EP1106086B1 - Method for transporting rod-like articles and container transporting apparatus - Google Patents

Method for transporting rod-like articles and container transporting apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1106086B1
EP1106086B1 EP00119700A EP00119700A EP1106086B1 EP 1106086 B1 EP1106086 B1 EP 1106086B1 EP 00119700 A EP00119700 A EP 00119700A EP 00119700 A EP00119700 A EP 00119700A EP 1106086 B1 EP1106086 B1 EP 1106086B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
containers
container
station
residence time
detected
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EP00119700A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1106086A2 (en
EP1106086A3 (en
Inventor
Albert-Berend Hebels
Matthias Horn
Matthias Jobmann
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Koerber Technologies GmbH
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Hauni Maschinenbau GmbH
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Publication of EP1106086A3 publication Critical patent/EP1106086A3/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/35—Adaptations of conveying apparatus for transporting cigarettes from making machine to packaging machine
    • A24C5/352—Adaptations of conveying apparatus for transporting cigarettes from making machine to packaging machine using containers, i.e. boats

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for conveying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry according to the preamble of claim 1 and a container conveying device for conveying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry according to the preamble of claim 11.
  • rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry are tobacco rods, tobacco rods with stamp imprint, filter cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, cigarillos with filter or mouthpiece and filter rods to understand.
  • rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry are to be understood in particular as filter rods.
  • filter rods or in part also cigarettes, other rod-shaped articles are not excluded.
  • the filter rods of particular interest here are manufactured in the cigarette industry during production on stranding machines in an endless filter strand from which individual filter rods are then cut off.
  • auxiliaries are used which require a certain amount of time to reach their desired final state. Therefore, the filter rods must not be further processed into filter cigarettes before this time has elapsed.
  • a so-called plasticizer with which the most used today in filter production Acetatfasem be dissolved before the strand formation of the filter strand.
  • the plasticizer hardens, after which the individual fibers of the acetate adhere to one another at the joints.
  • the well-known and proven pneumatic conveyor systems for such cured filter rods consist of transmitting stations with magazines, from which transfer devices successive filter rods in the pneumatic conveying lines, from which then the filter rods are transferred by means of further transfer devices to the filter attachment machines or to appropriate magazines Filteransetzmaschinen.
  • the US 5,478,184 which corresponds to DE 37 06 114 A1, discloses a method and apparatus for conveying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in which the articles are filled into containers and the containers are discharged into a full container receiving station and supplied to a container emptying device.
  • the rate of an article feeder exceeds the picking capacity of a device processing the articles
  • the feeding of the articles to the device processing the articles is delayed or, for that reason, the articles are shifted to a memory.
  • the supply of articles to the container emptying device must be slowed down, so that for this reason, the performance of the downstream processing machine must be shut down.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a method and a container conveyor device in which the best possible compromise is achieved between sufficient curing time of the articles in the container conveyor device and maximum throughput of the container conveyor device.
  • the advantages of the invention are in particular that due to the detection of the residence time of the container in the full container receiving station can be decided in time whether the container should be supplied directly to the container emptying device, or whether the container via a detour or initially not the container emptying device to be supplied. It is taken into account whether the residence time of the containers on the full container receiving station has already reached a predefinable minimum residence time.
  • This predetermined or desired minimum residence time is, in particular, a curing time required for filter rods of the type mentioned at the outset. This is about 20 minutes for today's filter rods; however, the present invention is totally independent of the extent of that time, rather the invention in question operates at any given minimum dwell time.
  • the invention is characterized in that the length of the detour is controlled as a function of the detected residence time.
  • the detour is advantageously realized by a first supply station to which the containers are set, which have not yet reached the desired residence time on the full container receiving station.
  • the device according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention has a transfer device for the purpose of feeding the containers from the full container receiving station to the container emptying device or to the full container feeding station. In this embodiment, this transfer device is then controlled in such a way that it places the containers on the first supply station as a function of the detected dwell time.
  • the containers are set to a full container feed station prior to feeding to the container emptying device.
  • a total residence time can then be determined from the recorded residence time on the full container receiving station and the expected residence time on the full container supply station. This total residence time can then be compared with the minimum residence time. In this way, in this embodiment, the level of containers on the Voll actuallyerzu slaughterstation be considered before the actual container emptying device. Only when the total residence time formed from the two residence times does not reach the desired minimum residence time, the containers are passed through a detour.
  • a second supply station for receiving filled containers is provided, with which the transfer device is also operatively connected.
  • This second supply station preferably has a dispensing position for dispensing filled containers, to which dispensing position the converting device can preferably access.
  • the conversion device is designed such that with their help containers from the second supply station to the Voll knownerzu slaughterstation be implemented.
  • a control device ensures that the containers from the second supply station can also be converted into the full container supply station as a function of the expected dwell time.
  • a control device controls the transfer device such that the transfer device, when it converts a container from the full container receiving station in the first supply station, automatically converts a container from the second supply station in the Voll knownerzu Siliconstation to idling to prevent the full container supply station.
  • this fully automatic completion of the full container feed station ensures particularly advantageous that the subsequent processing of the container conveyor processing machines are always sufficiently supplied with the processed articles, and in particular with sufficiently cured filter rods. Thanks to the invention, it is therefore possible that the downstream processing machines downstream of the container conveyor at no time have to reduce their processing speed. This advantage is not achieved in the prior art.
  • the second supply station is connected to the first supply station, so that a holding cycle for full container can be formed.
  • This waiting loop is advantageously designed so that a sufficient residence time for the full container is ensured.
  • the combination of first and second supply station, the aforementioned maintenance loop be designed so that the desired minimum residence time is achieved in the container conveyor device alone in the two supply stations. In this way, even a continuous operation of the downstream of the container conveyor device can be located processing machines are ensured when the throughput speeds of Voll hereerability- and Voll variouserzu slaughterstation are so high that in these stations almost no residence times are generated.
  • the holding pattern may preferably be designed so that it can be removed from it by hand full container and set by hand in it full container. In this way, even in the event of total failure of the production machine located upstream of the container conveyor, the uninterrupted operation of the downstream processing machines can be ensured.
  • the determination of the residence time of the containers in the individual stations can be accomplished in many ways. It has proved to be advantageous if at least one of the stations, in particular the full container receiving station, has a first container detection device with the aid of which the containers can be detected. It makes sense if the first container detection device is provided at the beginning of the full container receiving station. In this way, the containers can be detected immediately after they have been filled. Then the containers in a associated with the first container detection means assignment or arithmetic unit, a time, hereinafter called timestamp assigned.
  • a time stamp is understood here to mean either a clock which, at the moment of the generation of the time stamp, stands at zero and then counts up in the normal time clock.
  • the time stamp can also be the actual local time existing at the time of the creation of the time stamp.
  • this fixed time once assigned to a container, is simply compared with the then current time, and the dwell time of the container is determined by the difference.
  • the time at which the location on which the container was located at the detection can be calculated at the end of the full container receiving station has arrived. At this time, the timestamp of the container is then queried. In this way, the residence time of the container within the container conveyor can be determined precisely. Preferably, the elapsed time is determined at the end or at the exit of the full container receiving station.
  • the converter can be instructed by the controller to implement this particular container in the first supply station. In its place, a container is then removed from the second supply station with sufficient residence time and implemented in the Voll practicalerzu 1988station.
  • the containers in the second supply station are not in the sense of the above-described waiting loop from the first storage station, but have been set in the also chen described exceptional situations by hand in the second supply station, they are preferably at the beginning of the second supply station also with a timestamp Mistake. In this way it can be determined in such a set by hand filled containers in the second supply station, whether they have at the end of the second supply station a sufficient residence time to reach together with the residence time in the Voll actuallyerzu slaughterstation the desired minimum residence time in the container conveyor.
  • FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a container conveyor device 1 according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows the container conveyor device 1 in a side view. The structure and operation of the container conveyor device 1 will be explained with reference to the sequence of filling the container until emptying the same.
  • empty containers 4 are fed by means of a conveyor belt 6, not shown, but symbolized by the arrow 8 Be communionerhell sensible.
  • the empty containers 4 filled by the container filling device 8 are then fed to a full container receiving station 14 as a full container 10 at the point symbolized by the arrow 12.
  • the full container receiving station 14 also has a conveyor belt 16.
  • the conveyor belt 16 has a conveying direction 6 opposite to the conveying direction.
  • a sensor 20 In the area of At the beginning of the conveyor belt 16 is a sensor 20. The sensor 20 detects the fresh, reaching at the point 12 in the full container receiving station 14 full container 10th
  • the sensor 20 is connected to a computing unit, not shown.
  • the first, detected by the sensor 20 full container 10 is assigned in the arithmetic unit any natural number, for example, the number 1.
  • the full container 10 subsequent full container 10 are also detected by the sensor 20 and obtained in ascending order the following natural numbers.
  • the third full container 10 detected by the sensor 20 is assigned the number 3.
  • the current time of a clock installed in the arithmetic unit is assigned to the full container 10, thus designated with a natural number.
  • the designation of the full container 10 and the associated time of the internal clock in the arithmetic unit remain assigned to the full container 10 until it has left the container conveyor device 1 again.
  • a full container 10 at any point within the container conveyor device 1 the time, referred to below dwell, be assigned, which has elapsed since the filling of the full container 10 by means of the container filling device 8 .
  • the second sensor 24 is located at the end 22 of the conveyor belt 16 of the full container receiving station 14.
  • the sensor 24 detects the full container 10 again.
  • In the arithmetic unit can now be determined by comparing the current time with the time stamp of the full container 10, which has dwell time of the full container 10 accumulated in the full container receiving station 14. The thus determined residence time of the full container 10 since the detection with the sensor 20 is then compared with a desired, predetermined in the arithmetic unit dwell time of the full container 10 in the full container receiving station 14.
  • the containers are also moved by a conveyor belt 30 in Fig. 1 from left to right.
  • a third sensor 34 At the end 32 of the conveyor belt 30 is a third sensor 34.
  • the respective full container 10 is detected by means of the sensor 34 again, and then to compare in the arithmetic unit based on the time stamp the previously accumulated residence time in the container conveyor device 1 with the desired minimum residence time , Once the minimum dwell time has been reached, the full container 10 is transferred to a receiving position 36 of a second supply station 38.
  • the second storage station 38 has a fourth conveyor belt 40, wherein the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 40 is opposite to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 30.
  • At the end 42 of the conveyor belt 40 is another sensor 44.
  • the full container feed station 48 also has a conveyor belt 50.
  • Another sensor 54 At the end 52 of the conveyor belt 50 of the Voll practicalerzu Hyundaistation 48 is another sensor 54. This sensor also performs the same tasks that have also fulfilled the previously described sensors 24, 34 and 44.
  • the arithmetic unit with the help of the sensor 54 but still at this time a not sufficient, ie not reach the minimum dwell time dwell time of the full container 10 in the container conveyor 1 determine so a warning signal is issued to the operator. Because after the sensor 54 of the full container 10 passes directly into the not shown, but symbolized by a double cassette with a double arrow container emptying device 56, and from there into the further processing machines, also not shown. The operating staff must decide in such a case, if the Full container 10, which has a not yet sufficient residence time in the container conveyor device 1 at the location of the sensor 54, should nevertheless be processed further.
  • Fig. 1 also shows the transfer of the full container 10 at the end 32 of the conveyor belt 30 of the first supply station 28 in the receiving position 36 of the second supply station 38.
  • This transfer is according to arrow 70 optionally through a gap 72 in the conveyor belt 30 of the first supply station 28th fully automatic with the help of a lift, not shown.
  • the manual transfer (with possible intermediate storage) of the full container 10 from the first supply station 28 into the second supply station 38 is also possible. This manual conversion is symbolized by the arrows 74 and 76, respectively.
  • a further sensor 78 in the amount of the receiving position 36 of the second storage station 38 is provided.
  • full container 10 which are set by hand on the receiving position 36, at the location of the sensor 78 also provided with a time stamp.
  • the conversion of the full container 10 and the empty container 4 between the various stations is illustrated by a conversion device 80 shown schematically.
  • the transfer device 80 has a foot 82 and a pillar 84.
  • grippers 86 and 88 are movable along the longitudinal axis of the pillar 84 and arranged rotatably about the longitudinal axis of the pillar 84.
  • the gripper 86 is loaded with a full container 10.

