EP0692200B1 - Method and apparatus for the dedusting and the cooling of the exhaust air in a machine for making cigarettes - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for dedusting the exhaust air from a cigarette manufacturing plant, the at least one cigarette manufacturing unit a pneumatic tobacco feeder, a cigarette rod machine and optionally a filter attachment machine having. Through the tobacco feeder the strand machine is fed with cut tobacco. Of the Tobacco feeder is discontinuously pneumatic the cut tobacco fed. In an exhaust duct the exhaust air of the pneumatic cut tobacco supply to one central dedusting device led. In the exhaust pipe A secondary air intake nozzle opens behind the tobacco feeder, in which there is a valve, those in the breaks of the pneumatic cut tobacco supply is opened to the volume flow and the pressure drop to keep constant within the exhaust air duct. The central one Dedusting device through which the exhaust air is led, has a dedusting filter and a downstream one Fan on, so that the fan in the clean gas flow located. The one for the strand machine and the filter attachment machine required vacuum is created by a machine Fan generated. The exhaust air from the extruder and the exhaust air from the filter attachment machine in the respective cigarette manufacturing unit through a dust filter guided and the accumulated dust becomes pneumatic over the secondary air intake in the to the central Dedusting device leading exhaust air line promoted.

This method and this device for dedusting the Exhaust air from a cigarette manufacturing plant is general common. The tobacco rod is formed in the rod machine, which is held on a rotating conveyor belt by negative pressure is, so that here another with tobacco dust Exhaust air flow arises. If a filter attachment machine is available there is another one with tobacco dust laden exhaust air flow, because in it also by means of negative pressure the individual strands cut to cigarette lengths held on rotating drums. After this The tobacco dust-laden exhaust air flows become state of the art the strand machine and the filter attachment machine together to another central dedusting facility guided. In a cigarette manufacturing facility, e.g. 30 cigarette manufacturing units stand side by side. The Exhaust air flows from the respective tobacco feeders are brought together and the one central dedusting device passed and the exhaust air flows of the extruders and the filter attachment machines are according to the state the technology to another central dedusting device guided. Separate dedusting is special Importance so that the negative pressure in the strand machines and the filter attachment machines is constant, what A prerequisite for the correct operation of these machines is. That is why it is used for the strand machines and the Filter attachment machines also require negative pressure due to the machine side Fans of every cigarette manufacturing unit generated. In the known cigarette manufacturing plants The machine-side fans are in the Exhaust air flow from the strand machine and the filter attachment machine. Since these fans work in dust-laden air, they are subject to severe wear and tear after relatively short hours of operation, e.g. 2500 hours, be replaced. In addition to the constantly increasing spare parts costs for worn fan blades and - Housings change depending on the degree of wear the ventilation parameters, such as volume flow and total pressure increase of the fan so that the technological Operator cigarette manufacturing parameters must be readjusted. In the event of wear of the fan housing and the pressure side connected Connecting pipes to the dust collector there is severe contamination of the interior of the machine with tobacco dust and thus a potential fire hazard, Blow off tobacco dust into the work area and the possibility of biological attack (tobacco beetle) and to an additional loss of production due to increased repair and maintenance costs.

The problems described could be eliminated by that in front of the fans of the cigarette rod machine and filter attachment machine installed a dust filter becomes. In addition to the difficulty of classifying the Dedusting technology in the cigarette manufacturing unit is however, the difficulty of removing the deposited Tobacco dust. Manual removal (Dust bags or similar) is usually from food hygiene and to reject operational organizational reasons.

A possible pneumatic dust removal requires that Setup of a third - after machine dedusting and loading system - central ventilation system.

Due to the necessary removal of the dust-laden Exhaust air flows from the cigarette rod machine and filter attachment machine and the discontinuously extracted air at the Auxiliary air flap of the pneumatic loading system considerable amounts of air removed from the production room. These air volumes must pass through a central supply air system - As a rule, air conditioning systems - are supplied again. Of the Technologically conditioned air change is conditioned air costly and requires significant effort in the Installation of central ventilation systems and fails in older manufacturing facilities sometimes on the available Room.

From GB-A-1 103 703 it is known that in a single Dust collector accumulated tobacco dust by means of Secondary air line above the sieve of the tobacco feeder feed so that the accumulated tobacco dust over the Exhaust air line of the tobacco feeder removed becomes. Details of the cigarette manufacturing unit are not specified and it is also not clear how that was required to operate a cigarette manufacturing unit Negative pressure is generated.

From FR-A-2 253 470 a cigarette rod machine is included a fan for generating the required negative pressure is known, a dedusting device before or after the fan is provided. This dedusting device is a pre-separator upstream, consisting of a 180 ° bend the delivery line and an outlet within the arc.

