EP1464241B1 - Method for producing a fabric for the production of filters of the tobacco industry and apparatus for the production of a filter rod - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves the use of a flow bed to manufacture filters for the tobacco processing industry. The flow bed is arranged upstream of a strand formation device in the filter material transport direction and contains a curved wall that guides the filter materials. The wall is first inclined downwards, changes to the horizontal and finishes upwards looking in the transport direction. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) a method of manufacturing filters (B) and a filter strand manufacturing device.

Description

The invention relates to a process for producing a nonwoven fabric for the production of filters of the tobacco processing industry. The invention further relates to a Filterstrangherstelleinrichtung the tobacco processing industry, comprising at least one Filtermaterialzuführvorrichtung, from which the filter material is metered dispensed and a strand-building apparatus in which the filter material can be formed into a strand, in particular aufschauerbar.

A process for producing a nonwoven fabric for the manufacture of filters of the tobacco processing industry and a corresponding filter strand manufacturing facility of the tobacco processing industry is from GB 718 332. Here, by means of a tobacco cutting machine, snippets of a material are prepared and fed to a stranding machine, similar to a cigarette rod making machine, which chips are impregnated with a chemical agent to prevent undesirable taste and to prevent the chips from ending in the correspondingly made filters fall out. The cut chips are conveyed by means of a drum in the effective range of a spiked roller and conveyed by the spiked roller from the drum on a conveyor belt to be subsequently fed to a further conveyor drum, from which the chips are knocked out by a further spiked or racket roller and a Be fed format in which the filter strand is formed with a wrapping strip. The snippets of materials such as paper, cellulose, textiles, synthetic materials or the like, have a similar structure as cut tobacco.

Due to the shape of the chips, it is difficult to produce filters with homogeneous properties. In addition, the variability of the setting of the filter properties is only possible to a very limited extent.

US Pat. No. 4,640,810 describes a separating device in which a so-called air-laid web of fibers is applied to a conveying element. Here, appropriate air circulation systems and rotating drums and rollers are used. A nonwoven according to this document is a material which consists of fibers, wherein the fibers abut each other or are connected to one another in such a way that an air-permeable mat is produced.

From GB-A-2 101 642 a cutting device is disclosed by means of in that a fibrous material is continuously cut into fibers, wherein the cut fibers are supplied to a continuous stream, wherein the conveying of the fibers is at least assisted in particular by a gas flow. From the fibers filter rods for cigarettes can be produced.

US Pat. No. 3,644,078 discloses a device for producing a type of nonwoven, wherein the fibers are thrown onto a conveyor belt by means of an air flow and subsequently transferred to a further conveyor belt. Furthermore, a dryer is also provided.

US-A-3 834 869 discloses a method and apparatus for better distribution of fibers and particles in a liquid suspension, wherein first a corresponding distribution of the fibers or particles in a gas is provided, the fibers or particles then being placed on a conveyor element be applied. The conveyor element is a moving belt.

US-A-3 792 943 discloses an apparatus for producing a web of natural or synthetic fibers such as wood fibers, textile fibers, glass or mineral wool fibers, asbestos fibers and the like on an air-permeable belt having a drying process using a flowing gas as Medium for sorting out, transporting and distributing the fibers is used. First, a fiber material is transported by means of a conveyor belt in a shower to a separating device, to be promoted by the separating device in an air flow that carries the individual fibers past a wall in a space on the lower part of the fleece can breeze.

GB-A-2 165 136 discloses a machine for treating tobacco fibers in a distributor of a cigarette rod making machine.

GB-A-2 145 918 discloses an apparatus for producing a filling material, in particular for cigarette filters, wherein first fibers are dissolved out of an endless filling material and conveyed either on a conveyor belt or by means of a transport air flow to a formatting device.

In contrast, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing a nonwoven fabric for the production of filters of the tobacco processing industry and a generic Filterstrangherstelleinrichtung by means of which very homogeneous filter can be produced and allow a high variability of the properties of the filter to be produced.

This object is achieved by using a fluidized bed in the manufacture of filters of the tobacco processing industry, wherein the fluidized bed is arranged in the conveying direction of the Filtermateriallen upstream of a strand building apparatus, wherein the fluidized bed comprises a filter material leading curved wall. By using a fluidized bed, which can also be called a fluidized bed distributor, it is possible and easy to convey filter material, and in particular isolated filter material, metered in the direction of a strand-building device, wherein a very uniform promotion is possible, whereby the homogeneity of the filter produced is high.

This also makes it particularly well possible to separate a possibly used transport air flow from the filter material, whereby very good strand properties of the aufgeschauererten filter material are made possible on the strand building apparatus, whereby a homogeneous filter can be generated. Preferably, the curved wall is initially directed downwards in the conveying direction, turning into the horizontal, in order to then be directed upward.

• Zuführen von vereinzelten Filtermaterialien zu einem Fließbett,
• Transportieren bzw. Fördern des Filtermaterials in dem Fließbett im Wesentlichen mittels eines Transportluftstromes in Richtung einer Strangaufbauvorrichtung und
• Aufschauern des Filtermaterials auf der Strangaufbauvorrichtung.

The object is further achieved by a process for the production of a nonwoven for the production of filters of the tobacco processing industry with the following process steps:

• Supplying isolated filter materials to a fluidized bed,
• Transporting or conveying the filter material in the fluidized bed essentially by means of a transport air flow in the direction of a strand-building device and
• Shuddering of the filter material on the strand building apparatus.

In particular, a strand conveyor which comprises an air-permeable conveying medium such as, for example, a conveyor belt is suitable as a strand-building device.

The inventive method, it is possible to produce very homogeneous nonwovens for the production of filters of the tobacco processing industry, so that the filter produced from this nonwoven are also very homogeneous. In addition, if the filter material comprises fibers, a particularly high variability in the adjustment of the filter properties is possible.

• Zuführen endlicher Fasern zu einer Vereinzelungsvorrichtung,
• Vereinzeln der Fasern und
• Transportieren der vereinzelten Fasern in Richtung einer Strangaufbauvorrichtung.

A process for the preparation of filter material for use in the manufacture of filters of the tobacco processing industry comprises the following process steps:

• Feeding finite fibers to a singulation device,
• Separating the fibers and
• Transporting the separated fibers in the direction of a strand-building device.

By using finite fibers as the filter material and substantially completely separating these fibers prior to forming the strand from which the filter is subsequently formed, it is possible to achieve very homogeneous filtration properties. Here, just the essentially complete separation of the fibers is of particular importance, since only isolated fibers, which are then transformed again into a nonwoven fabric from the singulated fibers, make it possible to use a fleece produce uniform and homogeneous density.

The appearance of a stream of isolated fibers resembles that of a snowstorm, that is, a stream of fibers that has a homogeneous statistical distribution of fibers both spatially and temporally. In particular, the complete singulation of the fibers means that substantially no groups of fibers that are connected to each other are present anymore. Only after the separation of the fibers is a composite of the fibers, for example, a nonwoven structure produced again. By dissolving the fiber groups by separating the fibers into individual fibers, it is then possible to produce a nonwoven which contains no bridges and cavities.

When transporting the singulated fibers occurs at least partially by means of an air flow, the singulated fibers can be transported without forming fiber groups. A particularly preferred embodiment of the method is present when the separation of the fibers takes place at least partially by means of an air flow. As a result, the degree of separation is very high. A lot of air is used to separate the fibers. In the fluidized bed area, excess air is then at least partially separated from the fiber stream.

When the singulation of the fibers occurs at least in part by passing through openings of a device provided with a plurality of openings, a high efficiency of singulation is possible. When the feeding of the fibers is at least partially effected by means of an air flow, pre-separated fibers remain substantially isolated during the feeding. Preferably, the singulated fibers and also the fiber groups which before (substantially complete) singulation of the Are processed fibers, essentially supplied only with transport air or an air stream.

If at least two singulation steps are provided, a higher degree of singulation of the fibers is achieved. Pre-separation of finite fibers present in a composite preferably takes place. For this purpose, a hammer mill or a bale breaker is preferably used. A hammer mill is used when a felt is provided. A bale breaker is used when a fiber bale is provided.

