EP1516546B1 - Apparatus and method for transferring rod-like articles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for transferring rod-shaped articles, in particular cigarettes, from a longitudinal conveyor for longitudinal axial promotion of the article on a transverse conveyor for Queraxialen promotion of the article, the transport directions of the longitudinal conveyor and the transverse conveyor transverse to each other, comprising a conveyor with receptacles for receiving a plurality Article from the longitudinal conveyor and for the delivery of the recorded articles on the cross conveyor. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for transferring rod-shaped articles, in particular cigarettes, from a longitudinal conveyor for longitudinal axial promotion of the article on a cross conveyor for Queraxialen promotion of the article, wherein the transport directions of the longitudinal conveyor and the transverse conveyor transverse to each other, comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality rod-shaped article from the longitudinal conveyor by means of a conveyor, rotating the conveyor and thus moving the articles by a predetermined angle, and delivering the articles to the cross conveyor.

Such devices and methods are used in particular in the tobacco processing industry. In a cigarette rod maker strands are made of tobacco, which are usually cut into single or double-length tobacco stems. The tobacco sticks are conveyed in their longitudinal direction and must be transferred to a Filteransetzmaschine for further processing, eg for attaching a filter. For this purpose, the tobacco sticks usually have to be transferred from their longitudinal axial transport direction in a transverse axial transport direction, wherein the transport directions are also transverse to each other.

There are a variety of devices for transferring the rod-shaped articles from a longitudinal conveyor to a cross conveyor. Known devices have a conveying means which receives a plurality of juxtaposed articles or tobacco sticks from the longitudinal conveyor and delivers them to the transverse conveyor. However, all known devices of this type are only suitable to pass uniformly juxtaposed tobacco sticks. For this purpose, the tobacco sticks are separated from strands conveyed uniformly next to one another from a cigarette rod machine and fed to the transfer device for further processing. However, the pairwise production of the strands in the cigarette rod machine has proven to be particularly advantageous. So far, however, only a cigarette rod machine for producing a single double strand is known, so that the device for the transfer were designed only for the transfer of a single article pair. However, there are efforts to produce cigarette rod machines capable of producing at least two double strands simultaneously.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a simply constructed and compact device for transferring rod-shaped articles with increased performance. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to propose a method which ensures a simple and cost-effective, yet over conventional methods more efficient transfer.

This object is achieved on the one hand by a device having the features mentioned in that the conveying means for receiving at least two article pairs formed from two articles, of which each pair of articles is fed on a separate web of the longitudinal conveyor, and the Dispensing of the article pairs is formed on two separate tracks of the cross conveyor, wherein the conveying means comprises two separate drum, which for receiving a respective pair of articles from one of the tracks of the longitudinal conveyor and for delivering a respective pair of articles on one of the tracks of the cross conveyor are formed and the drums are alternatively driven in opposite directions or concurrently. With this embodiment of the invention a doubling of performance is ensured, so that in particular a combination with a cigarette rod machine for Production of two times two strands, which are each promoted as a double strand, is possible. The combination of features according to the invention provides a particularly cost-effective and flexible option for transferring more than one pair of articles. On the one hand can be resorted to namely standard parts, which reduces the cost of such devices. On the other hand, an independent recording of the articles of each web of the longitudinal conveyor and delivery of the articles on the cross conveyor is possible, which, for example, different types of tobacco can be processed on a device. The choice of the driveability of the drums in opposite or concurrent direction additionally increases the flexibility of the device and the possibility of a particularly compact arrangement.

In a preferred embodiment, the two drums in the transport direction of the longitudinal conveyor are arranged one behind the other, so that in a particularly simple manner a delivery to two parallel tracks of the cross conveyor is possible.

In a further preferred embodiment, the longitudinal conveyor in the region of both tracks, which run parallel to each other and each serve to convey a double strand, each associated with a release agent for pairwise separation of the articles of the double strands. This facilitates the pairwise removal of the articles from the longitudinal conveyor.

