EP1314364B1 - Device for producing rod-like articles - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for use in cigarette filter production in which an encasing device (23) encases a material strand with encasing material (21). A heating device (28) for warming the material stand is positioned after the encasing device in terms of the production direction.

Description

The invention relates to a device for producing rod-shaped Articles made of a material strand, in particular the tobacco processing Industrial, with a wrapping device with an encircling Conveyor or format tape for wrapping the material strand with Covering material, a heating device for heating the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom and a first transport device for transporting the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom by the aforementioned Devices, preferably in the longitudinal axial direction.

In the tobacco processing industry, among other things, such a device Part of a filter rod machine for the production of filter rods be. In the production of filter rods is that of a bale in one endless strip deducted filter material (tow), which consists of individual Threads or fibers (e.g., cellulose acetate) are processed before it is gathered into a filter strand, with a wrapping strip, whose seam area is provided with adhesive, wrapped and in single filter rods simple or multiple use length is cut. The Treatment is usually in practice in such a way that the strip of filter material after peeling off the bale, first loosened by air nozzles and widened and then stretched in a stretching zone in the longitudinal direction becomes. In this state, then the filter material strip with Moisturizer wets, which makes the surface of the threads or fibers sticky does what they stick to. The prepared strip is then gathered to the strand, wrapped and easier in single filter rods or multiple use length.

The mentioned plasticizer, which is usually triacetin, forms a solvent for the filter material. When wetting the fiber surfaces by the plasticizer these are dissolved and can stick to contact points. For curing the fiber compounds thus formed must the concentration of the plasticizer in the dissolved filter material be reduced. This is done by diffusion of the plasticizer in the interior of the fibers, causing a distribution of the plasticizer on a much larger amount of material and thus the desired dilution is achieved. As with most chemical processes, it depends Speed of this diffusion depends on the temperature, with an increased Temperature leads to accelerated curing.

The wrapping device usually has an endlessly circulating conveyor belt on, also referred to as a format tape, with the help of the material strand and the separately supplied wrapping material in the longitudinal axial direction promoted by the wrapping device, also called format becomes. In this case, a wrapping strip in the wrapping device placed by stationary dies around the strand of material and accordingly bonded.

A device of the type mentioned is known from US 3,017,309 A, in which by a wrapping means an endlessly circulating Conveyor or format tape is guided. Seen in the direction of transport, is behind the wrapping device arranged a heating device through which also the conveyor or format belt runs. Only after leaving the heating device The format tape is then covered by the wrapping material Material strand lifted again. This leads to a warming of the production or format tape. In practice, however, has been shown by the warming the conveyor or format strip exposed to increased wear becomes.

To an undesirable successive heating of the conveyor or format belt It is necessary to prevent this during the return outside of the To cool the heating device, as proposed in DE 24 43 056 B2 becomes. However, this measure means a not inconsiderable additional equipment expenditure, in particular with regard to the cost of the Production and maintenance negatively noticeable.

It is an object of the present invention, the disadvantageous previously described Effects on the conveyor or format strip to avoid effective heating to ensure the material strand and the structure of the device to simplify.

This object is achieved according to the present invention by a device for producing rod-shaped articles from a material strand, in particular the tobacco processing industry, with a wrapping device with a circulating conveyor or format tape for wrapping the material strand with wrapping material, a heating device for heating the Materialstranges or rod-shaped objects made therefrom and a first transport device for transporting the material strand or the rod-shaped articles made therefrom by the aforesaid means, preferably in the longitudinal axial direction, characterized in that the heating device microwaves for heating the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom and, in the transport direction the strand of material or rod-shaped therefrom Considered objects, behind the conveyor or format band of the wrapping device is arranged.

According to the invention, therefore, the heat treatment does not take place until after lifting the conveying or format tape from then already wrapped strand of material instead, so that the conveyor or format belt is not heated and thus not cooled needs to be. This has the advantage that the conveyor or Format tape increased wear due to heating or even from Heating-cooling cycles is not exposed, but a longer Life experiences. By the application of microwaves according to the invention At the same time effective heating of the material strand is effected. The mentioned inventive measures eventually lead to a significant Simplification of the construction of the device.

Although US 4,357,188 A already teaches the application of microwaves for heating a strand of material; However, this state of the art is mandatory assume that the material strand only with the help of conveyor or format tape safely through the microwave application can be performed. Here is the inevitable heating of the conveyor or format belt and, where appropriate its costly cooling accepted. This obviously disadvantageous Effect was accepted for over twenty years, although a warming behind the format disclosed, for example, in US 3,039,908 A, again, at least twenty years before the advent of microwave technology was basically known. That on this perseverance in the disadvantageous Technique based prejudice could only with the help of the teaching of the present Overcome invention.

