EP0646329B1 - Apparatus for supplying tobacco to cigarette-making machines - Google Patents

Apparatus for supplying tobacco to cigarette-making machines Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0646329B1
EP0646329B1 EP19930810700 EP93810700A EP0646329B1 EP 0646329 B1 EP0646329 B1 EP 0646329B1 EP 19930810700 EP19930810700 EP 19930810700 EP 93810700 A EP93810700 A EP 93810700A EP 0646329 B1 EP0646329 B1 EP 0646329B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tobacco
installation according
container
containers
opening
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19930810700
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0646329A1 (en
Inventor
Siegfried Abrahams
Manfred Dabner
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
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fabriques de Tabac Reunies SA filed Critical Fabriques de Tabac Reunies SA
Priority to EP19930810700 priority Critical patent/EP0646329B1/en
Priority to DE1993618298 priority patent/DE69318298T2/en
Priority to CZ942303A priority patent/CZ282163B6/en
Publication of EP0646329A1 publication Critical patent/EP0646329A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0646329B1 publication Critical patent/EP0646329B1/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/39—Tobacco feeding devices
    • A24C5/391—Tobacco feeding devices feeding to several cigarette making machines

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a tobacco supply facility for machinery manufacture of tobacco industry products, including cigarettes.
  • a power plant for several manufacturing machinery is described in the application EP-A-0.390.732, said installation being shown in Figure 1 of this application where we have a tobacco supply 1 from a non-stock depicted, the tobacco being distributed on a vibrating table 10 from which it is sucked through the pipes 11 to power manufacturing machines 12 via locks 13, suction of air being done through the pipes 14, meeting in a single pipe 15 leading to the installation suction 16.
  • each suction line 11 since the mouth of each suction line 11 is located at a different point on the surface of the vibrating table 10, an irregular distribution of tobacco according to this surface results in irregular feeding of machines 12, this effect being further accentuated when a machine stops working and its tobacco aspiration is cut off, causing the qualities of tobacco sucked in by the other pipes to destination of other machines will be changed; so the operation or shutdown of a manufacturing machine cause of variations in the quality of tobacco on other machines.
  • the system described above does not allow easy powering of machines smooth manufacturing, which decreases their yield and leads to degradation of the strands of tobacco.
  • Another disadvantage of this installation is that it is relatively difficult to change the diet a manufacturing machine 12 powered by a first tobacco mixture, in order to feed it with a other mixing, this requires another vibrating table 10 as well as the disassembly of part of the pipes 11 to bring them above the second table vibrating 10. Dismantling and reassembly of pipes 11 are tedious and long and do not allow fast passage, for a manufacturing machine 12 determined, from one tobacco mixture to another.
  • EP-A-0375631 and patent FR-A-1170854 describe feeding devices consisting of buckets arranged one behind the other on a rail passing near at least one station filling with tobacco and at least one emptying station. By position successive buckets on the rail, the system offers little flexibility for its use, especially if you want to power several machines manufacturing cigarettes with different mixtures.
  • a first object of the invention is therefore to propose an installation supply of machinery for manufacturing tobacco industry products, especially cigarettes, which do not have the drawbacks mentioned above, that is to say allowing a supply of the manufacturing machines in constant quality tobacco, without degradation of the tobacco strands.
  • Another object of the invention is to propose an installation also allowing rapid change of the tobacco feed mixture one or more specific manufacturing machines.
  • the invention proposes an installation feeder having the characteristics of claims 1 to 12.
  • the installation consists of three main parts, a tobacco reception part 2, a distribution part tobacco 3 and a distribution part of tobacco 4 to the manufacturing machines, the latter not being shown in the figure.
  • the reception part 2 includes at least one means of transport 20 a tobacco mixture, for example a carpet rolling. This preferably pours tobacco into a weir 21 consisting for example of an open tube at its two ends and leading the tobacco towards the part of tobacco distribution 3.
  • a weir 21 consisting for example of an open tube at its two ends and leading the tobacco towards the part of tobacco distribution 3.
  • the reception part tobacco 2 is placed in a stacked room to the one containing the other two parts of the installation, that is to say that a slab 22 ensures the separation of said premises. This arrangement avoids the spread of tobacco dust from part of installation to another.
  • the weir 21 ensures the transition of tobacco between the two premises, respectively between reception part 2 and part distribution 3.
  • a mobile container 30 consisting a tank whose upper face is adapted at the lower mouth of weir 21 and whose underside includes closing / opening means 31 allowing it to be blocked or opened.
  • the closing / opening means 31 are currently in closed position and the tobacco falls directly from the treadmill 20 whose start-up has been ordered by the presence of the mobile container 30 under the weir 21, through said weir, in order to fill the mobile container 30.
  • each distribution hopper 40 is open and leads to a means of evacuation consisting of example of a treadmill 41 bringing tobacco into a evacuation chamber 42, from which it is extracted, from preferably by suction, by evacuation pipes 43 to be taken in a known manner to the cigarette making machines.
  • each evacuation chamber 42 is equipped with two pipes evacuation 43, arranged on both sides side of said chamber, as shown in view of the distribution hopper 40 located in the center of the figure, where the evacuation chamber 42 is rotated 90 ° from the other two to represent this possibility.
  • each distribution hopper 40 can supply two machines manufacturing cigarettes.
  • each evacuation chamber 42 is contained in an enclosure 42A comprising an opening 42B for air suction.
  • the installation already meets the first of the goals set, namely to supply tobacco manufacturing machines with constant quality since he did not have the opportunity to separate into long or short strands on a table vibrant.
  • the second goal which is to easily allow the passage of a production of a first mixture tobacco to another is obtained by furnishing the part receiving 2 from at least one other means of transport 20A driving another tobacco mixture into another weir 21. So therefore, and in the same way as described higher, a mobile container 30 can be loaded the second mixture coming from under the weir 21 fed by the second mixture for then route it to the distribution hopper 40 supplying the manufacturing machine (s) using this second mixture. It is understood that it is possible provide more than two mixes, the reception part 2 being provided with the number of means of transport and weirs accordingly. Similarly and according to the number of manufacturing machines using a mixture given, it is also possible that a determined mixture goes through more than one means of transportation 20 and more than one weir 21.
  • the receiving part 2 can be designed according to different variations of what has been described above; for example as seen in Figure 2, the spillway 21 on the right also includes means for closing / opening 23 for blocking, respectively open the lower mouth of the weir.
  • the means of tobacco transport respectively the treadmill 20A
  • the weir 21 can thus provide tobacco buffer storage; in this case the relative interior volumes of the weir provided with means closing / opening will be chosen so that that there cannot be more tobacco stored in the spillway that the container cannot accept mobile.
  • FIGS 3A and 3B Other variants are shown in Figures 3A and 3B where, in Figure 3A, the means of tobacco transport consist of a pipe 24 bringing tobacco by aspiration, this conduct preferably opening into a lock 25 of technique known performing the separation of tobacco and the air used to transport it; this variant is preferably completed with sealing means, shown here in the form of a wall 26 ensuring the sealing of the upper opening of the container mobile 30.
  • sealing means shown here in the form of a wall 26 ensuring the sealing of the upper opening of the container mobile 30.
  • the spillway was suppressed, tobacco flowing directly from the means of transport in the mobile container.