Abstract

The method involves filling containers (4,10) with articles, outputting containers to a full container accepting station (14) and feeding them to an emptying device (56). The dwell time of containers at the full container accepting station is determined and their transportation to the emptying device is dependent on the detected dwell time. If a minimum dwell time is equaled or exceeded the containers are passed directly to the emptying device. Independent claims are also included for the following: a container conveyor.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum Fördern von stabförmigen Artikeln der tabakverarbeitenden Industrie nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1 und eine Behälterfördervorrichtung zum Fördern von stabförmigen Artikeln der tabakverarbeitenden Industrie nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 11.The invention relates to a method for conveying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry according to the preamble of claim 1 and a container conveying device for conveying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry according to the preamble of claim 11.

Unter stabförmigen Artikeln der tabakverarbeitenden Industrie sind Tabakstäbe, Tabakstäbe mit Stempelaufdruck, Filterzigaretten, Zigarren, Zigarillos, Zigarillos mit Filter oder Mundstück und auch Filterstäbe zu verstehen. Im hier vorliegenden Zusammenhang sollen unter stabförmigen Artikeln der tabakverarbeitenden Industrie insbesondere Filterstäbe zu verstehen sein. Wenn jedoch im folgenden der Einfachheit halber von Filterstäben oder teilweise auch von Zigaretten gesprochen wird, so sind andere stabförmige Artikel nicht ausgeschlossen.Under rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry are tobacco rods, tobacco rods with stamp imprint, filter cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, cigarillos with filter or mouthpiece and filter rods to understand. In the present context, rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry are to be understood in particular as filter rods. However, in the following, for the sake of simplicity, filter rods or in part also cigarettes, other rod-shaped articles are not excluded.

Die hier besonders interessierenden Filterstäbe werden in der Zigarettenindustrie bei der Herstellung auf Strangmaschinen in einem endlosen Filterstrang gefertigt, von dem dann einzelne Filterstäbe abgeschnitten werden. Bei der Herstellung des Filterstranges werden jedoch Hilfsstoffe verwendet, die eine gewisse Zeit bis zur Erreichung ihres gewünschten Endzustandes benötigen. Vor Ablauf dieser Zeit dürfen die Filterstäbe daher nicht zu Filterzigaretten weiterverarbeitet werden. Unter einem derartigen Hilfsstoff wird zumeist ein sogenannter Weichmacher verstanden, mit dem die in der Filterproduktion heute zumeist verwendeten Acetatfasem vor der Strangbildung des Filterstranges angelöst werden. Nach der Fertigstellung der Filterstäbe härtet der Weichmacher aus, wonach die einzelnen Fasern des Acetats an den Verbindungsstellen aneinander haften. Die Zuführung der hergestellten Filterstäbe zu den Verbrauchermaschinen, im allgemeinen zu den Filteransetzmaschinen, erfolgt dabei zumeist auf pneumatischem Wege. Die heute bekannten und bewährten pneumatischen Förderanlagen für derartige ausgehärtete Filterstäbe bestehen aus Sendestationen mit Magazinen, aus denen Überführungsvorrichtungen aufeinanderfolgende Filterstäbe in die pneumatischen Förderleitungen überführen, aus denen dann die Filterstäbe mittels weiterer Überführungsvorrichtungen an die Filteransetzmaschinen oder an entsprechende Magazine der Filteransetzmaschinen überführt werden.The filter rods of particular interest here are manufactured in the cigarette industry during production on stranding machines in an endless filter strand from which individual filter rods are then cut off. In the production of the filter strand, however, auxiliaries are used which require a certain amount of time to reach their desired final state. Therefore, the filter rods must not be further processed into filter cigarettes before this time has elapsed. Under such an excipient is usually understood as a so-called plasticizer, with which the most used today in filter production Acetatfasem be dissolved before the strand formation of the filter strand. After completion of the filter rods, the plasticizer hardens, after which the individual fibers of the acetate adhere to one another at the joints. The feeding of the filter rods produced to the consumer machines, in general to the Filteransetzmaschinen, takes place mostly by pneumatic means. The well-known and proven pneumatic conveyor systems for such cured filter rods consist of transmitting stations with magazines, from which transfer devices successive filter rods in the pneumatic conveying lines, from which then the filter rods are transferred by means of further transfer devices to the filter attachment machines or to appropriate magazines Filteransetzmaschinen.

