EP1625797B1 - Delivery of strand material - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves forming a strand (40) on a conveyor (3) and delivering the strand from the conveyor into a formatter (4). The strand is delivered to the formatter by a pressured air flow. The quantity and the direction of the air flow (13) are given in advance and or are adjustable. The air flow is directed towards the conveyor. An INDPENDENT CLAIM is included for a device, an intake finger, and use.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing a molded strand of a material of the tobacco processing industry, in particular of tobacco or filter material. The invention further relates to a rod making machine of the tobacco processing industry for producing a tobacco rod or a filter rod, with a strand conveying device and a format device for forming the strand. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of a compressed air flow.

From the DE 42 25 644 A1 is part of a rod making machine known to the tobacco processing industry. In particular, a device for stripping off tobacco particles from a strand conveyor of a cigarette rod machine during the transfer of a tobacco rod from the strand conveyor into a format device is described. Tobacco is on the strand conveyor, which is designed as Saugstrsngförderer is, paused and led in the direction of a format device. For transfer to the format device is in the DE 42 25 644 A1 provided on a Einiauffinger the format device Abstrelfkante that scrapes the tobacco or tobacco rod from Saugstrangförderer or Saugstrangfördererband so as to prevent tobacco hanging on the suction belt bled. In a similar way it is also possible to make a filter strand.

It has now been shown that in strand production and in particular in the inlet finger of the format device and there especially at the transfer point of the Saugstrangförderer or the strand conveyor in the formatting device individual fibers follow the suction belt and do not run as desired on the inlet finger in the format device. It can also happen that over time, several fibers accumulate on the finger and then a kind of ball is torn with. This creates an irregular strand structure. Too large a ball can also lead to a strand break and thus to a Maschlnenstopp.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the generic device and a generic method. In particular, it should be prevented that the material that is transported from the material conveying device to the format device is not completely handed over.

• Bilden eines Strangs auf einer Fördervorrichtung,
• Übergabe des Strangs von der Fördervorrichtung in eine Formatvorrichtung,
• Formen des Strangs in der Formatvorrichtung, wobei bei dem Schritt der Übergabe des Strangs ein Druckluftstrom vorgesehen ist, der wenigstens teilweise gegen die Förderrichtung des Strangs gerichtet ist, wobei der Druckluftstrom auf einen Einlauffinger der Formatvorrichtung und/oder auf die Fördervorrichtung gerichtet ist.

This object is achieved by a method for producing a molded strand from a material of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular from tobacco or filter material, with the following process steps:

• Forming a strand on a conveyor,
• Transfer of the strand from the conveyor into a format device,
• Forming the strand in the format device, wherein in the step of transferring the strand, a compressed air flow is provided which is at least partially directed against the conveying direction of the strand, wherein the compressed air flow is directed to an inlet finger of the format device and / or on the conveyor.

According to the invention it has been found that the compressed air flow supports the detachment of the strand from the conveying device and the transfer to the format device. The targeted introduction of compressed air during the transfer of the strand can be prevented that fibers are entrained with the conveyor and that it comes to interference.

The fact that the compressed air flow is directed to an inlet finger of the format device and / or on the conveyor, is very effectively prevented that accumulates on the inlet finger or the conveyor corresponding material.

In the context of this invention means against the conveying direction also obliquely against the conveying direction or partially against the conveying direction. In a suction belt conveyor as a conveying device, the direction of the compressed air flow is preferably obliquely or transversely opposite to the suction direction.

Preferably, the amount and the direction of the compressed air flow can be predetermined and / or adjusted. This allows the transfer of the strand can be further optimized. When the compressed air flow is directed or blown at least partially in a detachment direction of the strand from the conveying device, the transfer, in particular in the case of a suction strand conveyor as conveying device, is rendered particularly efficient.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the compressed air flow is passed through an inlet finger of the format device. As a result, a very small-sized transfer area can be realized, which ultimately leads to a small strand machine and an efficient process management.

The object is further achieved by a rod making machine of the tobacco processing industry for the production of a tobacco rod or a filter strand, with a strand conveying device and a format device for forming the strand, wherein in the region of transfer of the strand from the strand conveying device to the format device, a device for supplying compressed air is provided in the transfer region, wherein the compressed air supply device is designed to direct a stream of compressed air to the strand conveying device or a strand conveyed on the strand conveying device, wherein the direction is at least partially against the strand conveying direction. Here, the compressed air blows directly on a transfer area on the strand material, so that no fibers can deposit in the transfer area. The device for supplying compressed air is called in the invention also compressed air supply device.

