EP1228709B2 - Apparatus for manufacturing multiple component filters - Google Patents

Abstract

To produce multiple filters (118), for use in the tobacco industry, the filter sleeves with a filter unit are fed to a workstation where filter material (116) is fed into the sleeves in dosed portions from at least one side, to develop filter segments at least in the initial section of the sleeves. A rotating unit (108) rotates the filter sleeves.

Description

The invention relates to a device for the production of multi-segment filters for products of the tobacco processing industry with a Filterhülsenzuführelement and a transport element, in the filter sleeves are introduced.

Out GB-A-1 212 963 For example, there is known a device for making multi-element cigarette filter cartridges in which filter sleeves of six times the length of use are fed with three separate stoppers of paper or estrone to be cut into filter stoppers of twice the length of use where the filter elements are arranged centrally. Then the filter sleeves are placed upright in order to fill one side with a granulate and close it with a sealing cap. Subsequently, the one-sided filled filter sleeve is turned over and filled from the other side.

Methods and devices for producing multiple filters are, for example, from DE-AS 17 82 364 the patentee, which describes an apparatus for producing filter granules containing filters named "Bernhard" the patent owner, which is known in the art. The DE-AS 17 82 364 equals to GB 1,243,977 and the US 3,603,058 , Multiple filters, which are also called multisegment filters, consist of at least two filter elements and typically up to eight filter elements, which can 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, nonwoven or relatively hard filter elements such as granules, sintered elements, hollow cylinders or hollow chambers and 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 varied properties of corresponding multiple filters result, which are preferably attachable to rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry at the end.

From the DE-AS 17 82 364 For example, a granule filling machine is known which produces granulate-containing filters and in particular triple filters. By triple filter is meant a filter constituting a filter consisting of three filter segments, the filling machine "Bernhard" producing a triple filter of double working lengths, which are then arranged for cigarette production between two cigarette paper-enveloped oblong tobacco-containing articles to be in the To be cut through in the middle, so that two filters provided with filter arise. In the DE-AS 17 82 364 discloses a continuously rotating conveyor with receptacles for filter sleeves, which conveys the filter sleeves transaxially. 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.

The relatively many operating steps in the machine "Bernhard", in particular, relatively large movements must be performed, leading to a limitation of the performance in the DE-AS 17 82 364 described granule filling machine. 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 device by means of which the production quantity of multiple filters is increased.

• Zuführen einer Filterhülse, die in der Mitte der Filterhülse ein Filterelement aufweist, in eine vorgebbare Position und
• Einführen von Filtermaterial in vorgebbaren Portionen in die Filterhülse von wenigstens einer ersten Seite, so dass sich wenigstens in einem ersten Teil der Filterhülse Filtersegmente ausbilden.

In a process for producing multiple filters for tobacco processing industry products, the following process steps are carried out:

• Feeding a filter sleeve having a filter element in the middle of the filter sleeve, in a predetermined position and
• Introducing filter material in predetermined portions in the filter sleeve of at least a first side, so that form at least in a first part of the filter sleeve filter segments.

By feeding a filter sleeve, which already has a filter element in the middle of the filter sleeve and the introduction of the filter materials in predeterminable portions in this filter sleeve, it is possible, the movements that have to perform feeding elements to bring the filter material into the filter sleeve, relatively short so that a significant time advantage is achieved. Appropriately, the filter sleeve is provided with a centrally disposed filter element and / or prepared in a preceding process step.

Multi-filters are also understood to mean, in particular, multi-segment filters, the multiple filters in particular comprising at least two segments and at least two filter materials. The multiple filters then typically have, for example, two or three or more segments, such as, for example, a soft element of cellulose acetate, followed by a granulate such as, for example, an activated carbon filter granulate, followed by another Cellulose acetate soft element. In such a triple filter, a wrapping material such as paper is wrapped around this filter. When using a filter sleeve with a filter element in the middle, usually multiple filters of double or multiple use length are produced.