Die eigene DE 39 170 097, die der US 5,123,798 entspricht, zeigt eine Behälterfördervorrichtung der eingangs genannten Art zum wechselseitigen Austausch von Behältern zwischen einer Behälterfülleinrichtung und einer Behälterentleereinrichtung,mit der Behälterfülleinrichtung bzw. der Behälterentleereinrichtung jeweils in übereinanderliegenden Etagen zugeordneten Behälterstationen für leere und volle Behälter. Dabei ist ein die Behälterstationen miteinander verbindendes, in Turmbauweise ausgebildetes Überführungsmittel vorgesehen, mit welchem Überführungsmittel, welches mit einem Schwenkantrieb sowie zwei übereinanderliegenden Behälteraufnehmem versehen ist, Behälter zwischen den einzelnen Stationen umgesetzt werden können.DE 39 170 097, which corresponds to US Pat. No. 5,123,798, shows a container conveying device of the type mentioned above for the reciprocal exchange of containers between a container filling device and a container emptying device, with the container filling device respectively the container emptying device respectively in container stations assigned to superposed floors for empty and full containers , It is a the Container stations interconnecting, designed in tower construction transfer means provided with which transfer means, which is provided with a rotary actuator and two superimposed Behälteraufnehmem, containers between the individual stations can be implemented.

Die US 5,478,184, die der DE 37 06 114 A1 entspricht, offenbart ein Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung zum Fördern von stabförmigen Artikeln der tabakverarbeitenden Industrie, bei dem die Artikel in Behälter gefüllt werden und die Behälter in eine Vollbehälteraufnahmestation abgegeben und einer Behälterentleereinrichtung zugeführt wenjen. Gemäß diesem Stand der Technik wird dann, wenn die Rate einer Artikelzuführvorrichtung die Aufnahmenkapazität einer die Artikel weiterverarbeitenden Vorrichtung übersteigt, die Zuführung der Artikel zu der die Artikel weiterverarbeitenden Vorrichtung verzögert, oder es werden aus diesem Grund die Artikel in einen Speicher verschoben. Bei einem trotz dieser Maßnahmen unzureichenden Nachschub an ausreichend ausgehärteten Artikeln muss bei diesem Stand der Technik schließlich die Zufuhr der Artikel zur Behälterentleereinrichtung verlangsamt werden, so dass aus diesem Grund auch die Leistung der nachfolgenden Verarbeitungsmaschine heruntergefahren werden muss.The US 5,478,184, which corresponds to DE 37 06 114 A1, discloses a method and apparatus for conveying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in which the articles are filled into containers and the containers are discharged into a full container receiving station and supplied to a container emptying device. According to this prior art, when the rate of an article feeder exceeds the picking capacity of a device processing the articles, the feeding of the articles to the device processing the articles is delayed or, for that reason, the articles are shifted to a memory. In spite of these measures insufficient supply of sufficiently cured articles in this prior art, finally, the supply of articles to the container emptying device must be slowed down, so that for this reason, the performance of the downstream processing machine must be shut down.

Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung ist es, ein Verfahren und eine Behälterfördervorrichtung zur Verfügung zu stellen, bei dem ein möglichst optimaler Kompromiss zwischen ausreichender Aushärtezeit der Artikel in der Behälterfördervorrichtung und maximalem Durchsatz der Behälterfördervorrichtung erzielt wird.The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a container conveyor device in which the best possible compromise is achieved between sufficient curing time of the articles in the container conveyor device and maximum throughput of the container conveyor device.

Diese Aufgabe wird durch ein Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1 und durch eine Behälterfördervorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 11 gelöst.This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and by a container conveyor device according to claim 11.

Die Vorteile der Erfindung liegen insbesondere darin, dass aufgrund der Erfassung der Verweilzeit der Behälter in der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation rechtzeitig entschieden werden kann, ob der Behälter direkt der Behälterentleereinrichtung zugeführt werden soll, oder ob der Behälter über einen Umweg oder zunächst nicht der Behälterentleereinrichtung zugeführt werden soll. Dabei wird berücksichtigt, ob die Verweilzeit der Behälter auf der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation bereits eine vorgebbare Mindestverweilzeit erreicht hat. Bei dieser vorgebbaren oder gewünschten Mindestverweilzeit handelt es sich insbesondere um eine für Filterstäbe der eingangs genannten Art erforderliche Aushärtezeit. Diese liegt bei heutigen Filterstäben bei etwa 20 Minuten; die vorliegende Erfindung ist jedoch völlig unabhängig von dem Maß dieser Zeit, vielmehr funktioniert die voniegende Erfindung bei jeder beliebigen vorgegebenen Mindestverweilzeit.The advantages of the invention are in particular that due to the detection of the residence time of the container in the full container receiving station can be decided in time whether the container should be supplied directly to the container emptying device, or whether the container via a detour or initially not the container emptying device to be supplied. It is taken into account whether the residence time of the containers on the full container receiving station has already reached a predefinable minimum residence time. This predetermined or desired minimum residence time is, in particular, a curing time required for filter rods of the type mentioned at the outset. This is about 20 minutes for today's filter rods; however, the present invention is totally independent of the extent of that time, rather the invention in question operates at any given minimum dwell time.

Die Erfindung zeichnet sich dadurch aus, dass die Länge des Umweges in Abhängigkeit von der erfassten Verweilzeit gesteuert wird. Je kürzer die erfasste Verweilzeit im Verhältnis zur gewünschten Mindestverweilzeit, desto länger wird der Umweg gewählt, den die Behälter nehmen sollen. Der Umweg wird dabei vorteilhafterweise durch eine erste Vorratsstation realisiert, auf die die Behälter gesetzt werden, die die gewünschte Verweilzeit auf der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation noch nicht erreicht haben. Die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zur Durchführung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens weist zum Zweck der Zuführung der Behälter von der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation zur Behälterentleereinrichtung bzw. zur Vollbehälterzuführstation eine Umsetzeinrichtung auf. Diese Umsetzeinrichtung wird bei dieser Ausführungsform dann derart gesteuert, dass sie in Abhängigkeit von der erfassten Verweilzeit die Behälter auf die erste Vorratsstation setzt.The invention is characterized in that the length of the detour is controlled as a function of the detected residence time. The shorter the recorded residence time in relation to the desired minimum residence time, the longer the detour is chosen, which the containers should take. The detour is advantageously realized by a first supply station to which the containers are set, which have not yet reached the desired residence time on the full container receiving station. The device according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention has a transfer device for the purpose of feeding the containers from the full container receiving station to the container emptying device or to the full container feeding station. In this embodiment, this transfer device is then controlled in such a way that it places the containers on the first supply station as a function of the detected dwell time.