In a preferred development of the method according to the invention, at least one metering step is provided, by means of which the quantity of fibers, in particular that which can be predetermined, is metered. It may be provided in this case a predosing and / or a main dosage. By means of the pre-metering, the throughput of the fibers to be processed is roughly adjusted. The main dosage allows a finer adjustment.

If at least one dosing step occurs simultaneously with a dicing step, a particularly effective and fast process control is possible.

Preferably, different fiber types are used, so that filters with a wide variety of filter properties can be produced. For example, cellulose acetate, cellulose, carbon fibers and multicomponent fibers, in particular bicomponent fibers, are suitable as fiber materials. With regard to the components in question, reference is made in particular to DE 102 17 410.5 of the Applicant.

Preferably, the different fiber types are mixed. It is also possible to add at least one additive. The additive is, for example, a binder such as latex or granular material, which binds components of the cigarette smoke particularly effectively, such as, for example, activated carbon granules.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the treatment process, a complete separation takes place with or following a second or third dosing step, which is made possible after a third dosing step, in particular when providing a pre-dosing.

It is particularly preferred if the fiber length is smaller than the length of the filter to be produced. With regard to the fiber length, reference is also made in its entirety to DE 102 17 410.5 of the Applicant. The length of the fibers should accordingly be between 0.1 mm and 60 mm and in particular between 0.2 mm and 10 mm. For man-made fibers, the fiber thickness should be 1 to 20 dtex, preferably 2 to 6 dtex. The length of the filter to be produced is a conventional filter for a cigarette or a filter segment in multi-segment filtering of cigarettes. In addition, if the average fiber diameter in the range of 10 to 40 .mu.m, in particular 20 to 38 .mu.m, and more preferably between 30 and 35 .mu.m, a very homogeneous filter according to the preparation according to the invention can be produced.

Preferably, a method for the production of filters of the tobacco processing industry, comprising a method for the preparation of filter material of the type described above is provided by the fact that also subsequently a fiber strand is formed and the strand is divided into filter rods.

Preferably, in the process for the production of filters of the tobacco-processing industry at the latest in strand construction, a fleece of the singulated finite fibers is formed. For strand construction of finite fibers, these are transported via a fluidized bed and fed to a suction belt conveyor. As a result, a fleece forms on the surface of the suction belt conveyor. The suction belt conveyor is specially designed to hold the finite fibers, for example, a relatively small diameter, on the suction belt. In principle, the strand construction corresponds essentially to the strand construction of a tobacco rod, although corresponding measures or variations are introduced in order to convert the material of the finite fibers, which is different in size and structure, into a homogeneous strand in comparison to tobacco fibers. Reference is made in particular to Applicant's European patent application entitled "Method and Apparatus for Making a Filter Strand", Ref .: EP 03007675.6.

Preferably, different filter materials in the transport direction of the filter materials are successively fed to the fluidized bed, so that a homogeneous mixing is achieved. In addition, it is possible in this way to supply many different filter materials. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the filter material is separated during feeding. In this case, it is particularly preferred to use the transport air stream which flows through the fluidized bed. This transport air stream can flow past a means for supplying filter material to the fluidized bed, which is occasionally triggered by this conveying element or feed element filter material. The filter material supplied to the feed element may already be completely isolated beforehand or only partially, such as, for example Filter material that was broken or cracked by a bale breaker from the composite.

According to the invention, the process for the production of filters of the tobacco processing industry comprises a process for producing a nonwoven, which has been described above, wherein also the nonwoven fabric is transferred into a filter strand and the filter strand is divided into filter rods.

The object is further achieved by a Filterstrangherstelleinrichtung the tobacco processing industry, comprising at least one Filtermaterialzuführvorrichtung from which the filter material is metered dispensed and a strand-building apparatus in which the filter material to form a strand ausbildbar, in particular aufschauerbar, dissolved, the filter material in a fluidized bed of the filter material supply device is conveyable to the strand building device.

By Filterstrangherstelleinrichtung invention filter production is possible, which produces very homogeneous filter. If the filter material supply device is designed to convey filter material from a filter material supply to the fluidized bed by means of at least one conveying element, in particular a roller, the filter strand production device can produce homogeneous filter strands without many elaborate singulation devices. Preferably, a transport air flow or conveying air flow serves to detach and separate the filter materials conveyed from the conveying element to the fluidized bed. This filter material supply device thus also has a separating function.

Preferably, the filter material supply singulated fibers or substantially separated fibers can be supplied, so that no further complicated singulation step for feeding the filter material is necessary. In addition, the supply of isolated fibers serves to produce a very homogeneous filter strand with good filter properties. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a channel adjoining the strand building device adjoins the fluidized bed downstream of the conveying direction of the filter material. As a result of this configuration of the filter strand production device, substantially no inhomogenization of the supplied filter material or no final mixing of different filter materials in the conveying direction downstream of the fluidized bed can take place.

Preferably, the fluidized bed is at least partially channel-like. If the fluidized bed is curved such that in the conveying direction of the filter material, the fluidized bed is initially directed downwards, goes to the horizontal and then directed upward, a very simple and effective control of the flow rates can be made. For this purpose, only the amount of transport air or the strength of the transport air to adjust or regulate or control. Preferably, the fluidized bed has the shape of an ellipse whose curvature increases in the transport direction. The fluidized bed may in general be a fluidized bed, which is described for example in DE 33 01 031 C2. The fluidized bed described in this document serves to form a tobacco rod.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the filter strand manufacturing device according to the invention is present when the filter material supply device comprises a separating device which separates a fleece of a starting material into fibers. Cellulosic fibers, for example, can then be used in a simple manner for filter production as well. The separating device expediently comprises a fiber mill, which preferably a milling drum or a hammer mill comprises. A corresponding fiber mill is produced for example by a company Diatec.

The dosage of the filter material is preferably done via the feed of the filter material in the separating device. Here, the filter material is basically initially in the form of a nonwoven. The advance of the web into the singulator then controls the metering of the filter material which is fed to the fluidized bed.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two Filtermaterialzuführvorrichtungen are provided. This is preferably two different Filtermaterialzuführvorrichtung, one includes, for example, a fiber mill and the other a conveying element, the fibers from a supply of fibers, in which the fibers are present substantially isolated, the fluidized bed. It is also possible to provide further filter material feed devices, such as those which feed granules, in particular activated charcoal granules, directly to the fluidized bed. With regard to the fiber mill, reference is made to US Pat. No. 4,673,136 A, in which a corresponding fiber mill is described.

There is also provided a filter material processor for use in the manufacture of filters of the tobacco processing industry, comprising at least one apparatus for separating the filter material and at least one metering device, at least one means for feeding the filter material from the at least one metering device to the at least one Device is provided for separating, wherein the processing device is formed by the fact that the processing device is configured to process the filter material comprising finite fibers, and wherein the at least one means for separating the finite fibers allows substantially complete singulation.

By means of this treatment device, a filter produced from the appropriately prepared filter material can be realized with very homogeneous properties.

Preferably, the means for supplying comprises an air flow, whereby an even more homogeneous filter can be produced.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the processing device, an air flow through and / or in the device is required for separating the fiber. As a result, the degree of separation is very high. If the device for separating comprises a plurality of openings through which the fibers can emerge from the device in isolated fashion, a particularly effective treatment device is provided.

A particularly easy to implement dosing device comprises a chute from which a rotating roller carries out fibers. If a pair of feed rollers is provided in the lower part of the metering device, filter material can be metered in a gentle manner.

A particularly good and homogeneous separation is given when the device for separating by interaction of at least one rotating element, at least one provided with passages element and a stream of air allows separation of the fibers. Preferably, the metering device or the at least one metering device additionally has one Separation function, whereby the degree of separation of the entire processing device can be further increased. If a mixing device is preferably provided, it is possible to prepare different materials and also different fibers. The fibers may be cellulosic fibers, thermoplastic starch fibers, flax fibers, hemp fibers, flax fibers, sheep wool fibers and cotton fibers or, as stated above, multicomponent fibers. Preferably, the mixing device additionally enables separation and / or metering of the fibers. In this case, a very compact conditioning device is possible. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the treatment device is designed such that finite fibers with a length which is smaller than that of a filter to be produced, prepare. Furthermore, the treatment device is preferably designed to process finite fibers of natural origin having an average fiber diameter in the range from 10 to 40 .mu.m, in particular from 20 to 38 .mu.m. A particularly preferred fiber diameter is in a range of 30 to 35 microns. The fiber thickness of artificial fibers is between 1 and 20 dtex, in particular between 2 and 6 dtex.

