement la cigarette auparavant mal alignée.The mechanism by which a misaligned cigarette 13A is realigned is visible on the right side of FIG. 1. The cigarette 13A which is presented above the alignment rods 20 not directly perpendicular to the normal alignment, but obliquely according to an angle considerably less than 90 ° with respect to the alignment, will first of all be retained by at least two adjacent alignment rods 20, the alternating rotational movement of said rods, combined with the pressure exerted on the cigarette 13A the other cigarettes which follow it, tending to straighten it in order to allow its passage between the two alignment rods; from this moment, the lateral pressure exerted by the other cigarettes that surround it tends to perfectly align the previously misaligned cigarette.

Au cas où une cigarette mal alignée 13A se présente environ perpendiculairement à l'alignement normal et que le mécanisme décrit ci-dessus ne suffit pas à l'aligner, ladite cigarette est éjectée automatiquement de la trémie, comme on le voit à la figure 2. La tige d'alignement 20 représentée sur cette figure est d'une forme d'exécution telle que sa partie avant 20A est constituée de trois portions, une portion centrale cylindrique limitée par deux portions d'extrémités légèrement effilées en troncs de cône. La longueur totale de la partie avant 20A est plus grande que celle d'une cigarette, de telle manière que ses extrémités dépassent légèrement des faces extérieures de la paroi de couvercle 19 et de la paroi de fond 12 de la trémie 1. Une cigarette mal alignée 13A qui se présente par exemple par dessus la partie centrale cylindrique de quelques tiges d'alignement 20 voisines sera bloquée par ces tiges, puisqu'elle ne peut pas passer par un des espaces qui les séparent. Le mouvement de rotation alternatif des tiges d'alignement 20, combiné avec la pression des cigarettes 13 correctement alignées et qui la suivent, s'il ne peut redresser la cigarette comme indiqué plus haut, -tend à faire avancer ladite cigarette 13A soit vers l'avant, soit vers l'arrière des tiges d'alignement 20. Lorsque la cigarette 13A arrive vers une extrémité effilée des tiges d'alignement 20, que ce soit en suivant le flux d'écoulement général des cigarettes 13 ou alors lors de l'avance vers l'avant ou l'arrière des tiges d'alignement 20 comme décrit plus haut, ce mouvement d'avance est accéléré et la cigarette 13A est éjectée hors de la trémie 1 en passant par une ouverture 19A aménagée dans la paroi de couvercle 19, directement au-dessus des extrémités avant des tiges d'alignement 20, ou par une ouverture correspondante 12A aménagée de manière identique sur la paroi de fond 12. L'espace libre entre l'arête inférieure de la paroi 19, respectivement de la paroi 12, et les tiges d'alignement 20 est légèrement supérieur au diamètre d'une cigarette, les ouvertures 19A et 12A s'étendant sur toute la largeur de la trémie 1, soit entre les parois 10 et 11.In the event that a misaligned cigarette 13A is presented approximately perpendicular to the normal alignment and the mechanism described above is not sufficient to align it, said cigarette is automatically ejected from the hopper, as seen in FIG. 2 The alignment rod 20 shown in this figure is of an embodiment such that its front part 20A consists of three portions, a cylindrical central portion limited by two portions of ends slightly tapered in truncated cones. The total length of the front part 20A is greater than that of a cigarette, so that its ends slightly protrude from the outer faces of the cover wall 19 and the bottom wall 12 of the hopper 1. A misaligned cigarette 13A which occurs, for example, over the central cylindrical part of a few adjacent alignment rods 20 will be blocked by these rods, since it cannot pass through one of the spaces that separate them. The alternating rotational movement of the alignment rods 20, combined with the pressure of the cigarettes 13 correctly aligned and which follow it, if it cannot straighten the cigarette as indicated above, tends to advance said cigarette 13A either towards the front or back of the alignment rods 20. When the cigarette 13A arrives towards a tapered end of the alignment rods 20, either by following the general flow of cigarettes 13 or when forward or backward alignment rods 20 as described above, this advance movement is accelerated and the cigarette 13A is ejected from the hopper 1 through an opening 19A arranged in the wall of cover 19, directly above the front ends of the alignment rods 20, or by a corresponding opening 12A arranged identically on the bottom wall 12. The free space between the lower edge of the wall 19, respectively d e the wall 12, and the alignment rods 20 is slightly greater than the diameter of a cigarette, the openings 19A and 12A extending over the entire width of the hopper 1, ie between the walls 10 and 11.