  • the tobacco is brought by gravity into one or several pipes 27 and flows into a weir 28 having a funnel shape. It is understood that the various described elements of these different variants can be combined with each other, the choice of embodiment of the receiving part 2 dependent basically production constraints as well than those from the layout of the premises in which the installation is housed.
  • vents can lead to the open air, but preferably on an outdoor room 36, respectively 46, surrounding said container or said hopper, which preferably will include a dust filter 37 or 47 and optionally a device air intake on its outlet portion.
  • a dust filter 37 or 47 and optionally a device air intake on its outlet portion.
  • the vents 35 or 45 can be of any which number, shape and size are suitable, being represented in the figures as oblique openings in the wall; in Figure 4B we added a fin guide to each vent to facilitate circulation air. According to the filling method of the weirs 21, these can also be provided with such vents.
  • the closing / opening means 31 of the containers mobile 30 and 23 weirs 21 have been shown in Figure 2 in the form of means a movable flaps opening downwards. It is obviously also possible to have differently constructed means, for example of the drawer type or diaphragm. These opening / closing means can be remotely controlled or have a mechanical control opening them automatically when are located directly above the element into which the tobacco is to be dumped.
  • the shape of the cross section of the weirs, containers and hoppers is not very important, it is simply that these forms are adapted when two elements are coupled and the tobacco strands are not damaged when moved in the item in question.
  • sealing means between the various parts between which the tobacco circulates, like for example represented at 29 under the weir 21 on the left and in 49 on the hopper 40 on the left.
  • These sealing means radial must allow the passage of tobacco from to each other without strands or dust tobacco cannot escape the interface.
  • They are suitably suited to their purpose, being made up of a single ring-shaped joint, placed on one of the mouthpieces or in two half seals each disposed on the mouthpieces elements intended to come and fit together. These seals are preferably made of material flexible.
  • control means 5 preferably means IT.
  • the control unit 50 mainly receives hopper filling status signals 40, signals supplied by level 51 detectors and 52, respectively providing a hopper full signal and almost empty hopper. Other signals indicate the position of each mobile container 30 along the guide means 32, these signals being supplied by the detectors 53.
  • the unit 50 controls the movements of the mobile container (s) 30, when it has received a signal from a hopper 40 indicating a minimum level of tobacco, to go to position under a weir 21, ready to supply a tobacco mixture determined, then possibly controls the setting route of tobacco supply means 20 in case the spillway 21 is not intended for storage, then when the container is filled, either after a fixed period or after receiving a signal indicating this state, controls the movement of the container by its propulsion means 33, towards the empty hopper 40 which it must feed of this tobacco mixture.
  • Unit 50 can also control the speed of the treadmills 41 according to the number of manufacturing machines in operation powered by said treadmill.
  • the openings and closings of the means 23 and 31 can be performed automatically by mechanical means or also be ordered by unit 50. If one or more weirs 21 are equipped to act as buffer storage, they can also be fitted with detectors 54 to indicate the filling state. In case, as in the example shown, there are more than two containers mobile using the same guide means 32, the program will be supplemented by an anti-collision program.
  • the signals and commands described here represent the minimum of what is required for operation correct installation, it is understood that other signals and commands may be provided in order to to further facilitate its operation.
  • the program computer contained in the control unit 50 includes all manufacturing data, including assigning tobacco mixtures to different machines Manufacturing.
  • Figure 5 shows schematically from above a preferred embodiment of a feed installation according to the invention, also comprising a part tobacco reception 2, part distribution of tobacco 3 and a tobacco distribution section 4.
  • the reception part 2 here comprises three means of transport 20 and three weirs 21, which can therefore supply the installation with one, two or three mixtures different tobacco; it is understood that installation will include a number of means of transportation and weirs corresponding to the needs of the manufacturing.
  • the installation shown here includes five distribution hoppers 40, thereby feeding ten cigarette making machines. Like before, an installation will include the number of hoppers necessary to supply manufacturing machines installed. Unlike the form of execution shown in Figure 2, weirs 21 and the hoppers 40 are not placed directly against each other above the others but in parallel vertical planes separate.
  • the distribution part 3 is designed differently from that described above; she consists of a support carriage 38, movable according to an axis parallel to the planes containing the weirs and the hoppers, moving on guide means 32, for example one or more rails, under the action of means of propulsion 33.
  • the support carriage 38 is provided with four containers 30 as previously described, arranged each on telescopic support means 39 suitable for retract or lengthen, either to bring closer or move each container 30 away from the support carriage 38, under the action of displacement means 39A.
  • the support trolley 38 is further provided with rotation means around a vertical axis allowing to rotate the containers 30 in steps of a quarter turn in the example shown, so that everyone of them can be positioned sequentially in filling position under a distributor 21 or emptying above a hopper 40.
  • the support trolley 38 was brought in front of a weir 21, respectively of a hopper 40 and swiveled its containers 30, then moved two of them away by their means of movement 39A, so as to bring an empty container to the below the weir, so that it can be filled, and a full container above the hopper in order to empty.
  • the displacement means 39A of the other two containers which can be empty or full, hold these in the close position of the support trolley 38.
  • this one swivels a quarter of tower and moves in front of another weir 21, respectively from another hopper 40 in order to carry out the same operations with the other two containers.
  • a control unit 50 ensures the good progress of these different operations.
  • the program actuating said control unit knows in the contents of each container in order to go to the next empty hopper to fill with mixture in question.
  • the number of weirs 21 is different from the number of hoppers 40, we will have a certain number across from each other to decrease the number of the support carriage 38 and allow that, for certain positions, filling a container can be performed simultaneously with the emptying of another.
  • the support carriage 38 is provided with four containers 30; in fact the number of containers will be chosen according to the number of weirs and hoppers in the installation, so that the operation of the installation be as regular as possible.
  • the means of support 39 are telescopic; it is also possible, in case the hoppers 40 respectively the weirs 21 are sufficiently distant from each other that approaching and moving away from a container 30 of these elements are made according to the circular pivoting movement containers.
  • the volumes of hoppers and containers are determined according to the number of machines of manufacturing to supply as well as speed execution of a filling-displacement cycle - emptying - moving a container; typically a cycle as above is done in about 20 seconds, each hopper may contain a reserve of tobacco corresponding to a few minutes of operation manufacturing machines.

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  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne une installation d'alimentation en tabac de machines de fabrication de produits de l'industrie du tabac, notamment de cigarettes.The present invention relates to a tobacco supply facility for machinery manufacture of tobacco industry products, including cigarettes.

Le transport du tabac depuis son endroit de stockage jusqu'aux machines de fabrication des cigarettes est une opération délicate dans la mesure où les brins de tabac doivent être transportés sans être endommagés et où il est nécessaire que les machines de fabrication soient régulièrement alimentées afin de ne pas créer des à-coups de fabrication.Transport of tobacco from its place of storage up to cigarette making machines is a delicate operation insofar as the tobacco strands must be transported without being damaged and where it is necessary that the machines of are regularly fed in order not to not create manufacturing jolts.

