EP1334666B2 - Method and apparatus for transporting a paper web in a machine for the tobacco industry - Google Patents

Abstract

A wrapper strip (10) is guided along a conveyor path from a wrapping strip supply (17) to a garniture (20). The wrapper strip is fixed in preset position along the conveyor path. Independent claims are also included for the following: (a) a process for returning rod machine of tobacco processing industry to service; (b) a process for automatic start-up of rod machine of tobacco processing industry; (c) a process for emptying rod machine of tobacco processing industry; (d) a feed device for feeding wrapper strip; (e) an apparatus comprising feed device for feeding wrapper strip; and (f) a rod machine of tobacco processing industry.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a machine of the tobacco processing industry.

The invention also relates to an apparatus for feeding at least one wrapping strip to a feed element which supplies the at least one wrapping strip to a strand of smokable material or filter material of the tobacco processing industry, the device comprising a separating element dividing the at least one wrapping strip.

The invention further relates to a method for recommissioning a stranding machine, wherein at least one wrapping strip is fed to at least one strand of smokable material or filter material of the tobacco processing industry, being conveyed by means of a strand conveyor the strand and fed to at least one conveying element carrying the at least one wrapping strip, wherein strand and wrapping strips are conveyed to a format for continuously wrapping the strand with the wrapping strip. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for emptying a stranding machine, in particular a cigarette rod machine or a filter rod machine, wherein an enveloping strip in a corresponding device or feeding device for wrapping a strand of smokable material or filter material of the tobacco processing industry is at least partially removed.

From the DE 36 00 321 C2 , the the US 4,648,409 A paper web feeder for a cigarette making machine is known. In this case, a suction drum is provided for conveying at least one paper web to a format strip. By means of an actuating device, on which a knife is provided, it is possible to cut off the paper web if, after a start of the cigarette manufacturing machine, the printing applied to the cigarette paper is no longer faulty. In this device, therefore, a so-called startup shot or the committee is eliminated when restarting. When restarting or restarting the cigarette making machine, a manual intervention is required to thread the paper web after machine downtime.

In cigarette rod production or the filter strand production, it can still come to the problem that when terminating the production of cigarette rods or filter strands wrapping paper remains in the machine so that it must be removed afterwards before commissioning or recommissioning. Further, it is necessary in an outline of the Hüllstreifens and also at a first start-up of the stranding machine to manually supply the Hüllstreifen a feed element, so that the Hüllstreifen is conveyed to a format tape and finally to a format. Also in the mentioned DE 36 00 321 C2 a manual feed after a production interruption is necessary.

This is relatively time consuming and particularly disturbing in two-strand machines and also leads to faulty cigarette rods or filter strands. This is especially to think of business interruptions, after which regularly the enveloping strips must be threaded into appropriate elements. Furthermore, it is disadvantageous that in the case of an unintentional crack in the enveloping strip, an undefined envelope strip length in the machine can remain at a standstill.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method for operating a machine of the tobacco processing industry, with a reduction of the starting shot after a stop of the machine is made possible.

It is also a specific object of the invention to develop a device for supplying at least one Hüllstreifens to a feed element in such a way that a safe operation after a business interruption or a tear of the Hüllstreifens, especially when restarting, given. The resumption of the operation of a strand machine of the tobacco processing industry should happen especially with little time and very safe. Furthermore, it is a further specific object of the present invention to design a corresponding method for recommissioning a stranding machine and a method for emptying a stranding machine, in particular a cigarette rod machine or a filter rod machine of the tobacco processing industry such that they can be performed quickly and safely.

This object is achieved by a method for operating a machine of the tobacco-processing industry according to claim 1.

The invention is based on the idea according to the invention that to reduce the Anfahrschußes fixing the Hüllstreifenvorrats at a machine stop, for example: in a fault leads to the fact that defined when restarting the machine and without loss of time by manually threading the Hüllstreifens this can be made available again and can be further promoted. This results according to the invention an automation of the operation of the machine of täbakverarbeitenden industry.

In the context of this invention, fixing also means holding in particular.

When the step of fixing is performed upon stopping at least a part of the machine, little wrapping material is needed.

Fixing is preferably done here upon receipt of a stop signal and / or a fault signal. The step of further conveying occurs during or after the start of at least one part or the part of the machine that has been stopped.

The at least one wrapping strip is fixed in the machine in a feeder.