A filter manufacturing device expediently comprises a processing device which has been described above.

A filter according to the invention is produced by one of the methods described above.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung des Verfahrensablaufs zur Aufbereitung von Filtermaterial,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Faservorbereitung,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Vordosierung,

Fig.4

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Hauptdosierung,

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung einer Mischtrommel,

Fig. 6

eine schematische Darstellung einer Dosiervorrichtung mit einer Vereinzelungsvorrichtung in einer ersten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 7

eine schematische Darstellung einer Hauptdosiervorrichtung mit einer Vereinzelungsvorrichtung in einer zweiten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 8

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vereinzelungsvorrichtung in einer dritten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 9

eine dreidimensionale schematische Darstellung einer Vereinzelungsvorrichtung in einer vierten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 10

eine schematische Ansicht einer Vorrichtung zur Filterstrangherstellung,

Fig. 11

einen Teil der Fig. 10 in einer Aufsicht in Richtung A, und

Fig. 12

einen Teil der Fig. 10 in schematischer Darstellung in Seitenansicht, in Richtung B,

Fig. 13

eine schematische dreidimensionale Ansicht einer Vereinzelungsvorrichtung in einer fünften Ausführungsform,

Fig. 14

eine schematische Querschnittsdarstellung durch eine weitere erfinderische Ausführungsform einer Vereinzelungsvorrichtung,

Fig. 15

eine entsprechende schematische Darstellung wie in Fig. 14, wobei die Zufuhr von Granulat zusätzlich dargestellt ist,

Fig. 16

eine schematische Darstellung entsprechend der Fig. 15, wobei die Granulatzufuhr in einem anderen Bereich vorgenommen wird,

Fig. 17

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Filterstrangherstelleinrichtung,

Fig. 18

eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Filterstrangherstelleinrichtung aus Fig. 17,

Fig. 19

eine schematische dreidimensionale Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Filterstrangherstelleinrichtung,

Fig. 20

eine weitere schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Filterstrangherstelleinrichtung,

Fig. 21

eine schematische Ausschnittsvergrößerung eines Teils der Einrichtung gemäß Fig. 20, wobei der Ausschnitt A dargestellt ist, und

Fig. 22

eine schematische Ausschnittsvergrößerung eines weitern Teils der Fig. 20

In the following the invention will be described with reference to the drawings, to which reference is otherwise expressly made with respect to all details not explained in detail in the text according to the invention. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of the procedure for the preparation of filter material,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a device for fiber preparation,

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of a device for predosing,

Figure 4

a schematic representation of a device for main dosage,

Fig. 5

a schematic representation of a mixing drum,

Fig. 6

a schematic representation of a metering device with a separating device in a first embodiment,

Fig. 7

a schematic representation of a Hauptdosiervorrichtung with a separating device in a second embodiment,

Fig. 8

a schematic representation of a separating device in a third embodiment,

Fig. 9

a three-dimensional schematic representation of a separating device in a fourth embodiment,

Fig. 10

a schematic view of a device for filter strand production,

Fig. 11

a part of Fig. 10 in a plan view in the direction A, and

Fig. 12

10 is a schematic side view, in the direction B, of a part of FIG.

Fig. 13

a schematic three-dimensional view of a separating device in a fifth embodiment,

Fig. 14

a schematic cross-sectional view through a further inventive embodiment of a separating device,

Fig. 15

a corresponding schematic representation as in Fig. 14, wherein the supply of granules is additionally shown,

Fig. 16

a schematic representation corresponding to FIG. 15, wherein the granules feed is made in another area,

Fig. 17

a schematic side view of a Filterstrangherstelleinrichtung invention,

Fig. 18

1 is a schematic plan view of the filter rod manufacturing device from FIG. 17, FIG.

Fig. 19

a schematic three-dimensional representation of a Filterstrangherstelleinrichtung invention,

Fig. 20

a further schematic representation of an inventive Filter rope,

Fig. 21

a schematic enlarged detail of a portion of the device of FIG. 20, wherein the section A is shown, and

Fig. 22

a schematic enlarged detail of a further part of Fig. 20th

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a process flow from the preparation to the strand production of a filter of the tobacco processing industry. Through the different ways of process management, the process management is variable possible. In the example of FIG. 1, first of all, a fiber preparation 1 takes place, in which first of all the transfer of all the compressed forms of delivery of fibrous materials into an airy-wooly state is carried out. This should be loosened fiber groups. In addition to these fiber groups, individual fibers can already be produced. The fiber preparation 1 is carried out, for example, with a device according to FIG. 2. Such a device is known per se. To the compressed forms of delivery include, for example, fiber bales and fiber mats 10 and a fiber felt 10. fiber bales are usually unpacked by means of bale breaker and fiber mats 10 or fiber felt 10 by means of a hammer mill 13th

Also, unpressed fibers, which are present in a dense packing, are loosened in the fiber preparation and airy, wollig inflated. A bale breaker for fibrous materials is obtainable, for example, from the company Trützschler and a hammer mill for fibrous materials, for example from the company Kamas.

As a second step, the optional in this embodiment possible is a pre-dosage 2. A predosing 2 is, for example. With the device of FIG. 3 possible. The pre-metering serves a coarse dosage of the fiber material and a further separation to the effect that the fibers present in groups or as dense packing are further loosened up. Also at this point more completely separated fibers can arise. Instead of predosing 2, a main metering or metering 4 alone can be carried out. Whether a pre-dosage 2 is necessary depends on the nature of the fiber preparation. The goal of the metering 4 and the predosing 2 is the realization of a defined stable uniform mass flow of fibers and in addition also already partly pre-separation. The dosing step 4 leads to a further separation of the fiber groups. It is possible to provide a mixing and / or dosing step 3 before the dosing step 4. In this step, a plurality of filter materials, as indicated in Fig. 1 by the leading into the box 3 ways, and optionally an additive such as a binder, for example, or an activated carbon granules are mixed.

It is also possible to carry out the process in differently constructed or identically constructed parallel preparation and metering sections, so that several different fibrous materials can be processed and metered in parallel. The aim of mixing is to achieve homogeneous mixing of the individual fiber components and various additives. Mixing and / or dosing is possible, for example, with a device according to FIG. 5. A main dosage is possible, for example, with a device according to FIG. 4.

In the mixing and / or dosing step, the various Fiber materials continuously or discontinuously mixed together. As an example of Fig. 5, a continuous mixing device 111 is shown. The mixing device 111 also performs a buffer storage function for the pulps. In the mixing and / or dosing step, not only is it possible to mix different fibers together, but also to mix additives in solid or liquid form. These additives serve to bond the fibers together and / or favorably influence the filtration properties of the fiber filter.

The discharge from the mixing device 111 is defined, whereby a metering function is given. In this respect, it would be possible to circumvent the dosing 4 by mixing and / or dosing 5. After metering 4 or mixing and / or metering 5, the fiber material is fed to a singulating step 6. The goal of the singulation is a complete dissolution of the remaining fiber groups in single fibers. This serves to regroup the individual fibers in the subsequent step of the strand production 7 in such a way that an optimum nonwoven structure can be formed in which no bridges and cavities are contained. Here it is important that fiber for fiber can be placed next to each other and so a fleece can be formed. It is thus possible according to FIG. 1 to use up to three dosing steps. It can also be preceded by further dosing stages of singling.

The fiber stream emerging from the singling consists of individual fibers which are guided in air or in an air stream. The appearance of the air flow with the entrained fibers or a fiber flow laden with air is very similar to that of a snowstorm. For strand production, the isolated fibers are fed, for example, with a fluidized bed to the suction belt of a special suction belt conveyor. When Strangherstellen 7 is a Strand produced with constant cross-section, wherein the cross-section is particularly constant square, while a uniform density is produced. At the latest during strand construction, the fibers are present in a fleece-like structure. The finished fiber filter strand has sufficient hardness, draw resistance, constant weight, retention and further processing.

