EP1397968B1 - Apparatus and method for transforming rodlike filterelements - Google Patents

Abstract

The transport device delivers filter elements (6) that are transported longitudinally to the filter element magazine (8) transversely to their longitudinal axes, whereby a rotatable drum (7) with at least one holder (19) for a filter element is provided. The rotation of the drum is controlled by a detection device (10,11) that detects filter elements. Independent claims are also included for the following: (a) an arrangement for transporting filter elements to a filter element magazine (b) a method of controlling the transportation of rod-shaped filter elements.

Description

The invention relates to a device for conveying rod-shaped filter elements to a filter element magazine, wherein longitudinal axial feedable filter elements are fed queraxial the filter element magazine, and wherein a queraxial rotatable drum is provided with at least one receptacle for a filter element.

The invention further relates to a method for controlling the conveyance of filter elements to a filter element magazine.

A corresponding device for conveying rod-shaped filter elements is known for example from JP 54-13195. This document discloses a filter receiver with an impeller in which iängsaxiai arriving filter rods are slowed down with suction air. The The impeller is driven intermittently and delivers the filter rods to a belt conveyor.

Another known device for conveying rod-shaped filter elements to a filter element magazine or a corresponding method for conveying filter elements to a filter element magazine is known by the so-called filter rod feeding system FILTROMAT 3 FE the applicant. Such a filter rod feed system or such a filter rod receiver receives longitudinally filter rods, which are first decelerated, to then be longitudinally accelerated axially. Subsequently filter rods are fed transaxially to the filter magazine. Here, various module variants are known. There are, for example, individual receiver, double receiver and triple receiver. It is possible in this case to regulate the speed of the filter rod receiver depending on the requirement of the filter rods.

In the production of multi-segment filters with a device consisting of modules, which is known, for example, from DE 101 55 292.0 of the Applicant, the use of the FILTROMAT 3 FE is problematic due to the size.

It is an object of the present invention to develop a device for conveying rod-shaped filter elements to a filter element magazine and a corresponding method for controlling the promotion of the filter elements to a filter element magazine such that a taking place in a very small space and effective promotion of rod-shaped filter elements is possible.

This object is achieved by a device for conveying rod-shaped filter elements, in particular filter rods, to a filter element magazine, wherein longitudinally axially conveyable filter elements are transaxially fed to the filter element magazine, wherein a rotatable drum is provided with at least one receptacle for a filter element, which is further developed in that the rotation of the drum via a filter elements detecting the detection device is controllable. The device according to the invention can be realized in a very compact design, wherein the filter elements can be fed to the filter element magazine very effectively and also very quickly and in a controlled manner. By providing a detection device, the clock of the rotation of the drum can be set very high in relation.

A particularly easy-to-implement device is provided when the detection device comprises a light barrier. By means of the light barrier, the beginning and the end of the detection device or on the detection device conveyed past filter elements can be detected, whereby the rotatable drum can be controlled accordingly. Preferably, the detection device is arranged spaced from the drum, so that at a time at which the filter elements has not been fully promoted in the respective recording of the drum, already with the rotation of the drum can be started, whereby a faster delivery is possible.

If the drum cooperates with a mechanical element which causes a transverse axial insertion of the filter elements in the filter element magazine, a very gentle promotion of the filter elements in the filter element magazine is possible. As a mechanical element is for example a fork or a comb into consideration, which engage in the receptacles of the drum and constitute a solid obstacle to the whereabouts of the filter elements in the respective recordings upon further rotation of the drum.

A particularly defined promotion, which is trouble-free, is given when the promotion of the filter elements to the drum via stationary arranged elements. The stationary arranged elements here are pipes or pipes through which the filter elements are conveyed longitudinal axial, brake wheels for braking the filter elements, acceleration wheels for accelerating the filter elements in the longitudinal axial direction and an example straight conveyor track downstream of the brake wheels.

If several receptacles are provided in the drum, the receptacles are in particular troughs, a very fast promotion of filter elements is possible.