The supply of compressed air is very defined when the compressed air supply device in the compressed air conveying direction downstream comprises a nozzle. The nozzle is preferably a slot nozzle which extends preferably further extends across the width of the strand. Preferably, the slot nozzle has a height of a few tenths of a millimeter and a width of five to ten millimeters, particularly preferably about eight millimeters. A particularly preferred embodiment is provided when the compressed air supply device is designed to direct a stream of compressed air onto a scraper edge or a scraping edge of an infeed finger of the format device. By this configuration, no fiberballs can form on the inlet finger, so that a regular strand structure is made possible. Preferably, in the compressed air supply device configured to direct a flow of compressed air onto the strand conveying device or a strand conveyed on the strand conveying device, it is provided that the direction is partly in a detaching direction of the strand from the strand conveying device. The compressed air is directed in particular to the strand or the strand material.

A corresponding inlet finger of a format device of the tobacco processing industry comprises a bore for conveying compressed air, wherein the bore terminates in a nozzle which is arranged in the vicinity of a wiping edge of the inlet finger, wherein the compressed air emerging from the nozzle is directed to the wiping edge. In this embodiment, in the compressed air at least partially directed against the conveying direction of a strand, in particular on a conveying device relative to the wiping edge. Such an inlet finger makes it possible in an elegant and cost-effective manner to convey compressed air into the region of transfer of the strand from a strand conveying device to the forming device.

Finally, the object is achieved by the use of a compressed air flow in the area of a transfer of material from a material conveying device to a format device of the tobacco processing industry, which is at least partially directed against the conveying direction of the material, wherein the compressed air stream is directed to an inlet finger of the format device and / or on the material conveying device. Under partially counteracting is understood in the context of the invention also obliquely or transversely to the conveying direction of the material on the material conveying path. Since the compressed air flow is directed to an inlet finger of the format device and / or on the material conveying device, a particularly high efficiency is given. Preferably, the direction of compressed air flow is at least partially in a direction of separation of the material from the material delivery device. The direction of the compressed air flow is thus in particular transversely to the conveying direction of the strand.

Fig. 1

einen Längsschnitt durch den Formateinlauf einer Ziga- rettenstrangmaschine in einer schematischen Darstel- lung,

Fig. 2

eine vergrößerte Darstellung der Einzelheit B in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

einen Längsschnitt durch den Formateinlauf einer Fil- terstrangmaschine in einer schematischen Darstellung und

Fig. 4

einen Längsschnitt durch den Formateinlauf der Fig. 3 in einer vergrößerten schematischen Darstellung.

The invention will be described below without limiting the general inventive concept with reference to embodiments, reference being expressly made to the drawings with respect to all in the text unspecified details of the invention. Show it:

Fig. 1

3 a longitudinal section through the format inlet of a cigar extruding machine in a schematic representation,

Fig. 2

an enlarged view of the detail B in Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

a longitudinal section through the format inlet of a filter terstrangmaschine in a schematic representation and

Fig. 4

a longitudinal section through the format inlet of Fig. 3 in an enlarged schematic representation.

In Fig. 1 is the format inlet of a cigarette rod machine 1 or generally a stranding machine 1, since this can also be a filter rod machine, shown. The Fig. 1 shows the discharge end 2 of a Saugstrangförderers 3 and a formatting device 4 with a format bed 6, an inlet finger 7 and a format part 8. The Saugstrangförderer 3 runs in the direction of arrow 11 in a tobacco channel 9 and promotes a fiber strand of tobacco fibers, the in Fig. 1 not shown) from a strand construction zone (also not shown) for delivery to the format device 4. The fiber strand is suspended suspended on Saugstrangförderer 3 in the tobacco channel 9, wherein it is held by means of a Saugstrangförderer acting through the suction train on Saugstrangförderer. The format bed 8 has a strand guide surface 12, not shown, which forms a curved cross-section strand channel whose radius of curvature in the running direction of the strand from Einiaufkonus 13 for format part continuously decreases and which opens in a corresponding to the desired strand shape formed strand channel 14 of the form saddle 8.

