EP1691633B1 - Arrangement for producing filter cigarettes - Google Patents

Abstract

Arrangement and process for producing filter cigarettes. The arrangement includes a rod formation device structured and arranged to form a tobacco rod, a filter tipping device structured and arranged to apply filter plugs to at least a portion of the tobacco rod, and an assembly device structured and arranged to assemble multi-segment filter plugs from at least three filter segments. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for the production of filter cigarettes, wherein a strand forming device for forming a tobacco rod and a filter applying means for applying filter plugs are provided on cut from the tobacco rod tobacco sticks.

For the production of filter cigarettes cut tobacco is processed in a distributor and processed into at least one tobacco rod and transferred to a Strangeinheit, of which the at least one tobacco rod is wrapped with paper and cut into double-length tobacco sticks. Subsequently, the double-length tobacco sticks are transferred from the Strangeinheit to a filter piecemeal and cut into tobacco sticks of simple length, with double-length filter rods attached to the tobacco sticks, wrapped by a tipping paper and cut into filter cigarettes simple use length.

Under the name "PROTOS" cigarette extruders of the applicant are known. Applicant's filter attachment machines have the designation "MAX".

In addition, it is known that filter rods of multiple useful length, which are cut into double-length filter plug, are sent from a filter rod transmitter to a receiving station in the filter tipping so that filter rods are removed from a filter rod magazine and cut into filter plugs.

Moreover, it is desired in the tobacco processing industry to produce multi-segment filters consisting of different segments or filter pieces, for example of different materials. These materials are e.g. Cellulose acetate, paper, non-woven, granules, civilized elements, hollow cylinders or hollow chambers and capsules, and the like. Such multisegment filters, which in the context of this invention also include the term "multiple filters", are wrapped after forming groups of filter segments, for example in a continuous process with wrapping material, such as paper, and then divided into filter tubes of two, four or six times length, to be processed further.

Out DE-OS 24 52 749 is a strand forming device for filter rods is known in which in a cross-working group image forming groups of filter segments or groups of filter rods are formed and then the strand forming device are transferred such that the groups of filter rods are wrapped longitudinally with wrapping material. In the group-forming device, this is a device that at a change in the filter segments or the order of the filter segments is completely replaced.

Applicant's filter strand forming apparatus is called KDF-2E. A typical group image device of the applicant is designated GC E. Both devices are known to the public and are marketed together as MULFI type machines.

In addition, are out WO-A-03/037113 a device for wrapping groups of filter segments with a wrapping material for the production of multi-segment filters of the tobacco processing industry and a multi-segment filter manufacturing device known.

In DE-C-38 27 751 In addition, a device for joining cigarette filter sections to a multi-component filter is described. In this case, filter sections are removed from a container and transferred to a drum conveyor of a filter attachment machine, wherein the filter sections are simultaneously removed from a removal drum and side by side from the container. The container itself is provided with partitions which divide the container into individual feed containers.

DE-T-695 28 549 (equivalent to US 5,984,851 or EP-A-0 679 343 Further, a separator for the production of filters for cigarettes is known, in which a Filterstopfentufuhrvorrichtung has two magazines, from which multiple-length filter rods are removed and cut so that from the cut filter rods after multiple cutting, staggering and sliding operations simultaneously on the same Drum drums double-length dual filter arise, which then spaced between longitudinal axial Tobacco stick pairs are inserted.

Moreover, in DE-A-38 05 753 a double-lane filter cigarette manufacturing machine in which the tobacco sticks are processed in parallel. From a magazine on the filter attachment filter rods are removed and subsequently cut into filter plugs and staggered so that two parallel streams of articles with filter plugs arise.

As another prior art is off EP-A-1 016 350 a method and an apparatus for producing filter cigarettes with dual filters known. In this case, filter components of different useful length are inserted successively between the tobacco sticks. For this purpose, the filter rods are each removed from two magazines and cut into filter components, wherein the conveying paths of the filter components from the two magazines are formed separately from each other.