Preferably, a braking element is provided for braking the movable in the receptacle of the drum filter element, whereby a gentle promotion of the filter elements in the receptacles of the drum is made possible. The braking element can be a mechanical element, such as a brake plate, which presses radially onto the rod-shaped filter elements or around a run-on part, which presses the end face onto the circumference of the filter element. It may also be a pneumatic element which, for example, pneumatically actuates compressed air in the receptacles provided for receiving the filter elements in order to decelerate the filter elements accordingly. The braking of the longitudinally moved axially filter elements can advantageously be carried out pneumatically on the front side, wherein, for example, a nozzle is arranged on the end face of a receptacle, compressed air from the nozzle acting on the front in the direction of movement of the filter element. This braking is particularly suitable for sensitive filter elements.

The switching of the compressed air is preferably done with a quick-acting valve, for example. The brand FESTO. The valve is controlled or clocked via a light barrier at the drum inlet.

Preferably, the drum is rotatable before the filter element has reached its end position in the receptacle of the drum. For this purpose, the control is preferably realized in the form that the rotation of the drum begins even before the filter element is completely moved in. By means of this preferred embodiment of the present invention, a particularly gentle braking of the filter elements is possible. Preferably, the drum comprises at least one element for aligning the filter elements. By this measure, the filter elements can be flush fed to the filter magazine.

If an ejection mechanism is provided for defective filter elements, the scrap can be minimized on, for example, defective filter cigarettes for which the corresponding filter elements are provided. It is preferably provided a kind of self-cleaning of the filter element receiving station. For this purpose, for example, a rotating with the drum cutting element, for example. A rotating cutting ring is provided which cuts a partially entered into the drum filter rod during further rotation of the drum to a position. The cutting element comprises, as mentioned, the rotating with the drum cutting ring and a fixed cutting element. The remaining in the longitudinal transport rear part of the filter rod is then, for example, blown back by means of an air pressure and ejected by opening a corresponding flap provided for this purpose. For this purpose, a rail can be opened, which is provided in the lower region of an element used for longitudinal transport, which is arranged in the conveying direction just before the drum. The front part of the filter element is, for example, transported further two positions of the drum and then blown out of the drum.

After the self-cleaning, the corresponding drum groove or the corresponding drum holder, for example. Checked by a photocell to determine whether any parts of the filter element are included in the recording.

A filter element receiving station according to the invention comprises one of the device according to the invention or a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention which has been described above.

A preferred arrangement for conveying filter elements to a filter element magazine with at least one of the device according to the invention is such that the device is arranged outside the filter element magazine. By means of this preferred arrangement, defectively defective filter elements can be excluded from further process control. It is also possible, in arrangements for the production of multi-segment filters, to assemble the corresponding modules by means of the corresponding segments or groups of segments for the production of the multi-segment filters in such a way that the corresponding modules can be constructed narrow. Preferably, a plurality of devices, in particular three devices are arranged according to the invention. In a further preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the devices are arranged one below the other, whereby an even narrower construction of the arrangement is possible.

• Fördern von Filterelementen in längsaxialer Richtung zu einer Trommel mit wenigstens einer Aufnahme für ein Filterelement, insbesondere zu einer Vorrichtung nach einem oder mehreren Ansprüchen 1 bis 9,
• Vorbeiführen der Filterelemente an einer Detektionsvorrichtung,
• Erzeugen eines Startsignal, sobald das Ende eines Filterelements die Detektionsvorrichtung passiert hat,
• Beginnen einer Drehung der Trommel in queraxialer Richtung nach Erhalt des Startsignals, und
• Einschieben des Filterelements in das Filterelementmagazin.

The object is further achieved by a method for controlling the conveyance of rod-shaped filter elements to a filter element magazine, which comprises the following method steps:

• Conveying filter elements in the longitudinal axial direction to a drum having at least one receptacle for a filter element, in particular to a device according to one or more of claims 1 to 9,
• Passing the filter elements on a detection device,
• Generating a start signal as soon as the end of a filter element has passed the detection device,
• Starting a rotation of the drum in the transverse axial direction after receiving the start signal, and
• Insert the filter element into the filter element magazine.

