EP1275311B1 - Device for preparing a stream of fibres in the tobacco industry - Google Patents

Abstract

Each fiber length (52) has a conveyor in a guide-duct (16), and a trimmer (19) for removing excess fibers from the fiber length. At least one side wall (58a.58b) of the guide-duct, in the form of a moving belt, moves along with the length of fiber and contains cavities (62a,62b) for reinforcing sections (52a) of the fiber length. The speed at which the side wall moves is synchronized by a control unit. The trimmer consists of two contrary-rotating discs (68a,68b) and truncated -cone-shaped rotary bodies (70) acting as deflectors.

Description

The invention relates to a device for preparing at least one strand of fiber of a tobacco processing industry stranding machine for further processing in the stranding machine, wherein for each fiber strand is provided: a strand conveyor in a strand guide channel for conveying the fiber strand; a trimming device for removing excess fibers from the fiber strand ,

For example, a fiber strand may be a strand of tobacco fibers. In a stranding machine of the tobacco processing industry may be, for example, a double-strand machine for the production of cigarettes or double filter cigarettes.

Devices of the type mentioned are known from the prior art.

For example, shows the DE 4333046 A1 the applicant, the US 5,526,826 Applicant corresponds, a device of the type described above.

A device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from WO 96/27304 A known.

As a repelling means for removing the excess tobacco fibers, a rotating body serving as a deflecting surface is provided here, which carries a circular blade on its side facing the trimming disks.

Also known from the publication "30546: Trimming Apparatus", Research Disclosure, Sept. 1989, Number 305, Emsworth Design Inc., 121 West 19 Street, New York, NY 10011, USA ", the known apparatus has two Trimming devices of the type described above, in order to trim two fiber strands.For this purpose, the two trimming devices are arranged in quick succession along the fiber strands.A deflecting means is provided in each case a rotating brush wheel.

The object of the present invention is to improve such devices.

This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1.

The advantages of the inventive design of a side wall of the strand guide channel are, in particular, that in this way already during the strand formation in the strand guide channel, a partial reinforcement of the fiber strand can be made.

Although such a sectional reinforcement, in the production of cigarettes from tobacco fibers, also referred to as head reinforcement, in the prior art, for example, from DE 3837201 A1 known which of the US 4,883,076 corresponds; in these known devices for head reinforcement two arranged in a plane with the tobacco rod clamping plates are used, which serve as trim discs for excess removal of the tobacco rod and at their peripheries pockets, in which a certain excess remains on the tobacco rod, so that later in the Compressing the strand leads to a more dense site. However, these pockets in the trim discs exert additional forces on the tobacco rod which result in weight dispersion of the cigarettes thus produced.

However, in accordance with the invention, completely smooth trim disks can be used by the use of the recessed recessed side wall to avoid this disadvantage.

Also, the quality of the head reinforcement is improved due to the inventive design of the apparatus for preparing a fiber strand. Because due to the running side walls, the head reinforcement is introduced into the fiber strand without relative movement between the head reinforcing means and fiber strand. The head reinforcement can therefore bring much more regular and precise.

The advantages mentioned also apply to the introduction of the head reinforcement known from the prior art by means of rotating press cams, as described, for example, in the publication "31138:" Trimming Apparatus, Research Disclosure, March 1990, Number 311, Emsworth Design Inc., 121 West 19 Street, New York, NY 10011, USA "is known.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the revolving side wall is formed as at least one circumferential belt, preferably as a toothed belt. With the help of such a toothed belt, the invention can be easily realized. Because a toothed belt can be driven easily with the help of toothed disks.

In further preferred embodiments of the invention run only one or both side walls of the strand guide channel with the fiber strand and have only one or both side walls, the recesses for introducing the head reinforcements. With the help of these various embodiments can thus be taken individually to the respective requirements of the manufactured tobacco rod consideration.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the tracking speed of the side walls can be synchronized with each other by means of a control unit, in which the control unit controls the speed of drive rollers for the side walls. This can advantageously achieve that the recesses provided in both side walls always run at the same height with the fiber strand.