Bei einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung werden die Behälter vor dem Zuführen zur Behälterentleereinrichtung auf eine Vollbehälterzuführstation gesetzt. Bei dieser Ausführungsform lässt sich dann eine Gesamtverweilzeit aus der erfassten Verweilzeit auf der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation und der zu erwartenden Verweilzeit auf der Vollbehälterzuführstation ermitteln. Diese Gesamtverweilzeit lässt sich dann mit der Mindestverweilzeit vergleichen. Auf diese Weise kann bei dieser Ausführungsform auch der Füllstand von Behältern auf der Vollbehälterzuführstation vor der eigentlichen Behälterentleereinrichtung berücksichtigt werden. Erst wenn die aus den beiden Verweilzeiten gebildete Gesamtverweilzeit die gewünschte Mindestverweilzeit nicht erreicht, werden die Behälter über einen Umweg geleitet.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the containers are set to a full container feed station prior to feeding to the container emptying device. In this embodiment, a total residence time can then be determined from the recorded residence time on the full container receiving station and the expected residence time on the full container supply station. This total residence time can then be compared with the minimum residence time. In this way, in this embodiment, the level of containers on the Vollbehälterzuführstation be considered before the actual container emptying device. Only when the total residence time formed from the two residence times does not reach the desired minimum residence time, the containers are passed through a detour.

Um ein "Verhungern" der Behälterentleereinrichtung zu verhindern, wenn Behälter an die erste Vorratsstation abgegeben werden oder ein größerer Bedarf an Filterstäben besteht, ist gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegendenIn order to prevent "starvation" of the container emptying device when containers are dispensed to the first supply station or there is a greater demand for filter rods, according to another embodiment of the present invention

Erfindung ist eine zweite Vorratsstation zur Aufnahme von gefüllten Behältern vorgesehen, mit der die Umsetzeinrichtung ebenfalls in Wirkverbindung steht. Diese zweite Vorratsstation weist bevorzugt eine Abgabeposition zur Abgabe von gefüllten Behältern auf, auf welche Abgabeposition die Umsetzeinrichtung bevorzugt zugreifen kann. Dabei ist die Umsetzeinrichtung derart ausgebildet, daß mit ihrer Hilfe Behälter aus der zweiten Vorratsstation zu der Vollbehälterzuführstation umsetzbar sind. Eine Steuereinrichtung sorgt dafür, daß die Behälter aus der zweiten Vorratsstation auch in Abhängigkeit von der zu erwartenden Verweilzeit in der Vollbehälterzuführstation in diese umsetzbar sind.Invention, a second supply station for receiving filled containers is provided, with which the transfer device is also operatively connected. This second supply station preferably has a dispensing position for dispensing filled containers, to which dispensing position the converting device can preferably access. In this case, the conversion device is designed such that with their help containers from the second supply station to the Vollbehälterzuführstation be implemented. A control device ensures that the containers from the second supply station can also be converted into the full container supply station as a function of the expected dwell time.

Weiterhin ist es bei einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform vorgesehen, daß eine Steuereinrichtung die Umsetzeinrichtung derart steuert, daß die Umsetzeinrichtung dann, wenn sie einen Behälter aus der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation in die erste Vorratsstation umsetzt, automatisch einen Behälter aus der zweiten Vorratsstation in die Vollbehälterzuführstation umsetzt, um ein Leerlaufen der Vollbehälterzuführstation zu verhindern. Insbesondere diese vollautomatische Ergänzung der Vollbehälterzuführstation stellt besonders vorteilhaft sicher, daß die der Behälterfördervorrichtung nachfolgenden Verarbeitungsmaschinen immerausreichend mitden zu verarbeitenden Artikeln, und insbesondere mit ausreichend ausgehärteten Filterstäben, versorgt werden. Dank der Erfindung ist es daher möglich, daß die weiterverarbeitenden Maschinen stromabwärts von der Behälterfördervorrichtung zu keinem Zeitpunkt ihre Verarbeitungsgeschwindigkeit vermindern müssen. Dieser Vorteil wird im Stand der Technik nicht erreicht. So wird bspw. bei der DE 3706114 bei einem unzureichenden Nachschub an ausreichend ausgehärteten Filterstäben die Zufuhr der Filterstäbe zur Behälterentleereinrichtung verlangsamt, so daß aus diesem Grund auch die Leistung der nachfolgenden verarbeitungsmaschine heruntergefahren werden muss. Diesen entscheidenden Nachteil vermeidet die vorliegende Erfindung.Furthermore, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that a control device controls the transfer device such that the transfer device, when it converts a container from the full container receiving station in the first supply station, automatically converts a container from the second supply station in the Vollbehälterzuführstation to idling to prevent the full container supply station. In particular, this fully automatic completion of the full container feed station ensures particularly advantageous that the subsequent processing of the container conveyor processing machines are always sufficiently supplied with the processed articles, and in particular with sufficiently cured filter rods. Thanks to the invention, it is therefore possible that the downstream processing machines downstream of the container conveyor at no time have to reduce their processing speed. This advantage is not achieved in the prior art. Thus, for example, in DE 3706114 with insufficient supply of sufficiently cured filter rods, the supply of the filter rods to Behälterentleereinrichtung slowed down, so that for this reason, the performance of the subsequent processing machine must be shut down. This crucial disadvantage avoids the present invention.

Bei einer besonders vorteilhaften Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung ist die zweite Vorratsstation mit der ersten Vorratsstation verbunden, so daß eine Warteschleife für Vollbehälter gebildet werden kann. Diese Warteschleife ist vorteilhaft so ausgelegt, daß eine ausreichende Verweilzeit für die Vollbehälter sichergestellt wird. Dabei kann die Kombination aus erster und zweiter Vorratsstation, die vorgenannte Wartschleife, so ausgebildet sein, daß die gewünschte minimale Verweilzeit in der Behälterfördervorrichtung alleine in den beiden Vorratsstationen erreicht wird. Auf diese Weise kann auch dann ein ununterbrochener Betrieb der stromabwärts von der Behälterfördervorrichtung gelegenen weiterverarbeitenden Maschinen sichergestellt werden, wenn die Durchsatzgeschwindigkeiten der Vollbehälteraufnahme- und Vollbehälterzuführstation so hoch sind, daß in diesen Stationen nahezu keine Verweilzeiten generiert werden.In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the second supply station is connected to the first supply station, so that a holding cycle for full container can be formed. This waiting loop is advantageously designed so that a sufficient residence time for the full container is ensured. In this case, the combination of first and second supply station, the aforementioned maintenance loop, be designed so that the desired minimum residence time is achieved in the container conveyor device alone in the two supply stations. In this way, even a continuous operation of the downstream of the container conveyor device can be located processing machines are ensured when the throughput speeds of Vollbehälteraufnahme- and Vollbehälterzuführstation are so high that in these stations almost no residence times are generated.

Für besonders extreme Situationen, beispielsweise bei einem Totalausfall der filterstabherstellenden Maschine, kann die Warteschleife bevorzugt so ausgebildet sein, daß aus ihr von Hand Vollbehälter entnommen und von Hand in sie Vollbehälter eingestellt werden können. Auf diese Weise kann auch bei einem Totalausfall der stromaufwärts von der Behälterfördervorrichtung gelegenen Herstellmaschine der ununterbrochene Betrieb der stromabwärtsgelegenen weiterverarbeitenden Maschinen sichergestellt werden.For particularly extreme situations, such as a total failure of the filter rod-making machine, the holding pattern may preferably be designed so that it can be removed from it by hand full container and set by hand in it full container. In this way, even in the event of total failure of the production machine located upstream of the container conveyor, the uninterrupted operation of the downstream processing machines can be ensured.

