EP1679010B1 - Production of filter plugs or filter cigarettes - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves removing filter rods from a magazine, and selectively cutting the rods into filter plugs (111-113). The filter plugs of a respective cut filter rod are coaxially aligned to one another. The filter plugs are staggered in a displaced manner and displaced in a longitudinally axial manner to form a row of filter plugs conveyed one behind the other in a transverse-axial manner. An independent claim is also included for a method for producing filter cigarettes.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing filter plugs from filter rods having a predetermined filter rod length and to a method for producing filter cigarettes.

Under the name "MAX" Filteransetzmaschinen the patent applicant are known. By a filter attachment machine is meant a device for the production of filter cigarettes with means for receiving tobacco rods of double length, with means for cutting these double long tobacco sticks into tobacco sticks of simple length, with means for introducing filter plugs double length between the tobacco sticks of simple length, with means for Joining the double-length filter plugs to the single-length tobacco rods by wrapping with a tipping paper leaflet cut from a supplied tipping paper strip by means of a cutter, with means for making a cut through the double-length filter plug; that filter cigarettes normal use length arise. In a single-lane filter tufting machine, a series or series of tobacco rod filter plug tobacco rod groups arranged and transported transversely axially one behind the other is supplied as a one-lane material flow to a pad device.

For feeding filter plugs to the tobacco rod pairs, filter rods of multiple use length are removed from a filter magazine on a filter attachment machine and subsequently cut into filter plugs of double use length. Subsequently, the cut filter plugs are arranged in a series of successively transversely spaced filter plugs which are fed to the longitudinally axially spaced tobacco rod pairs.

In US 4,943,272 (equivalent to DE-T-689 10 669 ) describes an apparatus for producing cigarette filters. Here are several times from a filter magazine, z. B. three times long, filter rods removed by means of a removal drum and fed to a cutting drum on which a single cutting blade is arranged. After a first cutting of the filter rod, a filter piece formed is removed from the cutting drum, while the filter rod shortened by a filter rod remains on the cutting drum and is moved longitudinally axially to a stop. Subsequently, the shortened filter rod is again cut by the cutting device, so that subsequently a filter piece is removed from the cutting drum again. The shortened by two filter pieces filter rod is again shifted longitudinally on the cutting drum to the stop and past the cutting device. Subsequently, the third filter piece of the originally three-times long filter rod is fed from a removal drum further drums.

The device described for the production of cigarette filters can also be used as a filter feed to a filter attachment machine. Further, two filter manufacturing apparatuses may be combined to obtain a construction for producing double filter pieces.

In EP-A-1 597 979 the production of filter plugs is described, wherein removed from a magazine filter rods are cut into filter plugs with a predetermined Filterstopfenlänge. When changing the filter plug to be cut, the number of cutting devices is increased or decreased. After cutting the filter rods into filter plugs, the cut filter plugs are staggered on a staggering drum. In addition, a further staggering drum may be provided for the transport.

Moreover disclosed EP-A-1 374 706 a Filterzuführeinrichtung on a filter attachment machine, wherein after removal from a magazine, the filter rods are cut into filter plugs or pieces and are subsequently staggered twice on two relay drums in a first conveyor section. After staggering twice, the filter plugs are arranged in a row transversely axially one behind the other.

Besides, it is off DE-A-101 46 019 an assembly of groups of filter segments for the production of filter segment filters known, wherein after cutting filter rods in filter plugs, the filter plugs staggered and then arranged in a row queraxial successively.

Further concerns US-A-3,253,491 a cutting device for filter rods, wherein the position of cutting blades is adjustable.

Starting from this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide the production of filter plugs, e.g. on a Filteransetzmaschine to simplify, the structural complexity to be kept as low as possible when changing the filter plug length. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to shorten the changeover times on a Filteransetzmaschine in a format change or brand change and simplify.