Tracking is synchronized with a knife apparatus for cutting the fiber strand to control, in which the control unit also information about the cutting cycle of the knife apparatus are provided. For this purpose, a sensor is preferably provided downstream of the revolving side walls, but preferably in front of the knife apparatus. This can be for example a measuring device for measuring the density of the fiber strand.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the deflecting means is designed as a substantially frusto-conical rotational body whose axis of rotation is preferably perpendicular to the direction of movement of the strand and preferably parallel to the axes of rotation of the trimming discs. In this case, it is further preferred if the lateral surface of the rotational body forms an acute angle between 5 ° and approximately 40 ° with the end face of the rotational body adjacent to the trimming disks, which angle increases at least on parts of the lateral surface with increasing distance of the lateral surface from the end face or the trimming disks , It is particularly advantageous if the angle is steadily increasing in order to ensure a flowing rejection of the fibers. It is even more preferred if the angle increases to 90 ° and, if appropriate, also passes into an obtuse angle of up to 120 °. This, too, has proved to be advantageous for a gentle deflection of the removed tobacco fibers.

The device can also be used to prepare two parallel fiber strands, for example in a stranding machine designed as a double-strand machine. The fiber strands are each promoted by a strand conveyor in a strand guide channel and each prepared by a trimming device for further processing in the double-strand machine. It is preferred if the diameter of each of the parallel strand adjacent trimming disks is adapted to the distance of the fiber strands. It is advantageous if the diameter of these trimming disks corresponds approximately to the distance between the fiber strands. In this way, the inventive combination of smooth trim disks and provided with troughs, running side wall can be realized even in the prevailing in double-strand machines narrow space.

In a further preferred embodiment, a serving as a receptacle for parts of the device, preferably for the strand guide channel, in particular for the entire inventive device, housing serving as an extruded profile, more preferably as an aluminum extruded profile formed. It can be in this profile of be provided in advance recordings for screws for fastening components of the device according to the invention. By using such an extruded profile, the production of the entire device can be simplified, can reduce the manufacturing cost of the device, and can be particularly in the use of aluminum reduce the weight of the device according to the invention.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Zigarettenstrangmaschine mit nur einem Faserstrang zur Aufnahme einer ersten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;
• Fig. 2 eine schematische Aufsicht auf die erste Ausführungsform der Erfindung, die in der in Fig. 1 dargestellten Zigarettenstrangmaschine Verwendung findet;
• Fig. 3 eine schematische Aufsicht auf eine zweite Ausführungsform der Erfindung, die in einer nicht dargestellten Doppelstrangmaschine Verwendung findet;
• Fig. 4 eine perspektivische Ansicht der in der zweiten Ausführungsform verwendeten Trimmvorrichtung;
• Fig. 5 die zweite Ausführungsform gemäß Fig. 3 in einer teilweise geschnittenen Seitenansicht;
• Fig. 6 eine schematische Aufsicht auf eine dritte Ausführungsform der Erfindung, die in der in Figur 1 dargestellten Zigarettenstrangmaschine Verwendung findet; und
• Fig. 7 eine schematische Aufsicht auf eine vierte Ausführungsform der Erfindung, die in einer nicht dargestellten Doppelstrangmaschine Verwendung findet.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims. Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The figures of the drawing show:

• Fig. 1 a perspective view of a cigarette rod machine with only one fiber strand for receiving a first embodiment of the device according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 a schematic plan view of the first embodiment of the invention, in the in Fig. 1 shown cigarette rod machine is used;
• Fig. 3 a schematic plan view of a second embodiment of the invention, which is used in a double-strand machine, not shown;
• Fig. 4 a perspective view of the trim device used in the second embodiment;
• Fig. 5 the second embodiment according to Fig. 3 in a partially sectioned side view;
• Fig. 6 a schematic plan view of a third embodiment of the invention, in the in FIG. 1 shown cigarette rod machine is used; and
• Fig. 7 a schematic plan view of a fourth embodiment of the invention, which is used in a double strand machine, not shown.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a single-strand cigarette rod machine 50, ie a stranding machine for processing tobacco fibers to a tobacco fiber strand for the production of cigarettes. The cigarette rod making machine 50 serves as an embodiment of a machine in which a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, as below with particular reference to Fig. 2 described, can be used. Likewise, a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, as below with particular reference to Fig. 3 described to be used in a double-strand machine. The operation of the cigarette rod maker 50 is as follows:

From a lock 1, a pre-distributor 2 is charged in portions with tobacco. A removal roller 3 of the pre-distributor 2 added controlled a reservoir 4 with tobacco, from which a steep conveyor 5 takes tobacco and fed a stowage 6 controlled. From the storage shaft 6 takes a pin roller 7 a uniform stream of tobacco, which is knocked out by a rollover roller 8 of the pins of the pin roller 7 and thrown on a circulating at a constant speed spreading cloth 9. A tobacco fleece formed on the spreading cloth 9 is thrown into a sighting device 11, which consists essentially of an air curtain, the larger or heavier tobacco particles pass, while all other tobacco particles from the air in a funnel formed by a pin roller 12 and a wall 13 14th be steered. From the pin roller 12 of the tobacco is thrown into a strand guide channel 16 against a strand conveyor 17, where the tobacco held by means sucked into a vacuum chamber 18 air and a tobacco rod is aufauert. For a detailed description of such a strand conveyor 17 is, for example. On the DE 4215059 referred to the applicant. The strand guide channel 16 will be discussed below with particular reference to FIGS Figures 3 . 4 and 6 described in more detail.

A trained according to the invention and below with particular reference to the Figures 2 and 6 described in more detail in the FIG. 1 shown trimming device 19 removes excess tobacco from the tobacco rod, which is then placed on a run in synchronism cigarette paper strip 21. The cigarette paper strip 21 is withdrawn from a reel 22, passed through a printing unit 23 and placed on a driven format tape 24. The format tape 24 transports the tobacco rod and the cigarette paper strip 21 through a format 26, in which the cigarette paper strip 21 is folded around the tobacco rod, so that still protrudes an edge which is glued by a Glimapparat, not shown in a known manner. Then the bond is closed and dried by a Tandemnahtplätte 27. A thus formed cigarette rod 28 passes through a strand density meter 29 which controls the device 19, and is cut by a knife apparatus 31 into double-length cigarettes 32. The double-length cigarettes 32 are transferred from a transfer device 34 having a controlled arm 33 to a transfer drum 36 of a filter attachment machine 37, onto the cutting drum 38 of which they are divided into single cigarettes with a circular blade. Conveyor belts 39, 41 promote excess tobacco in a arranged under the reservoir 4 container 42, from which the recycled tobacco is removed from the vertical conveyor 5 again.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic plan view of the first embodiment of the invention, which in the in Fig. 1 shown cigarette rod machine 50 is used. The figure shows the strand guide channel 16, hereinafter called tobacco channel 16. In the tobacco channel 16 is a tobacco fiber strand 52. This is from that in the FIG. 2 not shown, lying above the plane of the drawing strand conveyor 17 promoted in the figure from right to left. The side walls of the tobacco channel 16 are formed along a portion A of spine 60a and 60b of about pulleys 54a and 54b encircling and driven by drive rollers 56a and 56b corresponding to the conveying speed of the strand conveyor 17 toothed belt 58a and 58b. The backs 60a and 60b thus form with the tobacco fiber strand 52 running side walls for the tobacco channel 16. In the back 60a and 60b recesses 62a and 62b are formed at equal intervals. At the locations of the recesses 62a and 62b, there are more tobacco fibers in the tobacco rod 52 than at the remaining locations. This results in sections of expanded cross-section, which later form the points of the head reinforcement 52a of the tobacco sticks produced in this way.