Preferred embodiments and developments of the invention are in the dependent Claims specified.

For the usual case, a cutting device for cutting provided the wrapped material strand in rod-shaped objects is, the cutting device between the wrapping device and the heating device be arranged so that in this embodiment the rod-shaped material already produced from the wrapped strand of material Subject to heat treatment.

If a second transport device for removing the rod-shaped Objects, preferably in the transverse axial direction, is provided, should this second transport device, which usually has a drum, viewed in the transport direction of the rod-shaped objects, behind the Be arranged heating device. Preferably, this second Transport device housed in a housing and a housing surrounding heat insulation and / or a device for air conditioning of the housing provided to a rapid cooling of the prevent the heating device heated rod-shaped objects.

The heating device should have a guide device, along which the material strand or rod-shaped produced therefrom Objects are movable by the heating device. Preferably this guide device is relative to the movement of the material strand or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom stationary arranged and for passive guidance of the material strand or the formed therefrom rod-shaped objects, wherein the Material strand or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom acted upon by the first transport device with so much kinetic energy be that they move along the guide device alone can.

Conveniently, the guide means comprises a web-shaped guide means for movably receiving the strand of material or the resulting material produced rod-shaped objects.

In a presently preferred embodiment, the guide means a lower section for the movable support of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom and a upper section on, with the distance between the lower section and the upper section according to the thickness of the material strand or the dimensioned rod-shaped objects. While their movement through the heating device become the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom taken up in the lower and upper sections of the guide means, by moving along the bottom section and essentially also in contact with the upper section.

Conveniently, the lower section forms a concave in cross-section Supporting surface. This creates a trough-like shape in which the material strand or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom become.

Additionally or alternatively, it is also conceivable that the lower section Has at least two spaced-apart support elements.

In a presently preferred embodiment of this embodiment these support elements form a substantially point-like or in the direction of movement of the material strand or of the material produced therefrom rod-shaped objects linear support for the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom. This will be a in cross-section punctual support bearing, for example, a two-point bearing for the lower section, formed and in this way the surface with which the Material strand or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom rest as far as possible minimized. In this way, a reduction the friction can be achieved, which in turn is beneficial to the Movement of the material strand or of the rod-shaped material produced therefrom Affects items. Another not inconsiderable advantage of a Such discrete circulation in this context is that the strand of material or rod-shaped articles made therefrom and the support to each other can be aligned so that a Contact with seam or splices of the wrapper is avoided, which otherwise a risk of contamination. Accordingly, the Material strand or rod-shaped objects made thereof so be aligned so that the seam or splice between the support elements or outside the support elements and thus disengaged located with these.

Also, the upper section may be a substantially punctiform or in the direction of movement of the material strand or the produced thereof rod-shaped objects linear attachment for the material strand or the formed therefrom rod-shaped objects, so that here in the same Apply the previously explained effects and benefits come. In this way, for example, when viewed in cross-section, a three-point support bearing formed together with the lower section.

Usually, the sheet-shaped guide means should have an elongated shape exhibit. In a further development of this embodiment, the support elements in the direction of movement of the material strand or the resulting manufactured rod-shaped objects, preferably parallel to each other, having extending rods. The upper section can also be at least a in the direction of movement of the rod-shaped objects having extending rod. To achieve the aforementioned linear Edition should the rod or rods expediently a round cross-section have.

Usually, the web-shaped guide means for guiding the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom formed longitudinal axial direction. In this case, the transverse distance of the support elements must smaller than the thickness or the diameter of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom.

Conveniently, the guide means should be made of a heat-resistant, preferably ceramic, and / or low-friction material.

In another currently particularly preferred embodiment, in which the heating device has a housing is in the housing arranged the guide means and has the housing one to open On section, which is designed so that when opening the housing the Guiding agent is substantially exposed. This version offers easy and easy access to the transport route of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom within the heating device, which is not only beneficial for maintenance is, but also if in the operation by a disturbance a material congestion should occur in the heating device.

Conveniently, the portion to be opened forms a lid of the Housing. The housing may consist of two half-shells, from where the lower half-shell is fixed and open the upper half-shell is. For easy handling, the opening section of the Housing be pivotally mounted about a pivot axis, wherein Preferably, the pivot axis substantially in Bewegungsrichturig the strand of material or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom should extend to the heating device as possible easy access to the transport route of the material strand or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom essentially over to be able to have its entire length.

Preferably, the upper section of the guide means should be openable Be arranged portion of the housing. This way is with opening the housing at the same time the transport path opened, whereby a particularly easy access is possible.

