EP1226765B1 - Method and apparatus for manufacturing multiple compartment filters - Google Patents

Abstract

At least two portions of filter material (20, 26, 27, 30) are introduced into a filter sleeve (11) in a single step operation. Independent claims are also included for (a) multi-segment filters made by this method, (b) the production apparatus, comprising a filter sleeve feed device (10) and at least one transport device (12) for introducing the filter material into the sleeves and then transporting them to another processing station, and (c) a production system comprising a filter sleeve feed device (10), at least one transport device transporting the sleeves over a given path, and at least one further processing station for introducing two or more filter material portions into at least one filter sleeve.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing multiple filters and a device for producing multiple filters for products of the tobacco processing industry, wherein the device is a Filterhülsenzuführelement, at least one transport element, can be introduced into the filter sleeves and by means of which the filter sleeves are fed to at least one processing station comprises , The invention further relates to the use of prefabricated filter sleeves for the manufacture of multiple filters for products of the tobacco processing industry, a corresponding filter sleeve for the manufacture of multiple filters for products of the tobacco processing industry and a multiple filter manufacturing system for tobacco processing industry products comprising a filter sleeve feeder for Supplying filter sleeves and a transport system for transporting the filter sleeves on a predetermined path of movement comprises.

A method and a device for producing multiple filters are known, for example, from DE-AS 17 82 364 of the applicant, which describes an apparatus for producing filter granulate-containing filters with the name "Bernhard" of the applicant, which is known in the art. DE-AS 17 82 364 corresponds to GB 1,243,977 and US 3,603,058 multiple filters, also called multi-segment filters, consist of at least two filter elements and typically up to eight filter elements, which may have any order. In a tube formed into a tube, various filter elements or segments are arranged. These may be soft filter elements, such as cellulose acetate, paper, fleece or relatively hard filter elements such as granules, sintered elements, hollow cylinders or capsules and the like. The corresponding filter materials need not be 100% of one material. These may, for example, also be mixed materials such as, for example, a granulate in a cellulose acetate. In this case, particular thought of granular materials such as activated carbon. Depending on the materials used and the filter segment order, the most diverse properties of corresponding multiple filters, which are preferably attachable end to rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry arise.

From DE-AS 17 82 364 a granule filling machine is known which produces granules containing filter and in particular triple filter. By triple filter is meant a filter constituting a filter consisting of three filter segments, the "Bernhard" filling machine producing a double-length triple filter which is then placed for cigarette production between two elongate tobacco-wrapped articles of cigarette paper to form the Middle to be cut, so that two cigarettes with filters are produced. In DE-AS 17 82 364 a continuously rotating conveyor with receptacles for filter sleeves is disclosed, which promotes the filter sleeves transversely. During the cross-axial conveying alternately filter plug, which are cut off by a longer filter rod and granules are introduced into the sleeve. The filter plugs are introduced into the sleeve with transfer means, namely plungers. The granules fall under gravity into the sleeve.

From GB 741 416 A an embodiment of the "Bernhard" machine is also known. In this embodiment of the known Bernhard machine, first a small filter element piece is deposited in the entry region of an opening in which a sleeve is arranged. Subsequently, the filter element piece is spent together with another Fliterelementstück in the Fliterhülse. Thus, two filter element pieces are simultaneously brought into a filter sleeve for the production of multi-segment filters. It is also possible to introduce further filter elements into the sleeve in order to produce a multi-segment filter. For this purpose, it is stated in this document that in particular thin slices with good absorption capabilities for components of cigarette smoke cause certain problems in the production of filter rods with these thin slices, since they difficult because of their small compared to the diameter length and their softness and sensitivity to mechanical stress to handle. It is accordingly an object of this document to enable a trouble-free production of combination filters with filter discs as components in the strand process even at high speed.

This object is achieved in that filter sleeves, as just shown, are filled with filter elements and then stored on a conveyor, such that an endless filter strand can be produced.

GB 741 416 A discloses an apparatus for the manufacture of multi-segment filters, wherein at the same time nicotine-absorbing crystals and a type of cotton wool or other filter plug are glued together to subsequently form an endless filter strand.

The relatively many operating steps in the machine "Bernhard", in particular, relatively large movements must be performed, leading to a limitation of the performance of the granulate filling machine described in DE-AS 17 82 364. With the ever increasing performance of cigarette manufacturing machines, it is desired to also speed up the production of corresponding filters.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device as well as a multiple filter production system, by means of which the production quantity of multiple filters is increased.

• Zuführen einer Filterhülse in eine vorgebbare Position und
• Einführen von Filtermaterial in vorgebbaren Portionen, wobei wenigstens zwei Portionen der Filtermaterialien in einem Verfahrensschritt in die Filterhülse eingeführt werden, wobei
• die Filterhülse von zwei Seiten befüllt wird und wobei die von zwei Seiten zu befüllende Filterhülse gedreht wird.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a process for producing multiple filters for products of the tobacco-processing industry with the following process steps:

• Feeding a filter sleeve in a predetermined position and
• Introducing filter material in predetermined portions, wherein at least two portions of the filter materials are introduced into the filter sleeve in one process step, wherein
• the filter sleeve is filled from two sides and wherein the filter sleeve to be filled from two sides is rotated.