After emergence of the tobacco rod 52 from the range of the timing belt 58a, 58b, the tobacco rod passes to the trimming device 19 for removing excess tobacco fibers from the tobacco rod 52. The trimming device 19 has two in opposite directions, at a predetermined distance from the strand conveyor 17 approximately in the center 64 of the tobacco channel 16 almost touching their respective circumference 66a and 66b smooth trim discs 68a and 68b and the trimming discs 68a, 68b on the side of the strand conveyor 17 side facing away, substantially frustoconical Abweiserrad 70 for removing the excess tobacco fibers. The trimming disks 68a and 68b are driven via a drive belt 72, which is driven by a drive 74 arranged in a housing 73 and is tensioned via a tensioning roller 76. The deflector wheel 70 is driven via a second belt 78 which sits on a shaft 80 of the trim disk 68a. The trim disk 68a is about three times the diameter of the trim disk 68b.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic plan view of the second embodiment of the invention, which is used in an unillustrated double-strand machine for producing two parallel fiber strands 116a and 116b. The operation corresponds essentially to the embodiment of the Fig. 1 , A more detailed description can therefore be omitted here. Parts with parts of the embodiment of Fig. 1 are identical, are designated by the same reference numerals, parts having in their function with parts of the embodiment of Fig. 1 are identical, are denoted by the same, but increased by 100 reference numerals.

Contrary to the embodiment of Fig. 1 Here, for each tobacco rod 116a or 116b, only one running side wall 58a or 58b is provided. Thus, the tobacco rods 116a and 116b are provided only from one side with a section along the recesses 62a and 62b extended in cross-section. However, this is sufficient for the formation of the head reinforcement 52a.

The drive rollers 56a and 56b for the toothed belts 58a and 58b are driven by symbolically represented shafts 56c and 56d of motors 56e and 56f, respectively. The motors 56e and 56f are controlled via electrical lines 56g and 56h, respectively, by a controller 191. The controller 191 controls the motors 56e and 56f so that the head reinforcements 52a in both tobacco strings 116a and 116b are inserted in synchronism with each other. The information about the position of the head reinforcements 52a is given to the controller 191 of the string meter 29, which is used in the in FIG. 3 illustrated embodiment, the strand density of each of the two strands 116a and 116b measures. The strand density measuring device 29 is in the FIG. 3 symbolically represented.

Further, the controller 191 controls the motors 56e and 56f so that the head reinforcements 52a are inserted in synchronization with the cutting stroke of the cutter apparatuses 31 for cutting the strands 116a and 116b provided for each strand 116a and 116b. The knife apparatuses 31 are in the FIG. 3 also shown symbolically.

Although with respect to the embodiment according to FIG. 2 not shown, there may also be in relation to the embodiment of the FIG. 3 Synchronization described the timing belt 58a and 58b to each other and to the knife apparatus 31 by a controller 191 done.

The Indian Fig. 3 Tobacco strand 116a shown below is according to the embodiment of the Fig. 1 freed of excess tobacco fibers by a trimming device 19. For tobacco rod 116b, a second trimming device 119 is provided. The structure of the trimming device 119 corresponds to the structure of the trimming device 19, wherein the trimming device 119 is mirror-symmetrical to the trimming device 19 with respect to the center between the fiber strands 116a, 116b. The trimming discs 68b and 168b have a diameter which corresponds approximately to the distance between the two tobacco strands 116a and 116b.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the trim device used in the second embodiment 119. The figure shows housing 169 a and 169 b and 171 for the drive shafts of the trimming discs 168 a and 168 b and the deflector wheel 170, not shown. The housings 169 a and 169 b and 171 sit on one Housing 182, which in turn is connected to a housing 184 of the double-strand machine.

In addition to the arrangement and function of the trimming device 119 already described, FIG Fig. 4 The lateral surface 186 of the Abweiserrades 170. The lateral surface 186 forms an acute angle to the trimming disks 168a, 168b adjacent end face of the Abweiserrades 170 and to the surfaces 188a and 188b of the undersides of the trimming disks 168a and 168b. However, the angle increases with increasing distance to the surfaces 188a and 188b, so that the shape shown in the figure of the deflector wheel 170 is formed. Downstream of the deflector wheel 170 is a baffle plate 190 for deflecting the removed from the deflector 170 tobacco fibers.