Die Feststellung der Verweilzeit der Behälter in den einzelnen Stationen läßt sich auf vielerlei Arten bewerkstelligen. Als vorteilhaft hat es sich erwiesen, wenn mindestens eine der Stationen, insbesondere die Vollbehälteraufnahmestation, eine erste Behältererfassungseinrichtung aufweist, mit deren Hilfe die Behälter erfaßbar sind. Dabei ist es sinnvoll wenn die erste Behältererfassungseinrichtung am Anfang der der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation vorgesehen ist. Auf diese Weise können die Behälter unmittelbar nach ihrem Befüllen erfaßt werden. Dann wird den Behältern in einer mit der ersten Behältererfassungseinrichtung verbundenen Zuordnungs- oder Recheneinheit eine Uhrzeit, im folgenden Zeitstempel genannt, zugeordnet. Unter einem Zeitstempel wird hier entweder eine Uhr verstanden, die im Moment der Erzeugung des Zeitstempels bei Null steht und dann im normalen Zeittakt hochzählt. Alternativ und bevorzugt kann der Zeitstempel auch die im Moment der Erzeugung des Zeitstempels existierende tatsächliche lokale Uhrzeit sein. Bei dieser Alternative wird dann zum anschließenden Erfassen einer Verweilzeit einfach diese feststehende, einem Behälter einmal fest zugeordnete Uhrzeit mit der dann aktuellen Uhrzeit verglichen und durch die Differenz die Verweilzeit des Behälters bestimmt.The determination of the residence time of the containers in the individual stations can be accomplished in many ways. It has proved to be advantageous if at least one of the stations, in particular the full container receiving station, has a first container detection device with the aid of which the containers can be detected. It makes sense if the first container detection device is provided at the beginning of the full container receiving station. In this way, the containers can be detected immediately after they have been filled. Then the containers in a associated with the first container detection means assignment or arithmetic unit, a time, hereinafter called timestamp assigned. A time stamp is understood here to mean either a clock which, at the moment of the generation of the time stamp, stands at zero and then counts up in the normal time clock. Alternatively and preferably, the time stamp can also be the actual local time existing at the time of the creation of the time stamp. In this alternative, then, for the subsequent detection of a dwell time, this fixed time, once assigned to a container, is simply compared with the then current time, and the dwell time of the container is determined by the difference.

Durch mit der Recheneinheit verbundene Mittel zum Erfassen einer Fördergeschwindigkeit der Behälter in der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation und anhand einer zuvor gespeicherten Länge der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation läßt sich der Zeitpunkt berechnen, zu dem die Stelle, auf der sich der Behälter bei der Erfassung befunden hat, an das Ende der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation gelangt ist. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt wird dann der Zeitstempel des Behälters abgefragt. Auf diese Weise läßt sich die Verweilzeit des Behälters innerhalb der Behälterfördervorrichtung präzise ermitteln. Bevorzugt wird die verstrichene Zeit am Ende bzw. am Ausgang der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation ermittelt. Sollte die somit anhand des Zeitstempels und mit Hilfe von Erfassungsvorrichtungen ermittelte verstrichene Zeit seit Befüllen des Behälters zusammen mit der zu erwartenden Verweilzeit in der Vollbehälterzuführstation nicht die gewünschte Mindestverweilzeit in der Behälterfördervorrichtung erreichen, kann die Umsetzeinrichtung von der Steuereinrichtung angewiesen werden, diesen bestimmten Behälter in die erste Vorratsstation umzusetzen. An seiner Stelle wird dann aus der zweiten Vorratsstation ein Behälter mit ausreichender Verweilzeit entnommen und in die Vollbehälterzuführstation umgesetzt.By means connected to the arithmetic unit for detecting a conveying speed of the containers in the full container receiving station and on the basis of a previously stored length of the full container receiving station, the time at which the location on which the container was located at the detection can be calculated at the end of the full container receiving station has arrived. At this time, the timestamp of the container is then queried. In this way, the residence time of the container within the container conveyor can be determined precisely. Preferably, the elapsed time is determined at the end or at the exit of the full container receiving station. Should be based on the time stamp and with the help elapsed time determined by detection devices since filling the container together with the expected residence time in the Vollbehälterzuführstation not reach the desired minimum residence time in the container conveyor, the converter can be instructed by the controller to implement this particular container in the first supply station. In its place, a container is then removed from the second supply station with sufficient residence time and implemented in the Vollbehälterzuführstation.

Sollten die Behälter in der zweiten Vorratsstation nicht im Sinne der oben beschriebenen Warteschleife aus der ersten Vorratsstation stammen, sondern in den ebenfalls chen beschriebenen Ausnahmesituationen von Hand in die zweite Vorratsstation eingestellt worden sein, so werden diese am Anfang der zweiten Vorratsstation bevorzugt ebenfalls mit einem Zeitstempel versehen. Auf diese Weise läßt sich auch bei solchen von Hand eingestellten gefüllten Behältern in der zweiten Vorratsstation feststellen, ob diese am Ende der zweiten Vorratsstation eine ausreichende Verweilzeit aufweisen, um zusammen mit der Verweilzeit in der Vollbehälterzuführstation die gewünschte Mindestverweilzeit in der Behälterfördervorrichtung zu erreichen.If the containers in the second supply station are not in the sense of the above-described waiting loop from the first storage station, but have been set in the also chen described exceptional situations by hand in the second supply station, they are preferably at the beginning of the second supply station also with a timestamp Mistake. In this way it can be determined in such a set by hand filled containers in the second supply station, whether they have at the end of the second supply station a sufficient residence time to reach together with the residence time in the Vollbehälterzuführstation the desired minimum residence time in the container conveyor.

Weitere bevorzugte Ausführungsformen der Erfindung sind in den Unteransprüchen wiedergegeben.Further preferred embodiments of the invention are given in the subclaims.

Im folgenden wird eine Ausführungsform der Erfindung mit Bezug auf die begleitende Zeichnung beschrieben.An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Die Fig. 1 zeigt eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Behälterfördervorrichtung 1. Die Fig. 1 zeigt die Behälterfördervorrichtung 1 in einer Seitenansicht. Der Aufbau und die Funktionsweise der Behälterfördervorrichtung 1 sei anhand des Ablaufs von Befüllung der Behälter bis zur Entleerung derselben erläutert.FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a container conveyor device 1 according to the invention. FIG. 1 shows the container conveyor device 1 in a side view. The structure and operation of the container conveyor device 1 will be explained with reference to the sequence of filling the container until emptying the same.