FIG. 2 shows a fiber preparation device 114. A fiber field 10 is conveyed by means of feed rollers 11 into the effective region of a hammer mill 13 with hammers 12. The hammers 12 of the hammer mill 13 are housed in a housing 14. In the tear-off region 15, the hammers 12 strike the fiber felt and thus form fiber groups 16. The fiber groups 16 are transported further in a tube 18 by means of air flow 17. The result is a loaded with fiber groups air flow 19. At this point, already isolated fibers may have arisen. The hammers 12 of the hammer mill 13 rotate in the direction of fall, so that the fibers are ejected tangentially in the rotor rotation direction from the housing 14 of the hammer mill 13.

In Fig. 3, a predosing 113 is shown schematically. An air stream loaded with fiber material 41 is fed to a separator 20, which separates the fiber material 41 from the air flow, so that fiber material 42 falls through the shaft 21 into the storage container 22. In the lower part of the storage container 22, two spiked rollers 23 are arranged. The spiked rollers 23 rotate slowly and feed the fiber material to a third spiked roller 24. The third spiked roller 24 rotates rapidly and rips fiber groups out of the fiber material. These fiber groups enter the funnel 25 by sliding down. At the lower end of the funnel 25, a rotary valve 26 is arranged. The fiber groups slip into the cells of the rotary valve 26 and are transported in the channel 27. In the channel 27 there is an air flow 28, which takes the output into the channel 27 fibers or fiber groups with it. The air stream 28 also already carries along from the process recycled fibers, which are fed to the fiber groups. The airflow 29 is fully loaded with fibers and fiber groups. With the air flow, a fiber / fiber group mixture 29 is transported. By varying the rotational speed of the rotating parts, namely spiked rollers 23 and 24 and the rotary valve 26, the mass flow rate can be adjusted, so that a predosing is feasible

4 shows a schematic representation of a metering device with which a main metering is made possible. The fiber / fiber group mixture 29 is introduced by means of an air flow into the separator 30 e.g. transported a rotary separator. There, the fiber / fiber group mixture is separated from the air flow. The separated fiber material 31 enters the stowage shaft 32 and falls in this down to the feed rollers 34. It can also be provided a plurality of pairs of rollers or a pair of feeder belts or several Einzugsbänderpaare. Vibrating elements 33 are provided in a section of the stacking shaft 32, by means of which a complete supply of the fiber / fiber group mixture 31 to the infeed rollers 34 is made possible.

The feed rollers 34 convey the fiber material between the scrapers 35 into the metering channel 36 formed by them. A rotating roller 37, for example a spiked roller, tears the fibers out of the fiber material and inserts them into the channel 38. In the channel 38 prevails an air flow 39, which detects the fibers or the fiber material 40 and transported accordingly in the arrow direction. About the speed of the feed rollers 34, the mass flow rate of the metering channel 36 is specified.

FIG. 5 shows a mixing device 111 in a schematic, three-dimensional representation. Various fiber materials 43 and 44 as well as other fiber materials or additives 45 in liquid or solid phase are introduced into the mixing chamber 46. The fibrous materials may be cellulosic fibers, thermoplastic starch fibers, flax fibers, hemp fibers, flax fibers, sheep wool fibers, cotton fibers or multicomponent fibers, especially bicomponent fibers having a length of 2 to 100 mm and a thickness of, for example, 25 and 30 have μm. Thus, for example, cellulose fibers stora fluff EF untreated from StoraEnso Pulp AB can be used, which have an average cross section of 30 μm and a length between 0.4 and 7.2 mm. As synthetic fibers such as, for example, bicomponent fibers, fibers of the Trevira type, 255 3.0 dtex HM with a length of 6 mm from Trevira GmbH can be used. These have a diameter of 25 microns. As other examples of synthetic fibers, cellulose acetate fibers, polypropylene fibers, polyethylene fibers and polyethylene terephthalate fibers may be used. As additives, the flavor or the smoke influencing materials can be used as carbon reactive granules or flavoring agents and also binders, by means of which the fibers can be glued together.

The fiber material 43 and 44 or the corresponding additives 45 introduced into the mixing chamber 46 are fed to rollers 50 to 52, which rotate at suitable rotational speeds during the filling and the mixing process. The position of the rollers 50-52 is preferably adjustable both horizontally and vertically. Thus, the center distances of the rollers are mutually adjustable. It can also be arranged several rollers in different floors. The components to be mixed are from the rollers 50 - 52 detected, accelerated and swirled in the mixing chamber 46. The confusion causes a mixing of the components. The residence time of the components to be mixed in the mixing chamber 46 is adjustable by the geometric nature of the screen 47. In addition, the residence time of the components to be mixed in the mixing chamber 46 is determined by the position of a thrust diaphragm, by means of which the openings of the screen 47 can be partially or even completely closed. The thrust diaphragm is not shown in the figure.

The mixture of fibers 53 and, in general, the mixture 53 is conveyed through the openings of the screen 47 into the chamber 54. This can be done continuously or at intervals. The chamber 54 is preferably pivotable and is traversed by an air flow 55. The air flow 55 detects the mixture 53 and entrains it. The laden air stream 56 leaves the chamber 54 and passes the mixture 53 on.

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a separating device 115 in connection with a metering device 112. The metering device 112 essentially corresponds to the metering device from FIG. 4, although the vibration elements 33 are shown as separate sections of the chute 32 and the strippers 35 have a slightly different shape than that in FIG. 4. The fiber material torn out of the dosing channel 36 by the rotating roller 37 is fed directly to a dicing chamber 61. About the speed of the feed rollers 34, the mass flow rate of the metering 36 is determined. The entire separating device is traversed by air. This flow 133 is caused by the negative pressure at the fluid bed end. This negative pressure arises on the one hand by the guided in the suction nozzle 71 air flow 72 and the other by the flow in Saugbandförderer, which is arranged at the fluidized bed end 69 and is not shown in this figure.

In the separation chamber 61, the fibers or groups of fibers move under gravity and flow through the air flow 63 and air inlet 63, respectively, through the ventilation openings 62 into the area of the rollers 60. The rollers 60 of the row of rollers 60 engage the ununsulated fibers (and of course already partially isolated present fibers), accelerate them and beat them against the sieve 64 of the separation chamber 61. Instead of a sieve with corresponding sieve treads, and perforated or round rod can be used.

As a result of the mechanical stress, the fiber groups are dissolved in individual fibers and finally pass through the sieve 64. That is to say, after sufficient separation, the fibers are caught by the flow 133 passing through the sieve and guided or drawn through the sieve 64. The number of revolutions of the rollers 60 and the area as well as the magnitude of the flow 133 determine the mass flow rate of the singulating chamber 61 of the openings of the screen 64.

The separated fibers 65 reach the fluidized bed 66 where they are detected by an air jet 68 emerging at the air nozzle, which is designed as a nozzle bar 67, and moved on the fluidized bed 66. There may also be provided a plurality of nozzle strips 67. Mainly the negative pressure applied at the fluidized bed end 69 ensures a sufficient flow 133 for conveying the separated fibers to the fluidized bed end 69. The flow 133 is partially separated by the flow divider 70 at the fluidized bed end 69 of the fiber flow and enters the suction nozzle 71st

The flow generated by the negative pressure and the nozzle bar 67 extracts air from the separating chamber 61. Via the ventilation openings 62 in the separation chamber 61 air 63 flows after.

In the fluidized bed area, the separated fibers are then transported in the air flow of the flow 133, which previously served for the separation. This happens almost vertically to the fluidized bed and then along the same. The flow 133 can be supplemented by further air flows, for example air flow 68.

The fluidized bed 66 is followed by a suction belt conveyor, which is not shown in this figure (see in particular FIGS. 10 and 12). On the suction belt, the scattered fibers are heaped up. It can also be used two suction belts or even more suction belts.

Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of a separating device. In contrast to the embodiment acc. Fig. 6, only one roller 60 is provided in this embodiment. In addition, a plurality of air streams 74 are provided in the separation chamber 61, which are generated by air nozzles 73. Multiple air nozzles 73 may be used as shown in FIG. These need not only be arranged on the chamber lateral surface, but may also be distributed in the separating chamber 61. The air streams supply the fibers of the roller 60. Instead of a roller, several rollers can be used. The function of the roller 60 or a plurality of rollers 60, corresponds to the function of FIG. 6. The air flows 74 result in an increased turbulence in the singling chamber 61, so that the singulation of the fibers is improved in comparison to the embodiment according to FIG , The individual fibers 65 pass accordingly through the screen 64 as in the example of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of a separating device 115. The air flow is hereby generated by the vacuum applied to the fluidized bed end 69 and the air flow 68 flowing out of the nozzle bar 67. It can also find multiple nozzle strips use. The main air flow begins above the screen 64, passes through the rows of agitators 82 and 83 and the screen 64. Thereafter, the main air flow enters the fluidized bed section 66 and passes through the fluidized bed 66 to its end.

The essentially unaccurate fiber material or fiber / fiber group mixture 31 passes above the sieve 64 into the housing. This may also be inclined at an angle instead of the representation in FIG. 8, such as, for example, at 45 ° to the horizontal. Under the influence of gravity and under the influence of the main air flow, the fiber / fiber group mixture 31 reaches the area of the agitating tools 82 and 83. The rows of stirrers 82 and 83 consist of stirrers arranged behind one another, which drive a suitable stirring tool. The stirring tools are offset by 90 ° to each other. There may also be other displacement angles. The unclarified fiber groups are ruptured by the rotating stirrers, accelerated and struck against the screen 64 of the housing. Instead of the screen 64 can also be a perforated plate or a Rundstabgitter use. The fiber groups or the fiber group mixture 31 is thrown against the screen 64 until they have dissolved in individual fibers and have passed the screen 64 in the main air flow. Thereafter, as in the previous embodiments, the fibers reach the fluidized bed 66 and a suction belt conveyor which is not shown in FIG. The separating device shown in Fig. 8 with respect to at least the rows of stirrers 82 and 83 from EP 0 616 056 B1 of M + J Fibretech A / S, Denmark. The disclosure of EP 0 616 056 B1 is intended to be incorporated in its entirety in this patent application.

A further preferred embodiment of the separating device 115 is disclosed in FIG. 9 in a schematic three-dimensional representation. The essentially unaccurate fiber material or fiber / fiber group mixture is transported by the air streams 76 into the sieve drums 78. This is done via lateral openings 77 in the housing 79. The fiber material is blown in the direction of the longitudinal axes of the sieve drums 78. The two-sided blowing of the fiber material counterclockwise results in a circumferential annular flow 80. The annular flow 80 is superimposed by a flow normal or substantially perpendicular to this, which is caused by a negative pressure applied to the fluidized bed end 69 and an air flow 68. The negative pressure prevailing at the fluidized bed end 69 is produced by the negative pressure in a suction belt conveyor, not shown, which is arranged at the fluidized bed end 69 and, secondly, at the air flow 72 which is conveyed through the suction connection 71. The normal flow starts above the sieve drums 78 and passes through the sieve drums 78 via their shell openings. The normal flow then enters the fluidized bed region 66 and passes through it to the end 69, where a portion of the normal flow at the wedge 70 is separated from the fibers.

The unaccurate fiber material passes in the drums 78 on the inner circumferential surfaces of the drums 78. The drums 78 rotate in a direction of rotation 81 of the screening drums 78 in a clockwise direction. The stored on the drum shell surfaces, essentially unaccompanied fiber material is from the rotating drums fed to the separating rollers 85. The separating rollers 85 rotate in the direction of rotation 84 of the separating rollers 85 in the counterclockwise direction. It would also be possible as an alternative, a clockwise rotation. The separating rollers 85 and needle rollers detect the unclassified fiber groups and tear them and accelerate them. The fiber groups are thrown against the inner circumferential surface of the drums 78 until they have dissolved into individual fibers and have passed through the shell openings, ie are caught by the air flow (the normal flow) and are guided or sucked through the sieve drum 78. Instead of a sieve drum 78, a drum with perforated plates or Rundstabgitter can be provided.

The fibers or individual fibers are detected by an air flow and guided or sucked through the radial openings of the drum. The air flow conveys the fibers down to the fluidized bed. Once the fiber-laden flow has reached the fluidized bed, it is deflected and guided along the curved fluidized bed. Due to the centrifugal forces acting on the fibers, the fibers move to the curved guide wall and flow to the suction belt conveyor. The air flowing in above the fibers is deposited on the wedge or separator 70 and discharged via the suction connection 71.

In Fig. 9, the corresponding fiber streams 75 are shown schematically. There are isolated fibers detected by an emerging from the nozzle bar 67 air flow 68 and correspondingly fed to the fluidized bed end 69, as well as reaching the fluidized bed 66 separated fibers through the air flow 68. It can also be provided several nozzle strips.

Fiber groups that in a single drum passage through the drums 78 were not or not completely isolated, pass with the ring flow 80 in the respective parallel drum 78. For singling the fibers pass through the openings 132 of the screening drums 78. Essentially, only a few fibers can pass through the openings 132. The openings 132 are thus configured such that only isolated fibers can pass through.

The separating device shown in FIG. 9 corresponds at least in part to those disclosed in WO 01/54873 A1 or US Pat. No. 4,640,810 A of Scanweb, Denmark, or USA. The disclosure of the aforementioned patent application or of the aforementioned US patent is intended to be incorporated in full in the disclosure content of this patent application.

10 shows a schematic representation of a strand production machine 110.

11 shows a part of the strand production machine 110 in a plan view in the direction of the arrow A and FIG. 12 shows a side view of the strand production machine 110 according to FIG. 10 in the direction of the arrow B.

The unaccurate fiber material passes via the stowage chamber 32 to the metering device 34, which in this example is a pair of intake rollers 34 with a rotating roller 32. The direction of the material entry 100 is in FIG. 11 in the drawing plane downwards, as shown schematically there. The unclarified fiber material is singulated in the separation chamber 61. The air flow generated by the air flow in the suction nozzle 71 and the air stream 72 'in Saugbandförderer 89 on the fluidized bed 66 promotes the isolated fibers 65. The air flow 72 in the suction 71 is with respect 11, the direction of which is upward in FIG. 11 out of the plane of the drawing, as shown in FIG. The air stream 72 also removes excess fibers. The air flow 72 'serves to hold the fibers 65 queued on the suction belt 89.

The singulated fibers 65 move on the fluidized bed 66 toward the fluid bed end 69 where, as shown in the figures, a suction belt conveyor 89 is disposed. In Saugbandförderer 89 prevails by continuous air suction vacuum. This air suction is shown schematically by the air stream 72 '. The negative pressure sucks the separated fibers 65 and holds them on the air-permeable suction belt of the suction belt conveyor 89.

The separated fibers 65 are snapped onto the air-permeable suction belt of the suction belt conveyor 89 accordingly. The suction belt 116 moves in the direction of strand production machine 110, that is to say in FIG. 10 to the left. A fiber cake 86, which increases linearly with respect to the stranding machine 110, is formed on the suction belt. The accumulated fiber stream 86 has different strengths and is trimmed at the end of the filling zone of the suction belt conveyor 89 by trimming by a trimming device 88 to a uniform thickness. The trim device 88 may be a mechanical one such as trimmer discs or a pneumatic one by means of, for example, air nozzles. The mechanical trim is known per se in cigarette rod making machines. The pneumatic trimming is done in such a way that horizontally at the end of the fiber stream 86 a nozzle is arranged, from which an air jet emerges and tears off part of the fiber stream 86, so that excess fibers 87 are removed. It can find a spot jet nozzle or a flat jet nozzle use.

After trimming, the fiber stream 86 is split into a trimmed one Fiber strand 90 and a strand of excess fibers 87. It is also possible to detect and tear away all fibers below a trim level from a jet. The excess fibers are returned to the fiber preparation process and later re-formed into a fiber strand.