The central filter element, which is also referred to below as a filter plug is, for example, held centrally by a force or contact of a corresponding element in the feeding of material or glued or, for example. Held by appropriate Haftreibkräfte centered. The filter sleeve can, for example, be held in a desired position by suction air.

When the filter sleeve is rotated so that a second part of the filter sleeve can be filled from the first side and the filter material is introduced into the second part of the filter sleeve so that further filter segments are formed, granules can be fed into both sides gravity is used to fill the filter sleeve. Furthermore, corresponding filling stations or processing stations can be arranged from one side to a corresponding conveyor, in whose receptacles the filter sleeves are received, so that a compact design of a corresponding machine is possible.

Filter sleeves are understood to mean, in particular, tube-shaped covering material sections or tubular envelopes, the covering material being, for example, paper.

A further increase in the production speed of multiple filters is achieved when the introduction of the filter material is successively in individual portions and / or at least partially simultaneously in multiple portions. In the context of this invention, multiple portions or a multiple portion is understood to mean a package or a stack of at least two different or identical filter materials, at least two portions of the filter materials or of the filter material being introduced into the filter sleeve in one method step. The filter materials may be one, two or more granular materials and soft filter elements such as filter caps made of cellulose acetate or non-woven or hard elements such as sintered elements, hollow cylinders or capsules. Conveniently, the introduction of the filter material in the filter sleeve with a vertical component of movement happens. In particular, the movement component is substantially completely vertical. In this case, the filter sleeves are upright or vertically aligned to fill them. Preferably, alternately granular material and, in particular gas-permeable boundary pieces are introduced.

A particularly simple variant of the method is given if, prior to the rotation of the filter sleeve, the first part of the filter sleeve is substantially completely filled first, in order then to substantially completely fill the second part of the filter sleeve after rotation. As a result of this method step results in a substantially completely filled with filter elements or filter material filter sleeve, which can be removed and further processed. Preferably, the filter wrapping material from inside a hot glue seam, which is activated in the removal of the fully filled filter sleeve by supplying heat to fix the corresponding filter materials in the filter sleeve.

In particular, an n-fold multiple filter is formed, where n is a natural even number that is greater than one.

In particular, the filter sleeve or the filter sleeves for producing multiple filters is moved along a predefinable conveying path, at which the various method steps are carried out. For this purpose, a corresponding trajectory is given. Preferably, the filter sleeves are at least partially moved transversely on the path of movement.

It is expedient to produce a multiple filter or a plurality of multiple filters according to one of the aforementioned methods. The multiple filter thus produced then has, for example, the 2-, 4- and / or 6-fold filter rod length, wherein the multiple filter, which accordingly also has different filter materials, is cut into 2, 4 or 6 corresponding filters. The filter sleeves with the central filter element used can be produced, for example, on a modified MULFI machine of the patent owner. It is a prefabricated filter sleeve, which includes a filter element in the middle, used for the production of multiple filters for products of the tobacco processing industry. By this use, it is possible to significantly increase the production speed of a filter manufacturing machine for producing multiple filters.

Corresponding filter sleeves are used to produce multiple filters of n-length use length, where n is a natural even number greater than one.

In addition, a filter sleeve for the production of multiple filters for products of the tobacco processing industry is provided, wherein the filter sleeve comprises a pipe-shaped envelope material portion and in the middle of the filter sleeve, a filter element is arranged. This embodiment of the filter sleeve, an increased production speed of a Mehrfachfilterherstellmaschine is possible.

Suitably, the filter element is substantially stationary relative to the filter sleeve. If the filter element is glued to the filter sleeve, a simple realization of the local strength is given. The filter element may in this case, for example, be a filter element of double use length, such as, for example, between 4 and 16 mm. Half of this length is arranged per finished filter on a corresponding cigarette.