By this method, a very effective, reliable and fast promotion of rod-shaped filter elements to a filter element magazine is possible.

Preferably, the drum is rotated by 360 ° divided by the number of shots on the drum. If a deceleration occurs at the end of the rotation, a gentle conveyance of the filter elements or a gentle introduction of the filter elements into the filter element magazine is possible. The deceleration may in this case preferably take place at least partially with the aid of the weight of the filter elements arranged in the filter element magazine.

If the quality of the filter elements is checked, with faulty filter elements are discharged, the waste is minimized to appropriately manufactured filter cigarettes. A particularly simple check of the quality is possible if the length of the residence time of the filter elements on the detection device is measured to check the quality of the filter elements. The filter element assigned to this residence time is preferably discharged from a residence time that is dependent on the delivery speed and can be predetermined. The discharge thus takes place when the residence time of the filter element is greater than a dependent of the conveying speed and predetermined residence time. On the other hand, the filter element associated with this residence time is preferably conveyed into the filter element magazine up to a residence time which is dependent on the conveying speed and can be predetermined.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Empfangsstation,

Fig. 2

einen Teil aus Fig. 1 in vergrößerter Darstellung,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung entlang des Schnitts A-A der Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

eine andere erfindungsgemäße Ausgestaltung einer Trommel in einer Schnittdarstellung,

Fig. 5

eine weitere erfindungsgemäße Ausgestaltung einer Trommel in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung,

Fig.6

eine erfindungsgemäße Anordnung in schematischer Schnittdarstellung,

Fig. 7

eine weitere erfindungsgemäße Anordnung in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung, und

Fig. 8

eine schematische dreidimensionale Darstellung eines Ausschnitts einer weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Empfangsstation.

The invention will be described below without limiting the general inventive idea with reference to the drawings. With regard to all details of the invention not explained in detail in the text, reference is made to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic side view of a receiving station according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a part of Fig. 1 in an enlarged view,

Fig. 3

3 is a schematic sectional view along section AA of FIG. 2,

Fig. 4

another embodiment of a drum according to the invention in a sectional view,

Fig. 5

a further embodiment of a drum according to the invention in a schematic sectional view,

Figure 6

an inventive arrangement in a schematic sectional view,

Fig. 7

a further inventive arrangement in a schematic sectional view, and

Fig. 8

a schematic three-dimensional representation of a section of another receiving station according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a filter element receiver for conveying rod-shaped filter elements 6 in a filter element magazine 8. The introduced into the filter element magazine 8 filter elements 6 serve, after these were cut, for example, in filter elements twice the length of use, to be merged with a tobacco rod twice the useful length to produce filter cigarettes , The filter elements 6 fed into the filter element magazine 8 can also serve to be cut into corresponding filter segments and fed to an array of filter segments for the production of multi-segment filters. For this purpose, the device according to the invention can serve several or all functional units of a device for assembling groups of filter segments for the production of multi-segment filters of the tobacco-processing industry according to the Applicant's DE 101 55 292.0 be assigned. DE 101 55 292.0 is intended to be incorporated in full in the disclosure of this patent application.

The filter elements n-times use length are fed via a pipe from a Filterherstellmaschine means of a filter element transmitter a connection line 1. The pipeline is not shown in Fig. 1. The filter elements 6, which are conveyed at a distance in the feed tube to the connecting line 1, then enter a sheet guide 2 to be braked by means of brake rollers 3 in a channel 5. Subsequently, the filter elements 6 are conveyed by means of an accelerator roller 4 via a guide, not shown, into a drum 7. The drum 7 and the other elements thereto, which are essential to the invention, are shown better in FIG. 2 in an enlarged schematic illustration of a detail from FIG. 1. In Fig. 2, the drum 7 is shown with a filter element 6 in a receiving trough 19. In this process state, the filter element 6 has already passed a light barrier consisting of a light-emitting diode 10 and a detector 11. The drum 7 is mounted on the bearings 12 and is rotated about the rotation axis 13 and, if the filter element is a faulty filter element, the filter element can be formed from the blow-out passage 16 formed by the housing 18 and the receiving well 19. blow in the discharge direction 15 with compressed air, so that this defective filter element is fed to a catch tank 9. For supplying compressed air, a compressed air connection 14 is provided.