In einer Leerbehälterzuführstation 2 werden Leerbehälter 4 mit Hilfe eines Förderbandes 6 einer nicht dargestellten jedoch durch den Pfeil 8 symbolisierten Behälterfülleinrichtung zugeführt. Die durch die Behälterfülleinrichtung 8 befüllten Leerbehälter 4 werden dann als Vollbehälter 10 an der durch den Pfeil 12 symbolisierten Stelle einer Vollbehälteraufnahmestation 14 zugeführt. Die Vollbehälteraufnahmestation 14 weist ebenfalls ein Förderband 16 auf. Das Förderband 16 weist eine dem Förderband 6 entgegengesetzte Förderrichtung auf. Im Bereich des Anfangs des Förderbandes 16 befindet sich ein Sensor 20. Der Sensor 20 erfaßt die frischen, an der Stelle 12 in die Vollbehälteraufnahmestation 14 gelangenden Vollbehälter 10.In a Leererbälterzuführstation 2 empty containers 4 are fed by means of a conveyor belt 6, not shown, but symbolized by the arrow 8 Behälterfülleinrichtung. The empty containers 4 filled by the container filling device 8 are then fed to a full container receiving station 14 as a full container 10 at the point symbolized by the arrow 12. The full container receiving station 14 also has a conveyor belt 16. The conveyor belt 16 has a conveying direction 6 opposite to the conveying direction. In the area of At the beginning of the conveyor belt 16 is a sensor 20. The sensor 20 detects the fresh, reaching at the point 12 in the full container receiving station 14 full container 10th

Der Sensor 20 ist mit einer nicht dargestellten Recheneinheit verbunden. Der erste, von dem Sensor 20 erfaßte Vollbehälter 10 erhält in der Recheneinheit eine beliebige natürliche Zahl zugeordnet, beispielsweise die Zahl 1. Die diesem Vollbehälter 10 nachfolgenden Vollbehälter 10 werden ebenfalls vom Sensor 20 erfaßt und erhalten in aufsteigender Reihenfolge die folgenden natürlichen Zahlen. So erhält beispielsweise in diesem Beispiel der dritte, von dem Sensor 20 erfaßte Vollbehälter 10 die Zahl 3 zugeordnet.The sensor 20 is connected to a computing unit, not shown. The first, detected by the sensor 20 full container 10 is assigned in the arithmetic unit any natural number, for example, the number 1. The full container 10 subsequent full container 10 are also detected by the sensor 20 and obtained in ascending order the following natural numbers. For example, in this example, the third full container 10 detected by the sensor 20 is assigned the number 3.

Gleichzeitig wird dem derart mit einer natürlichen Zahl bezeichneten Vollbehälter 10 die aktuelle Uhrzeit einer in der Recheneinheit installierten Uhr zugeordnet. Die Bezeichnung des Vollbehälters 10 und die ihm zugeordnete Uhrzeit der internen Uhr in der Recheneinheit bleiben dem Vollbehälter 10 so lange zugeordnet, bis er die Behälterfördervorrichtung 1 wieder verlassen hat. Somit kann anhand der Bezeichnung und der zugeordneten Uhrzeit, im folgenden Zeitstempel genannt, einem Vollbehälter 10 an jeder Stelle innerhalb der Behälterfördervorrichtung 1 die Zeit, im folgenden Verweilzeit genannt, zugeordnet werden, die seit dem Befüllen des Vollbehälters 10 mit Hilfe der Behälterfülleinrichtung 8 vergangen ist. Denn der Recheneinheit sind über ebenfalls nicht dargestellte Meßmittel auch die Fördergeschwindigkeiten aller Förderbänder innerhalb der Behälterfördervorrichtung 1, insbesondere der Förderbänder 6 und 16, und auch die Längen der Förderbänder bekannt. Auf diese Weise kann die Recheneinheit feststellen, um welchen Vollbehälter 10 es sich handelt, wenn sie einen Vollbehälter 10 mit Hilfe weiterer, unten noch genauer beschriebener Sensoren erfaßt.At the same time, the current time of a clock installed in the arithmetic unit is assigned to the full container 10, thus designated with a natural number. The designation of the full container 10 and the associated time of the internal clock in the arithmetic unit remain assigned to the full container 10 until it has left the container conveyor device 1 again. Thus, on the basis of the name and the assigned time, referred to in the following time stamp, a full container 10 at any point within the container conveyor device 1, the time, referred to below dwell, be assigned, which has elapsed since the filling of the full container 10 by means of the container filling device 8 , For the arithmetic unit are also not shown measuring means, the conveying speeds of all conveyor belts within the container conveyor device 1, in particular the conveyor belts 6 and 16, and also the lengths of the conveyor belts known. In this way, the arithmetic unit can determine which full container 10 is involved when it detects a full container 10 with the help of further, described in more detail below sensors.

Ein solcher weiterer Sensor, der zweite Sensor 24 befindet sich am Ende 22 des Förderbandes 16 der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation 14. Der Sensor 24 erfaßt die Vollbehälter 10 erneut. In der Recheneinheit kann nun durch Vergleich der aktuellen Uhrzeit mit dem Zeitstempel des Vollbehälters 10 festgestellt werden, welche Verweilzeit der Vollbehälter 10 in der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation 14 akkumuliert hat. Die somit ermittelte Verweilzeit der Vollbehälter 10 seit der Erfassung mit dem Sensor 20 wird dann mit einer gewünschten, in der Recheneinheit vorgegebenen Verweilzeit der Vollbehälter 10 in der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation 14 verglichen.Such another sensor, the second sensor 24 is located at the end 22 of the conveyor belt 16 of the full container receiving station 14. The sensor 24 detects the full container 10 again. In the arithmetic unit can now be determined by comparing the current time with the time stamp of the full container 10, which has dwell time of the full container 10 accumulated in the full container receiving station 14. The thus determined residence time of the full container 10 since the detection with the sensor 20 is then compared with a desired, predetermined in the arithmetic unit dwell time of the full container 10 in the full container receiving station 14.

Ergibt die ermittelte Verweilzeit der Vollbehälter 10 in der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation 14, daß diese Verweilzeit zusammen mit einer dem Füllstand einer Vollbehälterzuführstation 48 entsprechenden Verweilzeit in der Vollbehälterzuführstation 48 eine ausreichende, d.h. eine einer gewünschten Mindestverweilzeit entsprechende Gesamtverweilzeit in der Behälterfördervorrichtung 1 ergibt, so wird der Vollbehälter 10 von der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation 14 direkt entlang der Pfeile 26a und 46b in die Vollbehälterzuführstation 48 umgesetzt. Unterschreitet die verbrachte Zeit der Vollbehälter 10 in der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation 14 die gewünschte, vorgegebene Verweilzeit in der Vollbehälteraufnahmestation 14, so wird der Vollbehälter 10 entlang der Pfeile 26a und 26b in eine erste Vorratsstation 28 umgesetzt.If the determined residence time of the full container 10 in the full container receiving station 14, that this residence time together with the filling level of a Vollbehälterzuführstation 48 corresponding residence time in the Vollbehälterzuführstation 48 sufficient, ie a desired minimum dwell corresponding total residence time in the container conveyor 1 results, the full container 10 from the full container receiving station 14 directly along the arrows 26 a and 46b converted into the full container supply station 48. If the spent time of the full container 10 in the full container receiving station 14 falls below the desired, predetermined residence time in the full container receiving station 14, the full container 10 is converted into a first supply station 28 along the arrows 26a and 26b.