The object of the invention is achieved by a device for producing multi-segment filters for products the tobacco-processing industry according to claim 1 solved. Due to the inventive design of a corresponding device, it is possible to keep the movements, the feed elements of filter material to keep relatively short, so that the time of feeding can be significantly shortened.

Under processing station is understood in the context of this invention, in particular a station in which filter material is metered, in which a cutting process takes place in the filter material is introduced into the filter sleeve and / or the like. Preferably, in the supply of granules or shortly after the supply of Granules in the sleeve, the sleeve itself subjected to vibration or shaken, so that a dense as possible packing of the granules is generated. For this purpose, a vibration element is provided. This can the the DE-AS 17 82 364 correspond.

According to the invention, a processing station is designed as a turning device for turning the filter sleeves.

The filter sleeves are preferably prefabricated tube-shaped covering material sections with a filter element arranged centrally in the respective section. A particularly simple and compact embodiment of the device is given when preferably the transport element is at least one continuously circulating conveyor, which conveys the filter sleeves transversely. If preferably several processing stations are arranged on a single conveyor, a particularly compact design is possible.

Preferably, at least one Filtermaterialzuführstation, at least one Filtermaterialeinbringstation, at least one discharge station and / or at least one heating station is provided as a processing station. By means of the Filtermaterialzuführstation filter material is placed in the engagement region of the filter material insertion station or in the filter sleeve, for example, already introduced by gravity. Finished or filled filters or partially filled filter sleeves are removed by the discharge station. The heating station is used, for example, preferably for activating hot glue in order to fix the filter elements in the filter sleeve. Furthermore, a cutting station may preferably be provided as the processing station, which in particular preferably comprises a circular blade.

If preferably the at least one Filtermaterialzuführstation comprises two rotatable and acentrically arranged discs, each having holes, the holes of a disc and the holes of the other disc in one place are aligned with each other, a very accurate dosage of, for example. Granular material is possible. The dosage happens here, for example, by the size of the bore or by another dosing.

A secure filling of the filter sleeve is given if preferably the at least one Filtermaterialzuführstation at least one sliding element which is provided with holes and / or at least one lever element which is provided with bores comprises. If, preferably, the at least one filter material introduction station comprises at least one first transfer means, which introduces filter material into the filter sleeves, a secure filling of the filter sleeves is made possible. If preferably at least one second transfer means is provided, which acts as an abutment to the at least one first transfer means from the opposite side of the filter sleeve, the filter sleeve can be filled simultaneously from both sides or the filter element arranged centrally in the filter sleeve can be held centrally or the filter sleeve be transferred to a material insertion position. Preferably, at least one filter sleeve with at least one bore axially aligned can be arranged. Further preferably, at least two holes are axially aligned with the filter sleeve can be arranged. In this case, several portions of filter material can be transferred simultaneously, thereby achieving a further increase in speed.

Furthermore, a multiple filter production system for products of the tobacco processing industry is provided with a filter sleeve feeding device for feeding filter sleeves and a transport system for transporting the filter sleeves on a predetermined trajectory, wherein on the transport system, a turning device is provided for turning the filter sleeves. This is to be understood in particular as meaning that the transport system comprises a turning device for turning the filter sleeves. Due to the multiple filter production system a fast filling of filter sleeves with filter material is possible.

Preferably, the transport system comprises a continuously circulating conveyor.

The filter manufacturing machine manufactured or sold by the patentee or device for the production of multiple filters for products of the tobacco processing industry produces approximately 1,200 multiple filters of twice the useful length. With the device, it is possible to produce 5,000 multiple filters in double use length. The advantage of this device is therefore very 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 Verfahrensstadien,

Fig. 9

eine weitere Ausführungsform einer Übergabestation,

Fig. 10

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

Fig. 11

eine schematische Darstellung einer Filterherstellmaschine in Aufsicht,

Fig. 12

eine schematische Aufsicht auf Elemente einer weiteren Filterherstellmaschine, die nicht zur Erfindung gehört,