The trimmed fiber strand 90 is held on the suction belt 116 and moved in the direction of the stranding machine 110. The trimmed fiber strand 90 is a loose nonwoven fabric that is compacted by a compacting belt 92. Instead of the compression belt 92 may also find a role use. It can also find multiple bands or roles use. There is also a lateral compression of the fiber cake, as shown in particular by Fig. 11. In Fig. 11, the compression belts 101 are shown, which are conical to each other and in Saugbandgeschwindigkeit with the fiber cake. The toothed shape of the compaction belts 101 create zones of different density in the compacted fiber cake. In the higher density zones, the filter strand is cut later. The higher fiber density in the filter end area ensures a more compact cohesion of the fibers in this sensitive zone and, in addition, a better processability of the filter rods. For compressing in the vertical direction, a compression belt 92 is provided. Instead of the compression belt 92 and rollers may be provided.

The trimmed and compacted fiber strand 91 is transferred to the stranding machine 110. The transfer takes place by the detachment of the compacted fiber strand 91 from the suction belt 116 and the application of the fiber strand 91 onto a format belt of the stranding machine 110. The format belt is not shown in the figures. This can be a usual format tape, which also works for a normal filter rod machine or cigarette rod machine is used. The transfer is supported by a nozzle 93 directed from above onto the compacted fiber strand 91, through which an air stream 94 passes.

In the stranding machine 110, a fiber filter strand 95 is produced, wherein from a bobbin 98, a wrapping material strip 99 is wound around the fiber material as usual. By volume reduction and round shaping or oval shaping of the compacted fiber strand 91 when wrapping with the wrapping material strip 99, a certain internal pressure builds up in the fiber filter strand 95. In the curing device 96, binder components contained in the fiber mixture are superficially heated and fused. Accordingly, the outer layers of bicomponent fibers can be melted, so that a connection between the fibers is formed. Reference is made in particular to the patent application of the applicant DE 102 17 410.5. The curing device 96 may also include a microwave heater, a laser heater, heating plates or sliding contacts. By heating the binding components, the individual fibers combine in the fiber strand and merge superficially. Upon cooling of the fiber strand, the melted areas harden again. The resulting lattice framework gives the fiber strand stability and hardness. Finally, the cured fiber filter strand 95 is cut into fiber filter rods 97. The curing of the fiber filter is possible even after cutting into the fiber filter rods 97.

The air flow 102 still shown in FIG. 12, like the air streams of the previous embodiments, also serves to transport the fiber material.

FIG. 13 shows a three-dimensional schematic illustration of a fifth embodiment of the separating device according to the invention, which is similar to that of FIG. 9. In addition to the embodiment of FIG. 9, a granule metering device 120 is also provided. The granulate dosing device 120 scatters granules between the screening drums 78 and the separating device 115 over the entire width of the separating device 115. The interspersed granules 121 mix in the area of the screening drums 78 with the fibers emerging from the screening drums 78. The result is a mixture of isolated fibers and granules, which is in the air flow on the fluidized bed to Saugstrangförderer, which is arranged in the conveying direction behind the Saugstrangende 79.

14 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a further separating device 115. In this embodiment, the air flow is improved, so that more uniform fiber streams 75 and 75 'are produced. An airflow 122 enters the device at the top of the screen drum 78. The separated fibers emerging from the screening drums 78 pass into channels 123 and 124 and are guided downwards into the region of the fluidized bed 66 by the corresponding air flow. In the lower region of the fluidized bed, the fiber streams 75 are combined to form a fiber stream 75 '. In this area, a majority of the transport air is separated from the fiber stream, which is represented by the air stream 122 '. For this purpose, a suction nozzle 125 is provided in the rolling space of the fluidized bed 66. The fiber stream 75 'passes after the union of the two fiber streams 75 in a channel formed by the fluidized bed 66 and the separator 127. Depending on the process, it may be possible at this point that a fleece has already formed or else it may also be the case that the fibers are still separated. The fiber stream 75 'becomes then transported by the voltage applied to Saugbandförderer 89 negative pressure to the fluidized bed end 69 and the Saugbandförderer 89.

Fig. 15 shows a corresponding schematic sectional view, which is similar to that of FIG. 14. In addition to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 14, a granule dosing device 120 is arranged above the sieve drums 78. From two sampling nozzles 78 granules 121 is fed to the respective sieve drums. The formed fiber / granule stream 128, which is transported in the channels 123 and 124, is combined in the lower region of the fluidized bed 66 and into a fiber / granular stream 128 '.

FIG. 16 illustrates another embodiment of a dicing device 115 according to the invention. The addition of granules 121 from the granule dosing device 120 is performed near the fluidized bed end 69. Granules 121 reach an acceleration element 129, which may be a roller, a brush or a nozzle. The accelerated granules 121 pass through the line 130 into the fluidized bed, namely into a vertical fluidized bed section 131.

A filter strand manufacturing device according to the invention is shown schematically in side view in FIG. 17. The method to be carried out with this device is used to produce cigarette filters made of suitable fibrous materials of biological and / or synthetic origin and also other materials such as granules, for example. The filter materials may be those already described above. Reference is also made in particular to EP 03 004 594.2 of the Applicant entitled "Cigarette filter and method for producing the same". Both filters are to be made from the fibers of a single material and any mixture of fibers different materials. Filters made from fibers of a single material need only one filter material supply device 201 or 209 in the filter strand production device of FIG. 17. The filters produced, which can also be called fiber filters, are partly or completely biodegradable, depending on the fiber mixture. As a nonwoven forms of the filter strand, or as a filter strand form a round or oval cigarette filter may be sought, which is produced at the end of the manufacturing process.

The device shown in FIG. 17 processes two different fibers which are supplied to the fluidized bed 216 at two metering points of two filter material supply devices, namely a metering opener 209 and a fiber mill 201. The first metering point is the transition of the fiber mill 201 into a fiber channel 215, which is immediately followed by the fluidized bed 216. A cellulose raw material such as cellulose acetate fibers are in the form of a nonwoven 223 rolled up on a bobbin 202. The nonwoven fabric 223 is fed to the fiber mill 201 via a feed roller pair 204 driven by a motor 203. A rotary cutter drum 207, driven by a motor 205, fiberizes cellulose plates or the cellulosic web at high speed. The cutterhead 207 has a plurality of cutter disks. The plurality of milling discs 207 are more clearly seen in Fig. 18, which is a plan view of the device of Fig. 17 in a schematic representation. The cellulose fibers are introduced via separator plates 208 into a strong transport air stream 206.

The second metering point is at a point 214 in the region of the fiber channel 215, in which the outlet of the metering opener 209 is located. The meter opener 209 is preceded by a bale opener 226, which is shown in Fig. 19. A corresponding bale opener 226 can be purchased, for example, from Trützschler, Germany. The existing in the form of bales or stacks of fiber material is isolated in the bale opener 226 or isolated to a high degree. The fibrous material may comprise, for example, bicomponent fibers. The isolated or pre-separated fibers are supplied to the dosing opener 209 by means of transport air via a pipeline 210. In the dosing opener 209, the fibers are separated from the transport air by means of the sieve 228 and fall into a reservoir shaft 211.

The reservoir or the reservoir shaft 211, in which the fibers are deposited, or fall into it, serves to compensate for fluctuating flow rates of the bale opener, which can arise, for example, by a bale change. The reservoir is thus necessary to allow continuous metering of fibers in a production process. Benadelte transport rollers 212 convey by their rotational movement, the fibers on the needled metering roller 213. By speed variation of the rotating parts of the mass flow rate is adjustable. At a separation point 214, the fibers are combed out of the needles by the transport air stream 206 and completely separated. This can also be supported by appropriate Abscheiderbleche, which are not shown. Subsequently, the fibers are conveyed in the fiber channel 215 and fed to the fluidized bed 216.

The mass flow rate of the fiber mill 201 is effected by controlling or regulating the feed of the material in the form of the nonwoven 223 into the fiber mill 201.

Other metering points for other additional fibers and / or solid materials such as powders or granules for delivery to the fluidized bed are also possible, but not shown in this illustration.