By the method according to the invention, it is possible to significantly increase the filter production speed of a filter manufacturing machine. In the context of this invention, the term "multiple filter" also includes the term "multi-segment filter", wherein at least two segments are included in the filter. The segments can be made of different materials, such as cellulose acetate, paper, nonwoven, granules, sintered elements, hollow cylinders or hollow chambers, capsules, etc. In the invention, at least two segments are formed substantially simultaneously in the filter sleeve. This involves the formation of several segments by transferring multiple portions of filter material. Preferably, the filter sleeve is fully filled in an insertion or always in two portions or Dreierportionen, in which preferably at least one soft element, such as cellulose acetate, paper and the like. And above a granulate or even further above another soft element is arranged. Preferably, a final process step can also be carried out be introduced in which only a single filter material in one portion in the filter sleeve.

Preferably, a filter sleeve is provided and / or produced in a first method step. By filling the filter sleeve from two sides, the filling speed can be further increased. In this case, one half is preferably filled with one filling step or in several filling steps in which packages through which a plurality of segments are formed are transferred.

The filter sleeve is turned to fill from two sides. In this case, the supplied filter sleeve is preferably designed such that in the middle of a filter element is arranged. It is thus preferably used a prefabricated filter sleeve with a filter element in the middle. Furthermore, the filter sleeve is preferably guided for filling on a predeterminable movement path at least partially transversely, whereby a fast process control and simple structural elements of a corresponding device can be realized. Further preferably, the introduction of the filter material is done with a vertical component of movement. By means of this preferred embodiment of the invention, compact devices or filter production machines can be realized.

Preferably, the filter sleeve is formed in a preceding method step. The filter sleeve is preferably casing material sections or tubular casings which are formed into tubes. Preferably, the filter material segments or filter material segments are formed, which alternately granular material and, in particular gas-permeable, boundary pieces, such as soft elements of cellulose acetate, paper or nonwoven or the like. exhibit. Preferably, an n-fold multiple filter is formed, where n is a natural even number greater than one. By an n-fold multiple filter is meant a filter of n-length use length. This is therefore an n-fold multiple filter, where the "multiple" stands for several segments.

Preferably, a multiple filter is produced according to one of the above-described methods.

The invention is further achieved by a device for producing multiple filters for products of the tobacco processing industry, which are a Filterhülsenzuführelement and at least one transport element into which filter sleeves are introduced and by means of the filter sleeves at least one processing station can be fed, which is further developed in that At least one processing station, at least two portions of the filter materials in a processing step in at least one filter sleeve are insertable, wherein a rotating device is provided for rotating the filter sleeve as a processing station. By this embodiment of the invention, the filling can be carried out very quickly, since the movements that must perform feeding or filling organs can be kept relatively short.

Preferably, two portions each can be inserted if the portions are insertable into more than one filter sleeve in a processing station. Due to the inventive design of the device For the production of multiple filters a very fast process control is possible.

Preferably, the at least one transport element is at least one continuously circulating conveyor, which conveys the filter sleeves transaxially. If preferably the at least one processing station is arranged on a single conveyor, a very compact device can be realized. A modular design is possible if the conveyors at least one processing station is assigned. If the conveyor is assigned a maximum of one processing station, a particularly modular structure of the device is given.

Preferably, a plurality of conveyors are provided, of which at least one is associated with at least one processing station, and of which at least one is associated with only one processing station. With this preferred embodiment of the invention, a good compromise between a compact device and a sufficient modularity is given.

Preferably, a filter material supply station is provided, which comprises two rotatable and acentrically arranged discs, each having bores, the bores of one disc and the bores of the other disc in a location anordbar.And be arranged. By means of this filter material feeding a very accurate dosage of eg. Filter granules is possible.

Preferably, at least one filter material supply station is provided, wherein these at least one sliding element, with holes is provided, and / or at least one lever element which is provided with bores comprises. By means of this filter material feeding station a simple and quick handling of filter material is possible. Preferably, the aforesaid two filter material supply stations are assembled to a filter material supply station, in which then different feeding methods can be used.

A particularly simple implementation of the device according to the invention is given when a filter material introduction station is provided which comprises at least one first transfer means, in particular at least one plunger, which introduces at least two portions of the filter materials into the filter sleeve in one method step. The filter material introduction station may in this case preferably overlap with a filter material supply station.

Preferably, at least one second transfer means is provided, which acts from the opposite side of the filter sleeve as an abutment to the at least one first transfer means. The transfer means can also introduce filter material into the filter sleeve, but this does not necessarily have.

Preferably, at least one filter sleeve with at least two holes axially aligned can be arranged.

The invention is further characterized by a multiple filter manufacturing system for tobacco processing industry products having a filter sleeve feeding device for feeding filter sleeves and a transport system for transporting the filter sleeves onto a filter sleeve predeterminable trajectory and at least one processing station solved, which is further developed in that at least two portions of the filter material in at least one filter sleeve can be introduced in at least one processing station in a processing step, wherein a rotating device for rotating the filter sleeves is provided as a processing station. Due to this design of the filter production system, a particularly fast process control is possible.

If portions of filter material are introduced or can be introduced into a plurality of filter sleeves, preferably at least two portions of the filter materials are respectively introduced or can be introduced. If preferably the transport system has at least one continuously circulating conveyor, which conveys the filter sleeves transaxially, a particularly simple realization of the filter production system is possible.

If preferably the at least one processing station is assigned to at least one conveyor, a modular construction is possible. A very compact filter production system is given when preferably a single conveyor is provided to which at least one processing station is associated. A particularly highly modular system is given when several conveyors are provided, each of which is assigned at most one processing station.