Ainsi, une cigarette mal alignée 13A, si elle ne peut être redressée et réalignée par les tiges d'alignement 20, est automatiquement éjectée de la trémie 1, par les mêmes tiges d'alignement 20 fonctionnant alors en moyens d'éjection, évitant de ce fait un colmatage et/ou un arrêt de la chaîne de production. Un bac récupérateur (non représenté), disposé au-dessous des ouvertures d'éjection permet de récupérer les cigarettes éjectées.Thus, a misaligned cigarette 13A, if it cannot be straightened and realigned by the alignment rods 20, is automatically ejected from the hopper 1, by the same alignment rods 20 then operating as ejection means, avoiding this clogs and / or stops the production chain. A collecting tray (not shown), arranged below the ejection openings, makes it possible to recover the ejected cigarettes.

Les figures 4A, 4B et 4C représentent diverses formes d'exécution d'une tige d'alignement 20 adaptée au procédé et au dispositif selon l'invention. La figure 4A représente une forme d'exécution préférentielle identique à celle représentée à la figure 3, la partie avant 20A étant constituée de trois tronçons, un tronçon central cylindrique, dont le diamètre est compris entre la valeur d'un diamètre et celle de deux diamètres de cigarette et de deux autres parties d'extrémités qui sont légèrement effilées en forme de troncs de cône, allant en s'amincissant vers les extrémités. Les longueurs partielles des ces tronçons sont déterminées en fonction des produits à réaligner, respectivement à éjecter. La partie arrière 20B comprend un moyen de fixation de la tige d'alignement 20 à l'axe d'entraînement 22, par exemple une portion cylindrique munie d'un alésage axial ainsi que d'un taraudage radial destiné à recevoir une vis de fixation comme représenté. Les tiges d'alignement 20 ont été décrites et représentées comme étant de section circulaire, d'autres formes peuvent aussi être prévues pour ces tiges.FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C represent various embodiments of an alignment rod 20 adapted to the method and to the device according to the invention. FIG. 4A represents a preferred embodiment identical to that shown in FIG. 3, the front part 20A consisting of three sections, a cylindrical central section, the diameter of which is between the value of one diameter and that of two diameters of cigarette and two other ends which are slightly tapered in the shape of truncated cones, tapering towards the ends. The partial lengths of these sections are determined as a function of the products to be realigned, respectively to be ejected. The rear part 20B comprises a means for fixing the alignment rod 20 to the drive axis 22, for example a cylindrical portion provided with an axial bore as well as a radial thread intended to receive a fixing screw as shown. The alignment rods 20 have been described and shown as being of circular section, other shapes may also be provided for these rods.

La partie avant 20A de la tige d'alignement 20 représentée à la figure 4B est constituée en une seule portion effilée en tronc de cône, l'éjection des cigarettes ayant lieu dans ce cas uniquement vers l'avant.The front part 20A of the alignment rod 20 shown in FIG. 4B consists of a single tapered portion in a truncated cone, the ejection of the cigarettes taking place in this case only towards the front.

Il en est de même pour celle représentée à la figure 4C où la partie avant est constituée de deux troncs de cône successifs, l'angle au sommet du tronc de cône disposé à l'avant étant supérieur à celui du tronc de cône disposé à l'arrière.It is the same for that shown in Figure 4C where the front part consists of two successive truncated cones, the angle at the top of the truncated cone disposed at the front being greater than that of the truncated cone disposed at the 'back.

Dans ces deux derniers cas, l'angle au sommet des différents cônes doit être choisi de telle manière qu'une cigarette mal orientée soit toujours éjectée vers l'avant, ce qui permet, lorsque une trémie 1 est équipée de tiges d'alignement selon ces deux dernières formes d'exécution, de supprimer l'ouverture d'éjection 12A dans la paroi de fond 12.In the latter two cases, the angle at the top of the different cones must be chosen so that a misdirected cigarette is always ejected forward, which allows, when a hopper 1 is equipped with alignment rods according to these last two embodiments, to remove the ejection opening 12A in the bottom wall 12.

On voit donc que le procédé et le dispositif selon l'invention sont absolument aptes à redresser, respectivement réaligner et le cas échéant à éjecter automatiquement tout élément cylindrique, respectivement toute cigarette, ne se présentant pas correctement dans la trémie, 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 ou d'une machine de l'industrie de l'alimentation peut tout aussi bien être équipé de ce dispositif, qui réalignera ou éjectera 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 straightening, realigning respectively and if necessary automatically ejecting any cylindrical element, respectively any cigarette, which does not appear correctly in the hopper, without the step of the installations located downstream of the hopper are not affected thereby and therefore without reduction in the efficiency of the installation, and this without it being necessary for an operator to be continuously observing the smooth running of the flow in the hopper . This method 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 their manufacturing process should be aligned; for example, a refueler in elongated parts of an automatic machine tool or of a machine of the food industry can just as easily be equipped with this device, which will realign or eject a part arranged askew, without the production rate is not interrupted.