Based on this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to simplify the production of filter cigarettes, wherein it should be possible to produce and process filter cigarettes with multi-segment filters.

This object is achieved by an arrangement for the production of filter cigarettes, wherein a stranding device for forming a tobacco rod and a Filteransetzeinrichtung for applying filter plugs are provided on tobacco rod cut tobacco sticks, which is further developed in that a device for assembling multi-segment filter plug from at least three Filter segment pieces is provided, wherein the filter segment pieces individually supplied to a production flow for the multi-segment filter plug with the strand forming device, the filter application device and the device for assembling multisegment filter plugs being arranged in a T-shape and the multisegment filter plugs produced are conveyed to an insertion drum by means of conveying drums and are delivered from the insertion drum to a compilation drum such that tobacco compost filter plugs are placed on the compilation drum. Tobacco stick groups are assembled or the stranding device, the filter inserter and the device for assembling multi-segment filter plug L-shaped and the filter pieces of the multi-segment filter plug are inserted between the longitudinally axially spaced tobacco rods.

In the context of the invention, a multi-segment filter is understood in particular to mean a filter comprising at least three different filter segment pieces. The filter segment pieces are made of different materials or are manufactured in different ways. To form a multi-segment filter, the filter segment pieces are fed to a production stream for the multi-segment filter.

The invention is based on the idea of a filter segment group assembly device, such as WO-A-03/037113 is known to couple directly with a filter attachment machine. In this case, by means of the device according to the invention, filter segment pieces are combined to form a multi-segment filter plug, in particular a double use length, so that the filter plug is attached to a tobacco rod with or without a casing. This achieves a higher processing speed at the filter attachment machine.

Only the mint segment filter plugs which are formed on the device according to the invention and are made available to the filter attachment machine for further processing are processed at the filter attachment machine. This also eliminates longer transport routes for the filter plug to be processed. Overall, a gentle filter processing is possible because it is no longer necessary to form a mass flow of finished filter rods. In addition, the filter strand manufacturing machine known by the name "KDF" of the applicant is completely replaced by the multi-segment filter plug assembly according to the invention. The fact that the corresponding components of a filter cigarette, tobacco sticks and filter plugs are produced simultaneously and next to one another on a common arrangement results in improved logistics.

According to the invention, it is provided that a mass flow with double-length tobacco rods and a mass flow with compiled, preferably double-length, multi-segment filter plugs are conveyed to the filter attachment machine and processed on this machine. It is not necessary to wrap the assembled multisegment filter plug with a leaflet, so that unencapsulated multi-segment filter plug, consisting of several filter segment pieces, are attached to the tobacco sticks. Only in a further step, the Multisegmentfilterstopfen and the tobacco sticks are wrapped with a connecting paper or tipping paper leaflets and cut after a separation cut through the double-length filter plug to filter cigarettes.

Compared to the prior art according to DE-T-695 28 549 or EP-A-1 016 350 is created by means of the device according to the invention the possibility to produce multi-segment filter plug with more than two filter segment pieces. Here are the filter segment pieces individually fed to a production stream for the multi-segment filter plug. A production stream of a multisegment filter plug is understood to be the mass flow along which the production of a multisegment filter plug is produced by the addition of further individual filter segment pieces. At the end of the production stream, a complete, in particular double-length, preferably symmetrically constructed, multisegment filter plug is produced, which in subsequent processing steps is connected to tobacco rods and assembled into individual filter cigarettes.

By means of the device according to the invention, the production steps of a multi-segment filter are spatially separated from the other processing steps carried out on a Filteransetzeinrichtung, so that the means for assembling a multi-segment filter and the Filteransetzeinrichtung can be arranged in modules and variable, the facilities are easily accessible to the operator.

In both embodiments, T-shaped or L-shaped, a compact design is achieved, with each independent unit of the arrangement is very accessible. Depending on the spatial or space conditions and manufacturing requirements, it is possible to choose between the L-shaped or T-shaped arrangement. As a result, a large variability of the arrangement is achieved. The choice of the arrangement of the various modules or independent units according to the invention itself has no effect on the quality of the filter cigarettes produced.