The manufactured by the applicant and Filterprodustellmaschine or device for the production of multiple filters for products of the tobacco processing industry produces about 1,200 multiple filters doppeiter use length per minute. With the invention Setup Is it possible to make 5,000 multiple filters per minute in double working length. The advantage of the solution according to the invention is thus particularly clear.

Fig. 1

eine Schnittdarstellung einer Übergabestation in einem ersten Verfahrensstadium.

Fig. 2

die Übergabestation aus Fig. 1 In einem weiteren Verfahrensstadium,

Fig. 3 bis Fig. 8

die Übergabestation aus Fig. 1 und 2 In fortlaufenden Vafahrensstadlen,

Fig. 9

eine weitere erfindungsgemäße Ausführungsform einer Übergabestation,

Fig. 10

ein Granulat-Zuführelement in Seitenansicht (Fig. 10a) und in Draufsicht (Fig. 10b),

Fig. 11

eine schematische Darstellung einer Filterherstellmaschine in Draufsicht,

Fig. 12

eine schematische Aufsicht auf Elemente einer weiteren Filterherstellmaschine,

Fig. 13

schematisch die jeweilige Anordnung bzw. Lage von einer Filterhülse und einem Filterelement sowie einem entsprechenden Stößel in fortlaufender Bearbeitung,

Fig. 14

linke Seite: ein Dreifachfilter doppelter Gebrauchslänge,
rechte Seite: eine schematische Darstellung einer modular aufgebauten Filterherstellmaschine, mit der der links dargestellte Filter herstellbar ist,

Fig. 15

links: ein Vierfachfilter doppelter Gebrauchslänge, und rechts: eine schematische Darstellung einer Filterherstellmaschine, mit der der links dargestellte Filter herstellbar ist.

Fig. 16

eine Schnittdarstellung einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer Übergabestation mit im Vergleich zu dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Figuren 1 - 8 weiteren Merkmalen,

Fig. 17

eine schematische Seitenansicht von Funktionselementen zur Zufuhr von Filtermaterial und zur Entnahme von Multisegmentfiltern bzw. Mehrfachfiltern in einem Ausführungsbeispiel und

Fig. 18

eine schematische Darstellung der Filterelemente im Verlauf der Bearbeitung gemäß der Fig. 17.

The invention will be described below without limiting the general inventive concept by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings, to which reference is expressly made with respect to all in the text unspecified details of the invention. It says:

Fig. 1

a sectional view of a transfer station in a first stage of the process.

Fig. 2

the transfer station from FIG. 1 in a further process stage,

Fig. 3 to Fig. 8

the transfer station of FIGS. 1 and 2 in continuous Vafahrensstadlen,

Fig. 9

a further embodiment of a transfer station according to the invention,

Fig. 10

a granule feed element in a side view (FIG. 10 a) and in a top view (FIG. 10 b), FIG.

Fig. 11

a schematic representation of a Filterherstellmaschine in plan view,

Fig. 12

a schematic plan view of elements of another filter manufacturing machine,

Fig. 13

schematically the respective arrangement or position of a filter sleeve and a filter element and a corresponding plunger in continuous processing,

Fig. 14

left side: a triple filter with double working length,
right side: a schematic representation of a modular filter-making machine with which the filter shown on the left can be produced,

Fig. 15

left: a quadruple filter of double working length, and on the right: a schematic representation of a filter-making machine with which the filter shown on the left can be produced.

Fig. 16

3 is a sectional view of a further embodiment of a transfer station with further features compared to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-8.

Fig. 17

a schematic side view of functional elements for the supply of filter material and for the removal of Multi-segment filtering or multiple filtering in one embodiment and

Fig. 18

a schematic representation of the filter elements in the course of processing according to FIG. 17th

In the following figures, the same reference numerals have been used for the same or corresponding features, so that apart from a renewed presentation.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a transfer station. A sleeve 11 arranged in a trough of a tube feed drum 10 and having a first filter material 19 in the center is brought into the region of a transfer station. The same applies to a filter plug 20, which may, for example, consist of cellulose acetate. The filter plug 20 has, for example, a length of 8 mm. The filter plug 20 is replaced by a filter plug conveyor 21, e.g. a filter plug drum, in which the corresponding filter plug 20 are received in recordings, a plug receptacle 25 is supplied.

In a continuous process step, which is shown in Fig. 2, the filter sleeve 11 is in engagement with the transfer station and is held by means of vacuum holes 13 which are arranged on a conveyor drum in the specified position. Furthermore, a plunger 18 has already been introduced from below into the filter sleeve 11. Further, the plug 20, which is conveyed by the filter plug conveyor 21, has been transferred to the transfer unit and is held in the indicated position in FIG. 2 by means of another vacuum hole 13. Further, two different granules, namely a first granule 26 and a second granules 27 in it provided holes 14 of a slider 24 filled. The amount of granules is given by the bore size.

The slider 24 is designed to be displaceable in the drawing plane from left to right and vice versa.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the transfer station, wherein the plunger 18 has been further moved vertically upward, so that the sleeve 11 terminates with its upper end substantially in alignment with the upper edge of the conveyor drum 12. Further, the plug 20 has been conveyed by means of the plunger 17 in the axial direction of the plunger, that is vertically downwards, into the tube 15 and into a first bore 14 of the slide 23. A circular blade 28, which is guided in the guide 29, cuts exactly at the upper edge of the slider 23, the plug 20 into two equal-sized plugs, each 4 mm in length. For conveying the plug 20 into the tube 15 and the sleeve 11 into the conveyor drum bore 16, the vacuum or the suction air is turned off in the vacuum bores 13.