Another embodiment is characterized by a cross conveyor comprising two separate transfer drums forming the webs, each transfer drum being operatively connected to one of the drums. With this arrangement, a flexible and compact transfer is guaranteed.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, one of the drums of the conveyor below the web and the other drum is arranged above the web and the distance A between the two separating means in the transport direction of the longitudinal conveyor is equal to the distance B between the two center axes of the drums in the transport direction of the longitudinal conveyor and equal to the distance C between the two transfer drums transversely to the transport direction of the cross conveyor. This can create a particularly space-saving arrangement.

On the other hand, the object is achieved by a method with the steps mentioned at the outset, in that at least two pairs of articles consisting of two articles, of which each pair of articles is fed on a separate web of the longitudinal conveyor, are received, and the articles Pairs are delivered to two separate webs of the cross conveyor, each of the two pairs of articles is picked up with a separate drum of the conveyor and delivered to a separate transfer drum of the cross conveyor. By this combination of the method steps, a simple and inexpensive method is proposed, which has a high performance.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung in Transportrichtung der längsaxial geführten Artikel mit in der Höhe und seitlich versetzten Trommeln,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung,

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung, und

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung.

Further advantageous features and embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments and the method will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a schematic side view of the device in the transport direction of the longitudinal axial guided article with height and laterally offset drums,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the device,

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of another embodiment of the device,

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of another embodiment of the device, and

Fig. 5

a schematic representation of another embodiment of the device.

The devices shown and the method serve to transfer two times two articles, in particular two times two double-length tobacco sticks from a cigarette rod machine to a filter attachment machine.

FIG. 1 shows the basic principle of the invention. The device 10 comprises a conveying means 11, which is formed from two separate drums 12 and 13. The drums 12, 13, also called spiders, each according to the principle of DE 412 96 72 C2 work, referred to in the usual way several (not shown) recordings, wherein the receptacles each for simultaneous recording of two parallel to each other and in the longitudinal axial direction on a web supplied articles, eg cigarettes in single or double use length, are formed. The recordings are attached to movable arms also in a conventional manner and movable, such that the recordings, for example, are connected to suction for holding the article, at least during transport from recording to dispensing parallel to a horizontal plane, in the the articles are promoted. In the transport direction behind the drums 12, 13, a transverse conveyor 14 (transport direction of the longitudinal conveyor is transverse to the transport direction of the transverse conveyor) is arranged, comprising two takeover drums 15, 16 which form the tracks 37, 38 for transporting the article. Each transfer drum 15, 16 is in operative connection with a drum 12, 13 and has receptacles for receiving the articles in the usual way. The receptacles are arranged alternately fixed on the circumference of each Übemahme drum 15, 16 and movable on a pivot lever, wherein a fixed and a movable receptacle each form a unit for receiving an article pair. The device 10 according to the invention generally has two receiving means, namely the drums 12, 13, for receiving the articles from the longitudinal conveyor and two receiving means, namely the transfer drums 15, 16, for receiving the articles from the drums 12, 13.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the device 10, in which the conveying means 11 with two double strands 17, 18, each consisting of two individual strands 19, 20; 21, 22 are formed, is supplied. Each double strand 17, 18 is guided on a separate web 23, 24, wherein the webs 23, 24 may be arranged in one plane or on different planes. The webs 23, 24 form the longitudinal conveyor 25 and extend parallel to each other and each have a separating means 26, 27 for separating single or multiple tobacco sticks 28 from the strands 19 to 22. Each separating means 26, 27 serves to separate two tobacco sticks 28 on a web 23 or 24 simultaneously. In the transport direction 29 of the webs 23, 24 behind the separating means 26, 27, each web 23, 24 associated with one of the drums 12, 13, wherein both drums 12, 13 above the tracks 23, 24 are arranged.