The object is achieved by a method for producing filter plug from filter rods with a predetermined filter rod length, wherein the filter rods are removed from a magazine, the filter rods each in n-times (n = 2, 3, 4, ....) filter plug for a predetermined filter plug length by means of (n-1) -fold cutters or in k-times (k = 2, 3, 4, ...; k ≠ n) filter plugs for a second predetermined filter plug length by means of (k-1) -fold cutters When changing the filter plug to be cut from a predetermined filter plug length to another predetermined filter plug length, the number of cutters is increased (k> n) or decreased (k <n) with the co-aligned filter plugs of the respective filter rods after cutting be staggered in a first step, the longitudinally axially immediately adjacent filter plug in each case in a constant St Affelungsabstand be arranged offset transversely to each other, and in a further step, the filter plugs are transferred to a transfer device, so that the filter plugs are offset from each other in a predetermined transverse axial staggering distance to the transversely adjacent filter plugs, and then the staggered staggered filter plug to a row queraxial successively conveyed filter plug are moved longitudinally axially, which is thereby developed, that the predetermined transverse axial stagger distance is changed with an increase or decrease in the number of cutters. Accordingly, a different number of cut filter plugs is obtained.

The invention is based on the finding that when changing filter plug lengths, in particular with changes in length of the filter plug with change of a cut division of the filter rods to be cut, i. with a change in the number of cutting devices, there is a high expenditure of time and thus a long production loss results in the production of filter cigarettes or filter rods.

By changing the inventive division of the various process steps and a change in the assignment of the required changes in position and speed of the cut filter plugs, a reduction of the changeover times at a filter attachment machine or filter production machine is achieved.

After cutting the filter rods, the filter plugs obtained are staggered in a first method step, whereby a relative staggering between two immediately adjacent filter plugs is carried out. This relative staggering of two immediately longitudinally axially adjacent filter plugs is realized with a constant stagger spacing such that a filter plug is offset and spaced transaxially of its previous neighbor. This relative staggering by a constant distance between the Filterstopfennachbarn may inter alia also cause that with a corresponding number of cut filter plug several filter plug in a receiving trough of a conveyor, wherein the filter plug relatively staggered to their respective neighbors immediately adjacent in the longitudinal axial direction.

In order to carry out a further staggering of the cross-axially staggered and staggered filter plugs according to the invention, these are transferred to a transfer device, whereby the filter plug after the transfer device in a staggered manner such that only one filter plug is arranged in a receiving trough of a conveying member. For this purpose, the filter plugs are staggered at a selectable or predetermined distance in the transfer device in the conveying direction or in the transverse axial direction offset from one another. If, after the first staggering, a plurality of filter stoppers are contained in a receptacle of a conveyor, then another transaxial staggering distance on the transfer device has to be selected than with staggered filter stoppers in the first staggering step, in which only one filter stopper is arranged in each case in a receptacle of the conveyor.

Depending on the first staggering or first staggering pattern of the filter stoppers prior to transfer to the transfer device, the transverse axial staggering distance to be executed on the transfer device is to be determined in such a way that the filter stoppers are delivered both in the conveying direction or in the transverse axial direction as well as to a subsequent conveyor are arranged offset in the longitudinal axial direction. As a result, there is only one filter plug in the receptacles of a conveyor. Its neighbors in cross-axial and in the longitudinal axial direction are offset by a transaxial distance in the other recordings.

Following the transfer device from the staggered filter plug a series queraxial successively funded filter plug formed, wherein the filter plug are moved longitudinally axially thereto.

The cost of the conversion in a format change on the filter attachment machine is also reduced by the fact that remains at least one cutting device in its stationary position when increasing or decreasing the number of cutting devices. Thus, the at least one fixed cutting device cuts the filter rods before and after a change of the filter rod length or a format change. Accordingly, the at least one fixed cutting device need not be implemented, which further reduces the changeover times.

Preferably, when changing the filter plug length to be cut, a first stop for the filter rods is displaced with respect to the at least one fixed cutting device.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if, when increasing or decreasing the number of cutting devices, at least one second, in particular stationary, cutting device is activated or deactivated.

Furthermore, it is favorable if, after the transfer device, the filter plugs are displaced longitudinally axially relative to a second stop.

For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if the second stop at a change in the filter plug length is changed in its position, so that the single-row successively arranged filter plug are delivered with a predetermined position to further conveying members.