In a next process step, which is shown in Fig. 4, the slider 23 is pushed to the left, so that the upper part of the split plug 20 with a further bore 14 of the slider 23 is vertically aligned. In a further process step, which is not shown, the stopper 20 is transferred by means of the plunger 17 in the further bore and another filter plug 30, of another material such as. Fleece, which is enriched with a granule, fed, by means of a Cut circular knife and inserted into the two remaining holes 14 of the slider 23.

In Fig. 5 exactly the process state is shown, in which the other filter plug 30 were inserted into the remaining holes. The first granules 26 fall already due to gravity in the sleeve 11. In order to achieve the best possible filling, the sleeve 11 is set in vibration or vibration. For this purpose, a vibration generator 44 is provided, which sets a spring plate 43 in vibrations which are transmitted by mechanical contact of the spring plate 44 with the sleeve 11 thereto. In Fig. 5 is also a bore of the slider 23, in which a filter plug 30 is located, and a bore of the slider 24, in which granules is aligned with the conveyor drum bore 16 and the sleeve 11 is aligned so that in a next Process step, which is shown in Fig. 6, the plunger 17, the filter material 30 and 26 can introduce into the filter sleeve 11. It is possible, instead of, as shown in Fig. 6, to introduce the filter material 30 and 26 only to the upper edge of the filter plug 11, so that the movement or the degree of movement of the plunger 17 can still be minimized.

In Fig. 7, the process state is shown in which, after a corresponding alignment alignment, a bore in which a filter plug 20 is arranged and a bore of the slider 24, in which the granules 27 is arranged, is aligned with the sleeve 11, so that the plunger 17 could introduce the material.

In Fig. 8, the process stage is shown, in which the sleeve 11, which was half filled with filter material was conveyed by lowering the plunger 18 down, and indeed back into the effective range of the vacuum hole 13, so that the sleeve 11 again These vacuum holes and according to those in the conveyor drum 12 provided recordings is held. As a next step, the half-filled sleeve is fed to a turning drum to then subject the 180 ° turned sleeve the same process steps, so that a total of a five-fold filter can be made twice the length of use. This fivefold filter then in this embodiment comprises five different filter materials arranged in segments in the filter. This is a first filter material 19 which, for example, has a length of 8 mm after cutting through the filter of double use length, a first granulate 26 with a height of approx. 8 mm, a second filter plug 30 with a height of 4 mm or a thickness of 4 mm, a second granulate 27 with a height of about 8 mm and a final filter plug 20 with a thickness of 4 mm. In the context of this invention, it is also possible to use filter plugs of down to a thickness of 2 mm, so that even more filter materials can be arranged in segments in the filter sleeve 11.

In Fig. 8, a discharge drum 50 is still shown, which carries away the half-filled sleeve 11, to a turning drum, which is not shown in Fig. 8. In this turning drum, the sleeve is then turned by 180 ° and then fed by means of a feed drum of the conveyor drum 12 again to fill the rest of the sleeve 11.

In the context of this invention, it is also possible to turn the sleeves several times in order to introduce different filter materials at several stations. Thus, it is not necessary for each half of the sleeve 11 to be completely filled in a transfer station before it is rotated. To produce the sleeves 11 with a centrally disposed first filter material 19, for example a machine of the applicant, namely the Mulfi E are adjusted accordingly. In order to be able to subsequently bond the filter plug introduced later, the seam bonding of the sleeve 11 is converted from a hot-melt adhesive to PVC glue (polyvinyl acetate glue). For this purpose, the cooling bar, which glued the seam, replaced by a heating bar. The glue supply is also exchanged accordingly. The filter sleeve is thus glued to a glue, which does not lead to a loosening of the glue connection by heating.

The segment bonding, i. the bonding of the subsequently inserted filter segments is done in such a way that a hot-splicing adhesive tape is applied to the paper within the sleeve before the sleeve is formed. After inserting the filter segments into the sleeve having a cooled hot melt adhesive track, the entire sleeve is heated, either by contact heat or with correspondingly high energy radiation, e.g. Microwave radiation, which causes the hot melt adhesive to melt and the segments are glued.

9 shows a further embodiment of a transfer device according to the invention, in which four different filter materials can be transferred into the sleeve at the same time. By the way, the sleeve consists, for example, of a paper tube 37. In order to transfer four different materials, in addition to the first slide 23 and the second slide 24, a third slide 41 and a fourth slide 42 are provided. In the third slide 41, for example, a soft element 30 is introduced and in the fourth slide 42 granules 26th

It is within the scope of this invention also possible to increase the number of holes of the slide 24 of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 8 to four, so that four holes are filled with appropriate granules and so that no further granules filling after turning or turning the filter sleeve is necessary. In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 8, corresponding filter plugs 20 and 30 are already stored, so that after filling one side of the filter sleeve 11 no further filter plugs have to be inserted into the slide 23. The same is of course also in the embodiment. Fig. 9 possible.