In addition, according to a development, it is provided that the device for assembling multi-segment filter plugs has at least one covering device for the multi-segment filter plugs so that the multi-segment filter plugs are supplied as wrapped filter plugs of the filter attachment machine.

In a preferred embodiment, the device for assembling multi-segment filter plugs has at least one test element and / or one processing element for the multi-segment filter plugs. For example, individual filter segment pieces are processed or perforated by means of a laser, so that the perforation of the filter piece is tested on a test device. To improve quality or quality control is also contributed if after the testing device, a further processing device is provided so that, for example, an insufficiently perforated filter segment piece is processed again.

It is particularly advantageous if the device for assembling multi-segment filter plugs can be subdivided into independent functional units. Due to the divisibility of the assembly device in a plurality of independent functional units a large variability in the multi-segment filter production is given. In order to produce different multi-segment filters, rapid and cost-effective adaptation is possible in which, if necessary, the independent functional units merely have to be rearranged and adapted, or only a few modules or functional units have to be supplemented. In the context of this application, the term "functional unit" also includes the term "module".

If a functional unit is provided for each filter segment piece, a particularly space-saving device can be realized.

Out WO-A-03/037113 is a filter segment group assembly with individual functional units for filter segment pieces known, which is expressly referred to in the context of this application to the disclosure of this document.

In particular, at least one covering device is provided for the multi-segment filter plug tobacco rod groups, so that the attached filter plugs are connected to the tobacco rods.

In a preferred development, it is proposed that at least one test element and / or a processing element be provided for multi-segment filter plug tobacco rod groups, so that filter cigarettes with a high constant quality are produced permanently when the filter plugs are processed and the filter cigarettes are tested.

The device for assembling multi-segment filter plugs is preferably integrated into the filter application device.

Fig. 1

eine Prinzipdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung zur Herstellung von Filterzigaretten;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung gemäß Fig. 1 im Ausschnitt;

Fig. 3

eine weitere schematische Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung gemäß Fig. 1 im Ausschnitt;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Prinzipdarstellung einer weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung zur Herstellung von Filterzigaretten und

Fig. 5

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung gemäß Fig. 4 im Ausschnitt.

The invention will now be described by way of example without limitation of the general inventive concept by means of embodiments and with reference to the drawings, wherein For all details not explained in detail in the text according to the invention, reference is expressly made to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic diagram of an inventive arrangement for the production of filter cigarettes;

Fig. 2

a side view of an inventive arrangement according to Fig. 1 in cutting;

Fig. 3

a further schematic side view of an inventive arrangement according to Fig. 1 in cutting;

Fig. 4

a schematic diagram of another inventive arrangement for the production of filter cigarettes and

Fig. 5

a schematic side view of an inventive arrangement according to Fig. 4 in the clipping.

In the drawings, the same or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so it will be disregarded from a new idea accordingly.

In Fig. 1 an inventive arrangement for the production of filter cigarettes is shown in a schematic representation. In the Fig. 1 shown arrangement is T-shaped, wherein at least one tobacco rod are made by a string unit 300 and cut into tobacco sticks, which are passed to a Filteransetzeinheit 200. The strand unit 200 can also be operated in the double-strand process, so that two tobacco strands are produced. The strand unit 300 is preceded by a distributor unit VE, is prepared by the cut tobacco and is processed to a tobacco rod or two tobacco strands and the string unit 300 is handed over. The string unit 300 envelops the tobacco strands with paper and cuts them into double-length tobacco sticks.