The invention has for its object a method and a device for dedusting the exhaust air of a cigarette manufacturing plant to create that even under awkward spatial realizations.

According to the invention this object is achieved in that the Individual dedusting device between the cigarette manufacturing unit and the fan is arranged, or thereby, that the fan between the strand machine and the any existing filter attachment machine on the one hand and the dust filter is arranged on the other hand, so that the dust filter with the suction side of the fan connected is.

The advantages that can be achieved by the invention are in particular in that via a single central dedusting device, in existing cigarette manufacturing plants that is, via the existing dedusting device, the entire dedusting takes place.

Each cigarette manufacturing unit preferably has one only machine-side dedusting device for the common exhaust air flow from the strand machine and the filter attachment machine on.

The electrical supplied to a cigarette manufacturing combination Performance is essentially at the machine Friction implemented and given off as heat. The vast majority Part of this heat must be extracted with the machine (approx. 45 ... 50 ° C) are removed from the cigarette manufacturing unit. The exhaust air dedusted from the machine can after Fan are cooled down as far as possible via a heat exchanger, that together with a usual fresh air content for Room air conditioning can be used. Through the heat exchanger can e.g. Water or other liquid medium are heated so that the waste heat of the extrusion machine and the filter attachment machine no longer via exhaust air ducts from large cross section must be dissipated, but through that liquid medium can be derived, for which lines from much smaller cross-section are sufficient. The one for the Air circuits required for cigarette manufacture Cigarette rod formation and filter attachment can be a further air cycle to be superimposed with the aim of additional heat generated on the machine at a high level Extract, remove dust, cool down temperature level then add it back to the workspace. So that exists Possibility of converting the entire electrical into frictional heat Energy via the liquid-cooled heat exchanger dissipate and in the sense of air conditioning the cigarette manufacturing unit to make it energetically neutral.

This cigarette manufacturing unit with the coupled mobile Additional device leaves the decentralized production in Cigarette factories without costly secondary systems too.

The individual dedusting device is preferably in the Formed so that two groups of one or more Filter cartridges are provided, the groups alternating work so that the exhaust air flow of the strand machine and the filter attachment machine by the one group of Filter cartridges are routed while the second group of Filter cartridges is cleaned. The cleaning takes place on mechanical way by brushing and mechanical vibrations. Compared to the cleaning customary according to the prior art the mechanical cleaning has short pressure impulses the advantage that there are no pressure pulses to the strand machine or can propagate to the filter attachment machine. On Both groups of filter cartridges are constantly under pressure so that even if there are any leaks in the control flaps there is no risk of tobacco dust escaping.

Another dedusting filter can be installed in the individual dedusting device provided with a downstream fan be the air from inside the strand machine and the filter attachment machine. The cleaned exhaust air can also be cooled in the heat exchanger and then again be fed into the room. This can reduce the heat load of the space can be further reduced.

Fig. 1

das Schema einer Zigarettenherstellungseinheit;

Fig. 2

das Schema einer Einzelentstaubungseinrichtung und

Fig. 3

das Schema einer Zigarettenherstellungseinheit ähnlich der von Fig. 1, wobei die Abluft der Einzelentstaubungseinrichtung zur Raumklimatisierung verwendet wird.

An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1

the schematic of a cigarette manufacturing unit;

Fig. 2

the scheme of a single dedusting device and

Fig. 3

the diagram of a cigarette manufacturing unit similar to that of Fig. 1, wherein the exhaust air of the individual dedusting device is used for air conditioning.

1 shows a single cigarette manufacturing unit 10 in schematic form. A cigarette manufacturing facility exists from a variety, e.g. 30, such cigarette manufacturing units 10, whose exhaust air flows via a central Dedusting device 11, which is also schematic in FIG. 1 is shown to be cleaned.