The transport air stream 206 flows through the two supply channels 229 and 230 shown in FIG. 17, so that first in each feed channel different filter material is conveyed separately from the other filter material. The feed channels are separated by a partition wall 231. The two supply channels 229 and 230 connect at the point 232 to a fiber channel 215. This is preferably rectangular. From this point, the fiber channel is to be designated as a fluidized bed 216. The at least two fiber materials combine in the fluidized bed 216 to form a homogeneous fiber mixture.

The fluidized bed 216 describes a smooth curve function that is tangential to the fiber channel 215. About the lower and the lowest point 217 to the vertical inlet cheek of Saugstrangkanals 218, the curve describes the quadrant of an ellipse. At the end point of the fluidized bed 216, at which the fluidized bed merges into the suction channel 218, there is the strongest curvature of the curve. Due to the increasingly narrowing radius of curvature in conjunction with the speed of the fibers, the fibers increasingly deposit themselves on the lower sheet-metal wall or fluid-bed wall 227 due to the centrifugal force. In the area of the strongest curve curvature, the greatest centrifugal force prevails. In close proximity to this point or location 219, the fluidized bed 216 splits again into two channels. The lower, fiber-leading, channel opens into the Saugstrangkanal 218th

The upper, ideally largely fiber-free, channel serves to discharge the large transport air flow from the system. Unsprayed fibers can be deposited and reused in a satisfactorily separator. The transport air stream 206 is in part by a to the Saugstrangförderer 221 connected fan generates in the Saugstrangförderer and in the fluidized bed a negative pressure. The necessary air volume flow 206 for the operation of the fiber mill 201 and the Dosieröffners 209 is not only generated by the Saugstrangventilator alone. Also, a second additional fan connected to fluid bed separator 220 generates the additional necessary transport air stream 206.

The ratio of the volume of air to be extracted at the separation point or location 219 is influenced by the desired air velocities and the line cross section. Furthermore, the air volume flows in the two lines can be adjusted after separation by controlling the two fans.

In the suction-strand conveyor 221, a fiber cake or a non-woven fabric is formed, which is conveyed on continuously by the suction belt, namely into a filter rod machine 222, which is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. Subsequently, filters are made as usual, for example on a machine of the applicant, which is called KDF, or as described in the European patent application 03 007 675.6 entitled "Method and apparatus for producing a filter strand" of the applicant. This patent application is also intended to be incorporated in full in the disclosure of this application.

In order to produce filters of finite fibers, which consist of at least two different fibers and of which preferably is a bicomponent fiber, the different types of fibers are fed via different metering systems at different locations to the feed channel of a fluidized bed. The transport air for the fibers is conveyed via the fan of the suction belt conveyor connected to the fluidized bed and via a fan generated at the fluidized bed.

FIG. 18 also shows the filter strand 225 produced, which is conveyed in a conveying direction which is indicated by the arrow on the filter strand 225.

FIG. 19 shows an arrangement of corresponding machines to be used for a filter-strand production device according to the invention. After the fluidized bed 216 is followed by a filter rod machine 222, which is similar in construction to a cigarette rod machine, but is adapted to the properties of the other compared to tobacco fibers material (different filter fiber materials, or granules or powder).

In Fig. 20, a further Filterstrangherstelleinrichtung invention is shown schematically. In this device, the binder fibers such as bicomponent fibers are added to the filter manufacturing process at a first location, whereas filler fibers such as cellulose fibers from a fiber mat 303 and a nonwoven 303 from a reel 302 are fed to the binder fiber stream on a fiber mill rotor 307 and by action the cutter drum 307 are mixed.

The mode of operation here is as follows. Binding fibers are metered and processed in a dosing and processing device 309. The dosing and processing device 309 is arranged upstream of a fiber mill 301. The dosing and conditioning device 309 discharges binding fibers 323 from the roller 328 to an air flow 306. The operation of the dosing and processing device 309 will be described in more detail below. As binder fibers, multicomponent fibers, especially bicomponent fibers come into question. For this purpose, reference is made in particular to DE 102 17 410.5 of the Applicant.

The air stream 306 is guided in the channel 326. The air flow 306 in the channel 326 and also in the fluidized bed channel 316 is generated either alone or substantially by the rotation of the cutterhead 307 in the channel region 325 of the channel 326. The air stream 306 is further assisted by the fan or a suction air blower on the suction belt conveyor 321 and the fan or a circulating air blower, which sucks air from the fluidized bed separator 320 and led out of the process. Also, the fan or fan 329 optionally supports the airflow 306.

The air stream 306 loaded with binding fibers 323 enters the channel region 325 on the milling drum 307. The feed rollers 304 convey a fiber mat or nonwoven fabric 303 from the reel 302 to the milling drum 307. The milling drum 307 treats the nonwoven fabric 303 into single fibers 324. The single fibers 324 are tumbled by the cutterhead 307 into the channel region 325 of the channel 326 where they are mixed with the binding fibers 323. The fiber mixture 327 is transported by the air stream 306 from the channel 326 in the fluidized bed channel 316. It is possible in this device according to the invention to add granules to the fiber mixture 327 between the channel 326 and the fluidized-bed channel 316 via a feed shaft 330.

The binder fibers 323 may also be a blend of different fibers, such as a blend of polypropylene fibers and bicomponent fibers. For mixing and dosing of these fibers, the dosing and conditioning device 309 may serve. Fig. 21 shows the detail A of the device according to the invention from Fig. 20 in a schematic view, wherein the sheath of the fiber mill 301 has been removed. The mixture of the bicomponent fibers 323 or binding fibers 323 with the individual fibers 324 is illustrated particularly well with the aid of the milling drum 307. The conveying direction 323 'of the binding fibers 323 and the conveying direction 327' of the fiber mixture 327 are also shown. In addition, the conveying direction 310 of the fleece 303 is shown.

The binder fibers 323 and, alternatively, any fiber blends such as bicomponent binder fibers and polypropylene filler fibers are filled into the well 331. The dosing and conditioning device 309 is shown schematically in more detail in Fig. 22 in a particular embodiment.

The fibers 323 move down the shaft 331. At the lower end of the shaft 331, the fibers 323 are caught by the slow-running feed roller 332. The feed roller 332 conveys the fibers 323 against a spring-loaded trough 333. The fibers 323 are drawn in and compacted into a thin compact fiber cake, which is not shown.

The fiber cake, which is conveyed downwards between the feed roller 323 and the trough 333, is then milled off at the lower end of the trough 333 by the fast-running drum roller 334. The fibers 323 are loosened, separated and introduced into the air flow 339 in the shaft 335.

The fan 338 generates a recirculated airflow 339. The airflow 339 is guided in the channel 340 and then past the feed roller 332. In this case, the air flow 339 cleans the feed roller 332. Subsequently, the air flow 339 absorbs fibers 332 and transports them down into the shaft 335.

After the diversion of the shaft 335 in the direction of the horizontal, the shaft 335 in the region 336 is designed so that the shaft walls are formed in top and bottom in comb shape, that is, that there are recesses through which air can flow. In this region 336, the air flow 339 is deposited by the fibers 323 via the combs, which are not shown in FIG. 22. The fan 338 sucks the air stream 339 out of the comb area 336 via the pipes 337. The circulation of the air flow 339 is thus closed.

The fibers deposited by the air flow 339 are detected at the end by the shaft 335, namely behind the comb region 336, by the slow-moving feed roller 343 and conveyed against the trough 341 and subsequently a leaf spring battery 342. The trough 341 is spring-mounted. The result is a thin, compact fiber cake, which is not shown and which is conveyed and compressed between the feed roller 343, the trough 341 and the leaf spring battery 342.

Leaves the fiber cake the effective range of the leaf spring battery 342 it is detected by the high-speed roller 344 and taken over. The rollers 344, 345 and 328 are equipped with sawtooth or Trapezzahngarnituren. The roller speeds are increasing from roller 344 to roller 328.

After the fibers 323 have been held in the set of roll 344 for a rotation of about 180 °, the fibers 323 are tangentially transferred to the counter rotating roll 345. Since the roller 345 rotates faster than the roller 344 and in particular has a finer Sägezahn- or Trapezzahngarnitur, there is a longitudinal alignment, parallelization and separation of the fibers in the transfer.