FIG. 10 shows in the upper region (FIG. 10b) a side view of a cross-sectional view of a granulate feeding station or a granulate portioning station. There are two acentrically arranged discs, namely a first disc 31 and a second disc 32 shown, wherein the first disc 31 is disposed above the second disc 32. In Fig. 10a is a plan view of this device is shown. Both discs 31 and 32 have holes 14. It is filled granules 26 in the holes. For this purpose, granules 26 are fed by means of a granulate filling device 51. The first disc 31 rotates counterclockwise over the disc 32, which also rotates counterclockwise in this embodiment. On the second disc 32 sleeves 11 are arranged below this disc. These are held by means of conventional holding organs in the appropriate places. The predetermined by the size of the holes portioned granules migrates counterclockwise in the direction of a feed zone 38a - 38b. Likewise, the filter sleeves 11 arranged below the second disc 32 move. In the insertion position 38, the bores of the two discs are aligned. by virtue of Gravity granules is introduced into the sleeves, as indicated in Fig. 10b. The inventive and preferred Granulatzuführstation or Portionierstation a particularly simple implementation of the portioning of granules and the introduction of granules is given in filter sleeves. Due to the large loading zone 38a-38b, the discs 31 and 32 can rotate at high speed and the production speed is correspondingly high. In order to achieve the most dense granulate filling, a vibration generator 44 and a spring plate 43 is also provided in this embodiment, by means of which the sleeve 11 is added during or after filling with the granules 26 in vibration. The vibrator 44 is preferably an electromagnet having a mass that oscillates at a frequency of 50 Hz.

In Fig. 11 is a schematic plan view is shown on a Filterherstellmaschine. However, FIG. 11 does not show the processing stations which are illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 1 to 9, that is to say those which are provided for the introduction of the filter elements.

On a single main drum 100, the various processing steps are performed. A sleeve mass flow 101 leads sleeves 114 4 times the working length to the filter manufacturing machine. In the area of a transfer drum 103, which is not shown, the filter sleeves 4 times the length of use are cut centrally and moved axially. By means of a transfer drum 104 and a transfer drum 105, which corresponds for example to the tube feed drum 10 of FIG. 1, the supplied sleeves of the main drum 100, for example, the conveyor drum 12 of FIG. 1, supplied.

A filter element mass flow 102 leads to filter elements 12 times the processing length of the filter manufacturing machine. These are cut into shorter sections at partially unillustrated place. By means of a transfer drum 104, e.g. 1, the filter elements or the already cut filter elements 116 are fed to a transfer drum 105, where they are further divided by means of a circular blade 106. In the filter manufacturing machine three corresponding organs are shown, by means of which filter elements of appropriate length, which may each have different properties, can be supplied. At the bottom two filter element feed stations, transfer cone drums 107 for transferring the filter elements are shown.

A first storage container and a second storage container for a first granulate 110 and a second granulate 111 are provided. The granules are fed via corresponding conveying elements of a granulate transfer station 112, in which, for example, corresponding holes can be filled by sliders full of the desired granules. The main drum 100 moves in a clockwise direction. For example, before completing half of a complete revolution of the main drum 100, one side of a double-use multiple filter has been completely filled. This semi-filled multiple filter is conveyed by means of a transfer drum 109 to a turning drum 108 to be turned there and to be fed again by means of a further transfer drum 109 of the main drum 100. The turning drum 108 is described for example in DE 199 20 760 A1 of the applicant. In the applicant's patent application is an apparatus for turning rod-shaped objects with a turning drum described which receives the rod-shaped objects to be used in recordings intended for this purpose. In this case, the turning drum has at least one turning section which turns at least two rod-shaped objects to be turned parallel to each other.

In the remaining circulation of the main drum 100 then the other fillings are made. However, the further filling elements are not shown in FIG. 11 either. Shortly before the end of a full revolution of the main drum 100, the fully filled or partially filled multiple sleeves or multiple filters double use length by means of a transfer drum 109 and corresponding transfer drums 104 and a transfer drum 103 a double-multiple mass filter 117, ie a multiple filter mass flow, wherein the multiple filters have a double use length, transferred. 118 shows a double multiple filter. Further, the reference numeral 113, a control cabinet is shown, which controls the Filterherstellmaschine. In this embodiment of the invention, a single main drum 100 is shown, in which all processing steps for filling filter sleeves 11 can be performed. Shortly before removal of the finished filled sleeve, a heating element may be provided which can be brought into engagement with the corresponding sleeves so as to cause the hot-melt adhesive, which was applied to the inside of the paper tube in a previous method step, to stick together the introduced filter materials remain in their positions. Also in Fig. 11, the spring plate 43 is shown, which serves to transmit vibrations filled with granules sleeves.

Fig. 12 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the invention. Filter sleeves 11 are fed by means of a sleeve feed drum 10 of a conveyor drum 12. This is also shown schematically at the position a) in FIG. 13. In b), the sleeve 11 is moved a little further up and the plunger 17 also. In the course to e) the plunger is moved further up. At f), filter plugs 20 are fed by means of a filter plug conveyor 21, which in this embodiment is a drum. This is shown schematically in Fig. 13 also at f).