If the downstream part of the at least one wrapping strip is separated during or after fixing, a defined starting position of the wrapping material can be predetermined. The downstream part of the at least one wrapping strip is not fixed in one embodiment of the invention. In the latter case, it is preferably provided to remove the downstream portion of the Hüllstreifens from the conveying path, before the fixed part of the Hüllstreifens is further promoted, so that even less starting shot is generated. For further conveying the fixation is then preferably terminated.

The object is further achieved by a device for feeding at least one wrapping strip to a feeding element which feeds the at least one wrapping strip to a strand of smokable material or filter material of the tobacco processing industry, the device comprising a separating element dividing the at least one wrapping strip which is further developed thereby in that a fixing means is provided by means of which one end of the divided enveloping strip can be fixed.

The invention embraces the inventive idea that, in the event of interruption of the strand production, the at least one wrapping strip, for example an enveloping strip or, in the case of a double-stranding machine, two wrapping strips, is severed in a defined manner in order then to fix a part. When shutting down the stranding machine then the remaining and no longer required Hüllstreifenteil can be safely removed from the machine, whereas when restarting or recommissioning the stranding machine, the non-removed portion of the Hüllstreifens that has been fixed, in particular automatically, for the production of one strand or more Strands can be used.

In the context of this invention, the term fixing means also includes the term holding element or holding device.

If, in a preferred embodiment, a separating element is provided per enveloping strip, a very rapidly operating separating element can be provided. Preferably, the separating element is a knife. In an alternative embodiment, the separating element may also be a laser, which brings by means of at least one optical element a focused laser beam on the enveloping strip, so that it is severed. The focused laser beam can be movable here, or fanned out as a line.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the fixing agent is included in the separating element. For this example, the knife may be provided with a holding surface, so that after cutting the Hüllstreifens or during the cutting of the Hüllstreifens the Hüllstreifen at one end with the Andrückfläche of the knife to another element, for example. An abutment presses, so that the enveloping strip is kept clamped accordingly. Preferably, the fixing agent is a mechanical element, such as an element comprising a corresponding pressing surface. If the fixing means fixes one end of the divided wrapping strip with suction air, a very fast to be realized or to be solved fixation is possible.

Preferably, the fixing agent is arranged upstream of the separating element. By this measure, it is particularly easy to remove the remaining cover strip, which is no longer needed, from the machine.

Preferably, an arrangement is provided for feeding at least one wrapping strip from at least one wrapping strip stock to at least one strand of smokable material or filter material of the tobacco processing industry having at least one strand conveyor for conveying and transferring the strand to at least one conveying element conveying the at least one wrapping strip, promotes the strand and wrapping strips to a format for continuous wrapping of the strand with the wrapping strip, thereby further developed; in that a device of the type according to the invention or a device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is provided between the at least one enveloping strip supply and the conveying element.

It is further preferably an extrusion machine, in particular filter strand machine or cigarette rod machine, provided with at least one device according to the invention or with an inventive arrangement as described above.

The object is further achieved by a method for recommissioning a stranding machine according to claim 4.

In the context of this invention, feeding the at least one wrapping strip means in particular the transport of one end of the wrapping strip from a wrapping strip stock to the strand of smokable material or the corresponding transport of the separated part of an enveloping strip. In particular, a supply to the strand for restarting the stranding machine is meant. Under automatically understood in the context of this invention, in particular completely or exclusively automatically.

The automatic feeding takes place after a release of the at least one wrapping strip at least at one end fixing fixing means and thus after releasing the at least one Hüllstreifens. In this preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is assumed that at a standstill of the stranding machine, a fixing is provided to fix an enveloping strip, so that it can be automatically fed back in the following when restarting the machine. In this case, the fixing means, which may in particular be a retaining element, holds the enveloping strip in a predeterminable position. The feeding preferably takes place by means of a transport air flowing in the feed direction. By means of this preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, a particularly simple type of feeding is provided. If the wrapping strip is arranged on a reel as Hüllstreifenvorrat, the reel is driven so as not to require too much pulling force or feed force, by means of which the cover strip is fed in the direction strand.

The object is further achieved by a method for emptying a stranding machine, in particular a cigarette rod machine or a filter rod machine, wherein a in a feeder befindendem envelope strip for wrapping a strand of smokable material or filter material of the tobacco processing industry is at least partially removed, wherein the envelope strip in the Feeder is separated and wherein a part of the Hüllstreifens is fixed in the feeder, while the other separated part is removed from the feeder. By the method according to the invention, it is possible to remove a defined part of the Hüllstreifens from the stranding machine, so that when restarting or when restarting the stranding machine, this part of the Hüllstreifens does not bother. Furthermore, it is possible by the inventive method, defined and quickly after putting the method for emptying the strand machine to put the strand machine back into operation. The emptying is preferably done by a short-term further operation of the stranding machine and the associated promotion of the strand. The emptying can also be done by means of transport air or compressed air.