The cigarette manufacturing unit consists of a tobacco feeder 12, via a feed line 13 Cut tobacco is fed pneumatically. The pneumatic one Promotion of exhaust air containing tobacco dust leaves the tobacco feeder 12 via an exhaust pipe 14. In the tobacco feeder the supplied cut tobacco in a storage container (not shown) collected. If the storage container is full, then the pneumatic cut tobacco supply is interrupted, in the exhaust air line 14, a control valve 24 is closed. The tobacco feeder and the actual cigarette production are not described in detail here since it is of a known type. The one in the tobacco feeder 12 collected cut tobacco becomes continuous a strand machine 15, which is also supplied by is known type and of which only the circulating one schematically Volume 16 is indicated, on which the tobacco rod is formed. The tobacco rod is on the circulating belt 16 held by negative pressure. The vacuum is created by a Vacuum line 17 applied to the circulating belt 16. Of the endless tobacco rod is then cut into individual pieces, which correspond in length to the tobacco part of a cigarette. These strand pieces are placed in a downstream filter attachment machine 18 provided with a filter and with a Covering paper wrapped. The individual strand pieces are thereby transported on the circumference of grooved drums 19 which in Fig. 1 are shown schematically. In the grooves on the The circumference of the drums 19 are the strand pieces by negative pressure captured. This vacuum is also over the vacuum line 17 applied. The vacuum line 17 thus contains the exhaust air from the extrusion machine loaded with tobacco dust 15 and the filter attachment machine 18.

In an individual dedusting device 20, the exhaust air dedusted from the strand machine 15 and the filter attachment machine 18 and cleaned so far that the clean gas exhaust air with the usual fresh air content can be supplied to a work room can. The dedusting device 20 has a filter 21 and a fan 22 on the clean gas side with the filter 21 is connected. The fan 22 generates at the same time for the operation of the strand machine 15 and the Filter attachment machine 18 required negative pressure, so that in the vacuum line 17 between the strand machine 15 and the filter attachment machine 18 on the one hand and the filter 21 on the other hand no fan or fan is installed. Raw gas side is the dedusting device 20 via a secondary air line 23 with the exhaust pipe 14 of the tobacco feeder 12 connected. In front of the junction is located in the exhaust air line 14 each Flap 24 and in the secondary air line 23, a flap 25. During the pneumatic conveyance of the cut tobacco the control flap 25 in the secondary air line 23 is closed and the valve 24 after the tobacco feeder Open 12, during the funding breaks Flap 25 of the secondary air line 23 is open and the The flap 24 is closed after the tobacco supply device 12 is, so in the breaks the pneumatic Cut tobacco conveyance over the dedusting device 20 the secondary air line 23 and the exhaust air line 14 with the central dedusting device 11 is connected and the tobacco dust accumulated in the dedusting device 20 can be discharged via this line connection. Thereby, that of each cigarette manufacturing unit 10 always either via the tobacco feeder 12 or via the dedusting device 20 air into the exhaust air line 14 flows, the total volume flow and the pressure drop remain in the exhaust air line 14 largely constant, which for the continuous operation of the rod machines of all cigarette manufacturing units an installation is important. A Change in the volume flow in the exhaust air line of a cigarette manufacturing unit would cause fluctuations in Negative pressure in the other cigarette manufacturing units ultimately lead to fluctuations in tobacco density and would lead to further fluctuations in quality.

The individual dedusting device 20 is shown in detail in FIG. 2 shown. The exhaust air is via the vacuum line 17 the strand machine 15 and the filter attachment machine 18 as Raw gas alternately from a first group of dedusters 26 and fed to a second group of dedusters 27. The alternate feed is provided by flaps 28, 29 the deduster 26, 27 causes. 2 is the simplicity for the sake of only one deduster from each group shown. In practice, each group generally exists from two dedusters connected in parallel. Of course each group can also consist of three or more in parallel switched dedusters exist. Are in the dust collectors filter cartridges 30 each. The air flow becomes through the cylindrical filter cartridges 30 from the inside out guided outside and via a line 31 from the already mentioned Fan or high pressure fan 22 sucked in. For each group of dedusters 26, 27 are in turn Flaps 33, 34 are provided, by means of which the high-pressure fan 22 generated negative pressure alternately to one and the other group of dedusters is put on.

The tobacco dust collects at the funnel-shaped lower end the dust extractor 26, 27 and is discharged via flaps 36. A connection is made via the control flaps 35, 36 to the secondary air line 23 for dust removal producible. The secondary air line 23 runs from an ambient air intake opening 38 to the exhaust duct 14. Is during a pause in pneumatic cut tobacco production the valve 24 closed and the valve 25 opened, so is secondary air via the secondary air line 23 sucked in. By opening the flaps 35, 36, the filtered out tobacco dust given to the secondary air flow be so that the secondary air flow tobacco dust to the central Dust collector 11 carries. The flaps 28, 33, 35 of the dust collectors 26 of the one group in contrast to the butterfly valves 29, 34 and 36 of the deduster 27 controlled the other group. At the dust collectors everyone Group is always under vacuum, namely either that of the high pressure fan 22 or that of the central one Dedusting device 11. This allows even small ones Leaks at the dust extractors 26, 27 never tobacco dust emerge at the individual dedusting device 20. The filter cartridges 30 are on a regular basis or at Need by brushing (not shown) and / or by mechanical Vibrations freed from the accumulated tobacco dust, the tobacco dust then going down into the funnel-shaped end the deduster 26, 27 falls.