Finally, a safety circuit should be provided when opening of the housing deactivates the heating device. The user needs in this embodiment to turn off the heating device not to pay attention, as this is due to the security circuit automatically happens. This is when using microwaves advantageous.

Fig. 1

einen schematischen Aufbau einer Filterstrangmaschine;

Fig. 2

eine teilweise ausgebrochene Seitenansicht eines in der Filterstrangmaschine gemäß Fig. 1 enthaltenen Mikrowellenapplikators; und

Fig. 3

einen Querschnitt durch den Mikrowellenapplikator von Fig. 2 im geschlossenen Zustand (Fig. 3a) und im geöffneten Zustand (Fig. 3b).

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic structure of a filter rod machine;

Fig. 2

a partially broken side view of a microwave applicator contained in the filter rod machine of Figure 1. and

Fig. 3

a cross section through the microwave applicator of Fig. 2 in the closed state (Fig. 3a) and in the open state (Fig. 3b).

In Fig. 1, the structure of a filter rod machine 2 is shown schematically.

Upstream of the filter rod machine 2 is a processing unit, not shown, as described in DE 42 09 606 A1. In one such processing equipment becomes a strip of filter material from a bale stripped and among other things by spreading and stretching and spraying with finely divided liquid plasticizer such as e.g. Triacetin treated. The plasticizer-sprayed strip of filter material is in the treatment device finally into a gathered string-like shape transferred and then transported to the filter rod machine 2. In Fig. 1 is the From the processing device provided filter material strip schematically represented and characterized by the reference numeral 10.

About an inlet funnel 17 then passes the filter material strip 10 in the filter rod machine 2, where he summarized and on one of a Bobine 18 withdrawn and by means of a gluing device 19 with hot melt adhesive provided envelope strip 21 is placed. The serving strip 21 and the combined filter material strip 10th arrive at an endlessly circulating format tape 22, both components through a format 23, which surrounds the wrapping strip 21 to the Laying filter strip 10 and thereby an endless filter strand 24 forms. This runs with its seam past a cooling bar 26, in which the bond is solidified. Subsequently, from the filter strand 24 continuously cut filter rods by means of a knife apparatus 27, by a Mikrowellenapplikator 28 in the longitudinal axial direction moved and from an accelerator 29 in a Ablegertrommel 31st be transferred through which they transported in the transverse axial direction become. From the Ablegertrommel 31 enter the in Fig. 1 not shown Filter rods to a Ablegerband 32, from which they have a in Fig. 1 also not shown further processing or intermediate storage be supplied.

The microwave applicator 28 is a microwave generator 34 with integrated Assigned to the control, such as the microwave applicator 28 in a Additional device 36 is housed. The microwave generator 34 receives from a control device 38, which in the illustrated embodiment in the Filter rod machine 2 is arranged and also a format tape drive 39 controls information about the operating speed of the filter rod machine and controls the microwave power generated accordingly. Of the Format belt drive 39 drives the endless circulating format belt 22.

In the illustrated embodiment, the accelerator 29, the Ablegertrommel 31 and also partially the Ablegerband 32 of a Housing 40 enclosed, the wall provided with an insulation 40 a is to cool down too quickly in the microwave applicator 28th to prevent heated filter rods. For the same purpose may additionally or alternatively, a device for air conditioning, not shown in Fig. 1 of the housing 40 in particular by supplying hot air be provided. Furthermore, a temperature sensor 42 is arranged in the housing 40, which is connected to the microwave generator 34, whereby by means of the integrated control generated by the microwave generator 34 Microwave energy in the microwave applicator 28 to a specific Value is controlled by the microwave applicator 28 heated filter rods to a certain temperature to heat.

The housing 40 thus forms a storage unit, the accessory 36 and the filter rod machine 2 is connected downstream or part of Additional device 36 may be.

Fig. 2 shows a more detailed, partially broken side view of the Microwave applicator 28, while in Fig. 3 is a cross section of the microwave applicator 28 in the closed state (Fig. 3a) and in the open State (Fig. 3b) is shown.

The microwave applicator 28 has a housing 50, which via a Lid 50a can be opened. As can be seen Fig. 3, the lid forms 50a, a fold-away upper half shell of the housing 50 and the lower portion of the housing 50 whose fixed lower half-shell. Opening the lid 50a gives free access to the interior of the housing 50 and to the local installations. In operation of the microwave applicator 28, the lid 50 a of the housing 50 by a Shutter 52 kept closed. As especially FIG. 3 recognize lets the lid 50a via a hinge 53 on the rest of the housing 50a held, wherein the pivot axis 53 a of the hinge 53 in the direction of Lengthwise extension of the housing 50 extends. Fig. 2 shows that the lid 50 extends over almost the entire length of the housing 50.