Preferably, the method of emptying a strand machine after receiving a stop signal is performed. This stop signal can be sent, for example, if there are problems in the suction belt conveyor of a cigarette rod machine, if, for example, too much or too little tobacco is on Saugstrangförderer. Furthermore, a stop signal can be generated when an outline of the envelope or an envelope occurs.

If the fixing takes place mechanically, in particular by means of a fixing agent, a method which is particularly easy to implement is possible. If the fixing takes place by means of suction, the process according to the invention can be carried out very quickly and with little wear. Preferably, the severing is a truncation.

The invention is further achieved by a method for operating a stranding machine, wherein initially a method according to the invention for emptying the stranding machine is used and wherein subsequently a method for recommissioning the stranding machine, as described above, is used. In this case, therefore, the wrapping strip is stopped in a defined manner for the automatic restarting of a stranding machine and the unwanted part of the wrapping strip is disposed of out of the machine, in which case in particular the beginning of the wrapping strip is provided and this is conveyed back to the strand.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Teils einer Zigarettenstrangmaschine, bei der Teile im Schnitt dargestellt sind,

Fig. 2

einen Teil der in Fig. 1 dargestellten Elemente in Seitenansicht und zwar in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung, wobei ein anderer Verfahrenszustand im Vergleich zu Fig. 1 dargestellt ist,

Fig. 3

die Darstellung aus Fig. 2 in einem anderen Verfahrenszustand, und

Fig. 4

ein anderes Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Zuführeinrichtung in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung in Seitenansicht.

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

Fig. 1

FIG. 2 a schematic side view of a part of a cigarette rod machine, in which parts are shown in section, FIG.

Fig. 2

a part of in Fig. 1 shown elements in side view and that in a schematic sectional view, wherein a different state of the method compared to Fig. 1 is shown

Fig. 3

the presentation Fig. 2 in a different process state, and

Fig. 4

another embodiment of a feed device according to the invention in a schematic sectional view in side view.

In the following figures, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, so that apart from a new idea.

Fig. 1 shows a part of a cigarette rod machine in a schematic representation, with some parts are shown in a section in a side view.

The part of the strand machine that is in Fig. 1 in particular comprises a feeding device 1, by means of which a wrapping strip 10 in the form of a cigarette paper from a Hüllstreifenvorrat 17 in the form of a bobbin first a feed element 11 in the form of a deflection roller can be fed, the cover strip 10 is brought above a thrust bearing 31 in connection with a tobacco rod 12, which by means of a strand conveyor belt 18 in Fig. 1 from right to left (in the direction of the arrow) is promoted. For effective entrainment of Hüllstreifenanfangs the applicant has acquired patents, namely, for example, the EP 0 595 118 B1 , the the US 5,361,783 equivalent. The disclosure of these patents is intended to be fully incorporated in the disclosure of this patent application. In order to ensure at start-up or commissioning of the machine that the beginning of the Hüllstreifens 10 downstream of the guide roller 11 is taken from the associated format strip 19 and the associated strand 12, has been proposed in the said patents, to provide a displacement element, which is above the abutment 31 is arranged, and which can be activated when feeding the Hüllstreifenanfangs to reduce the distance between the strand conveyor belt 18 and the enveloping strip 10. This displacement element is not shown in the figures.

After reaching the format strip 19, which is deflected around the guide roller 30 and a format 20 for continuous wrapping of the strand 12 is supplied to the enveloping strip 10, the frictional force between the format strip 19 and the enveloping strip 10 is sufficient to transport this in continuous operation accordingly , In Fig. 1 is further shown in a schematic sectional side view of the feeding device 1 in the form of a knife 13 which is mounted on a mounting plate 26 which can be moved by means of a pneumatic cylinder 25 with rod guide linearly transverse to the conveying direction of the Hüllstreifens 10.