After the fibers 323 in the clothing of the roller 345 have been kept approximately 180 ° long, the fibers 323 are transferred tangentially to the in turn counter rotating roller 328. Since the roller 328 rotates faster than the roller 345 and in particular has a finer Sägezahn- or Trapezzahngarnitur, there is a longitudinal alignment, parallelization and separation of the fibers in the transfer. After the fibers 323 in the set of roll 328 have been held at approximately 180 °, the fibers 323 are ejected tangentially upwardly in the air stream 306 into the channel 326.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

fiber preparation

2

predispense

3

mix and / or dose

4

dose

5

mix and / or dose

6

seperate

7

Establish strand

10

Fiber felt-feed roller

12

hammer

13

hammer mill

14

casing

15

tear away

16

fiber groups

17

airflow

18

pipe

19

airflow

20

separators

21

shaft

22

storage container

23

spiked roller

24

spiked roller

25

funnel

26

rotary valve

27

channel

28

airflow

29

Fiber / fiber group mixture

30

separators

31

Fiber / fiber group mixture

32

accumulating shaft

33

vibrating element

34

feed roller

35

scraper

36

metering

37

roller

38

channel

39

airflow

40-44

fiber material

45

additive

46

mixing room

47

scree

50 - 52

roll

53

fiber mixture

54

chamber

55

airflow

56

laden airflow

60

roller

61

separation chamber

62

vent

63

air inlet

64

scree

65

isolated fibers

66

fluidized bed

67

nozzle bar

68

airflow

69

Fluidized bed end

70

flow divider

71

suction

72

airflow

73

air nozzle

74

airflow

75

fiber stream

76

airflow

77

opening

78

screen drum

79

casing

80

annular flow

81

Rotation direction of the sieve drum

82

Rührerreihe

83

Rührerreihe

84

Rotation direction of the separating roller

85

separating roller

86

fiber stream

87

excess fibers

88

trimming device

89

suction belt

90

trimmed fiber strand

91

compacted fiber strand

92

compression band

93

jet

94

airflow

95

Fiber filter rod

96

curing

97

Fiber filter rods

98

reel

99

Wrapping material strip

100

material input

101

compression band

102

airflow

103

airflow

110

Rod making machine

111

mixing device

112

metering

113

premetering

114

Fiber preparation device

115

separating device

116

suction belt

120

Granulatdosiervorrichtung

121

granules

122

airflow

122 '

airflow

123

channel

124

channel

125

suction

126

separating element

127

separators

128

Fiber / granulate flow

128 '

Fiber / granulate flow

129

accelerator

130

management

131

Vertical fluid bed section

132

opening

133

flow

201

fiber mill

202

reel

203

engine

204

Feed roller pair

205

engine

206

Transport airflow

207

cutter drum

208

Abscheiderblech

209

dosing opener

210

pipeline

211

reservoir shaft

212

transport roller

213

metering

214

Abscheidepunkt

215

fiber channel

216

fluidized bed

217

lowest point

218

Saugstrangkanal

219

place

220

Fließbettabscheider

221

suction rod

222

Filter rod machine

223

fleece

224

conveying direction

225

filter rod

226

Bale

227

Fluidized bed wall

228

scree

229, 230

feed

231

partition wall

232

Job

301

fiber mill

302

reel

303

fleece

304

feed roller

306

airflow

307

cutter drum

309

Dosing and conditioning device

310

Conveying direction of the fleece

316

Fluidized bed channel

320

Fließbettabscheider

321

suction rod

323

binder fibers

323 '

Conveying direction of the binding fibers

324

individual fibers

325

Channel area / location

326

channel

327

fiber mixture

327 '

Conveying direction of the fiber mixture

328

roller

329

fan

330

feed chute

331

shaft

332

feed roller

333

trough

334

Beater roller

335

shaft

336

comb area

337

pipe

338

fan

339

airflow

340

channel

341

trough

342

Leaf spring battery

343

feed roller

344

roller

345

roller

A

neckline

Claims (24)

1. Use of a fluidized bed (66, 216) for the manufacture of filters of the tobacco-processing industry, wherein the fluidized bed (66, 216) is disposed in transport direction (224) of the filter materials (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223) upstream of a rope build-up apparatus (89, 221), wherein the fluidized bed (66, 216) comprises a curved wall (227) guiding the filter materials (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223).
2. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that the curved wall (227) in transport direction (224) is initially directed downwards, then graduates into the horizontal before being directed upwards.
3. Method of manufacturing a fibrous web for the manufacture of filters of the tobacco-processing industry having the following method steps:

   - feed opened-out filter materials (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223) to a fluidized bed (66, 216),

   - transport the filter material (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223) in the fluidized bed (66, 216) substantially by means of a transport air stream (68, 75, 128, 206) in the direction of a rope build-up apparatus (89, 221) and

   - shower the filter material (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223) on the rope build-up apparatus (89, 221).
4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the filter material (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223) comprises fibres.
5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that various types of fibre (43, 44) are provided.
6. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that at least one additive (45) is added.
7. Method according to one or more of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the fibre length is 2 to 100 mm.
8. Method according to one or more of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the mean fibre diameter is in the range of 10 to 40 µm, in particular 20 to 38 µm.
9. Method according to one or more of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the fibre thickness in the case of manmade fibres is between 1 to 20 dtex, in particular between 2 to 6 dtex.
10. Method according to one or more of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that different filter materials (43 - 45) are fed in transport direction (224) of the filter materials (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223) successively to the fluidized bed (66, 216).
11. Method according to one or more of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that the filter material (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223) is opened out during feeding.
12. Method of manufacturing filters (97) of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising a method of manufacturing a fibrous web according to one or more of claims 3 to 11, wherein moreover the fibrous web is transformed into a filter rope (225) and the filter rope (225) is divided into filter rods (97).
13. Filter rope manufacturing device of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising at least one filter material feed apparatus (115, 210, 209), from which the filter material (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223) is discharged in a metered manner, and a rope build-up apparatus (89, 221), in which the filter material (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223) is formed into a rope (225), characterized in that the filter material (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223) is transported in a fluidized bed (66, 216) from the filter material feed apparatus (115, 210, 209) to the rope build-up apparatus (89, 221).
14. Filter rope manufacturing device according to claim 13, characterized in that the filter material feed apparatus (115, 210, 209) is designed to transport filter material (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223) from a filter material supply (211) to the fluidized bed (66, 216) by means of at least one transport element, in particular a roller (212, 213).
15. Filter rope manufacturing device according to claim 14, characterized in that opened-out fibres are feedable to the filter material supply (211).
16. Filter rope manufacturing device according to one or more of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the fluidized bed (66, 216) is adjoined downstream of the transport direction (224) of the filter material (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223) by a channel (218), which is disposed upstream of the rope build-up apparatus (89, 221).
17. Filter rope manufacturing device according to one or more of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the fluidized bed (66, 216) is designed at least partially like a channel (215).
18. Filter rope manufacturing device according to one or more of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the fluidized bed (66, 216) is curved in such a way that in transport direction (224) of the filter material (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223) the fluidized bed (66, 216) is initially directed downwards, graduates into the horizontal and is then directed upwards.
19. Filter rope manufacturing device according to claim 18, characterized in that the fluidized bed (66, 216) has the curve shape of an ellipse, the curvature of which increases in transport direction (224).
20. Filter rope manufacturing device according to one or more of claims 13 to 19, characterized in that the filter material feed apparatus (115, 201, 209) comprises an opening-out apparatus (201), which opens out a fibrous web (223) into fibres.
21. Filter rope manufacturing device according to claim 20, characterized in that the opening-out apparatus (201) comprises a fibre mill.
22. Filter rope manufacturing device according to claim 21, characterized in that the fibre mill (201) comprises a milling cutter drum (207) or a hammer mill (13).
23. Filter rope manufacturing device according to one or more of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the metering of the filter material (16, 29, 31, 40 - 44, 53, 65, 75, 223) occurs by means of the feed motion of the filter material (223) into the opening-out apparatus (201).
24. Filter rope manufacturing device according to one or more of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that at least two filter material feed apparatuses (115, 201, 209) are provided.

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