If the filter element is not damaged or defective, the filter element, which is arranged in the receptacle 19, further conveyed by the rotational movement of the drum 7 and fed to the magazine 8. This will be described in more detail below. The light-emitting diode 10 and the detector 11 are held in a holder 27. The light-emitting diode 10 and the detector 11 form a light barrier.

In one embodiment of the device according to the invention, which is shown in Fig. 3, the filter element 6 is introduced longitudinally in a filter element feed 21 in a 3 o'clock position in the receiving cavity located there. After passing through the light barrier, consisting of the light-emitting diode 10 and the detector 11, the drum 7 begins to rotate in the direction of rotation 17. Before the rotation, the brake element 20 has braked the filter element 6 in the receiving trough 19, essentially by the action of force on the frontal peripheral surface of the filter element 6. The front side is opposite to the viewer of FIG. 3. By measuring the residence time of the filter element in the light barrier, it can be determined whether the filter is defective (e.g., burst) or meets the desired parameters. If the filter is defective, this can be ejected in the 6 o'clock position, for example by blowing air. Alternatively, it is possible to eject the defective filter in the 3 o'clock position. For this purpose, the drum 7 stops, the filter element 6 is blown back, the guide, not shown, pivots away and the filter element 6 falls out. In the further course of the rotation of the drum, the filter element 6 can be aligned by a conventional alignment element, such as a metal sheet. From the position of 12 o'clock, the filter element 6 is gently transferred into a channel 28, which is formed by the housing 18 and the comb 22. By the corresponding gentle slope of the comb 22 in conjunction with the flat edge of the receiving trough 19 in the conveying direction a gentle transfer of the filter element 6 in the channel 28 is possible. The comb 22 partially engages in the receiving troughs of the drum 7. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view taken along section A-A of FIG. 2. FIG.

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the drum 7 and the device according to the invention, wherein in Fig. 4, a corresponding section in a schematic representation as shown in Fig. 3 is shown. The difference 3, the filter element feed 21 is arranged in the 12 o'clock position and in that the direction of rotation 17 'is opposite to the direction of rotation 17 shown in FIG. The introduced into the receiving trough 19 in the filter element feed 21 filter element is braked by means of a braking element 20 'in the form of a brake plate. It should be noted that preferably the light barrier, consisting of the light emitting diode 10 and the detector 11, arranged longitudinally axially to the conveying direction of the filter elements, so that the rotational movement of the drum 7 can already begin before the filter element 6 completely into the receiving trough 19 of Drum 7 was moved. A complete deceleration is thus provided after startup or after the start of the rotation of the drum 7 on the brake element 20 '.

In FIG. 4, the comb 22 'is designed differently than the comb 22 of FIG. 3. Also in this embodiment, a gentle transfer is given by the relatively gentle flanks of both the comb 22' and the receiving wells 19.

FIG. 5 shows a development of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 4 in a schematic sectional illustration. In this embodiment, the ejection of defective filter elements 6 is provided with a flap 23 which opens upon detection of a defective filter element in a position 23 'by rotation about the axis of rotation 24 to transfer the filter element 6, which is defective, into a collecting container 9 ,

Fig. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of an inventive arrangement of the inventive devices, wherein three inventive arrangements are provided. The devices according to the invention are arranged obliquely one above the other and adjoin the filter element magazine 8. The filter element magazine 8 is limited by magazine walls 25 and just the devices of the invention. It is also schematically illustrates the disposal direction 26 of the defective filter elements.

Fig. 7 shows a further arrangement according to the invention of the devices according to the invention, in which the devices according to the invention are arranged vertically one above the other.