In the schematic illustration of FIG. 13, adjacent sleeves and plungers are shown from f) to m). Thus, in the schematic illustration, FIGS. 13 f) and g) must be considered together. In a next method step h) and i), the plungers 17 are moved downwards, whereby the filter plug 20, which is located at h), is also moved downwards. In j) and k) the filter plug 20 is divided by a circular blade 28 into two parts. The upper part of the plug 20 is located in a receptacle or a bore of a lever 35. In I) and m), the lever 35 is pivoted so that its bore is aligned with the underlying bore of the main drum or conveyor drum 12, in the sleeve 11 is located. From now on, the process steps are displayed individually again. At n) to q) the plunger 17 moves into the opening in which the sleeve 11 is located and brings the corresponding filter material into this sleeve. In r) and t) the plunger 17 moves out of this opening again. At s), the lever returns to its original position. The thus partially filled sleeves 11 are removed by means of the removal drum 33. In the recordings of this removal drum 33 are then filter sleeves with filter elements 34. It is also possible in the context of this invention or this embodiment entire half of the sleeve 11 to fill. However, it is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 only the variant of a lever instead of a slider, can be moved by means of the corresponding filter plug. It is also possible to use several levers 35, in which then, for example, also granules can be introduced, or to use a combination of levers and slides.

In Fig. 14, a modular construction of a filter manufacturing machine is shown in front view. The modules sleeve feed module 130, granule and soft element filler module 131 (2x) and reverser module 132 are shown. In this embodiment, sleeves are fed by means of a sleeve tray 120 and filter elements by means of two filter element trays 121. The sleeve feed module thus comprises a supply of sleeves from a sleeve tray 120, a take-down drum 123 and a transfer drum 124. The transfer drum 124 conveys the sleeves from the take-down drum 123 to a delivery drum 125, which in turn conveys the sleeves to a granule drum 126. Arrived in the granule drum 126, granules are filled into the sleeves. In this case, for example, a device according to. of Fig. 10 find use. The partially filled with granules sleeves are then passed to a lever drum 127, the example. By a refinement gem. of Fig. 12 may be given. In this module, namely in the granule and soft element filler module 131 121 filter elements via a pick-up drum -123 and a supply and sleeve removal drum 128 of the lever drum 127 are fed from a filter element tray 121.

By means of the supply and sleeve removal drum 128 are filled with granules and corresponding filter elements such as soft elements sleeves whose one side is now in this embodiment is fully filled, removed and transferred to a transfer drum 124, which is arranged in the inverter module 132. The transfer drum 124 passes the half-filled sleeves 11 a turning drum 129, in which the sleeves are turned. On the way to the turning drum, the sleeves can be heated to activate a hot glue track that fixes the filter elements. After turning the sleeves, the half-filled sleeves are transferred to another granule and soft element filler module 131, by means of a delivery drum 125, which transfers the sleeves of a granule drum 126, in which the sleeves are filled again with granules. Next, the sleeves are transferred to a lever drum 127 in which the sleeves are filled with another soft element. In this case, the soft elements are transferred from a filter element tray 121 via a take-down drum 123 and a supply and sleeve take-down drum 128 to the lever drum 127. The now fully filled sleeves are then passed through the drum 128 to a transfer drum 124, to which a heating station 39 is arranged, by means of which, for example, a hot melt adhesive can be fully activated or in the remaining part of the sleeve.

In the left side of FIG. 14, a completely filled double multiple filter 118 is shown in longitudinal section, which is composed of a first filter material 19, a granulate 26 and in each case a filter plug 20. This double-multiple filter is cut in the middle of the first filter material 19 in the following cigarette production.

In Fig. 15, another exemplary embodiment of a filter-producing machine is shown, by means of which a double-multiple filter 118 can be made, each consisting of four different Filter elements double use length consists. In this double-multiple filter 118 two different types of granules 26 and 27 have been introduced. In order to insert a further granulate, in comparison to the embodiment of FIG. 14, two further granule modules 133 are added to the filter-producing machine of FIG. 14. These lie between the tube feed module 130 and the granule and soft element filler module 131 as well as the bender module 132 and the further granule and soft element filler module 131. Otherwise, the elements used here are correspondingly.

With the filter-producing machine according to the invention, it is possible to produce modular according to the wishes of the corresponding customer filter. For this purpose, only the corresponding modules have to be exchanged, added or removed.

Although in the context of the description of the figures essentially production variants have been shown, in which a vertical orientation of filter sleeves 11 has been used, it is also possible to orient them horizontally. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the use of corresponding drums, but it is also conceivable to use trough belts for transporting and processing the filters, such as, for example, by DE 197 08 836 A1 or US 6,079,545 by the applicant, DE 39 25 073 A1 or US 5,209,249 from the company GD Societa 'via Azioni, Italy, or EP 1 048 229 A2 from Focke.

The filter manufacturing concept is designed to introduce filter plug of different filter materials and / or granules of varying composition in filter sleeves and to To process multi-segment filters or multiple filters. In the context of this invention, the term "filter materials" also includes the term "granules".

Use find preferably at least twice long prefabricated filter sleeves with a loose or glued filter element in the middle. Usually 8 mm plugs are transported, which are then cut into 4 mm long plugs. In a somewhat modified concept, according to the embodiment. 11 is modified, the filter sleeve is held in a trough of a carousel or the main drum 100 and forwarded by rotation of the main drum 100 from station to station. The stations are depending on the design of the filter, also in changing order, a Hülsenzuführeinrichtung, a Granulatdosiereinrichtung with a Granulatzuführstation and Filterstöpselzuführeinrichtung, a filter turning device and turn a Granulatdosiereinrichtung with a Granulatzuführstation and a Filterstöpselzuführeinrichtung or only Granulatzuführstation and a filter plug device. Except when turning the sleeve is always held in the same place in the main drum 100. When feeding filter material into the sleeve or when introducing this material into the sleeve, the sleeve is preferably held by vacuum or suction air in its position. The sleeve holder can, for example, be provided with vibrations, so that granules can be introduced in the densest possible packing.