Moreover, in a rectilinear continuation of the filter application unit 200, as a continuation of the T-bar of the T-shaped arrangement, a filter segment assembly device 100 according to the invention is arranged, by means of which multi-segment filter plugs are assembled from filter segment pieces. The assembled filter plugs preferably have a double use length or a multiple of twice the use length.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of a drum assembly of a Filtersegmentzusammenstelleinrichtung 100 and a Filteransetzeinheit 200, as shown in Fig. 1 are arranged. The filter segment composer 100 and the filter applying unit 200 are arranged in a straight line or plane. By cutting the tobacco strands from the strand unit 300 (FIG. Fig. 1 received twice long tobacco sticks are taken over by a takeover drum 201 of the string unit 300 and further transported to a cutting knife 202, from which the double-length tobacco sticks are divided into tobacco sticks of simple length. Subsequently, the cut tobacco sticks of simple length are pulled longitudinally axially apart on a sliding drum 203.

At the same time as taking over the tobacco sticks, filter segments from the autonomous functional units 110.1 to 110.4 are assembled at the filter segment assembling device 100 to form multi-segment filter plugs comprising a plurality of filter segments.

For further details of the functional units 110.1 to 110.4, reference is made to the disclosure in WO-A-03/037113 in which a multi-segment filter manufacturing device having a plurality of functional units is described in detail.

After assembling the individual filter segments, the combined double segment filter plugs are transferred from a transfer drum 111.1 of the last functional unit 110.1 in the conveying direction of the filter segments to a wobble drum 150, at which the assembled multi-segment filter plugs are pushed together. Subsequently, the double-length multi-segment filter plugs are conveyed via further conveyor drums to an inserting drum 160, which delivers the multi-segment filter plugs to a compilation drum 210. After transferring the multisegment filter plugs to the assembly drum 210, the lengthwise tobacco rods of single length are discharged from the push drum 203 to the assembly drum 210 so that tobacco rod filter plug tobacco rod groups are placed on the assembly drum 210 and thereafter to a conveyor drum 211, preferably as Sliding drum is formed to be discharged.

Subsequently, the assembled tobacco rod filter plug tobacco rod groups are transported to a covering device 220 with two coating apparatuses 221, 222, so that the smoking article groups are provided with a tipping paper leaflet. Such a covering device is in the European patent application of the applicant with the official file number 03 008 450.3 described in detail.

After joining the Tobacco Stick Filter Plug Tobacco Stick Groups For example, the double-length bonded groups on a cutting drum 240 are cut into filter cigarettes of simple use length by means of a cutting knife 241.

The resulting filter cigarettes simple use length are then transported via other conveying organs to a packaging machine of the tobacco-processing industry.

According to the in Fig. 2 illustrated embodiment or arrangement are not connected, ie not provided with a compound leaflets multi-segment filter plug twice the length of use, promoted to inserting drum 160.

In Fig. 3 an embodiment is shown in which the assembled multi-segment filter plugs are provided with a bonding pad by means of a padding device 120 comprising two padders 121, 122. Such a coating apparatus is described in detail in the European patent application of the applicant with the official file number 03 008 450.3.

After the wrapping of the multi-segment filter plugs, the filter plugs can be additionally processed by means of a laser unit 130 on their transport path to the insertion drum 160. The laser unit 130 is indicated by dashed lines, since the processing of the covered filter plug can be performed optionally.

Furthermore, a test unit for the filter plugs can be provided on the transport path of the filter plug to the insertion drum 160. For post-processing, a further processing station can optionally be provided downstream of the test unit, so that high-quality multisegment filter plugs are delivered from the insertion drum 160 to the assembly drum 210.

In Fig. 4 a further arrangement according to the invention for the production of filter cigarettes is shown, wherein the arrangement is formed in the shape of an L. Here, the cut tobacco sticks are transferred to a transfer module 200.1 a Filteransetzeinrichtung. The production of the filter cigarettes takes place in a production module 200. 2, in which tobacco rod multi-segment filter plug tobacco rod groups are connected to covering paper leaflets by means of the padding device 220. Between the transfer module 200.1 and the production module 200.2, a filter segment assembly device 100 for producing multi-segment filter plugs is arranged.

After receiving the double-length tobacco sticks on the transfer drum 201, the tobacco sticks are cut by means of the cutting knife 202 and longitudinal axial distance in a subsequent section before the cut longitudinally axially spaced tobacco rods for Filtersegmentzusammenstelleinrichtung 100 and promoted by the conveyor drums of the functional units 110.1 to 110.4 to the production module 200.2 become.