The knife 13 comes into operative engagement with a cutting edge 22 for cutting the wrapping strip 10, as also schematically shown in FIG Fig. 2 is shown. It is also an abutment 24 is provided, which is biased by a spring 23 and against which the pressure surface 14 presses. When cutting the Hüllstreifens 10 at the cutting edge 22, the one end of the Hüllstreifens 10 is pressed with the pressing surface 14 against a surface of the abutment 24 and so the envelope strip 10 is held. A cutting and fixing of the one end of the cut strip 10 is done, for example. In case of problems with the Saugstrangförderer 18th

In Fig. 2 1, the feeding device 1 is shown in a state in which the wrapping strip 10 has been cut and correspondingly an end 10 "of the wrapping strip 10 is clamped in. Hereinafter, the upper part 10 'of the wrapping strip, that is, the part which is above the knife 13 or separating element 13, which in this embodiment is designed as a knife, instead of the knife 13, a laser device 32 with a focusing optics can serve as a separating element 13. There is then a fixation of the one end of the enveloping strip in another way To realize such as, for example, by a fixative, the in the Fig. 1 to 3 shown fixing corresponds, but in which no knife function is given. However, it can also be another fixative such as in Fig. 4 is shown, be given. This fixative will be discussed below.

When restarting or recommissioning the stranding machine, on the one hand transport air 21 is introduced into the channel, which is defined by the main body 27 and the cover 28. The transport air 21 is schematically indicated by arrows Fig. 3 shown. By means of this transport air, the enveloping strip 10 or, before this conveying step, the upstream part 10 "of the enveloping strip 10 is fed or conveyed in the direction of the feed element 11. This can be done fully automatically.

When the strand device is put into operation for the first time or when the wrapping strip is ruptured upstream of the separating element or fixing agent, it is necessary to manually insert the wrapping strip 10 into the channel defined by the lid 28 and the base body 27. For this purpose, a flap 29 is opened in order to provide a better possibility of intervention or threading possibility for an operator.

In Fig. 4 another embodiment of the feeding device 1 according to the invention is shown in a schematic sectional view in side view. For fixing the Hüllstreifens 10 suction air 15 is passed through the Saugluftbohrungen 16, so that a fixation is done by the suction air. The separating element 13 may in this embodiment be a laser device 32 with a focusing optics 33 or a knife 13, which, however, in Fig. 4 not shown.

The feeding device according to the invention is now operated so that an enveloping strip 10 is divided by means of a separating element 13, 32, 33 and is fixed by means of a fixing means 13, 14, 16, 24 at a stoppage or at a stop of the stranding machine. The unfixed portion of the wrapper 10 is then removed from the machine by driving it out of the machine with the format tape 19. When the stranding machine is restarted, the fixing is released and the wrapping strip is automatically fed first to a feed element 11, in order then to be brought into contact with a cigarette rod 12 or a filter strand, whereupon a feed to a format 20 takes place in which the cigarette rod or cigarette rod is moved ., The filter strand of the enveloping strip is wrapped.

The separation of the Hüllstreifens can be done both with small and with large cutting angles. In this case, a linear movement or a pivoting movement of the separating element or a combination of the two can be done. In the case of a separator comprising a laser device with focusing optics, the focused laser beam is panned or generates a laser beam comprising a linearly extended focus. The fixing of the Hüllstreifens can be done either by a kind of clamping or a vacuum or a suction or other methods both individually and in combination with the separation. It is also possible to make the initial threading of Hüllstreifens so that the envelope strip is transported by an air flow in the feeder 1 and there separated and held in a preparation position, so that with actual startup or commissioning of the stranding machine automatic feeding of Wrapping can happen.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

feeder

10

cigarette paper

10 '

downstream part of the cigarette paper

10 "

upstream part of the cigarette paper

11

Pulley.

12

tobacco rod

13

knife

14

pressing surface

15

suction

16

suction bore

17

reel

18

Strand conveyor belt

19

format tape

20

format

21

transport air

22

cutting edge

23

feather

24

thrust bearing

25

Pneumatic cylinder with rod guide

26

mounting plate

27

body

28

cover

29

flap

30

idler pulley

31

thrust bearing

32

laser device

33

focusing optics

Claims (20)