By providing a drum with receiving wells for filter elements, a positive production of the insertion force of the filter elements in the filter element magazine is possible. Thus, the generation of larger insertion forces is given.

To supply filter elements of the drum 7, they are first accelerated longitudinally by means of the acceleration rollers 4. For this purpose, the drum 7 is in a position in which the accelerated filter element 6 can reach the receiving trough 19 of the drum 7.

In a preferred embodiment, the radial acceleration of the drum begins at the moment in which the filter element has left the light barrier. Subsequently, the drum 7 is braked to provide the next receiving well for the next filter element. Before the start of the rotation (embodiment of FIG. 3) or after the start of the rotation (embodiment of FIG. 4), the filter element is decelerated in the receiving trough. As a brake element, a circumferentially placed mechanical brake plate 20 according to FIG. 4 can be used, which is in particular adjustable and which acts radially on the filter element and brakes the filter element more rapidly with an increasing angle of rotation.

The braking can also be done by means of a frontally arranged compressed air nozzle. This is operated, for example clocked, the control can be done via a photoelectric sensor 10, 11.

Between two stops, the filter element is aligned transaxially by longitudinal axial displacement in the receiving trough 19. The transverse axial alignment can be done both mechanically and pneumatically. It is also possible in the embodiment of FIG. 4, that the alignment by the brake plate 20 'is made. After a rotation of about 350 °, the filter element is pushed out of the drum by the interaction of the receiving trough flank and the fork. The receiving wells should be designed so that when accelerating the drum does not load the entire filter load from the magazine on the drum bar and the filter element to be introduced into the magazine. For this reason, a relatively long flank is provided in the receiving trough, which holds the filter elements in the filter element magazine during acceleration of the drum. When the filter element is pressed into the magazine, the drum is in the braking phase. During braking, the back pressure of the filter elements in the magazine helps.

To remove defective filter elements is controlled by a light barrier 10,11, as long as the filter element 6 is located in front of the light barrier. In case of a fault or a defective filter 6, the light barrier 10, 11 is occupied longer than normal. In this case, the longitudinal transport stops immediately and a filter lock used in the prior art, for example in the Applicant's FILTROMAT 3 FE, becomes active. For this purpose, reference is made, for example, to US Pat. No. 5,651,643. To remove the defective filters, the drum is moved to a specific position stopped and as described above, the filter removed from the drum. This can be done by mechanical elements or by compressed air. The disposal of the filter rods located in the longitudinal transport of the filter receiver can be done either via the drum or between the accelerator roller and the drum. After a corresponding error removal, the device can be restarted fully automatically.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic three-dimensional representation of a further receiving station according to the invention in a section. A filter element 6 has been fed through the holder 27 and an annular opening in the movable knife element 29 in the direction of the filter element feed 31 to a receptacle of the drum 7. If this is a defective filter element, which can be detected, for example, by the fact that the residence time in front of a light barrier 10, 11 (see FIG. 2) takes too long a time during transport of the filter element into the receptacle of the drum 7 or one too short, the drum 7, for example, two further rotated and the lying in the recording filter element or a part of this filter element then blown into the Filterelementausblasung 32 by means of compressed air and passed through the channel 5 ', so as to get into a reject container , The reject container is not shown here. This works especially when the defective filter element has been completely inserted into the receptacle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, in which the drum 7 already begins to rotate before the filter element has been completely inserted in the receptacle, or in filter elements that are too long, a knife is used comprising a movable knife element 29 and a fixed Knife element 30 to shear off or cut off this filter element accordingly. The in the Received part of the filter element 6 can then be disposed of as just described. The part remaining in the feeding channel 5 'is then blown out of the channel 5' by opening a flap and applying compressed air in the opposite direction to the feeding direction 31.

It is then preferred that after the self-cleaning, the corresponding drum grooves or receptacles 33 are checked by means of a light barrier, whether filter elements or parts thereof remain in the grooves or receptacles. A corresponding light barrier is not shown in the figures. This light barrier can be arranged at a suitable location in the receptacle. A corresponding light barrier can also be arranged at a suitable location in the channel 5 '.