Fig. 13

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

Fig. 14

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

Fig. 15

links: ein Vierfachfilter doppelter Gebrauchslänge, und rechts: eine schematische Darstellung einer Filterherstellmaschine, die nicht zur Erfindung gehört, 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. Mehrfach-filtern 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 idea using exemplary embodiments, to which reference is expressly made with respect to all details of the invention explained in detail in the text. Show it:

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 process stages,

Fig. 9

a further embodiment of a transfer station,

Fig. 10

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

Fig. 11

a schematic representation of a Filterherstellmaschine in supervision,

Fig. 12

a schematic plan view of elements of another filter manufacturing machine, which does not belong to the invention,

Fig. 13

schematically the respective arrangement or position of a filter sleeve and a filter element and a corresponding ram in continuous processing, which does not belong to the invention,

Fig. 14

left side: a triple filter double the length of use, right side: a schematic representation of a modular filter manufacturing machine that does not belong to the invention, with the filter shown on the left is produced,

Fig. 15

left: a quadruple filter of double use length, and on the right: a schematic representation of a filter manufacturing machine, which does not belong to the invention, with which the filter shown on the left is 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 filters or multiple filters 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. In addition, two different granules, namely a first granulate 26 and a second granulate 27 are filled into holes 14 of a slide 24 provided for this purpose. 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 upwards, 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 further 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 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, as shown in Fig. 6, to introduce the filter material 30 and 26 only to the upper edge of the filter sleeve 11 so that the 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 that again in the effective range of the vacuum hole 13, so that the sleeve 11 back to this Vacuum holes and according to the provided in the conveyor drum 12 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 abfördert the half-filled sleeve 11 and that 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 patentee, namely the Mulfi E can be adjusted accordingly. In order to subsequently bond the filter plug introduced later, the seam bonding of the sleeve 11 is converted from a hot-melt adhesive to PVA 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 Segmentverklebung, ie the bonding of the subsequently inserted filter segments is done such that a hot melt adhesive tape is applied to the paper and that within the sleeve before the sleeve is formed. After inserting the filter segments in the sleeve, which has a cooled hot melt adhesive track, the entire sleeve is heated either by contact heat or with appropriate high-energy radiation, such as microwave radiation, whereby the hot melt adhesive is melted and the segments are glued.

9 shows a further embodiment of a transfer device in which four different filter materials can be transferred into the sleeve at the same time. The sleeve consists, moreover, for example, of a paper tube 37. To pass 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 feed 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. Due to gravity, granules are introduced into the sleeves, as indicated in Fig. 10b. By Granulatzuführstation or Portionierstation a particularly simple implementation of the portioning of granules and the introduction of granules in filter sleeves is given. Through the large loading zone 38a-38b, the discs 32 and 31 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 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.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic plan view of a filter production machine. 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, e.g. 1 corresponds to the sleeve feed drum 10 of Fig. 1, the supplied sleeves of the main drum 100, e.g. the conveying drum 12 of FIG. 1 corresponds, supplied.

A filter element mass flow 102 supplies 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 for example in the DE 199 20 760 A1 the patentee. In the patent application of the patentee a device for turning rod-shaped objects is described with a turning drum, which receives the rod-shaped objects to be used in recordings provided for this purpose. Here, the turning drum has at least one turning section, the at least two to turning rod-shaped objects 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-Mehrfachfilter- mass flow 117, so 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 on granules filled with sleeves.

Fig. 12 shows a schematic representation of another embodiment which does not belong to 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 representation of FIG. 13, which does not belong to the invention, adjacent sleeves and plungers are shown from f) to m). It must therefore be considered together in the schematic representation of Fig. 13 f) and g). 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 1) 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, an 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 not belonging to the invention 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 granulate 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.