According to a preferred development, it is proposed that the second stop be changed in its position such that the centers of the previous filter plugs and the centers of the new filter plugs lie in one plane when the filter plug length is changed.

Moreover, it is preferred if the filter plugs are transferred to a transfer drum as a transfer device.

It is also advantageous if the transfer device or the transfer drum is replaced when the filter plug length is changed.

Preferably, the predetermined transverse axial stagger distance is changed with a change of the filter plug length.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method for producing filter cigarettes, wherein between the tobacco sticks simple filter plugs double length are introduced, the double-length filter plug with the tobacco sticks simple length by wrapping by means of a tipping paper leaflets are connected to filter cigarettes double the use length, the filter plug according to be prepared by the method described above. The production of the filter plug is preferably carried out in a filter feed a Filteransetzmaschine.

Fig. 1a

schematisch eine Trommelanordnung einer Filterzuführung einer Filteransetzmaschine;

Fi. 1b

schematisch ein Ablaufdiagramm zur Herstellung von Filterstopfen gemäß der Trommelanordnung aus Fig. 1a;

Fig. 2a

schematisch eine Trommelanordnung einer Filterzuführung einer Filteransetzmaschine und

Fig. 2b

schematisch das Ablaufdiagramm entsprechend der Trommelanordnung aus Fig. 2a.

The invention will hereinafter be understood without limitation of the general The invention is described by way of example with reference to exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, to which reference is otherwise expressly made with respect to the disclosure of all details of the invention which are not explained in greater detail in the text. Show it:

Fig. 1a

schematically a drum assembly of a filter feed a Filteransetzmaschine;

Fi. 1b

schematically a flow chart for the production of filter plug according to the drum assembly from Fig. 1a ;

Fig. 2a

schematically a drum assembly of a filter feed a Filteransetzmaschine and

Fig. 2b

schematically the flowchart corresponding to the drum assembly Fig. 2a ,

In the following figures, identical or similar elements or corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that a corresponding renewed idea is dispensed with.

In the FIGS. 1 a and 2a are each a view of a filter feeder 10 is shown schematically, wherein the filter feeder 10 is integrated, for example, in a Filteransetzmaschine. From a magazine 20 with filter rods 100, the filter rods 100 are removed individually by means of a removal drum 30 and transported to the removal drum 30 cutting blades 40, 45, where the filter rods 100 into several double-length filter plug according to the number of cutting blades 40, 45 are cut.

In Fig. 1a It is shown that only one cutting blade (reference numeral 40) is arranged on the removal drum 30, so that the removed filter rods 100 are cut only once and thus from a filter rod 100 two filter plugs 111, 112 are formed by the cutting. The filter plugs 111, 112 are on the removal drum 30 in Fig. 1a arranged coaxially with each other in the receiving troughs. Thereafter, the filter plugs 111, 112 are transferred to a staggering drum 50 on which the filter plugs 111, 112 are staggered at a fixed transverse axial staggering distance from each other.

In the embodiment in Fig. 2a are two cutting blades 40, 45, based on the removed filter rods 100, arranged longitudinally offset from one another to each other, so that the filter rods 100 are cut twice and thus to three equal length filter rods 111, 112, 113. The filter rods 111, 112, 113 ( Fig. 2a ) are aligned on the removal drum 30 coaxial with each other. Thereafter, the filter rods 111, 112, 113 are transferred to the staggering drum 50 on which the filter rods 111, 112, 113 are staggered with respect to their adjacent filter plug.

Based on the directly in the longitudinal axial direction adjacent filter plug thus takes place a relative staggering of the two adjacent in the longitudinal axial direction filter plug. In other words, the filter rods 111 and 112 are each staggered to each other in a fixed staggering distance from each other. Further, the filter plugs 112 and 113 are staggered by a fixed staggering distance from each other. This eventually causes the filter plugs 111 and 113 in the same receiving trough the staggering drum 50 are arranged, said filter plug 111, 113 are staggered offset relative to the central filter plug 112.