Une installation d'alimentation pour plusieurs machines de fabrication est décrite dans la demande EP-A-0.390.732, ladite installation étant représentée à la figure 1 de la présente demande où on a une alimentation en tabac 1 en provenance d'un stock non représenté, le tabac étant réparti sur une table vibrante 10 de laquelle il est aspiré à travers les canalisations 11 pour alimenter les machines de fabrication 12 par l'intermédiaire des écluses 13, l'aspiration d'air se faisant par les canalisations 14, se réunissant en une seule canalisation 15 aboutissant à l'installation d'aspiration 16.A power plant for several manufacturing machinery is described in the application EP-A-0.390.732, said installation being shown in Figure 1 of this application where we have a tobacco supply 1 from a non-stock depicted, the tobacco being distributed on a vibrating table 10 from which it is sucked through the pipes 11 to power manufacturing machines 12 via locks 13, suction of air being done through the pipes 14, meeting in a single pipe 15 leading to the installation suction 16.

Le principal inconvénient de cette installation selon l'art antérieur provient de ce que le tabac réside un certain temps sur la table vibrante 10 faisant que, sous l'effet des vibrations, il se produit une séparation du tabac selon les dimensions des brins, les longues fibres ayant tendance à se regrouper en une couche supérieure alors que les fibres plus courtes ont tendance à s'enfoncer dans le lit de tabac; ceci crée dans chaque conduite d'aspiration 11 une distribution irrégulière des brins de tabac. De plus, vu que l'embouchure de chaque conduite d'aspiration 11 est située en un point différent de la surface de la table vibrante 10, une répartition irrégulière du tabac selon cette surface entraíne une alimentation irrégulière des machines de fabrication 12, cet effet étant encore accentué lorsqu'une machine cesse de fonctionner et que son aspiration de tabac est coupée, faisant que les qualités de tabac aspirées par les autres canalisations à destination des autres machines seront modifiées; ainsi le fonctionnement ou l'arrêt d'une machine de fabrication cause des variations de qualité du tabac sur les autres machines. D'autre part, le système décrit ci-dessus ne permet pas facilement d'alimenter les machines de fabrication sans à-coups, ce qui diminue leur rendement et conduit à une dégradation des brins de tabac. Un autre inconvénient de cette installation est qu'il est relativement difficile de modifier l'alimentation d'une machine de fabrication 12 alimentée par un premier mélange de tabac, afin de l'alimenter par un autre mélange, ceci nécessitant une autre table vibrante 10 ainsi que le démontage d'une partie des canalisation 11 pour les amener au-dessus de la deuxième table vibrante 10. Les démontages et remontages de canalisations 11 sont fastidieux et longs et ne permettent pas un passage rapide, pour une machine de fabrication 12 déterminée, d'un mélange de tabac à un autre. The main drawback of this installation according to the prior art comes from the fact that tobacco resides for a while on the vibrating table 10 making that, under the effect of vibrations, it occurs a separation of the tobacco according to the dimensions of the strands, long fibers tend to cluster in one upper layer while the shorter fibers have tendency to sink into the tobacco bed; this creates in each suction line 11 a distribution irregular tobacco strands. In addition, since the mouth of each suction line 11 is located at a different point on the surface of the vibrating table 10, an irregular distribution of tobacco according to this surface results in irregular feeding of machines 12, this effect being further accentuated when a machine stops working and its tobacco aspiration is cut off, causing the qualities of tobacco sucked in by the other pipes to destination of other machines will be changed; so the operation or shutdown of a manufacturing machine cause of variations in the quality of tobacco on other machines. On the other hand, the system described above does not allow easy powering of machines smooth manufacturing, which decreases their yield and leads to degradation of the strands of tobacco. Another disadvantage of this installation is that it is relatively difficult to change the diet a manufacturing machine 12 powered by a first tobacco mixture, in order to feed it with a other mixing, this requires another vibrating table 10 as well as the disassembly of part of the pipes 11 to bring them above the second table vibrating 10. Dismantling and reassembly of pipes 11 are tedious and long and do not allow fast passage, for a manufacturing machine 12 determined, from one tobacco mixture to another.

La demande EP-A-0375631 ainsi que le brevet FR-A-1170854 décrivent des dispositifs d'alimentation constitués de godets disposés l'un derrière l'autre sur un rail passant à proximité d'au moins une station de remplissage de tabac et d'au moins une station de vidage. De par la position successive des godets sur le rail, le système offre peu de souplesse pour son utilisation, notamment dans le cas où on désire alimenter plusieurs machines de fabrication de cigarettes avec des mélanges différents.Application EP-A-0375631 and patent FR-A-1170854 describe feeding devices consisting of buckets arranged one behind the other on a rail passing near at least one station filling with tobacco and at least one emptying station. By position successive buckets on the rail, the system offers little flexibility for its use, especially if you want to power several machines manufacturing cigarettes with different mixtures.

Un premier but de l'invention est donc de proposer une installation d'alimentation de machines de fabrication de produits de l'industrie du tabac, notamment de cigarettes, ne comportant pas les inconvénients mentionnés ci-dessus, c'est-à-dire permettant une alimentation des machines de fabrication en tabac de qualité constante, sans dégradation des brins de tabac.A first object of the invention is therefore to propose an installation supply of machinery for manufacturing tobacco industry products, especially cigarettes, which do not have the drawbacks mentioned above, that is to say allowing a supply of the manufacturing machines in constant quality tobacco, without degradation of the tobacco strands.

Un autre but de l'invention est de proposer une installation permettant en outre de rapidement changer le mélange de tabac alimentant une ou plusieurs machines de fabrication déterminées.Another object of the invention is to propose an installation also allowing rapid change of the tobacco feed mixture one or more specific manufacturing machines.

Afin d'atteindre ces buts, l'invention propose une installation d'alimentation possédant les caractéristiques des revendications 1 à 12.In order to achieve these goals, the invention proposes an installation feeder having the characteristics of claims 1 to 12.

L'invention est plus particulièrement compréhensible par la description ci-dessous en regard du dessin annexé comportant les figures où:

  • la figure 1 représente schématiquement une installation d'alimentation de machines de fabrication de cigarettes selon l'art antérieur,
  • la figure 2 représente une vue en élévation schématique d'une forme d'exécution d'une installation d'alimentation qui ne montre pas encore le chariot-support de l'invention,
  • la figure 3A représente une forme d'exécution particulière de la partie d'entrée de l'installation de la figure 2,
  • la figure 3B représente encore une autre forme d'exécution de la partie d'entrée de l'installation de la figure 2,
  • la figure 4A représente une coupe partielle d'une partie d'un élément de l'installation, selon une forme d'exécution de moyens d'évacuation d'air,
  • la figure 4B représente une autre forme d'exécution des moyens d'évacuation d'air, et
  • la figure 5 représente une vue en plan schématique d'une forme d'exécution préférentielle d'une installation d'alimentation selon l'invention.
    • The invention is more particularly understandable by the description below with reference to the appended drawing comprising the figures where:
  • FIG. 1 schematically represents an installation for supplying cigarette manufacturing machines according to the prior art,
  • FIG. 2 represents a schematic elevation view of an embodiment of a supply installation which does not yet show the support trolley of the invention,
  • FIG. 3A represents a particular embodiment of the input part of the installation of FIG. 2,
  • FIG. 3B represents yet another embodiment of the input part of the installation of FIG. 2,
  • FIG. 4A represents a partial section of a part of an element of the installation, according to an embodiment of air evacuation means,
  • FIG. 4B shows another embodiment of the air evacuation means, and
  • FIG. 5 represents a schematic plan view of a preferred embodiment of a supply installation according to the invention.