The exhaust air from the strand machine 15 and the filter attachment machine 18 has a temperature of e.g. 50 ° C. The through the deduster 26, 27 cleaned air must therefore still be cooled, before it is released into the environment. The print page of the high pressure fan 22 is therefore with a heat exchanger 37 connected in which the exhaust air by heat exchange with a liquid medium, generally water, as far as is cooled that it with a usual fresh air can be used for air conditioning.

A third group of dedusters 38 is also shown in FIG. 2 drawn, of which also only a single deduster 38 is shown. The deduster 38 is a low pressure fan 39 downstream and by the negative pressure generated is the air from the inside of the Extruded strand machine 15 and the filter attachment machine 18. On the pressure side, the low-pressure fan 39 is together with the High-pressure fan 22 connected to the heat exchanger 37. over a control flap 41 is accumulated in the dust extractor 39 Tobacco dust is also discharged into the secondary air line 23 and conveyed to the central dedusting facility. Through this second cycle the in the Strand machine 15 and filter attachment machine 18 e.g. by Transformers and electric motors largely generate heat dissipated and in the heat exchanger 37 to a liquid medium given off, causing the heat load of the work area is further reduced. Because of the higher specific heat and density of the liquid medium compared to air the waste heat from the strand machine 15 and the filter attachment machine 18 by the liquid medium in lines of essential smaller cross section can be dissipated. In Fig.3 is such a cigarette manufacturing unit with the heat exchanger 37 and delivery of the cleaned and cooled exhaust air represented schematically in the surrounding space.

Claims (5)

1. Method for the dedusting of the exhaust air in a machine for making cigarettes, which has at least one cigarette production unit (10) which is composed of a tobacco feeding device (12), a rolling machine (15) and if necessary a filter inserting machine (18), cut tobacco being supplied pneumatically to the tobacco feeding device (12) and the tobacco feeding device (12) supplying the rolling machine (15) continuously and uniformly with cut tobacco, the exhaust air which results during the pneumatic supply of cut tobacco to the tobacco feeding device (12) being cleaned in a central dedusting device (11) and the partial vacuum required for the operation of the cigarette production unit (10) being produced in one extractor (22) assigned to one cigarette production unit (10) respectively, the thereby occurring exhaust air of the cigarette production unit (10) being dedusted in an individual dedusting unit (20) and the thereby collected tobacco dust being fed via a supplementary air pipe (23) into the exhaust air pipe (14) of the tobacco feeding device (12), characterised in that the dedusting takes place by means of an arrangement of the individual dedusting device (20) between the cigarette production unit (10) and the extractor (22).
2. Method according to Claim 1 characterised in that the dedusted exhaust air of the individual dedusting device (20) is cooled by heat exchange with a liquid medium.
3. Device for carrying out the method according to one of the Claims 1 to 2 with a machine for making cigarettes which has at least one cigarette production unit (10) which contains a the tobacco feeding device (12), a rolling machine (15) and if necessary a filter inserting machine (18), and with a central dedusting device (11) which draws in the exhaust air of the tobacco feeding device (12) via an exhaust air pipe (14), each cigarette production unit (10) having an individual dedusting device (20) which has a dedusting filter (21, 26, 27) and a ventilator (22) which produces the partial vacuum required for the rolling machine (15) and the filter inserting machine (18) which is present if necessary and said individual dedusting device (20) dedusting the exhaust air of the cigarette production unit (10), the tobacco dust collected in the dedusting filter (21, 26, 27) being led via a supplementary air pipe (23) into the exhaust air pipe (14) to the central dedusting device (11) characterised in that the extractor (22) is arranged between the rolling machine (15) and the filter inserting machine (18), which is present if necessary, on the one hand and the dedusting filter (21, 26, 27) on the other so that the dedusting filter (21, 26, 27) is connected to the suction side of the extractor (22).
4. Device according to Claim 3 characterised in that the individual dedusting device (20) contains a heat exchanger (35) which is connected to the delivery side of the extractor (22) and which cools the exhaust air of the rolling machine (15) and the filter inserting machine (18) in the heat exchanger with a liquid medium.
5. Device according to Claim 4 characterised in that the individual dedusting device (20) has two groups of at least one deduster (26, 27) respectively which are operated in a push-pull action, the group of dedusters (26 or 27) which are respectively not in operation being connected to the exhaust air pipe (14) of the tobacco feeding device (12) for discharging the collected tobacco dust.

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