In the embodiment in Fig. 1 a the staggered filter rods 111, 112 are transferred from the staggering drum 50 to a transfer drum 60. On the transfer drum 60 in this embodiment, no further staggering of the cross-axially staggered filter rods 111, 112 is carried out, so that then the filter rods 111, 112 are transferred in a staggered manner to a sliding drum 70 on which the filter rods 111, 112 to a series Queraxial successively arranged filter plug 111, 112 are pushed together and passed to an accelerator drum 80. From the accelerator drum 80, the filter plug 112 are further promoted to a subsequent insertion drum, so that the filter plug 111, 112 inserted between longitudinally spaced tobacco rod pairs.

In Fig. 1b is schematically the corresponding flowchart of the process sections on the individual drums of the filter feeder 10 in Fig. 1a shown accordingly. The predetermined transverse axial staggering distance on the transfer drum 60 according to the invention corresponds to the constant staggering distance on the staggering drum 50. The ratio of the staggering distances on the staggering drum 50 and the transfer drum 60 is 1: 1.

In the embodiment in Fig. 2a According to which the filter rods 100 are cut twice, the staggered staggered on the staggering drum 50 filter plug 111, 112, 113 are passed in a corresponding manner to the transfer drum 60, wherein during or during the transfer, the filter plug 111, 112, 113 respectively be staggered in the cross-axial direction by a certain ratio to each other, so that a larger staggering distance between the filter plug 111, 112, 113 formed each funded row.

By increasing the transverse axial distance of the filter plugs 111, 112, 113 of each row with respect to the leading and trailing filter plugs of each row, the filter plugs 111, 112, 113 are staggered such that only a filter plug is disposed in a receiving recess of the transfer drum 60 , Subsequently, the filter plugs 111, 112, 113 are transferred from the transfer drum 60 to the sliding drum 70, on which the filter plugs 111, 112, 113 are moved longitudinally axially to a series of filter plugs disposed transversely one behind the other.

On the transfer drum 60, a different transverse axial staggering distance is carried out as a result of the larger number of filter plugs to be conveyed from a filter rod. The ratio of the transverse axial staggering distance on the transfer drum 60 to the constant staggering distance on the staggering drum 50 in the exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG Fig. 2a respectively. Fig. 2b 1: 1.5. To perform the transverse axial staggering distance on the transfer drum 60, the gear ratio between the staggering drum 50 and the transfer drum 60 is variably configured to realize a desired transverse axial staggering distance. To achieve this, all drums of the drum are preferably provided with individual drives.

The transfer drum 60 off Fig. 1a is this against a corresponding transfer drum 60 for the embodiment in Fig. 2a exchanged, which also reduces the changeover times at the filter feeder 10. Alternatively, the different Transfer drum versions 60 may be arranged displaceably on an axis.

In addition, it is provided according to the invention that the cutting blade 40 is fixedly arranged on the removal drum 30, so that the filter rods according to both in the embodiment Fig. 1a as well as in the embodiment according to Fig. 2a be cut by this cutting blade 40.

In order to cut filter plugs of different lengths from the filter rods 100 by means of the cutting blade 40, a displaceable stop 120 is arranged on the removal drum 30 so that the longitudinal axial distance between the cutting blade 40 and the stop 120 which is preferred corresponds to the filter plug length to be cut a wall of the magazine is 20, is adjusted.

To the filter rods 100 in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 a or 1 b only once to cut, the cutting blade 45 ( Fig. 2a ) or pivoted away, so that only the cutting blade 40, the filter rods 110 cuts centrally. Starting from the embodiment in Fig. 1a the second cutting blade 45 is arranged on the removal drum 30 (see. Fig. 2a ), so that after appropriate positioning of the stopper 120, the filter rods 100 in the embodiment in Fig. 2a, Fig. 2b be cut twice from the cutting blades 40, 45.

In addition, a further stop 130 is provided on the sliding drum 70, so that the filter rods 111, 112 and 113 are pushed against this stop 130 longitudinally. Also, this stop 130 is relative to the filter plugs 111, 112 and 113 disposed longitudinally axially displaceable, so that the displacement paths the filter plug 111, 112, 113 in the embodiments in Fig. 1a or 1b and Fig. 2a or 2b are of different lengths. In order to align the differently long filter plug in both embodiments shown on an insertion level E center, the second stop 130 is to be adjusted accordingly in position. The Eingelegee E is in particular formed stationary on the filter attachment machine.