    • A la figure 2, on a une vue schématique en élévation et en coupe d'une installation d'alimentation permettant d'alimenter six machines de fabrication à partir de deux mélanges différents de tabac.In Figure 2, we have a schematic view in elevation and section of a supply system to power six manufacturing machines at from two different tobacco blends.

    L'installation comprend trois parties principales, une partie réception du tabac 2, une partie répartition du tabac 3 et une partie distribution du tabac 4 vers les machines de fabrication, ces dernières n'étant pas représentées sur la figure. La partie réception 2 comprend au moins un moyen de transport 20 d'un mélange de tabac, constitué par exemple d'un tapis roulant. Celui-ci déverse le tabac de préférence dans un déversoir 21 constitué par exemple d'un tube ouvert à ses deux extrémités et conduisant le tabac vers la partie de répartition du tabac 3. De préférence, mais sans que cela soit absolument nécessaire, la partie réception du tabac 2 est disposée dans un local superposé à celui contenant les deux autres parties de l'installation, c'est-à-dire qu'une dalle 22 assure la séparation desdits locaux. Cette disposition permet d'éviter la propagation des poussières de tabac d'une partie de l'installation à l'autre. En fait, le déversoir 21 assure la transition du tabac entre les deux locaux, respectivement entre la partie réception 2 et la partie répartition 3. Directement à l'embouchure inférieure du déversoir 21, on trouve un conteneur mobile 30, constitué d'une cuve dont la face supérieure vient s'adapter à l'embouchure inférieure du déversoir 21 et dont la face inférieure comprend des moyens de fermeture/ouverture 31 permettant de l'obstruer ou de l'ouvrir. Comme représenté sur cette partie de la figure, les moyens de fermeture/ouverture 31 sont actuellement en position fermée et le tabac tombe directement depuis le tapis roulant 20 dont la mise en route a été commandée par la présence du conteneur mobile 30 sous le déversoir 21, à travers ledit déversoir, afin de remplir le conteneur mobile 30. Dès que ce dernier est plein, il est apte à se déplacer le long de moyens de guidage 32, sous l'action de moyens de propulsion 33, afin de pouvoir amener son contenu vers la partie de distribution 4 composée ici de trois trémies de distribution 40. Comme on le voit sur la partie droite de la figure, un conteneur mobile 30 a été amené au-dessus d'une trémie de distribution 40, les moyens de fermeture/ouverture 31 ont été ouverts et le tabac peut s'écouler à l'intérieur de la trémie de distribution 40. L'extrémité inférieure de chaque trémie de distribution 40 est ouverte et débouche sur un moyen d'évacuation constitué par exemple d'un tapis roulant 41 amenant le tabac dans une chambre d'évacuation 42, de laquelle il est extrait, de préférence par aspiration, par les canalisations d'évacuation 43 pour être emmené de manière connue vers les machines de fabrication de cigarettes. De préférence chaque chambre d'évacuation 42 est équipée de deux canalisations d'évacuation 43, disposées sur les deux faces latérales de ladite chambre, comme représenté en regard de la trémie de distribution 40 disposée au centre de la figure, où la chambre d'évacuation 42 est tournée de 90° par rapport aux deux autres afin de représenter cette possibilité. De cette manière, chaque trémie de distribution 40 peut alimenter deux machines de fabrication de cigarettes. Afin de permettre l'évacuation du tabac par aspiration, chaque chambre d'évacuation 42 est contenue dans une enceinte 42A comportant une ouverture 42B pour l'aspiration d'air.The installation consists of three main parts, a tobacco reception part 2, a distribution part tobacco 3 and a distribution part of tobacco 4 to the manufacturing machines, the latter not being shown in the figure. The reception part 2 includes at least one means of transport 20 a tobacco mixture, for example a carpet rolling. This preferably pours tobacco into a weir 21 consisting for example of an open tube at its two ends and leading the tobacco towards the part of tobacco distribution 3. Preferably, but without it being absolutely necessary, the reception part tobacco 2 is placed in a stacked room to the one containing the other two parts of the installation, that is to say that a slab 22 ensures the separation of said premises. This arrangement avoids the spread of tobacco dust from part of installation to another. In fact, the weir 21 ensures the transition of tobacco between the two premises, respectively between reception part 2 and part distribution 3. Directly at the lower mouth of the weir 21, there is a mobile container 30, consisting a tank whose upper face is adapted at the lower mouth of weir 21 and whose underside includes closing / opening means 31 allowing it to be blocked or opened. As shown in this part of the figure, the closing / opening means 31 are currently in closed position and the tobacco falls directly from the treadmill 20 whose start-up has been ordered by the presence of the mobile container 30 under the weir 21, through said weir, in order to fill the mobile container 30. As soon as it is full, it is able to move along guide means 32, under the action of propulsion means 33, in order to be able bring its content to the distribution part 4 composed here of three distribution hoppers 40. As seen on the right side of the figure, a mobile container 30 was brought over a hopper dispenser 40, the closing / opening means 31 have been opened and the tobacco can flow inside of the distribution hopper 40. The lower end of each distribution hopper 40 is open and leads to a means of evacuation consisting of example of a treadmill 41 bringing tobacco into a evacuation chamber 42, from which it is extracted, from preferably by suction, by evacuation pipes 43 to be taken in a known manner to the cigarette making machines. Preferably each evacuation chamber 42 is equipped with two pipes evacuation 43, arranged on both sides side of said chamber, as shown in view of the distribution hopper 40 located in the center of the figure, where the evacuation chamber 42 is rotated 90 ° from the other two to represent this possibility. In this way, each distribution hopper 40 can supply two machines manufacturing cigarettes. To allow evacuation tobacco by aspiration, each evacuation chamber 42 is contained in an enclosure 42A comprising an opening 42B for air suction.

    Telle que décrite ci-dessus, l'installation permet déjà de répondre au premier des buts fixés, soit d'alimenter les machines de fabrication par du tabac de qualité constante vu qu'il n'a pas eu l'occasion de se séparer en brins longs ou courts sur une table vibrante. As described above, the installation already meets the first of the goals set, namely to supply tobacco manufacturing machines with constant quality since he did not have the opportunity to separate into long or short strands on a table vibrant.