Fig. 5 shows the second embodiment according to Fig. 3 in a partially sectioned side view, wherein the trimming device 19 is not shown. Parts similar to those of Figures 3 or 4 correspond, are denoted by the same reference numerals. In addition, a tobacco channel 116c and 116d receiving housing 200 is shown. The tobacco channels 116c and 116d are bounded upwardly by suction belt conveyors 117a and 117b for conveying the tobacco fiber strands, not shown. The side walls of the tobacco ducts 116c, 116d are formed outwardly from the ridges 60a and 60b of the toothed belts 58a, 58b circulating in housing sections 202a, 202b, respectively. The inner side walls form firmly Channel cheeks 204a and 204b connected to the housing, respectively. The Saugstrangförderer 117 a and 117 b are deflected via deflections 206 a and 206 b and returned. The deflections 206a and 206b are seated on a shaft 208, which in turn is connected to the housing 200 via a mounting plate 210.

The housing 200 consists of several individual parts: From an in the figure shown on the right, forming a cavity extruded profile 212, from an L-shaped extruded profile 214 shown in the figure, serving as a connecting piece extrusion 215, and from between the two extruded profiles 212 and 214 lying, serving as spacers extruded sections 216, 218 and 220. All extruded sections 212, 214, 215, 216, 218 and 220 are made of aluminum. The spacer 216 is used only on a double-strand machine to make room for the second tobacco channel 116d. However, the extruded profiles 212, 214, 215, 218, 220 can also be used for a single-strand machine 50 according to FIG Fig. 1 be used. When using the extruded profiles 212, 214, 215, 218, 220 for a double-strand machine, the extruded profile 220 is connected via a connecting piece 222 and provided in the extruded profile 212 receptacle 224 with the extruded profile 212. When using the extruded profiles 212, 214, 215, 218, 220 for a single-strand machine 50, the extruded profile 118 is connected without the connecting pieces 220 and 222 directly via another provided in the extruded profile 212 receptacle 226 with this. The extruded profiles 212, 214, 215, 216, 218 and 220 according to the invention can thus be advantageously used flexibly. For attachment to the stranding machine 50, the extruded profile 212 on the front side integrated receptacles 228, 230, 232, 234, 236 on.
FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of a third embodiment of the invention, in the in the FIG. 1 used cigarette rod machine is used. The operation corresponds essentially to that in the FIG. 2 illustrated first embodiment. A detailed description of the operation can therefore be omitted here. Parts corresponding to parts of the embodiment according to FIG. 2 are identical, are denoted by the same reference numeral, while parts having in their function with parts of the first embodiment according to FIG. 2 are denoted by the same, but increased by 300 reference numerals.

Contrary to the first embodiment according to FIG. 2 Here, the small trim plate 68b is driven together with the toothed belt 58a by a common drive 56a. For this purpose, a further drive belt 78a is provided, the drive belt 78a passes over the deflection roller 54a, the shaft of the trim disk 68a, around the shaft of the small trim disk 78b and finally around a tensioning roller 76a. The thus modified trim device of the third embodiment according to FIG. 6 is designated by the reference numeral 319.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic plan view of a fourth embodiment of the invention, which is used in a double-strand machine, not shown. The operation corresponds essentially to that in the FIG. 3 illustrated second embodiment. A detailed description of the operation can therefore be omitted here. Parts corresponding to parts of the second embodiment according to FIG. 3 are identical, are designated by the same reference numerals, while parts having in their function with parts of the embodiment according to FIG. 3 are denoted by the same, but increased by 400 reference numerals. As with the in FIG. 6 illustrated third embodiment of the invention is in the FIG. 7 illustrated fourth embodiment of the invention waives a separate drive for the small trimming discs 68b and 168b. Corresponding to the drive for the trimming device 319, in the second, correspondingly modified trimming device 419, a second drive belt 78b driven by the drive roller 56b and a tensioning roller 76b for tensioning this drive belt 78b are provided. Incidentally, the operation is the same as in the trimmer 319.