In FIG. 8, a comb 22 "is still shown schematically, by means of which the filter element 6 located at the top in FIG. 8 can be specifically, defined and gently transferred into a filter element supply, not shown.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

connecting cable

2

bowing

3

Drag reel

4

accelerator role

5, 5 '

channel

6

filter element

7

drum

8th

magazine

9, 9 '

receptacle

10

led

11

detector

12

camp

13

axis of rotation

14

Compressed air connection

15

Discharge

16

blow-out

17, 17 '

direction of rotation

18, 18 ', 18 "

casing

19

receiving trough

20, 20 '

braking element

21

Filter element feed

22, 22 ', 22 "

Comb

23

flap

23 '

Flap in open position

24

axis of rotation

25

magazine wall

26

disposal direction

27

bracket

28

channel

29

movable knife element

30

fixed knife element

31

Filter element feed

32

Filterelementausblasung

33

admission

Claims (19)

1. Device for conveying tube-shaped filter elements (6), particularly filter tubes, to a filter-element magazine (8), filter elements (6) that can be conveyed in the direction of the longitudinal axis being able to be supplied in the direction of the transverse axis to the filter-element magazine (8), a rotatable drum (7) being provided with at least one receptacle (19, 33) for a filter element (6), characterized in that the rotation of the drum (7) is controllable through a detection device (10, 11) which detects the filter elements (6).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection device (10, 11) comprises a photoelectric-beam detector (10, 11).
3. Device according to claim 1 and/or claim 2, characterized in that the drum (7) acts together with a mechanical element (22, 22') which causes the filter elements (6) to be inserted, in the direction of the transverse axis, into the filter-element-magazine (8).
4. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the conveyance of the filter elements (6) to the drum (7) is effected through fixed elements (1-5, 5', 27).
5. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a plurality of receptacles (19, 33) are provided in the drum (7).
6. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a braking element (20, 20') is provided for braking the filter element (6) that can be moved into the receptacle (19, 33) of the drum (7).
7. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the drum (7) can be rotated before the filter element (6) has reached its end position in the receptacle (19, 33) of the drum (7).
8. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the drum (7) comprises an element for aligning the filter elements (6).
9. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an ejector (14, 15, 23) for defective filter elements (6) is provided.
10. Filter-element receiving station having a device according to one or more of claims 1 to 9.
11. Arrangement for conveying filter elements to a filterelement magazine (8), having at least one device according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the device is disposed outside the filter-element magazine (8).
12. Arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that a plurality of devices, in particular three devices, are provided.
13. Arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that the devices are disposed beneath one another.
14. Method for controlling the conveyance of tube-shaped filter elements (6) to a filter-element magazine (8), having the following method steps:

    - conveyance of filter elements (6), in the direction of the longitudinal axis, to a drum (7) having receptacles (19) for filter elements (6), in particular to a device according to one or more of claims 1 to 9,

    - feeding of the filter elements (6) past a detection device (10, 11),

    - generation of a start signal as soon as the end of a filter element (6) has passed the detection device (10, 11),

    - commencement of a rotation of the drum (7) in the direction of the transverse axis following receipt of the start signal, and

    - insertion of the filter element (6) into the filterelement magazine (8).
15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the drum (7) is rotated by 360° divided by the number of receptacles (19) on the drum (7).
16. Method according to claim 14 and/or claim 15, characterized in that the quality of the filter elements (6) is checked, defective filter elements (6) being ejected.
17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that, for the purpose of checking the quality of the filter elements (6), the duration of the dwell time of the filter elements (6) at the detection device (10, 11) is measured.
18. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that a filter element (6) is ejected if the dwell time of the filter element (6) is greater than a dwell time that is dependent on and predefinable by the conveying speed.
19. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that, up to a dwell time that is dependent on and predefinable by the conveying speed, the filter element (6) associated with this dwell time is conveyed into the filter-element magazine (8).

Images