    Le deuxième but fixé, soit de permettre facilement le passage d'une production d'un premier mélange de tabac à un autre est obtenu en munissant la partie de réception 2 d'au moins un autre moyen de transport 20A conduisant un autre mélange de tabac dans un autre déversoir 21. Ainsi donc, et de la même manière que décrite plus haut, un conteneur mobile 30 pourra se charger du deuxième mélange en venant se placer sous le déversoir 21 alimenté par le deuxième mélange pour l'acheminer ensuite vers la trémie de distribution 40 alimentant la ou les machines de fabrication utilisant ce deuxième mélange. Il est bien entendu qu'il est possible de prévoir plus de deux mélanges, la partie réception 2 étant munie du nombre de moyens de transport et de déversoirs en conséquence. De même et selon le nombre de machines de fabrication utilisant un mélange donné, il est aussi possible qu'un mélange déterminé passe par plus d'un moyen de transport 20 et plus d'un déversoir 21.The second goal, which is to easily allow the passage of a production of a first mixture tobacco to another is obtained by furnishing the part receiving 2 from at least one other means of transport 20A driving another tobacco mixture into another weir 21. So therefore, and in the same way as described higher, a mobile container 30 can be loaded the second mixture coming from under the weir 21 fed by the second mixture for then route it to the distribution hopper 40 supplying the manufacturing machine (s) using this second mixture. It is understood that it is possible provide more than two mixes, the reception part 2 being provided with the number of means of transport and weirs accordingly. Similarly and according to the number of manufacturing machines using a mixture given, it is also possible that a determined mixture goes through more than one means of transportation 20 and more than one weir 21.

    La partie de réception 2 peut être conçue selon différentes variantes de ce qui a été décrit ci-dessus; par exemple comme on le voit sur la figure 2, le déversoir 21 de droite comprend aussi des moyens de fermeture/ouverture 23 permettant d'obstruer, respectivement ouvrir l'embouchure inférieure du déversoir. De cette manière, les moyens de transport de tabac, respectivement le tapis roulant 20A, peuvent fonctionner en continu sans attendre qu'un conteneur mobile 30 soit prêt à recevoir le tabac. En plus de la fonction de transfert du tabac entre la partie de réception 2 et la partie de répartition 3, le déversoir 21 peut ainsi assurer un stockage tampon de tabac; dans ce cas les volumes intérieurs relatifs du déversoir muni de moyens de fermeture/ouverture seront choisis de manière à ce qu'il ne puisse pas y avoir davantage de tabac stocké dans le déversoir que ne peut en accepter le conteneur mobile. D'autres variantes sont représentées aux figures 3A et 3B où, à la figure 3A, les moyens de transport de tabac sont constitués d'une conduite 24 amenant le tabac par aspiration, cette conduite débouchant de préférence dans une écluse 25 de technique connue effectuant la séparation du tabac et de l'air ayant servi à son transport; cette variante est complétée de préférence de moyens d'étanchéité, représentés ici sous la forme d'une paroi 26 assurant l'étanchéité de l'ouverture supérieure du conteneur mobile 30. On voit en outre que le déversoir a été supprimé, le tabac s'écoulant directement depuis les moyens de transport dans le conteneur mobile. A la figure 3B, le tabac est amené par gravité dans une ou plusieurs conduites 27 et s'écoule dans un déversoir 28 ayant une forme d'entonnoir. Il est bien entendu que les divers éléments décrits de ces différentes variantes peuvent être combinés entre eux, le choix de la forme d'exécution de la partie de réception 2 dépendant essentiellement des contraintes de la production ainsi que de celles provenant de la disposition des locaux dans laquelle l'installation est logée.The receiving part 2 can be designed according to different variations of what has been described above; for example as seen in Figure 2, the spillway 21 on the right also includes means for closing / opening 23 for blocking, respectively open the lower mouth of the weir. Of this way, the means of tobacco transport, respectively the treadmill 20A, can operate continuously without waiting for a mobile container 30 be ready to receive tobacco. In addition to the function tobacco transfer between receiving part 2 and the distribution part 3, the weir 21 can thus provide tobacco buffer storage; in this case the relative interior volumes of the weir provided with means closing / opening will be chosen so that that there cannot be more tobacco stored in the spillway that the container cannot accept mobile. Other variants are shown in Figures 3A and 3B where, in Figure 3A, the means of tobacco transport consist of a pipe 24 bringing tobacco by aspiration, this conduct preferably opening into a lock 25 of technique known performing the separation of tobacco and the air used to transport it; this variant is preferably completed with sealing means, shown here in the form of a wall 26 ensuring the sealing of the upper opening of the container mobile 30. We also see that the spillway was suppressed, tobacco flowing directly from the means of transport in the mobile container. To the Figure 3B, the tobacco is brought by gravity into one or several pipes 27 and flows into a weir 28 having a funnel shape. It is understood that the various described elements of these different variants can be combined with each other, the choice of embodiment of the receiving part 2 dependent basically production constraints as well than those from the layout of the premises in which the installation is housed.

    Lors de l'écoulement du tabac dans un conteneur mobile 30 ou dans une trémie de distribution 40, uniquement par l'effet de la gravité, le tabac descendant sous la forme d'une masse compacte a un effet de piston sur l'air contenu dans le conteneur ou la trémie en question. Cet air doit donc être évacué afin de permettre l'entrée du tabac. Pour ceci, les parois latérales du conteneur, respectivement de la trémie, comportent des moyens d'évacuation d'air, comme représenté par exemple aux figures 4A ou 4B. Ces figures représentent, à échelle agrandie, une portion de paroi 34 d'un conteneur 30 ou une portion de paroi 44 d'une trémie 40 vue en coupe. Ladite paroi est percée d'évents 35 ou 45, régulièrement disposés le long de la paroi et sur le pourtour de celle-ci. Ces évents peuvent déboucher à l'air libre, mais de préférence sur une chambre extérieure 36, respectivement 46, entourant ledit conteneur ou ladite trémie, laquelle comportera de préférence un filtre à poussière 37 ou 47 et éventuellement un dispositif d'aspiration d'air sur sa portion de sortie. De cette manière, lorsque le tabac descend dans le conteneur, respectivement dans la trémie, comme représenté sur la gauche des deux figures, l'air peut s'échapper par les évents, être collecté par la chambre extérieure puis passer à travers le filtre où les poussières de tabac sont recueillies afin de ne pas s'échapper à l'air libre. Les évents 35 ou 45 peuvent être de n'importe quel nombre, forme et dimension idoine, étant représentés sur les figures comme des ouvertures obliques dans la paroi; sur la figure 4B on a ajouté une ailette de guidage à chaque évent afin de faciliter la circulation de l'air. Selon le mode de remplissage des déversoirs 21, ceux-ci peuvent aussi être munis de tels évents.When flowing tobacco into a container mobile 30 or in a distribution hopper 40, only by the effect of gravity, tobacco descending in the form of a compact mass has an effect of piston on the air contained in the container or the hopper in question. This air must therefore be exhausted to allow the entry of tobacco. For this, the side walls container, respectively hopper, have air exhaust means, as shown for example in Figures 4A or 4B. These figures represent, on an enlarged scale, a wall portion 34 of a container 30 or a wall portion 44 of a hopper 40 sectional view. Said wall is pierced with vents 35 or 45, regularly arranged along the wall and on around it. These vents can lead to the open air, but preferably on an outdoor room 36, respectively 46, surrounding said container or said hopper, which preferably will include a dust filter 37 or 47 and optionally a device air intake on its outlet portion. Of this way, when the tobacco goes down into the container, respectively in the hopper, as shown on the left of the two figures, air can escape through the vents, be collected by the outer chamber then pass through the filter where the dust from tobacco are collected so as not to escape the open air. The vents 35 or 45 can be of any which number, shape and size are suitable, being represented in the figures as oblique openings in the wall; in Figure 4B we added a fin guide to each vent to facilitate circulation air. According to the filling method of the weirs 21, these can also be provided with such vents.