Claims (11)

1-Procédé d'alignement d'éléments cylindriques, disposés de travers (13A) par rapport à un flux d'éléments cylindriques disposés côte à côte et parallèles entre eux (13), dans une trémie de distribution (1), caractérisé en ce que des moyens d'alignement (2) sont prévus de telle manière que l'alignement desdits éléments cylindriques disposés de travers ait lieu en amont d'un endroit (14) où lesdits éléments 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 qui ne pourrait pas s'aligner est automatiquement éjecté dudit flux d'éléments. 1- Method for aligning cylindrical elements, arranged crosswise (13A) with respect to a flow of cylindrical elements arranged side by side and parallel to each other (13), in a distribution hopper (1), characterized in that alignment means (2) are provided in such a way that the alignment of said cylindrical elements arranged at an angle takes place upstream of a place (14) where said elements arranged at an angle would obstruct at least one pipe (15) leading said elements at a later stage of the manufacturing process and in that a cross-cylindrical element which cannot be aligned is automatically ejected from said flow of elements. 2-Dispositif d'alignement (2) pour l'application du procédé selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend des moyens d'alignement constitués d'une grille formée d'une pluralité de tiges (20) pouvant être de section circulaire, disposées côte à côte, parallèlement aux éléments cylindriques (13) s'écoulant librement et selon un plan perpendiculairement au flux d'éléments et des moyens d'entraînement (21) par lesquels chacune desdites tiges est animée d'un mouvement de rotation alternatif (C), au moins une extrémité de chacune desdites tiges étant surmontée d'une ouverture (12A,19A) aménagée dans une paroi (19,12) de ladite trémie, permettant l'éjection d'un élément disposé de travers (13A) non aligné. 2- Alignment device (2) for the application of the method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises alignment means constituted by a grid formed by a plurality of rods (20) which can be circular section, arranged side by side, parallel to the cylindrical elements (13) flowing freely and in a plane perpendicular to the flow of elements and drive means (21) by which each of said rods is driven by a movement of reciprocating rotation (C), at least one end of each of said rods being surmounted by an opening (12A, 19A) arranged in a wall (19,12) of said hopper, allowing the ejection of an element disposed crosswise ( 13A) not aligned. 3-Dispositif d'alignement selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que ladite grille formée d'une pluralité de tiges s'étend d'une paroi latérale (10) à la paroi latérale opposée (11) d'une trémie de distribution et est située environ à mi-hauteur de ladite trémie. 3- Alignment device according to claim 2, characterized in that said grid formed of a plurality of rods extends from a side wall (10) to the opposite side wall (11) of a hopper of distribution and is located approximately halfway up said hopper. 4-Dispositif d'alignement selon la revendication R, caractérisé en ce que chacune desdites tiges comprend une partie avant (20A) constituée en trois portions, une portion centrale cylindrique dont le diamètre est compris entre une fois et deux fois le diamètre de l'un desdits éléments cylindriques et de deux portions d'extrémités en forme de tronc de cône s'amincissant vers les extrémités. 4- Alignment device according to claim R, characterized in that each of said rods comprises a front part (20A) consisting of three portions, a cylindrical central portion whose diameter is between once and twice the diameter of the one of said cylindrical elements and two end portions in the form of a truncated cone tapering towards the ends. 5-Dispositif d'alignement selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que chacune desdites tiges comprend une partie avant (20A) en forme de tronc de cône s'amincissant vers l'extrémité avant. 5- Alignment device according to claim 3, characterized in that each of said rods comprises a front part (20A) in the form of a truncated cone tapering towards the front end. 6-Dispositif d'alignement selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que chacune desdites tiges comprend une partie avant (20A) constituée en deux portions, une portion arrière en forme d'un premier tronc de cône et d'une portion avant en forme d'un second tronc de cône, les deux troncs de cône s'amincissant vers l'extrémité avant, l'angle au sommet du second tronc de cône étant supérieur à l'angle au sommet du premier tronc de cône. 6- Alignment device according to claim 3, characterized in that each of said rods comprises a front part (20A) consisting of two portions, a rear portion in the form of a first truncated cone and a front portion in form a second truncated cone, the two truncated cones tapering towards the front end, the angle at the top of the second truncated cone being greater than the angle at the top of the first truncated cone. 7-Dispositif d'alignement selon l'une des revendications 2 à 6, caractérisé en ce que l'extrémité arrière de chacune desdites tiges comprend des moyens de fixation (20B) auxdits moyens d'entraînement (22). 7- Alignment device according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the rear end of each of said rods comprises fixing means (20B) to said drive means (22). 8-Dispositif d'alignement selon les revendications 2 et 7, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'entraînement comprennent une roue (26) entraînée en rotation continue (A), sur laquelle est fixée une bielle (25) transmettant un mouvement de translation alternatif horizontal (B) à une crémaillère (24), ladite crémaillère étant en engagement avec une pluralité de pignons (23), chacun desdits pignons transmettant un mouvement de rotation alternatif (C) auxdites tiges. 8- Alignment device according to claims 2 and 7, characterized in that said drive means comprise a wheel (26) driven in continuous rotation (A), on which is fixed a connecting rod (25) transmitting a horizontal reciprocating translational movement (B) to a rack (24), said rack being in engagement with a plurality of pinions (23), each of said pinions transmitting an alternating rotational movement (C) to said rods. 9-Trémie de distribution d'éléments cylindriques équipée d'un dispositif d'alignement selon l'une des,revendications précédentes. 9- distribution hopper of cylindrical elements equipped with an alignment device according to one of the preceding claims. 10-Utilisation d'une trémie de distribution selon la revendication 9 pour l'alimentation d'une machine d'empaquetage de produits de l'industrie du tabac. 10- Use of a distribution hopper according to claim 9 for the supply of a packaging machine for tobacco industry products. 11-Utilisation d'une trémie de distribution selon la revendication 9 pour l'alimentation en pièces d'une machine-outil automatique ou d'une machine de l'industrie alimentaire. 11- Use of a distribution hopper according to claim 9 for the supply of parts of an automatic machine tool or a machine of the food industry.
EP19920810748 1991-10-22 1992-10-06 Alignement method and device for a delivery hopper, especially for delivery of cigarettes Expired - Lifetime EP0539324B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH308191 1991-10-22
CH3081/91 1991-10-22