The web 23 is arranged offset in the transport direction 29 to the web 24, such that the drums 12, 13 are also arranged one behind the other in the transport direction 29, wherein the distance A between the separating means 26, 27 the distance B between the central axes 30 and 31 of the drums 12, 13 corresponds. The drums 12, 13 are driven synchronously. Transverse to the tracks 23, 24 of the longitudinal conveyor 25, the transfer drums 15, 16 of the transverse conveyor 14 for transverse axial removal of the tobacco sticks 28 are arranged. The transport angle or the angle of rotation of the drums 12, 13 between the reception of the tobacco sticks 28 from the longitudinal conveyor 25 and the delivery of the tobacco sticks 28 to the cross conveyor 14 is at both drums 12, 13 90 °. The transfer drums 15, 16 are arranged side by side, such that the central axes 32, 33 of the transfer drums 15, 16 offset parallel to each other but in the transport direction 34 of the transfer drums 15, 16 to each other. The transfer drums 15, 16 are formed in the same direction in this embodiment. The distance C between the two transfer drums 15, 16, namely the distance between the central axes of movement 35, 36 corresponds to the distances A and B. With this arrangement, a particularly compact design of the conveyor 11 itself is guaranteed. The transfer drums 15, 16 are arranged in the transport direction 29 of the webs 23, 24 respectively behind the corresponding and operatively connected drums 12, 13.

The embodiment of Figure 3 is similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 2 is formed so that the same reference numerals are used for the same parts. However, the transfer drums 15, 16 are driven in opposite directions, while the drums 12, 13 are driven synchronously. The rotation angle of the drums 12, 13 are formed differently, namely for the drum 12, a rotation angle of 90 ° is provided between recording and delivery, while the rotation angle between recording and delivery of the drum 13 is 270 °. The two transfer drums 15, 16 are located between the drums 12, 13 so that the distance C between the transfer drums 15, 16 is smaller than the distances A and B, which correspond. By this arrangement, a particularly compact design of the conveying means 11 subsequent device, such as the filter attachment, guaranteed. However, the distances A, B and C vary in of the embodiment of Figure 3 in size of the distances A, B and C in the embodiment of Figure 2.

A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. Again, the same reference numbers will be used for the same parts. The device 10 described in this figure differs from the device 10 described above in that both the drums 12, 13 and the transfer drums 15, 16 are driven in opposite directions. Furthermore, the drum 12 is disposed below the web 23, while the drum 13 is disposed above the web 24. The angle of rotation is for both drums 12, 13 from the recording to the delivery of the tobacco sticks 28 90 °. The take-over drums 15, 16 are, as in the embodiment according to FIG. 2, again arranged behind the drums 12, 13 in the transport direction 29, so that the state with respect to the distances A, B and C is already explained with reference to FIG. The size of the distances A, B, C corresponds to those of Figure 2.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, in turn, the drum 12 is arranged below the track 23 and the drum 13 above the track 24. However, the take-up drums 15, 16 of the cross conveyor 14 are both arranged between the drums 12, 13, so that the state with respect to the distances (A = B, A, B> C) in FIG repeats 3, which also for the size of the distances applies. In this embodiment, however, the drums 12, 13 are driven in opposite directions, while the transfer drums 15, 16 are driven synchronously. The angle of rotation of the drum 12 is 90 °. The angle of rotation of the drum 13 is 270 °.

• Beim Verfahren mit der Vorrichtung 10 gemäß Figur 2 werden zwei Doppelstränge17, 18 aus Tabak oder dergleichen mit dem Längsförderer 25 längsaxial an das Fördermittel 11 geführt. Jeder Doppelstrang 17, 18 wird auf einer separaten Bahn 23, 24 geführt.
• Von den Doppelsträngen 17, 18 werden mittels der Trennmittel 26, 27 Tabakstöcke 28 von den Strängen 19, 20 bzw. 21, 22 abgetrennt. Da die Bahnen 23, 24 in Transportrichtung 29 versetzt zueinander sind, erfolgt auch das Trennen der
• Tabakstöcke 28 orts- und damit zeitversetzt. Der Doppelstrang 17 auf der Bahn 23 wird örtlich und zeitlich vor dem Doppelstrang 18 auf der Bahn 24 getrennt. Die Tabakstöcke 28 werden dann paarweise jeweils einer Trommel 12, 13 zugeführt. Die rotierenden Trommeln 12, 13 nehmen jeweils ein Artikel-Paar auf, wobei die Aufnahme von der Oberseite der Bahnen 23, 24 erfolgt. Da aber entsprechend des Versatzes der Trennmittel 26, 27 auch die Trommeln 12, 13 versetzt sind, also der Abnahmepunkt für die Tabakstöcke 28 von der Trommel 12 örtlich und zeitlich vor dem Abnahmepunkt für die Tabakstöcke 28 von der Trommel 13 liegt, erfolgt das Aufnehmen beider Artikel-Paare gleichzeitig. Beide Trommeln 12, 13 rotieren mit den aufgenommenen Artikelpaaren, nämlich den insgesamt vier Tabakstöcken 28, um 90° und geben die vier Tabakstöcke 28 dann zeitgleich an die jeweils korrespondierende Übemahmetrommel 15 bzw. 16 ab. Die Übernahmetrommeln 15, 16 transportieren die Artikel-Paare queraxial auf den Bahnen 37, 38 zur nächsten Bearbeitungsstation, z.B. zur Filteransetzmaschine. Dazu drehen die Übernahmetrommeln 15, 16 gleichläufig , so daß die Artikel-Paare parallel nebeneinander und in die gleiche Transportrichtung 34 auf den beiden Bahnen 37, 38 abtransportiert werden.