    Les moyens de fermeture/ouverture 31 des conteneurs mobiles 30 et 23 des déversoirs 21 ont été représentés sur la figure 2 sous la forme de moyens a clapets mobiles s'ouvrant vers le bas. Il est évidemment aussi possible d'avoir des moyens construits différemment, par exemple du type à tiroir ou à diaphragme. Ces moyens d'ouverture/fermeture peuvent être commandés à distance ou alors être munis d'une commande mécanique les ouvrant automatiquement lorsqu'ils se trouvent directement au-dessus de l'élément dans laquelle le tabac doit être déversé.The closing / opening means 31 of the containers mobile 30 and 23 weirs 21 have been shown in Figure 2 in the form of means a movable flaps opening downwards. It is obviously also possible to have differently constructed means, for example of the drawer type or diaphragm. These opening / closing means can be remotely controlled or have a mechanical control opening them automatically when are located directly above the element into which the tobacco is to be dumped.

    La forme de la section transversale des déversoirs, conteneurs et trémies n'est pas très importante, il s'agit simplement que ces formes soient adaptées lorsque deux éléments sont couplés et que les brins de tabac ne s'abíment pas lors de leur déplacement dans l'élément en question.The shape of the cross section of the weirs, containers and hoppers is not very important, it is simply that these forms are adapted when two elements are coupled and the tobacco strands are not damaged when moved in the item in question.

    L'installation de la figure 2 peut être complétée de moyens d'étanchéité entre les diverses parties entre lesquelles circule le tabac, comme par exemple représenté en 29 sous le déversoir 21 de gauche et en 49 sur la trémie 40 de gauche. Ces moyens d'étanchéité radiale doivent permettre le passage du tabac de l'une à l'autre partie sans que des brins ou des poussières de tabac ne puissent s'échapper à l'interface. Ils sont conformés de manière idoine à leur but, étant constitués en un seul joint en forme générale d'anneau, disposé sur l'une des embouchures ou alors en deux demi-joints chacun étant disposé sur les embouchures des éléments destinées à venir s'ajuster ensemble. Ces joints d'étanchéité sont de préférence en matériau souple.The installation of figure 2 can be completed sealing means between the various parts between which the tobacco circulates, like for example represented at 29 under the weir 21 on the left and in 49 on the hopper 40 on the left. These sealing means radial must allow the passage of tobacco from to each other without strands or dust tobacco cannot escape the interface. They are suitably suited to their purpose, being made up of a single ring-shaped joint, placed on one of the mouthpieces or in two half seals each disposed on the mouthpieces elements intended to come and fit together. These seals are preferably made of material flexible.

    Afin d'assurer le fonctionnement correct de l'installation et le déroulement systématique des opération de remplissage/vidage des différents éléments, l'installation est avantageusement complétée par des moyens de commande 5, de préférence des moyens informatiques. L'unité de commande 50 reçoit principalement des signaux d'état de remplissage des trémies 40, signaux fournis par des détecteurs de niveau 51 et 52, fournissant respectivement un signal trémie pleine et trémie presque vide. D'autres signaux indiquent la position de chaque conteneur mobile 30 le long des moyens de guidage 32, ces signaux étant fournis par les détecteurs 53. Sur la base des indications reçues et d'un programme interne, l'unité 50 commande les déplacements du ou des conteneurs mobiles 30, lorsqu'il a reçu un signal en provenance d'une trémie 40 indiquant un niveau minimum de tabac, pour aller se positionner sous un déversoir 21, prêt à fournir un mélange de tabac déterminé, puis commande éventuellement la mise en route des moyens d'amenée de tabac 20 au cas où le déversoir 21 n'est pas prévu pour du stockage, puis lorsque le conteneur est rempli, soit après une durée déterminée ou après réception d'un signal indiquant cet état, commande le déplacement du conteneur par ses moyens de propulsion 33, vers la trémie 40 vide qu'il doit alimenter de ce mélange de tabac. L'unité 50 peut aussi commander la vitesse des tapis roulants 41 selon le nombre de machines de fabrication en fonctionnement alimentées par ledit tapis roulant. Comme indiqué précédemment, les ouvertures et fermetures des moyens 23 et 31 peuvent être réalisées de manière automatique par des moyens mécaniques ou alors être aussi commandées par l'unité 50. Si un ou plusieurs déversoirs 21 sont équipés afin de faire office de stockage tampon, ils peuvent aussi être munis de détecteurs 54 afin d'indiquer l'état de remplissage. Au cas où, comme dans l'exemple représenté, il existe plus de deux conteneurs mobiles utilisant les mêmes moyens de guidage 32, le programme sera complété d'un programme anti-collision. Les signaux et commandes décrits ici représentent le minimum de ce qui est nécessaire pour un fonctionnement correct de l'installation, il est bien entendu que d'autres signaux et commandes peuvent être prévus afin d'en faciliter encore son fonctionnement. Le programme informatique contenu dans l'unité de commande 50 comprend toutes les données de fabrication, notamment l'attribution des mélanges de tabac aux différentes machines de fabrication.In order to ensure the correct functioning of the installation and the systematic sequence of operations filling / emptying the different elements, the installation is advantageously completed by control means 5, preferably means IT. The control unit 50 mainly receives hopper filling status signals 40, signals supplied by level 51 detectors and 52, respectively providing a hopper full signal and almost empty hopper. Other signals indicate the position of each mobile container 30 along the guide means 32, these signals being supplied by the detectors 53. Based on the indications received and of an internal program, the unit 50 controls the movements of the mobile container (s) 30, when it has received a signal from a hopper 40 indicating a minimum level of tobacco, to go to position under a weir 21, ready to supply a tobacco mixture determined, then possibly controls the setting route of tobacco supply means 20 in case the spillway 21 is not intended for storage, then when the container is filled, either after a fixed period or after receiving a signal indicating this state, controls the movement of the container by its propulsion means 33, towards the empty hopper 40 which it must feed of this tobacco mixture. Unit 50 can also control the speed of the treadmills 41 according to the number of manufacturing machines in operation powered by said treadmill. As previously stated, the openings and closings of the means 23 and 31 can be performed automatically by mechanical means or also be ordered by unit 50. If one or more weirs 21 are equipped to act as buffer storage, they can also be fitted with detectors 54 to indicate the filling state. In case, as in the example shown, there are more than two containers mobile using the same guide means 32, the program will be supplemented by an anti-collision program. The signals and commands described here represent the minimum of what is required for operation correct installation, it is understood that other signals and commands may be provided in order to to further facilitate its operation. The program computer contained in the control unit 50 includes all manufacturing data, including assigning tobacco mixtures to different machines Manufacturing.