As also shown in FIG. 2, a safety switch 54 is provided, when opening the housing 50 by pivoting the lid 50a causes a shutdown of the microwave generator 34 (FIG. 1). Therefore is the safety switch 54 via a cable 54a to the microwave generator 34 or the controller 38 (FIG. 1).

At the one end side of the housing 50, an inlet pipe 56 is provided, through the cut out of the knife apparatus 27 (Figure 1) and thus isolated filter rods in the housing 50 of the microwave applicator 28 enter. At the opposite end of the housing 50 sits an exit tube 57, through which in the microwave applicator 28th heated filter rods in the downstream accelerator 29 (FIG. 1) reach. As Fig. 2 further reveals, the inlet pipe 56 and the Outlet tube 57 aligned axially aligned.

The microwave applicator 28 has a guide device 60, which in the Interior of the housing 50 is arranged. In the illustrated embodiment is the guide device 60 of three guide rods 61, 62nd and 63, which are arranged parallel to each other and in the longitudinal direction of the housing 50 run. In this case, the three guide rods 61 end, 62 and 63 respectively in front of the inlet pipe 56 and the outlet pipe 57 and extend parallel to the common axis of the inlet pipe 56th and the outlet pipe 57.

As can be seen in particular Fig. 3a, form in the illustrated embodiment the first and second guide rods 61 and 62 a pair and lie in an imaginary horizontal plane, while the third command staff 63 centrally above the first and second guide rods 61 and 62 is arranged. Thus, the first and second guide rods 61 and 62 two lower guide rods and the third guide rod 63 a upper management staff.

The lower first and second guide rods 61 and 62 are at first Fixed supports 64 which secured to the fixed part of the housing 50 are. In contrast, the upper third guide rod 63 is on second supports 66 fixed to the lid 50 a of the housing 50 are fixed. The latter As a result, when opening the lid 50a of the upper third guide rod 63 taken and thus from the lower first and second Guide bars 61 and 62 is removed, as shown in FIG. 3b.

In the illustrated embodiment, the three guide rods 61, 62nd and 63 at the vertices of an imaginary isosceles triangle arranged, which is the common axis of the inlet pipe 56 and the Exhaust pipe 57 encloses. Accordingly, the inlet pipe 56, the form of the three spaced guide rods 61, 62 and 63 formed Space and the outlet pipe 57 a transport path along which the filter rods move in the longitudinal axial direction.

Accordingly, the three guide rods 61, 62 and 63 form linear or, im View cross-section, selective three-point support bearings.

In this case, the inner diameter of the inlet pipe 56 and the outlet pipe 57 according to the outer diameter of the filter rods to be applied sized. The same applies to the distance between the three guide rods 61, 62 and 63 from each other.

After passing through the inlet pipe 56, the filter rods reach the both lower first and second guide rods 61, 62 on which they then slide along until it reaches the microwave applicator 28 via the exit tube 57 left again. While moving on the bottom the first and second guide bars 61 and 62 along it lying upper third guide rod 63, that the filter rods that of the lower first and second guide bars 61 and 62 formed path not being able to leave. Accordingly serve the lower first and second guide rods 61 and 62 as a support, while the upper third guide rod 63 is provided as the upper limit of the conveying path thus formed. The distance between the three guide rods 61, 62 and 63 is chosen that the filter rods in the longitudinal axial direction only with a relative can move little game, with the distance between the lower first and second guide bars 61 and 62 smaller than the Diameter of the filter rods is.

As can be seen Fig. 3, the three guide rods 61, 62 and 63 have each a circular cross-section. This has the consequence that an almost only linear support for the filter rods on the lower first and second Guide bars 61 and 62 and also a nearly only linear system for the filter rods on the upper third guide rod 63 is formed. On this way, the contact between the filter rods and the guide rods 61, 62 and 63 and thus minimizes the resulting friction. In addition, the filter rods entering via the inlet pipe 56 can be aligned so that the adhesive seam is not in contact with the Guide rods 61, 62 and 63 passes, but is aligned so that she is between them.

In the illustrated embodiment are in the microwave applicator 28 no Conveyor drives for active transport of the filter rods provided. Much more must be the kinetic energy that the filter rods when entering the Inlet pipe 56 have sufficient, so that the filter rods through the inlet pipe 56, along the guide rods 61, 62 and 63 and through the outlet pipe 57 to the accelerator 29 (Figure 1) can easily slide. Therefore, the inlet tube 56, the guide rods 61, 62 and 63 and the outlet pipe 57 made of low-friction material. Because of the Heat should be the material for the three guide rods 61, 62nd and 63 and for the outlet tube 57 further heat resistant, for what For example, ceramic material is suitable.