16 schematically shows a further embodiment of a transfer station for transferring filter elements into a sleeve 11, which contains a first filter material 19. The sleeve 11 is held in the process state of FIG. 16 by means of vacuum bores 13 on the conveyor drum 12. To the sleeve 11 in the bore 16 Introduce the tube plate 62, this is moved by means of a lower plunger 18 which is guided by a plunger guide 60, upwards. The lower plunger 18 is in operative connection with a lower control cam 68, which determines how far up or down the lower plunger 18 is extended.

In the first slide 23 two second filter plug 64 are already introduced. After cutting through a first double-filter plug 63 by a circular blade 28, the further receptacles of the first slide 23 are each provided with a first filter plug. This is u.a. the upper tappet 17, which is guided in a tappet guide 61. The upper tappet 17 is operatively connected to an upper cam 67, which specifies how far the upper tappet 17 is extended downwards or upwards. In Fig. 16, the upper tappet 17 is arranged in the uppermost position.

A first granules 26 is already introduced into the second slide 24 in the receptacles provided for this purpose. In Fig. 16, the state is shown, in which a second granules 27, which is spent by a granule container 65 via a filling nozzle 66 in further receptacles of the second slider 24. In order to achieve the most dense packing or the densest possible filling of the second granulate 27, a vibration exciter 44 is provided in operative connection with the filling nozzle 66. The vibration generator 44 oscillates, for example, with a frequency of 50 Hz. This may be an electromagnet with a corresponding moving mass, so that corresponding vibrations are generated.

FIG. 17 shows an embodiment in which, for example, a main drum 100 slightly varied from the main drum 100 of FIG. 11 is supplied with filter elements and filter material, and double multi-filters 118 and double multi-segment filters 118 respectively manufactured on the main drum 100 be dissipated.

101 4-fold sleeves 114 of a receiving drum 78 are supplied with a sleeve mass flow 101. By means of the receiving drum 78, the 4-fold sleeves 114 are removed from the sleeve stock each in corresponding receiving troughs of the receiving drum 78. Then they are divided by means of a circular knife 106 into two 2-fold sleeves 115. The respective 2-fold sleeves 115 are then staggered in a staggering drum 79 to then be transferred to a sliding drum 80 where they are aligned. The sliding drum 80 is disposed behind the transfer drum 80, which is provided for further filter elements, which are supplied from above to the transfer drum 80.

FIG. 18 shows diagrammatically how the respective layers of the filter elements according to FIG. 17 are in each case.

From a filter element mass flow 102 or a corresponding filter element supply filter elements 12-fold use length 70 are transferred to a receiving drum 74 with receiving troughs. These are then cut by two circular blades 106 into three parts, resulting in three filter elements 4 times the use length 71. These are staggered in a staggering drum 75 to then be aligned transversely in a sliding drum 76 and then again by a circular blade 106 to be cut into two filter elements 2 times the use length 72.

After cutting into two filter elements 2 times the useful length 72, the filter elements are staggered in a staggering drum 77, in order then to be transferred to a transfer drum / sliding drum 80. In this embodiment, the filter elements are 2 times use length 72 arranged at the front and the sleeves 2-fold use length 115 arranged behind it, so that only the front filter elements 2-fold use length 72 can be seen. The respective filter elements 72 and sleeves 115 are then transferred to a conical turning drum 81 or 82, whereupon the filter elements and sleeves of the main drum 100 are then fed by transfer to a transfer drum 83 or 84. The main drum 100 is not shown for clarity in this figure; However, it is shown schematically in Fig. 18. After filling the sleeves 115, the double-multiple filters 118 and multi-segment filters 118 are taken over by a transfer drum 85 and fed to a conical turning drum 86. Finally, a transfer to a delivery drum 87, which deliver the multi-segment filter 118 to a mass flow 88. Thus, in this embodiment, the multi-segment filters or double-multiple filters 118 are produced, each having filter elements 73 at the end, then each having, for example, a granulate filling leading to the center, which were produced on the main drum 100 and in the middle the known filter plug or have the first filter material 19.

Thus, three main functions are shown in Fig. 17 and Fig. 18, namely the supply of prefabricated sleeves 11 via a previously formed mass flow, the supply of the filter elements For example, soft filter elements using appropriate functional groups, as shown in the embodiment, and the removal of the finished product produced in the main drum 100 via corresponding transport drums to form a new mass flow.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Sleeve feed drum