1. Method for operating a machine of the tobacco processing industry, in which at least one wrapping strip (10), which is provided for wrapping a rod (12) of smokable material or filter material, is fixed in at least one presettable position (14) on its conveying path from a wrapping strip supply (17) to a garniture device (19, 20) of the machine, in order to be subsequently conveyed on from the presettable position (14), wherein the fixing step is carried out upon the stoppage of at least one part of the machine, wherein the conveying-on step takes place during or after the starting of at least one part of the machine, wherein the at least one wrapping strip (10) is fixed in the machine in a feeding apparatus (1).
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterised in that the downstream part (10') of the at least one wrapping strip (10) is separated off during or after the fixing.
3. Method according to Claim 2, characterised in that the downstream part (10') of the wrapping strip (10) is removed from the conveying path before the fixed part (10") of the wrapping strip (10) is conveyed on.
4. Method for the return to service of a rod machine, in which at least one wrapping strip (10) is fed to at least one rod (12) of smokable material or filter material of the tobacco processing industry, in which the rod (12) is brought up by means of a rod conveyor (18) and fed to at least one conveying element (19) conveying the at least one wrapping strip (10), in which rod (12) and wrapping strip (10) are conveyed to a garniture (20) for the continuous wrapping of the rod (12) with the wrapping strip (10), wherein the feeding of the at least one wrapping strip (10) takes place automatically, characterised in that the automatic feeding takes place after a releasing of a fixing means (13, 14, 16) fixing the at least one wrapping strip (10) and hence after a freeing of the at least one wrapping strip (10).
5. Method according to one or more of Claims 1 to 4, charcterised in that the feeding preferably takes place by means of transporting air (21) flowing in the feeding direction.
6. Method for automatically starting a rod machine, in particular a cigarette rod machine or a filter rod machine, comprising a method according to one or more of Claims 4 to 5.
7. Method for emptying a rod machine, in particular a cigarette rod machine or filter rod machine, in which a wrapping strip (10), located in a feeding apparatus (1), for wrapping a rod (12) of smokable material or filter material of the tobacco processing industry is at least partly removed, characterised in that the wrapping strip (10) is separated in the feeding apparatus (1) and in that a part of the wrapping strip (10) is fixed in the feeding apparatus (1), while the other separated-off part is removed from the feeding apparatus (1).
8. Method according to one or more of Claims 1 to 3 or 7, characterised in that the fixing takes place mechanically, in particular by means of a fixing means (13, 14, 16).
9. Method according to one or more of Claims 1 to 3, 7 or 8, characterised in that the fixing takes place by means of suction air (15).
10. Method according to one or more of Claims 1 to 3, 7 to 9, characterised in that the separating is a cutting-off.
11. Method for operating a rod machine, in which firstly a method for emptying the rod machine according to one or more of Claims 7 to 10 is used, and in which subsequently, for the return to service of the rod machine, a method according to one or more of Claims 4 to 6 is used.
12. Apparatus for feeding at least one wrapping strip (10) to a feeding element (11) which feeds the at least one wrapping strip (10) to a rod (12) of smokable material or filter material of the tobacco processing industry, the apparatus comprising a separating element (13) dividing the at least one wrapping strip (10), characterised in that a fixing means (13, 14, 16) is provided, by means of which one end of the divided wrapping strip (10) can be fixed.
13. Feeding apparatus according to Claim 12, characterised in that one separating element (13) is provided per wrapping strip (10).
14. Feeding apparatus according to Claim 12 and/or 13, characterised in that the separating element (13) is a knife.
15. Feeding apparatus according to one or more of Claims 12 to 14, characterised in that the fixing means (13, 14, 16) is included in the separating element (13).
16. Feeding apparatus according to one or more of Claims 12 to 15, characterised in that the fixing means (13, 14, 16) is a mechanical element.
17. Feeding apparatus according to one or more of Claims 12 to 16, characterised in that the fixing means (13, 14, 16) fixes one end of the divided wrapping strip (10) by means of suction air (15).
18. Feeding apparatus according to one or more of Claims 12 to 17, characterised in that the fixing means (14, 16) is arranged upstream of the separating element (13).
19. Arrangement for feeding at least one wrapping strip (10) from at least one wrapping strip supply (17) to at least one rod (12) of smokable material or filter material of the tobacco processing industry with at least one rod conveyor (18) for bringing up and transferring the rod (12) to at least one conveying element (19) conveying the at least one wrapping strip (10), which conveying element conveys rod (12) and wrapping strip (10) to a garniture (20) for the continuous wrapping of the rod (12) with the wrapping strip (10), characterised in that an apparatus (1) according to one or more of Claims 12 to 18 is provided between the at least one wrapping strip supply (17) and the conveying element (19).
20. Rod machine, in particular filter rod machine or cigarette rod machine, with at least one apparatus according to one or more of Claims 12 to 18, or with an arrangement according to Claim 19.

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