By means of the supply and sleeve removal drum 128 are filled with granules and corresponding filter elements such as soft elements sleeves, one side of which is now fully filled in this embodiment, 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 passed to a further granulate and soft element filler module 131 by means of a dispensing drum 125, which passes 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. The soft elements are in this case transferred from a filter element tray 121 via a take-off drum 123 and a supply and sleeve removal drum 128 of 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 there is shown another exemplary embodiment of a filter manufacturing machine not belonging to the invention by means of which a double multiple filter 118 can be made, each consisting of four different filter elements of double the use length. 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 with the embodiment of FIG. 14, two further granule modules 133 are added to the filter production 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 manufacturing machine, it is possible to produce modular filters according to the wishes of the respective customer. 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 editing the filters, such as. Through the DE 197 08 836 A1 respectively. US 6,079,545 the patentee, the DE 39 25 073 A1 respectively. US 5,209,249 the company GD Societa 'via Azioni, Italy, or the EP 1 048 229 A2 Fa. Focke disclosed.

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 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 insert the sleeve 11 in the bore 16 of the tube disc 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 is moved from 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, which is somewhat varied from the main drum 100 of Fig. 11, is supplied with filter elements and filter material, respectively, and double multi-filters 118 and double multi-segment filters 118 are respectively discharged on the main drum 100 ,

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 times the use length 70 are transferred to a receiving drum 74 with receiving wells. 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 cut again by a circular blade 106 into two filter elements 2 times the useful 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 emits 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 feeding of the filter elements, for example soft filter elements with the aid of corresponding functional groups as shown in the exemplary embodiment and the removal of the in the main drum 100 finished product via corresponding transport drums to form a renewed mass flow.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Sleeve feed drum

11

shell

12

conveyor drum

13

vacuum drum

14

drilling

15

pipe

16

Conveyor drum bore

17

upper ram

18

under ram

19

first filter material

20

filter plugs

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

sheet-metal spring

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-transfer station

113

switch cabinet

114

4-fold sleeve

115

2-fold sleeve

116

Filter element (12 times the processing length)

117

Double-multiple filter mass flow

118

Double-multiple filters

120

sleeve tray

121

Filter element Schragen

123

off drum

124

Transfer drum

125

Dispenser

126

granules drum

127

lever drum

128

Feed and tube 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 (9)

1. Device for manufacturing multi-segment filters (118) for products of the tobacco processing industry comprising a filter sleeve feed element (10) and a transport element (12, 100), into which filter sleeves (11) are introducible, wherein a processing station is designed as a turning apparatus (108) for turning the filter sleeves (11) on the transport element and wherein the transport element is a conveyor (12, 100), which conveys the filter sleeves (11) transaxially, characterized in that a plurality of processing stations (17, 23, 24, 28, 31, 32) for the filter sleeves (11) are provided on the transport element (12, 100), which takes the form of a single conveyor (12, 100).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveyor is a continuously revolving conveyor (12, 100).
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that as processing stations at least one filter material feed station (21, 102, 104, 105, 107, 112) and/or at least one filter material introduction station (a) to t), 15, 16, 38) and/or at least one removal station (109, 104, 117; 33) and/or at least one heating station (39) are provided.
4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one filter material feed station comprises two rotatable and acentrically disposed disks (31, 32), which each have bores (14), wherein the bores (14) of the one disk (31) and the bores of the other disk (32) at one location (38) are disposable in mutual alignment.
5. Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the at least one filter material feed station comprises at least one sliding element (23, 24, 41, 42), which is provided with bores (14) and/or at least one lever element (35), which is provided with bores (14).
6. Device according to one or more of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the at least one filter material introduction station comprises at least one first transfer means (17), which introduces filter material (20, 26, 27, 30) into the filter sleeves (11).
7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one second transfer means (18) is provided, which operates from the opposite side of the filter sleeve (11) as an abutment relative to the at least one first transfer means (17).
8. Device according to one or more of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that at least one filter sleeve (11) is disposable in axial alignment with at least one bore (14).
9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that at least two bores (14) are disposable in axial alignment with the filter sleeve (11).

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