In der ersten Vorratsstation 28 werden die Behälter ebenfalls von einem Förderband 30 in der Fig. 1 von links nach rechts bewegt. Am Ende 32 des Förderbandes 30 befindet sich ein dritter Sensor 34. Hier wird mit Hilfe des Sensors 34 erneut der der jeweilige Vollbehälter 10 erfaßt, um dann in der Recheneinheit anhand des Zeitstempels die bisher akkumulierte Verweilzeit in der Behälterfördervorrichtung 1 mit der gewünschten Mindestverweilzeit zu vergleichen. Ist die Mindestverweilzeit erreicht, wird der Vollbehälter 10 auf eine Aufnahmeposition 36 einer zweiten Vorratsstation 38 umgesetzt. Die zweite Vorratsstation 38 weist ein viertes Förderband 40 auf, wobei die Förderrichtung des Förderbandes 40 der Förderrichtung des Förderbandes 30 entgegengesetzt ist. Am Ende 42 des Förderbandes 40 befindet sich ein weiterer Sensor 44. Auch hier wird die zuvor beschriebene Erfassung des Vollbehälters 10 und der Abgleich mit der gewünschten Mindestverweilzeit vorgenommen. Anschließend wird der Vollbehälter 10 entlang der Pfeile 46a, 46b in der Vollbehälterzuführstation 48 umgesetzt. Die Vollbehälterzuführstation 48 weist ebenfalls ein Förderband 50 auf. Am Ende 52 des Förderbandes 50 der Vollbehälterzuführstation 48 befindet sich ein weiterer Sensor 54. Auch dieser Sensor erfüllt die gleichen Aufgaben, die auch die zuvor beschriebenen Sensoren 24, 34 und 44 erfüllt haben.In the first supply station 28, the containers are also moved by a conveyor belt 30 in Fig. 1 from left to right. At the end 32 of the conveyor belt 30 is a third sensor 34. Here, the respective full container 10 is detected by means of the sensor 34 again, and then to compare in the arithmetic unit based on the time stamp the previously accumulated residence time in the container conveyor device 1 with the desired minimum residence time , Once the minimum dwell time has been reached, the full container 10 is transferred to a receiving position 36 of a second supply station 38. The second storage station 38 has a fourth conveyor belt 40, wherein the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 40 is opposite to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 30. At the end 42 of the conveyor belt 40 is another sensor 44. Again, the previously described detection of the full container 10 and the adjustment with the desired minimum residence time is made. Subsequently, the full container 10 along the arrows 46 a, 46 b is implemented in the Vollbehälterzuführstation 48. The full container feed station 48 also has a conveyor belt 50. At the end 52 of the conveyor belt 50 of the Vollbehälterzuführstation 48 is another sensor 54. This sensor also performs the same tasks that have also fulfilled the previously described sensors 24, 34 and 44.

Sollte die Recheneinheit mit Hilfe des Sensors 54 jedoch noch zu diesem Zeitpunkt eine nicht ausreichende, d.h. die Mindestverweilzeit nicht erreichende Verweilzeit der Vollbehälter 10 in der Behälterfördervorrichtung 1 feststellen, so wird ein Warnsignal an das Bedienpersonal herausgegeben. Denn nach dem Sensor 54 gelangt der Vollbehälter 10 direkt in die nicht dargestellte, jedoch durch eine Doppelkassette mit einem Doppelpfeil symbolisierte Behälterentleereinrichtung 56, und von dort aus in die ebenfalls nicht dargestellten weiterverarbeitenden Maschinen. Das Bedienpersonal muß in einem solchen Fall entscheiden, ob der Vollbehälter 10, der an der Stelle des Sensors 54 eine noch nicht ausreichende Verweilzeit in der Behälterfördervorrichtung 1 aufweist, trotzdem weiter verarbeitet werden soll.If the arithmetic unit with the help of the sensor 54 but still at this time a not sufficient, ie not reach the minimum dwell time dwell time of the full container 10 in the container conveyor 1 determine so a warning signal is issued to the operator. Because after the sensor 54 of the full container 10 passes directly into the not shown, but symbolized by a double cassette with a double arrow container emptying device 56, and from there into the further processing machines, also not shown. The operating staff must decide in such a case, if the Full container 10, which has a not yet sufficient residence time in the container conveyor device 1 at the location of the sensor 54, should nevertheless be processed further.

Ermittelt die Recheneinheit mit Hilfe des Sensors 54 - was der Regelfall ist - eine ausreichende Verweilzeit aufgrund des Zeitstempels des entsprechenden Behälters 10, so wird der Behälter 10 ohne Unterbrechung der Behälterentleereinrichtung 56 zugeführt. Der seines Inhaltes entleerte Vollbehälter 10 wird dann als Leerbehälter 58 auf einer ebenfalls mit einem Förderband 60 versehenen Leerbehälteraufnahmestation 62 wieder zu einer Umsetzposition 64 geführt, von der aus er in die Leerbehälterzuführstation 2 umgesetzt wird.Determines the arithmetic unit by means of the sensor 54 - which is the rule - a sufficient residence time due to the time stamp of the corresponding container 10, the container 10 without interruption of the container emptying device 56 is supplied. The full container 10 emptied of its contents is then guided as an empty container 58 on a likewise provided with a conveyor belt 60 empty container receiving station 62 back to a transfer position 64, from which it is converted into the empty container supply station 2.

Sollte an der Leerbehälterzuführstation 2 ein Mangel an Leerbehältern 4 bestehen, so wird dieser Mangel mit Hilfe einer dritten Vorratsstation 66 für Leerbehälter 4 ausgeglichen, indem von der dritten Vorratsstation 66 Leerbehälter 4 in die Leerbehälterzuführstation 2 umgesetzt werden.Should there be a shortage of empty containers 4 at the empty container feed station 2, this defect is compensated for by means of a third storage station 66 for empty containers 4, by converting empty containers 4 into the empty container feed station 2 from the third supply station.

Die Fig. 1 zeigt darüber hinaus das Umsetzen der Vollbehälter 10 am Ende 32 des Förderbandes 30 der ersten Vorratsstation 28 in die Aufnahmeposition 36 der zweiten Vorratsstation 38. Dieses Umsetzen wird gemäß Pfeil 70 gegebenenfalls durch eine Lücke 72 in dem Förderband 30 der ersten Vorratsstation 28 vollautomatisch mit Hilfe einer nicht dargestellten Hebebühne vorgenommen. Auch ist jedoch weiterhin das manuelle Umsetzen (mit möglicher Zwischenlagerung) der Vollbehälter 10 aus der ersten Vorratsstation 28 heraus in die zweite Vorratsstation 38 hinein möglich. Dieses manuelle Umsetzen ist durch die Pfeile 74 bzw. 76 symbolisiert.Fig. 1 also shows the transfer of the full container 10 at the end 32 of the conveyor belt 30 of the first supply station 28 in the receiving position 36 of the second supply station 38. This transfer is according to arrow 70 optionally through a gap 72 in the conveyor belt 30 of the first supply station 28th fully automatic with the help of a lift, not shown. However, the manual transfer (with possible intermediate storage) of the full container 10 from the first supply station 28 into the second supply station 38 is also possible. This manual conversion is symbolized by the arrows 74 and 76, respectively.

Weiterhin ist ein weiterer Sensor 78 in Höhe der Aufnahmeposition 36 der zweiten Vorratsstation 38 vorgesehen. Somit lassen sich Vollbehälter 10, die von Hand auf die Aufnahmeposition 36 gesetzt werden, an der Stelle des Sensors 78 ebenfalls mit einem Zeitstempel versehen.Furthermore, a further sensor 78 in the amount of the receiving position 36 of the second storage station 38 is provided. Thus, full container 10, which are set by hand on the receiving position 36, at the location of the sensor 78 also provided with a time stamp.

Das Umsetzen der Vollbehälter 10 bzw. der Leerbehälter 4 zwischen den verschiedenen Stationen ist durch eine schematisch dargestellte Umsetzeinrichtung 80 verdeutlicht. Die Umsetzeinrichtung 80 weist einen Fuß 82 und einen Pfeiler 84 auf. An dem Pfeiler 84 sind Greifer 86 und 88 entlang der Längsachse des Pfeiler 84 verfahrbar und um die Längsachse des Pfeilers 84 rotierbar angeordnet. Der Greifer 86 ist mit einem Vollbehälter 10 beladen.The conversion of the full container 10 and the empty container 4 between the various stations is illustrated by a conversion device 80 shown schematically. The transfer device 80 has a foot 82 and a pillar 84. On the pillar 84, grippers 86 and 88 are movable along the longitudinal axis of the pillar 84 and arranged rotatably about the longitudinal axis of the pillar 84. The gripper 86 is loaded with a full container 10.