Claims (26)

1. Apparatus for producing rod-shaped articles from a material strand, in particular of the tobacco-processing industry, having
   a wrapping device (23) with a circulating conveying or garniture belt (22) for wrapping the material strand with wrapping material (21), a heating device (28) for heating the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom, and
   a first transporting device (22) for transporting the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom through the aforementioned devices, preferably in the longitudinal-axial direction,
   characterised in that the heating device (28) generates microwaves for heating the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom and is arranged behind the conveying or garniture belt (22) of the wrapping device (23), as viewed in the transporting direction of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom.
2. Apparatus.according to Claim 1, having a cutting device (27) for cutting the material strand into rod-shaped articles,
   characterised in that the cutting device (27) is arranged between the wrapping device (23) and the heating device (28).
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, having a second transporting device (31) for transporting the rod-shaped articles away, preferably in the transverse-axial direction,
   characterised in that the second transporting device (31) is arranged behind the heating device (2B), as viewed in the transporting direction of the rod-shaped articles.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, in which the second transporting device (31) is accommodated in a housing (40), characterised by a heat insulation (40a) surrounding the housing (40), and/or a device for air-conditioning of the housing (40).
5. Apparatus according to at least one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the heating device (28) has a guiding device (60), along which the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom can be moved through the heating device (28).
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterised in that the guiding device (60) is arranged stationarily relative to the movement of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom, and is designed for the passive guidance of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the guiding device (60) has a track-shaped guiding means (61, 62, 63) for the movable reception of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom.
8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, characterised in that the guiding means (61, 62, 63) has a lower section (61, 62) for the movable reception of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom and an upper section (63), and the distance between the lower section (61, 62) and the upper section (63) is dimensioned in accordance with the thickness of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom.
9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterised in that the lower section forms a supporting surface which is concave in cross-section.
10. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the lower section has at least two supporting elements (61, 62) spaced apart from one another.
11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, characterised in that the supporting elements (61, 62) form a substantially punctual or, in the direction of movement of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom, linear support for the rod-shaped articles.
12. Apparatus according to at least one of Claims 8 to 11, characterised in that the upper section (63) forms a substantially punctual or, in the direction of movement of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom, linear rest for the rod-shaped articles.
13. Apparatus according to at least one of Claims 7 to 12, characterised in that the track-shaped guiding means (61, 62, 63) has an elongate form.
14. Apparatus according to Claim 10 and 13, characterised in that the supporting elements have bars (61, 62) extending, preferably parallel to one another, in the direction of movement of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom.
15. Apparatus according to Claim 8, and 13 or 14, characterised in that the upper section has at least one bar (63) extending in the direction of movement of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom.
16. Apparatus according to Claim 14 and/or 15, characterised in that the bar or bars have a round cross-section.
17. Apparatus according to at least one of Claims 7 to 16, characterised in that the track-shaped guiding means (61, 62, 63) is designed for the guidance, in the longitudinal-axial direction, of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom.
18. Apparatus according to Claim 10 and 17, characterised in that the transverse spacing of the supporting elements (61, 62) is less than the thickness or the diameter of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom.
19. Apparatus according to at least one of Claims 7 to 18, characterised in that the guiding means (61, 62, 63) is composed of a heat-resistant, preferably ceramic, material.
20. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 7 to 19, characterised in that the guiding means (61, 62, 63) is composed of a low-friction material.
21. Apparatus according to at least one of Claims 7 to 20, in which the heating device (28) has a housing (50), characterised in that the guiding means (61, 62, 63) is arranged in the housing (50), and the housing (50) has a portion (50a) which is to be opened and is so designed that the guiding means (61, 62, 63) is substantially uncovered on opening the housing (50).
22. Apparatus according to Claim 21, characterised in that the portion which is to be opened forms a cover (50a) of the housing (50).
23. Apparatus according to Claim 21 or 22, characterised in that the portion (50a) which is to be opened is mounted pivotably about a pivot axis (53a).
24. Apparatus according to Claim 23, characterised in that the pivot axis (53a) extends substantially in the direction of movement of the material strand or the rod-shaped articles produced therefrom.
25. Apparatus according to Claim 8 and according to at least one of Claims 21 to 24, characterised in that the upper section (63) of the guiding means is arranged on the portion (50a), which is to be opened, of the housing (50).
26. Apparatus according to at least one of Claims 21 to 25, characterised by a safety circuit (54) which deactivates the heating device (28, 34) on opening the housing.

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