The following describes the method based on the individual embodiments:

• In the method with the device 10 according to FIG. 2, two double strands 17, 18 made of tobacco or the like are guided with the longitudinal conveyor 25 longitudinally to the conveying means 11. Each double strand 17, 18 is guided on a separate web 23, 24.
• Of the double strands 17, 18 tobacco rods 28 are separated from the strands 19, 20 and 21, 22 by means of the separating means 26, 27. Since the tracks 23, 24 offset in the transport direction 29 to each other, also takes place the separation of
• Tobacco sticks 28 local and thus delayed. The double strand 17 on the web 23 becomes spatially and temporally separated from the double strand 18 on the track 24. The tobacco sticks 28 are then fed in pairs to a respective drum 12, 13. The rotating drums 12, 13 each receive an article pair, wherein the recording from the top of the webs 23, 24 takes place. However, since according to the offset of the separating means 26, 27 and the drums 12, 13 are offset, so the acceptance point for the tobacco sticks 28 of the drum 12 is located locally and temporally before the acceptance point for the tobacco sticks 28 of the drum 13, the recording takes place both Article pairs at the same time. Both drums 12, 13 rotate with the recorded pairs of articles, namely the total of four tobacco sticks 28, by 90 ° and then give the four tobacco sticks 28 at the same time to the respectively corresponding Übemahme drum 15 and 16 from. The transfer drums 15, 16 transport the article pairs transaxially on the tracks 37, 38 to the next processing station, eg for the filter attachment machine. For this purpose, the transfer drums 15, 16 rotate in the same direction, so that the article pairs are transported parallel next to each other and in the same direction of transport 34 on the two tracks 37, 38.

The method with the device according to FIG. 3 runs in principle similarly. However, due to the different arrangement of transfer drums 15, 16, the drums 12, 13 rotate at different angles. The drum 12 rotates after receiving the tobacco sticks 28 by 90 ° and then passes the tobacco sticks 28 to the Übemahme drum 15 on. The drum 13 rotates with the tobacco sticks 28 by 270 ° before passing the tobacco sticks 28 to the transfer drum 16. However, the transfer drums 15, 16 rotate in opposite directions for transport in the transport direction 34.

With the device 10 according to FIG. 4, the tobacco sticks 28 are received on different sides (upper side and lower side) of the longitudinal conveyor 25. The drum 12 removes the pair of articles from the underside of the web 23, while the drum 13 decreases the article pair from the top of the web 24. The counter-rotating drums 12, 13 rotate both at an angle of 90 ° and then give the article pairs to the likewise counter-rotating takeover drums 15, 16, which then convey the article pairs in parallel in the transport direction 34 transaxially.

The method with the device 10 according to FIG. 5 essentially corresponds to the method with the embodiment described in connection with FIG. However, the drums 12, 13 rotate in opposite directions by a different angle. The drum 12 rotates with the tobacco rods 28 by 90 °. The drum 13 rotates with the tobacco rods 28 by 270 °. After the simultaneous delivery of the two pairs of articles on the synchronously driven transfer drums 15, 16, the pairs of arrays are conveyed in the transverse direction parallel to each other in the transport direction 34.