11

shell

12

conveyor drum

13

vacuum bore

14

drilling

15

pipe

16

Conveyor drum bore

17

upper ram

18

under ram

19

first filter material

20

Filter plug -

21

Filter plugs conveyor

22

Filter plugs drum

23

first slide

24

second slider

25

plug housing

26

1. Granules

27

2. Granules

28

circular blade

29

knife guide

30

filter plugs

31

1st slice

32

2nd disc

33

removal drum

34

Filter sleeve with filter elements

35

lever

36

lever guide

37

paper sleeve

38

introducing position

38a

application zone

38b

application zone

39

heating station

41

3rd slide

42

4th slide

43

spring plate

44

vibration exciter

50

Dispenser

51

Granulatbefülleinrichtung

60

tappet guide

61

tappet guide

62

tubes disc

63

1. Double filter plug

64

2. Filter plugs

65

granule units

66

filling union

67

upper control curve

68

lower cam

70

Filter element 12 times the working length

71

Filter element 4 times the working length

72

Filter element 2 times the working length

73

filter element

74

receiving drum

75

staggering drum

76

pushing drum

77

staggering drum

78

receiving drum

79

staggering drum

80

Transfer drum / sliding drum

81

Kegelumlenktrommel

82

Kegelumlenktrommel

83

Transfer drum

84

Transfer drum

85

transfer drum

86

Kegelumlenktrommel

87

Dispenser

88

mass flow

100

main drum

101

Sleeve mass flow

102

Filter element mass flow

103

Transfer drum

104

Transfer cone drum

105

Transfer drum

106

circular blade

107

Transfer cone drum

108

beater

109

Transfer drum

110

1. Granules

111

2. Granules

112

Granule submitter station

113

switch cabinet

114

4-fold sleeve

115

2-fold sleeve

116

Filter element (12 times the length of preparation)

117

Double-multiple filter mass flow

118

Double-multiple filters

120

Hülsonschragen

121

Filter element Schragen

123

off drum

124

Transfer drum

125

Dispenser

126

granules drum

127

lever drum

128

Feed and sleeve take-up drum

129

beater

130

Hülsenzuführmodul

131

Granule and soft element filler module

132

user module

133

granules module

a to t

position information

Claims (24)

1. Method for producing composite filters (118) for products of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising the following process steps:

   - feeding of a filter tube (11) to a predefinable position, and

   - introduction of filter material (20, 26, 27, 30, 116) in predefinable portions, at least two portions of the filter material (20, 26, 27, 30, 116) being introduced into the filter tube (11) in one process step,

   characterised in that the filter tube (11) is filled from two sides, the filter tube (11) to be filled from two sides being rotated.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the filter tube (11) supplied has a filter element (19) at the centre.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that, to be filled, the filter tube (11) is guided at least partially transversely to the axial direction on a predefinable movement path.
4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the introduction of the filter material (20, 26, 27, 30, 116) takes place with a vertical movement component.
5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the filter tube (11) is formed in a preceding process step.
6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the filter material segments include alternately material containing granulate (26, 27) and, in particular gas-permeable, boundary pieces (20, 30).
7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that an n-times composite filter is formed, n being a natural even number greater than 1.
8. Composite filter, produced by a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
9. Apparatus for producing composite filters (118) for products of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising a filter tube feed element (10, 130) and at least one transport element (12, 100, 123 to 127) into which filter tubes (11) can be introduced and by means of which the filter tubes (11) can be fed to at least one processing station, at least two portions of the filter materials (20, 26, 27, 30) being introducible into at least one filter tube (11) in one processing step in at least one processing station (17, 23, 24, 28, 31, 32, 131, 132), characterised in that a rotation device (108, 129) for rotating the filter tube (11) is provided as a processing station.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the at least one transport element is at least one continuously circulating conveyor (12, 100, 126, 127, 129) which conveys the filter tubes (11) transversely to the axial direction.
11. Apparatus according to either of claims 9 or 10, characterised in that the at least one processing station is arranged on a single conveyor (12, 100).
12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that at least one processing station is associated with the conveyors (12, 100, 126, 127, 129).
13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterised in that not more than one processing station is associated with the conveyors (12, 100, 126, 127, 129).
14. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that a plurality of conveyors are provided, at least one of which is associated with at least one processing station, and at least one of which is associated with only one processing station.
15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterised in that at least one filter material feed station (21, 102, 104, 105, 107, 112, 130, 131, 133) is provided and includes two rotatable, eccentrically arranged discs (31, 32) which each have bores (14), the bores (14) of the one disc (31) and the bores (14) of the other disc (32) being arrangeable in alignment at one location (38).
16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterised in that at least one filter material feed station (21, 102, 104, 105, 107, 112, 130, 131, 133) is provided which includes at least one slide element (23, 24, 31, 32) which is provided with bores (14) and/or at least one lever element (35) which is provided with bores (14).
17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 16, characterised in that a filter material introduction station (a to t; 15, 16, 38) is provided which includes at least one first transfer means (17) which introduces at least two portions of the filter materials (20, 26, 27, 30) into the filter tube (11) in one process step.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterised in that at least one second transfer means (18) is provided which acts from the opposite side of the filter tube (11) as an opposed thruster to the at least one first plunger (17).
19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterised in that at least one filter tube (11) can be arranged in axial alignment with at least two bores (14).
20. Composite filter production system for products of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising a filter tube feed device (10, 130) for feeding filter tubes and a transport system (12, 100, 123 to 128) for transporting the filter tubes (11) on a predefinable movement path, and at least one processing station (17, 23, 24, 28, 31, 32, 131, 132), at least two portions of the filter materials (20, 26, 27, 30) being introducible into at least one filter tube (11) in the at least one processing station in one processing step, characterised in that a rotation device (108, 129) for rotating the filter tubes (11) is provided as a processing station.
21. Filter production system according to claim 20, characterised in that the transport system includes at least one continuously circulating conveyor (12, 100, 123 to 128) which conveys the filter tubes (11) transversely to the axial direction.
22. Filter production system according to claim 20 or 21, characterised in that the at least one processing station is associated with at least one conveyor.
23. Filter production system according to claim 21 or 22, characterised in that a single conveyor (12, 100) is provided, with which at least one processing station is associated.
24. Filter production system according to claim 21 or 22, characterised in that a plurality of conveyors are provided, with each of which not more than one processing station is associated.

Images