In Elnlaufkonus 13, along the strand guide surface 12 and in the strand channel 14 a circulating in the direction of arrow 16 format strip 17 is guided, which carries a wrapping material strip 18 through the formatting device 4. The technique of such machines is well known, so that a closer representation and description is not required here.

In the region of the inlet cone 13, the suction strand conveyor 3 converges to the strand guide surface of the format bed 6 and places the tobacco strand, which has been stopped in a strand construction zone (not shown) and leveled in the usual manner, onto the skin material strip 18 moved by the format device 4. The tobacco rod is strongly compressed during its passage through the inlet cone 13 under the action of Saugstrangförderers 3 and deformed according to the change in cross section of the inlet cone in the conveying direction 16 of the format strip 17 so that it can run into the partially enclosed by the strand guide surface 12 of the format bed 6 strand channel , In the area of the strand guiding surface 12, the infeed finger 7 is arranged adjacent to the format bed 6 as a further strand guiding means with a scraper 27, the one together with the strand guide surface 12 of the format bed 6, a fiber strand 40, the In Fig. 1 not shown, but in Fig. 4 , further compressing and forming strand guide forms.

The scraper 27 is fastened by means of screws 28 or other suitable fastening means on the front side of the inlet finger 7 of the format device 4. It consists of a base body 19 whose bottom is formed as a strand guide surface 21 and in the installed position of the scraper of the strand guide surface 12 of the format bed 6 is opposite, so that both strand guide surfaces 12 and 21 include a strand guide channel 22. The strand guide surface 21 is curved concavely thereto and is aligned with a strand guide surface 23 which is formed on the underside of the inlet finger 7. This formation of the strand guide surfaces causes in a known manner, the deformation of the incoming tobacco rod to a cylindrical fiber strand with simultaneous wrapping of the fiber strand with the Hüllmaterialstreifen 18th

The scraper 27 and the inlet finger 7 may be made of two or more parts, but they may also be integrally formed. The inlet finger 7 or the scraper 27 serve in the region of the scraping edge 26, which in Fig. 2 is better represented and arranged at the inlet end 24 of the inlet finger 7 and scraper 27, to detach the fiber material from the suction belt conveyor 3. Without further measures, it may happen that not all fibers are detached from the suction belt conveyor 3, so that they can get stuck to one on the suction belt conveyor or the other on the wiper edge 26 of the inlet finger 7 or scraper 27 and form there balls. This can then lead to irregularities in the strand structure. Here, the invention provides Aphilfe by compressed air in the form of a compressed air stream 31 is directed to the strand material, as in Fig. 1 is shown obliquely from above, ie transversely to the detachment direction 41 of the strand material of the suction belt conveyor 3. The compressed air can be directed to the inlet finger 7 or the scraper 27 or the stripping edge 26 and / or on the Saugstrangförderer third

In Fig. 2 , which is an enlarged view of area B off Fig. 1 is in particular a device is shown, which directs the compressed air. This is a compressed air pipe 30, to which a compressed air line 32 is connected, wherein compressed air is generated by a pump 33 and in the compressed air line 32 and then the compressed air pipe 30 is conveyed. The forming compressed air stream 31 is blown out of the nozzle 35 and strips at the top of the scraping edge 26 any fibers of the strand material formed and brings them back to the strand.

In the context of the invention, instead of tobacco fibers, it is also possible to use filler material, such as filter fibers. So far as tobacco or tobacco fibers or tobacco rod is mentioned, the disclosure made for this also applies to filter material, filter fibers or filter strands. In this case, it is particularly intended to relatively short fibers with a length of three to six millimeters, which may include several components. Thus, bicomponent fibers can be used, which have a core made of a material which heats at a higher temperature than the sheaths, so that a correspondingly good fiber composite can be produced after subsequent heating. To this is on the Patent Application DE 102 17 410 A1 the applicant, which is to be fully incorporated in the disclosure of the present patent application.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a preferred embodiment, in particular for the production of a Vilesfilterstrangs. Most of the components are the same as those from the FIGS. 1 and 2 , In contrast to the previous embodiments, the compressed air in the embodiment according to Fig. 3 through holes 34 in the inlet finger 7 to a nozzle 35, which is arranged in the region of the wiper edge 26, passed. The bore 34 or the bores 34 has or preferably have a diameter of approximately three to five millimeters in front of the nozzle. The nozzle itself has a height of a few tenths of a millimeter and a width of about eight millimeters. By this embodiment with a bore 34 in the inlet finger 7, in particular in the vicinity of the Abstrelfkante 26, it is very efficiently possible to form a tobacco rod or a filter strand.