Claims (20)

  1. A method of conveying rod-shaped articles in the tobacco-processing industry, comprising the steps:
    - the articles are filled into containers (4, 10),
    - the containers (4, 10) are delivered to a full container receiving station (14), and
    - the containers (4, 10) are fed to a container emptying device (56),
    characterised by the steps:
    - the residence time of the containers (4, 10) on the full container receiving station (14) is detected,
    - the feed of the containers (4, 10) to the container emptying device (56) is controlled in dependence on the detected residence time, and
    - if the detected residence time is less than a predetermined minimum residence time the containers (4, 10) are fed to the container emptying device (56) by way of a first detour wherein the length of the detour is controlled in dependence on the detected residence time.
  2. A method according to claim 1 comprising the additional step:
    - if the detected residence time reaches or exceeds a predetermined minimum residence time of the containers (4, 10) the containers (4, 10) are passed directly to the container emptying device (56).
  3. A method according to one of the preceding claims comprising the additional steps:
    - the containers (4, 10) are fed to a full container feed station (48) before being fed to the container emptying device (56),
    - the residence time to be expected for the containers (4, 10) on the full container feed station (48) is detected,
    - the residence times detected on full container receiving station (14) and the full container feed station (48) are added, and
    - if the sum of the residence times reaches the predetermined minimum residence time the containers (4, 10) are fed to the full container feed station (48) directly from the full container receiving station (14).
  4. A method according to claim 3 comprising the additional step:
    - if the sum of the residence times is less than the predetermined minimum residence time the containers (4, 10) are put onto a first storage station (28) for containers (4, 10), wherein instead of the containers (4, 10) which are thus not fed directly to the container emptying device (56) containers (4, 10) of a second storage station (38) for containers (4, 10) are fed to the container emptying device (56).
  5. A method according to claim 4 comprising the additional steps:
    - the residence time of the containers (4, 10) on the first storage station (28) is detected,
    - the residence times detected on the full container receiving station (14) and the first storage station (28) and the residence time to be expected on the full container feed station (48) are added, and
    - if the sum of the residence times reaches the predetermined minimum residence time the containers (4, 10) are fed directly to the second storage station (38).
  6. A method according to claims 4 or 5 wherein the containers (4, 10) are automatically transferred from the first storage station (28) onto the second storage station (38).
  7. A method according to one of claims 4 to 6 comprising the additional steps:
    - the residence time of the containers (4, 10) on the first storage station (28) is detected,
    - the residence times detected on the full container receiving station (14) and the first storage station (28) and the residence time to be expected on the full container feed station (48) are added, and
    - if the sum of the residence times does not attain the predetermined minimum residence time the containers (4, 10) are fed to the second storage station (38) by way of a second detour.
  8. A method according to claim 7 comprising the additional steps:
    - the residence time to be expected for the containers (4, 10) on the second storage station (38) is detected,
    - the residence times detected on the full container receiving station (14) and the first storage station (28) and the residence times to be expected on the second storage station (38) and the full container feed station (48) are added, and
    - when the sum of the residence times reaches the predetermined minimum residence time the containers (4, 10) are fed to the second storage station (38) directly from the first storage station (28).
  9. A method according to claim 8 wherein, when the sum of the residence times does not reach the predetermined minimum residence time, the containers (4, 10) are fed from the first storage station (28) to the second storage station (38) by way of a second detour.
  10. A method according to one of the preceding claims comprising the additional steps:
    - for detection of the respective residence time of the containers (4, 10) in the respective stations (14, 28, 38, 48) the containers (4, 10) are detected at the beginning of the respective stations (14, 28, 38, 48),
    - a time stamp is associated with the detected containers (4, 10), and
    - the time stamp is interrogated at the end of the respective stations (14, 28, 38, 48).
  11. A container conveyor apparatus for conveying rod-shaped articles in the tobacco-processing industry, comprising
    a container filling device (8) for filling the containers (4, 10) with articles,
    a container emptying device (56) for emptying the containers (4, 10),
    a full container receiving station (14) associated with the container filling device (8),
    a full container feed station (48) associated with the container emptying device (56), and
    a transposition device (80) operatively connected to the stations (14, 28, 38, 48) for transposition of the containers (4, 10, 58) between the respective stations (14, 28, 38, 48),
    characterised by
    a detection device (20, 24, 34, 44, 54, 78) for detection of the residence times of the containers (4, 10, 58) in at least the full container receiving station (14), preferably in all stations (14, 28, 38, 48), and
    a control device, by means of which the transposition device (80) is controllable in dependence on the detected residence time, as follows:
    - if the detected residence time is less than a predetermined minimum residence time the containers (4, 10) are fed to the container emptying device (56) by way of a first detour wherein the length of the detour is controlled in dependence on the detected residence time.
  12. A container conveyor apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the control device has a memory for storage of a predetermined minimum residence time, and a comparison device for comparison of the detected residence time to the predetermined minimum residence time.
  13. A container conveyor apparatus according to claim 12 wherein there is provided a first storage station (28) which is also operatively connected to the transposition device (80).
  14. A container conveyor apparatus according to claim 13 wherein there is provided a second storage station (38) which is also operatively connected to the transposition device (80).
  15. A container conveyor apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the first (28) and the second storage stations (38) form a waiting loop for the containers (4, 10).
  16. A container conveyor apparatus according to one of claims 11 to 15 wherein the detection device (20, 24, 34, 44, 54, 78) has means for detection of a code which is provided on the containers (4, 10, 58) and which makes the containers (4, 10, 58) distinguishable.
  17. A container conveyor apparatus according to one of claims 11 to 16 wherein the full container receiving station (14) and the full container feed station (48) are arranged in mutually superposed relationship.
  18. A container conveyor apparatus according to one of claims 11 to 17 comprising
    an empty container feed station (2) associated with the container filling device (8) for feeding empty containers (4),
    an empty container receiving station (62) associated with the container emptying device (56) for receiving empty containers (58),
    wherein the full container receiving station (14) and the full container feed station (48) are at the same heightwise spacing relative to each other as the empty container feed station (2) and the empty container receiving station (62).
  19. A container conveyor apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the transposition device (80) is in the form of a lift and has two receiving means (86, 88), which receiving means (86, 88) are arranged at a spacing relative to each other which corresponds to the heightwise spacing.
  20. A container conveyor apparatus according to one of claims 13 to 19 comprising
    a third storage station (66) for empty containers (4), which is also operatively connected to the transposition device (80),
    wherein the first storage station (28) and the third storage station (66) are at the same heightwise spacing relative to each other as the full container receiving station (14) and the full container feed station (48).
EP00119700A 1999-12-08 2000-09-09 Method for transporting rod-like articles and container transporting apparatus Expired - Lifetime EP1106086B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19959061 1999-12-08
DE19959061A DE19959061A1 (en) 1999-12-08 1999-12-08 Method for conveying rod-shaped articles and container conveying device

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1106086A2 EP1106086A2 (en) 2001-06-13
EP1106086A3 EP1106086A3 (en) 2003-11-19
EP1106086B1 true EP1106086B1 (en) 2006-05-24

Family

ID=7931785

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00119700A Expired - Lifetime EP1106086B1 (en) 1999-12-08 2000-09-09 Method for transporting rod-like articles and container transporting apparatus

Country Status (7)

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US (1) US6478137B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1106086B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2001169768A (en)
CN (1) CN1208226C (en)
AT (1) ATE326871T1 (en)
DE (2) DE19959061A1 (en)
PL (1) PL197465B1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE326871T1 (en) 2006-06-15
PL344299A1 (en) 2001-06-18
US6478137B2 (en) 2002-11-12
DE50012814D1 (en) 2006-06-29
JP2001169768A (en) 2001-06-26
US20010010284A1 (en) 2001-08-02
DE19959061A1 (en) 2001-06-13
CN1208226C (en) 2005-06-29
PL197465B1 (en) 2008-04-30
CN1298831A (en) 2001-06-13
EP1106086A2 (en) 2001-06-13
EP1106086A3 (en) 2003-11-19

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