The stopper 130 is aligned in both embodiments such that the centers of the filter plugs 111, 112 (FIG. Fig. 1 b) or 111, 112, 113 ( Fig. 2b ) are always arranged centrally in the insertion plane E.

By means of the longitudinally or horizontally variably positionable stops 120 and 130, it is possible that the same conveying members 30, 50, 60, 70 and 80 are used for both embodiments or on a filter attachment machine without exchange during a format change. By using the conveying elements for different lengths to be produced filter plugs also the changeover times are significantly reduced at a filter attachment machine or filter manufacturing machine, since no exchange of the corresponding conveyor organs or a change must be made.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

feeding

20

magazine

30

removal drum

40

cutting blade

45

cutting blade

50

staggering drum

60

transfer drum

70

cutting drum

80

acceleration drum

100

filter rods

111

filter plug

112

filter plug

113

filter plug

120

attack

130

attack

e

insertion plane

Claims (10)

1. Method for producing filter plugs (111, 112, 113) from filter rods (100) with a predetermined filter rod length, in which the filter rods (100) are removed from a magazine (20), the filter rods (100) are cut in each case into n-fold, n = 2, 3, 4, ...., filter plugs (111, 112, 113) for a predetermined filter plug length by means of (n-1)-fold cutting devices (40, 45) or in each case into k-fold, k = 2, 3, 4, ... ; k # n, filter plugs (111, 112, 113) for a second predetermined filter plug length by means of (k-1)-fold cutting devices (40, 45), the number of cutting devices (40, 45) being increased, k > n, or reduced, k < n, when changing the filter plugs to be cut from one predetermined filter plug length to another predetermined filter plug length, and in which the filter plugs (111, 112, 113), aligned coaxially with one another, of the respective filter rods (100) after the cutting are, in a first step, staggered in such a way that the filter plugs (111, 112, 113) immediately adjacent longitudinal-axially are in each case arranged in a manner offset transverse-axially with respect to one another at a constant staggering spacing, and, in a further step, the filter plugs (111, 112, 113) are transferred to a transfer device (60), so that the filter plugs are arranged in a manner offset with respect to one another at a predetermined transverse-axial staggering spacing from the transverse-axially adjacent filter plugs (111, 112, 113), and thereafter the offset-staggered filter plugs (111, 112, 113) are longitudinal-axially displaced to form a row of filter plugs (111, 112, 113) conveyed transverse-axially one behind the other, characterised in that the predetermined transverse-axial staggering spacing is changed when increasing or decreasing the number of cutting devices (40, 45).
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterised in that at least one cutting device (40) remains in its stationary position when increasing or decreasing the number of cutting devices (40, 45).
3. Method according to Claim 2, characterised in that a first stop (120) for the filter rods (100) is displaced in relation to the at least one stationary cutting device (40) when changing the filter plug lengths to be cut.
4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that at least one second, in particular stationary, cutting device (45) is activated or deactivated when increasing or decreasing the number of cutting devices (40, 45).
5. Method according to one or more of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that, after the transfer device (60), the filter plugs (111, 112, 113) are displaced longitudinal-axially to a second stop (130).
6. Method according to Claim 5, characterised in that the second stop (130) is changed in its position when changing the filter plug length.
7. Method according to Claim 6, characterised in that the second stop (130) is changed in its position in such a way that, when changing the filter plug length, the centres of the previous filter plugs (111, 112, 113) and the centres of the new filter plugs (111, 112, 113) lie in one plane (E).
8. Method according to one or more of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the filter plugs (111, 112, 113) are transferred to a transfer drum (60) as the transfer device (60).
9. Method according to one or more of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the transfer device (60) or the transfer drum (60) is exchanged when changing the filter plug length.
10. Method for producing filter cigarettes, in which double-length tobacco rods are cut into single-length tobacco rods, double-length filter plugs are introduced between the single-length tobacco rods, the double-length filter rods are joined to the single-length tobacco rods by wrapping with a covering paper sheet to form filter cigarettes of double use length, the filter plugs being produced by the method according to one or more of Claims 1 to 9.

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