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged schematic representation of the embodiment Fig. 3 , In this figure, the compressed air tray 31 have been omitted for better illustration, so that the nozzle 35 is better recognizable. In this embodiment or this Fig. Also, the fiber strand 40 is indicated. It is possible to set the compressed air flow very defined with respect to the direction and the strength.

The targeted introduction of compressed air In the transfer area, fibers can be prevented from being entrained with the suction belt and causing problems. The air is passed through the format inlet finger and blows directly onto the strand material at the transfer point. It can no longer deposit fibers in the transfer area, resulting in improved strand formation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

rod machine

2

delivery end

3

suction rod

4

format device

6

garniture

7

intake finger

8th

format part

9

tobacco channel

11

arrow

12

Rod guide surface

13

intake cone

14

strand channel

16

arrow

17

format tape

18

Hüllmaterialstrelfen

19

body

21

Rod guide surface

22

Strand guide channel

23

Rod guide surface

24

incoming

26

stripping

27

scraper

28

screw

30

Pneumatic tubes

31

Compressed air flow

32

Compressed air line

33

pump

34

drilling

35

jet

40

strand

41

peel direction

Claims (12)

1. Process for the production of a formed strand (40) made of a material in the tobacco-processing industry, in particular made of tobacco or filter material, with the following process steps:

   - forming of a strand (40) on a conveyor device (3),

   - delivery of the strand (40) from the conveyor device into a formatting device (4),

   - forming of the strand (40) in the formatting device (4), wherein in the step of delivery of the strand (40) a compressed air flow (31) is provided, wherein the compressed air flow (31) is directed onto an inlet finger (7, 27) of the formatting device (4) and/or onto the conveyor device (3), characterised in that the compressed air flow (31) is directed at least partially towards the conveyor device (11) of the strand (40).
2. Process according to claim 1, characterised in that the quantity and direction of the compressed air flow (31) are presettable and/or adjustable.
3. Process according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the compressed air flow (31) blows at least partially from the conveyor device (3) into a detachment direction (11, 41) of the strand (40).
4. Process according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the compressed air flow (31) is led through an inlet finger (7) of the formatting device (4).
5. Strand machine (1) in the tobacco-processing industry for the production of a tobacco strand (40) or a filter strand (40), with a strand conveyor device (3) and a formatting device (4) for forming the strand (40), characterised in that in the area (B) of the delivery of the strand (40) from the strand conveyor device (3) onto the formatting device (4), a device (30, 34) for feeding compressed air (31) (compressed air feed device) into the delivery area (B) is provided, wherein the compressed air feed device (30, 34) is arranged to direct a compressed air flow (31) onto the strand conveyor device (3) or a strand (40) conveyed to the strand conveyor device (3), characterised in that the direction is at least partially towards the strand conveying direction (11).
6. Strand machine (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the compressed air feed device (30, 34) comprises a nozzle (35) downstream in the compressed air conveying direction.
7. Strand machine (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that the nozzle (35) is a slotted nozzle.
8. Strand machine (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the compressed air feed device (30, 34) is arranged to direct a compressed air flow (31) onto a stripping edge (26, 27) of an inlet finger (7) of the formatting device (4).
9. Strand machine (1) according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that the direction of the compressed air flow (31) is partially into a detachment direction (41) of the strand (40) from the strand conveyor device (3).
10. Use of a compressed air flow (31) in the area (B) of a delivery of material (40) from a material conveyor device (3) to a formatting device (4) in the tobacco-processing industry, wherein the compressed air flow (31) is directed onto a inlet finger (7, 27) of the formatting device (4) and/or onto the material conveyor device (3), characterised in that the compressed air flow (31) is directed at least partially towards the conveying direction (11) of the material (40).
11. Use according to claim 10, characterised in that the direction of the compressed air flow (31) is at least partially in a detachment direction (11, 41) of the material (40) from the material conveyor device (3).
12. Use according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the direction of the compressed air flow (31) is transverse towards the conveying direction (11) of the material (40) on the material conveyor device (3).

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