Claims (19)

1. Apparatus for preparing at least one fibre stream (52) of a continuous-rod making machine (50) of the tobacco processing industry for further processing in the continuous-rod making machine (50),
   in which for each fibre stream (52, 116a, 116b) there is provided:

   a stream conveyor (17, 117a, 117b) in a stream guiding channel (16, 116c, 116d) for conveying the fibre stream (52, 116a, 116b),

   a trimming device (19, 119) for removing excess fibres from the fibre stream (52, 116a, 116b),

   at least one side wall (58a, 58b) of the stream guiding channel (16, 116c, 116d) moving concomitantly with the fibre stream (52, 116a, 116b), the concomitantly moving side wall (58a, 58b) having recesses (62a, 62b) for a strengthening (52a) of sections of the fibre stream (52, 116a, 116b),

   characterised in that the speed of the concomitant movement of the at least one side wall (58a, 58b) with the fibre stream (52, 116a, 116b) can be synchronised by a control unit (191) with a cutting cycle of a cutting apparatus (31) for cutting the fibre stream (52, 116a, 116b).
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1,
   in which the concomitantly moving side wall is designed as at least one circulating belt (58a, 58b).
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2,
   in which the belt is a toothed belt (58a, 58b).
4. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
   in which two side walls (58a, 58b) move concomitantly with the fibre stream (52, 116a, 116b).
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4,
   in which the speed of the concomitant movement of the side walls (58a, 58b) can be synchronised with one another by means of a control unit (191).
6. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
   in which the synchronisation can be realised at least also by detecting the position of the strengthening (52a) by means of a sensor (29).
7. Apparatus according to Claim 4,
   in which only one or both side walls (58a, 58b) have the recesses (62a, 62b).
8. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
   in which each stream guiding channel (16, 116c, 116d) is assigned a trimming device (19, 119).
9. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
   in which the trimming device (19, 119) has two trimming discs (68a, 68b, 168a, 168b), which rotate in opposite directions and are at least approximately in mutual contact by way of their periphery, roughly in the middle of the stream guiding channel (16, 116c, 116d), at a predetermined distance from the stream conveyor (17, 117a, 117b), and has a deflecting means (70, 170), assigned to the trimming discs (68a, 68b, 168a, 168b) on the side facing away from the stream conveyor (17, 117a, 117b), for removing the excess fibres.
10. Apparatus according to the preceding claim,
    in which the deflecting means has a substantially frustoconical rotational body (70, 170).
11. Apparatus according to the preceding claim,
    in which the lateral surface of the rotational body (70, 170) forms an acute angle between 5° and about 40° with that end face of the rotational body (70, 170) which is adjacent to the trimming discs (68a, 68b, 168a, 168b), which angle increases at least along lateral surface sections (186) with increasing distance from the end face.
12. Apparatus according to the preceding claim,
    in which the angle increases continuously.
13. Apparatus according to one of Claims 9-12,
    in which the trimming discs (68a, 68b, 168a, 168b) have different diameters.
14. Apparatus according to one of Claims 9-13,
    in which the trimming discs (68a, 68b, 168a, 168b) have equal diameters.
15. Apparatus according to one of Claims 9-14 for preparing two parallel fibre streams (52, 116a, 116b),
    in which, in the case of at least one of the two trimming devices (19, 119), the trimming disc (68b, 168b) adjacent to the parallel fibre stream (52, 116a, 116b), has a diameter less than or equal to the distance between the fibre streams (52, 116a, 116b).
16. Apparatus according to the preceding claim,
    in which the diameter of the trimming disc (68b, 168b) adjacent to the parallel fibre stream (52, 116a, 116b) corresponds substantially to the distance between the fibre streams (52, 116a, 116b), the trimming discs (68a, 68b, 168a, 168b) having a smooth surface at least in the region of their periphery (66a, 66b).
17. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, having a housing (200) supporting at least parts of the apparatus, preferably the entire apparatus, the housing (200) being formed at least partly from at least one extruded section (212, 214, 215, 216, 218, 220).
18. Apparatus according to the preceding claim,
    in which the at least one extruded section (212, 214, 215, 216, 218, 220) is formed essentially from aluminium.
19. Apparatus according to one of the two preceding claims,
    in which at least one of the extruded sections (212, 214, 215, 216, 218, 220) is designed as a spacer (216) in order to make the housing (200) usable both for single-stream (50) and for double-stream continuous-rod making machines.

Images