    La figure 5 montre schématiquement par dessus une forme d'exécution préférentielle d'une installation d'alimentation selon l'invention, comportant aussi une partie réception du tabac 2, une partie répartition du tabac 3 et une partie distribution du tabac 4.Figure 5 shows schematically from above a preferred embodiment of a feed installation according to the invention, also comprising a part tobacco reception 2, part distribution of tobacco 3 and a tobacco distribution section 4.

    La partie réception 2 comprend ici trois moyens de transport 20 et trois déversoirs 21, pouvant donc alimenter l'installation par un, deux ou trois mélanges de tabac différents; il est bien entendu qu'une installation comportera un nombre de moyens de transport et de déversoirs correspondant aux besoins de la fabrication. L'installation représentée ici comporte cinq trémies de distribution 40, alimentant de ce fait dix machines de fabrication de cigarettes. Comme précédemment, une installation comprendra le nombre de trémies nécessaires à l'alimentation des machines de fabrication installées. Contrairement à la forme d'exécution représentée à la figure 2, les déversoirs 21 et les trémies 40 ne sont pas placés directement les uns au-dessus des autres mais dans des plans verticaux parallèles distincts.The reception part 2 here comprises three means of transport 20 and three weirs 21, which can therefore supply the installation with one, two or three mixtures different tobacco; it is understood that installation will include a number of means of transportation and weirs corresponding to the needs of the manufacturing. The installation shown here includes five distribution hoppers 40, thereby feeding ten cigarette making machines. Like before, an installation will include the number of hoppers necessary to supply manufacturing machines installed. Unlike the form of execution shown in Figure 2, weirs 21 and the hoppers 40 are not placed directly against each other above the others but in parallel vertical planes separate.

    A cause de ceci, la partie répartition 3 est conçue différemment de celle décrite précédemment; elle est constituée d'un chariot- support 38, mobile selon un axe parallèle aux plans contenant les déversoirs et les trémies, se déplaçant sur des moyens de guidage 32, par exemple un ou des rails, sous l'action de moyens de propulsion 33. Dans le cas représenté ici, le chariot-support 38 est muni de quatre conteneurs 30 comme précédemment décrits, disposés chacun sur des moyens support télescopiques 39 aptes à se rétracter ou s'allonger, soit à rapprocher ou éloigner chaque conteneur 30 du chariot-support 38, sous l'action de moyens de déplacement 39A. Le chariot-support 38 est en outre muni de moyens de rotation autour d'un axe vertical permettant de faire pivoter les conteneurs 30 par pas d'un quart de tour dans l'exemple représenté, de manière à ce que chacun d'entre eux puisse être positionné séquentiellement en position de remplissage sous un distributeur 21 ou de vidage au-dessus d'une trémie 40.Because of this, the distribution part 3 is designed differently from that described above; she consists of a support carriage 38, movable according to an axis parallel to the planes containing the weirs and the hoppers, moving on guide means 32, for example one or more rails, under the action of means of propulsion 33. In the case shown here, the support carriage 38 is provided with four containers 30 as previously described, arranged each on telescopic support means 39 suitable for retract or lengthen, either to bring closer or move each container 30 away from the support carriage 38, under the action of displacement means 39A. The support trolley 38 is further provided with rotation means around a vertical axis allowing to rotate the containers 30 in steps of a quarter turn in the example shown, so that everyone of them can be positioned sequentially in filling position under a distributor 21 or emptying above a hopper 40.

    Comme on le voit sur la figure, le chariot-support 38 a été amené en face d'un déversoir 21, respectivement d'une trémie 40 et a pivoté ses conteneurs 30, puis en a éloigné deux par leurs moyens de déplacement 39A, de manière à amener un conteneur vide au dessous du déversoir, afin de pouvoir être rempli, et un conteneur plein au-dessus de la trémie, afin de le vider. Les moyens de déplacement 39A des deux autres conteneurs, qui peuvent être vides ou pleins, maintiennent ceux-ci en position rapprochée du chariot-support 38. Dès que le conteneur à remplir est plein et que celui à vider est vide, ceux-ci sont rapprochés du chariot-support 38, puis celui-ci pivote d'un quart de tour et se déplace en face d'un autre déversoir 21, respectivement d'une autre trémie 40 afin d'effectuer les mêmes opérations avec les deux autres conteneurs. Comme précédemment, une unité de commande 50 assure le bon déroulement de ces différentes opérations. Le programme actionnant ladite unité de commande connait en particulier le contenu de chaque conteneur afin de le diriger vers la prochaine trémie vide à remplir du mélange en question. Dans le cas où, comme représenté sur la figure, le nombre de déversoirs 21 est différent du nombre de trémies 40, on en disposera un certain nombre en face les uns des autres afin de diminuer le nombre de trajets du chariot-support 38 et de permettre que, pour certaines positions, le remplissage d'un conteneur puisse s'effectuer simultanément au vidage d'un autre. Dans l'exemple de forme d'exécution décrit ci-dessus, le chariot-support 38 est muni de quatre conteneurs 30; en fait le nombre de conteneurs sera choisi en fonction du nombre de déversoirs et de trémies de l'installation, de manière à ce que le fonctionnement de l'installation soit le plus régulier possible. De même, il n'est pas absolument indispensable que les moyens de support 39 soient télescopiques; il est aussi possible, au cas où les trémies 40 respectivement les déversoirs 21 sont suffisamment éloignés les uns des autres , que l'approche et l'éloignement d'un conteneur 30 de ces éléments se fasse selon le mouvement circulaire de pivotement des conteneurs. Les volumes des trémies et des containers sont déterminés en fonction du nombre de machines de fabrication à alimenter ainsi que de la vitesse d'exécution d'un cycle remplissage - déplacement - vidage - déplacement d'un container; typiquement un cycle comme ci-dessus est réalisé en environ 20 secondes, chaque trémie pouvant contenir une réserve de tabac correspondant à quelques minutes de fonctionnement des machines de fabrication.As seen in the figure, the support trolley 38 was brought in front of a weir 21, respectively of a hopper 40 and swiveled its containers 30, then moved two of them away by their means of movement 39A, so as to bring an empty container to the below the weir, so that it can be filled, and a full container above the hopper in order to empty. The displacement means 39A of the other two containers, which can be empty or full, hold these in the close position of the support trolley 38. As soon as the container to be filled is full and the container to empty is empty, these are brought closer to the support trolley 38, then this one swivels a quarter of tower and moves in front of another weir 21, respectively from another hopper 40 in order to carry out the same operations with the other two containers. As before, a control unit 50 ensures the good progress of these different operations. The program actuating said control unit knows in the contents of each container in order to go to the next empty hopper to fill with mixture in question. In the event that, as shown in the figure, the number of weirs 21 is different from the number of hoppers 40, we will have a certain number across from each other to decrease the number of the support carriage 38 and allow that, for certain positions, filling a container can be performed simultaneously with the emptying of another. In the example embodiment described above, the support carriage 38 is provided with four containers 30; in fact the number of containers will be chosen according to the number of weirs and hoppers in the installation, so that the operation of the installation be as regular as possible. Likewise, it it is not absolutely essential that the means of support 39 are telescopic; it is also possible, in case the hoppers 40 respectively the weirs 21 are sufficiently distant from each other that approaching and moving away from a container 30 of these elements are made according to the circular pivoting movement containers. The volumes of hoppers and containers are determined according to the number of machines of manufacturing to supply as well as speed execution of a filling-displacement cycle - emptying - moving a container; typically a cycle as above is done in about 20 seconds, each hopper may contain a reserve of tobacco corresponding to a few minutes of operation manufacturing machines.