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US5350051A (en) * 1993-12-02 1994-09-27 Philip Morris Incorporated Agitator apparatus for cylindrical articles
CN106081236A (en) * 2016-08-16 2016-11-09 河南新平科烟草机械有限公司 A kind of cigarette packing machine preliminary finish device
EP3678942B1 (en) 2017-09-06 2021-07-14 G.D Società per Azioni Hopper for smoking articles

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WO2018122298A1 (en) * 2016-12-29 2018-07-05 Philip Morris Products S.A. Hopper for rod shaped articles and method for distributing rod shaped articles
WO2018122326A1 (en) * 2016-12-29 2018-07-05 Philip Morris Products S.A. Hopper for rod shaped articles and method for distributing rod shaped articles
IT202100022109A1 (en) * 2021-08-20 2023-02-20 Ima Spa EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE FOR FEEDING AND FORMING ORGANIZED GROUPS OF SMOKING ITEMS

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US4174780A (en) * 1977-06-30 1979-11-20 Molins Limited Feeding cigarettes and similar rod-like articles
EP0277363A2 (en) * 1987-02-05 1988-08-10 Japan Tobacco Inc. Machine for filling containers with rod-shaped objects
EP0443982A1 (en) * 1990-02-20 1991-08-28 Fabriques De Tabac Reunies S.A. Method and device of retention for a delivery hopper, especially for delivery of cigarettes

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US3501052A (en) * 1967-02-20 1970-03-17 Hauni Werke Koerber & Co Kg Magazine for cigarettes or the like
US4174780A (en) * 1977-06-30 1979-11-20 Molins Limited Feeding cigarettes and similar rod-like articles
EP0277363A2 (en) * 1987-02-05 1988-08-10 Japan Tobacco Inc. Machine for filling containers with rod-shaped objects
EP0443982A1 (en) * 1990-02-20 1991-08-28 Fabriques De Tabac Reunies S.A. Method and device of retention for a delivery hopper, especially for delivery of cigarettes

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5350051A (en) * 1993-12-02 1994-09-27 Philip Morris Incorporated Agitator apparatus for cylindrical articles
CN106081236A (en) * 2016-08-16 2016-11-09 河南新平科烟草机械有限公司 A kind of cigarette packing machine preliminary finish device
EP3678942B1 (en) 2017-09-06 2021-07-14 G.D Società per Azioni Hopper for smoking articles

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Publication number Publication date
EP0539324B1 (en) 1995-11-02
DE69205797T2 (en) 1996-05-30
DE69205797D1 (en) 1995-12-07

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