Other constellations are also possible by variation of the position of the separating means 26, 27, variation of the position of the drums 12, 13, variation of the takeover drums 15, 16 and arrangement of the tracks 23, 24 to each other. It is crucial that the conveyor 11 has two receiving points for at least two pairs of articles and two delivery points for the same.

Claims (12)

1. Apparatus for the transfer of rod-shaped articles, in particular cigarettes, from a longitudinal conveyor (25) for longitudinal axial conveying of the articles onto a transverse conveyor (14) for transverse axial conveying of the articles, wherein the directions of transport (arrow 29 or arrow 34) of the longitudinal conveyor (25) and transverse conveyor (14) run transversely to each other, including a conveying means (11) with receptacles for receiving several articles from the longitudinal conveyor (25) and for discharging the received articles onto the transverse conveyor (14), characterized in that the conveying means (11) is designed for receiving at least two pairs of articles each composed of two articles, of which each pair of articles is delivered on a separate track (23, 24) of the longitudinal conveyor (25), and for discharging the pairs of articles to two separate tracks (37, 38) of the transverse conveyor (14), wherein the conveying means (11) includes two separate drums (12, 13) which are designed for receiving one pair of articles each from one of the tracks (23 or 24) of the longitudinal conveyor (25) and for discharging one pair of articles each onto one of the tracks (37, 38) of the transverse conveyor (14) and the drums (12, 13) can be driven optionally in opposite or the same directions.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveying means (11) is designed for the simultaneous reception and simultaneous discharge of several pairs of articles.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the two drums (12, 13) are arranged one behind the other in the direction of transport (arrow 29) of the longitudinal conveyor (25).
4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that both drums (12, 13) are arranged above the longitudinal conveyor (25).
5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one of the drums (12) is arranged below the track (23) and the other drum (13) is arranged above the track (24) or vice versa.
6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the longitudinal conveyor (25) in the region of the two tracks (23, 24) which run parallel to each other and each serve to convey a continuous double rod (17, 18) is assigned in each case a separating means (26, 27) for separating the articles from the double rods (17, 18) in pairs.
7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the transverse conveyor (14) includes two separate transfer drums (15, 16) forming the tracks (37, 38), wherein each transfer drum (15, 16) is functionally connected to one of the drums (12 or 13).
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the two transfer drums (15, 16) can be driven optionally in opposite or the same directions.
9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the distance A between the two separating means (26, 27) in the direction of transport (arrow 29) of the longitudinal conveyor (25) is equal to the distance B between the two centre axes (30, 31) of the drums (12, 13) in the direction of transport (arrow 29) of the longitudinal conveyor (29) and equal to the distance C between the two central axes of movement (35, 36) of the transfer drums (15, 16) transverse to the direction of transport (arrow 34) of the transverse conveyor (14).
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the distances A and B are the same and the distance C is smaller than the distances A and B.
11. Method for the transfer of rod-shaped articles, in particular cigarettes, from a longitudinal conveyor (25) for longitudinal axial conveying of the articles onto a transverse conveyor (14) for transverse axial conveying of the articles, wherein the directions of transport (arrow 29 or arrow 34) of the longitudinal conveyor (25) and transverse conveyor (14) run transversely to each other, including the steps of:

    - receiving several rod-shaped articles from the longitudinal conveyor (25) by means of a conveying means (11),

    - rotating the conveying means (11) and so moving the articles through a predetermined angle, and

    - discharging the articles onto the transverse conveyor (14),

    characterized in that

    - at least two pairs of articles each composed of two articles, of which each pair of articles is delivered on a separate track (23, 24) of the longitudinal conveyor (25), are received, and

    - the pairs of articles are discharged to two separate tracks (37, 38) of the transverse conveyor (14), wherein

    - each of the two pairs of articles are received with a separate drum (12, 13) of the conveying means (11) and discharged to a separate transfer drum (15, 16) of the transverse conveyor (14).
12. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that several pairs of articles are received simultaneously from several separate tracks (23, 24) and discharged simultaneously onto several separate tracks (37, 38).

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