    Ainsi, par l'installation selon l'invention, il est maintenant possible d'alimenter des machines de fabrication de produits de l'industrie du tabac, notamment de cigarettes, de manière continue, avec un tabac de qualité constante, sans que le fonctionnement ou l'arrêt d'une machine de fabrication influe sur la qualité du tabac fourni aux autres machines et permettant en outre de rapidement passer, pour une ou plusieurs machines de fabrication données d'un type de mélange de tabac à un autre.So, by installing according the invention, it is now possible to feed machinery for manufacturing industry products tobacco, especially cigarettes, continuously, with tobacco of constant quality, without the functioning or stopping a manufacturing machine affects on the quality of tobacco supplied to other machines and also making it possible to quickly pass, for a or more given manufacturing machines of a type mixing tobacco with one another.

    Claims (12)

    1. Installation for feeding tobacco to machines for manufacturing products of the tobacco industry, especially cigarettes, comprising
      a tobacco-bringing part (2) including
      at least one tobacco-conveying means (20, 20A),
      a tobacco-distributing part (4) including
      at least one distribution hopper (40) feeding at least one cigarette-making machine,
         characterised in that it further comprises a tobacco-apportioning part (3) including
      a plurality of containers (30) equipped with closing/ opening means (31) for their lower orifices and disposed on the periphery of a support carriage (38) able to be moved along guide means (32), each of said containers being fixed to said chariot support by support means (39), said support carriage being capable of coming to position successively at least one container opposite a tobacco-feeding part (2) and at least one container opposite a distribution hopper (40).
    2. Installation according to claim 1, characterised in that the tobacco-feeding part (2) further comprises at least one outlet (21; 28) fed by one of said conveying means (20, 20A; 24, 25; 27).
    3. Installation according to claim 2, characterised in that the outlet (21) is equipped with closing/ opening means (23) for its lower orifice.
    4. Installation according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the connections of the orifices of the outlets (21; 28) to the containers (30) as well as of the containers to the hoppers (40) are provided with radial fluid-tightness means (29, 49).
    5. Installation according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the walls (34, 44) of the containers (30) and of the hoppers (40) are provided with vents (35, 45) opening out into an outside chamber (36, 46) provided with a dust filter (37, 47).
    6. Installation according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the walls of the outlets (21) are provided with vents opening out into an outside chamber provided with a dust filter.
    7. Installation according to claim 1, characterised in that the support means (39) are telescopic, being capable of moving the containers (30) closer to or away from the support carriage (38).
    8. Installation according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it further comprises control means (5) including:
      a control unit (50) receiving condition signals from
      sensor means (51, 52) capable of detecting the level of tobacco in the distribution hopper or hoppers (40), and
      sensor means (53) capable of detecting the position of the movable container or containers,
         said control unit (50) being capable of controlling a first movement of a movable container (30) opposite a tobacco-bringing part (2), then of controlling the filling of said container and a second movement of said container toward a distribution hopper (40), whose sensor means (52) have signalled a low level, then of controlling the emptying of said container into said distribution hopper,
         said control unit being equipped with a data-processing program.
    9. Installation according to claim 8, characterised in that the control unit (50) is further capable of controlling the opening or the closing of opening/closing means (31) of said container or containers (30).
    10. Installation according to one of the claims 8 or 9, characterised in that said data-processing program contains data permitting a given blend of tobacco coming from a bringing part (2) to be attributed to a given distribution hopper (40) feeding one or more manufacturing machines using said given blend.
    11. Installation according to claim 10, characterised in that the control unit (50) further receives state signals from sensor means (54) capable of detecting the level of tobacco in the outlet or outlets (21).
    12. Installation according to claim 11, characterised in that the control unit (50) is further capable of controlling the opening or the closing of the opening/ closing means (23) of the outlet or outlets (21).
    EP19930810700 1993-10-05 1993-10-05 Apparatus for supplying tobacco to cigarette-making machines Expired - Lifetime EP0646329B1 (en)

    Priority Applications (3)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    EP19930810700 EP0646329B1 (en) 1993-10-05 1993-10-05 Apparatus for supplying tobacco to cigarette-making machines
    DE1993618298 DE69318298T2 (en) 1993-10-05 1993-10-05 Device for loading tobacco into cigarette machines
    CZ942303A CZ282163B6 (en) 1993-10-05 1994-09-20 Apparatus and process of filling a cigarette-producing machine

    Applications Claiming Priority (1)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    EP19930810700 EP0646329B1 (en) 1993-10-05 1993-10-05 Apparatus for supplying tobacco to cigarette-making machines

    Publications (2)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP0646329A1 EP0646329A1 (en) 1995-04-05
    EP0646329B1 true EP0646329B1 (en) 1998-04-29

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    Family Applications (1)

    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP19930810700 Expired - Lifetime EP0646329B1 (en) 1993-10-05 1993-10-05 Apparatus for supplying tobacco to cigarette-making machines

    Country Status (3)

    Country Link
    EP (1) EP0646329B1 (en)
    CZ (1) CZ282163B6 (en)
    DE (1) DE69318298T2 (en)

    Families Citing this family (3)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    IT1295493B1 (en) * 1997-10-09 1999-05-12 Garbuio Spa PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR HANDLING CONTAINERS OF CURED TOBACCO.
    EP3108757A1 (en) 2015-06-23 2016-12-28 International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. z o.o. System of devices for a tobacco industry production installation
    CN107811324A (en) * 2017-12-02 2018-03-20 云南昆船电子设备有限公司 It is a kind of to feed silk system and hello silk method with Weighing

    Family Cites Families (4)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    DE1040439B (en) * 1952-10-04 1958-10-02 Quester Fa Wilh Device for loading tobacco into a plurality of cigarette machines
    DE1059334B (en) * 1956-01-13 1959-06-11 Quester Fa Wilh Method and device for feeding further processing machines in the tobacco industry
    FR1245649A (en) * 1959-09-28 1960-11-10 Seita Method and installation for automatic feeding of a group of machines
    IT1224006B (en) * 1988-12-19 1990-09-26 Comas Spa TOBACCO FEEDING SYSTEM FOR CIGARETTES PACKAGING MACHINES

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    EP0646329A1 (en) 1995-04-05
    DE69318298T2 (en) 1998-11-26
    CZ230394A3 (en) 1995-06-14
    CZ282163B6 (en) 1997-05-14
    DE69318298D1 (en) 1998-06-04

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