At each functional unit 110.1 to 110.4 pieces of filter between the longitudinally spaced tobacco rods are inserted and transported to the next functional unit on. On the functional unit 110.1, the last filter segment piece is inserted, so that multi-segment filter plugs are present in double use length on the transfer drum 111.1 between the longitudinally spaced tobacco rods.

Subsequently, the tobacco rod filter plug tobacco rod groups are pushed together on the tumbling drum 150 longitudinally and the pad means 220 so that the tobacco rod filter plug tobacco rod groups are connected and wrapped with a tipping paper leaflet. Subsequently, the connected tobacco rod filter plug tobacco rod groups on the cutting drum 240 are cut by means of the cutting knife 241 into filter cigarettes of simple use length.

In further steps optional processing steps, e.g. by means of a laser unit, and checks of the cigarette properties by means of a Prügangans done.

By means of the arrangement according to the invention, it is possible to achieve a direct coupling between a multi-segment assembly device and a filter application device, wherein multisegment filter plugs are assembled in the filter segment assembly device.

After assembling the multisegment filter plugs, the filter plugs are transferred to the filter application unit, which simultaneously accepts, cuts and longitudinally spreads tobacco rods from a stranding machine.

Optionally, the multi-segment filter plugs may be rolled over with a wrapping paper prior to assembly with the tobacco sticks.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

Filter segment assembly device

110.1 to 110.4

functional unit

111.1

Transfer drum

120

covering device

121

covering apparatus

122 -

covering apparatus

130

laser unit

150

tumbling

160

insert drum

200

filter assembler

200.1

Transfer Module

200.2

production module

201

transfer drum

202

cutting blade

203

pushing drum

210

Assembly drum

211

conveyor drum

220

covering device

221

covering apparatus

222

covering apparatus

240

cutting drum

241

cutting blade

300

train unit

VE

distribution unit

Claims (8)

1. Arrangement for manufacturing filter cigarettes, wherein a rope-forming device (300) for forming a tobacco rope and a filter attachment device (200; 200.1, 200.2) for attaching filter plugs to tobacco sticks cut from the tobacco rope are provided, characterized in that a device (100) for assembling multi-segment filter plugs comprising at least three filter segment pieces is provided, wherein the filter segment pieces are fed individually to a production stream for the multi-segment filter plugs, wherein

   - the rope-forming device (300), the filter attachment device (200; 200.1, 200.2) and the device (100) for assembling multi-segment filter plugs are arranged in a T shape and the manufactured multi-segment filter plugs are conveyed by means of conveying drums to an insertion drum and passed from the insertion drum to an assembly drum so that on the assembly drum tobacco stick-filter plug-tobacco stick groups are assembled or

   - the rope-forming device (300), the filter attachment device (200; 200.1, 200.2) and the device (100) for assembling multi-segment filter plugs are arranged in an L shape and the filter pieces of the multi-segment filter plugs are inserted between the tobacco sticks, which are spaced apart in the direction of their longitudinal axis.
2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (100) for manufacturing multi-segment filter plugs comprises at least one covering device (120) for the multi-segment filter plugs.
3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device (100) for manufacturing multi-segment filter plugs comprises at least one inspection organ and/or processing organ (130) for the multi-segment filter plugs.
4. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the device (100) for assembling multi-segment filter plugs may be subdivided into independent functional units (110.1, 110.2, 110.3, 110.4).
5. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that one functional unit (110.1, 110.2, 110.3, 110.4) is provided for each filter segment piece.
6. Arrangement according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one covering device (220) for multi-segment filter plug-tobacco stick groups is provided.
7. Arrangement according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one inspection organ and/or processing organ is provided for the multi-segment filter plug-tobacco stick groups.
8. Arrangement according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the device (100) for assembling multi-segment filter plugs is integrated into the filter attachment device (200.1, 200.2).

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